Lincoln Speedway Saturday Make-Up Race Provides Great Action
(Lincoln, IL) It was a quick turnaround for a make-up date, as Lincoln Speedway was in action this past Saturday, May 26. The event was not originally on the schedule, but was announced as a replacement for last weekend’s partial rainout. Despite the short notice, a strong field of cars, including 19 Midwest Big Ten Super Late Models, was on track for some great action.
In the Midwest Big Ten DIRTcar Super Late Models, Fairview Heights, IL driver, Daryn Klein, had himself a nice night. After setting the fastest time in qualifications, Klein won the first of three heat races to put himself on the pole for the 25-lap feature event. Klein jumped out front early in the race but had challengers keeping the pressure applied. One of those, Jose Parga, was the only driver who was able to get the lead away from him for a lap or two in the middle of the race. While Klein looked to be in control late, a yellow on the final lap made him stay up on the wheel. Following the final restart, Klein held off 2017 Big Ten Co-Champ Michael Kloos, Rickey Frankel, Rusty Griffaw, and Myles Moos. Moos was involved in a heat race accident but delighted his local fans in the feature racing from the back to fifth.
A competitive field of DIRTcar Modifieds was on track, which is typical of Lincoln Speedway. Mason City, IL driver, Austin Lynn, last year’s point runner-up at the track, set the pace for the first 17 laps of the 20 lap event with Brandon Roberts, last year’s champion and top qualifier applying pressure. Roberts moved from his fourth starting spot up to second on lap ten. From that point on, Roberts ran the bottom lane, while Lynn was up on the cushion. As the laps wound down, Roberts made his move past the Lynn machine and assumed the point. At the checkered, it was Ashland, IL’s Roberts claiming the victory, while Steve Meyer, Jr. took second, Lynn third, Dave Wietholder fourth, and Brian Lynn fifth. For Meyer and Brian Lynn, their runs were impressive because they started at the back of the 15 car field.
The DIRTcar B-Mods had a rare chance to race the ¼-mile, as a make-up date conflict forced officials to look for a replacement for the Big Ten Street Stocks. The B-Mod class was the right one, as a solid field arrived and put on a great show. Godfrey,IL driver, Cody Stillwell, was the early favorite in the 15-lap B-Mod feature. Stillwell led the way for the first ten laps but Doug Tye’s use of the outside lane eventually paid off, taking over on lap eleven. A caution waved one lap later, setting up a four lap shootout. Stillwell kept Tye on his toes over the last few laps, trying to take the lead back. At the checkered, Tye, of Troy, IL, claimed the win by a little under three-tenths of a second. Stillwell, Kevin Crowder, Tim Riech, and Mason Duncan completed the top five.
Rounding out the night’s action were the DIRTcar Hornets. The class which has had noticeably higher car counts this year, put on a great feature event. Decatur, IL driver, Jeremy Reed, was relegated to the tenth starting position because he had won the previous feature. That didn’t affect him much as he was in the top five in the first lap or two and followed that by taking the lead moments later. Meanwhile, Wilmington, IL’s Jake Momper followed him lap-after-lap. A late race caution bunched the field for a shootout to the finish. While most thought that Reed would hold him off, Momper made the move and went on to claim the upset victory. Reed, Damin Jones, Brett Pratt, and Kodi Landholt were top five finishers.
Lincoln Speedway will next be in action this coming Friday, June 1, as the MOWA 410 Sprint cars make their first appearance of the season. The DIRTcar Modifieds will be running at 50-lap feature for $1,500 to win, while the Pro Lates and Midwest Street Stock Championship will also be on track. For the Street Stocks, it will be a co-sanctioned event with the Midwest Big Ten Street Stocks.
Pit gates open Friday at 4:00, grandstands at 5:00, hotlaps at 6:00, and racing will take the green at 7:00. Grandstand admission will be $20 for adults and free for kids 11 and under.
About Lincoln Speedway:
For more information on the track, follow Lincoln Speedway online at www.lincolnspeedwayil.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LincolnILSpeedway), and Twitter (@LincolnILSpdwy). Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
Lincoln Speedway is located at the Logan County Fairgrounds, in Lincoln, IL. The physical address is 1408 Short 11th St., Lincoln, IL 62656. Lincoln Speedway races a number of UMP classes as well as specials on a near bi-weekly schedule of Friday and Sunday evenings. Lincoln Speedway is a proud member of the Contingency Connection’s $150,000 Racer Rewards Program.