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Championship Weekend at Tri-City Speedway to Wrap up 2023 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Season

Championship Weekend at Tri-City Speedway to Wrap up 2023 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Season

FAIRBURY, IL (September 19, 2023) After a season-long grind for MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends, the 2023 campaign will culminate this weekend at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. The 2023 season has included 18 events thus far at 13 different racetracks across the Midwest. Tri-City Speedway will host their second and third events of the season this weekend in conjunction with the 19th Annual Summit Racing Equipment Mod Mania. On August 18, Tony Jackson Jr was victorious in MARS action with Cody Laney and Gordy Gundaker rounding out the podium. This weekend is sure to boast even more excitement as champions will be crowned.

Jason Feger holds a 98-point lead in MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends standings as the series rolls into Tri-City. No matter the outcome of the main events each night, if Feger starts the feature both nights, he will be crowned the 2023 MARS Late Model Champion. If he accomplishes this feat, he will become the 10th different champion in series history. 2022 MARS Late Model Champion Ryan Unzicker currently sits 2nd in points, and statistically can finish no worse than there in the final standings. After his performance last weekend, Late Model rookie Mike Harrison has climbed back to 3rd position in championship point standings. Harrison holds a 36-point advantage over 4th in standings, Bob Gardner. Harrison and Gardner both raced neck-and-neck with each other back in August and will for sure give their all as they sort out the final podium position in championship standings this weekend. Blaze Burwell currently rounds out the top 5 in series standings and statistically cannot fall any further than where he currently sits going into this weekend. The top-10 point earners on the season, at the conclusion of the weekend, will be eligible for the $35,000 point fund and awards to be given out over the winter to competitors.

Late Model rookie Mike Harrison is in the captain’s seat for the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year title but still has not clinched it going into the weekend. While he does hold a 92-point advantage over 2nd in standings, anything can happen in the final 2 nights of racing. Mount Vernon, Illinois racer Blaze Burwell currently sits 2nd in Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year standings with Kye Blight, Justin White, and Doug Tye rounding out the drivers still in the running for the top-4 award winners receiving checks and awards for their efforts.

Tri-City Speedway will open Mod Mania weekend on Thursday, September 21 with a full program for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds beginning with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends competitors will be given 3 practice sessions throughout the program to shake down their machines for Friday and Saturday.

Championship Weekend – Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, IL

Friday, September 22

$5,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
$1,500 to win Twin Features for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Kidz Modz

Pits Open at 2:00 p.m.
Grandstands Open at 5:30 p.m.
Drivers Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m.

$25 General Admission
Children Ages 12 and under Free
$40 Pit Pass

Saturday, September 23

$5,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
$5,000 to win DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
B Mods

Pits Open at 2:00 p.m.
Grandstands Open at 5:30 p.m.
Drivers Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m.

$25 General Admission
Children Ages 12 and under Free
$40 Pit Pass

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 each night: 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 - $90

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Points (with the 2 drop nights prior to Championship Weekend reflected)

1. Jason Feger - Bloomington, IL - 1081 points
2. Ryan Unzicker - El Paso, IL - 983 points
3. Mike Harrison - Highland, IL - 817 points
4. Bob Gardner - Washington, IL - 781 points
5. Blaze Burwell - Mt. Vernon, IL - 725 points
6. Kye Blight - Bunbury, Western Australia - 563 points
7. Justin White - Stevensville, MI - 561 points
8. Mark Voigt - Marine, IL - 538 points
9. Kyle Hammer - Clinton, IL - 491 points
10. Jake Little - Springfield, IL - 465 points
11. Tommy Sheppard Jr - New Berlin, IL - 461 points
12. Shannon Babb - Moweaqua, IL - 428 points
13. Frank Heckenast Jr - Frankfort, IL - 408 points
14. Rich Dawson - Lowell, IN - 396 points
15. Doug Tye - Troy, IL - 391 points

• Both events this weekend at Tri City will count for points and cannot be used as drop nights *

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Point Standings

1. Mike Harrison – 817 points
2. Blaze Burwell – 725 points
3. Kye Blight – 563 points
4. Justin White – 561 points
5. Doug Tye – 391 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
Shannon Babb – 1
Dennis Erb Jr – 1

Pontiac RV Heat Race #2 Winners

Ryan Unzicker – 5
Mike Harrison – 4
Drake Troutman – 3
Tanner English – 2
Jason Feger – 1
Kevin Weaver – 1
Logan Nickerson – 1
McKay Wenger – 1

FK Rod Ends 1st Place Finisher

Jason Feger – 8
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
Tanner English – 1

Out-Pace Racing Products 3rd Place Finisher

Ryan Unzicker – 4
Mike Harrison – 3
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 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
Shannon Babb – 1
Blaze Burwell – 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
Mike Harrison – 1
Kevin Weaver – 1

Budda by Bert Transmission 9th Place Finisher

Bob Gardner – 4
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
Logan Martin – 1

Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher

Blaze Burwell – 3
Kye Blight – 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
Taylor Scheffler – 1

Keyser Manufacturing 13th Place Finisher

Mark Voigt – 3
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
Dale Markham – 1

Fast Shafts 15th Place Finisher

Justin White – 2
Kye Blight – 2
Bob Gardner – 1
Jake Little – 1
Mark Voigt – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Austin Howes – 1
Roben Huffman – 1
Mike Mataragas – 1
Rich Dawson – 1
Dylan Thompson – 1
Brandon Queen – 1
Rusty Griffaw – 1
Billy Hough – 1
Dale Markham – 1
Brayton Wallace – 1

MD3 Hard Charger Award Winners

Rodney Melvin – 2
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 2
Kyle Hammer – 2
Jason Feger – 2
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
Mark Voigt – 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 – 2
Mike Spatola – 1
Brian Diveley – 1
Todd Bennett – 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners

Mike Harrison – 8
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 4
Blaze Burwell – 2
Logan Nickerson – 1
Rich Dawson – 1
Kye Blight – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

• THE DRIVE FOR 10: Jason Feger has had one of his best seasons to date as a Dirt Late Model driver. This weekend he has the chance to finish the season with a 50%-win percentage in MARS action, although he will have to sweep the weekend to accomplish this feat.

• RACKING UP PODIUMS: After a shaky stretch during the middle of summer for Ryan Unzicker, he has regrouped and positioned himself firmly in second in championship standings. In his last 4 outings with the series, Unzicker has finished third each night.

• SURGING AT THE END: One driver that has really came on strong as the season has progressed would be Australian racer Kye Blight. After missing the first weekend of shows due to still being back in Australia, Blight has positioned himself into 6th in series standings going into championship weekend. This will be the final weekend of racing in the states for Blight for the 2023 season.

• IRONMEN OF MARS: 4 drivers will go into championship weekend with perfect attendance on the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends. Those drivers include Jason Feger, Ryan Unzicker, Bob Gardner, and Justin White. While perfect attendance was not mandatory to collect point money, we commend these drivers on their commitment to the series.

• CURTAIN CLOSER: While we look forward to this weekend to close out the 2023 season, sights are already set on the 2024 season. Plans are already being made for the 2024 schedule to include returning events, new venues, and maybe even a surprise or two.

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 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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