From Track Enterprises – DuQuoin, IL-(September 1, 2016)-It was expected that the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard’s drivers with dirt track experience would perform well at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 21 and they certainly lived up to expectations. Drivers with some significant dirt track experience occupied the first 6 slots at Springfield and 7 of the top 10. Many of the same drivers head for the picturesque DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Sunday night’s General Tire Grabber-Southern Illinois 100. The addition of a favorite from the southern part of the state makes it even more difficult for many of the ARCA regulars to crack the top 10.
Justin “J.J.” Haley became the youngest major race winner in Illinois State Fair history as at age 17 years, 3 months and 23 days he led the last 9 laps at Springfield to capture the Central Illinois Super Chevy Stores.com-Allen Crowe 100. Haley raced micro sprints on the dirt for a few years in northern Indiana and the tough competition he faced at U.S. 24 Speedway and Miami County Speedway appeared to help the youngster at Springfield.
A.J. Fike is one of a select group of drivers who can claim victory in a championship dirt car and stock car at Springfield and finished 2nd there on Sunday. He has three pole positions in ARCA competition on the DuQuoin Magic Mile and has led 3 different times at DuQuoin for a total of 9 laps. A.J. is the only driver scheduled to do the ‘DuQuoin Double’ for a record 10th time, compete in the USAC dirt car race Saturday night and the ARCA race Sunday night. 2011 UMP National Driving Champion Ryan Unzicker finished a career best 3rd for long time entrant Bill Hendren who has been coming to DuQuoin since 1974. In 4 starts at DuQuoin Unzicker has two top 10 finishes. Three-time General Tire Grabber-Southern Illinois 100 winner Ken Schrader was 4th at Springfield and switches rides taking over the Venturini 55 driven by Tanner Thorson. In 16 DuQuoin starts Schrader has been running at the finish 13 times. ARCA point leader and second generation driver Chase Briscoe is a former sprint car driver whose dad raced on dirt and whose grandfather sponsored numerous cars including that of southern Illinois favorite son Chuck Amati. Briscoe led the most laps at Springfield and finished fifth. Tom Hessert, 3rd in ARCA points, has extensive USAC and ARCA dirt experience and was sixth at the Illinois State Fair. Jake Griffin, the 17 year old sensation from Quincy, Illinois was 9th at Springfield and at times showed spectacular skill on the mile dirt.
Griffin will miss the DuQuoin event as he has a NASCAR schedule conflict Sunday night. Replacing him in the Venturini machine is local modified and late model driver Trista Stevenson of Pocahontas, Illinois. Stevenson’s older brother Steve has an ARCA start on the DuQuoin mile and the Missouri Park Ranger is looking forward to her rookie run on the DuQuoin dirt.
An announcement at the beginning of the week has fans from the southern part of Illinois rejoicing. Centralia’s Joe Cooksey returns behind the wheel of one of Wayne Hixson’s machines. Cooksey won the pole at DuQuoin in 2000 and finished 3rd behind Tony Stewart and Schrader in 2003. He hasn’t driven an ARCA machine on dirt since 2009 and his last appearance behind the wheel at DuQuoin is believed to be in 2011 shaking down a modified for Tony Stewart. A second announcement brings back the two-time defending race winner. 2015 ARCA champ Grant Enfinger of Alabama will slide into the Cunningham seat occupied by Schrader at Springfield.
Dirt late model veteran Dale Shearer, formerly of Alahambra, Illinois got a career best 11th place finish at Springfield. Springfield’s Kelly Kovski was involved in an accident at the Illinois State Fair event but has repaired the car and is on the DuQuoin entry list. Kovski has 11 starts and 5 top 10 finishes on the Magic Mile including leading 2 races for 19 total laps.
With all of the dirt track experience in the field it may be difficult for ARCA regulars such as Thomas Praytor of Alabama, Mike Basham of Indiana, Matt Kurzejewski of Pennsylvania, Josh Williams of Florida or Will Kimmel of Indiana to break into the top 5 at DuQuoin. Praytor and Basham did get top 10 finishes at Springfield while Williams and Kimmel led portions of the Springfield event. Kurzejewski, driving for the Ken Schrader team, had one of the faster cars on track but got one lap down early due to overheating. Williams is second in the ARCA point standings but his title hopes took a hit due to a late race accident at Springfield. Kimmel ran strong at Springfield until the engine let go in his machine just past the three-quarter mark.
One thing is certain about the DuQuoin event. None of the drivers have ever run an ARCA car under the lights in competition at DuQuoin. The first night race ever for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard’s is scheduled for Sunday night at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Qualifying is slated for 5:30 p.m. with the General Tire Grabber 100 at 8.