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By Brett Zerfowski
(Macon, IL) Kenny Wallace loves Macon Speedway. When the track feared to close its gates possibly for good in 2006, he was among the leaders of the ownership regime that wanted to bring the legendary oval back to regional and national prominence. In speaking to Ken Schrader and Tony Stewart, along with local promoter Bob Sargent, Macon Speedway has once again grown back to the standing it once had.
Wallace shared his love with the fans after winning the 20-lap Billingsley Towing Modified feature event. His heat victory led to a front row starting spot and his first feature at his track since July 2010. To get the checkered flag in his hands, he had to hold off a very game Guy Taylor. Taylor, who had won four features in-a-row prior to last Saturday started alongside Wallace and challenged him bumper-to-bumper for the entire show. Lapped traffic proved to bring an exciting finish when Wallace pushed forward to win. Taylor finished second and received praise from Wallace for clean racing and his competitive spirit. Springfield’s Brian Diveley chased Wallace and Taylor but could only finish third, ahead of Ethan Schnapp and Gary Cook, Jr.
Other NASCAR stars in attendance for racing in the Modifieds were Tony Stewart and Justin Allgaier. Allgaier was knocked out of the race on the first lap after getting tangled with cars on the start and left with a broken right front. He finished 20th. Stewart, who has had little luck racing Modifieds at his track, drew a high number and started last in his heat and finished fifth. Stewart started 13th in the A-Main and finished 11th of 22 cars. Stewart’s only victory at Macon Speedway remains a B-Main semi-feature in the POWRi Midgets during his first appearance as co-owner in July 2007.
Ken Schrader raced in the Late Model class and started deep in the field, 13th starting position, and charged ahead to finish ninth. The race was won by Cisco’s Kyle Logue, his third of the season. Logue traded the lead with New Berlin’s Steve Sheppard, Jr., before Sheppard’s engine failed with five laps to go. Logue originally took the lead on lap seven from Springfield’s Ryan Little. Little finished second, following the leader around the high banks of the 1/5th mile oval. Brian Diveley took third as he ran double-duty Tuesday evening with races in the Late Models and Billingsley Towing Modifieds. Joseph Hughes and Jim Moon finished third and fourth, respectively, ahead of Schrader.
Kevin Crowder found the winner’s circle at Macon Speedway for the first time in the Street Stock class. He passed Terry Reed for the victory and raced to the finish with Reed and Jason Hazlet before engine troubles doomed his finish. Larry Russell, Jr. was able to take third with George Ewing in fourth and Jeffrey Reed, Jr. netting a top five finish.
Derek Peters won his third Amateur Hornet feature of 2012 starting on the pole. He led all eight laps en route to the victory.
Macon Speedway’s action-packed Summer of Fun continues this Saturday with the annual Mueller Distributing Lite Beer Twin 50s as Late Models and Billingsley Towing Modifieds will run 50-lap features.