by Don Martin – STLRacing.com Exclusive
Dirt Track racing fans of Illinois should appreciate what we have in the Land of Lincoln. We have some of the best drivers, tracks, and promoters in the country yet some of the best reside right here in the state of Illinois. Sometimes I don’t think we know how lucky we have it, and we need to appreciate of what we have. With Social Media outlets we have today it is so easy to criticize what we do wrong and not enough credit is said when things are right. I want to dedicate this column this week to the racers, tracks, and promoters of Illinois and give them a big shout out for a job well done.
As we start down south we have Tri-City Speedway. Promoters Kevin and Tammy Gundaker give the area some of the biggest races of the year in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Actually this evening is a Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model event labeled “Battle of the Beach”. Some of the biggest names in the sport will be on hand for the second Lucas event of the year. Names including the two biggest names in the history of the sport will be on hand with Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer. Defending Lucas Champion Jonathan Davenport will be on hand joining Tim McCreadie, Jared Landers, Dennis Erb Jr., Steve Francis, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, and Darrell Lanigan to name a few. The Gundaker’s also will have the Summitt Modified Nationals in late September with a big midget race to follow early October. Tri-City has some top talent locally in the pit area as well. Tim Manville, Michael Kloos, Billy Laycock, and Jeff Herzog all made the Lucas main event back in late April. Manville is getting better and better, last year don’t forget he made the World 100 main event !! The place has great concessions, always clean, and the racing is excellent.
Up the road we have 3 tracks that should be mentioned, Highland Speedway, Belle Clair, and Fayette County. Highland just came off hitting a home run with Billy Moyer taking the honors last Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd taking home $10,000. Belle-Clair had a great Summer National race with Bobby Pierce outdueling Jason Feger for the win. Belle-Clair has several POWRI midget shows thru the course of the year. This past month I attended Fayette County for the Summer National race, and what a race it was between Josh Richards and Brian Shirley. The two must have raced side by side for 20 laps for the lead. Mark Richards of Rocket Chassis told me after the races this place is one of the best kept secrets in the country, it was his third time there and has been impressed every time he was there.
As we head north, fans can hit Jacksonville, Macon, and Lincoln. Jacksonville known for Sprint Cars on Friday nights and have had a couple of World of Outlaw shows over the last few years. Macon another fun track to watch a race, I love the midgets there and can’t wait for July 25th for the Lucas Oil Late Model Series on Tuesday. One thing you can expect from Promoter Bob Sargent is a good race and getting fans out the gate in a timely manner, the guy just doesn’t mess around !!! Also while at Macon try the ribeye !! Lincoln Speedway, I was crushed when the World of Outlaws Late Model /UMP Summer National race was cancelled due to rain. This was a race on my schedule the minute it was released. The track a ¼ mile paper clip is a fun place to see a race.
What else can you say about Farmer City and Fairbury, the most passionate fans come from this area. They love their locals and the way they support the weekly racing nothing more needs to be said. I can still remember some of the historical battles between Roger Long, Bob Pierce, Billy Moyer, Kevin Weaver, John Gill, and Don O’Neal at these bullrings. Farmer City every April has the Illini 100 featuring the World of Outlaw Late Models and July Summer National event. Fairbury has the biggest race of the year in Illinois. The last weekend of July, Promoter Matt Curl and his staff host the Prairie Dirt Classic. The event pays $25,000 to win, the racing is some of the most intense you will see all year. The event draws over 60 late models each year, features a golf tournament the day of raising money for Shriner’s Children Hospital. This is a must see event for every dirt racing fan open wheel or stock car it doesn’t matter definitely a bucket list event. The last two years has to be the race of the year, last year watching Davenport slamming Erb for the win or the year before watching McCreadie and Owens tackling the cushion on the high side with TMAC coming out the victor. I can go on and on about Fairbury, it is just that good !!!
Other race tracks that should be mentioned are LaSalle, Spoon River, and Peoria. LaSalle always has a Lucas Race, Summer National and a big race in the spring. Spoon River and Peoria have Summer National events each year and Peoria always throws some special $5,000 to win events.
Now talk about the Illinois Bad Boys !! No outsider of Illinois has won the coveted Summer National Championship since 2004 when Indiana’s Don O’Neal won. That is how tough the Illinois Dirt Late Model Drivers are !!
The place to start would have to be with Bobby Pierce. This 19 year old is getting ready to win back to back UMP Summer Nationals. He has racked up 17 Summer National events already in his young career and ranks 5th in the Nation in the Dirt on Dirt poll.
Dennis Erb became the first Illinois driver ever to win a major at Eldora Speedway. Dennis a 3-Time Summer National Champion won the Dream back in June at Eldora paying $100,000. Dennis sits 7th in the Nation in the Dirt on Dirt rankings.
Shannon Babb is not having the season we are used to seeing from him, guy has just had some bad luck. He has led several races or been in contention when something just seems to go wrong. Babb is a 4-Time UMP Summer National Champion with 90 Summer National wins and has won some of late models biggest events including the Dirt Track World Championships and Topless 100.
Brandon Sheppard is on the verge of being a superstar. He sits in the top five in the Lucas standings and is also ranked in the top ten in the National rankings. He already has a crown jewel to his credit winning the Dirt Track World Championship. The kid just keeps getting better and better, I would hate to have race against this kid in 5 years !!
Brian Shirley maybe the most underrated driver in the country. He currently sits in the top five in the World of Outlaw standings has two wins. He is past Summer National Champion back in 2012 has 15 Summer National wins and has won the Knoxville Dirt Late Model Nationals. Last year we remember Brian has to step back to support his wife during some tough medical issues, the kid has rebounded has a great season. He has a great attitude and now has bad ass race team with Bob Cullen pulling the strings. One other thing about Shirley don’t say nothing bad about his best buddy Feger them boys are like brothers !!!
Jason Feger is starting to figure things out in his Moyer Victory machine. They have been getting more consistent and bringing home some wins. Feger a past Summer National Champion back in 2010 has over 15 Summer National wins is currently ranked in the Top 25 in the nation. I look for Jason to have big second half of the year. Another one of the good guys in the pit area always takes the time for the fan is just a pleasure to be around. I would love to see this guy get a big sponsor, one of the most passionate racers I have ever been around.
Kevin Weaver, the Flatland Flash has over 300 wins over 45 different tracks. You want to see Kevin race just go to Farmer City and Fairbury and you will see the White and Red #B12. He is still going strong taking home track championships.
Other notable Illinois drivers that need to be mentioned are Frankie Heckenast Jr. who runs the World of Outlaw series and sits in top ten in the points. Ryan Unzicker, Bob Gardner, and McKay Wenger are other tough competitors. Unzicker and Gardner are currently on the Summer National tour, Unzicker has couple of wins on the series while Gardner in his pink and black #4 Longhorn might be the most improved driver. The always fast and fun to watch McKay Wenger #42 resides in Fairbury and is the current UMP National point leader.
Last we need to mention the UMP Modifieds, I think the baddest boy in Illinois has to be Highland’s Mike Harrison. It doesn’t matter if this guy is on bullring or a big 3/8 mile seems to be the guy to beat wherever you see the #24. His toughest competitor might be Quincy Illinois driver Michael Long. Long is tough at Tri-City, he is so smooth while Harrison is aggressive. Always a great show if these two are in the pit area, they both have a ton of respect for each other.
Ray Bollinger drives a yellow #77 UMP modified and can be seen most of the time at Farmer City and Fairbury is currently the UMP Point leader. Other top Illinois modified drivers include Ray Walsh, Jeff Leka, Brent Mullins, Steven Brooks, Chad Kinder, and Dean Hoffman.
In closing I just want to give our tracks, drivers, and promoters in Illinois kudos for giving us fans some of the best racing in the country and yet it happens in the Land of Lincoln. Thanks again and support your local race track.