Category: archived

March 16-18 Car Show To Kickstart Season

(Macon, IL 03-07-18) Officials from Macon Speedway as well as Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth, IL are pleased to announce the return of the season preview car show.  Formerly an annual event, the show returns for a third season in-a-row, after a long hiatus.  The event is scheduled for March 16-18.

The car show is open to any regular competitors that race at Macon Speedway or Lincoln Speedway, as well as those from traveling series that compete at either of the tracks.  The show will be three days long with cars entering on Thursday, March 15 and exiting on Sunday, March 18 when Hickory Point Mall closes for business each of the two days.

The show is a great benefit to those who like to display their newly prepared rides before receiving battle scars from on track action.  It’s also an additional benefit to sponsors, putting them in front of thousands of sets of eyes over the course of the show.  Track Enterprises will also have a booth set up, handing out info including pocket schedules for their special events in addition to Macon, Lincoln, and the Terre Haute Action Track.

Hickory Point Mall opened in 1978 and is located in Forsyth, IL, the northside of the greater Decatur area.  It features Bergner’s, Kohl’s, Ross, Von Maur, TJ Maxx, and Hobby Lobby in addition to a large number of specialty shops.

Drivers and teams who have highly presentable cars are welcome to enter the show by emailing adam.trackenterprises@gmail.com or by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.  The show will likely feature up to 30 competitors, so registration is first come, first serve.  There is no charge to enter the show.

(Macon, IL) Officials from Macon Speedway in Macon, IL have come to agreement with Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham to be the host hotel for the 2018 season at the 1/5-mile facility.  This year, drivers, team members, and fans will have the opportunity to save big money on rooms at the newly remodeled hotel when traveling to the Macon speedplant.

The Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham is located approximately 15 minutes away from Macon Speedway, one of the closest hotels in proximity to the racetrack.  The hotel features newly remodeled rooms which have king or queen sized beds, full-size sleeper sofas, wet bar with mini fridge and microwave or stove top, dishwasher, and full-sized refrigerator.  Kitchens are fully stocked with dishes, pots, pans, and utensils.  Hotel also has a complimentary hot breakfast every morning.  Trailer parking is available and plenty of dining and shopping choices are nearby.

For 2018, a great discounted rate will be available by mentioning that you are attending races at Macon Speedway.   The Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham is located at 2370 South Mt. Zion Road in Decatur, Illinois.  They can be contacted by calling 217-864-9311.

Macon Speedway is set for a Saturday, April 14 season opener with racing on Saturday nights through September.  A Memorial Day Monday and two Thursday night shows also highlight the schedule.

About Macon Speedway:

For more information, follow Macon Speedway online at www.maconracing.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/maconracing) and Twitter (@maconspeedway). It’s easy to join the Macon Speedway text service. Fans can text MSFANS to 74574 to receive fan information. Drivers text MSDRIVERS to 74574 to receive driver information. Message and date rates apply. Updates are also available by calling Macon Speedway at 217-764-3000.

 Macon Speedway is located nine miles south of Decatur on U.S. 51, then 0.6 miles west on Andrews Street and south to 205 N. Wiles. Macon Speedway hosts racing every Saturday night, plus many weeknight specials. Macon Speedway is a proud member of the Contingency Connection’s $100,000 Racer Rewards Program.

Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, & Street Stocks On The Docket

(Macon, IL) Midwest Big Ten Series officials have announced the 2018 schedules for all three divisions of racing.  This year, drivers, teams, and fans will see many of the same popular Illinois venues along with the addition of one more.  The Midwest Big Ten Series was created in 2013 to give Super Late Model teams a schedule of ten solid regional races with a point fund waiting at the end.  Street Stocks were added in 2014, while Pro Late Models came the following year.  All three classes saw talented drivers put on great races in 2017.

The premier class of the Midwest Big Ten Series, the Super Late Models, will see ten events at six tracks in 2018.  The familiar stops of Macon, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Highland, and Belle-Clair are back from a season ago.  New this year, are two stops at Spoon River Speedway in Canton, IL.  Steve Sheppard, Jr., Ryan Little, Brian Diveley, have been champions in the series, as well as Greg Kimmons and Michael Kloos, who shared the championship this past season.  The series will open up with on Friday, April 13 at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Illinois.

In 2015, the Pro Late Models were thrown into the Midwest Big Ten Series mix to give those drivers a chance at some more lucrative races.  This year’s schedule again features ten races at Central Illinois facilities in Lincoln, Macon, and Jacksonville.  Guy Taylor won the championship in 2015, while his brother, Matt, took top honors in 2016.  Springfield, IL drivers continued their success in the class with Jake Little winning this past season.  For the Pro Lates, it all begins on Friday, April 27 at Lincoln Speedway.

Rounding out the slate will be the ten race schedule for the Street Stocks.  This year’s tour stops are similar to last season, with Macon, Lincoln, and Jacksonville, plus the one-off Christian County Fair stop in Taylorville, IL.  Decatur, IL driver, Terry Reed, won the first two championships, while Lovington, IL’s Jeremy Nichols grabbed the championships the last two years.  The Street Stocks open up on Saturday, April 21 at Macon Speedway.

A $4,000 point fund will be distributed to the Super Late Models at the end of the season, while $3,000 point funds will be handed out to Pro Late Models and Street Stocks.  The drivers final points are totaled, using their best eight events from the season, allowing two drops.  This year, the top ten drivers in each class will be eligible for the point money, as long as they compete in at least 75% of the completed events.

About Midwest Big Ten Series:
The Midwest Big Ten Series is made up of 10 races each for UMP Super Late Models, UMP Pro Late Models, and UMP Street Stocks, throughout the state of Illinois.  Drivers in each class collect points for a season ending point fund.

For more info on the Midwest Big Ten Series, visit www.maconracing.com/midwest-big-ten-series-history/ and like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MidwestBigTenSeries.  For additional information on one of the three series, feel free to call the Track Enterprise office at 217-764-3200.

2018 Midwest Big Ten Series Schedules

MIDWEST BIG TEN SUPER LATE MODELS

FRIDAY, April 13……………. BELLE-CLAIR SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, May 18…………….. LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY, May 27…………… SPOON RIVER SPEEDWAY
MONDAY, May 28…………. MACON SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, June 2…………. HIGHLAND SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, June 15……………. BELLE-CLAIR SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, July 20……………… JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, July 21………… MACON SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, August 11…….. HIGHLAND SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY, September 2……. SPOON RIVER SPEEDWAY

MIDWEST BIG TEN PRO LATE MODELS

FRIDAY, April 27……………. LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, May 12……….. MACON SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, May 25…………….. JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY, June 10…………… LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, June 23……….. MACON SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, July 13……………… LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, July 28………… MACON SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, August 10…………. JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, August 17…………. LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, Sept. 15………. MACON SPEEDWAY

MIDWEST BIG TEN STREET STOCKS

SATURDAY, April 21……….. MACON SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, May 4……………… JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, May 18…………….. LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, June 2…………. MACON SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, June 30……….. MACON SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY, July 22……………. LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
WEDNESDAY, July 25…….. CHRISTIAN COUNTY FAIR
FRIDAY, August 31…………. LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, Sept. 8………… MACON SPEEDWAY
FRIDAY, Sept. 14……………. JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY

Here is your first look at the tentative 2018 Macon Speedway schedule!

(Macon, IL) A large gathering of over 250 was on hand for the 2017 Macon Speedway Awards Banquet presented by Hoosier Racing Tire.  The event was held on Sunday, October 29 at the Macon Community Center, in Macon, IL.  The top ten drivers in each of the regular Macon Speedway divisions plus the top drivers from the Midwest Big Ten Series were presented trophies and checks.  All those in attendance enjoyed a buffet style meal prepared by Debbie’s Diner and helpers.

In the Midwest Big Ten Series Super Late Models, Greg Kimmons of Pleasant Plains, IL and Michael Kloos, of Trenton, IL, were both presented championship trophies, as they shared the title in 2017.  It was the second time in Big Ten Super Late Model history, that the top spot ended in a tie.  Jason Suhre, of Grantfork, IL, ended up just slightly behind in the third spot.

In the Pro Late Model class, Jake Little of Springfield, IL, took the Big Ten championship and second in Macon points, while New Berlin, IL’s Tommy Sheppard, Jr. won the Macon Speedway championship.  Little won seven of the ten Big Ten races, while Sheppard claimed three wins at Macon.

Street Stock competition saw Jeremy Nichols, of Lovington, IL, claim his second straight Midwest Big Ten championship, after winning six of nine features.  In the Macon class, Decatur, IL’s Brian Dasenbrock, claimed the championship over Shawn Ziemer in a close battle.  Dasenbrock garnered 14 top 5’s during the season.

In the Billingsley Elite Wash UMP Modified division, Taylorville, IL’s Curt Rhodes won his second straight championship.  It wasn’t easy, as it took him six feature wins to edge Mason City, IL’s Austin Lynn.  Jeff Graham, Alan Crowder, and Danny Smith, all veteran drivers of the speedway, rounded out the top five.

Tim Hancock, of Mt. Olive, IL, won his second straight championship in the UMP B-Mod class.  Hancock claimed 14 victories and also claimed the UMP National Championship.  Cody Stillwell finished a close second in the Macon standings, while Jerry Thompson, Tim Riech, and Amanda Adams rounded out the top five.

Monticello, IL driver Timmy Dick took the UMP Sportsman division by just two points over Danny Smith, from Argenta, IL.  The difference in this year’s point battle came down to just one position difference in the final standings.  Scott Landers, Terry Myers, and Tim Bedinger rounded out the top five.

Dustin Reed, of Decatur, IL, won his first career championship in the UMP Hornet class at the 1/5-mile.  Reed claimed two feature wins during the season, while 74-year old wheelman Cook Crawford, of Lincoln, IL took the second spot.  Paul Peters, Marty Sullivan, and Carter Dart rounded out the top five.

Plenty of product award certificates were given out to drivers, plus door prizes for those in attendance.  At the end of the banquet, the Halloween Costume contests were held for adults and kids with prizes dueled out.

With that, the 2017 season is officially a wrap.  Work has already begun on the 2018 schedule with all divisions returning from this past year.  Visits from the Summer National Late Models, the Tony Stewart Arctic Cat All Star Sprint Cars, POWRi Midgets and Micros, MOWA Sprint Cars, Midwest Street Stock Championship Series, and Big Ten Super Late Models are expected.  The Lucas Oil Late Models have already confirmed their return for Saturday, April 28.

Fans, drivers, team members and more can keep updated during the offseason by signing up for the texcaster, liking the Facebook page, following on Twitter, and visiting the website.

About Macon Speedway:

                For more information, follow Macon Speedway online at www.maconracing.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/maconracing) and Twitter (@maconspeedway). It’s easy to join the Macon Speedway text service. Fans can text MSFANS to 74574 to receive fan information. Drivers text MSDRIVERS to 74574 to receive driver information. Message and date rates apply. Updates are also available by calling Macon Speedway at 217-764-3000.

Macon Speedway is located nine miles south of Decatur on U.S. 51, then 0.6 miles west on Andrews Street and south to 205 N. Wiles. Macon Speedway hosts racing every Saturday night, plus many weeknight specials. Macon Speedway is a proud member of the Contingency Connection’s $100,000 Racer Rewards Program.

FINAL STANDINGS (Top 10’s)

Midwest Big Ten Super Late Models

Midwest Big Ten Pro Late Models

Midwest Big Ten Series Street Stocks

Macon Speedway Pro Late Models

Billingsley Elite Wash UMP Modifieds

Macon Speedway UMP B-Mods

Macon Speedway UMP Sportsman

Macon Speedway UMP Street Stocks

Macon Speedway UMP Hornets

Just a little over 1 week away from the Macon Speedway/Midwest Big Ten Series Awards Banquet. If you plan to attend, please RSVP as soon as possible so we can get a head count for food, etc. Call 217-764-3000.

Macon Awards Banquet
2017 Awards Banquet
Sunday, October 29

Location:

Championships Claimed in Finale

(Macon, IL) The 72nd season of Macon Speedway stock car racing came to a finish Saturday night and six division champions were decided in the final races. One division needed the race to finish before a champion could be crowned while other divisions already had their champions figured out before the final lap was scored.

The Sportsman division saw a bittersweet moment on lap three when Timmy Dick who came into the night with a six-point advantage on Danny Smith broke down and came into the infield as the car would not refire. He could only watch as Danny Smith finished the race in the eighth position. Dick would finish tenth which would keep him in the points lead and he would be crowned the champion from the infield next to his broken Sportsman. The final Sportsman checkered flag would go to a former multi-time division champion in Dennis Vandermeersch.

Curt Rhodes went back-to-back in the Billingsley Elite Wash Modifieds with the championship. He would also claim the night’s feature race to make it even better. Cory Daughterty was the early leader but fell back to the third place position as Rhodes got moving up on the high side.

Tim Hancock wrapped up the B-Modified championship with a solid feature race win, his ninth in a row, and also wrapped the National B-Modified Championship. For Hancock, he was his second-straight B-Modified Macon Speedway points championship after taking all 16 features in 2016.

Tommy Sheppard, Jr. also locked up the Pro Late Model championship with his appearance but he did just show up to win a championship, he showed up to win. And he did in a 20-lap A-Main feature race. The championship for Sheppard was his first.

The track didn’t do the Street Stocks drivers any favors with many spinouts and accidents in the early goings but the race got some traction as did the cars’ tires as Nick Macklin worked the bottom of the track and Darrell Dick stayed to the top in a close finish that was won by former Street Stock champion Macklin. The final smile of the night would go to Brian Dasenbrock as he would claim his first dirt track racing championship in the Street Stocks.

Eldon Hemken finished off the night and the season with the 4-cylinder Hornet feature win. The race was Hemken’s first at Macon Speedway this season after sporadically racing at Macon in the past. The championship was wrapped up after last week’s race as Dustin Reed claimed the championship by entering the final night with a lead better than 100 over the second place driver.

Macon Speedway raced 21 consecutive shows after the second of only two rainouts during the 2017 season back on May 20. The only Saturday night not ran between May 27 and September 30 was the first Saturday of August as the track rested silent in the shadows of the Decatur Celebration. Macon Speedway was able to race 25 shows during the season.

Championship Night was sponsored by Decatur Memorial Hospital and Brandt Agricultural Professionals.

Pro Late Models–1. Tommy Sheppard, Jr. (New Berlin), 2. Jake Little (Springfield), 3. Ryan Little (Springfield), 4. Jeff Ray (Springfield), 5. Greg Kimmons (Pleasant Plains), 6. Roben Huffman (Midland City), 7. Jeff Reed, Jr. (Blue Mound), 8. Patrick Younger (Decatur), 9. Cody Maguire (Carlinville), 10. Anthony Harter (Sherman)

Billingsley Elite Wash Modifieds–1. Curt Rhodes (Taylorville), 2. Jacob Steinkoenig (Highland), 3. Cory Daugherty (Blue Mound), 4. Dave Crawley, Jr. (Decatur), 5. Danny Smith (Argenta), 6. Zach Rhodes (Taylorville), 7. Tim Hancock, Jr. (Mt. Olive), 8. Austin Lynn (Mason City), 9. Blake Thompson (Troy), 10. Jeff Graham (Stonington)

Sportsman–1. Dennis Vandermeersch (Arlington), 2. Scott Williams (Anchor), 3. Brandon Pralle (Ashkum), 4. Steven Mattingly (Chenoa), 5. Tim Bedinger (Taylorville), 6. Wes O’Dell (Springfield), 7. Tyler Blankenship (St. Elmo), 8. Danny Smith (Argenta), 9. Rick Roedel (Shelbyville), 10. Timmy Dick (Monticello)

Street Stocks–1. Nick Macklin (Argenta), 2. Darrell Dick (Monticello), 3. Brian Dasenbrock (Decatur), 4. Wes Biesenthal (Athens), 5. Shawn Ziemer (Boody), 6. Cecil Tippit (Mt. Zion), 7. Roy Beal (Springfield), 8. Rudy Zaragoza (Jacksonville), 9. Fredie Thomas (Macon), 10. Jerit Murphy (Lodge)

B-Modifieds–1. Tim Hancock (Mt. Olive), 2. Cody Stillwell (Godfrey), 3. Tim Riech (Petersburg), 4. Richie Gabriel (Godfrey), 5. Tim Hancock, Jr. (Mt. Olive), 6. Jerry Thompson (Troy), 7. Jim Farley III (Springfield), 8. Amanda Adams (Shelbyville), 9. Jordan Warren (Medora), 10. Kevin Crowder (Argenta)

Hornets–1. Eldon Hemken (Sorento), 2. Matt Reed (Decatur), 3. Dustin Reed (Decatur), 4. John Bright, Jr. (Long Creek), 5. Fred Reed (Decatur), 6. Zach Bowles (Livingston), 7. Jared Cochran (Bethalto), 8. Marty Sullivan (Decatur), 9. Matthew Donaldson (Carlinville), 10. Stacy Stinson (Decatur)

IT IS Brandt Consolidated Season Championship Night presented by Decatur Memorial Hospital RACE DAY!

Tonight is the final night of racing for the 2017 season here at Macon Speedway and there is A LOT of great things going on as we send this 72nd season out in grand fashion.

There’a a full 6 divison racing program, fan giveaways, spectator drags at intermission, and LOTS of fun to cap the season off. As a part of this night where we in additon to crowning track champions AND give back to our great fans, we will also be collecting canned food items for the WSOY Community Food Drive. Those who bring food items for donation, will receive extra chance tickets for the giveaway items throughout the evening.

Drivers Racing For The Cups; Fans Winning Prizes

(Macon, IL) The engines will roar and the competition will be fierce, one last time in 2017, at Macon Speedway.  It’s BRANDT Season Championship “Racing For The Cup” presented by Decatur Memorial Hospital, this coming Saturday, September 30.  Season and track championships will be decided and fans will have numerous chances to win prizes, as the track gives back to its fans on the final night of the season.

The tightest point battle, entering the night, is in the UMP Sportsman class.  Monticello, IL driver, Timmy Dick, holds a six point lead on Danny Smith, which comes out to only three positions.  If Smith finishes three spots ahead of Dick on Saturday and they end in a tie, the tiebreaker goes to who has the most wins.  They currently each have two.  If that doesn’t break the tie, 2nd place finishes could.  Smith currently has the advantage in that category with one.  When it comes to feature wins, Springfield, IL area veteran, Dennis Vander Meersch is the one to watch, as he has won in back-to-back weeks.

The UMP B-Mod division points are still in doubt, as well.  The difference between point leader, Tim Hancock and second place point man, Cody Stillwell, is 18 points.  That’s a matter of nine feature positions.  To take the championship from Hancock, Stillwell would need to finish 10 positions ahead of him in the feature, since Hancock holds the tiebreaker with 13 wins.  Hancock has been rolling, winning eight features in-a-row at the 1/5-mile.  Saturday’s B-Mod feature winner will receive a prize pack from Richmond Gear, that includes a $200 product certificate, t-shirt, hat, pens, decals, and more.

One that is still up for grabs but is a longshot is the Billingsley Elite Wash UMP Modified championship.  Last year’s champion, Curt Rhodes, of Taylorville, IL, holds a 36 point lead over Mason City, IL’s Austin Lynn.  Lynn would need some bad luck for Rhodes plus a full 20 car field to have a chance to take the championship away, as he would need to finish 19 positions ahead of him for the championship.  The two have both had outstanding seasons but Rhodes has three wins and a second place finish in his last seven starts, enough to keep a comfortable lead.  Saturday’s Modified feature winner will receive a prize pack from Richmond Gear, that includes a $200 product certificate, t-shirt, hat, pens, decals, and more.

In the UMP Street Stock class, it’s been a yearlong battle between Brian Dasenbrock, of Decatur, IL, and Shawn Ziemer, of Boody, IL.  Ziemer picked up a win earlier this season and was looking like the championship favorite.  However, consistency by Dasenbrock over the second half of the year, including a stout second place finish this past Saturday night has given him a 54 point lead.  If Dasenbrock shows up on Saturday night, he will clinch this year’s championship, the first of his career.

The scenario is very similar to the Street Stocks, in the UMP Pro Late Model class.  New Berlin, IL driver Tommy Sheppard, Jr. leads the standings by 58.  If Sheppard is on the property with his racecar on Saturday night, he will clinch this year’s championship.  Jake Little, the Lincoln Speedway and Midwest Big Ten Pro Late Model champion, will likely come up just a little short of the Macon championship, after missing a couple nights this season.  For Sheppard, he came up just short in a Macon point battle in 2015, which means this would be his first career championship.

The only champion that is already declared is in the UMP Hornet class.  Decatur, IL driver, Dustin Reed, who has used a number of different cars to accumulate his points, has clinched the championship, leading by 102, entering the final night.  Reed is followed by Cook Crawford, from Lincoln, IL, who also finished second in the Lincoln Speedway points this season.

In addition to six divisions of racing, Spectator Drags will be held at intermission.  Spectator drags are an event where fans, crew members, or even drivers take their street legal vehicle onto the track and race one lap against one other competitors.  Whoever wins, advances to the next round.  There is no cost to compete.  Those who want to participate can contact the track to sign up.

Throughout the evening, numerous giveaways will take place as it’s also “Give Back To Fans Night”. The prize list is turning out to be huge, with donations from Texas Roadhouse, Walmart, Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy, Pop’s Place, Neal Tire & Auto, Donnelly’s CarQuest, Whit’s End 51, The Bullet Trap, Fisher’s Auto Repair II, ATI Fleet Services, Ok’s Transmission, Coziahr Harley Davidson, O’Charley’s Bar & Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, Mathes Therapeutic Massage, Macon Speedway, All About Eyes, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, & more.  It will all start when fans enter the gates, as the first 500 will receive free apps from the Texas Roadhouse.

Pit gates will open Saturday at 4:00, grandstands at 5:00, drivers meeting at 5:45, hotlaps at 6:00, and racing will begin at 7:00.  Grandstand admission is $15, while kids 11 and under are free.

About Macon Speedway:

For more information, follow Macon Speedway online at www.maconracing.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/maconracing) and Twitter (@maconspeedway). It’s easy to join the Macon Speedway text service. Fans can text MSFANS to 74574 to receive fan information. Drivers text MSDRIVERS to 74574 to receive driver information. Message and date rates apply. Updates are also available by calling Macon Speedway at 217-764-3000.

Macon Speedway is located nine miles south of Decatur on U.S. 51, then 0.6 miles west on Andrews Street and south to 205 N. Wiles. Macon Speedway hosts racing every Saturday night, plus many weeknight specials. Macon Speedway is a proud member of the Contingency Connection’s $100,000 Racer Rewards Program.

CURRENT STANDINGS (Top 10’s)

UMP Pro Late Models

Billingsley Elite Wash UMP Modifieds

UMP B-Mods

UMP Sportsman

UMP Street Stocks

UMP Hornets