By Brett Zerfowski
(Macon, IL) After two weeks of rain and more rain, Macon Speedway was able to open its gates again for stock car racing but not without the threat of more of the wet stuff. However, no precipitation fell and Teacher Appreciation Night sponsored by The Teacher’s Lounge went off without a hitch.
With thoughts on the teachers and educators of our youth, Macon Speedway premiered the second season of High School Hornets. Another season filled with young drivers ranging from ages 12-18 from junior high schools or high schools controlled the four-cylinder Hornets and the first night brought seven drivers with ages ranging from 13-17 years of age. The feature race would be won by Warrensburg-Latham student Dalton Jacobs, a 13-year-old from W-L Junior High School.
Kyle Logue took advantage of a late-race miscue by racing leader Cory Daugherty to seal the deal on his first Chevrolet Late Model feature. The race was led by Roger Brickler from Springfield until the 11th lap when he would fall victim to a flat right rear tire. That would put Daugherty into the driver’s seat of the race with Logue trailing behind and Brian Diveley creeping up on the inside. On the 19th lap into the second turn, Daugherty had troubles and lost the lead to Logue. Following a yellow flag and restart on lap 23 to set up a green-white-checkered flag situation, it would be Logue grabbing the A-Main in the Chevrolet Late Model feature.
Nick Macklin has had quite a journey in 2011. From beating defending Touchstone Energy Sportsman champion Dave Crawley, Jr., in consecutive weeks, Macklin extended his streak to three after Crawley’s car fell apart with five laps to go. A smoking drive shaft and a cloud of smoke fell onto the backstretch. Crawley was leading the race and being chased by Macklin and Scott Landers. Landers took second as 2009 division champion Rick Roedel placed third.
Aaron Burcham of Decatur claimed his first Billingsley Towing Modified feature of the season as he led all 20 laps. Mark Tullis and Dave Crawley, Jr. put up a fight for the lead but Burcham was too quick on the bottom groove. Crawley would take the runner-up spot from Tullis as the drivers came out of the final turns.
It felt like old times in the Street Stock class with Steve Ewing in the “Lightning McQueen” car taking the checkered flag in run-away style. His dominance in the division through the years was once again showcased as he ran the table for 12 laps. A caution with three laps to go tried to make things interesting but Blake Shelley couldn’t get enough momentum as placed second. Bobby Beiler was followed by Larry Russell, Jr. for third and fourth, respectively, and Mike Pundt, Jr. grabbed a top five finish.
Adam Webb was the winner of the Pro Hornets class, his second feature of 2011, and dedicated the win to a late family member. Garrett Lewis, son of former Bomber champion Gary Lewis, took top honors in the Amateur Hornet class. It came down to the wire as Jerad Matherly made things close into the final lap.
Macon Speedway gathered another car count into the hundreds with seven racing divisions, including Chevrolet Late Model qualifying, and still managed to finish the show before 10pm CDT.
Next week brings the month of May and the Mother Dear program headlined by the Crazy Chicks in Cars ladies race. Also on the show is the Cinco de Mayo Festival.
UMP Late Model – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 50.00
2 2 96 Cory Daugherty Blue Mound, Il 48.00
3 5 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 46.00
4 7 1 Jim Moon , Il 44.00
5 16 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 42.00
6 6 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 40.00
7 4 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 38.00
8 9 24 Dick Taylor Riverton , Il 36.00
9 11 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 34.00
10 1 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 32.00
11 8 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 30.00
12 12 17B Matt Beadles – 28.00
13 10 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 26.00
14 17 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 24.00
15 13 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 22.00
16 14 27 Jeff Beyers Pana , Il 20.00 DNS
17 15 8B John Barnard – 18.00 DNS
UMP Late Model – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 96 Cory Daugherty Blue Mound, Il 0.00
2 4 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
3 5 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
4 7 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00
5 6 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
6 8 17B Matt Beadles – 0.00
7 2 27 Jeff Beyers Pana , Il 0.00 DNS
8 3 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Late Model – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
2 2 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 0.00
3 3 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
4 4 1 Jim Moon , Il 0.00
5 5 24 Dick Taylor Riverton , Il 0.00
6 6 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
7 8 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00
8 9 8B John Barnard – 0.00
9 7 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
UMP Late Model – Qualifying
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
2 9 96 Cory Daugherty Blue Mound, Il 0.00
3 13 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 0.00
4 2 27 Jeff Beyers Pana , Il 0.00
5 5 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
6 16 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
7 8 1 Jim Moon , Il 0.00
8 14 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
9 11 24 Dick Taylor Riverton , Il 0.00
10 6 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
11 10 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
12 15 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
13 4 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
14 12 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00
15 1 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00
16 7 17B Matt Beadles – 0.00
UMP Modified – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 50.00
2 6 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 48.00
3 3 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 46.00
4 2 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 44.00
5 4 29W Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 42.00
6 11 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 40.00
7 9 31 Jeff Leka Buffalo , Il 38.00
8 8 11M Michael Rauch Sullivan , Il 36.00
9 13 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 34.00
10 14 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 32.00
11 7 23 Andrew Barnes – 30.00
12 10 47 Dustin Pryde Decatur , Il 28.00
13 15 3T Mike Ward Pawnee , Il 26.00
14 17 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 24.00
15 12 1 Josh Robb Blue Mound, Il 22.00
16 5 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 20.00
17 16 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 18.00 DNS
UMP Modified – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 0.00
2 5 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 0.00
3 8 29W Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
4 6 23 Andrew Barnes – 0.00
5 2 47 Dustin Pryde Decatur , Il 0.00
6 3 1 Josh Robb Blue Mound, Il 0.00
7 4 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 0.00
8 7 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
UMP Modified – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 0.00
2 1 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 0.00
3 3 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
4 5 11M Michael Rauch Sullivan , Il 0.00
5 9 31 Jeff Leka Buffalo , Il 0.00
6 8 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 0.00
7 6 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
8 7 3T Mike Ward Pawnee , Il 0.00
9 4 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
UMP Sportsman – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 16 Nick Mackling – 50.00
2 3 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 48.00
3 6 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 46.00
4 7 14C Alan Crowder Elwin , Il 44.00
5 5 35 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 42.00
6 11 4G Cody Wickline Assumption , Il 40.00
7 12 93 Ty Nation Taylorville , Il 38.00
8 15 3B Stefan Bedinger Taylorville , Il 36.00
9 14 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 34.00
10 17 22J Tony Clinton Dawson , Il 32.00
11 2 11K Jeff Brown Oreana , Il 30.00
12 1 C25 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 28.00
13 8 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 26.00
14 13 57 Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 24.00
15 16 7JR Josh Bourland – 22.00
16 10 08 Brian Dasenbrock Decatur , Il 20.00
17 9 52 Bob Sidener Springfield , Il 18.00
UMP Street Stock – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 95 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 50.00
2 5 30 Blake Shelley Oakley , Il 48.00
3 6 29 Bobby Beiler Decatur , Il 46.00
4 2 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 44.00
5 4 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 42.00
6 9 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 40.00
7 7 33 Justin Hill , Il 38.00
8 8 21 Troy Dodson Cerro Gordo, Il 36.00
9 10 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 34.00
10 16 B35 Billy Justice Niantic , Il 32.00
11 13 F45 Jeramie Fowler Decatur , Il 30.00
12 12 23 Jason Hazlet Moweaqua , Il 28.00
13 11 22X Jeff Dodd Springfield , Il 26.00
14 3 61 Gene Reed Shelbyville , Il 24.00
15 14 OO Roy Magee Ii Springfield , Il 22.00
16 15 57R Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 20.00 DNS
UMP Amateur Hornet – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 73 Garrett Lewis Decatur , Il 50.00
2 4 J4 Jerad Matherly Decatur , Il 48.00
3 10 53 Jenny Clinton Dawson , Il 46.00
4 18 56Z Zach Perryman Decatur , Il 44.00
5 8 205 Michael Gossett – 42.00
6 9 13 John Bright Jr Decatur , Il 40.00
7 6 96 Derek Peters Pana , Il 38.00
8 14 A98 Austin Harbin Argenta , Il 36.00
9 7 38R Kyle Maxwell Pana , Il 34.00
10 15 BRNDX Cindi Mackling – 32.00
11 16 21N Nick Matherly Decatur , Il 30.00
12 13 1F Fred Mifflin Mount Zion, Il 28.00
13 17 71 Sandra Sorrell – 26.00
14 2 3 Brady Reed – 24.00
15 3 98R Kenneth Reed Decatur , Il 22.00
16 12 58 Chad Clevenger Mattoon , Il 20.00
17 5 54 Garth Luka – 18.00
18 11 4 J.p. Lewis – 16.00 DNS
UMP Hornet – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 40 Adam Webb Decatur , Il 50.00
2 6 15 Heidi Hames Decatur , Il 48.00
3 13 21 Joseph Mcchristy Mt Zion, Il 46.00
4 5 56K Michael Webb Decatur , Il 44.00
5 7 0 Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 42.00
6 4 52 Jonathan Drake Decatur , Il 40.00
7 11 115 Cory Ballinger Decatur , Il 38.00
8 14 1 Cook Crawford – 36.00
9 8 71 Todd Rush Pawnee , Il 34.00
10 9 58 Tyler Dammerman – 32.00
11 10 3 Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 30.00
12 16 83 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 28.00
13 17 88 Brian Offer Springfield , Il 26.00
14 12 4 Matthew Reed Blue Mound, Il 24.00
15 20 14X Steven Stine , Il 22.00
16 1 21Z Zach Dodd Riverton , Il 20.00
17 15 38 Steven Dulgar Decatur , Il 18.00
18 3 46 Jeff Eller Decatur , Il 16.00 DNS
19 18 01 Roy Magee Ii Springfield , Il 14.00 DNS
20 19 7S Sam Mccoy Decatur , Il 12.00 DNS
UMP High School Hornet – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 6 21 Dalton Jacobs Decatur , Il 0.00
2 5 12 Dean Holt Decatur , Il 0.00
3 4 21T Tiffani Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
4 1 7 Michael Tucker – 0.00
5 2 46 Jacob Eller Decatur , Il 0.00
6 3 35 Cheyenne Fisher Decatur , Il 0.00
7 7 01 Cassie Magee , Il 0.00 DNS