Ryan Unzicker
Mike McKinney
Tanner Sullivan
Landen Miller
Chris Tippit
Results | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa
Heavy rain in the area last week made for a rough race track Saturday night at the Fairbury Speedway. Despite the conditions, fans were treated to another exciting evening of racing action. Ryan Unzicker (Late Model), Mike McKinney (Modified), Tanner Sullivan (Stock Car), Landen Miller (Sportsman), Chris Tippit (Hobby Mod), and Matt Ramer (Vintage) found their way to victory lane.
17 Late Models signed in looking to carry home a FALS Cup trophy and the $2,500 check. A time of 12.902 seconds gave Kevin Weaver quick time. Current points leader Mike Spatola and Ryan Unzicker won in their respective heat races. Polesitter Spatola took the lead at the start of the 30-lap race with Unzicker, Weaver, Jeffrey Ledford, and Eric Smith giving chase. After a lap eight caution that saw Weaver and Ledford park their cars for the night, Unzicker and Spatola separated themselves from the competition and put on a thrilling battle for the fans. Drivers had to change their lines to avoid the holes that were created. Unzicker paced the field through lap 24 before Spatola was able to lead on lap 25. Looking to end a long dry spell, Unzicker came back to take the lead and was able to hold off Spatola for his first win since opening night in May. “We decided to stay close to home tonight and glad we did,” Unzicker said. “Anytime that you can beat Mike, he’s one of the best on the cushion here. The top was so rough. It was kind of tricky depending on where you wanted to go.” Spatola settled for second with Smith, Scott Schmitt, Torin Mettille, Kyle Hammer, Jay Sparks, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Mataragas, and Ron Donaldson completing the top ten.
Making his second start in the Modified division, Austin Friedman caught the attention of many by setting quick time with a lap of 14.028 seconds. Friedman and Michael Ledford claimed heat race wins. Friedman led the first two laps before Ledford moved into the lead. A miscue by Ledford on lap seven allowed Mike McKinney to take the front spot. Ledford, looking to redeem himself, stuck with McKinney and was able to take the position back on the 11th lap. McKinney reclaimed the lead and held a 10-car length advantage at the finish. The winner of four FALS Cup wins and current points leader, McKinney commented in victory lane. “The setup we had in the heat race didn’t work out. We went back to the setup we had last week. I thought that most of the drivers would be racing on the top side. Nobody was on the bottom so that's where we went.” Ledford fended off Nick Clubb for second, with 14th starter Andrew Hamburg in fourth. AJ Meiferdt, Steven Brooks, Dave Lilja, Caden McWhorter, Mike Mosier, and Nick Seplak rounded out the top ten.
Megan Erwin turned back 24 other Stock Car competitors in qualifying with a lap of 15.377 seconds. Heat race wins went to Terry Reed, Tanner Sullivan, and Adam Williams. Sullivan was the class of the field in leading all 15 laps for his second Fairbury win of the season. Reed finished in second, followed by Erwin, Cody Clubb, Austin Hubbard, Williams, 14th starter Don Hilleary, Calvin Peek Jr., Dustin Pruitt, and Kyle Anderson. “I hope that everyone liked that show,” Sullivan said. “I thought that I was going to mess up a few times, but we showed them what a Bullet Chassis is all about.”
Looking to take his second feature win of the year in the CR Towing Sportsman class, Landen Miller began his night by posting a lap of 14.815 seconds in earning fast time honors. Miller and Lyndon Whitfill won their respective heat races. Miller was able to lead all 15 laps and take the win, but Whitfill and Tommy Duncan made him work for it. Both drivers stayed with the race leader until the closing stages when Miller was able to stretch his lead. “It feels good to get the win,'' Miller spoke. “I kept getting in my own way trying different lines on the track. We finally did what we needed to do and got the car right.” Points leader Duncan took second, followed by Whitfill, Anthony Craven, and Joel Ortberg. The rest of the top ten went to Daniel Odell, Makinzi Semmens, Tom Davidson, Victor Strong, and Ricky Wilson.
Kirby McCormick’s lap of 15.422 seconds earned him quick time for the Hobby Mod class. Two heat races saw Chris Tippit and Brian Deavers take the wins. Starting on the outside of the front row, Tippit got the jump on McCormick and outdistanced the field for his third straight feature win. Luke Gebhardt, McCormick, Scott McDonald, and Jake Green took the top five positions. Jordan Walker, Ryan Kohler, Tim McGuire, Payton Semmens, and Deavers rounded out the top ten.
The Vintage Racing of Illinois Series made an appearance. Matt Ramer and Andy Thompson took heat race wins. Ramer started in the ninth position and was able to work his way to the front in picking up the win. “It is nice to be back at Fairbury,” Ramer said. “I thought that Kelly Christman had the car to beat tonight. Jerry Vance gave me a heck of a run on the bottom, but my car was working great on the top.” Vance finished in second, with Thompson taking third, and Austin Lipe in fourth. Dustin Mounce, Steve Schwemiein, Ed Boudreau, Makinzi Semmens, Brendan Ramer, and Wally Stodgill completed the top ten.