9/12/2023
MARS - Midwest Auto Racing Series
Brownstown 100 & Final Stop at FALS Next for MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
Brownstown 100 & Final Stop at FALS Next for MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
FAIRBURY, IL (September 12, 2023) As the end of summer nears, so does the 2023 season for the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends. This weekend will mark 1 of 2 consecutive weekends of highly anticipated racing action to wrap up the MARS Late Model tour for this year. Jason Feger will lead the tour into the Brownstown Bullring Friday night riding a wave of success as he has been victorious in the last 3 MARS events contested. As the wins continue to click off for the Highside Hustler, it is making the road to back-to-back titles for Ryan Unzicker look arduous as the races pass by. Unzicker currently sits 2nd in series standings trailing Feger by 89 markers. Washington, Illinois driver Bob Gardner sits comfortably in 3rd in series standings after one of his best runs of the season 2 weeks ago at Fairbury. After flipping in qualifying at Farmer City and not being in attendance on the Saturday night show at Fairbury, the race for 4th in series standings and for the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year has tightened with Mike Harrison’s misfortune. Harrison currently holds a 45-point edge over Blaze Burwell, as things are going as well for Burwell now as they have at any point in the season. He is coming off his best finish of the year 2 weeks ago at Fairbury and has steadily improved as the summer has worn on. Drivers have 4 events left to claim their position in the point standings in hopes of finishing in the top 10 to receive point fund money and awards.
Friday, September 15 – Brownstown Bullring – Brownstown, IL – Brownstown 100 Presented by McKay Napa Auto Parts – MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
After a successful first season for the Josh and Nicki Carroll promoted Brownstown Bullring located in Brownstown, Illinois, plans were made early this summer to add an additional event to the 2023 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends schedule. The series opened the 2023 campaign back in April at Brownstown and the hype built up over the winter certainly paid dividends with a packed grandstand and a 37-car field to take part in the evening’s action. Tyler Erb was victorious at the end of the 40-lap event with Brandon Sheppard and Shannon Babb rounding out the podium.
Looking ahead to this weekend, the ante will be upped from the first trip this season. In 2023 the $10,000-to-win Brownstown 100 has been born. The race will feature an elevated payout from the standard MARS show, and a 50-lap main event to see who will hoist arguably the best new trophy to Dirt Late Model racing in 2023. As verbal commitments continue to stack up, this event looks to be a dandy with the best of the MARS Series, Brownstown regulars, national invaders, and some of the strongest talent in the region all converging at the ¼ oval.
Joining the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends will be $3,000-to-win DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, B-Modifieds, DIRTcar Factory Stocks, and DIRTcar 4-Cylinders. Pit gates will open at 2:00 p.m. on Friday with the grandstands opening at 4:00 p.m. The driver’s meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. with hot laps hitting the speedway at 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets for the event will be $35 for adults with kids ages 10 and under being admitted for free. Pit Passes will be available for $45 for adults, $25 for kids ages 6-12, while children ages 5 and under will be admitted for free.
Saturday, September 16 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
What better place to set the picture for championship weekend than Fairbury. Saturday night will be the final of 4 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends events contested at FALS for the 2023 season. Shannon Babb picked up the first stop of the season while Jason Feger has picked up the previous 2 events. Look for the Illinois hot shoes to run towards the front as they have dominated at Fairbury all season long in MARS competition.
Running alongside the $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends will be the $4,300-to-win Earl J. Hubert Memorial for the DIRTcar Stock Car division. DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will also be racing for $2,000-to-win. Pit gates will open on Saturday at noon while the grandstands will open for seating at 2:00 p.m. The driver’s meeting is set for 5:00 p.m. with hot laps scheduled to hit the speedway at 5:30 p.m. sharp. General admission tickets will be available for $20 while children ages 12 and under will be admitted for free. Pit passes are $35 for adults with children ages 12 and under being admitted for $15 in the pit area.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Tire Rule for each night:
LF: Hoosier NLMT2/LM20/NLMT3/LM30
RF: Hoosier NLMT2/LM20/NLMT3/LM30
LR: Hoosier NLMT2/LM20/NLMT3/LM30
RR: Hoosier NLMT3/LM30/NLMT4/LM40
Grooving and Siping will be permitted. We will mark tires at the scales after qualifying. You must run these 4 tires for the remainder of the night. You will be allowed 1 new tire for the feature only. If you have a flat in Qualifying, Heat Race, or B-Main, you must replace with a used tire of the same compound.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Feature purse for Brownstown Bullring: 1) $10,000 2) $5,000 3) $2,500 4) $1,600 5) $1,400 6) $1,200 7) $1,000 8) $950 9) $900 10) $800 11) $750 12) $650 13) $600 14) $600 15) $600 16) $600 17) $600 18) $600 19) $600 20) $600 21) $600 22) $600. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $95
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Feature purse for Fairbury Speedway: 1) $5,000 2) $2,500 3) $2,000 4) $1,600 5) $1,400 6) $1,200 7) $1,000 8) $800 9) $700 10) $600 11) $500 12) $500 13) $500 14) $500 15) $500 16) $500 17) $500 18) $500 19) $500 20) $500 21) $500 22) $500. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $85
2023 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Point Standings
- Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL - 1006 points
- Ryan Unzicker – El Paso, IL - 917 points
- Bob Gardner – Washington, IL - 764 points
- Mike Harrison – Highland, IL - 706 points
- Blaze Burwell – Mt. Vernon, IL - 661 points
- Justin White – Stevensville, MI - 546 points
- Kyle Hammer – Clinton, IL - 491 points
- Mark Voigt – Marine, IL - 491 points
- Kye Blight – Bunbury, Western Australia - 488 points
- Jake Little – Springfield, IL – 465 points
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Point Standings
- Mike Harrison – 706 points
- Blaze Burwell – 661 points
- Justin White – 546 points
- Kyle Hammer – 491 points
- Kye Blight – 488 points
- Jake Little – 465 points
- Doug Tye – 335 points
2023 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Statistics
Illinois State Rifle Association Heat Race #1 Winners
Jason Feger – 3
Tyler Erb – 2
McKay Wenger – 1
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Kevin Weaver – 1
Dillon McCowan – 1
Payton Freeman – 1
Billy Moyer Jr – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Spencer Diercks – 1
Gordy Gundaker – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Pontiac RV Heat Race #2 Winners
Ryan Unzicker – 5
Mike Harrison – 4
Drake Troutman – 3
Jason Feger – 1
Kevin Weaver – 1
Logan Nickerson – 1
Tanner English – 1
FK Rod Ends 1st Place Finisher
Jason Feger – 7
Ryan Unzicker – 2
Tyler Erb – 1
Shannon Babb – 1
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Billy Moyer – 1
Gordy Gundaker – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Tony Jackson Jr – 1
Out-Pace Racing Products 3rd Place Finisher
Mike Harrison – 3
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 2
Ryan Unzicker – 2
Shannon Babb – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Logan Nickerson – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Rich Bell – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Jeff Larson – 1
Gordy Gundaker – 1
FK Rod Ends 5th Place Finisher
Jason Feger – 3
Kyle Hammer – 3
Ryan Unzicker – 2
Rodney Melvin – 1
Rich Dawson – 1
Mike Harrison – 1
Payton Freeman – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Justin Kay – 1
Kye Blight – 1
Fairbury Fastener 7th Place Finisher
Billy Moyer Jr – 2
Blaze Burwell – 2
Kye Blight – 2
Tanner English – 1
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Billy Moyer – 1
Dillon McCowan – 1
Justin Reed – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Clayton Stuckey – 1
Mike Mataragas – 1
Logan Nickerson – 1
Budda by Bert Transmission 9th Place Finisher
Bob Gardner – 3
Drake Troutman – 1
Taylor Scheffler – 1
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 1
Mike Spatola – 1
Josh Boller – 1
Trevor Gundaker – 1
Jake Little – 1
Joseph Hughs – 1
Blaze Burwell – 1
Matt Furman – 1
Ryan Unzicker – 1
Matt Bailey – 1
Rich Bell – 1
Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher
Kye Blight – 2
Blaze Burwell – 2
Logan Nickerson – 2
Daryn Klein – 1
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Mike Harrison – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Trevor Gundaker – 1
Justin Duty – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1
Billy Hough – 1
Jordan Suhre – 1
Keyser Manufacturing 13th Place Finisher
Mark Voigt – 2
Rich Dawson – 1
Mike Spatola – 1
Logan Nickerson – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1
Justin White – 1
Blaze Burwell – 1
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Jake Little – 1
Austin Howes – 1
Jake Rainey – 1
Billy Laycock – 1
Myles Moos – 1
Rodney Melvin – 1
Fast Shafts 15th Place Finisher
Justin White – 2
Bob Gardner – 1
Jake Little – 1
Mark Voigt – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Austin Howes – 1
Roben Huffman – 1
Mike Mataragas – 1
Kye Blight – 1
Rich Dawson – 1
Dylan Thompson – 1
Brandon Queen – 1
Rusty Griffaw – 1
Billy Hough – 1
Dale Markham – 1
MD3 Hard Charger Award Winners
Rodney Melvin – 2
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 2
Kyle Hammer – 2
Jason Feger – 1
Taylor Scheffler – 1
Blaze Burwell – 1
Billy Moyer – 1
Joseph Hughs – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Justin Kay – 1
Justin White – 1
Cody Laney – 1
Shannon Babb – 1
Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winners
Kyle Hammer – 2
Mark Voigt – 2
Matt Bailey – 1
Kevin Weaver – 1
Brandon Tibaldi – 1
Chase Osterhoff – 1
Trevor Gundaker – 1
Jordan Bauer – 1
Tucker Finch – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Dylan Thompson – 1
Rusty Griffaw – 1
Mike Spatola – 1
Brian Diveley – 1
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners
Mike Harrison – 6
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 4
Blaze Burwell – 2
Logan Nickerson – 1
Rich Dawson – 1
Kye Blight – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:
• KEEPS ON CLICKING: No driver on the MARS tour has been more impressive this season than point leader Jason Feger. Feger now has 7 victories in 16 starts and 14 top-10’s. He has been victorious in 6 of the last 9 MARS events contested and most recently picked up a heat race win at the World 100.
• BEST OF BROWNSTOWN: Daryn Klein has all but etched his name into the history books as the 2023 DIRTcar Late Model track champion at the Brownstown Bullring. Klein has managed an impressive run of 4 wins in 9 starts this season at the speedway including wins in 2 of their last 3 events. At the MARS event held back in April, Klein was credited with an 11th place finish. Look for him to improve upon that this Friday night.
• KNOCKING OFF THE RUST: With Kyle Hammer being away from racing this weekend due to prior commitments, a guest driver will be behind the wheel of the Brent McKinnon Motorsports #26H. Veteran driver Tim Manville of Highland, Illinois will return to action for only the second time since the end of the 2020 season. Manville made his first start in the McKinnon Motorsports Rocket XR1 last Friday night at Brownstown Bullring and was impressive right out the gate. Manville won his heat race, tangled with a lapped car while running second, and drove from the tail back to the 5th place position.
• CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker are two of the best when it comes to competing at Fairbury Speedway. In 3 series events to-date, Feger is averaging a finish of 2.67 while Unzicker’s average finish in the same events is 4.33. With the championship coming down to the wire, this consistency will be crucial for both teams come Saturday.
• MICHIGAN INVADERS: One bunch of drivers that have been avid supporters of the MARS Championship tour in 2023 has been the drivers from the state of Michigan. Justin White still has perfect attendance and sits 6th in series standings while Logan Nickerson sits 16th. This weekend St. Johns, Michigan driver Chad Finley is preparing to make his first MARS starts of 2023. Finley has had a stellar 2023 season bagging 6 victories on dirt in 25 starts. Look for him to have a strong showing both nights as he plans to roll into Brownstown and Fairbury this weekend.
If you are unable to make it to the track, you can catch EVERY MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends event in 2023 live at floracing.com.
For more information about the MARS Dirt Series, please contact Jonathan Clayton at 731-467- 1316, visit the tour’s webpage at marsracingseries.com, or visit @MARSDirtRacing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends and MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2023 racing season: FK Rod Ends, Summit Racing Equipment, Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts, Flo Racing, Racing Electronics, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Illinois State Rifle Association, Pontiac RV, Allstar Performance, O’Reilly Auto Parts, DIRTcar Racing, Driscoll Motors, Woods Basement Systems, MD3, Josh James Artwork, MWD Signs & Graphix, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, King’s Graphix, Dirt Draft, Digital Copy Systems, Whelen, Multi Fire X, Budda Bert Transmission, Dyer’s Top Rods, Fast Shafts, Wilwood Brakes, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Out-Pace Racing Products, Keyser Manufacturing, Varsitee Screenprinting, Willy’s Carb & Dyno, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Trackside Racewear, and Hooker Harness.
MARS Championship Upcoming Events
o September 15, 2023 – Brownstown Bullring – Brownstown, IL – Brownstown 100 - $10,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
o September 16, 2023 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL - $5,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
o September 22, 2023 – Tri City Speedway – Granite City, IL – Championship Weekend - $5,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
o September 23, 2023 – Tri City Speedway – Granite City, IL – Championship Weekend - $5,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
o October 6, 2023 – Brownstown Bullring – Brownstown, IL – Championship Weekend - $2,000 to win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
o October 7, 2023 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – Championship Weekend - $3,000 to win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
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