FAIRBURY, IL (May 15, 2023) After a week away from MARS competition, both series are set to return to action this weekend to continue their quest for the season ending championship. After 3 events completed in MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends competition, New Berlin, Illinois’ Brandon Sheppard leads series points standings followed by Drake Troutman, Jason Feger, Ryan Unzicker, and Mike Harrison. Opening weekend for the Late Model series showed solid car counts and great racing action that fans will grow accustomed to when MARS comes to town.
On the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment side of things, Tyler Nicely of Owensboro, Kentucky retook the points lead after his win on Saturday, May 6 at Red Hill Raceway with a narrow advantage going into Charleston this Saturday night over Kyle Steffens, Josh Harris, Allen Weisser, and Charlie Mefford. This weekend, the MARS Dirt Series is set to showcase the stars of the Midwest at three well-known Illinois ovals.
Friday, May 19 – Kankakee County Speedway – Kankakee, IL – MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
On Friday night, May 19, the MARS Late Models will return to the Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois for the Big Daddy Scrap 40. Promoter Billy Knippenberg has worked diligently since at the helm of the speedway to bring Kankakee back to its glory days. In 4 events so far this season, the speedway has averaged 117 cars per night in the pit area with 2-3 wide racing being the normal for the 2023 season. Over the off season, a multitude of track work was done including an outside retaining wall being added in turns 1 & 2 of the racetrack. Dividends have paid off to this point, as drivers are raving that Kankakee races as well now as it ever has before. Last season’s event winner was Manhattan, Illinois driver Mike Spatola as he crossed the finish line over Ryan Unzicker, McKay Wenger, Frank Heckenast Jr, and Kevin Weaver. Friday will mark the first of 3 Super Late Model shows at the track in 2023.
Joining the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends will be the DIRTcar Pro Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Stock Cars, DIRTcar Pro Modifieds, and DIRTcar Sport Compacts. Pit gates are set to open at 4:00 p.m. with general admission gates opening at 5:30 p.m. The driver’s meeting is set for 5:45 p.m. with hot laps beginning with the MARS Late Models at 6:15 p.m. Ticket prices for Friday’s event are $25 for general admission with children 11 and under admitted free of charge. Pit passes will be available for $45 for adults with children ages 5-10 years old being admitted for $25. Children 4 years old and under will be free.
Saturday, May 20 – Charleston Speedway – Charleston, IL – MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
Coming up on Saturday night, May 20, both the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment will be making their first ever appearance to the ¼ mile oval located in Coles County Illinois. The Late Model portion of the event will be brought to you by Great Lakes Lifting, while the Modified portion of the event will be made possible by C.R. Neff Plumbing Heating and A/C LLC. The Graves 40 for the MARS Late Models and Graves 30 for the MARS Modifieds will be held in honor of the Graves family’s rich history at the Charleston Speedway. This event will mark the only appearance for Super Late Models at the speedway in 2023 and the first time Super Late Models have hit the Charleston Speedway for competition since 2017 when Billy Moyer Jr took home a DIRTcar Summer Nationals win. In 2 weekly events at the speedway so far this season in DIRTcar UMP Modified weekly competition, Justin Jones and Kasey Schrock have taken home victories.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends and the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment will headline the card on Saturday night with the DIRTcar Pro Modifieds and DIRTcar Stock Cars also racing for added money. Pit gates will open on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with general admission gates scheduled to open at 4:00 p.m. The driver’s meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. with hot laps hitting the speedway at 6:00 p.m. General admission prices are $25 for adults, children ages 5-11 $10, and children ages 4 and under free. Pit passes will be $40 for adults, children ages 3-11 $20, with children ages 2 and under admitted for free.
Sunday, May 21 – Adams County Speedway – Quincy, IL – MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
Finishing off the weekend for the MARS Championship tours will be a visit to the western side of the state of Illinois for a Sunday evening event at the Adams County Speedway. The evening’s action will be brought to you with the help from Heartland Towing & Recovery. As most remember, last season’s visit to the Adams County Speedway was an instant classic with Tommy Sheppard Jr making the charge from 10th to bring home the victory. With only 1 other division joining the card Sunday (HART Limited Modified Series), fans can expect a crisply ran show so fans and teams alike can head to their next destination at a reasonable hour. Jacob Rexing currently leads the Adams County Speedway DIRTcar UMP Modified points standings with a win and a 3rd place finish to his credit so far this season and will look to be a frontrunner this weekend as well.
On Sunday, pit gates are scheduled to open at 2:30 p.m. with general admission gates opening at 3:30 p.m. The driver’s meeting is set to take place at 5:00 p.m. with hot laps on the speedway at 5:30 p.m. General admission prices are $30 for adults, $25 for senior citizens and military, $5 for children ages 6-13, with children ages 5 and under being admitted for free. Pit passes are $40 for adults, $20 for children ages 4-12, with children ages 3 and under being admitted into the pit area for free.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Tire Rule for each night:
LF: Hoosier NLMT2/LM20/NLMT3/LM30
RF: Hoosier NLMT2/LM20/NLMT3/LM30
LR: Hoosier NLMT2/LM20/NLMT3/LM30
RR: Hoosier NLMT3/LM30/NLMT4/LM40
Grooving and Siping will be permitted. We will mark tires at the scales after qualifying. You must run these 4 tires for the remainder of the night. You will be allowed 2 new tires for the feature only. If you have a flat in Qualifying, Heat Race, or B-Main, you must replace with a used tire of the same compound.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Feature purse for each night: 1) $5,000 2) $2,500 3) $2,000 4) $1,600 5) $1,400 6) $1,200 7) $1,000 8) $800 9) $700 10) $600 11) $500 12) $500 13) $500 14) $500 15) $500 16) $500 17) $500 18) $500 19) $500 20) $500 21) $500 22) $500. Non-Transfer Tow Money (Friday $95) (Saturday $90) (Sunday $90)
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Feature purse for each night: 1) $2,000 2) $1,500 3) $1,200 4) $1,000 5) $800 6) $600 7) $500 8) $400 9) $300 10) $275 11) $250 12) $250 13) $250 14) $250 15) $250 16) $250 17) $250 18) $250 19) $250 20) $250 21) $250 22) $250. Non-Transfer Tow Money – (Saturday $65) (Sunday $65)
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Top 20 in Points
Brandon Sheppard – 215
Drake Troutman – 170
Jason Feger – 168
Ryan Unzicker – 149
Mike Harrison – 145
Shannon Babb – 140
Frank Heckenast Jr – 135
Bob Gardner – 127
Brian Shirley – 125
Tanner English – 121
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 118
Jake Little – 112
Tyler Erb – 106
Logan Nickerson – 106
Rich Dawson – 103
Kyle Hammer – 100
Blaze Burwell – 99
Mark Voigt – 94
Justin White – 82
Doug Tye – 67
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Top 10 in Points
Mike Harrison – 145
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 118
Jake Little – 112
Logan Nickerson – 106
Rich Dawson – 103
Kyle Hammer – 100
Blaze Burwell – 99
Justin White – 82
Doug Tye – 67
Hunt Gossum – 53
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Top 15 in Points
Tyler Nicely – 177
Kyle Steffens – 169
Josh Harris – 168
Allen Weisser – 156
Charlie Mefford – 149
Trevor Neville – 148
Michael Long – 145
Zeke McKenzie – 137
Mike Chasteen Jr – 132
Brian Shaw – 125
John Clippinger – 114
Mike McKinney – 101
Blake Bailey – 97
Dillon Nusbaum – 96
Mike Learman – 81
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Top 10 in Points
Charlie Mefford – 149
John Clippinger – 114
Blake Bailey – 97
Mike Learman – 81
Rick Frasure – 79
Jared Thomas – 73
Logan Veloz – 54
Lance Evans – 49
Caden McWhorter – 43
Tyler Blankenship – 30
Story - MARS Racing Series
Comments