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Speed Week: Fairbury finally getting 2022 race season moving

rocky ragusa
·4 min read
Chenoa's Dean Nagle, left, and Terry Waber of Pontiac are having a good time at last year's Prairie Dirt Classic. Nagle was a long-time race fan who passed away on April 23. Nagle will be remembered as a person that could brighten up a room with his warm smile and always willing to help a person in need.
Chenoa's Dean Nagle, left, and Terry Waber of Pontiac are having a good time at last year's Prairie Dirt Classic. Nagle was a long-time race fan who passed away on April 23. Nagle will be remembered as a person that could brighten up a room with his warm smile and always willing to help a person in need.

For race teams and fans, the wait is finally over as promoter Matt Curl ushers in the 76th year of auto racing at the Fairbury Speedway Saturday night.

The opening race will be a FALS Cup weekly program presented by Fairbury Fastener and Spyder Pro Powered Tools. Late models will compete in a 30-lap feature with $2,500 going to the race winner.

The modified class will see the winner taking $1,500 in a 25-lap contest. Stock cars will go 15 laps, sportsman will also have a 15-lap feature and the hobby-modifieds will race 12 laps.

Rural Route Repair of Dana and M&M Pumps in Clinton will return for the 10th year to award an Alkota Pressure Washer to the driver that advances the most track positions during their feature race. The four weekly classes will see the driver accumulate “hard charger” points only at the regular races.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. and hot laps/time trials start at 5:45. The feature racing action will take off at 7. Adult admission is $10 and children 12 and under are free. The speedway phone is (815) 692-3222.

In the Pits

FAIRBURY SPEEDWAY and dirt track racing lost a big supporter on April 23 with the passing of Dean Nagel. Nagel from Chenoa would be seen at many of the area and major dirt races throughout the years. A Navy veteran, Nagel, with his smiling face, was a friend to many and was always there to help anyone in need.

JOLIET RACER and businessman Billy Knippenbeg will be the new track promoter at the Kankakee County Speedway. Two open practice days are set for May 11 and May 15. The first race will be on May 20.

MIKE CHASTEEN Sr. passed away on April 30 in Nashville, Tenn. A Peoria native, Chasteen competed for 36 years. Among his highlights were an Illinois State Championship title at the Peoria Speedway, feature wins at many track through the state, and being a member of the Peoria Old Timers Racing Club.

ILLINOIS SPEEDWEEK for Late Models will be held May 11-14. Presented by Flo Racing and Castrol Motor Oil, drivers will be competing at four tracks in four days.

The first race will be held at the ⅜-mile Spoon River Speedway in Banner. The winner will receive $22,022. The following night, racing will be held at the fairground track in Lincoln with the winner taking $22,022.

Farmer City Raceway will offer the winner $15,000 when it visits on May 13. And, $30,000 will go to the winner of the finale on May 14 at the Fairbury Speedway. The driver that earns the most points during the mini series will be crowned champion and take home an additional $10,000.

Friday Racing

Farmer City Raceway

A full show plus the hornet class will be in action this week on the quarter-mile, high-banked dirt track. Stands will open at 5 p.m., with practice at 6:30, followed by qualifying and then racing. Adult admission is $12, children 12 and under are free, and veterans are admitted for $5. For more information call (309) 928-9110.

Last Friday, Jason Feger took the late model feature over Kevin Weaver. Pontiac’s Michael Ledford, a two-time modified track champion here, turned back Kenny Wallace for his first win of the young season. Alan Stipp and Caden McWhorter, both from Fairbury, finished third and fourth, respectively.

In time trials, Wallace established a new track record with a time of 13.533 seconds.

Chase Osterhoff was the victor in the pro late model feature. Cullom’s Amber Crouch finished fourth. Ian Keller snapped Megan Erwin’s two-race win streak by winning the stock car feature. Austin Seets claimed his second win in the B-modified race. Hudson Dick, a fourth-generation driver, topped the field in the KidsModz race.

Grundy County Speedway

The season will start on the ⅓-mile paved track featuring the Midwest Sportsman Challenge. Late models, street stocks, pure stocks and the Midwest Super Cups will also be racing. Stands open and practice starts at 5 p.m. Qualifying starts at 6:45 and racing is at 8.

The speedway will return to action on Saturday with a 200-lap Enduro, paying $1,000 to the winner. Stands will open at 1 p.m. and racing starts at 3. The track phone is (815) 942-5958.

Saturday Racing

Macon Speedway

Open wheel fans will be in for a treat as the POWRi midgets and micros will headline the racing show at the ⅕-mile bullring. Pro late models will be joined by modifieds and hornets on an action-packed night. Stands will open at 4, hot laps at 6 and racing starts at 7.

Sycamore Speedway

Located in Maple Park, the first race of the year will have the IRA 410 Winged sprint cars featured on the half-mile clay track. The Badger Midget series and IRA Lightning Sprints will also be in attendance. Stands open at 5 p.m. Hot laps start at 5:45 and racing will follow. Call (815) 895-5454 for more information.

Sunday Racing

Bohmer’s Rt. 66 Raceway

The opening race for the kart season in Livingston County is tentatively set for May 15.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Speed Week: Fairbury finally getting 2022 race season moving