2012fairbury-a

The Fairbury American Legion Speedway will be hosting an ALMS Late Model Special sponsored by Central Illinois Buildings this coming Saturday, May 19th. The 30-lap ALMS/UMP Late Model feature will pay $2,000 to win. The UMP Modifieds, UMP Sportsman, and UMP Street Stocks will also be in action Saturday night. There will also be a Dash for Cash for the kids ages 5-6.

Gates Open: 3rd street (pits only) and 2nd street 3:00 p.m., south 1st street 5:00 p.m.

Hot Laps 5:50 p.m., Qualifying 6:30 p.m., Racing immediately following qualifying

New for 2012: 3rd street (main) gate will be for PITS ONLY. This means ONLY RACE CAR RIGS/TRAILERS will be allowed to enter the 3rd street gate. Fans in passenger cars and motorhomes will need to use the south 1st street gate or the (newly opened) 2nd street gate.

The speedway is located three blocks south of U.S. 24 on 3rd St. in Fairbury, IL (at the fairgrounds). For more information visit www.fairburyspeedway.com. In case of inclement weather on race day, please monitor the track site forum for the latest event information.

Fairbury, Ill. (5/12/12) On July 23, 1977, history was made at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway as a young, 25 year old Bob Pierce claimed what was to be the first of many feature wins at the ¼ dirt oval, including five Prairie Dirt Classic titles. 35 years later, following in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame father, 15 year old, Bobby Pierce found his way to victory lane at the historic speed plant.

Starting on the pole, Pierce took the lead for the start of the 30 lap, UMP Late Model race and wasted little time in pulling away from the field. Pierce stuck his car to the bottom and was never threatened for the lead. As Pierce was approaching slower cars, second running Joe Harlan was able to close the margin, but a caution flag came out to bunch up the cars. Pierce again took command and rolled to a ½ straight win. Harlan battled with Chris Dick in the closing laps, but held on, while Dick took third. Scott Bull battled adversary all day and took fourth, followed by Kyle Louge, Aaron Ricketts, McKay Wenger, Steve Thorsten, Mike Mullvain, and Daniel Flessner. Wenger was the fast qualifier at a 12.89. Bull, Shane Allen, and Pierce won heats; while Flessner won the semi.

In his second night with his new MB Customs built modified, Lance Dehm started his night by not only setting fast time, but established a new track record with a 13.46. In the 20 lap feature, Dehm took the lead after Jay Ledford led the first lap and following a caution on lap three, jumped to a five car length lead, and won his first feature of the season. Ledford stayed within striking distance, but could never mount an attack on Dehm, took second. Jeff Curl overtook Dave Porth in the closing laps to take third, while Porth settled with fourth and Jeb Friedman was fifth. Joel Funk rallied from an early caution flag to take sixth, with Jared Cagley, Jim Farris, Andrew Funk, and Steven Brooks completing the top ten. Heat wins went to Friedman, Joel Funk, and Ledford. Dan Rork won the semi feature.

A caution as the green flag waved for the 15 lap UMP Sportsman race set the tone for the remainder of the event. Richie Rich started on the pole and led all the way, to claim his second straight win in a caution marred race. Shawn Diggs took the runner-up spot, while Scott Hatzer, Dustin Mounce, Jim Bailey, Rod Rusher, Ryan Huddleston, Ben Hulse, Tim Bohm, and Jason Maier rounded out the top ten. Rich and Rusher won the two heat races.

The racing began with a 15 lap, UMP Street Stock race and cautions plagued the race as well. Brandon Kessinger held off Lee Hall to take the win. Darrell Dick battled back to take third, while Alex Clubb, A.J. Meiferdt, Cody Gibson, Matt Maier, Axle Wicker, Jeremy Scher, and Eric Gaus completed the top ten. Kessinger, Craig Gaus, and Hall won heat contest. Billy Wicker took the semi feature.

The Fairbury American Legion Speedway will be hosting a regular night of racing featuring the UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, UMP Sportsman, and UMP Street Stocks this coming Saturday, May 12th.

Gates Open: 3rd street (pits only) and 2nd street 3:00 p.m., south 1st street 5:00 p.m.

Hot Laps 5:50 p.m., Qualifying 6:30 p.m., Racing immediately following qualifying

The 2006 & 2007 UMP Track of the Year, the Fairbury American Legion Speedway, will open up their 66th year of racing this coming Saturday, May 5th. Scheduled is a regular night of racing featuring the UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, UMP Sportsman, and UMP Street Stocks. The UMP Hornets will also be in action Saturday night.

Gates Open: 3rd street (pits only) and 2nd street 3:00 p.m., south 1st street 5:00 p.m.

Hot Laps 5:50 p.m., Qualifying 6:30 p.m., Racing immediately following qualifying

The 2006 & 2007 UMP Track of the Year, the Fairbury American Legion Speedway, will open up their 66th year of racing this coming Saturday, April 28th. Scheduled is a regular night of racing featuring the UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, UMP Sportsman, and UMP Street Stocks.

Gates Open: 3rd street (pits only) and 2nd street 3:00 p.m., south 1st street 5:00 p.m.

Hot Laps 5:50 p.m., Qualifying 6:30 p.m., Racing immediately following qualifying

The Fairbury American Legion Speedway will be having a Practice and Tech Day before the season opener on April 28th this coming Saturday, April 21st. Gates open at 10:00 AM with the race track opening at Noon. It is free to watch practice and $10 to enter the pits.

The speedway is located three blocks south of U.S. 24 on 3rd St. in Fairbury, IL (at the fairgrounds). For more information visit www.fairburyspeedway.com.

Fairbury, Ill. (4/13/12) The green flag drops on the Fairbury American Legion Speedway Saturday night, April 28. Sanctioned by UMP, racing will be held in street stocks, sportsman, modifieds, and highlighted by the late model class, running a 30 lap feature paying $1200 to the winner. Main gate opens at 3:00, back gate opens at 5:00, qualifying at 6:30, and racing will start immediately after qualifying. Gate admission is $10, with children 12 and under free with a paid adult. Pit admission is $25.

Race teams with trailers and rigs will use the 3^rd St. (Main Gate) entrance. Fans, fans with motorhomes, track workers, and media will use 1^st ST. (South Gate) or 2^nd St. gate. This move is being done to keep traffic from being congested on 3^rd St.

During the off season, the speedway purchased several aluminum bleachers from the recently closed Shepp’s Speedway. Volunteers have worked feverishly replacing the middle section, wooden bleachers on the back stretch. The new bleachers will increase attendance by 60 people and fans sitting in the new seats will have a much higher view of the track. In addition, a new scorers tower has been added .

Expect many familiar drivers along with several newcomers to tackle the ¼ mile semi banked dirt oval. In the late model class, defending track champion, Eric Smith, has elected to run a reduced schedule and will not defend his crown. Top candidates to take the title include former champions Daren Friedman, Joe Harlan, and Wes Steidinger; along with Scott Bull, Derek Chandler, and Aaron Ricketts. Drivers moving into the late model class include modified stand out McKay Wenger and last year’s track champion in the sportsman division, Daniel Flessner. With Peoria Speedway running a special 10 race series for late models, several Peoria regulars have indicated they will race at Fairbury including Steve Lance Jr., Mike Mullvain, and Todd Bennett.

After bad luck doomed Jim Farris in his quest to claim his first Fairbury track championship, Jeff Curl was able to capitalize on Farris’s misfortune to win his first ever title in front of his home town. Curl will have his hands full and have to be on his game if he expects to repeat. Farris, a runner up nine times in track points, has his goal to take the championship this year. The Modified drivers have some of Fairbury’s most competitive races and look for Dave Porth, Justin Delong, Jay Ledford, T.D. Burger, and Jeb Friedman to battle for the checker. Lance Dehm, hopes to unveil a Mars/Birkhofer built modified sometime in May. Team 23 of Rick Thomas, Joel Funk, and Andrew Funk will be competing in the modifieds, having sold their sportsman and street stocks.

With Team 23 and Flessner moving up in their respected classes, competition will be keen in the sportsman and street stock classes. In the sportsman class, Shawn Diggs, winner of the $1000 to win special at Farmer City, looms as a favorite along with Dustin Mounce, Richie Rich, Ben Hulse, Scott Hatzer, and Richard Craven. A newcomer will be second generation driver, Jeffrey Ledford, who has impressed onlookers recently at Farmer City.

Andrew Funk, defending champion in the street stocks, has moved to the modifieds, opens the doors for a new champion in the class. Gary Barnes hopes to have his new car ready for the opener looks to be a favorite, along with Jeff Semmens, Eric Gaus, Alex Clubb, Don Hilleary, and Brandon Kessinger.

Fairbury American Legion Speedway will begin its 66^th year of racing action in Livingston County. All classes will have at least one special event. Highlights include the $10,000 to win Summer National race, June 23, and the Prairie Dirt Classic weekend, August 31 and September 1. The track is located off of US 24 at the fairgrounds. Race day information can be had at 1-815-692-3222.

The Fairbury American Legion Speedway will be having a Practice and Tech Day before the season opener on April 28th this coming Saturday, April 14th. Gates open at 10:00 AM with the race track opening at Noon. It is free to watch practice and $10 to enter the pits.

The speedway is located three blocks south of U.S. 24 on 3rd St. in Fairbury, IL (at the fairgrounds). For more information visit www.fairburyspeedway.com.