5/5/2019
Macon Speedway
Wallace, Ewing Rewrite Macon Record Books
​ By BZ
(Macon, IL) Kenny Wallace has his name all over Macon Speedway. He's a co-owner of the track with Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart and Bob Sargent. He's a multi-time feature winner in the BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds class. Now, he can add "Fastest Qualifier" to the list. Wallace set the overall track record, which was broken two weeks ago during the last event at the track, with a time of 11.292. The previous mark was 11.387 which was set on April 20th by Rodney Standerfer. For Wallace, his night was just beginning.
Along with the fast time, Wallace also won his heat and got the front row starting spot in the 20-lap feature. Wallace got out to a lead and had to fend off fellow front row starter Robert Lee during the early and middle parts of the race. Wallace loosened up and Lee got aggressive during a late-race scenario and which caused the two machines to smack into one another. Lee's car was finished for the night and Wallace regained his lead and took hold of the checkered flag for a clean sweep.
That was not the only clean sweep of the evening. Warrensburg's Dakota Ewing also made history while driving in the Decatur Building Trades Pro Late Model division. He broke the two-year-old track record of 11.124 with a 10.793 lap. Add in a heat race win and he was lined up for a clean sweep, as well. Ewing was dominate on the bottom of the track as he glided his way through the turns and avoided any and all lapped traffic and coasted to the feature finish line. Jeff Reed, Jr. started opposite Ewing on the front row. A driver error led to a spin out and forced Reed to restart the race from the last place position. Within the final 19 laps, Reed made up position after position and took third place behind Braden Johnson.
An unbelievable field of cars turned out in the Neal Tire & Auto Pro Modified group. 40 cars were signed in for the night which led to five 8-car heat races as well as two 12-car B-Main feature events before the 20-lap A-Main feature event. Billy Knebel was rode up front and looked like it was his race to win. Unfortunately, a lapped car got between Knebel and second place car Owen Steinkoenig and led to a wreck. It led to Knebel wrecking and needing the assistance off the track by the tow truck. Steinkoenig assumed the lead and went the rest of the way to the checkered flag.
Gene Reed of Hammond once again found the winner's circle in the Archer's Alley Street Stocks. The former track champion did all he could to stop Darrell Dick, Larry Russell, Jr. and company from taking away his first place position. Reed was sharp and rode the track as perfectly as he could as he kept Dick away from the top spot. Russell lost power and pulled off the track from the third place position with one lap to go.
Dennis Vandermeersch made it two-for-two in the Sportsman division with feature wins. After running away from the group two weeks ago, Vandermeersch had a tough fight on his hands with Scott Landers. Landers, who rode the top groove most of the 15-lap feature, closed in on the leader, who stuck to the bottom, and as the race closed to a finish, Landers tried to duck low to get to Vandermeersch but couldn't get the traction and it allowed the leader to pull away and take the win.
Brady Reed once again proved to the fastest 4-cylinder Hornet out there as he ran away and hid during the final feature of the program.
As part of a special attraction, the Kid Modz were in the pits as well as on the track and White Heath driver Jeremy Sebens took off the 8-lap race and win.
122 total racecars flooded the pits. Flooded is a difficult word to use knowing how much rain has fallen in central Illinois over the past few days. Despite the grounds being damp and the track needing extra work during the races, there was plenty of sun and wind on Saturday to help allow Macon Speedway to run its program on the first Saturday of May. With three shows in the books, the last two shows have contributed with 120 & 122 total entries. Opening Night had 96 entries. The season is just getting started and drivers and fans alike are flocking to the World's Fastest 1/5th mile dirt oval like never before.
Next Saturday night, Macon Speedway will feature its first look of the 2019 POWRi Midgets & Micro Sprint appearance. The Decatur Building Trades Pro Late Models will race a Big Ten Series event, plus Street Stocks & Hornets make up a full show that expects another 100+ racecars in the pit area.
FEATURE RUNDOWNS (Top 10's)
Decatur Building Trades Pro Late Models--1. Dakota Ewing (Warrensburg), 2. Braden Johnson (Taylorville), 3. Jeff Reed, Jr. (Blue Mound), 4. Kyle Cooper (Wheatfield, IN), 5. Donny Koehler (Macon), 6. Storm Beiler (Decatur), 7. Roben Huffman (Midland City), 8. Blake Damery (Blue Mound), 9. Tony Harter (Sherman), 10. Kyle Van Dorn (New Berlin)
BillingsleyRewards.com Modifieds--1. Kenny Wallace (St. Louis, MO), 2. Tommy Sheppard, Jr. (New Berlin), 3. Jared Thomas (Edinburg), 4. Guy Taylor (Springfield), 5. Alan Crowder (Elwin), 6. Tim Luttrell (Riverton), 7. Joe Strawkas (Buffalo), 8. Michael Rauch (Decatur), 9. Brian Shubirg (Troy), 10. Jerry Thompson (Troy)
Sportsman--1. Dennis Vandermeersch (Springfield), 2. Scott Landers (Taylorville), 3. Tim Bedinger (Taylorville), 4. Wes O'Dell (Springfield), 5. Brad Bedinger (Taylorville), 6. Mitch Ringler (Taylorville), 7. Terry Myers (Buffalo), 8. Stefan Bedinger (Taylorville), 9. Rick Roedel (Shelbyville), 10. Joel Irvin (Harristown)
Archer's Alley Street Stocks--1. Gene Reed (Hammond), 2. Darrell Dick (Monticello), 3. Brian Dasenbrock (Decatur), 4. Andy Zahnd (White Heath), 5. Shawn Ziemer (Boody), 6. Jonathon Hall (Harristown), 7. Fredie Thomas (Macon), 8. Dalton Mannin (Longview), 9. Brian Dasenbrock, Jr. (Decatur), 10. Larry Russell, Jr. (Decatur)
Neal Tire & Auto Pro Modifieds--1. Owen Steinkoenig (Highland), 2. Jordan Bauer (St. Jacob), 3. Tom Krankel (Sappington, MO), 4. Tim Hancock, Jr. (Mt. Olive), 5. Troy Medley (Pevely, MO), 6. Rob Timmons (Centralia), 7. Nick Justice (Decatur), 8. Billy Nail (Decatur), 9. Kyle Helmick (Smithton), 10. Doug Tye (Troy)
Hornets--1. Brady Reed (Decatur), 2. Billy Mason (Brownstown), 3. Eldon Hemken (Sorento), 4. Mike Eskew (Springfield), 5. Michael McKay (Springfield), 6. Carter Dart (Springfield), 7. Danny White (Villa Grove), 8. Marty Sullivan (Decatur), 9. Chris Wright (Vandalia), 10. Kodi Landholt (Buffalo)
Kid Modz--1. Jeremy Sebens (White Heath), 2. Ben Melchers (Pontiac), 3. Audrey Gerberding (Rochester)
