Macon Speedway Gets Green Flag on 2010 Racing Season

jdearing

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By Brett Zerfowski

(Macon, IL) Mother Nature nearly doomed Macon Speedway on Opening Night with storms and rain late Friday into Saturday but the skies cleared and the sun shined on the small town off Route 51. In cooperation with the weather, track officials prepped the track so that the 65th consecutive season of stock car racing would not have to wait an extra week.

The season began with the Touchstone Energy Sportsman class, which was filled with exciting racing in 2009. Decatur’s Dave Crawley, Jr. began the night and the season perfectly with a heat win. It would become the first of four checkered flags in his evening, which was also his birthday.

Crawley, who is the defending Modified champion, won his modified heat as well as the Sportsman eight-lapper, to put him in prime position to take the features. Starting front row outside in the Sportsman A-Main 15-lap feature, Crawley battled with the likes of the 2009 class champion Rick Roedel and former track champion Dennis Vandermeersch. As the race hit the 13th lap, lapped traffic became a problem for the leaders as Roedel overtook the top spot from Vandermeersch and into wall was Roedel. Vandermeersch also sustained damage which meant that the top two in the race would be pitted in the infield. That gave the lead to Crawley for the final two laps and he hung on for the win.

He didn’t have much of a chance to relax or enjoy the victory as he needed to jump into his Modified for the next feature event. A little easier a race for Crawley, he motored his way through the traffic en route to the feature win and a statement that he was out to defend his title.

The Late Model class had 24 drivers for Opening Night and the 3rd Annual Spring Fling. Four different states were represented as drivers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri made their way to the 1/5th mile dirt track. Exciting heat racing put together a feature that put Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, MI., on the pole. Schlenk has raced at Macon Speedway a handful of times in the past but never has achieved much success. From starting in the front, Schlenk had an open lane to where he wanted to drive and held off Jacksonville’s Adam Mefford and Urbana’s Richie Hedrick for the first Late Model feature of 2010.

As the Street Stocks took to the track, there was an added bonus in store for the winner. If the leader after the 12th lap was a top ten points finisher in 2009, Decatur Used Cars would donate an additional $250. Decatur’s Mike Pickering took the early advantage from the pole position and started coasting through the race. On the eighth lap, Daryl Hellman and Jeremy Reed spun around in the third turn and with no opportunity to get out of the way, Pickering struck the rear of Hellman’s Street Stock and caused some front damage. There was enough damage to end Pickering’s night and that put second-place Larry Russell, Jr. into first place. “Bub” Russell, who was a top ten points finisher in 2009, would take the checkered flag and the bonus from Decatur Used Cars.

In the Pro Hornets class, Joe Reed defended his crown with a feature win and dedicated the victory and the upcoming to a driver who had passed away a few weeks prior to the start of the season.

Jonathan Drake started his Amateur Hornets season with a feature win as he led all eight laps after starting on the front row outside position.

The 2010 season has officially began after what has felt like a long winter break. Much like a bear awakening from hibernation, the Macon Speedway crowd arrived in large numbers to watch the more than 110 racecars circle the track and fling some mud. A full show is in store for Macon Speedway next week with all six racing divisions. The Macon Speedway gates will open at 5pm with racing to start at 7pm.

UMP Late Model - Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 91S Rusty Schlenk Jackson , Mi 50.00
2 2 7M Adam Mefford Jacksonville , Il 48.00
3 4 PJ7 Richie Hedrick Urbana , Il 46.00
4 3 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 44.00
5 5 77M Jay Morriss - 42.00
6 24 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 40.00
7 6 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 38.00
8 10 1 Jim Moon Zionsville , In 36.00
9 13 91 Jeremy Nichols Macon , Il 34.00
10 8 38L Ryan Little - 32.00
11 9 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 30.00
12 12 96 Bob Brandon - 28.00
13 7 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 26.00
14 14 12 Dave Hartman - 24.00
15 15 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 22.00
16 21 10 Kerby Damery - 20.00
17 17 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 18.00
18 18 47 Dustin Pryde - 16.00
19 19 3L Jake Little - 14.00
20 11 39 Mitchell Lankford - 12.00
21 16 39X Kenny Carmichael Terre Haute, In 10.00
22 20 15 Troy Page Decatur , Il 8.00
23 22 18 Shane Tomlin Virden , Il 0.00
24 23 7T Steve Thorsten - 0.00

UMP Late Model - Heat 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 22 Chris Dick Deland , Il 0.00
2 5 77M Jay Morriss - 0.00
3 6 38L Ryan Little - 0.00
4 3 39X Kenny Carmichael Terre Haute, In 0.00
5 4 15 Troy Page Decatur , Il 0.00
6 1 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00

UMP Late Model - Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 91S Rusty Schlenk Jackson , Mi 0.00
2 5 PJ7 Richie Hedrick Urbana , Il 0.00
3 6 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
4 3 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
5 1 3L Jake Little - 0.00
6 2 7T Steve Thorsten - 0.00

UMP Late Model - Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
2 2 1 Jim Moon Zionsville , In 0.00
3 5 39 Mitchell Lankford - 0.00
4 6 12 Dave Hartman - 0.00
5 4 47 Dustin Pryde - 0.00
6 3 18 Shane Tomlin Virden , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model - Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 7M Adam Mefford Jacksonville , Il 0.00
2 2 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
3 1 96 Bob Brandon - 0.00
4 6 91 Jeremy Nichols Macon , Il 0.00
5 4 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00
6 5 10 Kerby Damery - 0.00

UMP Modified - Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 50.00
2 2 T2 Mark Tullis Taylorville , Il 48.00
3 1 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 46.00
4 10 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 44.00
5 7 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 42.00
6 19 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 40.00
7 18 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 38.00
8 6 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 36.00
9 8 25 Jeffrey Wallace - 34.00
10 11 17H Rick Hamilton Decatur , Il 32.00
11 12 19H James Hankins Taylorville , Il 30.00
12 16 3T Mike Ward - 28.00
13 14 24O Joel Robb - 26.00
14 5 N59 Chad Evans Mattoon , Il 24.00
15 9 57 Danny Page Mount Zion, Il 22.00
16 15 53 Bobby Hinton Shelbyville , Il 20.00
17 13 35S Randy Spaugh Decatur , Il 18.00
18 4 T2G Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
19 17 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 0.00

UMP Modified - Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 37 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
2 2 N59 Chad Evans Mattoon , Il 0.00
3 5 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 0.00
4 4 57 Danny Page Mount Zion, Il 0.00
5 8 25 Jeffrey Wallace - 0.00
6 7 17H Rick Hamilton Decatur , Il 0.00
7 6 24O Joel Robb - 0.00
8 9 53 Bobby Hinton Shelbyville , Il 0.00
9 1 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00

UMP Modified - Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 9 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 0.00
2 8 T2 Mark Tullis Taylorville , Il 0.00
3 6 T2G Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
4 7 9 Danny Smith Argenta , Il 0.00
5 3 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 0.00
6 10 19H James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
7 4 35S Randy Spaugh Decatur , Il 0.00
8 1 3T Mike Ward - 0.00
9 2 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 0.00
10 5 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 0.00

UMP Sportsman - Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 C25 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 50.00
2 3 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 48.00
3 8 89 Norm Wood Sullivan , Il 46.00
4 12 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 44.00
5 4 9 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 42.00
6 14 8UP Willie Haddock Owoneco , Il 40.00
7 11 52 Bob Sidener - 38.00
8 7 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 36.00
9 9 93 Ty Nation Taylorville , Il 34.00
10 13 B88 Jim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 32.00
11 2 22J Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 30.00
12 6 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 28.00
13 15 8K Ken Fustin Springfield , Il 26.00
14 10 22 Timmy Dick Monticello , Il 24.00
15 5 27 Greg Kimmons , Il 22.00
16 16 11K Jeff Brown - 20.00
17 17 3B Stefan Bedinger Taylorville , Il 0.00

UMP Sportsman - Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 22J Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 0.00
2 1 9 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 0.00
3 6 11 Rick Roedel Shelbyville , Il 0.00
4 3 89 Norm Wood Sullivan , Il 0.00
5 8 22 Timmy Dick Monticello , Il 0.00
6 2 B99 Tim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 0.00
7 7 8UP Willie Haddock Owoneco , Il 0.00
8 4 11K Jeff Brown - 0.00

UMP Sportsman - Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 C25 David Crawley Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
2 3 41 Scott Landers Taylorville , Il 0.00
3 8 27 Greg Kimmons , Il 0.00
4 1 72 Tom Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
5 9 93 Ty Nation Taylorville , Il 0.00
6 7 52 Bob Sidener - 0.00
7 6 B88 Jim Bedinger Taylorville , Il 0.00
8 5 8K Ken Fustin Springfield , Il 0.00
9 4 3B Stefan Bedinger Taylorville , Il 0.00

UMP Street Stock - Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 50.00
2 2 21 Troy Dodson Cerro Gordo, Il 48.00
3 5 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 46.00
4 3 37 Rick Rush Brownstown , Il 44.00
5 8 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 42.00
6 11 14 Kurtis Ater Macon , Il 40.00
7 9 12 Terry Myers Buffalo , Il 38.00
8 1 99 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 36.00
9 6 23 Jason Hazlet - 34.00
10 12 16H Daryl Hellman Indianapolis , In 32.00
11 10 34 Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 30.00
12 13 21R Dustin Reed Decatur , Il 28.00
13 14 25R Tony Reed Decatur , Il 26.00
14 7 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 24.00

UMP Street Stock - Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 99 Mike Pickering Decatur , Il 0.00
2 4 37 Rick Rush Brownstown , Il 0.00
3 5 23 Jason Hazlet - 0.00
4 1 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 0.00
5 6 12 Terry Myers Buffalo , Il 0.00
6 7 14 Kurtis Ater Macon , Il 0.00
7 3 25R Tony Reed Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Street Stock - Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 21 Troy Dodson Cerro Gordo, Il 0.00
2 3 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 0.00
3 6 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 0.00
4 2 31 Steve Ewing Decatur , Il 0.00
5 5 34 Jeremy Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
6 4 16H Daryl Hellman Indianapolis , In 0.00
7 7 21R Dustin Reed Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Amateur Hornet - Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 52 Jonathan Drake Decatur , Il 50.00
2 18 8 Brady Reed - 48.00
3 14 X07 Daniel Walker - 46.00
4 5 7 Danny Scott, Jr - 44.00
5 7 1F Fred Mifflin Mount Zion, Il 42.00
6 11 23E Eric Stender Sherman , Il 40.00
7 20 2 Todd Grunden Decatur , Il 38.00
8 6 98 Kenneth Reed Decatur , Il 36.00
9 1 39 Marty Sullivan Mt. Zion, Il 34.00
10 15 02 Fred Reed Sr Decatur , Il 32.00
11 13 71X Xxxxx Stollen - 30.00
12 16 J4 Jerad Matherly - 28.00
13 19 17 Brian Rush - 26.00
14 22 14M Jacob Mercer - 24.00
15 17 4 Ashlee Gatons Blue Mound, Il 22.00
16 21 53 Jenny Clinton - 20.00
17 4 88F Jordan Foraker - 18.00
18 3 21 Joe Mcchristy Mt Zion, Il 16.00
19 9 38R Kyle Maxwell - 14.00
20 8 2C Michael Callarman - 12.00
21 10 50 Benjamin Mcchristy - 0.00
22 12 32 Jones Justin - 0.00

UMP Amateur Hornet - Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 21 Joe Mcchristy Mt Zion, Il 0.00
2 7 98 Kenneth Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
3 6 38R Kyle Maxwell - 0.00
4 8 32 Jones Justin - 0.00
5 5 02 Fred Reed Sr Decatur , Il 0.00
6 2 8 Brady Reed - 0.00
7 1 53 Jenny Clinton - 0.00
8 3 14M Jacob Mercer - 0.00

UMP Amateur Hornet - Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 52 Jonathan Drake Decatur , Il 0.00
2 4 7 Danny Scott, Jr - 0.00
3 1 2C Michael Callarman - 0.00
4 5 23E Eric Stender Sherman , Il 0.00
5 7 X07 Daniel Walker - 0.00
6 6 4 Ashlee Gatons Blue Mound, Il 0.00
7 2 2 Todd Grunden Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Amateur Hornet - Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 39 Marty Sullivan Mt. Zion, Il 0.00
2 1 88F Jordan Foraker - 0.00
3 5 1F Fred Mifflin Mount Zion, Il 0.00
4 3 50 Benjamin Mcchristy - 0.00
5 4 71X Xxxxx Stollen - 0.00
6 2 J4 Jerad Matherly - 0.00
7 7 17 Brian Rush - 0.00

UMP Hornet - Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 34R Joe Reed Decatur , Il 50.00
2 1 210 Brett Embry Decatur , Il 48.00
3 3 21Z Zach Dodd Riverton , Il 46.00
4 4 4G John Goveia - 44.00
5 6 34 Justunn Hilton Lovington , Il 42.00
6 8 02 Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 40.00
7 5 B52 Ben Medaris Decatur , Il 38.00
8 14 X07 Andy Jackson - 36.00
9 11 7S Sam Mccoy Decatur , Il 34.00
10 17 7 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 32.00
11 20 34B Billy Justice Harristown , Il 30.00
12 10 71 Todd Rush Pawnee , Il 28.00
13 18 83 Steven Dulgar Decatur , Il 26.00
14 12 71X Cody Fleming Decatur , Il 24.00
15 19 2M Julie Marshall Springfield , Il 22.00
16 7 22X Jeff Dodd Springfield , Il 20.00
17 16 14X Steven Stine Macon , Il 18.00
18 13 14M James Mercer - 16.00
19 9 4 Matthew Reed Decatur , Il 14.00
20 15 50 Mike Mcchristy Mt. Zion, Il 0.00
21 21 115 Cory Ballinger Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Hornet - Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 21Z Zach Dodd Riverton , Il 0.00
2 2 34 Justunn Hilton Lovington , Il 0.00
3 1 4 Matthew Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
4 3 71X Cody Fleming Decatur , Il 0.00
5 7 50 Mike Mcchristy Mt. Zion, Il 0.00
6 4 83 Steven Dulgar Decatur , Il 0.00
7 6 115 Cory Ballinger Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Hornet - Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 34R Joe Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
2 5 B52 Ben Medaris Decatur , Il 0.00
3 7 02 Fred Reed Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
4 4 7S Sam Mccoy Decatur , Il 0.00
5 6 X07 Andy Jackson - 0.00
6 2 7 Bruce Dulgar Decatur , Il 0.00
7 3 34B Billy Justice Harristown , Il 0.00

UMP Hornet - Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 210 Brett Embry Decatur , Il 0.00
2 3 4G John Goveia - 0.00
3 7 22X Jeff Dodd Springfield , Il 0.00
4 2 71 Todd Rush Pawnee , Il 0.00
5 4 14M James Mercer - 0.00
6 5 14X Steven Stine Macon , Il 0.00
7 6 2M Julie Marshall Springfield , Il 0.00
 




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