Breaking News: Next Racing Event Saturday Night August 26th Fan and Driver Appreciation Night. $5 General Admission. All Pit Passes $20 and Driver's will run for 100% of the back gate.
Moos, Morrow Win Two In A Row At Spoon
It was a spectacular night at Spoon Saturday as they hosted their annual Kids Back Pack Night. More than seventy back packs were handed out at intermission to the kids by the Drivers, Spoon River Speedway workers and management putting a huge smile on their little faces. The track even had their Kids/Fans bus on hand to give rides through the pits and around the track. At one point the Modified dash came out on the track and during the parade lap split the bus giving the kids and fans a thrill.
The racing action began with the Dirtcar Pro Late Model division with Austin May, who had set fast time earlier won the first heat race. Allen Weisser brought home the win in the second heat race. After the front three in each heat redraw, they found Evan Fink sitting on the pole with Samuel Halstead outside front row. Halstead would jump out to the early lead but National point leader Allen Weisser took over on lap five. Weisser would hold the lead until a hard charging Myles Moos would make a crossover move out of turn two late in the race to pull out his second feature win in a row at Spoon. Weisser would finish second followed by Halstead, Jason Wagner and Mavrick Piller.
Next up was the exciting USAC/IMRA Speed2 Midgets which saw Promoter Brad Denney behind the wheel of one of the sixteen hotrods on hand. Tyson Hart would win the first heat race while Chase McDermand would win the second heat. After the redraw, Hart would start on the pole with McDermand on his outside. Hart would jump out to the lead and hold off McDermand and third place finisher Mitchel Davis to pick up the feature win. Behind Davis was a tenth place starter Andy Baugh and Adam Taylor rounded out the top five. Promoter Brad Denney started sixteenth and would finish just outside the top ten in eleventh. Denney would exit the midget with a smile from ear to ear saying “Man these cars are fun. It took me a little while to get use to the quick steering but after that I started to feel more comfortable in the car. I might have to get me one of these.” Johnny Murdock who let Denney drive one of his cars nickname Denney the Hurricane saying “He picked right up on how to drive a midget and was up to speed fast. We might have to do this again if he wants.”
Twenty Dirtcar Modified were on hand. Ray Bollinger (Second in National Points) would take home the win in heat one of three. Heat two saw Allen Weisser (Third in National Points) would bring home the win with track point leader Brandon Roberts winning heat number three. Weisser would draw the pole positon for the dash and run away with it to put him on the pole for the feature event with Roberts on his outside. Weisser jumped out to the early lead and never looked back to pick up the feature win. Behind Weisser was a different story as Roberts, Bollinger and Josh Allen would battle it out for the entire twenty laps from top to bottom for second. As the checkered flag flew, Bollinger would take second followed by Allen then Roberts with sixteenth starter Dave Wietholder rounding out the top five.
In the E-Mod division, Kevin Morrow would win the first heat race while track point leader Mark Anderson would win the second heat. Fifteen E-Mods would start the feature event with youngsters Mason Duncan and Dawson Cook leading the field to the green. Duncan would jump out top the early lead but it didn’t take long for sixth place starter Morrow to pass young Duncan on the third lap and lead the final twelve laps for his second feature win in a row and also taking back over the point lead from Anderson. In second was Matt Dobey who earlier had set fast time for the night in this division. Behind Dobey in third was Duncan followed by Cook and Trent Ross.
In the Dirtcar Hornet division Kyle Harper would pick up both the heat and feature win while Johnny Dennis picks up the 6-Shooter heat and feature victory.
Next Saturday Night is the annual Meet the Drivers Night when all the cars will be parked on the front stretch and the fans will be allowed to come out on the track to get autographs and meet their favorite drivers. Check out Spoon’s Face Book page and website for more info on this and other up coming events.
Bollinger Roars To Another Win At Spoon
Ray Bollinger continued his hot pursuit of the 2017 UMP DirtCar National Modified Championship with another victory at Spoon River Speedway Saturday night, this one in much more dominating fashion than the nail-biting finish of the previous event at Spoon on July 22nd. Bollinger proved to be the class of the field Saturday night very early when he turned a blistering 14.41 second lap in qualifying before winning his heat, the Mod Dash, and the 20-lap feature in the Zane’s Auto Service Modified Division at the high-banked oval.
With the win, Bollinger stayed within shouting distance of National Points Leader Mike Harrison, who races mostly at Southern Illinois tracks but will most likely be head to head with Bollinger and the rest of the Spoon River local come Labor Day Weekend for the Fall Modified Nationals.
May, Bollinger, Anderson Score Wins At Spoon
In what might be a momentum changing night, AJ May, driver of the #A9 entry in the Spoon River Speedway Perkins Seed House Pro Late Model Division, charged to a big win Saturday ahead of three of the other Top 5 Pro Late Models in the nation, and served notice that he is ready for the stretch run of the season as he tries to defend his 2016 National Championship. May pulled way late in an entertaining 20 lap feature to pick up his first win in a few months at Spoon River, and was guardedly optimistic afterwards in Victory Lane.
Windom Wins At Home
Canton native Chris Windom returned to his hometown with the PowRi WAR Wingless Sprint Car Series Saturday night, and earned a win at Spoon River Speedway in front of many family members and friends. Windom’s sprint car and champ dirt car exploits take him all over the country, and he even participated in the NASCAR Truck Series race last Wednesday night on the dirt at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. After winning the WAR Sprinters race Friday in Champaign, the traveling group invaded Spoon River Saturday night. Racing on a track perfectly prepared by Brad and Morey Denney despite a huge early morning deluge of rain Saturday, the Sprints lauded the race track, one team saying “we weren’t great, but that awesome track was!” on their social media page the next day. Windom found it to his liking early, dominating the first of two WAR heats to set the tone for the night. Heat 2 went to talented Landon Simon.
POWRI WARS 410 Non-Wing Sprint Cars this Saturday Night
This Saturday Night July 22nd will see the POWI WARS 410 Non-Winged Sprint cars invade Spoon River Speedway for the first time. These exciting daredevils will bring you off your seat with their close action racing and exciting slide jobs. A big car count is expected with this series. Also running will be the Zane’s Automotive Service Dirtcar Modifieds, the Perkins Seed House Dirtcar Pro Late Models, the Fulton Farm Service E-Mods and the Farmington Locker Dirtcar Hornets. Gate times and Admission prices are on the flyer. For more info visit Spoon’s Face Book page or their website.
Allen Makes Final Lap Pass For Mod Victory
It was just a matter of time before young Josh Allen, son of longtime Canton UMP Modified driver Bobby Allen, made his way to Victory Lane after a feature at Spoon River Speedway in the track’s top Modified Division. And when he did, he did it in grand fashion, with a last lap pass of one of the best Mod drivers in the country, Allen Weisser, to take the win Saturday night. After honing his skills in the E-mod division for a couple of years, the younger Allen got a taste of the Open Mods last year, often in the same field as his Dad. This year, to this point, the elder Allen has stepped away from driving to focus on helping his son continue to develop. Josh won the feature Saturday, July 8th at Charleston, IL for his first Mod feature win, and apparently it felt so good he didn’t want to wait for another.
Weisser, Anderson, Elston Roar to Quick Draw Wins
It was just like old times Saturday at Spoon River Speedway, as the annual “Quick Draw” event returned for the night. The Quick Draw is an event that eliminates the heats for the night, instead running races in segments, with a redraw at the end of the segments that could invert the finishing order for the following segment, depending on what was spun on the “Wheel Of Invert!”. This year’s event was modified to make each division run two segments instead of three, meaning just one spin on the wheel, but the chances of starting “straight up” were limited by the odds on the wheel. Sure enough, the three top divisions of racing at the track all ended up inverting the entire field from the first segment, meaning the top finishers had to go all the way to the back of the pack and fight their way through the field to earn enough points to win the Quick Draw.
Quick Draw 45 Races Saturday Night July 8th
This Saturday Night July 8th will feature the Famous Quick Draw Races sponsored by Fulton County Farm Service, at the high banks of Spoon River Speedway. This year cars will run two segments instead of three with points being calculated in both segments to determine the winner and final finishing order after the second segment. Driver’s will draw for their starting spots in the first segment then the winner of the first segment will spin the Wheel of Fortune for the invert from 1 to 8 or whole field for the second segment. If you like passing this is the race you won’t want to miss.
On hand will be the Zane’s Automotive Service UMP Modifieds running a 20 lap segment then a 25 lap segment for $1000 to Win, the Perkins Seed House UMP Pro Late Models running a 20 lap segment then a 25 lap segment for $600 to Win, the Fulton Farm Service E-Mods running two 15 lap segments for $400 to Win and the Farmington Locker UMP Hornets running a 7 and 8 lap segments for a guaranteed $100 to Win. Shooters will run a 3 lap heat and 5 lap feature.
We are looking for sponsors to pay the winners after the first segments and if anyone would like to add to the final segment. If anyone is interested please contact Brad Denney by Thursday.
Its tough for the driver’s but exciting for the fan’s. The Quick Draw, Are you ready?
Pits open at 4 with Grandstands opening at 5
End of Draw 5:30 with driver’s meeting at 5:45
Hot Laps around 6 with racing to start right after hot laps.
LETS DO IT AGAIN THIS WEEK
General Admission $10
As always on regular race night Kids 10 and under are FREE
Coolers 10x14x12 Tall $5 everytime thru gate. (NO FOOD and NO GLASS ALLOWED)
N0 OVERLY LARGE BAGS WILL BE ALLOWED.
Driver Pit Pass $35
Crew Pit Pass $30
Kids Pit Pass 10 and under $20
Transponder rental $5
SUMMER NATIONALS HELL TOUR THURSDAY NIGHT JUNE 22nd
Veteran Drivers Roll To Wins At Spoon
The first “hot” race of the spring, with temps in the high 80’s at the start of the night, happened Saturday at Spoon River Speedway outside of Canton, and surprisingly it was the veteran drivers that handled the heat of the track and the heat of the competition to take victories at the 3/8-mile high banked clay oval
The USAC/IMRA Speed 2 Midgets were in the spotlight for the Aaron Hull Memorial, honoring the driver from the Galesburg area who lost his life while working on his race car last year. Another memorial race happens this coming Saturday, June 17th, at the track when the E-mods will run their annual Bill Anderson Memorial Race, honoring the longtime car builder/owner/sponsor/track supporter who still has one of three racing sons going at it each week when Mark Anderson takes to the track.
In Saturday’s Midget Main, Mason City’s Andy Baugh, with multiple wins over the last few years at Spoon River in both midgets and sprints, grabbed the early lead in the 24 lap feature (24 laps to honor the late Hull’s car number), but he was quickly challenged by a cadre of machines running the high side and picking up ground rapidly on Baugh as he worked the slick inside groove.
Alex Watson, charging from his 8th starting spot, worked his way past Baugh and into the lead as the race hit the 6 lap mark, but Havana’s Gedd Ross, from 12th on the grid, ran down Watson and eventually got underneath and around him on the backstretch. It looked like Ross’ race the rest of the way until his #51R machine went up in a huge puff of smoke on the last lap coming out of turn two, allowing Tyson Hart to swoop by and pick up the Hull Trophy and a $700 first place check.
As frustrating as it was for Ross, the first thing he did after getting out of his car was to compose himself enough to do a quick interview over the PA and then hustle to Perkins Seed House Victory Lane to congratulate Hart on his win.
“I could tell the engine was laying down a couple of laps before the finish,” Ross said “I was just hoping it made it to the end, but it didn’t. Hate to lose one that way, but congratulations to Tyson.”
Hart echoed those sentiments for Ross. “I feel awful for him, he had that race won, we were going to settle for second,” the winner said, “but that’s unfortunately how it goes in racing and we will take the win. Aaron (Hull) was a great competitor and gone too soon, I’m honored to win this race named for him.”
The entire Hull family joined Hart for an emotional Victory Lane gathering and a couple of group photos.
Brock Hunnell, another of the drivers to work the top of the track, followed Hart across the line, Ross was able to drop to the bottom of turns 3 and 4 and coast across the line 3rd, followed by Adam Taylor and Aaron Schuck.
In the Perkins Seed House Pro Late Model Division, the all-time leader in career wins at Spoon River Speedway added another to his total, as Brad Denney grabbed the lead on Lap one and held off hard-charging Allen Weisser for his 299th career feature win at the track on his family’s property.
“I knew I had to get up high as quick as I could and get the lead,” he said afterwards, “because it would have been hard to pass Allen if he got out there in front. It was a fun race, always fun to race with Allen and he drove his usual clean race. I haven’t won one for awhile, so it’s good to finally get number 299. I think if I get number 300 might be a good time to hang ‘em up.”
Denney got the win in just his second night behind the wheel this year, having concentrated on promotion, concessions and track prep all throughout the spring. But it didn’t take the wily vet long to return to Victory Lane.
Weisser finished second, followed by Josh Jackson in a strong run, AJ May, and Chris Osborne, Jr.
Kewanee’s Ray Bollinger topped a field of 18 to win the Zane’s Auto Service Modified feature race, but he had company at the end of the race.
“Whew, happy to get that one,” said Bollinger, “I tell you what, Josh [Allen] was coming, man, I could hear him back there and knew he was creeping up on us. Just glad to get to that flag first.”
Josh Allen, his car the best of those trying to run the bottom, powered his way to second and might have been able to challenge if there had been another five laps of racing. Zac Oedewaldt, Brandon Roberts and Todd Bates rounded out the top 5.
In the Fulton FS E-mod division, Canton veteran Mark Anderson was running well behind leader Kevin Morrow at mid race, and had made his mind up that it would take a caution to win, or he would end up second, until he started to do the math as he suddenly made up huge chunks of ground.
“Yeah, I thought it would take a caution…then I gain about two car lengths two laps in a row and I’m doing the math and looking at the laps on the scoreboard, and I said to myself ‘I’m going to catch him at this rate’,” Anderson said, “so I told myself to stay calm and drive my line, and maybe we’d reel him in. Of course, passing would be a different story, but I knew when I got that run that I had to make the pass right when I did it, because if I let up and waited a lap, Kevin was going to move up and protect.”
Anderson wheeled around Morrow just before the white flag and then pulled away in the final lap for the win, Morrow finishing second ahead of Matt Dobey, Dawson Cook (who earlier won his first ever heat race) and Bob Goodin.
The Farmington Locker Hornet feature win went to Brett Ragon, ahead of Joey Davis and Kyle Dearing, who had a physical battle that had officials watching closely, only to find out later the two buddies were bumping and banging and having fun racing together.
All results and upcoming events are available at www.spoonriverspeedway.com.
After Saturday’s 8th Annual Bill Anderson Memorial for E-mods, the next event at the track will be the annual visit from the UMP Super Late Model Summer Nationals Tour, coming to the track Thursday, June 22nd, and bringing the top Super Late Model drivers from around the Midwest to the track, along with the UMP Modified Summer Nationals tour, which has attracted NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace and David Stremme in recent seasons. Filling out the racing card Thursday night will be the E-Mods.
