Riggins takes second in a row
Pratt gamble doesn’t pay off, Pepmeyer takes feature win

MACOMB, Ill. (July 14) – There was more than one type of racing going Saturday at Macomb Raceway, it was both on the track and against mother nature as the program was rushed through to beat the suspected rain, which never materialized.

After a slow start Andy Riggins has really came on of late in the Macomb Auto Parts Modifieds, as last year’s point champion picked up his second straight feature win and climbed back into the top 10 in points. Steve Theivagt, who started 13th, was the hard charger of the night though, as he came all the way through the field to take the runner up spot, while John Coultas ran third. Steve Smith and Tony Ennis, respectively, rounded out the top five.

Justin Buchholz returned to the Ron Elbe Auto Sales Dwarf Car/Mod Lite victory lane, holding off Jeff Norton, who finished second. Jerame Mowery made a late charge to finish third, while last week’s feature winner, David Norton, came home fourth. Bobby Fox rounded out the top five.

A day after his 15th birthday, Matt Pepmeyer picked up his second Macomb Journal UMP 4-Cylinder feature win. He held off another late charge from current point leader Rich Mueller to get the win. Colton Keith survived a battle of attrition to finish third, while Tom Ellison was fourth and Gabe Harrison was fifth.

Engine trouble for current track and state point leader Shad Eskew left the door open for someone else in the Casey’s General Store UMP Street Stock feature event and Michael Jackson was there to walk through. Jackson led throughout to pick up the win. Travis Copley, last season’s point champion, was second, while Scott Barker finished in the third spot. Bill Manning, in his first appearance this season at the track, finished fourth, and Rudy Oelberg was fifth.

The IMRA TQ/600 feature event was a caution laden affair, which finally saw Randy Huddleston, who was fast throughout, pick up the win. Troy Winchell finished second, while Ryan Miller was third. Those were the only three of nine cars technically still running at the drop of the checkered flag.

The $50 bounty on Chad Pratt made for an exciting Late Model feature, as the point leader opted to start at the back of the 10 car field in an effort to win the extra money himself. It didn’t pay off, however. Terry Pratt, who started along side Kendal Watkins on the front row, proved to be to fast for his brother, as he out ran him to the finish line to pick up the feature win. Terry Pratt survived several restarts with the point leader right behind on his way to his second feature win of the season. Chad Pratt was second, while Darin Weisinger came home in the third spot. Russ Schoonover, spending a four week vacation back home from England, had his best finish of the month in fourth, while Doug Pratt finished fifth.

July 21 is Kids Night, sponsored by Islands Bar and Grill, with Kiddie Car Races, Candy Dash and other exciting things for kids. Hot Laps start at 6:15 and racing starts at 7 p.m.