Mars Rallies in Fairbury Finale
By: Rocky Ragusa
Fairbury, IL. September 5, 2009 - The
season ending Prairie Dirt Classic is a race event many race
fans have marked on their schedules months in advance. People
begin arriving at the track usually the night before for those
that are camping or as soon as the gates open on Saturday to
place their blankets. The stands were overflowing with spectators,
as fans and drivers eagerly waited for the 20th annual Prairie
Dirt Classic to begin.
 40 late model competitors from 6 states took
time trials with defending race winner Billy Moyer setting fast
time at a 12.836.4 heat races were ran with Dennis Erb Jr. winning
over Ryan Unzicker, Kevin Weaver, and Moyer in the first. Rodney
Melvin took the second over Brandon Sheppard, Aaron Ricketts,
and Scott Bull. Shannon Babb claimed the third over Darren Miller,
Kyle Logue, and Billy Drake. Jimmy Mars won the forth heat turning
back Eric Smith, Joe Harlan, and Will Vaught. Jeep VanWormer
won over Richie Bell and Frank Heckenast Jr. beat Richie Hedrick
in the two semi features. The track awarded a provisional position,
with Daren Friedman taking the spot. The 21 car field was set
for the 60 lap $10,000 to win UMP late model feature. Babb took
the lead at the start of the race with Mars, Melvin, and Erb
following. After a caution on the 3rd lap, Babb running the high
side quickly pulled away from the field. Melvin moved into the
second spot on the 9th lap, as Babb had a 10 car length lead.
A caution came out on the 11th lap as race leader Babb came into
the pits with a flat tire. Melvin moved to the point with Mars,
Erb, and Unzicker began making  his
move. Melvin hugging the bottom and Mars working the middle ran
door handle to door handle for 6 circuits before Mars moved to
the front of the field. By the halfway mark, Mars, Melvin, and
Unzicker were running nose to tail with Erb trailing by 3 car
lengths. Mars started to put some distance on the field as he
worked through slower cars. On the 47th lap, local favorite Unzicker
dropped out with mechanical problems. With 10 laps remaining
Mars had a half straight away lead over Melvin and Miller. Miller
moved into the 2nd spot with 5 laps to go, but time ran out and
Mars picked up his 2nd Prairie Dirt Classic win and 5th $10,000
to win race at Fairbury. Miller, Erb, Melvin, Weaver, Moyer,
Babb, Sheppard, Vaught, and Bull completed the top 10. Moyer
was voted the hard charger of the race.
 Racing
action also took place in the UMP modified class. 41 drivers
took time trials with Mike Spatola setting a 14.210. 4 heats
were held with A.J. Dixon over Jeb Friedman, Dave Lilja over
Bobby Crego, Jim Farris over Lance Dehm, and Mike Spatola over
Dave Porth. 2 semis took place with Kevin Hastings turning back
Travis Kohler and Darcey Wey beating Matt Greminger. Dave Porth
got the jump at the start of the 20 lap feature with Mike Spatola
trailing. Porth ran the bottom with Spatola not able to make
any ground until he changed his line. Spatola was able to pull
up to Porth and ran side by side for several laps. Behind the
2 drivers, Justin Delong, Jason Hastings, Jeff Leka, McKay Wenger,
and T.D. Burger waged a battle for the 3rd position. At ther
halfway mark, Porth had a 6 car length lead over Spatola, as
Leka pulled away from his group for 3rd. on the 14th lap, Spatola
tagged the wall in turn 4 ending his night and Wenger dropped
out with car problems. Porth went the rest of the race uncontested
to pick up his 2 win of the year. Leka, Farris, Jason Hastings,
Burger, Dehm, Lilja, Crego, Kohler, and Friedman were the top
10. Farris won the hard charger of the race.
 18
UMP street stock drivers were on hand for their 15 lap feature.
Joel Funk took the lead from Dave Rudisill on the 4th lap and
won for the 4th time. Rudisill, Brandon Kessinger held off current
national point leader Rick Thomas for third. Darrin Kohler, Nick
Clubb, Joe Hillman, Eric Gaus, Jacob Johnson, and Greg Osman
completed the top 10. Kohler took the hard charger honors as
the curtain closed on another year of racing action at the Fairbury
American Legion Speedway.
NOTES-
7 past winners of the Prairie Dirt Classic entered the race with
only inaugural winner Snooky Dehm failing to make the field.
Jason Feger, the current national point leader broke in his heat
race and ended his night. During pre race ceremonies, Pontiac's
own Ms. Carrie Chandler gave an outstanding performance of the
national anthem. Fans gave her a standing performance. In another
battle for a national championship, Rick Thomas holds a narrow
lead over Steve Ewing. Thursday night at Peoria, Dennis Erb Jr
won a $5000 to win late model race, at Farmer City on Friday,
Jason Feger won the $5000 to win monster Midwest series race.
With Jeff Leka's 2nd place finish in the modified race, he clinched
his 8th track championship in a row at Farmer City. While Jeff
Curl was on business, Brother Matt "Diesel" Curl came
out of retirement to wheel his car. At Kankakee on Friday, veteran
John Provenzano took the late models, current national point
leader in the modifieds Gary Cook Jr. took the modifieds, while
street stock honors went to Darrin Kohler. Also at Kankakee Pontiac's
Dan Rork drove a former Jim Farris car to a 16th place run. LaSalle
speedway had a special Sunday night race. Mike Provenzano won
the late models, while a special$1000 to win street stock special
was held. Peoria's Scott Schooner claimed the race with Joel
Funk, Rick Thomas, and Steve Ewing following. Jason Feger won
the $2000 to win monster Midwest series race Sunday at the Lincoln
speedway. Kart racing returns to Pontiac's Route 66 speedway
this Sunday as the track will have a 50 lap clone series race.
I would like to thank the Pontiac Daily Leader, the Fairbury
American Legion Speedway staff, all my other racing media outlets,
drivers and fans for the support they have given me this year.
The Fairbury season might be over, but there is still a little
bit more racing to do. A town in Ohio hosts an event called the
World 100. if you have never been , go at least once. It is truly
an event.
|
