Kyle Hammer
Steven Brooks
Nick Clubb
Drake Compton
Coy Billingsley
Results | Points | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa
Allen Automotive teamed with CIT Trucks to present the 26th Annual “Pappy and Bob Allen Memorial,” which saw 90 race teams on the hallowed grounds. Five divisions were in action, with Kyle Hammer (Late Model), Steven Brooks (Modified), Nick Clubb (Stock Car), Drake Compton (Pro Mod), and Coy Billingsley (KidModz) earning bragging rights.
Mike Spatola topped the charts in Late Model qualifying with a time of 12.800. Three heat races saw Mike Mataragas, Ryan Unzicker, and Jake Little emerge victorious. Alex Wilson took the B-main. Unzicker took the lead on the start with Little, Spatola, Jeffrey Ledford, and Hammer following. After a lap-five caution, Ledford vaulted into second and gave Unzicker a run. Hammer flexed his muscle and reeled in the duo to take first on lap eight. On the restart after a lap-11 yellow flag, Hammer put his car on the treacherous topside as Unzicker worked the bottom. Unzicker was able to reclaim the lead, but Hammer came back with 10 laps to go. Hammer pulled away to earn his first career Fairbury Late Model feature win. “I thought that I messed up on that restart when Ryan got by,” explained Hammer. “So, I messed up. I might have gotten him a little bit, but the track was rough. I really couldn’t turn down and get away from him. It feels great.” Unzicker took second, with track point leader Spatola in third. Jeffrey Ledford had his first top-ten finish of the year in fourth, with Little, Myles Moos, McKay Wenger, Donny Walden, Mataragas, and Justin White completing the top ten.
A time of 14.178 gave Steven Brooks fast time in the 25-lap Modified race. Brooks also won his heat race, while track point leader Mike McKinney and Lyndon Whitfill also picked up heat race victories. The B-main went to Travis Kohler. Brooks led at the start as the race for second went between Austin Friedman, Zeke McKenzie, McKinney, and Carson Friedman. A caution fell with three laps to go, and on the restart, Carson Friedman shot past McKenzie to take second. With Brooks glued to the bottom of the track, Friedman tried the topside. Brooks withstood the challenge and took his first Fairbury win since July 8, 2017. Jubilant might be an understatement as Brooks spoke in victory lane. “We do so much for the plastic gold. To win at Fairbury, this is the place we all want to win at. The guys behind me, I know they are hungry too. I felt them. They were pushing me, beating me, Brooksie on the bottom, Brooksie on the tires! The high side didn’t prevail tonight! It feels great.” Friedman, last week’s winner McKenzie, McKinney, and Landen Miller rounded out the top five. The remainder of the top ten saw Lyndon Whitfill, Matthew Baker, Billy Knippenberg, Eric Vaughan, and Charlie Mohr.
Nick Clubb’s time of 15.925 gave him Stock Car quick time honors, and he also won his heat race. Younger brother Cody was the winner of the second heat race. Starting from the pole position, Nick Clubb stuck his car to the bottom groove and led flag-to-flag to take his first Fairbury win of the year. Cody Clubb was second, followed by Joe Brown, Zane Reitz, Jace Gall, Kyle Anderson, Peyton Oswald, Jake Lund, Eric Legner, and Chevy Andreatta.
Drake Compton toured the track in Pro Mod time trials and set quick time with a lap of 15.075. Compton and Kody Kovski won their heat races. The final 10 laps of the 15-lap feature saw Compton on the top and Kovski on the bottom swapping the lead with no clear-cut advantage. With three laps to go, Compton found his line and was able to distance himself from Kovski in taking his second win at Fairbury and eighth overall. “Kody really had a good car tonight,” Compton said. “We are pretty good friends. I’m worn out after that one. That was rough. I was bouncing up and down. It was definitely cowboy up.” Kovski finished second as point leader Jake Montgomery was third. Taryn Page turned in a fine performance and was fourth, with Brody Unzicker earning a hard-fought fifth. Liam Gray, Lucas Boulton, Dylan Turpin, Jake Borth, and Gregory Doerr rounded out the top ten.
The KidModz made their second appearance of the year, and the winner of the last race, Brody Brandon, was the heat race winner. With four laps to go in the 12-lap race, race leader Brandon and Canon Stipp were battling for the lead when contact was made to bring out the caution. Both had to go to the rear of the field. Coy Billingsley inherited the lead and held on for his first career KidModz win. Stipp rallied for second, followed by Brandon, Brantley Feeney, and Paislie McKenrick.