By Brett Zerfowski
(Macon, IL) The fourth night of the Illinois Sprint Week for the MOWA Monster Energy Sprint Cars stopped at Macon Speedway Saturday for a terrific show of side-by-side racing. 23 full-sized winged sprints competed for the chance at victory lane.
18 sprints made the show for the 25-lap A-Main Monster Energy Sprint Car feature show. From the 6-lap dash, which consisted of three heat winners and the top three passing point drivers of the night, Jerrod Hull of Missouri was on the pole position and led the way for the exciting feature event. After a win in Jacksonville Friday, Hull made his run along the top of the oval and was chased by Danny Smith, another winner during the first three nights of Illinois Sprint Week. Smith jumped up from the ninth position to the second place spot but was unable to make the pass the win. He was followed by Chris Urish, Mike Hess and Jordan Goldesberry.
Uncommon for many race tracks to have both open wheel sprint cars and UMP Super Late Models but that’s what Macon Speedway did Saturday as 24 Chevrolet Late Models came to the track in search of the checkered flag. The race was seemingly over from the get-go, however, as Brandon Sheppard led the whole way and dominated the field, at one point leading by half a lap over the second place car. The real race ended up being for second as Matt Taylor, Brian Diveley, Franky Martin and Roger Brickler all were contending for the runner-up position. With Martin running second at the time and putting on a smoke screen, it was difficult for anybody to pass until Martin slowed down and nearly stopped on the track with one lap to go. His top five finish would be lost with the white flag in the air. Sheppard won his third feature of the season at Macon. Diveley followed in second with Matt Taylor in third. Roger Brickler finished fourth ahead of Rodney Standerfer.
Jeremy Nichols took his fourth Billingsley Towning Modified feature of 2011. Running the bottom for the full 20 laps from the front row outside position, Nichols had easy 13 laps. Stretching out his lead over the field, a caution drew everybody bumper-to-bumper and gave Guy Taylor a chance at the lead but couldn’t overcome the speedy Nichols. Taylor, who started 11th, did place second. Brian Diveley was the third place finisher as Dave Crawley, Jr. took away fourth place in a battle with Mark Tullis, who finished sixth. Randy Huffman would round out the top five.
Bobby Beiler has led the Street Stocks points for the majority of the summer. His points lead would continue and stretch as he picked up his second feature of the year. Starting on the pole, thanks to a heat victory, Beiler would fend off challenges from Kevin Crowder and Justin Hill, who finished second and third, respectively. Mike Pundt, Jr., a heat winner from earlier in the evening, finished fourth and Jeramie Fowler rounded out the top five.
Jeremy Reed took the Pro Hornet feature, his second of the year, on the final turn as he took it away from Adam Webb. Webb was searching for his sixth feature of the year but fell to second as Reed won his first since May 21st. Fred Reed, Jr. took third with Justunn Hilton placing fourth and Brett Embry clinching fifth.
More than 100 racecars appeared at Macon Speedway Saturday along with a jam-packed bleacher crowd for the special program. Macon Speedway stock car racing will take a scheduled breather next week and prepare to return on August 13th with a full show including the third attempt for the monster truck Raminator, the second try for the Driver Reunion and the first try for Fan Appreciation Night. Rain plagued the Raminator’s schedule appearances and the Driver Reunion earlier in the season.
MOWA Sprint – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 12 Jerrod Hull , Mo 0.00
2 9 4 Danny Smith Chillecothe , Il 0.00
3 4 77U Chris Urish Elkhart , Il 0.00
4 5 51 Mike Hess – 0.00
5 11 65 Jordan Goldesberry Springfield , Il 0.00
6 7 14 Bubba Painter Jacksonville , Il 0.00
7 12 22 Bret Tripplett Lincoln , Il 0.00
8 13 8 Kaley Gharst Decatur , Il 0.00
9 14 2 Dustin Morgan – 0.00
10 8 87 Jimmy Bridgeman – 0.00
11 15 52F Logan Faucon Elkhart , In 0.00
12 18 23 Robby Standridge – 0.00
13 16 83 Korey Weyant Springfield , Il 0.00
14 10 97 Blake Nimer , Il 0.00
15 2 35 Jimmy Hurley , Il 0.00
16 3 44X Aj Bruns Lincoln , Il 0.00
17 17 47 Brett Samonds Springfield , Il 0.00
18 6 1M Jim Moughan – 0.00
MOWA Sprint – Consolation
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 83 Korey Weyant Springfield , Il 0.00
2 7 47 Brett Samonds Springfield , Il 0.00
3 6 23 Robby Standridge – 0.00
4 2 44 Terry Babb Decatur , Il 0.00
5 1 84 Ben Wagoner Emden , Il 0.00
6 4 10S Jeremy Standridge – 0.00
7 5 05 Paul Patterson Virden , Il 0.00
8 8 95 Thomas Rockwell Towanda , Il 0.00 DNS
MOWA Sprint – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 35 Jimmy Hurley , Il 0.00
2 5 44X Aj Bruns Lincoln , Il 0.00
3 2 97 Blake Nimer , Il 0.00
4 7 77U Chris Urish Elkhart , Il 0.00
5 3 95 Thomas Rockwell Towanda , Il 0.00
6 4 84 Ben Wagoner Emden , Il 0.00
7 6 10S Jeremy Standridge – 0.00
MOWA Sprint – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 1M Jim Moughan – 0.00
2 2 87 Jimmy Bridgeman – 0.00
3 4 4 Danny Smith Chillecothe , Il 0.00
4 5 65 Jordan Goldesberry Springfield , Il 0.00
5 3 47 Brett Samonds Springfield , Il 0.00
6 8 2 Dustin Morgan – 0.00
7 6 83 Korey Weyant Springfield , Il 0.00
8 7 23 Robby Standridge – 0.00
MOWA Sprint – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 51 Mike Hess – 0.00
2 2 14 Bubba Painter Jacksonville , Il 0.00
3 8 12 Jerrod Hull , Mo 0.00
4 3 22 Bret Tripplett Lincoln , Il 0.00
5 6 8 Kaley Gharst Decatur , Il 0.00
6 7 52F Logan Faucon Elkhart , In 0.00
7 4 44 Terry Babb Decatur , Il 0.00
8 5 05 Paul Patterson Virden , Il 0.00
UMP Late Model – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 50.00
2 8 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 48.00
3 7 24 Matt Taylor Springfield , Il 46.00
4 4 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 44.00
5 6 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 42.00
6 15 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 40.00
7 20 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 38.00
8 19 18 Randy Myers Springfield , Il 36.00
9 3 25M Franky Martin – 34.00
10 10 7 Joseph Hughes Springfield , Il 32.00
11 12 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 30.00
12 17 B8 John Barnard – 28.00
13 5 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 26.00
14 13 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 24.00
15 18 22K Ken Vandorn New Berlin, Il 22.00
16 16 66 Jim Gibson – 20.00
17 11 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 18.00
18 1 91 Terry Babb Decatur , Il 16.00
19 14 12T David Thornton Trenton , Il 14.00
20 9 B1 Nick Bauman New Berlin, Il 12.00
UMP Late Model – Consolation
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 5 B8 John Barnard – 0.00
2 2 22K Ken Vandorn New Berlin, Il 0.00
3 7 18 Randy Myers Springfield , Il 0.00
4 8 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
5 4 53 Curtis Hobbs Farmer City, Il 0.00
6 6 54R Frank Reed Jr Blue , Il 0.00
7 3 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
8 1 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Late Model – Heat 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
2 1 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
3 4 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
4 3 66 Jim Gibson – 0.00
5 5 53 Curtis Hobbs Farmer City, Il 0.00
6 6 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Late Model – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 25M Franky Martin – 0.00
2 2 24 Matt Taylor Springfield , Il 0.00
3 3 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 0.00
4 4 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
5 6 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
6 5 18 Randy Myers Springfield , Il 0.00
UMP Late Model – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
2 2 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
3 3 7 Joseph Hughes Springfield , Il 0.00
4 4 12T David Thornton Trenton , Il 0.00
5 5 22K Ken Vandorn New Berlin, Il 0.00
6 6 54R Frank Reed Jr Blue , Il 0.00
UMP Late Model – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 91 Terry Babb Decatur , Il 0.00
2 1 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
3 5 B1 Nick Bauman New Berlin, Il 0.00
4 4 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00
5 3 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
6 6 B8 John Barnard – 0.00
UMP Late Model – Qualifying
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 6 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
2 7 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
3 11 25M Franky Martin – 0.00
4 15 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
5 3 91 Terry Babb Decatur , Il 0.00
6 18 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
7 5 24 Matt Taylor Springfield , Il 0.00
8 12 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
9 13 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
10 17 7 Joseph Hughes Springfield , Il 0.00
11 10 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 0.00
12 21 66 Jim Gibson – 0.00
13 24 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00
14 2 12T David Thornton Trenton , Il 0.00
15 9 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
16 16 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
17 1 B1 Nick Bauman New Berlin, Il 0.00
18 4 22K Ken Vandorn New Berlin, Il 0.00
19 23 18 Randy Myers Springfield , Il 0.00
20 14 53 Curtis Hobbs Farmer City, Il 0.00
21 20 B8 John Barnard – 0.00
22 22 54R Frank Reed Jr Blue , Il 0.00
23 8 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
24 19 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
UMP Modified – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 50.00
2 11 77 Guy Taylor – 48.00
3 5 29W Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 46.00
4 9 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 44.00
5 10 5H Randy Huffman Maroa , Il 42.00
6 4 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 40.00
7 6 11 Ed Roley – 38.00
8 12 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 36.00
9 3 4 Cody Bauman – 34.00
10 1 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 32.00
11 18 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 30.00
12 14 97 Chad Unzicker – 28.00
13 19 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 26.00
14 15 33 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 24.00
15 13 22 Scott Jones Macon , Il 22.00
16 16 20 Jeff Ray – 20.00
17 17 21D Darcey Wey Heyworth , Il 18.00
18 20 Z Todd Kirkland – 16.00
19 8 11M Michael Rauch Sullivan , Il 14.00
20 7 22X Ryan Blakeman Jacksonvile , Il 12.00
UMP Modified – Consolation
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 21D Darcey Wey Heyworth , Il 0.00
2 1 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 0.00
3 7 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 0.00
4 3 Z Todd Kirkland – 0.00
5 5 30G Billy Gibson Girard , Il 0.00
6 9 25 Jeffrey Wallace Decatur , Il 0.00
7 4 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
8 12 22N Ryan Nettles – 0.00
9 6 23 Andrew Barnes – 0.00
10 11 1 Josh Robb Blue Mound, Il 0.00
11 8 55C Kevin Cook – 0.00 DNS
12 10 18 Shane Tomlin , Il 0.00 DNS
13 13 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Modified – Heat 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 22X Ryan Blakeman Jacksonvile , Il 0.00
2 5 11 Ed Roley – 0.00
3 6 5H Randy Huffman Maroa , Il 0.00
4 7 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 0.00
5 3 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
6 4 55C Kevin Cook – 0.00
7 2 22N Ryan Nettles – 0.00
UMP Modified – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 4 Cody Bauman – 0.00
2 5 29W Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
3 3 97 Chad Unzicker – 0.00
4 6 33 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 0.00
5 1 Z Todd Kirkland – 0.00
6 7 30G Billy Gibson Girard , Il 0.00
7 4 1 Josh Robb Blue Mound, Il 0.00
UMP Modified – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
2 5 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 0.00
3 1 22 Scott Jones Macon , Il 0.00
4 7 77 Guy Taylor – 0.00
5 6 21D Darcey Wey Heyworth , Il 0.00
6 3 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 0.00
7 2 18 Shane Tomlin , Il 0.00
UMP Modified – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 5 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 0.00
2 3 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
3 7 11M Michael Rauch Sullivan , Il 0.00
4 1 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 0.00
5 8 20 Jeff Ray – 0.00
6 4 23 Andrew Barnes – 0.00
7 6 25 Jeffrey Wallace Decatur , Il 0.00
8 2 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 0.00
UMP Street Stock – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 29 Bobby Beiler Decatur , Il 50.00
2 3 15C Kevin Crowder Argenta , Il 48.00
3 5 33 Justin Hill Lovington , Il 46.00
4 2 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 44.00
5 11 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 42.00
6 8 51 Jeremiah Hoadley – 40.00
7 4 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 38.00
8 9 70 Joe Younker Brownstown , Il 36.00
9 6 30 Blake Shelly Oakley , Il 34.00
10 13 5 Rich Beiler – 32.00
11 7 23 Jason Hazlet Moweaqua , Il 30.00
12 12 57R Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 28.00
13 10 OO Roy Magee Ii Springfield , Il 26.00
14 15 F45 Jeramie Fowler Decatur , Il 0.00 DNS
15 14 61 Gene Reed Shelbyville , Il 0.00 DNS
UMP Hornet – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 33K Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 50.00
2 2 40 Adam Webb Decatur , Il 48.00
3 1 0 Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 46.00
4 7 34 Justunn Hilton Lovington , Il 44.00
5 10 210 Brett Embry Decatur , Il 42.00
6 5 15 Heidi Hames Decatur , Il 40.00
7 9 14X Steven Stine , Il 38.00
8 11 37 Rick Rush Brownstown , Il 36.00
9 3 83 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 34.00
10 6 A Jim Eads – 32.00
11 8 4 Matthew Reed Blue Mound, Il 30.00