Contact Bob Sargent or Jay Hardin of Track Enterprises for additional information.
16TH SPORTSMAN NATIONALS RACE AUGUST 23
A large contingent of local stock car drivers invade the Illinois State Fairgrounds as part of 'Stock Car Day" on August 23rd as the Springfield Mile and 157th Illinois State Fair hosts the 16th annual Sportsman Nationals, a 20 mile contest for area short track pilots.
The Sportsman National event draws competitors from all over Central and Southern Illinois and despite the diverse field, has seen every winner but one come from Sangamon County. Five time winner Wes O'Dell is from Springfield, while Jeff Leka hails from Buffalo, Steve Sheppard from New Berlin and three-time and defending winner Dennis Vandermeersch from Springfield. 2007 winner Tim Dick is a Mansfield resident and is expected back to try for his second win.
Five qualifying events were slated for the 2009 Sportsman Nationals at various venues, the first at Macon Speedway on July 11, followed by a race at Fairbury Legion Speedway July 18. Dave Crawley Jr, Tim Dick, Alan Crowder and Nathan Lynch qualified during the event at Macon July 11. Joel Fink, Jason Unzicker, Andrew Funk and Steve Mattingly took the top 4 slots at Fairbury on July 18. Upcoming qualifying events include one at Morgan County in Jacksonville July 31, Macon August 1 and Shepp's Speedway in New Berlin August 2. Kevin McDermand, Kevin Wilkinson, Greg Kimmons and Terry Reed finished 1-4 at Jacksonville, Scott Landers, Terry Reed, Dave Crawley Jr.
and Rick Roedel took the top 4 positions at Macon. Kimmons, Darrell Dick, Ryan Eilers and Wed O'Dell finished in the top 4 at Shepps on August 2. The remainder of the field will be filled, if needed, by a semi feature on August 23rd at the Illinois State Fair.
The 16th running of the Sportsman Nationals main event is slated for 12 noon on August 23 immediately prior to the running of the ARCA Allen Crowe 100.
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS
SPORTSMAN NATIONAL WINNERS
Year No Driver/Car
Dist Time SCN
1994 24 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 15MI No time None
1995 24 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 15MI No time None
1996 87 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 15MI No time None
1997 25 Dennis Vandermeersch/Teamsters 916 Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
1998 25 Dennis Vandermeersch/Teamsters 916 Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
1999 87 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 20MI No time None
2000 87 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 20MI No time None
2001 31 Jeff Leka/Jungle Jim's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time None
2002 31 Jeff Leka/Jungle Jim's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time None
2003 31 Jeff Leka/Jungle Jim's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time None
2004 31 Steve Sheppard Jr./Jungle Jin's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time
None
2005 66 Steve Sheppard Jr./Shep's Bar & Grille Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
2006 66 Steve Sheppard Jr./Shep's Bar & Grille Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
2007 22 Tim Dick/Davis Farms Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20MI 32:09.38 UMP
2008 25 Dennis Vandermeersch/Midwest Brick Chevrolet 20MI 27:13.22 UMP
16TH SPORTSMAN NATIONALS RACE AUGUST 23
A large contingent of local stock car drivers invade the Illinois State Fairgrounds as part of 'Stock Car Day" on August 23rd as the Springfield Mile and 157th Illinois State Fair hosts the 16th annual Sportsman Nationals, a 20 mile contest for area short track pilots.
The Sportsman National event draws competitors from all over Central and Southern Illinois and despite the diverse field, has seen every winner but one come from Sangamon County. Five time winner Wes O'Dell is from Springfield, while Jeff Leka hails from Buffalo, Steve Sheppard from New Berlin and three-time and defending winner Dennis Vandermeersch from Springfield. 2007 winner Tim Dick is a Mansfield resident and is expected back to try for his second win.
Five qualifying events were slated for the 2009 Sportsman Nationals at various venues, the first at Macon Speedway on July 11, followed by a race at Fairbury Legion Speedway July 18. Dave Crawley Jr, Tim Dick, Alan Crowder and Nathan Lynch qualified during the event at Macon July 11. Joel Fink, Jason Unzicker, Andrew Funk and Steve Mattingly took the top 4 slots at Fairbury on July 18. Upcoming qualifying events include one at Morgan County in Jacksonville July 31, Macon August 1 and Shepp's Speedway in New Berlin August 2. Kevin McDermand, Kevin Wilkinson, Greg Kimmons and Terry Reed finished 1-4 at Jacksonville, Scott Landers, Terry Reed, Dave Crawley Jr.
and Rick Roedel took the top 4 positions at Macon. Kimmons, Darrell Dick, Ryan Eilers and Wed O'Dell finished in the top 4 at Shepps on August 2. The remainder of the field will be filled, if needed, by a semi feature on August 23rd at the Illinois State Fair.
The 16th running of the Sportsman Nationals main event is slated for 12 noon on August 23 immediately prior to the running of the ARCA Allen Crowe 100.
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS
SPORTSMAN NATIONAL WINNERS
Year No Driver/Car
Dist Time SCN
1994 24 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 15MI No time None
1995 24 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 15MI No time None
1996 87 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 15MI No time None
1997 25 Dennis Vandermeersch/Teamsters 916 Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
1998 25 Dennis Vandermeersch/Teamsters 916 Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
1999 87 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 20MI No time None
2000 87 Wes O'Dell/O'Dell Racing Chevrolet Camaro 20MI No time None
2001 31 Jeff Leka/Jungle Jim's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time None
2002 31 Jeff Leka/Jungle Jim's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time None
2003 31 Jeff Leka/Jungle Jim's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time None
2004 31 Steve Sheppard Jr./Jungle Jin's Café Pontiac Grand Prix 20MI No time
None
2005 66 Steve Sheppard Jr./Shep's Bar & Grille Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
2006 66 Steve Sheppard Jr./Shep's Bar & Grille Monte Carlo 20MI No time None
2007 22 Tim Dick/Davis Farms Chevrolet Monte Carlo 20MI 32:09.38 UMP
2008 25 Dennis Vandermeersch/Midwest Brick Chevrolet 20MI 27:13.22 UMP
