Speed Week: Photojournalist Mike Ruefer discusses state of late model racing

Traveling throughout the country chasing the major dirt late model races, Mike Ruefer has a deep passion for the sport. Ruefer, a long-time and well-respected photojournalist, contributes to DirtonDirt, FLO racing, St. Louis Racing, Dirt Empire Magazine, just to name a few.

Prior to the “Spring Shootout” at the Fairbury Speedway, Ruefer, of Davenport, Iowa, took the time to discuss his observations on dirt late model racing today with Speed Week.

Speed Week: Will this be the most challenging year in racing with the cost of diesel fuel, racing fuel, tire cost, and part shortages?

Ruefer: “Diesel prices are going to affect how much a team travels later in the year, I think. Right now, everyone wants to race. There is a reason teams like to have, or get, trucking sponsorship. They can get fuel discounts or fuel allotment. Hoosier tires are now going from $220 to $240 a piece. Some of that is due to the raw material shortage. How will that impact supply? Only time will tell.”

SW: The cost to field a dirt late model from the parts, tires, transportation, engines can be astronomical. Is dirt late model racing slowly dying?

Ruefer: “The tracks that have survived are pretty stable. Every race you go to, it looks healthy. The fans have been there and race teams are supporting the events. From the information I get, the PPV’s and streaming services are doing well.

“Most of the race sponsorship is small-business America — people that love the sport and they do well for themselves. If we go into a recession or not, or continue to stall, or the stock market gets worse, you might see people cut back on sponsorship. Sponsorship for this year is already done. How it will affect 2023 for a lot of teams, only time will tell.

“I love super late models — the sound, the roar, the shear power. But I appreciate pro late models. From the stands, the fans might not see a difference. They all look the same. You can have strong pro late model racing locally and regionally to keep tracks going.

“People have been saying late model racing has been dying for years. In the dirt late model world, there are only two states that have weekly late model racing — Pennsylvania and Illinois. Everybody else is a weekly pro late model or steel block.

“What you have here at Fairbury is phenomenal. They pay $2,500-to-win a weekly race. You can get a regional racer that comes here if they get rained out, like Dennis Erb Jr. That is pretty cool.

“It is great for the fans because they wonder who will be here. That is healthy. Fairbury, because of its mystic and payout, you will get a few more people like that.

“Overall, I think the sport is pretty strong. When PPV’s and streaming services came out, I thought that would be the death of the sport. People would just stay home and not go to the track. It has not happened because you don’t feel it and you don’t smell it. The sensory difference is different. It is still fun to go to the race track.”

Friday Racing

Farmer City Raceway

A $3,000-to-win MARS Late Model Series race will highlight the racing program this week. Modified drivers will compete in a $1,500 special. Pro late models, stock cars, and hornet classes will also be in action. Practice starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by time trials at 7 and then racing.

Last Friday, Tommy Sheppard Jr. held off McKay Wenger in the late model feature. Allen Weisser (modified), Chris Dick (pro late model), Austin Seets (pro mods), Zane Reitz (stock cars) and Hudson Dick (Kid Mods) were also feature race winners.

Grundy County Speedway

The speedway will honor the military, past and present on “Armed Forces Night.” All active and military veterans will receive half off the gate admission with proper ID. Late models, sportsman, street stocks and pure stocks will tackle the ⅓-mile paved oval. As a special treat, there will also be a Powder Puff race for the ladies. Stands and practice start at 5 p.m., qualifying at 6:45, and racing at 8.

Last week's show was canceled due to inclement weather.

Kankakee County Speedway

After last week’s racing was rained out, promoter Billy Knippenburg will usher in a new season of racing entertainment on the quarter-mile, high-banked dirt oval. Dyer’s Top Rods will present a $1,000-to-win modified special. Pro late models, stock cars, factory stocks, pro modified and sport compacts will fill out the card. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the green flag waves at 7:30.

Saturday Racing

Fairbury Speedway

The MARS Late Model Series will make its second stop to FALS with a $3,000-to-win race, presented by Popejoy Inc. The Big 10 series pro late model division will be on hand for a $1,000-to-win event that will attract many of the top drivers hoping to add their name as a Fairbury Speedway feature winner. Modifieds ($1,500-to-win), CR Towing Sportsman ($500-to-win) and stock cars ($500-to-win) will fill out the holiday card. Gates open at 2 p.m., hot laps/qualifying 5:50 and racing will start at 7.

Sycamore Speedway

Opening night the half-mile dirt track will race in remembrance of longtime racer, Victor Benedetto Jr. Late models will race in a $1,500 event. Limited late models, street stocks and pure stocks will also be in action on the track located in Maple Park. Stands open at 5 p.m., hot laps/time trials at 6:30 and racing at 7:30.

Sunday Racing

Bohmer’s Rt.66 Raceway

Adult Clone racers in the 360-pound and 400-pound class will race with $250 going to the feature winner. If the driver wins both classes, they will receive a $100 bonus. Racing will also be held for Rookies, Juniors and Champ Karts. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., practice at noon and racing at 1 p.m. The track is located on Old 66 between Pontiac and Chenoa.

Monday Racing

Macon Speedway

The ⅕-mile track will have 50-lap Big 10 series races for the pro late models and modified classes. Pro modified, stock cars, hornets and micros will round out the night. Stands open at 5 p.m., practice at 6 and racing starts at 7.

In the Pits

The MARS Late Model Series will be at Spoon River Speedway in Banner on Sunday. The race will pay the winner $5,064. The “Show-Me 100” will be run on Saturday night in Wheatland, Mo., for the Lucas Oil Series. You never know who may stop by.

MARS Point Standings

Bobby Pierce 135; McKay Wenger 134; Hudson O’Neal 130; Jason Feger 129; Ryan Unzicker 129; Tommy Sheppard Jr. 127; Brandon Sheppard 125; Ricky Thornton Jr. 120; Tyler Erb 107; Dennis Erb Jr. 105.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Photojournalist Mike Ruefer discusses state of late model racing