MACON, Ill. – Memorial Day reminds us to honor all fallen soldiers and give thanks for the freedom they provided us. We play Taps and decorate gravestones to remember the greatest gift given by these brave service men and women. The three-day weekend also serves as the unofficial start to summer, when we fire up the grill and start thinking about summer fun outdoors.
Macon Speedway has a long tradition of racing on Memorial Day, and the legendary fifth-mile high banked oval power slides into the summer season with the Sunoco American Late Model Series stars racing for $2,000 to win on Monday, May 26. The feature race also pays $250 to start, so late model drivers know this is a great way to finish off a weekend of dirt-track racing. NASCAR stars Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace also appear on NASCAR Night of Stars I to race in the Billingsley Towing Modifieds division. Schrader and Wallace, a pair of Macon Speedway co-owners, will also meet with fans for autographs and pictures.
“Macon Speedway is proud to bring racing to our fans on Memorial Day, when we enjoy the freedom given us by brave soldiers who died in service to their country,’’ Macon Speedway promoter Bob Sargent said. “We’re finally reaching the heat of summer, and the action is heating up here at Macon Speedway.’’
With so many talented late model drivers who call Macon Speedway home plus the Central Illinois stars looking to grab the cash, the Sunoco ALMS race is expected to draw big names and fan favorites to pack the stands. The door-to-door, sideways action will keep fans on their feet. Besides the Sunoco ALMS cars and Billingsley Towing Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, Outlaw Hornets and Stock Hornets will also race.
As part of the Memorial Day tradition, Macon Speedway moves up the program one hour earlier so fans can get to work the following day. Pits open at 3 p.m., followed by gates swinging open at 4 and racing at 6. Upcoming race dates include Casey’s General Stores Night/Armed Forces Night on May 31, plus IHOP Night and the Nevitt Memorial Faster Pastor race on June 7, when the POWRi midgets return during Illinois Midget Week and the POWRi Outlaw Micros run against the Beach House Mini-Sprints.
For more information, follow Macon Speedway at (www.maconracing.com), 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 may 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.