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Speed Week: Fairbury champions crowned at banquet

rocky ragusa
·1 min read
Fairbury Speedway track champions for 2022 were, from left, Ian Keller (street stock), Michael Ledford (modified), Mike Spatola (late model) and Tommy Duncan (sportsman).
Fairbury Speedway track champions for 2022 were, from left, Ian Keller (street stock), Michael Ledford (modified), Mike Spatola (late model) and Tommy Duncan (sportsman).

Fairbury Speedway owner and president Matt Curl welcomed 190 race teams, track staff, and fans to the Pontiac Elks Club Saturday, Nov. 19, for the annual awards banquet. Drivers that finished in the top 10 in the four weekly divisions were honored for their accomplishments in the 2022 season.

Alkota division champions honored at the Fairbury Speedway banquet were, from left, Alan Stipp (modified), Don Hilleary (street stock), Rural Route Repair and Alkota representative Ricky Bane, Makinzi Semmens (sportsman), Michael Ledford (modified).
Alkota division champions honored at the Fairbury Speedway banquet were, from left, Alan Stipp (modified), Don Hilleary (street stock), Rural Route Repair and Alkota representative Ricky Bane, Makinzi Semmens (sportsman), Michael Ledford (modified).

In addition to winning the modified track championship, Pontiac’s Michael Ledford also was awarded an Alkota pressure washer, courtesy of Ricky Bane, and named the Driver of the Year. West Lebanon, Indiana, street stock driver Braiden Keller was named the Rookie of the Year.

Jay Sparks was this year's recipient of the Sportsmanship Award at Fairbury Speedway.
Jay Sparks was this year's recipient of the Sportsmanship Award at Fairbury Speedway.

Popular late model racer Jay Sparks of Metamora, who picked up his first career feature win on Aug. 27, received the Sportsmanship award. Manhattan’s Mike Spatola was the Alkota hard-charger runner up. Ryan Unzicker (late model), Alan Stipp (modified), Don Hilleary (street stock) and Makinzi Semmens (sportsman) were the Alkota divisional winners.

The Jim Schahrer Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 was presented to longtime Fairbury official Dave Weber of Pontiac, right. Making the presentation is Fairbury Speedway owner and president Matt Curl.
The Jim Schahrer Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 was presented to longtime Fairbury official Dave Weber of Pontiac, right. Making the presentation is Fairbury Speedway owner and president Matt Curl.

The Jim Schahrer Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Pontiac’s Dave Weber, with 55 years of service to “America’s Dirt Track.”

Curl also released important race dates for next season. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will make its inaugural appearance on May 13 with a $30,000-to-win special. The Prairie Dirt Classic is on the docket for July 28-29. The World of Outlaw race will have a $250,000 purse for the two-day spectacular. The Outlaws will return on Oct. 7 with $15,000 going to the race winner.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Speed Week: Fairbury champions crowned at banquet