June 2020 archive

Racing action for Saturday, June 27 was canceled due to rain. Macon Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, July 4 with racing and fireworks.

(Macon, IL) While Mother Nature washed Macon Speedway out last weekend, drivers are ready to take back to the track this Saturday night, June 27 for a full seven division show. Last weekend would’ve been a treat had rain not arrived with strong fields of cars pitside.

A field of 20 BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds were on hand last weekend before the rains came. That matched the full field the track saw on opening night as well, when Jacob Steinkoenig, of Highland, IL took the victory. The class looks like it will provide some great entertainment all season long.

The DIRTcar Pro Late Model class has handful of drivers that will compete hard for victories every week. Springfield, IL’s Jake Little won on opening night but the battle with Dakota Ewing, Chris Dick, Jose Parga, and Colby Sheppard was fun to watch. More of that is expected this week with maybe a couple more to throw in as well. A $100 bonus will be on the line for the overall top qualifier, courtesy of R33D Racecars.

Opening night was a tough one for the DIRTcar Pro Mod drivers as numerous cautions led to shortening the feature laps. That said, those who finished in the top half of the field are highly talented drivers who will keep things interesting all year long. Billy Knebel leads the standings heading into Saturday, after winning on opening night. It should also be noted he finished second in the A-Mod race with the same car.

2019 was a story of Dennis Vander Meersh and Scott Landers in the DIRTcar Sportsman class. Opening night was no different. Both had good numbers at pill draw which put them up front in their heat. Vander Meersh won with Landers taking second. The same happened in the feature, which reminded many of last year. The two will be the ones to shoot for this Saturday.

Bobby Beiler leads the field of Archers Alley Street Stocks into Saturday’s action after his win on opening night. Beiler did it in convincing style after starting at the tail of the field. Veteran Guy Taylor finished second that night in the Bub Russell car. Russell, unfortunately, passed away in the offseason and Taylor was tabbed to carry on his dream with the new ride. The Street Stocks arguably put on some of the most exciting action week after week.

Last year’s DIRTcar Hornet champion, Brady Reed, of Decatur, IL, looks like the one to beat again, as he leads the points going into Saturday. Reed won on opening night, with a pretty solid 15 car field on hand.

The Micros By Bailey Chassis are led by Micro veteran Jeremy Camp of Sullivan, IL. Anytime you see the #23 show up at Macon, you know he is one to beat. Tyler Robbins, Paul Day, Larry Drake, and Molly Day are top five in the standings heading into the event.

It was announced this week that Macon Speedway will also be back in action on Saturday, July 4, celebrating the holiday with racing and fireworks. Midgets will be in action for the first time this year, a tuneup for the POWRi shows coming up in August. The DIRTcar Pro Late Models and BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds will be running in the 95Q/Dynagraphics Firecracker 40’s, while the Archers Alley Street Stocks and Hornets will also be on the card.

This Saturday’s event is sponsored by Air King and will have pits opening at 3:00, grandstands at 5:00, pill draw ends at 5:50, hotlaps begin at 6:00, and racing will take the green at 7:00. Grandstand admission will be $15 with kids 11 and under 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 data 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 $150,000 Racer Rewards Program.

CURRENT STANDINGS (Top 10’s) 

BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds 

DIRTcar Pro Late Models 

DIRTcar Pro Modifieds 

DIRTcar Sportsman 

Archers Alley Street Stocks 

DIRTcar Hornets 

Micros By Bailey Chassis 

By BZ

(Macon, IL) The state of Illinois has been handcuffed with restrictions and the inability for central Illinois racing fans to get their chance to enjoy racing has finally come to an end. Saturday night, two months after the scheduled 75th Anniversary season was to begin, was Opening Night and with the temperatures comfortably in the 80s by start time and middle 70s by the end of the night, race fans and drivers finally were able to sink their teeth into the 2020 dirt track racing season. Well over 100 racecars among seven divisions plus a large crowd attempting their best to socially distance were entertained just as they were hoping to be entertained for the last few months.

Blue Mound’s Bobby Beiler thought he was off to a good start in 2020. After dueling for a heat race win, Beiler crossed the weighing scales and did not come up as legal. His car was light. He was disqualified. After adding weight to get his Archer’s Alley Street Stock legal, he started in the back of the 13-car field and took a solid run at the lead. After a good start by Jaret Duff and Guy Taylor in the early goings, Beiler would begin to pick apart the group and work his way to the front. Taylor was racing in the X7 Street Stock, the car that was raced for many decades by Larry “Bub” Russell, Jr. who passed away in March. Paying homage to “Bub” in his car, Taylor stayed with the lead pack and Duff continued to battle with the lead. Beiler’s speed and quickness across the 1/5th mile’s high banks was just too much and Beiler would take the 15-lap feature event.

Jacob Steinkoenig of Highland scored his first feature win in the BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds division. After getting the car locked in on the top groove, he started to soar. The race was led most of the way by Pro-Modified driver Billy Knebel as he utilized the bottom of the track to take the advantage away from Guy Taylor and Alan Crowder. As the race came around with five laps remaining, Steinkoenig put it together and scored the first feature win.

Jake Little was good enough to stay ahead during the Pro Late Model feature race. Despite the excitement to get the lead, most of the fun was behind him as Chris Dick, Dakota Ewing and Jose Parga all raced for second place. With a combination of slide jobs and passes, the second place position was up for grabs. An unfortunate mishap led to Ewing and Parga, racing teammates, to tangle together outside of the second turn. The action slowed Parga momentarily and after a restart, Parga still managed a top-five finish. Little cruised across the top of the track to grab the first win in the division for the season.

Dennis Vandermeersch needed time to collect his thoughts before exiting the Sportsman racecar after he took the checkered flag. His best friend and former racing competitor Tim Bedinger passed away in March and Vandermeersch got to victory lane thinking about his fallen friend. The Springfield driver passed Scott Landers for the lead towards the beginning of the race and dashed away to the win. The former track champion dedicated the race to his friend who was also a former division track champion.

Jeremy Camp piloted his Micro Sprint past Paul Day and Molly Day to secure his feature win. The Sullivan driver was up to the challenge three times against the Days as Paul started the race solidly but fell behind Camp and Molly gave two runs for the lead until Camp started to coast away.

Billy Knebel stayed out front in the Neal Tire & Auto Pro-Modified feature and was lucky to stay that way during a caution-fest feature. The race was derailed of any consistency by yellow flag after yellow flag and officials were forced to cut laps from the feature for time restrictions. Knebel was in the lead when the green-white-checkered flags were waved. After surviving that race, he was able to put together a great run during the BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds feature.

Three cars raced for the lead in the Hornet feature with Brady Reed, his brother Jeremy Reed and Mike Eskew. Unfortunately, two of those drivers would fall victim to failure and one would go on for the glory. Mike Eskew bounced off a tractor tire which separates the infield from the racing surface and rolled his 4-cylinder car in the fourth turn. The Springfield driver would be safe and sound but the car was ruined for the rest of the race. During that situation, Jeremy Reed’s car would be slowed and stopped. Brady Reed was left and would gas it all the way to the finish.

The 75th Anniversary season at Macon Speedway is underway. Another seven division night awaits race fans next Saturday night, as well. Pro Late Models, BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds, Sportsman, Archer’s Alley Street Stocks, Neal Tire & Auto Pro-Modifieds, Micro Sprints presented by Bailey Chasis and Hornets are all slated to run again next Saturday night as the season starts to find some traction after the season opener.

Macon Speedway’s sister track, Lincoln Speedway, will also host racing next weekend with another Friday evening show with 305 Winged Sprint Cars with Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Division II Midgets and Hornets.

Gates open next weekend at 5pm with racing at 7pm. 

DIRTcar Pro Late Models (Top 10)

(1) 4 +3 Jake Little Springfield, IL 38J (2) 3 +1 Dakota Ewing Warrensburg, IL 25 (3) 2 -1 Chris Dick Deland, IL 22 (4) 9 +5 Jose Parga New Berlin, IL 6P (5) 1 -4 Colby Sheppard Williamsville, IL 27 (6) 5 -1 Dustin Wiltermood Windsor, IL 7W (7) 6 -1 JR Wiltermood Windsor, IL 93J 8 (7) -1 Storm Beiler Decatur, IL 33B (9) 8 -1 Brady Lynch Hillsboro, IL 14B (DNS) – – Blake Damery Blue Mound, IL 10

BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds (Top 10) 

(1) 4 +3 Jacob Steinkoenig Highland, IL 24S (2) 5 +3 Billy Knebel Pocahontas, IL 52 (3) 3 – Guy Taylor Springfield, IL 66 (4) 7 +3 Jeremy Nichols Lovington, IL 19C (5) 6 +1 Willy Myers Collinsville, IL 21M (6) 9 +3 Kyle Helmick Smithton, IL 27X (7) 21 +14 Tommy Sheppard Jr New Berlin, IL 27 (8) 13 +5 Jarrett Stryker Millstadt, IL 18 (9) 10 +1 Blake Thompson Troy, IL 7 (10) 14 +4 Joe Strawkas Buffalo, IL 28S

Neal Tire & Auto ProMods 

(1) 1 – Billy Knebel Pocahontas, IL 52 (2) 3 +1 Nick Justice Decatur, IL 85 (3) 5 +2 Kyle Helmick Smithton, IL 27X (4) 8 +4 Kevin Crowder Argenta, IL 15C (5) 4 -1 Dalton Ewing Decatur, IL 27 (6) 11 +5 Billy Justice Jr Cerro Gordo, IL 43 (7) 16 +9 Tim Riech Petersburg, IL 55 (8) 18 +10 Maxx Emerson Taylorville, IL 78 (9) 13 +4 Brian Burns Bethany, IL 7B (10) 2 -8 Evan Lynch Hillsboro, IL 14E

Archers Alley Street Stocks 

(1) 15 +14 Bobby Beiler Blue Mound, IL B26 (2) 3 +1 Guy Taylor Springfield, IL X7 (3) 5 +2 Nick Macklin Argenta, IL 16 (4) 2 -2 Jaret Duff Maroa, IL 21 (5) 4 -1 Rudy Zaragoza Jacksonville, IL 67 (6) 6 – Brian Dasenbrock Decatur, IL 08 (7) 7 – Jake Hearty Belleville, IL 31H (8) 12 +4 Dustin Reed Decatur, IL 21R (9) (DNF) 1 -8 Darrell Dick Monticello, IL 22 (10) (DNF) 8 -2 Jonathon Hall Harristown, IL 3J

DIRTcar Sportsman

(1) 1 – Dennis Vander Meersch Springfield, IL 25 (2) 2 – Scott Landers Taylorville, IL 41 (3) 5 +2 Tyler Roth Fairbury, IL 20R (4) 4 – Rick Roedel Shelbyville, IL 11 (5) 7 +2 Matt Reed Decatur, IL 4 (6) 8 +2 John Lewis Cerro Gordo, IL 44 (7) (DNF) 6 -1 Jim Farley III Springfield, IL 84L (8) (DNF) 3 -5 Phil Moreland Assumption, IL 07

DIRTcar Hornets

(1) 8 +7 Brady Reed Decatur, IL 32B (2) 6 +4 Billy Mason Brownstown, IL 357 (3) 2 -1 Michael McKay Springfield, IL 26A (4) 1 -3 Jacob Shanks Decatur, IL 31 (5) 7 +2 Bill Basso Athens, IL 44 (6) 5 -1 Cook Crawford Lincoln, IL 1 (7) 15 +8 Ken Reed Decatur, IL 98 (8) 9 +1 Alex Higgs Moweaqua, IL 35 (9) 11 +2 Paul Peters Pana, IL 63 (10) 14 +4 Allan Harris 3H

Micros By Bailey Chassis 

(1) 2 +1 Jeremy Camp Sullivan, IL 23 (2) 5 +3 Tyler Robbins Collinsville, IL 35 (3) 1 -2 Paul Day Atwood, IL 84 (4) 8 +4 Larry Drake Terre Haute, IN 97D (5) 4 -1 Molly Day Allerton, IL 17 (6) 11 +5 Jacob Tipton Decatur, IL 10 (7) 6 -1 John Barnard Sherman, IL B8 (8) 10 +2 Kyle Touchette Collinsville, IL 6 (9) 13 +4 Mike Frantz 2F (10) 12 +2 Cody Swisher Atwood, IL 2

Tickets Available Online Or At Gate On Raceday

(Macon, IL) Drivers are raring and ready to go for the 2020 season at Macon Speedway, in Macon, IL. After two months of cancelations due to COVID-19, the track is ready to open with extra precautionary measures when it comes to the health and safety of its competitors and fans for the Saturday, June 13 event which will feature seven divisions of racing, racing for DIRTcar regional and national points.

Saturday’s action will feature DIRTcar Pro Late Models, BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds, Neal Tire & Auto Pro Mods, DIRTcar Sportsman, Archers Alley Street Stocks, DIRTcar Hornets, and Micros By Bailey Chassis. It was announced this week that DIRTcar national and regional points will be awarded this weekend, for the first time in 2020.

Tickets for Saturday’s event will be available at the gate on raceday. Fans who would like to purchase in advance may do so by going to https://market.myracepass.com/store/tickets/?i=1210524&store=12208 . Adult tickets are $15 per person, while kids 11 and under are free.

In addition to limiting capacity with head count numbers, attendees are encouraged to wear masks, bring hand sanitizer, and utilize the six foot social distancing recommendation as much as possible. Temperature checks/health screenings will be held upon arrival for fans and competitors.

Pits will open Saturday at 3:00, grandstands at 5:00, hotlaps start at 6:00, and racing will take the green at 7:00.

The remainder of the 2020 schedule will be announced in the near future.

For more information, visit www.maconracing.com or call the office at 217-764-3000.

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 $150,000 Racer Rewards Program.

Lincoln Speedway & Macon Speedway Set For Season Openers

(Macon, IL) Racing action is set to return this coming Friday and Saturday, June 12/13 to a pair of Central Illinois tracks. Lincoln Speedway, located in Lincoln, IL will open the 2020 season on Friday night, while Macon Speedway, located in Macon, IL will open up on Saturday evening. Both tracks will use extra precautionary measures when it comes to the health and safety of its customers.

Both tracks have been shutdown as far as actual racing is concerned, due to COVID-19 and the guidelines that come with it. Promoters from the two tracks have been hosting races in neighboring states, over recent weeks, utilizing social distancing guidelines and extra sanitary measures with great success. Those will be put in place for this weekend’s events.

In addition to limiting capacity with head count numbers, attendees are encouraged to wear masks, bring hand sanitizer, and utilize the six foot social distancing recommendation as much as possible. Temperature checks/health screenings will be held upon arrival for fans and competitors.

At Lincoln Speedway Friday, DIRTcar Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Nutech Seed DII Midgets, and Hornets will be in action.

Macon Speedway will play host on Saturday to the DIRTcar Pro Late Models, BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds, Neal Tire & Auto Pro Mods, Archers Alley Street Stocks, Sportsman, Hornets, and Micros By Bailey Chassis.

Pits will open both days at 3:00 PM, grandstands at 5:00, hotlaps at 6:00, and racing action at 7:00. General admission tickets will be available at the gate for $15 each, with kids 11 and under free.

For more information on Lincoln Speedway, visit www.lincolnspeedwayil.com or for Macon Speedway, www.maconracing.com.