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100+ Competitors Race On POWRi Night At Macon Speedway

The POWRi open wheelers made their third trip of the season to Might Macon Speedway in Macon, IL, this past Saturday night.  This one was a little more special, though, as it was part of the POWRi Illinois Midget SPEEDWEEK presented by Sport City Honda of Jacksonville. In addition to the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets, the POWRi Speedway Motors National Micros, and the POWRi/Illini D-II Midgets, the UMP Pro Late Models were also in attendance.  The night saw slide jobs, crossovers, wheelies, tumbles, and all out exciting action.

The first feature of the night was the UMP Pro Late Model A-Main.  Despite a small field, the racing was unbelievably tight and thrilling up front.  2015 track and Big 10 champion, Guy Taylor of Springfield, IL, started on the outside of row #1 and shot into the lead at the green.  Taylor led lap after lap as inside polesitter, Roben Huffman, worked the lowside.  As the laps wore down, Huffman's chances started looking better and better as Taylor was checking up in the outside lane.  Huffman, in fact, led laps 17 and 18 before Taylor sped back by on lap 19.  As the cars were working the final lap, Cody Maguire's spun car in turn two brought out a yellow.  When the green and white waved simultaneously, Taylor took off with Huffman working again to get by.  As the checkered waved, it was Taylor holding off Huffman by a half car length for his second victory of the season.  Following Taylor and Huffman were Matt Taylor, Jake Little, and Kevin Crowder.  Little set fast time in qualifying but got into the wall in his heat, making for a long night.

Up next was the POWRi Speedway Motors Micro A-Main.  When the green dropped, the polesitter Evan Weyant took the lead to pace the 22-car field.  Behind him, the 37H of Nick Howard was on his way forward from the seventh starting position.  With just four laps in, Howard found himself in the top spot and pulling away from the rest of the field.  Action was furious throughout the field with drivers dicing their way to the front.  The most impressive run was arguably from the #23 of Jeremy Camp.  After a tough night at Jacksonville, Camp had to transfer at Macon through the B-Main and started in the 18th spot in the feature.  By the end of the event, Camp was working through the top five but needed a yellow to catch the leader.  When the checkered fell, it was Nick Howard, followed by Jeremy Camp, Evan Weyant, Nathan Benson, and Austin Stewart.

The race the fans were waiting for was the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets.  After the four wide salute with fireworks in the air and fans on their feet, the field of 24 took the green and immediately started a side-by-side onslaught of great racing.  Taking the lead at the green was Californian Carson Macedo.  After a few early caution, Macedo was able to open up a 10-car length lead on Tanner Thorson, who ran second.  Coming to lap eleven, Macedo nearly lost the lead and his car as he got into the wall in turn four.  Thorson closed the gap but Macedo recovered to stay out front.  The final 15 laps were completed without a caution and what a thrill it was for the lead battle.  Thorson, with two laps to go gave it a great run pulled alongside and completed the pass for the lead.  However, Macedo would not lose this race as he raced back past him to take the win.  Following Macedo and Thorson were Darren Hagen, Decatur's Terry Babb, and Zach Daum

The final race of the night was the 20-lap feature for the POWRi/Illini D-II class.  24 drivers were pitside, the high water mark for the class during SPEEDWEEK.  While the race was plagued with some cautions, many of them were created by the side-by-side racing that was taking place throughout.  Leading early was Chet Gehrke, who looked to be on his way to victory.  However, with less than five to go, Tyler Vantoll scooted by to take over.  Gehrke would spin moments later, costing him a chance at victory.  Back to green for a final shootout, Patrick Bruns, the series point leader, made a slick move to race by Vantoll for the race winning pass.  Following Bruns and Vantoll were Adam Taylor, Andy Malpocker, and Hunter Lane.

The POWRi Divisions travel to Lincoln IL Speedway for a Sunday evening finale with racing taking the green at 6:00.  Adding to the three POWRi classes will be the UMP Modifieds.  Full info can be found at www.lincolnspeedwayil.com.

Macon Speedway Results (Feature Top Tens)

Pro Late Models - 1) Guy Taylor-Springfield, IL 2) Roben Huffman-Midland City, IL 3) Matt Taylor-Springfield, IL 4) Jake Little-Springfield, IL 5) Kevin Crowder-Argenta, IL 6) Cody Maguire-Carlinville, IL 7) Michael Rauch-Decatur, IL

POWRi Speedway Motors Micros - 1) Nick Howard 2) Jeremy Camp 3) Evan Weyant 4) Nathan Benson 5) Austin Stewart 6) Scott Sawyer 7) Garrett Duff 8) Tyler Duff 9) Lucas Pejakovich 10) Frank Galusha

POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets - 1) Carson Macedo 2) Tanner Thorson 3) Darren Hagen 4) Terry Babb 5) Zach Daum 6) Ryan Robinson 7) Andy Malpocker 8) Ty Hulsey 9) Jason McDougal 10) Andrew Felker

POWRi/Illini D-II Midgets - 1) Patrick Bruns 2) Tyler Vantoll 3) Adam Taylor 4) Andy Malpocker 5) Hunter Lane 6) Shane Morgan 7) Chett Gehrke 8) Andy Baugh 9) Lucas Pejakovich 10) Frank Galusha

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