5/14/2024
MARS - Midwest Auto Racing Series
MARS Championship Tours Return to Action with Kankakee County Speedway & World Famous Highland Speedway Doubleheader
MARS Championship Tours Return to Action with Kankakee County Speedway & World Famous Highland Speedway Doubleheader
FAIRBURY, IL (May 14, 2024) – After a brief 2 week pause in the MARS Championship Tour schedule, both the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends, and the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment are set to resume this weekend at Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois and World Famous Highland Speedway in Highland, Illinois.
After a phenomenal schedule of events in 2023, rarely plagued by inclement weather, Mother Nature has not been so kind in 2024. Only 1 out of 3 MARS Late Model events have been completed to-date and 4 out of the first 6 MARS Modified events. We look to change the course beginning this weekend as the MARS Late Model tour has 4 nights of competition in 10 nights while the MARS Modifieds have 6 nights of competition scheduled in that same 10-day span.
Friday, May 17, the MARS Championship tours head to Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois for the only trip on the 2024 calendar. Last season 2023 MARS Late Model champion Jason Feger picked up the victory with Ryan Unzicker and Logan Nickerson rounding out the podium. This will mark the first ever series visit to the speedway for the MARS Modified tour as it is expected to be one of the largest Modified events in the past decade at the speedway. While drivers and fans alike are eager for the racing action, the event Friday holds an even bigger meaning than the action that will be showcased on track.
The event Friday night in Kankakee will go in the history books as the inaugural memorial race for former racer, Richard Craven of Joliet, Illinois. He was a hard worker whose success led to him owning and operating his own company, CR Towing and Recovery. Richard was a loving and caring husband, father, papa, son, brother, and friend, who was generous and always thought of the needs of his family and friends before his own. He will be remembered for being funny, and his sense of humor remained intact even during his final illness in March of 2023. An avid race car driver who held three track championships, Richard has been sadly missed by many at Fairbury Speedway, Kankakee County Speedway, and other surrounding tracks over the past year.
The MARS Championship tours will both round out their weekend of racing, before gearing up for a big Memorial Day weekend, on Saturday, May 18, at the World Famous Highland Speedway in Highland, Illinois. Earlier this season, a monster field of 41 MARS Modifieds filled the pit area with defending series champion Michael Long picking up the victory over a hard-charging Ray Bollinger and Mike McKinney. Jason Feger picked up the most recent MARS Late Model event at the speedway, held last summer, over Bob Gardner and Mike Harrison.
With one of the best promotional teams in the region, a stellar field of cars expected in both divisions, and a nice long-range forecast projected for Saturday, the Madison County Fairgrounds is sure to be rocking come race time.
With only 1 night complete for the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends, Ryan Unzicker holds the current point lead after many turns of unexpected events at the season opener at Peoria Speedway. Tommy Sheppard Jr, Jake Little, Justin Duty and Allen Weisser round out the top-5 heading into Friday night.
In MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment standings it is a familiar face at the top of the leaderboard. Defending series champion Michael Long leads the way by 15 points over Mike McKinney, Zeke McKenzie, Kyle Hammer, and Ray Bollinger.
Kyle Hammer currently holds the top spot in Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year standings with a hard charging Trey Harris on his heels. Treb Jacoby, Lyndon Whitfill, and Mason Duncan currently round out the top 5.
Kankakee County Speedway
Kankakee, IL
Friday, May 17
Richard Craven Memorial
$5,012-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
$2,012-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
$512-to-win DIRTcar Sportsman
$512-to-win DIRTcar Stock Cars
Pits open at 4:00 P.M.
Grandstands open at 5:30 P.M.
Drivers Meeting at 5:45 P.M.
Hot Laps at 6:15 P.M.
Adult General Admission $25
General Admission ages 11 and under FREE
Pit Pass $45
Pit Pass ages 5-10 $25
Pit Pass for children ages 4 and under are FREE
World Famous Highland Speedway
Highland, IL
Saturday, May 18
$5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
$2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
DIRTcar Pro Modifieds
Micro Sprints
Pits open at 2:00 P.M.
Grandstands open at 4:00 P.M.
Drivers Meeting at 5:30 P.M.
Hot Laps at 6:00 P.M.
Adult General Admission $30
Box Seats $35
General Admission ages 13-18 $10
General Admission ages 12 and under FREE
Pit Pass $40
Pit Pass ages 12 and under $20
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Tire Rule for each night:
LF: Any (90) Hoosier
RF: Hoosier NLMT2 (90) or Hoosier NLMT3 (90)
LR: Hoosier NLMT2 (90) or Hoosier NLMT3 (90)
RR: Hoosier NLMT3 (92) or Hoosier NLMT4 (92)
LM tires allowed on the Left Front ONLY
Grooving and Siping will be permitted.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Feature purse for Friday: 1) $5,012 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 - $95
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Feature purse for Saturday: 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 Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Feature purse for Friday: 1) $2,012 2) $1,500 3) $1,200 4) $1,000 5) $800 6) $600 7) $500 8) $400 9) $300 10) $275 11) $250 12) $250 13) $250 14) $250 15) $250 16) $250 17) $250 18) $250 19) $250 20) $250 21) $250 22) $250. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $70
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Feature purse for Saturday: 1) $2,000 2) $1,500 3) $1,200 4) $1,000 5) $800 6) $600 7) $500 8) $400 9) $300 10) $275 11) $250 12) $250 13) $250 14) $250 15) $250 16) $250 17) $250 18) $250 19) $250 20) $250 21) $250 22) $250. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $65
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Point Standings (Top 20)
- Ryan Unzicker – El Paso, IL – 75 Points
- Tommy Sheppard Jr – Berlin, IL – 70 Points
- Jake Little – Springfield, IL – 65 Points
- Justin Duty – Molalla, OR – 60 Points
- Allen Weisser – Peoria, IL – 57 Points
- Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – 54 Points
- Mike Spatola – Manhattan, IL – 51 Points
- Mitch McGrath – Waukesha, WI – 48 Points
- Rich Bell – Sheffield, IL – 45 Points
- Austin Howes – Memphis, MO – 43 Points
- Kye Blight – Bunbury, Western Australia – 41 Points
- Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – 39 Points
- Bob Gardner – Washington, IL – 38 Points
- Russ Adams – Princeville, IL – 37 Points
- Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 36 Points
- Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – 35 Points
- Brayton Wallace – Peoria, IL – 34 Points
- Roben Huffman – Midland City, IL – 33 Points
- McKay Wenger – Fairbury, IL – 32 Points
- Colby Sheppard – Williamsville, IL – 31 points
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Point Standings (Top 10)
- Tommy Sheppard Jr – 70 Points
- Jake Little – 65 Points
- Justin Duty – 60 Points
- Allen Weisser – 57 Points
- Mitch McGrath – 48 Points
- Colby Sheppard – 31 Points
- Daniel Adam – 30 Points
- Jeffrey Ledford – 28 Points
- Dale Markham – 27 Points
- David Marlow – 24 Points
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Point Standings (Top 20)
- Michael Long – Fowler, IL – 295 Points
- Mike McKinney – Plainfield, IL – 280 Points
- Zeke McKenzie – Claypool, IN – 196 Points
- Kyle Hammer – Clinton, IL – 194 Points
- Ray Bollinger – Kewanee, IL – 191 Points
- Michael Ledford – Pontiac, IL – 188 points
- Trey Harris – Hillsboro, MO – 179 points
- Cole Falloway – Owensboro, KY – 149 points
- Treb Jacoby – O’Fallon, MO – 148 points
- Lyndon Whitfill – Fairbury, IL – 135 points
- Mike Chasteen Jr – Peoria, IL – 132 points
- Josh Harris – Utica, KY – 131 points
- Dylan Woodling – Warsaw, IN – 126 points
- Danny Schwartz – Ashmore, IL – 120 points
- Kyle Steffens – St. Charles, MO – 119 points
- Mason Duncan – Metamora, IL – 115 points
- Dave Wietholder – Liberty, IL – 105 points
- Jarrett Stryker – Breese, IL – 105 points
- Evan Fink – Glasford, IL – 104 points
- JD Laster – Arcola, IL – 94 points
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Standings (Top 10)
- Kyle Hammer – 194 points
- Trey Harris – 179 points
- Treb Jacoby – 148 points
- Lyndon Whitfill – 135 points
- Mason Duncan – 115 points
- Jarrett Stryker – 105 points
- Evan Fink – 104 Points
- JD Laster – 94 points
- Jesse Dill – 81 points
- Trevor Ringle – 65 points
2024 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Statistics
Pontiac RV Heat Race #1 Winners
Colby Sheppard – 1
FK Rod Ends 1st Place Finisher
Ryan Unzicker – 1
FK Rod Ends 5th Place Finisher
Allen Weisser – 1
Fairbury Fasteners 7th Place Finisher
Mike Spatola – 1
Budda by Bert Transmission 9th Place Finisher
Rich Bell – 1
Keyser Manufacturing 13th Place Finisher
Bob Gardner – 1
Fast Shafts 15th Place Finisher
Brian Shirley – 1
MSD Hard Charger Award Winners
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winners
Mark Voigt – 1
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 1
2024 MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Statistics
Multi Fire X Fast Time Award Winners
Mike McKinney – 2
Austin Friedman – 1
Michael Long – 1
Willy’s Carb & Dyno Heat Race #1 Winners
Michael Long – 2
Charlie Mefford – 1
Mike McKinney – 1
Lethal Chassis Heat Race #2 Winners
Josh Harris – 1
Mike McKinney – 1
Michael Long – 1
Michael Ledford – 1
Summit Racing Equipment 1st Place Finisher
Michael Long – 3
Mike McKinney – 1
Fast Shafts 3rd place Finisher
Michael Ledford – 1
Kyle Steffens – 1
Mike McKinney – 1
Trey Harris – 1
Keyser Manufacturing 7th Place Finisher
Allen Weisser – 1
Ray Bollinger – 1
Dylan Woodling – 1
Treb Jacoby – 1
MD3 Hard Charger Award Winners
Cole Falloway – 1
Lucas Lee – 1
Dylan Woodling – 1
Ray Bollinger – 1
Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winners
Ryan Thomas – 1
Rick Frasure – 1
CJ Springer – 1
Noah Faw – 1
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners
Kyle Hammer – 2
Trey Harris – 2
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:
• OPENING NIGHT CARNAGE: After a rough and tumble 40-lapper at Peoria on night 1 for the MARS Late Model tour, some of the favorites to be in contention for a title have already got a good deal of work to do come this weekend. Defending series champion, Jason Feger, sits 12th in points while Bob Gardner sits 13th, and McKay Wenger currently in 19th. Look for all 3 of those drivers to make a splash this weekend.
• SO FAR, SO GOOD: 2023 was supposed to be Berlin, Illinois racer Tommy Sheppard Jr’s breakout season in Super Late Model racing. Unfortunately, due to numerous circumstances, those plans were put on hold until 2024. This season Tommy has run a smart schedule of events and his been rewarded for his choices as he has racked up 2 wins in 7 starts so far this season. After his 2nd place finish at the MARS opener in Peoria, he is looking to continue on the tour and use this momentum to keep himself towards the top of series standings.
• CAN MICHAEL LONG BE STOPPED: All signs point to another success MARS Modified campaign for Michael Long this season, but his closest competition sits only 15 points behind him. If there’s ever a chance to close the gap for Mike McKinney, it is Friday night. Kankakee is the home track of Plainfield, Illinois racer Mike McKinney, a place that he has 2 wins in 2 starts this season. Friday will mark Long’s first ever visit to the Kankakee County Fairgrounds.
• UPWARD TRAJECTORY: After a dismal start on opening weekend at Farmer City Raceway, Trey Harris has been able to successfully rebound the past 2 events. He has improved his finishing position every night of the tour and has boosted himself to 7th in series standings. His best finish of the tour was his 3rd place effort at Peoria Speedway a couple of weeks back.
• ILLINOIS DIRT SHOOTOUT ON THE HORIZON: With the weeks clicking by, it’s hard not to look forward towards the inaugural Illinois Dirt Shootout at Fairbury Speedway on May 23-25. The MARS Modified feature winner on Saturday, May 25 will go home with $20,000 and the title over 179 other competitors.
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 2024 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, X, 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 2024 racing season: FK Rod Ends (MARS Late Model title sponsor), Summit Racing Equipment (MARS Modified title sponsor), Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts (Official trailer and golf cart provider of the MARS Dirt Series), Flo Racing (Official streaming provider of the MARS Late Model tour), Racing Electronics (Official communications provider of the MARS Dirt Series), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official tire manufacturer of the MARS Dirt Series), Sunoco Race Fuels (Official fuel of the MARS Dirt Series and proud sponsor of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year chase all season long on the MARS Late Model & Modified Championship tours), Illinois State Rifle Association, Pontiac RV (Official RV Dealer of the MARS Dirt Series), Allstar Performance, O’Reilly Auto Parts, DIRTcar Racing, Driscoll Motors (Official dealership of the MARS Dirt Series), Woods Basement Systems (Official Basement Contractor of the MARS Dirt Series), 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, Keyser Manufacturing, Varsitee Screenprinting, Willy’s Carb & Dyno, Trackside Racewear, Hooker Harness, Lethal Chassis, Remtek Enterprises, and QuickCar Racing Products.
MARS Championship Upcoming Events
• May 17, 2024 – Kankakee County Speedway – Kankakee, IL – Richard Craven Memorial – $5,012-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $2,012-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
• May 18, 2024 – World Famous Highland Speedway – Highland, IL – $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
• May 23, 2024 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – Illinois Dirt Shootout – Twin $1,500-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Features
• May 24, 2024 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – Illinois Dirt Shootout – Twin $1,500-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Features
• May 25, 2024 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – Illinois Dirt Shootout – $20,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment & $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
Article Credit: Jonathan Clayton
Submitted By: Jonathan Clayton