From Adam Mackey
MACON, Ill. (August 16, 2017) — The tradition of the Illinois State Fair race weekend continues this weekend with Macon Speedway, in Macon, IL, being part of the four event in three day extravaganza. As has been the case for several years, Macon Speedway will play host to the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets on Saturday night, August 19th, after the Silver Crown cars run the Springfield Mile earlier in the day. Four other classes will be part of Saturday night’s show.
In the Midget division, Pocahontas, IL’s Zach Daum leads the way in the standings by 460 over Sutter, CA’s Logan Seavey. Each driver has claimed one win each. Daum’s point lead comes from his impressive consistency with 13 top ten’s in 15 races. Tucker Klaasmeyer, Jake Neuman, and Andrew Felker round out the top five in standings. A very diverse field of drivers from all over the country is expected as seven different states are represented by the top ten in points including Illinois, California, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Nevada.
Joe B. Miller leads the way in the POWRi Speedway Motors 600 cc Outlaw Micro Sprints. The division, which has run a couple of POWRi sanctioned shows at the track this year, has also had a few appearances under the track’s Beach House Restaurant banner. A strong field is expected with Luke Verardi, from Taylorville, IL second in national points to Miller. Kurt Westerfield, Nathan Benson, and Slater Helt round out the top five. Jeremy Camp, formerly of nearby Blue Mound, has been tough to beat in recent events for the division at the track.
New Berlin, IL’s Tommy Sheppard, Jr. comes into the week, leading the UMP Pro Late Model division standings. The Pro Lates will also have an event on Friday night at Lincoln, with drivers having a chance at bonus money if they run both nights. Blue Mound, IL’s Jeff Reed, Jr. and Springfield, IL’s Jake Little are podium point contenders. Roben Huffman and Cody Maguire complete the top five in current points. Several different winners have found victory lane this year including Little (6), Sheppard and Ryan Little (2), and Rudy Zaragoza, Matt Taylor, and Myles Moos each have one.
The UMP Street Stocks are on schedule for this Saturday night at Macon Speedway. The division, which is coming off of a great Big 10 show at Lincoln last Sunday, has newly married, Brian Dasenbrock of Decatur, IL leading the points over Shawn Ziemer of Boody, IL. Decatur, IL’s Jason Scrimpsher is third, while Jeremy Nichols and Garrett Lewis are fourth and fifth in the track points.
Rounding out the Macon entertainment for Saturday will be the UMP Hornets. Decatur, IL driver Dustin Reed is on top of the standings by 64 on the driver of the 64CK, Cook Crawford of Lincoln, IL. Marty Sullivan, Paul Peters, and Carter Dart complete the current top five. Reed has won two features, with Adam Webb winning five during a part time schedule at the track this year.
Pits open Saturday at 3:00, grandstands at 5:00, hotlaps start at 6:00, and racing will take the green at 7:00. Grandstand admission will be $15, while kids 11 and under are free.
It’s all part of three great days of racing in Central Illinois. On Friday, the POWRi/WAR East 410 Sprint cars put on the show at Lincoln Speedway along with Pro Lates, Mods, and DII Midgets. Saturday afternoon, fans will flock to the Illinois State Fair for the Bettenhausen 100 before heading to Macon Speedway Saturday night. Rounding out the weekend will be the Herr’s Potato Chips Chase The Taste 100 on Sunday afternoon at 1:30.