July 19, 2016 archive

Saturday’s Kerbystrong To Be Followed By Lucas Oil Late Models Tuesday

July is the month of big events at Macon IL Speedway, especially for those in the Super Late Model world.  It all started with the UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour on Thursday, July 7 with the Herald & Review 100, when tour champion Bobby Pierce picked up the victory.  It all resumes this coming Saturday, July 23 with the 2nd Annual Kerbystrong and ends on Tuesday, July 26 with the Lucas Oil Late Models in the St. Louis U-Pic-A-Part 100.

This Saturday’s Kerbystrong 100 will feature 50 laps of Late Model racing for the Midwest Big Ten Late Models, paying $2,000 to win and $250 to start.  A Billingsley Towing UMP Modified 25 lap feature will pay $700 to win and a 25 lap Sportsman feature will be run with a $600 top prize.  Street Stocks, B-Mods, and Hornets will also be in action.

The race is in memory of Kerby Damery, a former Late Model racer at Macon Speedway and surrounding tracks in central Illinois.  The 2004 Late Model track champion passed away in early 2015, after a long battle with cancer.  The event also was put together to raise cancer awareness  and to give hope to cancer patients and educate the community.

Last year’s race saw 34 Super Late Models and strong fields in the other classes as well.  After a back and forth battle with Dave Crawley, Jr., Tonica, IL driver, Scott Schmitt pulled away with the Late Model victory.  Crawley did claim the Modified top prize, while Dennis Vandermeersch took the Sportsman win.

As if Saturday’s action isn’t enough, the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series will be coming to town just a few days later, on Tuesday, July 26 for the St. Louis U-Pic-A-Part 100.  The race was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 30 but was canceled due to rain.  The makeup event should be huge, with all of the Lucas Oil stars coming in to compete against locals from the region vying for the $12,000 top prize.  The Billingsley Towing UMP Modifieds and B-Mods will also be on the card.

Last year, the Lucas Oil event ended with Newport, TN driver, Jimmy Owens, in victory lane.  Bloomington, IL driver, Jason Feger, took second, while Moweaqua, IL’s Shannon Babb took third.  This year’s UMP Summer National champion, Bobby Pierce, led until lap 58 when he had to pit because of a flat tire.  Pierce, coming off of the Herald & Review 100 win earlier this month, will be the favorite to find victory lane this Tuesday.

The Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series will be led to town by Scott Bloomquist, who has had an outstanding season thus far.  Bloomquist has built a 200+ point lead on Jonathan Davenport, who has some unreal numbers over the last year.  Jared Landers, central Illinois favorite Brandon Sheppard, and Tim McCreadie round out the top five.  Dennis Erb, Jr., Darrell Lanigan, Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, and Earl Pearson, Jr. complete the top ten in current Lucas Oil points.

The Saturday, July 23 Kerbystrong 100 event will have pits opening at 3:00, grandstands at 4:00, competitor pill draw will end at 5:50, hotlaps will start at 6:00, and racing will take the green at 7:00.  Grandstand admission is $15 for adults and free for kids 11 and under.

On Tuesday, July 26 for the Lucas Oil Late Model event, the times will remain the same with general admission being $30 for adults and $5 for kids 11 and under.

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.

CURRENT POINTS (TOP 10’s)

Midwest UMP Big Ten Super Late Models

Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series

Billingsley Towing UMP Modifieds

UMP Sportsman

UMP B-Mods

UMP Street Stocks

UMP Hornets