BOWYER, HARVICK, SCHRADER AND WALLACE GREET FANS AND RACE AT MACON SPEEDWAY
by: Tonya Moschell

MACON, IL (May 28) - Sponsored by Jack Daniels, Macon Speedway hosted its first Night of NASCAR Stars on Memorial Day to a packed house of fans. NASCAR favorites Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Ken Schrader, and Kenny Wallace made an early appearance to meet fans for an autograph session. Twelve year old Chase Crites of Taylorville was first in line to meet the stars and arrived nearly five hours before the session started.

A Memorial Day salute to our military included a visit from an Illinois Army National Guard Black Hawk Helicopter hovering over the Macon Speedway displaying the American flag during the National Anthem.

Macon Speedway owners Schrader and Wallace greeted the crowd and each took the time to thank everyone for the work done at Macon Speedway. Wallace remarked, “Everyone put a lot of effort into bringing fans back to Macon.” Schrader and Wallace were adamant in thanking the fans for all their support throughout the renovation and restoration of the track.

Northern Allstars Late Models and BARBECK Communications UMP Modifieds ran their heats on what turned out to be a fantastic night for racing. In the Late Models’ second heat, Justin Algaier of Riverton held a big lead with five laps to go, but it turned out that’s exactly how many laps Steve Shepard Jr. needed to catch up. Shepard Jr. chipped away at Algaier’s lead and stole it away on the final turn of the heat.

The modified semi-features turned out to be just as intense as the heats. In the second of the races, Kyle Logue showed the crowd his usual stellar performance. Logue was tested by the number 18 car of Randy Myers who stayed turn for turn with Logue on the bottom of the track. Myers used an impressive inside move and looked like he would grab the lead from Logue until a yellow flag caused the field to reset before Myers could make the pass. Logue won the race.

Doug Hemer from Mowequa shined in the first Late Model semi-feature. Hemer’s car seemed locked into the track as he accelerated quickly out of the corners. Mark Voight and Greg Kimmons battled throughout the race for second place with Jeff Beyles right behind. Voight finished second and Kimmons finished third. Jayme Zidar won the second semi-feature by finding his way through the blocks of Ryan Unzicker on the final few laps.

NASCAR racers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace were among 21 drivers in the BARBECK Communications UMP Modified feature race. Jeff Leka led from start to finish. Early in the race, Gary Cook Jr. took his number 64 car to the outside to shoot into second place. Leka continued to stretch his lead. Standout Cook Jr. had worked through traffic when the first caution came out. With four laps to go Cook Jr. couldn’t find enough track on the inside of Leka’s car to make the pass. Jim Leka finished in third place.

The Northern Allstars Late Model feature was a dogfight through lapped traffic. Wes Steidinger, Steve Shepard Jr., and Jason Feger found themselves battling their way around lapped cars for the lead. Steidinger wanted to stay to the inside, “I didn’t know if I was faster than those guys in front of me.” He did take his car to the outside in the final laps and finished out the race in the lead. Sheppard and Feger finished second and third after trading positions multiple times during the last few laps.

A second Night of NASCAR Stars is scheduled for Thursday, June 14 with SPEED TV taping the racing program for broadcast at a later date. Up to 15 NASCAR drivers are expected for this event that is sponsored by US Army as they celebrate the birthday of the Army. Advance tickets can be ordered by calling 217-764-3000 or 217-764-3200.

NASCAR Stars Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart and local Promoter Bob Sargent purchased Macon Speedway in January of 2007.
Macon Speedway – racing every Saturday Night – is proud to be part of the $100,000 Contingency Connection program for the 2007 season. Macon Speedway is located 9 miles south of Decatur, IL on US 51 then .6 miles west on Andrews Street, then south on Wiles. For information, call 217-764-3000 (track), 217-764-3220 (information hotline), or contact Tonya Moschell via email at tonya.trackenterprises@yahoo.com  or visit www.maconracing.com .

BARBECK Communications UMP Modified Results: 1. Jeff Leka, Buffalo, IL 2. Gary Cook, Jr., Deer Creek, IL 3. Jim Leka, Illiopolis, IL 4. Chad Evans, Mattoon, IL 5. Todd Kirkland, Mt. Zion, IL 6. Ken Schrader, Fenton, MO 7. Wendell Zuluaf, Springfield, IL 8. Roger Drake, Decatur, IL 9. Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, MO 10. Joe Strawkas, Buffalo, IL

Northern Allstars Late Models Results: 1. Wes Steidinger, Bloomington, IL 2. Steve Shepard, Jr., New Berlin, IL 3. Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL 4. Jayme Zidar, Greenville, WI 5. Brian Dively, Springfield, IL 6. Don Cisco III, Oreana, IL 7. Cory Daugherty, Blue Mound, IL 8. Justin Algaier, Riverton, IL 9. Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL 10. Ed Dixon, Washington, MO.