2005fairbury

It seems like just yesterday when Fairbury American Legion opened the 2005 season. Now the 16^th annual Prairie Dirt Classic has passed and the track has gone quiet. So many had thought the old track was on its last leg but this season became one of the best in recent years. Except for the 2 biggest races, Summer Nationals and the Prairie Dirt, the track looked really good. There were times this season when Fairbury had the highest car counts in the area, for late models and almost always in modifieds.

When the first checkered flag fell this season on May 14, Eric Smith got his 2^nd victory of the season. After a lot of talk on 4m and other sites, the crowd began to grow. With a high car count in 3 classes, the drivers must still love the historic track. Eric Smith also won the second Saturday race on Curt Piercy memorial night. Smith would gain and hold the points lead for both Farmer City and Fairbury. May 28^th would be a regular nite of racing with a regular winning, Wes Steidinger.

For $5 to get in on Fan Appreciation, Richie Hedrick fans surely appreciated a Hitman win. June 11 saw hornets and the Racing Farmer Roger Long power to his only win at FALS. For the Pappy and Bob Allen Memorial, Mike Mullvain and his #4 took his only win at Fairbury. Closing the month was another win for the Urbana driver Richie Hedrick.

To open July, Darin Friedman in his 89 late model beat the field for his 1^st win. On the B104 nite, Richie Hedrick cruised to yet another musical win. July 16 saw the UMP Summernational champion crash going into turn 1. Babb ran 2^nd until his wreck behind the winner Jimmy Mars. The next show was a regular show with another win for Hedrick; the point’s race was close between Smith and Hedrick. The Fairbury Flyer Wes Steidinger won the last race of July.

The month of August would also known as the month of Erb. The One Man Band from Carpentersville won on the 5^th at Farmer City and repeated the next nite at Fairbury. Dennis Erb Jr. is now one of the hottest drivers. The 13^th was the only rain out of the season, which is a plus during a drought. The Wat Up Dog #22 won on Fair nite, Chris Dick’s only win at Fairbury. By then Hedrick had already clinched the point’s championship. Waiting till the last regular nite, Jr Shickel finally picked up a feature win in his s10.

The 16^th annual Prairie Dirt Classic saw 42 late models and 36 modifieds. Six former Champions were in attendance including the 1^st winner, Snooky Dehm, Kevin Weaver, Billy Drake, Dennis Erb Jr, John Gill, and Shannon Babb. 5time winner Bob Pierce, Billy Moyer, and Don O’Neal make up the remaining winners. The nite saw the walls disappear, covered by dirt sent cars into the fences in turns three and four. Fast time and heat 1 went to Jimmy Mars. The Dash for Cash and heat 4 went to Billy Drake. Mike Mullvain won heat 2 over Dan Schlieper. Shannon Babb beat Richie Hedrick to the line for heat 3 win. John Gill won over Jr Shickel for heat 5. Darin Friedman and Kevin Weaver won the 2 semi features. After a complete restart and 2 cautions, Jimmy Mars finished his sweep of the night and of both $10,000 to win races.

In modified action Nick Neville took fast time and the first heat. Chad Kinder, Schmahorn, Mullins, won heats 2-4. Kevin Weaver and McKay Wegner won the semi features. (Sorry for Spelling). Chad Kinder walked to the victory over Schamhorn.

I am sure if the tracks would ask for volunteers and supplies, fans would help. Obviously no one wants to see a track close, especially one as old as Fairbury. Congrats to all the Winners! Also congrats to Eric Smith and Richie Hedrick and the teams for their Championships.

41 Late Models on hand
28 Jimmy Mars set fast time: 13.199

Dash for cash
1. 9 Billy Drake(1)
2. Z Joe Harlan(6)
3. S10 Jr. Shickel(3)
4. 36 Roger Long(7)
5. 45 Gary May(2)
6. 28 Jimmy Mars(5)
7. 4 Mike Mullvain(4)
8. B12 Kevin Weaver(8)

Heat 1
1. 28 Jimmy Mars(1)
2. 1 Wes Steidinger(3)
3. Z Joe Harlan(2)
4. 6 Mark Anderson(4)
5. 89 Daren Friedman((5)
6. 45 John Mehn(7)
7. 43 Jim Felker Jr.(6)
8. 15 Lisa Shickel(8)

Heat 2
1. 4 Mike Mullvain(1)
2. 9 Dan Schlieper(3)
3. 27G RJ Gall(6)
4. 45 Don Hammer(4)
5. 45 Gary May(2)
6. 28 Ron Donaldson(5)
7. T33 Tim O'Donnell(7)
8. 18 Dan Crowley(8)

Heat 3
1. 18 Shannon Babb(3)
2. 0 Richie Hedrick(4)
3. 36 Roger Long(1)
4. B12 Kevin Weaver(2)
5. 32D Darren Miller(5)
6. 10s George Scheffler(6)
7. 29 Jason Allen(7)
8. 1J Kelly Jones(8)

Heat 4
1. 9 Billy Drake(1)
2. 28 Dennis Erb Jr.(2)
3. 7P John Provenzano(5)
4. 22 Chris Dick(4)
5. 32 Tom Thoennes(6)
6. 1w Donny Walden(3)
7. 00 Snooky Dehm(7)
8. 05 Gary Schalmo(DNS)

Heat 5
1. 75 John Gill(2)
2. S10 Jr. Shickel(1)
3. 9 Eric Smith(4)
4. 3L Matt Taylor(3)
5. 16 Shane Allen(7)
6. 35 Derek Chandler(5)
7. B21 Billy Nail(6)
8. 13 Terry Starks(8)

Consy 1
1. 89 Daren Friedman(4)
2. 6 Mark Anderson(1)
3. 45 Don Hammer(2)
4. 3L Matt Taylor(3)
5. 10s George Scheffler(7)
6. T33 Tim O'Donnell(9)
7. 1w Donny Walden(8)
8. 32 Tom Thoennes(5)
9. 16 Shane Allen(6)
10. 13 Terry Starks(12)
11. 15 Lisa Shickel(11)
12. 29 Jason Allen(10)

Consy 2
1. B12 Kevin Weaver(1)
2. 32D Darren Miller(4)
3. 22 Chris Dick(2)
4. 45 Gary May(3)
5. 28 Ron Donaldson(6)
6. 35 Derek Chandler(7)
7. 43 Jim Felker Jr.(8)
8. 00 Snooky Dehm(9)
9. 45 John Mehn(5)
10. B21 Billy Nail(10)
11. 1J Kelly Jones(11)
12. 05 Gary Schalmo(12)

Feature
1. 28 Jimmy Mars(1)
2. 18 Shannon Babb(3)
3. 9 Dan Schlieper(6)
4. 1 Wes Steidinger(5)
5. 28 Dennis Erb(8)
6. B12 Kevin Weaver(16)
7. 32D Darren Miller(18)
8. 9 Billy Drake(4)
9. 7p John Provenzano(13)
10. 89 Daren Friedman(15)
11. 36 Roger Long(12)
12. S10 Jr. Shickel(9)
13. 45 Don Hammer(19)
14. 4 Mike Mullvain(2)
15. 0 Richie Hedrick(7)
16. Z Joe Harlan(10)
17. 22 Chris Dick(20)
18. 27G RJ Gall(11)
19. 6 Mark Anderson(17)
20. 9 Eric Smith(14)
21. 75 John Gill(21)

36 Mods on hand
32N Nick Neville set fast time: 14.300

Heat 1
1. 32N Nick Neville(1)
2. 64 Gary Cook Jr.(3)
3. 7L Jay Ledford(2)
4. 95 Aaron Ricketts(7)
5. 27 Brad Crosby(4)
6. 23JR Joel Funk(9)
7. 7 Bobby Crego(8)
8. 4 Paul Westermeyer(5)
9. 51 Mike Mosier(6)

Heat 2
1. 22s Chad Kinder(1)
2. 83 Scott Bull(2)
3. 69 Jim Farris(3)
4. 43 Milo Veloz Jr.(7)
5. 42 McKay Wenger(4)
6. 16 Chris Price(9)
7. 32B TD Burger(6)
8. D55 Brian Dunn(8)
9. 77 Abe Helfand(5)

Heat 3
1. 12s Ed Shamhart(1)
2. 3L Jeff Leka(2)
3. 1 Floyd Jordan(5)
4. X1 Dave Sandage(3)
5. 95w Kevin Weaver(4)
6. 21 Mike Stirewalt(6)
7. 21JR Justin McCoy(7)
8. 39 Kevin Gummere(8)

Heat 4
1. 41m Brent Mullins(2)
2. D1 Lance Dehm(1)
3. 00 Dennis Wilson(4)
4. c12 Jeff Curl(8)
5. 61 Gary Cook Sr.(5)
6. 8 Gerold Meier(6)
7. 68 Matt Bachman(3)
8. 6w Brad Willis Jr.(7)

Consy 1
1. 95w Kevin Weaver(2)
2. 27 Brad Crosby(1)
3. 21 Mike Stirewalt(4)
4. 33 Jeremy Colley(9)
5. 39 Kevin Gummere(6)
6. 21JR Justin McCoy(8)
7. 7 Bobby Crego(3)
8. 23JR Joel Funk(5)
9. 51 Mike Mosier(7)

Consy 2
1. 42 McKay Wenger(1)
2. 61 Gary Cook Sr.(2)
3. 68 Matt Bachman(8)
4. 8 Gerold Meier(4)
5. D55 Brian Dunn(7)
6. 16 Chris Price(3)
7. 32B TD Burger(5)
8. 77 Abe Helfand(9)
9. 6w Brad Willis Jr.(6)

Feature
1. 22s Chad Kinder(2)
2. 41m Brent Mullins(4)
3. 12s Ed Shamhart(3)
4. 83 Scott Bull(6)
5. 32N Nick Neville(1)
6. 3L Jeff Leka(7)
7. D1 Lance Dehm(8)
8. 69 Jim Farris(10)
9. 95 Aaron Ricketts(13)
10. 42 McKay Wenger(18)
11. 95w Kevin Weaver(17)
12. 7L Jay Ledford(9)
13. 00 Dennis Wilson(12)
14. c12 Jeff Curl(16)
15. 64 Gary Cook Jr.(5)
16. 1 Floyd Jordan(11)
17. 43 Milo Veloz Jr.(14)
18. 27 Brad Crosby(19)
19. X1 Dave Sandage(15)
20. 61 Gary Cook Sr.(DNS)

thanks to the Rigsby family

Late Model Trophy Dash

1. Billy Drake - Bloomington

2. Joe Harlan - El Paso

3. Frank Shickel Jr. - Bloomington

Late Model Heat 1

1. Jimmy Mars - Elk Mound, Wi.

2. Wes Steidinger - Fairbury

3. Joe Harlan - El Paso

4. Mark Anderson - Lexington

Late Model Heat 2

1. Mike Mullvain - Bartonville

2. Dan Schlieper - Sullivan

3. R.J. Gall - Dwight

4. Don Hammer - Clinton

Late Model Heat 3

1. Shannon Babb - Moweaqua

2. Richie Hedrick - Urbana

3. Roger Long - Fithian

4. Kevin Weaver - Gibson City

Late Model Heat 4

1. Billy Drake - Bloomington

2. Dennis Erb Jr. - Carpentersville

3. Little John Provenzano - Elgin

4. Chris Dick - Deland

Late Model Heat 5

1. John Gill - Mitchell, IN.

2. Frank Shickel Jr. - Bloomington

3. Eric Smith - Shirley

4. Matt Taylor - Springfield

Late Model Semi 1

1. Daren Friedman - Forrest

2. Mark Anderson - Lexington

3. Don Hammer - Clinton

Late Model Semi 2

1. Kevin Weaver - Gibson City

2. Darren Miller - Chadwick

3. Chris Dick - Deland

Late Model Feature

1. Jimmy Mars - Elk Mound, WI

2. Shannon Babb - Moweaqua

3. Dan Schlieper - Sullivan

4. Wes Steidinger - Fairbury

5. Dennis Erb Jr. - Carpentersville

6. Kevin Weaver - Gibson City

7. Darren Miller - Chadwick

8. Billy Drake - Bloomington

9. Little John Provenzano - Elgin

10. Daren Friedman - Forrest

11. Roger Long - Fithian

12. Frank Shickel Jr. - Bloomington

13. Don Hammer - Clinton

14. Mike Mullvain - Bartonville

15. Richie Hedrick - Urbana

16. Joe Harlan - El Paso

17. Chris Dick - Deland

18. R.J. Gall - Dwight

19. Mark Anderson - Lexington

20. Eric Smith - Shirley

21. John Gill - Mitchell, In.

Mars also won the UMP Summernationals at Fairbury in July, his only two trips to the track this year.

Modifieds

Heat 1

1. Nick Neville - Mackinaw

2. Gary Cook Jr. - Deer Creek

3. Jay Ledford - Pontiac

4. Aaron Ricketts - Fairbury

Heat 2

1. Chad Kinder - Newton

2. Scott Bull - Fairbury

3. Jim Farris - Odell

4. Milo Veloz Jr. - Decatur

Heat 3

1. Ed Shamhart - Decatur

2. Jeff Leka - Buffalo

3. Floyd Jordan - Pekin

4. Dave Sandage - Arrowsmith

Heat 4

1. Brent Mullins - Litchfield

2. Lance Dehm - Chatsworth

3. Dennis Wilson - Lexington

4. Jeffery Curl - Forrest

Modified Semi 1

1. Kevin Weaver - Gibson City

2. Brad Crosby - Decatur

3. Mike Stirewalt - Dwight

Modified Semi 2

1. McKay Wenger - Fairbury

2. Gary Cook Sr. - Deer Creek

3. Matt Bachman - Gibson City

Modified Feature

1. Chad Kinder - Newton

2. Brent Mullins - Litchfield

3. Ed Shamhart - Decatur

4. Scott Bull - Fairbury

5. Nick Neville - Mackinaw

6. Jeff Leka - Buffalo

7. Lance Dehm - Chatsworth

8. Jim Farris - Odell

9, Aaron Ricketts - Fairbury

10. McKay Wenger - Fairbury

Kinder's win is his second in two weeks at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway

June 25
thanks to dotcomguy
26 Late Models Qualified
Fast Qualifier: 9 Eric Smith 13.792

Heat Winners: 9 Eric Smith, 0 Richie Hedrick, 89 Daren Friedman
Consi Winner: 10S George Scheffler

Feature
1 - 0 Richie Hedrick
2 - 9 Eric Smith
3 - 4 Mike Mullvain
4 - 89 Daren Friedman
5 - 1W Donny Walden
6 - 7 John Provenzano
7 - 22 Chris Dick
8 - 32 Tom Thoennes
9 - 10S George Scheffler
10 - 05 Gary Schalmo
11 - 4 Cody Bauman
12 - 61jr Bruce White
13 - 24 Ryan Unzicker
14 - 27G R.J. Gall
15 - 45 Don Hammer
16 - S10 Frank Shickel Jr.
17 - Z Joe Harlan
18 - 35 Derek Chandler

June 18....thanks to Ryan Offermann
32 Late Models on hand
1w Donny Walden set fast time: 13.42

Heat 1
1) 36 Roger Long 2) 1w Donny Walden 3) 1 Wes
Steidinger 4) 89 Daren Friedman 5) 22 Chris Dick 6) 93
Jerry Bagby Jr. 7) 24 Ryan Unzicker 8.) 66 Jeff
Semmens

Heat 2
1) 4 Mike Mullvain 2) 27G RJ Gall 3) 35 Derek Chandler
4) 4 Cody Bauman 5) 90 Flip Shickel 6) 29 Jason Allen
7) z28 Rich Harlan 8.) 28 Ron Donaldson

Heat 3
1) 0 Richie Hedrick 2) Z Joe Harlan 3) T33 Tim
O'Donnell 4) 45 Gary May 5) 7 Jay Sparks 6) 32 Tom
Thoennes 7) 18k Erik Kwasigroh 8.) 18c Jerry Cremeens

Heat 4
1) 9 Eric Smith 2) 7 John Provenzano 3) S10 Junior
Shickel 4) 71F Bob Freeburg 5) 16 Shane Allen 6) 05
Gary Schalmo 7) 15 Lisa Shickel 8.) 192 Brian
Allen(DNS)

Consi 1
1) 45 Gary May 2) 89 Daren Friedman 3) 22 Chris Dick
4) 66 Jeff Semmens 5) 18c Jerry Cremeens 6) 32 Tom
Thoennes 7) 18k Erik Kwasigroh 8.) 24 RYan Unzicker 9)
7 Jay Sparks 10) 93 Jerry Bagby Jr.

Consi 2
1) 4 Cody Bauman 2) 05 Gary Schalmo 3) 71F Bob
Freeburg 4) 29 Jason Allen 5) 28 Ron Donaldson 6) z28
Rich Harlan 7) 16 Shane Allen 8.) 15 Lisa Shickel 9)
90 Flip Shickel 10) 192 Brian Allen

Feature
1)4 Mike Mullvain 2) 9 Eric Smith 3) 0 Richie Hedrick
4) 36 Roger Long 5)7 John Provenzano 6) Z Joe Harlan
7) 22 Chris Dick 8.) 27G RJ Gall 9) S10 Junior Shickel
10) T33 Tim O'Donnell 11) 4 Cody Bauman 12) 05 Gary
Schalmo 13) 89 Daren Friedman 14) 1 Wes Steidinger 15)
1w Donny Walden 16) 71F Bob Freeburg 17) 35 Derek
Chandler 18) 45 Gary May

33 Mods on hand
c12 Jeff Curl set fast time: 14.42

Heat 1
1) 7L Jay Leford 2) 24 Aaron Elgin 3) 00 Dennis Wilson
4) 23JR Joel Funk 5) 21 Mike Stirewalt 6) 11 Jim
Felker 7) 7 Bobby Crego 8.) 55 Brian Dunn 9) 51H
Anthony Ricketts

Heat 2
1) 95 Aaron Ricketts 2) 1J Kelly Jones 3) 16 Chris
Price 4) G73 Scott McMichael 5) 15 Don Cox 6) 38D Miek
Dyas 7) 2c Randy Convis

Heat 3
1) 42 Gary Turpin 2) 1G Rocky Griffin 3) 69 Jim Farris
4) 32B TD Burger 5) 21JR Justin McCoy 6) D99 Eric Dunn
7) 36 Eric Vaughan 8.) 77 Eric Shaw

Heat 4
1) 68 Matt Bachman 2) 64 Gary Cook Jr. 3) c12 Jeff
Curl 4) 42 McKay Wenger 5) 83 Scott Bull 6) D1 Lance
Dehm 7) 32N Nick Neville 8.) 9 Jerold Meier

Consi 1
1) 69 Jim Farris 2) 00 Dennis Wilson 3) 21 Mike
Stirewalt 4) 7 Bobby Crego 5) 38D Mike Dyas 6) G73
Scott McMichael 7) 21Jr Justin McCoy

Consi 2
1) 23JR Joel Funk 2) 11 Jim Felker 3) D99 Eric Dunn 4)
55 Brian Dunn 5) 32B TD Burger 6) 51H Anthony Ricketts
7) 16 Chris Price

Feature
1) 83 Scott Bull 2) 64 Gary Cook Jr. 3) D1 Lance Dehm
4) 68 Matt Bachman 5) 95 Aaron Ricketts 6) 42 McKay
Wenger 7) 24 Aaron Elgin 8.) 23JR Joel Funk 9) c12
Jeff Curl 10) 7L Jay Ledford 11) 32N Nick Neville 12)
69 Jim Farris 13) 8 Jerold Meier 14) 1J Kelly Jones
15) 42 Gary Turpin 16) 1G Rocky Griffin 17) 11 Jim
Felker 18) 00 Dennis Wilson 19) D99 Eric Dunn 20) 21
Mike Stirewalt

thanks to Ryan Offermann
May 21.....opening night
Late Model
21 Lates took time
Z Joe Harlan set fast time - 13.60

Heat 1
1. 7 John Provenzano
2. 90 Flip Shickel
3. 35 Derek Chandler
4. 4 Cody Bauman
5. 292 Ronald Allen
6. T33 Tim O'Donnell

Heat 2
1. 1 Wes Steidinger
2. 1w Donny Walden
3. 24 Ryan Unzicker
4. 00 Matt Melvin
5. z28 Rich Harlan
6. 05 Gary Schalmo

Heat 3
1. 0 Richie Hedrick
2. 9 Eric Smith
3. B12 Kevin Weaver
4. 89 Daren Friedman
5. Z Joe Harlan
6. 27G RJ Gall
7. 7 Jay Sparks
8. 4 Mike Mullvain

UNOFFICIAL Feature Results
1. 9 Eric Smith
2. B12 Kevin Weaver
3. Z Joe Harlan
4. 4 Mike Mullvain
5. 7 John Provenzano
6. 89 Daren Friedman
7. 1w Donny Walden
8. 27G RJ Gall
9. 05 Gary Schalmo
10. 4 Cody Bauman
11. 7 Jay Sparks
12. 1 Wes Steidinger
13. 0 Richie Hedrick
14. 292 Ronald Allen
15. 24 Ryan Unzicker
16. z28 Rich Harlan
17. 35 Derek Chandler
18. T33 Tim O'Donnell
19. 90 Flip Shickel
20. 00 Matt Melvin

Mods
29 Mods on hand
68 Matt Bachman took fast time - 14.28

Heat 1
1. 69 Jim Farris
2. 1T RIck Thomas
3. 00 Dennis Wilson
4. 42 Gary Turpin
5. 77 Abe Helfand
6. 51H Anthony Ricketts
7. 7 Bobby Crego

Heat 2
1. 42 McKay Wenger
2. c12 Jeff Curl
3. 1 Kelly Jones
4. 51 Mike Mosier
5. 22L Dan Lowder
6. 29 Matt Barker
7. 16 Chris Price

Heat 3
1. 8 Jerold Meier
2. 32B TD Burger
3. 17 Bill Giannetti
4. 36 Eric Vaughn
5. 77 Eric Shaw
6. 21JR Justin McCoy
7. 55 Brian Dunn

Heat 4
1. 95 Aaron Ricketts
2. 64 Gary Cook Jr.
3. 68 Matt Bachman
4. 96 Dale Lueth
5. 83 Scott Bull
6. 23JR Joel Funk
7. 7L Jay Ledford
8. 32 Nick Neville

Consy 1
1. 17 Bill Giannetti
2. 51 Mike Mosier
3. 00 Dennis Wilson
4. 55 Brian Dunn
5. 7 Bobby Crego
6. 77 Eric Shaw
7. 77 Abe Helfand
8. 29 Matt Barker

Consy 2
1. 42 Gary Turpin
2. 1 Kelly Jones
3. 36 Eric Vaughn
4. 51H Anthony Ricketts
5. 21JR Justin McCoy
6. 22L Dan Lowder
7. 16 Chris Price

UNOFFICIAL Feature Results
1. 95 Aaron Ricketts
2. 68 Matt Bachman
3. 83 Scott Bull
4. 23JR Joel Funk
5. 42 McKay Wenger
6. 69 Jim Farris
7. 7L Jay Ledford
8. 96 Dale Lueth
9. 1T Rick Thomas
10. 32 Nick Neville
11. 42 Gary Turpin
12. 00 Dennis Wilson
13. 32B TD Burger
14. c12 Jeff Curl
15. 8 Jerold Meier
16. 36 Eric Vaughn
17. 51 Mike Mosier
18. 1 Kelly Jones
19. 17 Bill Giannetti
20. 64 Gary Cook Jr.

April 16....Practice
May 14....Opening night
May 21....Curt Piercy Memorial-Sportsman Special-$777.00 to win for 77 laps
May 28....Regular show
June 4....Fan Appreciation night- $5 admission
June 11....Hornet special
June 18....Pappy and Bobby Allen Memorial- Late Model Special $2000 to win for 40 laps
June 25....Regular show
July 2....TBA
July 9....B104 Night
July 16....UMP SUMMERNATIONALS-$10,000 to win
July 23....Regular show
July 30....Modified special- $1200 to win
Aug. 6 ....NALMS IL Speedweek
Aug. 13....Regular show
Aug. 20....Fair
Aug. 27....TBA
Sept. 3....Prairie Dirt Classic- $10,000 to win for 75 laps