Breaking News: Next Racing Event this Saturday Night Sept 14th Modified Makeup feature Plus another program of racing along with the Front Row Shuffle
Cooler size 10x14x12 Tall (NO Exceptions) $10 everytime thru gate. NO Food or Glass
NO Large Purses, Bags or Backpacks Allowed | No Dogs Allowed in Grandstand Area
Regular Race Admission (Specials will Vary)
Adults $10 | Kids 10 and under $3 | Coolers $10 | All Pit Passes $30
Transponder Rental $5 | Pouches $20
Ross Brings Home Nationals Victory
Saturday night saw some of the best racing so far at Spoon River Speedway in 2018. Twenty five USAC SpeeD2 Midgets would attempt to tame the high banked oval at the USAC SpeeD2 Midget National event. Twenty three cars would compete in the Dirtcar Modified division for one thousand to win.
After heat races the first feature out was the Dirtcar Pro Late Model division. Father 9 Scott Scooter May)and son (Austin May)would lead the ten car field to the green. Austin would get the jump on his dad and jump out to a early lead. Scott May and Samuel Halstead would battle it out for second with Sean dray right behind them in fourth. A caution field race would see some of the front runners set to the rear. On one of the last restarts Austin May would have his left rear tire go down ending his night. Dray would inherit the lead with Scott May and Halstead working their way back up to second and third after being sent to the rear on different occasions. Dray would hold off attempts from May and Halstead for the last five laps to bring home his first feature win of his career. Halstead would get past May for second with track points leader Jacob Denney with a strong run finishing fourth. Heat wins went to Austin May and Halstead.
The National USAC SpeeD2 Midget event was next to hit the track. Twenty five midgets would compete to make the twenty car feature field for five hundred to win. Gedd Ross would lead the field to the green with Andy Baugh to his outside. Ross would jump out to the early lead running the low line with Baugh running high and Shane Morgan to Baughs inside battling for second. Morgan would move around Baugh for second and put pressure on Ross for the lead. The men on the move were eleventh place starter Adam Taylor and Robby McQuinn. These two men were burning up the high side in dramatic fashion trying to run down Ross and Morgan. Baugh after jumping the cushion would fall back to eighth when the red flag would fly for Sean Murphy roll over on the front stretch. Murphy would climb back in his midget and race it to a eighth place finish. On the lap sixteen restart Baugh would go high to get around Mark Billings and would catch his tire sending Baugh flipping down the front stretch ending up at the top of turn one. Luckily Baugh came away unscaved but that couldn’t be said for his 6B midget. When the green flew once again Ross would fall back and McQuinn would jump into the lead. Ross, McQuinn and Taylor would swop the lead back and forth for the next six laps until McQuinn would jump the cushion and Ross and Taylor would shoot past him. Taylor would ride Ross bumper until the last lap and last turn were he would shoot to the bottom to pass Ross but Ross was to strong and came across the line to pick up the feature win. Taylor would settle for second followed by a strong run by Blake Buchholz and Adam Leffel, John Heydenreich would finish in fifth. Heat race wins went to Ross, McQuinn and Baugh.
Josh Allen would set fast time in the Dirtcar modified division Saturday night and win the first of three heat races. Other heat wins went to Dave Wietholder and Brandon Roberts. As the twenty three car came to the green Roberts would jump out to the lead running the bottom of the track. Pole sitter Zac Oedewaldt would jump to the high side and challenge Roberts for the lead. With these two running side by side the charging Mark Anderson would try and stick his nose in between the two but the door would slam on him before he could complete the past. Oedewaldt would final get by Roberts on the high side on lap nine out of twenty five. Derrick Carlson, starting eleventh, would charge his modified to the front and be battling for second place with Roberts and Anderson. Oedewaldt would jump the cushion allowing Roberts, Carlson and Anderson to get past. Anderson would move around Carlson with five to go and set his sights on Roberts. Running on the edge of the berm Anderson would go for the lead coming to the checkered flag following just two hundredths short of the win. Roberts would bring home his second feature win at Spoon this year. Following Roberts and Anderson was a strong run by Carlson, Oedewaldt and Josh Allen in fifth.
Jake Montgomery is on a hot streak and it continued for the young hot shot Saturday night in the E-Mod feature event. Josh Allen driving for Ray Rivers would jump out to the lead followed closely by Billy Puckett (Driving for Steve Jones) and Montgomery. Montgomery would get past Smith on lap five and never look back. Butch Weisser and Mason Duncan would battle it out for second with Weisser holding Duncan off at the line. Smith would finish the night in fourth with twelfth place starter Kyle Girard finishing in fifth. Heat wins went to Duncan who set fast time and Weisser .
Last out were the Dirtcar Hornets which saw pole sitter Brett Pratt jump out front and cruise home for the feature win. Iowa driver Erik VanApeldoorn would finish in second followed by April Holt and David DeFrance. Heat wins went to VanApeldoorn and Pratt.
Racing will resume next Saturday night June 16th for the Bill Anderson Memorial when the Dirtcar Modifieds will compete for fifteen hundred to win. Spoon will also have the makeup for the Kids Candy Dash at intermission. Check their Face Book page and website for more information.
New Track Records Set At Spoon
On a hot and steamy night, Spoon River Speedway saw three track records tied or broken at the Gary Cook Jr Memorial race Sunday night. One hundred and two cars showed up to attack the lightning fast oval. Steven Brooks would tie the Modified track record, Ray Bollinger, with a lap of 14.301 seconds averaging over 96mph. The Super Late Model record held by Dennis Erb Jr (13.196) was broke by Ryan Unzicker with a lap of 13.118 averaging over 100 mph. The final track record was broke in the Hornet division by Adam Webb with a lap of 18.487 seconds breaking Steve Jones 18.567 lap.
Sunday May 27th the Gary Cook Jr Memorial
Pits open at 3. Grandstands at 5. Hot Laps 5:45 followed by Modifieds and Super L/M TT. Racing to begin around 7
Roberts, Eskew Pick Up First Wins At Spoon
A gorgeous night for racing once again took place at the high banked oval of Spoon River Speedway for Autism Awareness Night. The track and fans once again showed its generosity donating over $600 to help draw awareness to autism and having a nice crowd dress in blue to watch another action packed night of racing.
Starting off the feature events was the Farmington Locker E-Mods with Matt Dobey and Kyle Girard leading the field to the green. Girard would jump out to a early lead followed by Dawson Cook and Evan Fink, but the man on the move was sixth place starter Allen Weisser threading his way through cars to take the lead on lap three and never looking back. Fink. Girard and Cook would battle it out for second with Fink finally holding them off. Girard would finish third followed by Cook and Steve Jones. Heat race winners were Girard and Weisser.
Another Thrilling Night At Spoon
Spoon River Speedway hosted another spectacular night of racing Saturday night as four classes of dirt cars put on a show for the fans.
The Farmington Locker E=Mods would start the feature races off with Jake Montgomery on the pole with Kyle Girard to his outside. As the green flag flew, Montgomery would jump out to the lead followed closely by fifth place starter Eric Bruce, third place starter Brandon David and sixth place starter Matt Dobey. Montgomery would have a nice lead with David, Bruce and Dobey in a fierce battle running all over the high banked oval trying to run down him down. Montgomery would hold the lead for the first fifteen laps when on lap sixteen Bruce would dive low going into turn one, sliding up in front of Jake to take the lead. The man on the move was Daid who would catch Bruce coming to the checkerd flag but come up a half a car length short. Montgomery would settle for third followed by Dobey and sixteenth starter Kevin Morrow. Heat wins went to Bruce and Montgomery.
Bollinger Wins In Thriller
Spoon River Speedway 35th season opener Saturday night had fans on the edge of their seats. With a large crowd on hand to honor the late Bud Welker and Kevin Bills along with a nice car count in all divisions to begin the 2018 race season, the racers put on some exciting racing on the high banked oval. The track was also collecting money to Strike out Cancer for Hannah. $4000 was collected from the fans, drivers and track to help out this little girl.
35th Season Opener Set For Saturday Night April 28th
The 35th season opener is set for Saturday April 28th featuring the Zane's Automotive Service DirtCar Modifieds, the Perkins Seed House DirtCar Pro Late Models, the Fulton Farm Service USAC/IMRA SpeeD2 Midgets, the Farmington Locker E-Mods and the Bartonville Express Lube DirtCar Hornets. Spoon has flashed back to the past this year on all Regular Race programs, only charging $10 for a General admission grandstand ticket. Kids 10 and under will be $3. A 10x14x12Tall cooler will once again be $5 everytime through the gate (NO Food or Glass). Large purses, Fanny packs and Backpacks will not be allowed and will be enforced in 2018. All pit passes are $30. Grandstands will open at 5 with the pit gate opening at 3:30. Racing will be scheduled to begin around 6:30. We will be Honoring the late Bud Welker and Kevin Bills on opening night. In honor of Bud the DirtCar Modifieds will run for $1000 to win and in honor of Kevin the E-Mods will run for $500 to win. Hope to see everyone on opening night and throughout the year. Remember ONLY $10 a ticket on Regular Race Nights!! See you at the Spoon.
Monster Mash-a-mania Oct 19th and 20th
Spoon River Speedway is proud to announce that we will be running into October with two of our divisions. On Oct 19th and 20th we will hold the 1st Monster Mash Nationals at Spoon River Speedway for the Hornets and E-Mods paying the Hornets Saturday night 100 lap feature winning $2500 in the 30 car main event. The E-Mods 50 lap feature winner will pocket $2500 Saturday night in the 30 car main event. Feature car count could be change by number of entries up or down, but I believe this should bring in a large car count in both divisions to end the season. The Hornets first 70 laps we will count yellow flag laps with the last 30 only counting green flag laps. The E-Mods first 20 laps we will count yellow flag laps with the last 30 only counting green flag laps.
Big 10 Late Models at the Spoon in 2018
We are excited to announce that the Big 10 Late Models will be making their first appearance at the Spoon River Speedway in 2018. Spoon will become part of a six track series that cars will compete in ten races total to crown a champion. Spoon's first Big 10 race will be scheduled on the Gary Cook Jr Memorial Sunday May 27th. The second Big 10 race will be heald on the 28th Modified Fall Nationals Sunday Sept 2nd. Both nights will feature the two premier classes in DirtCar racing, the Super Late Models and the Modifieds. These are just two of the great races scheduled in 2018 that you will want to mark down on your calendar.
Ray Bollinger Named Driver of the Year
On Saturday Night December 2nd Spoon River Speedway held their annual banquet. Just shy of $12,000 was handed out in point fund money alone with all kinds of extra money and prizes also handed out.
Many Awards were handed out with Ray Bollinger being named Spoon River Speedways Driver of the Year voted on by the Fans and Drivers.
More info to come.
