By Brett Zerfowski
(Macon, IL) Earlier in the week, the United States of America celebrated in the taking down of Osama bin Laden, and Macon Speedway celebrated America’s victory with a ceremony releasing red, white and blue balloons into the sky. Macon Speedway also celebrated the mothers on the evening prior to Mother’s Day with carnations, courtesy of Zips Flowers by the Gate.
The evening consisted of frantic and hectic racing mainly due to a super-fast race track. The track’s features cars saw a full roster of cars. 19 cars made it through the entrance for the Billingsley Towing Modified feature and Wes Odell took the feature as Jeremy Nichols and Joe Strawkas led early in the race but Nichols got caught up in lapped traffic and lost the lead and then the race as he got tangled and mangled. Strawkas lost the lead and Steve Ewing and Odell raced for the leadership. Odell came through the line first and then Ewing. Strawkas came in third and was followed by Eric Hamilton from Macon took forth and then Dave Crawley, Jr. placed fifth. Odell started 12th.
The Chevrolet Late Model feature was quick and furious. Steve Sheppard, Jr. won the race as he went down to the wire with Roger Brickler. After a restart, Brickler’s left rear tire flattened and then shredded down the front stretch to open up Sheppard’s lead. Terry Reed, who had a broken racecar during hot laps, came back to finish second. Rick Standridge finished third with Zack Bunning in fourth and Mike Hammerle in fifth.
The Touchstone Energy Sportsman feature was over from the get-go as Scott Landers led from the pole and took off for 15 laps. He was able to dethrone the only other winner in the division, Nick Macklin, who took second. Defending champion Dave Crawley, Jr. finished third behind Macklin, Bob Sidener and Dennis Vandermeersch rounded out the top five.
Another feature that was seemingly over from the drop of the green lap was the 12-lap Street Stock feature. Steve Ewing made it two in-a-row with his second feature of 2011. Bobby Beiler beat Blake Shelley for second. Coleman Scott was fourth and Nick Justice was the fifth place finisher.
The Hornet divisions had exciting racing throughout the show and the features were no exception. Heidi Hames whipped through eight laps of the Pro class and finished in front of a former feature winner in Adam Webb. Jeremy Reed had a third place finish, Jonathon Drake and Matt Maier rounded out the top five.
The Amateur Feature went down the final turn as Michael Gossett took first place ahead of Zach Perryman in the closest race of the evening. Derek Peters, formerly of the high school class, was the third place finisher. Kyle Maxwell and Jenny Clinton finished up the top five.
With the fun of Mother’s Day, the traditional Crazy Chicks N Cars race hit new highs with a record number of entrants. So many entrants that two races were needed. Stephanie Hilliard and Chelsea Lappin were dubbed the craziest as they survived the five lap races in the fourth annual event.
And also with the fun of Cinco de Mayo came another traditional event, the jalapeno eating contest. This year’s winner was Jason Taylor. With his mouth blazing of fire, he could not be reached for comment.
Another fun evening fulled with more than 100 cars to help honor the mothers and our country came to an end shortly after 10pm. Next week will feature a make-up of the April rain-out POWRi Midgets and Micro Sprints. Macon Speedway’s stock cars will also be on hand with the Billingsley Towing Modifieds, Touchstone Energy Sportsman, Street Stocks and Pro and Amateur Hornets.
UMP Late Model – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 50.00
2 14 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 48.00
3 12 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 46.00
4 10 111 Zack Bunning Decatur , Il 44.00
5 19 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 42.00
6 11 1 Jim Moon , Il 40.00
7 5 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 38.00
8 20 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 36.00
9 18 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 34.00
10 7 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 32.00
11 3 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 30.00
12 13 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 28.00
13 1 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 26.00
14 15 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 24.00
15 2 96 Cory Daugherty Blue Mound, Il 22.00
16 9 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 20.00
17 6 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 18.00
18 8 10A Andy Pryor Caseyville , Il 16.00
19 17 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 14.00
20 16 54R Frank Reed Jr Blue , Il 12.00
UMP Late Model – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
2 2 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
3 4 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
4 3 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
5 5 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
6 6 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00
UMP Late Model – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 96 Cory Daugherty Blue Mound, Il 0.00
2 1 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
3 3 10A Andy Pryor Caseyville , Il 0.00
4 5 1 Jim Moon , Il 0.00
5 7 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
6 4 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00
7 6 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
UMP Late Model – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 0.00
2 2 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
3 4 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 0.00
4 5 111 Zack Bunning Decatur , Il 0.00
5 6 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00
6 7 54R Frank Reed Jr Blue , Il 0.00
7 3 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Late Model – Qualifying
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 13 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 0.00
2 2 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
3 5 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
4 12 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
5 18 96 Cory Daugherty Blue Mound, Il 0.00
6 9 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
7 1 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 0.00
8 10 10A Andy Pryor Caseyville , Il 0.00
9 8 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
10 11 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 0.00
11 7 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00
12 16 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
13 17 111 Zack Bunning Decatur , Il 0.00
14 15 1 Jim Moon , Il 0.00
15 20 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
16 4 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00
17 6 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
18 3 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00
19 19 54R Frank Reed Jr Blue , Il 0.00
20 14 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
UMP Modified – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 12 87 Wes O’dell Springfield , Il 50.00
2 8 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 48.00
3 1 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 46.00
4 7 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 44.00
5 10 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 42.00
6 5 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 40.00
7 17 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 38.00
8 6 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 36.00
9 9 23 Andrew Barnes – 34.00
10 2 77 Guy Taylor – 32.00
11 18 42 Katie Lord Chatham , Il 30.00
12 15 98 Shawn Vaughn Loami , Il 28.00
13 3 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 26.00
14 14 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 24.00
15 19 47 Dustin Pryde Decatur , Il 22.00
16 11 3T Mike Ward Pawnee , Il 20.00
17 16 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 18.00
18 13 1 Josh Robb Blue Mound, Il 16.00
19 4 33 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 14.00
20 20 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 12.00 DNS
UMP Modified – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
2 2 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 0.00
3 5 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 0.00
4 6 87 Wes O’dell Springfield , Il 0.00
5 4 98 Shawn Vaughn Loami , Il 0.00
6 3 42 Katie Lord Chatham , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Modified – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 0.00
2 7 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
3 4 23 Andrew Barnes – 0.00
4 6 3T Mike Ward Pawnee , Il 0.00
5 1 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 0.00
6 2 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 0.00
7 5 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 0.00
UMP Modified – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 77 Guy Taylor – 0.00
2 4 33 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
3 6 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 0.00
4 7 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
5 5 1 Josh Robb Blue Mound, Il 0.00
6 2 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
7 3 47 Dustin Pryde Decatur , Il 0.00
UMP Sportsman – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 50.00
2 3 16 Nick Mackling – 48.00
3 7 C25 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 46.00
4 10 52 Bob Sidener Springfield , Il 44.00
5 5 23 Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 42.00
6 4 07 Phil Moreland Assumption , Il 40.00
7 9 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 38.00
8 11 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 36.00
9 2 87 Wes O’dell Springfield , Il 34.00
10 17 14C Alan Crowder Elwin , Il 32.00
11 14 35 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 30.00
12 12 4G Cody Wickline Assumption , Il 28.00
13 15 22S David Slade Seymour , Il 26.00
14 8 93 Ty Nation Taylorville , Il 24.00
15 19 05 Tom Lambdin Lovington , Il 22.00
16 6 57 Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 20.00
17 13 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 18.00 DNS
18 16 96 Michael Callarman Athens , Il 16.00 DNS
19 18 7JR Josh Bourland – 14.00 DNS
20 20 53R Jeff Reed, Sr Blue Mound, Il 12.00 DNS
21 21 08 Brian Dasenbrock Decatur , Il 10.00 DNS
22 22 11K Jeff Brown Oreana , Il 8.00 DNS
UMP Sportsman – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 16 Nick Mackling – 0.00
2 3 57 Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 0.00
3 4 93 Ty Nation Taylorville , Il 0.00
4 5 4G Cody Wickline Assumption , Il 0.00
5 7 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
6 1 7JR Josh Bourland – 0.00 DNS
7 6 08 Brian Dasenbrock Decatur , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Sportsman – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 6 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 0.00
2 4 23 Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 0.00
3 1 52 Bob Sidener Springfield , Il 0.00
4 7 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 0.00
5 3 22S David Slade Seymour , Il 0.00
6 5 14C Alan Crowder Elwin , Il 0.00
7 2 53R Jeff Reed, Sr Blue Mound, Il 0.00
UMP Sportsman – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 87 Wes O’dell Springfield , Il 0.00
2 1 C25 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
3 8 07 Phil Moreland Assumption , Il 0.00
4 6 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 0.00
5 4 35 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 0.00
6 2 96 Michael Callarman Athens , Il 0.00
7 7 05 Tom Lambdin Lovington , Il 0.00
8 5 11K Jeff Brown Oreana , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Street Stock – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 95 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 50.00
2 3 29 Bobby Beiler Decatur , Il 48.00
3 10 30 Blake Shelley Oakley , Il 46.00
4 5 21C Coleman Scott Brownstown , Il 44.00
5 7 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 42.00
6 12 14 Kurtis Ater Macon , Il 40.00
7 11 23 Jason Hazlet Moweaqua , Il 38.00
8 6 33 Justin Hill , Il 36.00
9 4 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 34.00
10 14 22X Jeff Dodd Springfield , Il 32.00
11 8 61 Gene Reed Shelbyville , Il 30.00
12 2 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 28.00
13 13 B35 Billy Justice Niantic , Il 26.00
14 9 18 George Ewing Decatur , Il 24.00 DNS
15 15 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 22.00 DNS
UMP Amateur Hornet – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 205 Michael Gossett – 50.00
2 3 56Z Zach Perryman Decatur , Il 48.00
3 4 96 Derek Peters Pana , Il 46.00
4 6 38R Kyle Maxwell Pana , Il 44.00
5 7 53 Jenny Clinton Dawson , Il 42.00
6 16 J4 Jerad Matherly Decatur , Il 40.00
7 2 50 Benjamin Mcchristy Mt.zion , Il 38.00
8 5 71M Alan Moore Decatur , Il 36.00
9 12 21N Nick Matherly Decatur , Il 34.00
10 13 3 Brady Reed – 32.00
11 14 39 Marty Sullivan Mt. Zion, Il 30.00
12 11 C53 Chas Clinton – 28.00
13 9 13 John Bright Jr Decatur , Il 26.00
14 10 2 Todd Grunden Decatur , Il 24.00
15 15 51 Brian Rush Taylorville , Il 22.00
16 18 11J Dillon Justice Harristown , Il 20.00
17 19 71 Danny Sorrell Decatur , Il 18.00
18 8 31 Matt Cattrill Riverton , Il 16.00
19 20 73 Garrett Lewis Decatur , Il 14.00
20 17 A98 Austin Harbin Argenta , Il 12.00 DNS
UMP Hornet – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 15 Heidi Hames Decatur , Il 50.00
2 2 40 Adam Webb Decatur , Il 48.00
3 9 3 Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 46.00
4 6 52 Jonathan Drake Decatur , Il 44.00
5 7 7 Matt Maier – 42.00
6 12 0 Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 40.00
7 4 X7 Jeff Gill Shelbyville , Il 38.00
8 8 64CK Cook Crawford – 36.00
9 13 88 Brian Offer Springfield , Il 34.00
10 11 71 Todd Rush Pawnee , Il 32.00
11 14 14X Steven Stine , Il 30.00
12 17 2 Matthew Reed Blue Mound, Il 28.00
13 20 83 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 26.00
14 15 56K Michael Webb Decatur , Il 24.00
15 10 28 Cody Fleming Decatur , Il 22.00
16 16 38 Steven Dulgar Decatur , Il 20.00
17 3 21DJ Buddy Hames – 18.00 DNS
18 5 46 Jeff Eller Decatur , Il 16.00 DNS
19 18 21 Joseph Mcchristy Mt Zion, Il 14.00 DNS
20 19 4 Zack Bunning Decatur , Il 12.00 DNS
21 21 0X Tony Reed Decatur , Il 10.00 DNS