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Popejoy Incorporated Presents the Illinois Dirt Shootout Powered by Hotrod Septic Treatment Entries #121 - #135

Popejoy Incorporated Presents the Illinois Dirt Shootout Powered by Hotrod Septic Treatment Entries #121 - #135

Over the course of the next week, the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment will be spotlighting each of the drivers entered into the upcoming Illinois Dirt Shootout being held at Fairbury Speedway on May 23 - 25.

Deece Schwartz

Event Car #: 121S
Hometown: Ashmore, IL
Best MARS finish: Has not started a MARS feature

One of the best up-and-coming Modified racers in the state of Illinois that will be one to watch for years to come. Born into a family with a rich racing history, Deece has proved that he has what it takes as he is a 2-time and defending DIRTcar Pro Modified National Champion. In the past couple of seasons, he has started dabbling in the DIRTcar UMP Modified division and has shown plenty of speed in limited starts. This past weekend he finished 2nd in both the DIRTcar UMP Modified and DIRTcar Pro Modified feature events at Charleston Speedway.

Trent Green

Event Car #: 14G
Hometown: Milton, KY
Best MARS finish: Has not competed in a MARS event

Cincinnati area racer that frequents the Moler Raceway Park and Florence Speedway. While Trent is typically never seen too far from his area, around home he is one of the best behind the wheel. While splitting time between the Modified and Crate Late Model, he has picked up numerous wins in each of his past 3 seasons including 2 Crate Late Model wins at Florence Speedway so far in 2024.

Bradley Jameson

Event Car #: 757
Hometown: Galveston, IN
Best MARS finish: Has not started a MARS feature

In 2023 Bradley got around 20 nights of racing in. Although he did not bring home a feature win, he did bring home an assortment of top-5 finishes at Circle City Raceway, Bloomington Speedway, Montpelier Motor Speedway, Kokomo Speedway, Paragon Speedway, and Shadyhill Speedway. Jameson captured 9th at the Fairbury Speedway season opener in 2024.

Mike Chasteen Jr

Event Car #: C40
Hometown: Peoria, IL
Best MARS finish: 5th at Red Hill Raceway and Farmer City Raceway

A full-time MARS competitor in 2023, that has chosen to race a more local-type schedule in 2024. Chasteen Jr certainly comes to mind as one of the better DIRTcar UMP Modified racers in the state of Illinois and is still currently trending upward in most people’s eyes. The #C40 is a car that has not shied away from the best competition in the Midwest. He finished 6th in an impressive field of 45 cars this past weekend at Fairbury Speedway.

Victor Lee

Event Car #: 4L
Hometown: Glasgow, KY
Best MARS finish: 7th at Spoon River Speedway

Victor Lee has been known as one of the most recognizable names in Central Kentucky throughout most of his racing career. Last season Victor made his yearly trip to the Land of Lincoln on Labor Day weekend and took part in MARS competition for the first time ever. With an ultra-competitive field of cars, he brought home 3 consecutive top-10 finishes that weekend. He may only make a trip or two each year to FALS, but he is always a driver towards the front when he unloads. Look for him to be a factor throughout the 60-lapper.

Marshall Call

Event Car #: 96C
Hometown: Taylorville, IL
Best MARS finish: Has not started a MARS feature

Although the #96C has not hit a large quantity shows in years past, he has come out and raced many of Central Illinois’s largest events of the season to-date in 2024. His best finish of the season so far was a 13th place finish at Brownstown Bullring on May 3.

Bryce Graber

Event Car #: 3G
Hometown: Paris, IL
Best MARS finish: Has not competed in a MARS event

DIRTcar Pro Modified graduate that is looking to make a splash in the DIRTcar UMP Modified world in 2024. His best finish to-date this season is a 12th place effort at Circle City Raceway on May 3.

Tim Nash

Event Car #: 7N
Hometown: Farmington, MO
Best MARS finish: Has not competed in a MARS event

One of the most discussed Modified drivers in our region due to his rise in social media popularity over the past few seasons. Last season he captured 5 wins at his local track, Farmington Empire Speedway, where he went on to finish third in the season standings. His best finish this season is a 2nd place finish at Benton Speedway back in April.

Bobby Regot

Event Car #: 4UW
Hometown: St. Peters, MO
Best MARS finish: Has not competed in a MARS event

Veteran St. Louis area racer that has been in and out of the seat over the past few seasons but is back at it in 2024. He opened his season at DIRTcar Nationals and made the trip this past weekend to Fairbury Speedway to get some laps prior to Illinois Dirt Shootout weekend. Regot is a former winner at the Du Quoin “Magic Mile.”

Collin Shain

Event Car #: 87
Hometown: Sullivan, IL
Best MARS finish: Has not competed in a MARS event

After making his first career DIRTcar UMP Modified start at the end of the 2023 season, Shain looks to enter the biggest event of his short Modified career next weekend. Whether it has been Micro racing, Modified racing, or Pro Modified racing, Shain continues to log laps that will likely pay off as his racing career progresses.

Jared Thomas

Event Car #: 43
Hometown: Edinburg, IL
Best MARS finish: 10th at Farmer City Raceway

After a successful 2023 season, Thomas will look to use that confidence in the largest weekend of the season for DIRTcar UMP Modified drivers. The #43 was victorious twice at Lincoln Speedway in 2023 and started out 2024 against the best of the best as he ran both nights of the Illni 100 weekend. He transferred into the main event each night with his best finish being 13th on Friday.

Derek Losh

Event Car #: 21L
Hometown: Rensselear, IN
Best MARS finish: 3rd at Farmer City Raceway

Although Losh only runs a handful of events in the Land of Lincoln each season, if you follow DIRTcar UMP Modified racing, you know just how good of a driver he is. In 2023 he finished third in DIRTcar UMP Modified national points with a win percent of over 50% for the season. 2024 has started off in typical fashion as Losh has 3 victories and no finish worse than third in his five starts on the year.

Trent Young

Event Car #: 10Y
Hometown: Crofton, KY
Best MARS finish: 5th at Fairbury Speedway

2023 DIRTcar UMP South region champion that always seems to find his way towards the front when he travels north to race. Although he may not have a win yet in 2024, he has finished top-10 in all but 2 of his 11 starts to start out the season.

Jim Manka

Event Car #: 60
Hometown: Newington, GA
Best MARS finish: Has not competed in a MARS event

Former Late Model racer turned Modified driver, Manka plans to make the the long trip north from the state of Georgia. Last season he made the trip to Fairbury during Illinois Speedweek where much needed notes will be put to the test next weekend. He opened his 2024 season this past weekend with a 12th place finish at I-75 Raceway.

Jacob Rexing

Event Car #: 59R
Hometown: Brighton, IL
Best MARS finish: 8th at Adams County Speedway

Another St. Louis area driver that frequents many tracks in the region, but has surprisingly few starts at Fairbury throughout his career. This season he has split time between the Modified and Street Stock and was victorious in the Street Stock a couple of weekends back at Adams County Speedway. His best Modified finish of the season came last weekend with a runner-up finish at Benton Speedway.

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