Scott James
Mike McKinney
Zach Zuberbier
Tommy Duncan
Jared Cagley
Brenden Heizer
Zuberbier, Duncan, Cagley, Heizer also Victorious
Results | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa
With a big Labor Day weekend for racers and fans in Central Illinois on the horizon, 120 race teams from five states journeyed to the Fairbury Speedway Saturday night in preparation. The track played host to the 24th edition of the “Pappy and Bob Allen Memorial”. Scott James (Late Model), Mike McKinney (Modified), Zach Zuberbier (Stock Car), Tommy Duncan (Sportsman), Jared Cagley (Hobby-Modified), and Brenden Heizer (KidModz) all earned feature race wins.
A time of 12.846 seconds gave Jay Morris quick time as 25 Late Models made qualifying runs. Allen Weisser, Scott Schmitt, and Scott James were the night’s heat race winners. The semi-feature went to Jeffrey Ledford. On the green flag, Weisser and Schmitt raced side-by-side before Weisser led the first two circuits. Schmitt, running the top side, moved ahead to take over as Weisser, James, Eric Smith, and Mike Spatola followed. Weisser, looking for his first Fairbury Late Model win of the year, reclaimed the lead on lap 12. Weisser began to work his way by lapped traffic, while James got by Schmitt for second. Once Weisser and James had a clear track, James quickly closed in on Weisser. With the checkered flag in sight, James was able to pull beside Weisser and edge ahead to win the race by .040 seconds at the finish. “I have been racing for 25 years,” spoke the driver known as the “Silver Shark”. “To win here is a feather in my cap. We got rained out today and decided to come back to Fairbury. I committed to the bottom. Weisser moved up to the top and stalled in the lapped traffic. It has been a dream to win at this track.” The rest of the top ten went to Schmitt, Spatola, Smith, 15th starter Mike Provenzano, McKay Wenger, Kevin Weaver, Mike Mataragas, and Rickey Frankel.
42 Modified drivers were in attendance for their 25-lap race. Mike McKinney toured the speedway with a lap of 13.662 seconds to take quick time. McKinney, Nick Allen, Michael Ledford, and Tyler Nicely won heat races. Chris Smith and Dave Lilja advanced to the feature by winning their respective b-mains. McKinney took the lead at the drop of the green flag as Allen Weisser and Ledford dueled for second. On a slick race track, many of the drivers settled on running the bottom and middle grooves, while 15-year-old Ledford threw his machine on the top side. After a caution flag fell with five laps to go, Ledford made the cushion work and overtook Weisser for second. Ledford challenged McKinney for the lead and showed the nose of his machine. Another caution fell with three laps remaining, and the field went to a single file restart. As the two gladiators took the white flag, McKinney went to the top in turns three and four hoping to slow Ledford. Ledford went to the bottom and pulled alongside of McKinney, but as flagman Jim Whittington waved the checkered flag, McKinney was able to hang on and nip Ledford by .018 seconds at the line. As the crowd cheered and jeered their approval of the race, McKinney commented in victory lane. “Mikey stole the show there. I started off good and the car began to tighten up. Allen started to drive by me and Mikey showed me his nose on the last restart. It’s really a huge win for our team. We are doing everything we can to battle for the national championship.” Weisser finished in the third position, followed by Dan Rork, Bobby Stremme, Bob Pohlman, 19th starter Kyle Hammer, Brad DeYoung, Dillon Nusbaum, and Dave Lilja.
The speedway welcomed 27 Stock Car drivers with current national points leader Terry Reed turning a lap of 15.352 seconds to take fast time. Zach Zuberbier, Andy Zahnd, and Cody Clubb won their respective heat races, while Reed took the b-main. Zuberbier was able to lead the entire 15 laps, but he had to contend with RJ Akers and Matt Fabrizius in the final laps. At the finish, Zuberbier won by .050 in another exciting finish. “I wasn’t the best, but we made it work,” Zuberbier said after winning his second feature of the season. “I saw Matt and was able to get back by him. It’s good to race with him.” Akers, Fabrizius , Eric Boudreau, Matt Maier, Don Hilleary, 17th starter Pete Odell, Kory Kohler, Michael Schomas, and Brandon Tracy completed the top ten.
Austin Friedman turned a lap of 14.819 seconds for fast time with 12 Sportsman drivers in attendance. Tommy Duncan and Brandon Pralle, subbing for Anthony Craven, were the heat race victors. In the 15-lap feature, Duncan was able to lead flag-to-flag in picking up his fourth win of the year. “Those young drivers are good and they race with respect,” Duncan said. “It has been a lot of fun racing with them.” Pralle took second, with Friedman in third. After experiencing mechanical problems in hot laps and his heat race, Lyndon Whitfill charged through the field to take fourth. Jim Farley lll, Matt Ramer, Brendan Ramer, Makinzi Semmens, Steve Mattingly, and Alex Wilson completed the top ten.
After having ear surgery, Jake Green called upon Jared Cagley to take over his ride in the Hobby-Modified class this week. Cagley was able to respond by placing Green’s car in victory lane for Cagley’s first-ever Fairbury feature win. “I have to thank the Green’s for letting me drive their car,” Cagley said. “I went to the bottom and wasn’t going anywhere, so I went to the middle. It’s pretty cool to be in victory lane.” The win didn’t come easy for Cagley as he had to hold off Caden McWhorter. Clay Wisher, Macy Vaughan, and Kellen Arnold completed the top five. Graham Jackson and McWhorter were the heat race winners.
Brenden Heizer won the KidModz heat race and the 10-lap feature, as he claimed his seventh win of the year with Audrey Gerberding in second.
A field of 23 Late Models took time trials for their 30-lap, $2,500 to win race. Scott James turned a lap of 12.582 seconds to set fast time. Three heat races were held with Kevin Weaver, Taylor Scheffler, and McKay Wenger taking the wins. Bill Giannetti took the Semi-Feature victory. Five caution flags fell in the first two laps of the feature race due to accidents and part failures, reducing the field to 12 drivers out of the 20 that started the race. Weaver held the lead over Wenger, Jeffrey Ledford, James, and Jay Morris for the first five laps. On lap six, with Weaver pounding the Fairbury cushion and Wenger uncharacteristically on the bottom, Wenger made the pass for the lead and checked out on the field. By the end of the race, Wenger held a seven-second lead over Weaver. Winning his fourth Fairbury feature of the year, Wenger commented in victory lane. “The last six Late Model and Modified features, the races have been won on the bottom. When we unloaded, the plan was to run the bottom. It paid off good.” Weaver held off Ledford for second with James in fourth. 13th starter Dale Markham took fifth. The rest of the top ten went to Morris, Mike Provenzano, Jeff Curl, Glen Thompson, and Brandon Pralle.
A time of 13.984 seconds earned Allen Weisser quick time honors as 28 drivers made qualifying attempts. Weisser, Jason Hastings, and Mike McKinney took heat race wins. Michael Ledford was the B-Main winner. Weisser and McKinney went toe-to-toe for the first three laps of the $1,500 to win, 25-lap race before McKinney took command. Several mid-race cautions would not deny McKinney on this night as he quickly opened up a ten-car length lead on each restart. Weisser had his hands full as Nick Clubb offered a challenge until Weisser got a good restart after a lap 17 caution to hold second. As the checkered flag was waved, McKinney was able to pick up his third win of the year at Fairbury. “We are trying to get the car better on the bottom,” said McKinney. “It seems like we are getting things back to where we were at the start.” Weisser settled for second, with Dan Rork in third. Clubb ended in fourth, while 16th starter Ledford took fifth. Hastings, Kyle Hammer, Bobby Stremme, Jim Farris, and Austin Lynn rounded out the top ten.
27 Stock Cars vied for a starting position for their 15-lap race. Farmer City regular Lance Evans, with a lap of 15.333 seconds, took fast time. Kevin Kerlin, Andy Zahnd, and Matt Fabrizius were heat race winners. The B-Main went to Kraig Hughes. In a wild feature race that saw four different leaders, it wasn’t until the last lap that the race winner was decided. Current DIRTcar National Points leader Terry Reed got by Fabrizius to take his first-ever Fairbury win. “We started eighth and weren't sure if we had anything,” spoke Reed. “The car was on a rail tonight. I didn’t want to race on the top, but we made it work.” 14th starter Pete Odell was third, Josh Hetherington placed fourth, and RJ Akers claimed fifth. Joe Brown, Kerlin, Scott Hufford, Evans, and Jeff Hartzell completed the top ten.
Austin Friedman was the Sportsman division fast qualifier with a time of 14.726 seconds as 15 drivers signed in. Heat races went to Steve Mattingly and Tommy Duncan. Mattingly led for three laps before defending track champion Duncan moved to the front. Mattingly’s bid for the win ended on the seventh lap as he stopped on the track with mechanical problems and brought out the yellow flag. On the restart, Friedman challenged for the lead, but Duncan was not to be denied on this night as he took his third win of the season. “The car was good in the beginning,” spoke an exhausted Duncan. “The track was getting rough on the top and was messing up my line.” The remainder of the top ten went to Friedman, Lyndon Whitfill, Anthony Craven, Matt Ramer, Wes Odell, Dan Coit, Robert Saltzman, Makinzi Semmens, and Mattingly.
Racing ended with a 12-lap Hobby-Modified race. Cody Wisher and Phil Earl were the heat race winners. Wisher led from flag-to-flag to take his second straight feature race win. “The car drove like a Cadillac,” Wisher said. “I want to thank Tommy Duncan for letting me drive his car and setting the car up.” Troy Ricketts, Clay Wisher, Macy Vaughan, and Caden McWhorter completed the top five.
There’s one constant about Fairbury Speedway. The racing never disappoints.
The JHA Motorsports team opted out of coming to Fairbury Speedway for the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals’ most recent visit last month. This time around, they’re walking out as Feature winners.
29 Late Model drivers were on hand vying for a spot in their 30-lap feature. Mike Spatola earned fast time honors with a lap of 12.808 seconds. Three heat races saw McKay Wenger, Jeffrey Ledford, and Kevin Weaver emerging as winners. Jeff Curl was the night’s winner in the B-Main. Wenger, looking to continue his winning ways, pounded the cushion in leading the first 17 laps of the race. Billy Drake, using the bottom of the track, reeled in Wenger to take the lead on lap 18. As Drake was attempting to overtake a slower car, he made a move to go to the top of the track. Drake, not knowing Wenger was there, made contact and ended Wenger’s night. Weaver moved to second on the restart and began to track down Drake. Weaver climbed the wall on the backstretch and brought out the caution with five laps to go. Drake, safely in the lead, took his first win of the year. As the crowd cheered and jeered for Drake, he spoke apologetically in victory lane. “I feel bad. McKay is such a good dude. I was trying to get around that lapped car and zipped it to the top. I didn’t know he was there. If I would have known that, I never would have tried that. I don’t want to win a race like that. I would have rather raced him for it. It would have been good. I guess that happens. I hate it and I stand that way.” Mike Mataragas, Rickey Frankel, 18th starter Tim Manville, Mike Glasscock, Jay Morris, Jeff Herzog, Adan Tischhauser, Brent McKinnon, and Titus Sneed claimed the top ten positions.
14.457 seconds was quick time set by Mike McKinney as 22 Modified drivers toured the track. Levi Kissinger, Allen Weisser, and Michael Ledford won their respective heat races. Although eight caution flags waved in the 25-lap race, McKinney was the dominating force on this night. Running the top side of the track, McKinney bolted out to a commanding lead as early race leader Weisser tried to keep pace. With the track cleared after a lap 15 caution, McKinney moved to the bottom and Weisser kept pace. Michael Ledford, running in third, brought out a caution with six laps to go as he slowed with a tire going flat. On the restart, McKinney flexed his muscle and closed this chapter in the season long battle with Weisser for supremacy in the big picture of the national championship title. “We tried something different on the car tonight,” said McKinney. “I was running the top and I saw Allen on the bottom, so I had to try it out.” Weisser, Nick Clubb, Kissinger, Jim Farris, Dan Rork, Nick Seplak, Mark Grosvenor, 21st starter Kyle Laughlin, and Justin White took the top ten spots.
A time of 16.573 seconds earned Zach Zuberbier quick time in the Stock Car class. With 19 cars on hand, Zuberbier and Joe Brown were the heat race winners. Zuberbier led the first seven circuits before Michael Schomas took over for the next two laps. Zuberbier, Schomas, Cody Clubb, and Brown battled tooth and nail for the race win throughout the race. All four drivers used the entire width of the speedway and never touched one another. Zuberbier was able to hold off the trio and took the race win. “I knew I had some fast cars behind me,” commented Zuberbier. “I just had to hang on and not use up my equipment. We won last night, but tonight is way better.” Schomas, Clubb, Brown, and Kevin Kerlin took the first five positions as Eric Boudreau, Don Hilleary, Josh Hetherington, Kraig Hughes, and Randy Schoener completed the top ten.
Of the 15 Sportsman drivers on hand, Lyndon Whitfill was the fast qualifier at 15.845 seconds. Two heat races saw Austin Friedman and Steve Mattingly taking the wins. Rookie driver Friedman and old veteran Mattingly battled for the lead in the first five laps before Friedman was able to use lapped traffic to take the lead. After a caution on lap 11 of the 15-lap race, Mattingly, looking for his first win of the year, had to contend with Tommy Duncan. As the checkered flag waved for Friedman, Duncan was able to get by Mattingly for second. Picking up his second straight win, Friedman commented in victory lane. “The track was really demanding tonight, but it was a fun race.” Anthony Craven, Whitfill, Tyler Roth, Matt Ramer, Dan Coit, Brendan Ramer, and Austin Lipe rounded out the top ten.
11 cars were on hand in the Hobby-Modified class. Cody Wisher turned a lap of 15.742 seconds for fast time and also took the win in the first heat race. Caden McWhorter claimed the win in the second heat race. A caution flag with one lap remaining gave last week’s winner Troy Ricketts an opportunity to repeat. Wisher, with a tire losing air, was able to hang on for his first win of the year. “I couldn’t keep the rear end under the car in the closing laps, especially in turn four,” spoke Wisher. Ricketts settled for second, with McWhorter, Clay Wisher, and Ty Stutzman completing the top five.
It’s been Brandon Sheppard this and Jimmy Owens that for as long as fans can remember in the year 2020.
In the second Showdown, Lanigan paced the opening two circuits aboard his Viper Motorsports No. 29V Barry Wright Icon Race Car before Sheppard sneakily struck and stole the lead on the bottom. Rolling the low line in the Rocket1 Racing No. 1, B-Shepp meticulously worked the inside of the Kokomo 1/4-mile, and like Owens, checked out for a 1.675-second victory.
With the way The Zekester was driving the cushion and throwing slide jobs for the lead around Kokomo Speedway, it looked as though he had won every UMP Modified race ever held at Indiana’s Baddest Bullring. But it was the heart of a competitor and some abundant driving talent that got Zeke McKenzie his first Feature win in Summit Modifieds competition on Friday night, and the emotions were already sinking in as he pulled his Vanquish Race Cars #24 into Victory Lane.
If there were a single 20-lap stretch of racing to describe Nick Hoffman’s Summit Modified season to this point, it was his dominating victory in Showdown Feature #2.
Much like the winner before him, Derek Losh dominated Showdown #3, running away from Danny Schwartz and Nick Allen in lapped traffic to collect $500 and a spot in Saturday’s redraw.
With three Summit Modified Showdowns already in the books, the Kokomo Speedway surface had developed quite a sizable cushion – the perfect setting for a battle between two of Illinois’ best UMP Modified racers named Mike.
