By Brett Zerfowski
It certainly felt like summer on Saturday with the sun shining and the temperatures in the 80s. After being washed out last week, Macon Speedway returned with a fast fury of racing, welcoming the mini sprints again to the race track. Giving the Late Models the night off to get them ready for the Northern All-Stars Late Model Series event on Memorial Day Monday, it gave the Mini Sprints a chance to come and race across the fastest 1/5th mile dirt track in the world.
The first feature of the night was the Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature make-up from April 18. Mike Pickering of Decatur already has two feature wins of 2009. He led the first two laps and then Rick Roedel of Shelbyville made the move for the lead. In the fourth turn of lap three, Roedel made the pass and held off Ken Fustin of Springfield and Timmy Dick of Monticello. Pickering lost control of the car but was able to regain second late in the feature and finish behind Roedel in the first Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature of the night.
It was quite a night for Decatur’s Aaron Burcham. In the 20-lap Modified feature, Burcham held off the challenges of both defending track champion Jim Leka and Steve Ewing. A caution-filled race made Burcham a little uneasy because anything can happen on a restart. But for every restart, Burcham was up to the task of holding off two of the top Modified drivers at Macon Speedway. The win was Burcham’s first feature at Macon since August 9, 2008.
The Mini Sprints ran a 20-lap feature with the two heat winners holding on to the top two spots. Evan Weyant and Ryan Langston stayed one-two for most of the race but Langston finally caught a groove and was able to pass the 14-year-old Weyant for the lead. Weyant was challenged by Jeremy Camp for second but was able to overcome the challenge. Langston, with sparks flying off the left-rear of the sprint, took home the checkered flag.
The Central Illinois Street Stock Special took to the track next in a grueling 25-lap, $500-to-win battle. For Cerro Gordo native Troy Dodson, it was the race he was looking for to put his name on the map. For much of the 2009 season, Steve Ewing and Mike Pickering have owned the spotlight but the pole position was what Dodson had over Ewing and Pickering and though he had to hold off Blake Shelley on the bottom of the track, Dodson finally had his night. Leading all 25 laps, Dodson used the bottom of the track to take the first CILSSS of the year. Pop’s Place threw in $100 to the eighth place finisher, which ended up being Brian Dasenbrock. Todd Smith from CILSSS added another $100 to Bill Wilhour through a deck of cards. Each card had a driver’s name on it and the nine of clubs featured Wilhour.
The Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature, the second of the night, was not as easy for Rick Roedel as the make-up feature. After not finishing in the heat, Roedel was forced to start at the back of the field and work his way up for 15 laps. Alan Crowder and Mike Pickering shared the front row and it looked as though the feature would be between the two of them. But, difficulties set in for Pickering, including a spin-out in turn two, and he later pulled in to the infield. Alan Crowder would face no serious threats and maneuver for the first feature win of 2009. Terry Reed in his new-look Sportsman finished second with Roedel finished third.
The Pro Hornets feature went to Jeff Dodd, his second of the year, as he put an end to Joe Reed’s winning streak at three. Heidi Hames started from the pole and went on for her fourth Amateur Hornets feature of the season.
Another night with over 100 racecars in the kickoff to summer was certainly as nice as it could have been. The first real night without having to bundle up brought out the fans and drivers. The same is scheduled for Memorial Day when Macon Speedway will host its first Night of NASCAR Stars as co-owners Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace will share the spotlight with Steven Wallace and NASCAR Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier. The gates will open at 3pm, the special autograph session with the guests of honor will be from 5:30-6:30pm and the racing action gets underway at 7pm. The Northern All-Star Late Model Series will roll into town and race with the Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hornets.
It certainly felt like summer on Saturday with the sun shining and the temperatures in the 80s. After being washed out last week, Macon Speedway returned with a fast fury of racing, welcoming the mini sprints again to the race track. Giving the Late Models the night off to get them ready for the Northern All-Stars Late Model Series event on Memorial Day Monday, it gave the Mini Sprints a chance to come and race across the fastest 1/5th mile dirt track in the world.
The first feature of the night was the Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature make-up from April 18. Mike Pickering of Decatur already has two feature wins of 2009. He led the first two laps and then Rick Roedel of Shelbyville made the move for the lead. In the fourth turn of lap three, Roedel made the pass and held off Ken Fustin of Springfield and Timmy Dick of Monticello. Pickering lost control of the car but was able to regain second late in the feature and finish behind Roedel in the first Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature of the night.
It was quite a night for Decatur’s Aaron Burcham. In the 20-lap Modified feature, Burcham held off the challenges of both defending track champion Jim Leka and Steve Ewing. A caution-filled race made Burcham a little uneasy because anything can happen on a restart. But for every restart, Burcham was up to the task of holding off two of the top Modified drivers at Macon Speedway. The win was Burcham’s first feature at Macon since August 9, 2008.
The Mini Sprints ran a 20-lap feature with the two heat winners holding on to the top two spots. Evan Weyant and Ryan Langston stayed one-two for most of the race but Langston finally caught a groove and was able to pass the 14-year-old Weyant for the lead. Weyant was challenged by Jeremy Camp for second but was able to overcome the challenge. Langston, with sparks flying off the left-rear of the sprint, took home the checkered flag.
The Central Illinois Street Stock Special took to the track next in a grueling 25-lap, $500-to-win battle. For Cerro Gordo native Troy Dodson, it was the race he was looking for to put his name on the map. For much of the 2009 season, Steve Ewing and Mike Pickering have owned the spotlight but the pole position was what Dodson had over Ewing and Pickering and though he had to hold off Blake Shelley on the bottom of the track, Dodson finally had his night. Leading all 25 laps, Dodson used the bottom of the track to take the first CILSSS of the year. Pop’s Place threw in $100 to the eighth place finisher, which ended up being Brian Dasenbrock. Todd Smith from CILSSS added another $100 to Bill Wilhour through a deck of cards. Each card had a driver’s name on it and the nine of clubs featured Wilhour.
The Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature, the second of the night, was not as easy for Rick Roedel as the make-up feature. After not finishing in the heat, Roedel was forced to start at the back of the field and work his way up for 15 laps. Alan Crowder and Mike Pickering shared the front row and it looked as though the feature would be between the two of them. But, difficulties set in for Pickering, including a spin-out in turn two, and he later pulled in to the infield. Alan Crowder would face no serious threats and maneuver for the first feature win of 2009. Terry Reed in his new-look Sportsman finished second with Roedel finished third.
The Pro Hornets feature went to Jeff Dodd, his second of the year, as he put an end to Joe Reed’s winning streak at three. Heidi Hames started from the pole and went on for her fourth Amateur Hornets feature of the season.
Another night with over 100 racecars in the kickoff to summer was certainly as nice as it could have been. The first real night without having to bundle up brought out the fans and drivers. The same is scheduled for Memorial Day when Macon Speedway will host its first Night of NASCAR Stars as co-owners Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace will share the spotlight with Steven Wallace and NASCAR Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier. The gates will open at 3pm, the special autograph session with the guests of honor will be from 5:30-6:30pm and the racing action gets underway at 7pm. The Northern All-Star Late Model Series will roll into town and race with the Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hornets.
