Thunderstorms, cold weather, and an all-around sour forecast has forced the cancellation of Friday’s World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series “Hoosier Dirt Shootout” at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway.
“Unfortunately, Mother Nature chose to not be a fan of the Hoosier Dirt Shootout,” event promoter Matt Curl said. “We hate to have to cancel the event altogether, but this weekend’s weather looks miserable, and with no viable reschedule dates, we had no other choice.”
Fans and race teams with armbands from the finale of the Hoosier Dirt Shootout presented by Illinois State Rifle Association will receive a refund. In order to receive a refund, you must mail your armbands back to the following address: Fairbury Speedway, P.O. Box 165, Fairbury, IL 61739. Please include the name and address of the person receiving the refund.
Per the announcement at the time of the August 1 rainout to keep your armbands as your raincheck, the only way to obtain a refund is by returning your armband to the address above. Camping reservations from the original event dates were complete. Fans and race teams will have until December 1 to submit their refund request.
Any questions can contact Fairbury Speedway at www.fairburyspeedway.com.
50 MARS Late Model Series drivers tripped the clock in time trials for their 50-lap, $15,000 to win special. The winner of the last race at Fairbury, Myles Moos, led group one qualifiers with a time of 12.668 seconds. A lap at 12.697 seconds by Taylor Scheffler paced the second group. Six heat races were held with the top three finishers in each advancing into the main event. Moos, Josh Richards, Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Strickler, Tanner English, and Jimmy Mars took the wins in their respective races. Bobby Pierce and Shannon Babb moved into the 50-lap race by taking the wins in the two last chance races. Starting on the outside of the front row, Sheppard took the lead on the start as Moos, Richards, Mars, and Strickler followed. The race saw the first caution fall on the seventh lap as debris fell on the track. On the restart, Richards got by Moos for second, as Sheppard held a five-car length lead. Babb caught the attention of the fans in attendance, as he moved from the 20th starting position into ninth by the 10th lap. Sheppard held a five-car length lead over Richards as the leader encountered slower traffic by the 20th lap. Strickler took the third position from Moos, with Tanner English in fifth and Babb in sixth. Sheppard weaved his way past traffic, as he put some distance between himself and Richards. Frank Heckenast Jr. brought out the second yellow flag as he spun out in turn one. On the restart, Jesse Stovall tagged the wall on the backstretch for another caution period. Sheppard led Richards by five car lengths on the restart. A thrilling battle was taking place behind the duo with Mars, Strickler, Chris Simpson, and Babb trying every inch of the speedway. Babb moved to the third spot with eight laps left. Sheppard pulled away from Richards in the final laps as he picked up his second win of the year at Fairbury. Greeted by his family and crew in victory lane, the World of Outlaws points leader commented. “It is always special to win in our family car. It has been fast all year long. I have not steered away from what I know and what Mark Richards has taught me.” Richards settled for second with Babb in third. The rest of the top ten had Strickler, Mars, Simpson, Tim Manville, Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley, and English.
38 Stock Car drivers registered for the 43-lap, $2,000 to win special. Matt Fabrizius was quickest in group one qualifying with a time of 15.255 seconds. Zach Zuberbier’s time of 15.220 seconds earned him the fast time honors in the second qualifying group. Fabrizius, Jerrad Krick, Megan Erwin, and Jeremy Nichols were the heat race winners. RJ Akers and Pete Odell advanced to the main event by taking their respective semi-features. After a caution flag on the fourth lap, defending race winner Nichols got by Fabrizius for the lead. Nichols wasted little time as he built a straightaway lead, while Joel Funk, Erwin, and Nick Macklin dueled for second. As Nichols sliced his way by lapped traffic, Funk cut into Nichols’ lead. On a restart after a caution in the closing laps, Funk tried a slide job for the lead, but Nichols stood his ground. As Funk faded, Macklin pressured Nichols several times, but Nichols was able to hang on for the win. Becoming the first two-time winner of the race, Nichols commented in victory lane. “About halfway through the race my brakes began to fade. Then going in turn one I noticed the power steering was fading and I had a right front shock bent. The car was handling horrible. Nick tried me at the end, but I just stayed at it.” Macklin made a game of it but settled for second, with Erwin, Bobby Beiler, and Fabrizius completing the top five. 19th starter Andrew Funk, Andy Zahnd, 18th starter Odell, Don Hilleary, and Zuberbier completed the top ten.
Myles Moos took quick time honors for the 30-lap Late Model race with a time of 12.852 seconds. Moos and Kevin Weaver were the heat race winners. While racing for the lead, Moos made contact with Weaver in turn one. The damage caused Weaver to drop out of the race. Eric Smith had Moos within his sight, but he was never able to mount a serious threat. Moos, in his second year in the Late Model division, was able to take the biggest win of his career. “I am so sorry for what happened with Kevin and myself,” Moos said. “I tried to get under him in turn one and the car didn’t stick.” Smith finished second. Cullen Breeden, in his first appearance of the year, came home third. Glen Thompson, Donny Walden, Jay Morris, Kyle Novak, Tony Thoennes, Chris Nash, and Bob Thoennes completed the top ten.
Rich Dawson clipped a lap at 14.187 seconds as 21 Modified drivers looked to take home a prestigious FALS Cup trophy. Dawson, Michael Ledford, and Bradley Jameson were the heat race winners. Ledford was able to capitalize by starting on the outside of the front row. As the green flag waved for the 25-lap race, Ledford shot out of a cannon. Working the top side of the track to perfection, Ledford established himself as the man to beat. Through three yellow flags and one red flag, Ledford was able to take his second win of the year. “We have been struggling so bad lately,” spoke Ledford. “My car hasn’t been where we wanted it and I have made some mistakes. We really needed this one.” Steven Brooks took second, with Dan Rork earning third. Garrett Jameson came from the 13th starting position to finish fourth. Ian Keller, Dawson, Jay Ledford, Owen Wells, Justin Gregory, and Joey Ilift rounded out the top ten.
44 Late Model teams representing 16 states registered for the 50-lap featured race. Group one qualifying saw Kyle Strickler break a nine-year mark set by Scott Bull by turning a lap of 12.143 seconds for a new track record. Josh Richards' lap of 12.267 seconds paced group two qualifiers. Strickler, Shannon Babb, Richards, and Brandon Overton won their respective heat races. Bobby Pierce and Ryan Unzicker took their semi-features to advance into the 22-car starting field. In a race that saw five different leaders, World of Outlaws points leader Brandon Sheppard took the lead from Babb after the first caution in the race fell on lap 35. From that point on, Sheppard had to contend with Richards before pulling away in the final laps for his 27th win of the year. “That’s awesome man,” an excited Sheppard spoke. “It’s such a privilege to be able to race here. During these hard times and everything, we are glad to be racing period. To race this close to home and at this great of a racetrack, this place puts a lot of places to shame if you ask me.” Richards finished 1.6 seconds behind, with 17th starter Pierce edging out Frank Heckenast Jr. for third, while Babb took fifth. Jeremiah Hurst, Taylor Scheffler, and Myles Moos were the remaining cars left on the track. Kyle Bronson and Overton completed the top ten.
Mike McKinney’s time of 13.985 seconds led group one Modified qualifiers. Allen Weisser’s time of 13.899 seconds paced group two, as 34 drivers looked to take home the FALS Cup trophy. Four heat races saw McKinney, Austin Lynn, Weisser, and Levi Kissinger taking wins. Kevin Morrow and Dylan Woodling won in their respective semi-features. The top three drivers battling for the DIRTcar national championship went at it back-and-forth in the 25-lap race. Weisser led the first three laps before McKinney took over for the next 12 circuits. Current DIRTcar national points leader Nick Hoffman moved to the front for two laps, as the top contenders were never separated by less than five car lengths. McKinney and Hoffman raced side by side for the final seven laps. Hoffman was scored as the race leader as the white flag waved. As Hoffman and McKinney entered turns three and four with the checkered flag in sight, Hoffman slipped and allowed McKinney to slide by for the win. “I wanted that win,” said McKinney, who trails Hoffman in the points battle. “I am in the position now where there is nothing to do but win.” Hoffman, Weisser, Kyle Hammer, and Jeff Leka took the first five positions. Brad DeYoung led Dan Rork, Steven Brooks, Woodling, and Zeke McKenzie to round out the top ten.
The final race on the MARS Late Model Series schedule saw 34 drivers in attendance. Wisconsin’s Taylor Scheffler’s time of 12.936 seconds led the group one qualifiers. Bloomington’s Jason Feger clipped a lap of 13.162 seconds to lead the second group. Bobby Pierce, Frank Heckenast Jr, Feger, and Billy Moyer were the four heat race winners. Mike Provenzano and Ryan Unzicker took the b-main wins. Pierce wasted little time establishing himself as the man to beat, as he jumped out to a 10-car length lead at the start. Moyer had his hands full dealing with Heckenast. The rapid pace set by Pierce had him catching the rear of the 22-car field by lap 10, with Heckenast, Brian Shirley, Moyer, and Feger trailing. Shirley raced Heckenast for second and allowed Pierce to open up a lead of more than three seconds by the halfway mark. Caution fell on lap 36 as Scott James made contact with an infield tire on the backstretch. Pierce pounded the Fairbury cushion on the ensuing restart as Heckenast and Shirley continued their heated duel. At the end of the 50 laps, Pierce held a 2.5 second lead over Heckenast Jr. “The car was really good tonight,” Pierce said. “I faded at the end. I think I was just too hard on the tires at the beginning of the race. I have to thank my dad. He was on the phone helping us. Fairbury has plagued me in the past for bad luck. We had a lot of good luck charms tonight.” Shirley took third, with Tim Manville and Feger following. Scheffler claimed sixth, as 18th starter Unzicker worked his way to seventh, followed by Allen Weisser, Moyer, and Rich Bell.
80 of the best Modified drivers in the country came to town looking to take home the big check in the American Modified Series sanctioned race. Hailing from the Wolverine state, Curt Spalding toured the track with a lap of 13.966 seconds to lead the first group of qualifiers, while Oaklawn’s Bob Pohlman turned a lap of 14.126 to lead group two. Eight heat races were held with the top two finishers advancing to the main event. Spalding, Nick Hoffman, Tyler Nicely, Bobby Pierce, Pohlman, Chris Arnold, Dawson Cook, and Allen Weisser won their respective heat races. Four last chance races saw Will Krup, Bobby Stremme, Brian Shaw, and Kyle Hammer advancing to the feature race. As the green flag waved, Pohlman took the lead with Cook in second. Following a caution on lap two, Cook raced side-by-side with Pohlman before the son of the late Gary Cook Jr. pulled out to a 10-car length lead. As Cook was entering turn one, his car broke, spun around, and faced the traffic. Fourth running Mike Harrison, with nowhere to go, ran into Cook causing significant damage to both machines, ending both their nights. The restart had Hoffman as the new race leader, followed by Pohlman, Nicely, Pierce, and Spalding. Mike McKinney, who started deep in the field after dropping out of his heat race, moved into 11th after 10 laps. Hoffman was able to run the bottom of the track extending his lead as Pierce, running the top side, raced side-by-side with Nicely. Nicely fended off Pierce as Weisser began to make his move. Weisser got by Pierce and reeled in Nicely. Weisser overtook Nicely for second on lap 24, as Hoffman encountered slower traffic. After a lap 29 caution, Hoffman led Weisser, Nicely, Pierce, and Pohlman. The hard charging McKinney was scored in seventh. Both racing the bottom groove, Hoffman held a five-car length lead over Weisser before a caution fell on lap 38. Third running Pierce pulled into the pit area to change a tire and fell to the back of the pack. Going to a single file restart, Hoffman led Weisser, Nicely, David Stremme, and McKinney. With under 10 laps to go, Weisser began his charge in pursuit of the reigning Summit Modified champion, but as the checkered flag waved, Hoffman laid claim in winning the 8th Annual Casey’s Modified Nationals event. “Our car was good, but I think Allen was a little better,” spoke the Mooresville, N.C. driver. “I couldn’t figure out how to get through that hole in turn two. The car would bounce down the backstretch and I gave up a lot of time.” Returning to his early season form, Weisser took second, with Nicely, 16th starter David Stremme, and 25th starter McKinney rounding out the top five. The remainder of the top ten saw Derek Losh, Bobby Stremme, Hammer, Bradley Jameson, and Victor Lee as 18 of the 26 drivers finished the race.
