By Rocky Ragusa – Fairbury, Ill. (8/8/20) A large contention of spectators on Fan Appreciation Night witnessed another thrilling night of racing at the Fairbury Speedway. Carrying the checkered flag on Saturday were Billy Drake ( Late Model), Mike McKinney (Modified), Zach Zuberbier (Street Stock), Austin Friedman (Sportsman), Cody Wisher (Hobby-Modified), and Brendan Ramer (Vintage).
The Vintage Racing of Illinois Series held a special 10 lap exhibition race with Brendan Ramer turning back his father, Matt for his first ever win in the series.

“ That was a lot of fun. I got to race my dad pretty hard there,” said Ramer.

11 cars were on hand in the Hobby-Modified class. Cody Wisher turned a lap of 15.742 for fast time and took the first heat race. Caden McWhorter claimed the second heat race.
A caution flag with one lap remaining gave last week’s winner,Troy Ricketts an opportunity to repeat. Wisher with a tire losing air was able to hang on for his first win of the year.
“ I couldn’t keep the rear end under the car in the closing laps, especially in turn four,” spoke Wisher.

Ricketts settled for second, with McWhorter, Clay Wisher,and Ty Stutzman completing the top five.

Lyndon Whitfill was the fast qualifier at a 15.845 of the 15 Sportsman drivers. Two heat races saw Austin Friedman and Steve Mattingly taking the wins.

Rookie driver, Friedman and old veteran, Mattingly battled for the lead in the first five laps before Friedman was able to use lapped traffic to take the lead. After a caution on lap 11 of the 15 lap race. Mattingly, looking for his first win of the year, had to contend with Tommy Duncan. As the checkered flag waved for Friedman, Duncan was able to get by Mattingly for second and also was the race’s hard charger winner.

Picking up his second straight win, Friedman commented in victory lane. “ The track was really demanding tonight, but it was a fun race”.

Anthony Craven, Whitfill, Tyler Roth, Matt Ramer, Dan Coit, Brendan Ramer, and Austin Lipe rounded out the top ten.

A time of 16.573 earned Zach Zuberbier quick time in the Street Stock class. With 19 cars on hand, Zuberbier and Joe Brown were the heat race winners.

Zuberbier led the first seven circuits, before Michael Schomas took over for the next two laps. Zuberbier, Schomas, Cody Clubb, and Brown battled tooth and nail for the race win throughout the race. All four drivers battled tooth and nail, using the entire width of the speedway, and never touching. Zuberbier was able to hold off the trio and took the race win.

“ I knew I had some fast cars behind me, “ commented Zuberbier. “ I just had to hang on and not use up my equipment. We won last night, but tonight is way better”.

Schomas, Clubb, Brown, and Kevin Kerlin took the first five positions as Eric Boudreau, Don Hilleary, Josh Hetherington, Kraig Hughes, and Randy Schoener completed the top ten. Eric Legner started last and finished 12th as the race’s hard charger.

14.457 was quick time by Mike McKinney as 22 Modified drivers toured the track. Levi Kissinger, Michael Ledford, and Allen Weisser won their heat races.

Although eight caution flags waved in the 25 lap race, McKinney was the dominating force on this night. Running the top side of the track, McKinney bolted out to a commanding lead as early race leader, Weisser tried to keep pace. With the track cleared after a lap 15 caution, McKinney moved to the bottom and Weisser kept pace. Michael Ledford, running in third, brought out a caution with six laps to go as he slowed with a tire going flat. On the restart, McKinney flexed his muscle and closed this chapter in the season long battle with Weisser for supremacy in the big picture for the national championship title.

“ We tried something different on the car tonight,” said McKinney. “ I was running the top and I saw Allen on the bottom, so I had to try it out.”

Weisser, Nick Clubb, Kissinger, Jim Farris, Dan Rork, Nick Seplak, Mark Grosvenor, Kyle Laughlin (hard charger), and Justin White took the top ten spots.

The Late Model race saw 29 drivers on hand for their 30 lap race. 12.808 earned Mike Spatola fast time. Three heat races saw McKay Wenger, Jeffrey Ledford, and Kevin Weaver emerging as winners. Jeff Curl was the night’s winner in the B-main.

Wenger,looking to continue his winning ways, pounded the cushion in leading the first 17 laps of the race. Billy Drake,using the bottom of the track, reeled in Wenger to take the lead on lap 18. As Drake was attempting to overtake a slower car, made a move to go to the top, Drake not knowing Wenger was there, made contact and ended Wenger’s night. Weaver moved to second on the restart and began to track down Drake. Running on the back stretch, Weaver climbed the wall and brought out the caution with five laps to go. Drake, safely in the lead, took his first win of the year.

As the crowd cheered and jeered for Drake, he spoke apologetic in victory lane. “ I feel bad. McKay is such a good dude. I was trying to get around that lapped car and zipped it to the top. I didn’t know he was there. If I would have known that, I never would have tried that. I don’t want to win a race like that. I would have rather raced him for it. It would have been good. I guess that happens. I hate it and I stand that way.”

Mike Mataragas, Rickey Frankel, Tim Manville (hard charger), Mike Glasscock, Jay Morris, Jeff Herzog, Adan Tischauser, Brent McKinnon, and Titus Sneed claimed the top ten positions.

This Wednesday night, the DIRTCar Summer Nationals will be held,along with a Summit Modified Nationals event at the Speedway.

B Modifieds

Street Stocks

UMP Late Models

UMP Modifieds

UMP Sportsmans