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Speed Week: Matt Hammond finds success after recovering from accident

rocky ragusa
·4 min read
Matt Hammond has overcome a broken back from a motocross accident to become a force in pro late model racing in the area.
Matt Hammond has overcome a broken back from a motocross accident to become a force in pro late model racing in the area.

Breaking his back during a motocross event led Matt Hammond to find another form of racing thrills. The Bourbonnais native began competing on two wheels at the age of 14. Competing on area tracks, Hammond fell in love with the sport.

“We got serious about it in 2007. I got to race in the World Final in Las Vegas in 2008 and finished second and third,” Hammond said. “I had the chance to race in the Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. We had a couple of top ten finishes.”

Winning several District 17 state championships, Hammond had a successful career until that day in September 2009.

“I broke my back in three places,” recalled Hammond. “I had to stay bed ridden for three months and was on light duty for a year. I loved to race and decided to go with four wheels.”

Matt Hammond (818) races with Aaron Heck at a recent race at Fairbury. Hammond has made the jump from motocross to stock car to pro late model racing in his young career.
Matt Hammond (818) races with Aaron Heck at a recent race at Fairbury. Hammond has made the jump from motocross to stock car to pro late model racing in his young career.

Starting in the stock car class in 2016, Hammond had feature wins at Kankakee, Fairbury and the Route 66 Dirt Track in Joliet. Hammond has adapted well after making the move into the pro late model class, winning at Kankakee and Fairbury. Hammond and his team made several appearances to Farmer City, but with Kankakee reopening he welcomes the new era.

“We appreciated the chance to race at Farmer City and had some good runs there; some of the best pro late model drivers were always there,” Hammond said. “It was a 1½-hour drive for us and that is after working at our regular jobs. Kankakee is only 15 minutes from the house.

“I look for big things at Kankakee. Billy Knippenberg Jr. (track promoter) is a full-time racer and successful businessman. He has attracted class sponsors for each class and has raised the purses. They are working on upgrading the facilities, which everyone needs to understand will take time. I think drivers and fans are going to see a turn around to when Kankakee was the track to race at.”

Friday Racing

Farmer City Raceway

The Vintage Racing of Illinois will make its lone appearance this week. Also on the card will be late models, modified, pro late models, stock cars and Kidz Mods. Stands to the fairgrounds open at 4 p.m., practice is at 6:30, time trials at 7 and racing will follow.

Tommy Sheppard Jr. (late models), Timmy Dick (pro late models), Allen Weisser (modified), Jeremy Nichols (stock cars) and Brian Burns (pro mods) were last week's winners.

Grundy County Speedway

The Midwest Mayhem Midgets will join late models, sportsman, street stocks, and pure stocks in racing action this week. Gates to the ⅓-mile paved track open at 5 p.m., qualifying starts at 6:45 and racing is at 8.

DJ Weltmeyer (late model), Ron Vandermeir Jr. (sportsman), Scott Gardner (street stock), Cameron Preisler (pure stock) and Jacob Senerchia (Midwest SuperCup) won in their respective classes last week.

Kankakee County Speedway

The speed plant located at the fairgrounds in Kankakee ushered in a new era last week with Billy Knippenberg Jr. at the helm. There were 97 cars in six divisions and a packed house eagerly awaited the opening night. Steve Brooks won the $1,000-to-win modified race. Chad Osterhoff (pro late models), Zane Reitz (stock cars), Lee J. Hall (factory stocks), Deece Schwartz (pro mods) and Jake Momper (sport compacts) claimed feature wins.

Racing will return on June 14 as the DIRTcar Summer Nationals will start at the quarter-mile high banked track. Late models will compete in a 40-lap, $5,000-to-win event. The Summit Modified Nationals have a 25-lap, $1,500-to-win race. Pro late models and stock cars will also be on the agenda. Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Racing

Fairbury Speedway

The IRA and MOWA 410 Winged Sprint Cars will make the only appearance of the season this week for the $6,000-to-win, 10th annual Bill Waite Jr. Memorial race. Fans can expect a large field of the region's best drivers on hand in hopes of taking the checkered flag.

Late models join the program for the 29th annual Pappy and Bob Allen Memorial race. The winner of the prestigious race will receive a check for $5,000. The defending race winner is Pontiac’s Jeffrey Ledford.

Rounding out the show is a $1,500-to-win modified race. Gates will open at 2 p.m., hot laps start at 5:50 and racing is at 7.

Macon Speedway

It will be Ladies Night at the ⅕-mile track this week as all females will be admitted for $5. The stock car class will be the main event in a 30-lap, $750-to-win race. Pro late models, modified, pro mods, sportsman, hornets and micros will also be in action. Stands open at 5 p.m., followed by hot laps at 6 and racing at 7.

In last week’s racing, Zach Taylor took the pro mod win over his father, Guy. Jose Parga (pro late model), Austin Lynn (modified) and Terry Reed (stock car) were among last week’s winners.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: In Rocky Ragusa's Speed Week, Matt Hammond finding success