Speed Week: Matt Curl reviews Prairie Dirt Classic
A picture perfect weekend with four days of entertainment and racing saw an estimated 7,500 spectators, 141 race teams, the Fairbury Speedway staff, and community all come together to make the 32nd annual Prairie Dirt Classic one great racing weekend.
Long after the race teams and fans had cleared the fairgrounds, track owner and promoter Matt Curl was finally able to unwind and reflect on the event. The race has put the speedway on the map as one of Dirt Late Model’s premier races. Drivers and fans have put the marquee show on their bucket list.
“It was Sunday afternoon,” Curl said. “Everyone had left by 4 p.m. I got my earbuds in, washed the rental golf carts and put equipment in the garage. I went into my own zone. I didn’t have to answer questions or anything like that. I got to be myself and work on the grounds. It was pretty humbling.”
Even though all the reserved seating had been sold out, the crowd was down from last year. The speedway was able to accommodate more fans in the unreserved section.
“That was OK,” said Curl. “We hit our sweet spot and that's good for me.”
The Fairbury Speedway officials, staff and crew ensures everyone that leaves the track not only for the PDC, but a regular weekly event, is a satisfied customer. Curl can always rest assure that the program will run smoothly.
“Every person at the track knows what their role is,” Curl said. “Although I stay busy, I have all the confidence in my team. I get all the accolades for doing this, but it is really humbling to have the team that I do have.”
Next year’s date for the PDC has been set for July 28-29. Many have speculated if next year’s Classic will surpass this year’s event. The race paid $50,000 to the winner and drew 81 World of Outlaw entries.
“First, the FALS Draw proved to be a hit,” Curl remarked. “It drew a lot of interest and the tickets sold out. I have already had people ask about getting tickets for next year.
“As far as the race, we had a meeting with the World of Outlaw officials that Saturday of the race and are very excited to continue our partnership with the Outlaws. At this time, we don’t plan to pay anymore money. You don’t want to outgrow what we should just keep our feet on the ground with, we still want to be Fairbury. We still want to be that town in the Midwest that does it right.”
As the race season slowly begins to unwind, Curl took a moment to comment on each of the weekly classes and the Alkota series.
The late model class has drawn 136 different drivers to compete from the weekly program to the Summer Nationals and PDC.
“The FALS Cup races have attracted the drivers and that is exciting,” Curl said. “The weekly races have been fantastic. We will continue to build up on the FALS Cup.”
The youth movement has been the topic in the modified class. The average age of the drivers in the top 10 is 22 years of age.
“A couple of years ago, the class was stale. Now we are not seeing that,” Curl noted. “The young drivers are helping to bring new fans to the sport. The talent level in the pool is very good.”
Anthony and Richard Craven have entered their sixth year with their partnership in the CR Towing Sportsman class. Rumors of doing away with the class are nothing more than rumors.
“It has been all talk. We are right there on the line with the car counts,” Curl pointed out. “The sportsman class has seen many great drivers start there and have done well.”
The street stock class has been one of Fairbury’s more competitive classes and has produced DIRTcar national champions. More drivers from Indiana have crossed the border to race on the fairground track.
“Every night we have from three to five drivers that are nationally ranked. We always have a good field,” Curl said. “The street stocks have been that long-lasting class that has always been secure.”
The hobby-modified class began with fields from seven to 10 cars. But the last three races have seen counts of more than 20 cars.
“The growth of the class says a lot about the diversity of the people that can race with us,” Curl said. “We have worked on a few things to make it better. Some people want it to be a B-mod or pro mod class. To me, it will always be that club atmosphere. If you do anymore than that, you will get into the wrong principles of the class.”
Entering his 10th and final year, Ricky Bane has played a tremendous part with the Alkota “Keep it Clean” series. Drivers accumulate points based on how many cars they pass during a weekly feature race in the four primary divisions. At season's end, Bane, of Rural Route Repair, rewards the overall champion with an Alkota pressure washer, this year valued at more than $5,000.
“Ricky is in his last year as he has plans to move to Kentucky,” said Curl. “His partnership with Fairbury has been fantastic. The Alkota name has been good for the speedway and good for the community.We have plans to continue next year with a hard charger format.”
Streaming services have seen tremendous growth. A fan can sit in the comfort of home and watch a race from many different tracks. Some feel that it hurts track gate attendance, but Curl views the service as a plus for a track.
“I have always believed that if you have a good product to produce and show the country what you have, you can never get enough of it,” Curl said. “The streaming services help to bring in more people. They are healthy for a track.”
Curl also commented on plans for the future of the speedway.
“Overall things are good for us. We have had several concerts and have seen great support,” he said. “We plan to change a few things as far as next year’s race schedule. We will have a nice layout of weekly races and national events. The Flo race that we had was a big step for us. We took notes and talked about recaps of the PDC. We want to make it the premier race in the country. There is no going back for Fairbury.”
Friday Racing
Farmer City Raceway
A full show plus the hornets return with two nights of track points on the line. Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps start at 6:30, followed by qualifying and racing.
Grundy County Speedway
The sportsman class will be featured along with late models, street stock, pure stock and midgets on the high-banked paved oval. Racing starts at 8 p.m.
Kankakee County Speedway
The MARS Late Model Series will headline the program in a 40-lap, $5,000-to-win event. Pro late models, modified, street stock and factory stock will round out the card. Stands open at 5:30 p.m. and racing is at 7:30.
Lincoln Speedway
The MOWA Sprint Cars return to the Logan County Fairground track, along with pro late models, modified, midgets and hornets. Gates open at 5 p.m., practice is at 6 and racing starts at 7.
Saturday Racing
Fairbury Speedway
TKS Concrete and Addis Auro Parts will present the FALS Cup/Alkota Series card. Action will take place in five divisions with the Fairbury Fair Taking place. Gates open at 2 p.m., hot laps and time trials are at 5:20 and racing goes off at 6:30.
Macon Speedway
POWRi midgets and micros are on the program along with modifieds, pro mods, and hornets. Grand marshal for the night is legendary Jack Hewitt. Practice is at 6 p.m. with racing at 7.
Sunday Racing
Bohmer’s Rt 66 Raceway
Kart Racing is the attraction on the ⅛-mile clay track located between Pontiac and Chenoa. The Rookies and Junior classes have seen the youngsters wheeling like seasoned pros. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., practice is at noon and racing to follow.
Illinois State Fairgrounds
The one-mile dirt track will have two days of racing on the agenda. Saturday, the USAC Silver Crown Cars are featured in the 59th annual Bettenhausen 100. The Dirt Car Sportsman class will also have time trials and heat races. Action will start at 10 in the morning with practice, time trials and the featured race at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, the ARCA Menards Series will see drivers compete in the Allen Crowe 100. Ryan Unzicker hopes to send owner Bill Hendren out on a winning note as Mr. Hendren will be retiring after a long and successful career. Kelly Kovski, last week’s Fairbury modified winner, and Coal City’s Alex Clubb are also entered. The racing starts with the sportsman class at 11:45 a.m. and the ARCA race will begin at 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Rocky Ragusa Speed Week with Matt Curl of Fairbury Speedway
