Mike Spatola
Michael Long
Joe Brown
Kody Kovski
Results | Points | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa
Daikin Air Intelligence presented the FALS Cup weekly racing program Saturday night at the Fairbury Speedway. Five divisions were in action on the ¼-mile banked dirt oval. Mike Spatola (Late Model), Michael Long (Modified), Joe Brown (Stock Car), Kody Kovski (Pro Modified), and Brody Brandon (KidModz) took the checkered flag.
Farmer City Raceway Hall of Fame inductee Donny Walden was the Late Model fast qualifier with a time of 12.841. Two heat races saw Mike Spatola and McKay Wenger take the wins. In the 30-lap, $2,500-to-win feature, six cautions fell during the first 10 laps. Spatola led Wenger, Zach Taylor, and Rich Bell Jr. When the field went back to green, Wenger offered a brief challenge to Spatola. Running the top side of the track, Spatola was able to outdistance his competitors and held a straightaway lead over Wenger at the finish. “That was fun there. It was like vintage 2018 FALS running around the top,” said Spatola. “I knew that I would have to get McKay on the start. I was really happy with all those cautions. We went with softer tires. The track started taking rubber at the end, but we are thankful to get it done.” Taylor turned in a fine performance and finished third, with Kevin Weaver, Walden, Bell Jr., Mike Mataragas, Alex Wilson, Mike Winn, and Billy Knippenberg III finishing in the top ten.
Michael Long completed the hat trick in the Modified class by taking quick time honors with a 13.599, winning his heat race, and dominating the field in the 25-lap, $1,500-to-win feature. The yellow flag waved four times in the first seven laps of the race. Long was leading, while Landen Miller and Carson Friedman were locked in an intense race for second, followed by Mike McKinney and Alan Stipp. When the field went back to green, Long opened his lead to 10 car lengths as McKinney moved to third. With three laps to go, the yellow flag came out with Long in command. As the cars went back to green, Long was able to pull away and take his first win of the year at Fairbury. “It feels good to get this win out of the way,” Long said. “We were way better in time trials. That is what we have been missing the last couple of weeks.” Carson Friedman turned back McKinney for second, with Miller, Austin Friedman, Steven Brooks, Jeff Curl, Stipp, Billy Knippenberg Jr., and Collin Shain rounding out the top ten.
A time of 15.326 gave Barry Sauder fast time honors. Joe Brown and Nick Clubb won the heat races. Brown rebounded after last weekend’s Hubert Memorial. Brown was leading the race, clipped an infield tire, and was done for the night. On this night, Brown raced through cautions and held off Nick Clubb early in the race before turning up the wick to win the 15-lap, $750-to-win Stock Car feature. “We were set up for the bottom. I was tired of banging the boards,” said Brown. “The bottom wasn’t working tonight, so I knew that I had to go to the top. The car was tight. I had to get it up there, and we got it done.” Heat race winner Nick Clubb took second, followed by Zane Reitz and 17th starter Cody Clubb. The rest of the top ten were Matt Hammond, Kyle Anderson, Nathan Arterberry, Jace Gall, Peyton Oswald, and Eric Legner.
Dylan Turpin toured the track in 14.576 to set fast time in the Pro Modified class. Donnie Cheesman and Drake Compton won their heat races. Cheesman and Compton were involved in a caution on the first lap and were eliminated from the race. Kody Kovski inherited the pole position when the track went back to green. Kovski was able to lead all 15 laps and pick up a check for $400. Turpin, David Henderson, Gavyn Parmele, Gregory Doerr, Jake Montgomery, Coulter Pierson, Randy Schoener, Donnie Martin Sr., and Aiden Page rounded out the top ten.
The KidModz class made its annual appearance at Fairbury for a 12-lap feature race. Brody Brandon and Kaden Breymeier won their heat races. Starting from the pole position, Brandon stayed there to take the win. Breymeier turned back Canon Stipp for second, followed by Brantley Fenney, Coy Billingsley, Raylan Rarick, Christopher Luttrell, Parker Robb, and Paislie McKenrick.