By Brett Zerfowski
(Macon, IL) Father’s Day 2009 not only is a day to recognize the dads of the world but it will also be the official start to summer. Saturday night was a pretty good example of what is to be expected for the 2009 Summer of Fun at Macon Speedway.
A two-caution Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature saw two lead changes and it was between the two drivers vying for the top spot in the standings. Scott Landers of Taylorville and Rick Roedel of Shelbyville have been neck-and-neck for the Touchstone Energy Sportsman points championship. Entering the evening, the two drivers would be separated by four points with Landers leading Roedel. Roedel followed Landers for the first two laps but on lap three in the second turn, Roedel took over and never was challenged again. Weaving his way through the lapped traffic, Roedel took his fourth feature of 2009 and closed the gap on Landers, who finished second. First-time visitor to the track, Shane Garrison of Dawson, took third before Mike Pickering and Terry Reed.
The Late Model feature was filled with dramatic moments. Don Cisco III and Dennis Vandermeersch started together in the front row and went side by side for the early going before Vandermeersch took off. On the 18th lap, Cisco had caught up to Vandermeersch and in the second turn, disaster struck for both drivers. Cisco caught Vandermeersch and spun him around; Vandermeersch kept going but Cisco spun around and was met by the oncoming Bill Wilhour. Cisco’s damage would be superficial but Vandermeersch would be sent into the infield with a flat left rear tire. After the change, Vandermeersch would come back onto the track but not in his first place position; he would be forced to the back because he worked on the racecar in the infield. Cisco would be sent to the back, also, for the takeout of Vandermeersch.
The third-place car would become the leader, Mike Hammerle, and he would try to defend the newly-awarded position from Kyle Logue and John Beck. Hammerle, the current UMP National Points leader, would hold the lead for a few laps but atop the second turn within five laps to go, Logue took the lead away and raced off for his sixth feature win of 2009. Hammerle took second with Chris Dick in third and Jason Cleaver in fourth. Logue had a rough feature after being the fastest qualifier and started from the tenth position.
Dave Crawley, Jr. had also been going through a rough night. A poor heat race put him in the 18th position of 20 racecars and after an accident during the race’s first lap, he would be taken from the race due to a bent right front axle. Danny Smith from Argenta had a good night with a heat win and a front-row-outside starting position in the feature. Last week’s feature winner Jeremy Nichols started second row inside behind pole sitter Clark Robertson. All three drivers won their heats from the pole position.
Danny Smith had led the first ten laps before Nichols caught up to Smith, who nearly spun himself out in the fourth turn of lap 12, and took the advantage. Green flag racing allowed Nichols to pull away and take his second feature in-a-row. Smith finished in second with Steve Ewing in third, Don Koehler and Joe Strawkus (who was tied with Crawley for the Modified points championship) took fourth and fifth.
The first three rows of the Street Stock feature had a combined ten feature wins. Larry Russell, Jr. (the pole sitter) led the opening eight laps but Steve Ewing, a four-time feature winner, came from the second row outside spot to take over and make him a five-time feature winner. Ewing finished in front of Russell, Mike Pickering, Blake Shelley, Troy Dodson, Al Crawley and Terry Reed. All but Crawley have claimed the checkered flag in a feature during the 2009 season.
After the Herald & Review newspaper wrote up a story on Heidi Hames, she was fast to show off her car in the Pro Hornet class in her first full night in the division. Michael Pundt, Jr. wasn’t about to let the owner of his car take the victory easily so they raced side by side and bumper to bumper for the majority of the eight-lap feature event. As the finish came and the checkered flag waved, Pundt had finished in front of Hames by the absolute smallest margin. Zach Dodd was a main stay in the top but finished third.
Ben Madaris finally was able to claim victory in the Amateur Hornets, finishing in front of Brian Offer, who led the most laps in the eight-lap race, and Cody Fleming.
To read Heidi Hames’ story by Executive Sports Editor Mark Tupper, log onto www.herald-review.com. You can also pick your winner of the 29th Annual Herald & Review 100. If your selection is correct, you will be put into a drawing for a family pack of NASCAR Night tickets with special guest Kasey Kahne on July 22nd. Log onto www.herald-review.com/hr100 for the contest information.
The next Macon Speedway show will be another exciting night of racing with the Kids Club Box Car races during the StarTek intermission program. That will pave the way to the 29th running of the Herald & Review 100 on Thursday, July 2nd and the 95Q Firecracker 40s on our nation’s birthday, July 4th.
Result For June 20, 2009
UMP Late Model - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 10 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 50
2 5 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 48
3 3 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 46
4 4 C4 Jason Cleaver Mechanicsburg , Il 44
5 6 28B John Beck Springfield , Il 42
6 2 25 Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 40
7 8 12T David Thornton - 38
8 1 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 36
9 9 7M Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 34
10 7 3W Bill Wilhour Taylorville , Il 32
11 11 38 Doug Hemer Moweaqua , Il 30
12 13 67 Michael Durbin Jr. Decatur , Il 28
13 12 31 Brent Helmkamp - 26
More Results
UMP Modified - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 01 Jeremy Nichols Decatur , Il 50
2 2 D98 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 48
3 4 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 46
4 6 64 Donny Koehler Jr. Macon , Il 44
5 7 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 42
6 5 00 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 40
7 1 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 38
8 12 7S Ethan Schnapp - 36
9 8 T2 Mark Tullis Taylorville , Il 34
10 15 42 Katie Lord Chatham , Il 32
11 10 58 Larry Ferguson Arcola , Il 30
12 19 18M Kenneth Morris Virginia , Il 28
13 14 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 26
14 16 35S Randy Spaugh Decatur , Il 24
15 20 128 Mike Haas Mascoutah , Il 22
16 17 5G Brian Gates Morrisonville , Il 20
17 11 22 Scott Jones - 18
18 18 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 16
19 9 57 Danny Page Mount Zion, Il 14
20 13 52 Roger Drake - 12
More Results
UMP Sportsman - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 50
2 2 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 48
3 8 44G Shane Garrisson - 46
4 5 9 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 44
5 1 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 42
6 3 22 Timmy Dick Monticello , Il 40
7 10 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 38
8 16 14 Nathan Lynch - 36
9 14 60 Kenny Hayes Macon , Il 34
10 11 90 Justin Ater Moweaqua , Il 32
11 9 22J Tony Clinton Dawson , Il 30
12 18 B88 Jim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 28
13 7 8K Ken Fustin Springfield , Il 26
14 15 7 Mark Reed Decatur , Il 24
15 12 14C Alan Crowder Elwin , Il 22
16 6 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 20
17 13 55 Kevin Cook Iblue Mound, Il 18
18 17 71 Jeff Graham - 16
More Results
UMP Street Stock - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 95 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 50
2 1 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 48
3 3 99 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 46
4 5 30 Blake Shelley Oakley , Il 44
5 6 21 Troy Dodson Cerro Gordo, Il 42
6 10 88 Albert Crawley Sr. Decatur , Il 40
7 2 11 Terry Reed Decatur , Il 38
8 8 3 Phil Moreland - 36
9 9 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 34
10 7 33 Justin Hill Lovington , Il 32
11 11 K14 Ryan Blair Edinburg , Il 30
12 13 08 Brian Dasenbrock Decatur , Il 28
13 12 14 Kurtis Ater Macon , Il 26
14 14 34 Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 24
15 15 1 Cale Chandler - 22
More Results
UMP Amateur Hornet - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 0 Ben Medaris Decatur , Il 50
2 4 88 Brian Offer Springfield , Il 48
3 3 28 Cody Fleming Decatur , Il 46
4 8 210 Brett Embry Decatur , Il 44
5 10 26K Austin Mulligan - 42
6 12 205 Michael Gossett - 40
7 11 83 Steven Dulgar Decatur , Il 38
8 14 7 Sam Mccoy Decatur , Il 36
9 9 X28 Nathan Chandler Decatur , Il 34
10 5 21R Gary Justice - 32
11 7 1F Fred Mifflin Mount Zion, Il 30
12 13 62 Kevin Brown Pana , Il 28
13 15 18 Brian Rynders Virginia , Il 26
14 18 44KIT Steven Kite Decatur , Il 24
15 2 5 Richard Johnson - 22
16 6 3G Brandon Kirby Decatur , Il 20
17 16 03 Roger Reed Decatur , Il 18
18 17 K1 Kelsie Gustus Decatur , Il 16
More Results
UMP Hornet - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 50
2 4 15 Heidi Hames Decatur , Il 48
3 2 21Z Zach Dodd Riverton , Il 46
4 3 O Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 44
5 5 7 Joe Reed Decatur , Il 42
6 8 71 Todd Rush Pawnee , Il 40
7 7 4SQ Stephanie Eskew Springfield , Il 38
8 9 26K Ryan Barton Kincaid , Il 36
9 11 83 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 34
10 13 3G Jeff Gill Shelbyville , Il 32
11 16 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 30
12 6 18 Kenneth Morris Virginia , Il 28
13 15 6 Justunn Hilton Lovington , Il 26
14 14 2M Julie Marshall Springfield , Il 24
15 12 03 Michael Dick Decatur , Il 22
16 10 X28 Nick Lowe - 20
(Macon, IL) Father’s Day 2009 not only is a day to recognize the dads of the world but it will also be the official start to summer. Saturday night was a pretty good example of what is to be expected for the 2009 Summer of Fun at Macon Speedway.
A two-caution Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature saw two lead changes and it was between the two drivers vying for the top spot in the standings. Scott Landers of Taylorville and Rick Roedel of Shelbyville have been neck-and-neck for the Touchstone Energy Sportsman points championship. Entering the evening, the two drivers would be separated by four points with Landers leading Roedel. Roedel followed Landers for the first two laps but on lap three in the second turn, Roedel took over and never was challenged again. Weaving his way through the lapped traffic, Roedel took his fourth feature of 2009 and closed the gap on Landers, who finished second. First-time visitor to the track, Shane Garrison of Dawson, took third before Mike Pickering and Terry Reed.
The Late Model feature was filled with dramatic moments. Don Cisco III and Dennis Vandermeersch started together in the front row and went side by side for the early going before Vandermeersch took off. On the 18th lap, Cisco had caught up to Vandermeersch and in the second turn, disaster struck for both drivers. Cisco caught Vandermeersch and spun him around; Vandermeersch kept going but Cisco spun around and was met by the oncoming Bill Wilhour. Cisco’s damage would be superficial but Vandermeersch would be sent into the infield with a flat left rear tire. After the change, Vandermeersch would come back onto the track but not in his first place position; he would be forced to the back because he worked on the racecar in the infield. Cisco would be sent to the back, also, for the takeout of Vandermeersch.
The third-place car would become the leader, Mike Hammerle, and he would try to defend the newly-awarded position from Kyle Logue and John Beck. Hammerle, the current UMP National Points leader, would hold the lead for a few laps but atop the second turn within five laps to go, Logue took the lead away and raced off for his sixth feature win of 2009. Hammerle took second with Chris Dick in third and Jason Cleaver in fourth. Logue had a rough feature after being the fastest qualifier and started from the tenth position.
Dave Crawley, Jr. had also been going through a rough night. A poor heat race put him in the 18th position of 20 racecars and after an accident during the race’s first lap, he would be taken from the race due to a bent right front axle. Danny Smith from Argenta had a good night with a heat win and a front-row-outside starting position in the feature. Last week’s feature winner Jeremy Nichols started second row inside behind pole sitter Clark Robertson. All three drivers won their heats from the pole position.
Danny Smith had led the first ten laps before Nichols caught up to Smith, who nearly spun himself out in the fourth turn of lap 12, and took the advantage. Green flag racing allowed Nichols to pull away and take his second feature in-a-row. Smith finished in second with Steve Ewing in third, Don Koehler and Joe Strawkus (who was tied with Crawley for the Modified points championship) took fourth and fifth.
The first three rows of the Street Stock feature had a combined ten feature wins. Larry Russell, Jr. (the pole sitter) led the opening eight laps but Steve Ewing, a four-time feature winner, came from the second row outside spot to take over and make him a five-time feature winner. Ewing finished in front of Russell, Mike Pickering, Blake Shelley, Troy Dodson, Al Crawley and Terry Reed. All but Crawley have claimed the checkered flag in a feature during the 2009 season.
After the Herald & Review newspaper wrote up a story on Heidi Hames, she was fast to show off her car in the Pro Hornet class in her first full night in the division. Michael Pundt, Jr. wasn’t about to let the owner of his car take the victory easily so they raced side by side and bumper to bumper for the majority of the eight-lap feature event. As the finish came and the checkered flag waved, Pundt had finished in front of Hames by the absolute smallest margin. Zach Dodd was a main stay in the top but finished third.
Ben Madaris finally was able to claim victory in the Amateur Hornets, finishing in front of Brian Offer, who led the most laps in the eight-lap race, and Cody Fleming.
To read Heidi Hames’ story by Executive Sports Editor Mark Tupper, log onto www.herald-review.com. You can also pick your winner of the 29th Annual Herald & Review 100. If your selection is correct, you will be put into a drawing for a family pack of NASCAR Night tickets with special guest Kasey Kahne on July 22nd. Log onto www.herald-review.com/hr100 for the contest information.
The next Macon Speedway show will be another exciting night of racing with the Kids Club Box Car races during the StarTek intermission program. That will pave the way to the 29th running of the Herald & Review 100 on Thursday, July 2nd and the 95Q Firecracker 40s on our nation’s birthday, July 4th.
Result For June 20, 2009
UMP Late Model - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 10 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 50
2 5 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 48
3 3 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 46
4 4 C4 Jason Cleaver Mechanicsburg , Il 44
5 6 28B John Beck Springfield , Il 42
6 2 25 Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 40
7 8 12T David Thornton - 38
8 1 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 36
9 9 7M Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 34
10 7 3W Bill Wilhour Taylorville , Il 32
11 11 38 Doug Hemer Moweaqua , Il 30
12 13 67 Michael Durbin Jr. Decatur , Il 28
13 12 31 Brent Helmkamp - 26
More Results
UMP Modified - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 01 Jeremy Nichols Decatur , Il 50
2 2 D98 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 48
3 4 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 46
4 6 64 Donny Koehler Jr. Macon , Il 44
5 7 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 42
6 5 00 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 40
7 1 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 38
8 12 7S Ethan Schnapp - 36
9 8 T2 Mark Tullis Taylorville , Il 34
10 15 42 Katie Lord Chatham , Il 32
11 10 58 Larry Ferguson Arcola , Il 30
12 19 18M Kenneth Morris Virginia , Il 28
13 14 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 26
14 16 35S Randy Spaugh Decatur , Il 24
15 20 128 Mike Haas Mascoutah , Il 22
16 17 5G Brian Gates Morrisonville , Il 20
17 11 22 Scott Jones - 18
18 18 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 16
19 9 57 Danny Page Mount Zion, Il 14
20 13 52 Roger Drake - 12
More Results
UMP Sportsman - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 50
2 2 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 48
3 8 44G Shane Garrisson - 46
4 5 9 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 44
5 1 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 42
6 3 22 Timmy Dick Monticello , Il 40
7 10 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 38
8 16 14 Nathan Lynch - 36
9 14 60 Kenny Hayes Macon , Il 34
10 11 90 Justin Ater Moweaqua , Il 32
11 9 22J Tony Clinton Dawson , Il 30
12 18 B88 Jim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 28
13 7 8K Ken Fustin Springfield , Il 26
14 15 7 Mark Reed Decatur , Il 24
15 12 14C Alan Crowder Elwin , Il 22
16 6 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 20
17 13 55 Kevin Cook Iblue Mound, Il 18
18 17 71 Jeff Graham - 16
More Results
UMP Street Stock - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 95 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 50
2 1 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 48
3 3 99 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 46
4 5 30 Blake Shelley Oakley , Il 44
5 6 21 Troy Dodson Cerro Gordo, Il 42
6 10 88 Albert Crawley Sr. Decatur , Il 40
7 2 11 Terry Reed Decatur , Il 38
8 8 3 Phil Moreland - 36
9 9 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 34
10 7 33 Justin Hill Lovington , Il 32
11 11 K14 Ryan Blair Edinburg , Il 30
12 13 08 Brian Dasenbrock Decatur , Il 28
13 12 14 Kurtis Ater Macon , Il 26
14 14 34 Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 24
15 15 1 Cale Chandler - 22
More Results
UMP Amateur Hornet - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 0 Ben Medaris Decatur , Il 50
2 4 88 Brian Offer Springfield , Il 48
3 3 28 Cody Fleming Decatur , Il 46
4 8 210 Brett Embry Decatur , Il 44
5 10 26K Austin Mulligan - 42
6 12 205 Michael Gossett - 40
7 11 83 Steven Dulgar Decatur , Il 38
8 14 7 Sam Mccoy Decatur , Il 36
9 9 X28 Nathan Chandler Decatur , Il 34
10 5 21R Gary Justice - 32
11 7 1F Fred Mifflin Mount Zion, Il 30
12 13 62 Kevin Brown Pana , Il 28
13 15 18 Brian Rynders Virginia , Il 26
14 18 44KIT Steven Kite Decatur , Il 24
15 2 5 Richard Johnson - 22
16 6 3G Brandon Kirby Decatur , Il 20
17 16 03 Roger Reed Decatur , Il 18
18 17 K1 Kelsie Gustus Decatur , Il 16
More Results
UMP Hornet - Feature
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 50
2 4 15 Heidi Hames Decatur , Il 48
3 2 21Z Zach Dodd Riverton , Il 46
4 3 O Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 44
5 5 7 Joe Reed Decatur , Il 42
6 8 71 Todd Rush Pawnee , Il 40
7 7 4SQ Stephanie Eskew Springfield , Il 38
8 9 26K Ryan Barton Kincaid , Il 36
9 11 83 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 34
10 13 3G Jeff Gill Shelbyville , Il 32
11 16 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 30
12 6 18 Kenneth Morris Virginia , Il 28
13 15 6 Justunn Hilton Lovington , Il 26
14 14 2M Julie Marshall Springfield , Il 24
15 12 03 Michael Dick Decatur , Il 22
16 10 X28 Nick Lowe - 20
