Results | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa

On Fan Appreciation Night presented by Popejoy Inc., patrons to the speedway witnessed another action packed night of racing. Displaying a refuse to lose mentality, Mike Spatola (Late Model) and Mike McKinney (Modified) scored their respective feature wins. Landen Miller (CR Towing Sportsman) and Luke Gebhardt (Hobby Mod) claimed their first career wins, while Tanner Sullivan (Stock Cars) shook the monkey off his back in picking up his win.

McKay Wenger’s lap at 13.144 seconds gave him fast time with 21 Late Models on the grounds. Wenger, Mike Provenzano, and Jeffrey Ledford were heat race winners. Wenger led early in the race, while Provenzano, Spatola, Ledford, and Eric Smith diced for second. After a lap seven caution flag, Spatola was able to take the second position as Wenger held a straightaway lead. Smith fell from contention with a flat tire as the yellow flag came out on lap 12. Spatola was able to stay with Wenger on the restart as both drivers maneuvered the Fairbury cushion. On the restart after a caution with three laps to go, Spatola dove under Wenger for the lead as they entered turn one. Spatola’s lead stuck and he claimed his second win of the season at Fairbury. “That was one of the most treacherous cushions that I have ever raced,” commented Spatola. “I hope that slider on McKay wasn’t too dirty. He’s a hell of a wheelman on a cushion like this. I knew he would be the driver to beat. I am just fortunate that caution came out and we were able to capitalize on that.” A dejected Wenger settled for second with Ledford, Kevin Weaver, and Provenzano in the first five positions. 16th starter Ryan Unzicker, Jay Sparks, Smith, Donny Walden, and Torin Mettille completed the top ten.

Eric Vaughan and Mike McKinney recorded the same time at 14.350 seconds to lead the 15 Modified drivers on hand. Two heat races saw Nick Clubb and Michael Ledford come out on top. The 25-lap feature race was a wild and wooly affair. Ledford raced out to a commanding lead as Allen Weisser, Steven Brooks, and Clubb had a fierce battle for second. Running the top side of the track, Ledford began picking his way through slower traffic by lap eight. 12th starter McKinney worked his way to the front, and by the 14th lap, he was racing in the second position. The cushion took its toll on the cars as sheet metal was frailing from the Ledford machine. McKinney caught a break as a caution fell with four laps remaining for debris on the track. McKinney dove under Ledford on the restart to take the lead. Ledford got caught in the cushion allowing Weisser to sneak past. McKinney was able to open a three second lead in the final circuits and take his second win of the year at Fairbury. For McKinney, it was his 35th career win at “America’s Dirt Track” with 34 of his wins coming in the last five seasons. “We had a poor performance in the heat race,” McKinney explained. “I told Dad I was going to knock the rear clip off the car to win this race.” The remaining top ten positions saw Weisser, Ledford, Clubb, Brooks, Nick Seplak, Alan Stipp, Vaughan, Mike Mosier, and Mark Brucker finish in that order.

A time of 15.634 seconds gave Tanner Sullivan fast time with 14 Stock Cars in attendance for their 15-lap tussle. Sullivan and Eric Boudreau were the heat race winners. Sullivan and Adam Williams swapped the lead before Sullivan took command on the third circuit. After two back-to-back cautions on lap three, Sullivan pulled away to take the win. It was Sullivan’s first win of the year at Fairbury and third career feature victory. “We have battled all sorts of issues this year,” Sullivan said. “The last couple of races things are falling into place. I can’t thank Cody Roberts at Bullet Chassis enough. He built me a heck of a car. I could put it anywhere on the track.” Williams emerged ahead of Terry Reed in a battle for second, with Cody Clubb, Zane Reitz, Josh Hetherington, Michael Schomas, James Williams, Don Hilleary, and Boudreau completing the top ten.

Results | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa

The Fairbury Speedway had a Thursday night special with Late Models and a combined All Star Circuit of Champions / Interstate Racing Association Winged Sprint Car race. Both races paid $5,000 to the winner. Tyler Courtney of Indianapolis, Ind., led flag-to-flag in netting the Sprint Car feature, and Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Ill., rallied for the Late Model win.

The All Stars made their first Fairbury appearance since 1995 and saw 32 drivers in attendance for their 30-lap feature race. Scotty Thiel laid down a lap of 11.310 seconds for quick time. Ian Madsen, Travis Philo, Tyler Courtney, and Parker Price-Miller took heat race wins. Cap Henry was the winner of the B-Main. Courtney and Paul McMahan won their respective dash races to determine the first 10 starting positions. Nicknamed “Sunshine”, Courtney established himself as the driver to beat. Courtney led with Bill Balog and Rico Abreu keeping pace. As Courtney weaved his way past slower traffic, he was able to distance himself from his competition. A caution with two laps to go set up a wild finish. Balog’s failed slide job to take the lead allowed Abreu to sneak by for second. Courtney, the All Stars points leader, was able to pick up his fourth win of the year. “I should have started a little lower on that last restart,” explained Courtney. “I was expecting a slider, but Balog left me just enough room so I had to go for it. We just needed to be a little better on that restart and not give the guy a chance, but I led the lap that counts.” Abreu and Balog joined Courtney on the podium with Madsen, Giovanni Scelzi, Thiel, Hunter Schuerenberg, Henry, Spencer Bayston, and McMahan completing the top ten.