---

MARS Championship Tours to Close Out 2024 With One Huge Weekend at Fairbury Speedway

MARS Championship Tours to Close Out 2024 With One Huge Weekend at Fairbury Speedway

FAIRBURY, IL (September 30, 2024) – What started in April will all culminate this weekend at Fairbury Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois with the FALS Frenzy MARS Championship Weekend Presented by Edelman Incorporated on October 4 & 5. After getting shows in, rain outs, and rescheduled events littered throughout the season, 15 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends events have been contested while 14 MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment events have been completed. While saddening to think about a pause in racing for the next 6 months, there is plenty to look forward to in this final weekend of MARS action for 2024.

After a battle all season long, Jason Feger enters MARS Championship Weekend with a seven-point advantage over El Paso, Illinois driver Ryan Unzicker in MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends standings. Feger and Unzicker have almost identical stats for the season, which include four victories apiece for the two of them. Justin Duty currently sits in third position in series standings, and while he statistically will not be able to advance his positioning, it will all be about maintaining for the Oregon driver. Duty enters the weekend thirty points over Bob Gardner, and forty-nine points ahead of Australian driver Kye Blight. As long as Duty starts the feature both nights this weekend, he will be your 2024 Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year.

Michael Long will look to continue his career year in 2024 as he tries to pick up his second consecutive MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment title in as many years for the series. Long captured four wins in 2023 en route to the series title, but 2024 has shown an even greater deal of dominance for the Fowler, Illinois driver as he has captured 8 wins, 13 top-5’s, and 13 top-10’s in 14 starts this season. Statistically, Mike McKinney still has a shot at the series title at fifty-five points behind Long but will need a great deal of misfortune to strike to the 18L over the course of the weekend to have a chance. McKinney has had a year that almost any person in the country would take on the toughest Modified tour in DIRTcar racing, as the Plainfield, Illinois driver has yet to finish any worse than fourth in any of the twelve events he has entered. Vanquish Chassis teammates Zeke McKenzie and Ray Bollinger are set to duke it out for third in series standings as the two are separated by only fifteen points going into the weekend. Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year point leader, Kyle Hammer, currently holds down fifth heading into the final weekend of competition.

Early pit parking will begin on Thursday, October 3 at 5 P.M. and run until 10 P.M. that night. Complete shows will be running each night for the MARS Late Models, MARS Modifieds, and the DIRTcar Pro Late Models. The event is headlined by the MARS Late Model division racing for $12,000 to win, $1,000 to start, with almost $50,000 being paid out in just Late Model feature monies alone.

Friday, October 4

Fairbury Speedway
Fairbury, IL

FALS Frenzy Presented by Edelman Incorporated Night #1

$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
$750 to win DIRTcar Pro Late Models

Pits open at 11:00 A.M.
Grandstands open at 11:00 A.M.
Drivers Meeting at 5:30 P.M.
Hot Laps at 6:00 P.M.

Adult General Admission $25
General Admission for Kids 12 and under FREE
Pit Pass $40
Pit Pass for Kids 12 and under $15

Saturday, October 5

Fairbury Speedway
Fairbury, IL

FALS Frenzy Presented by Edelman Incorporated Night #2

$12,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
$3,000 to win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
$1,000 to win DIRTcar Pro Late Models

Pits open at 11:00 A.M.
Grandstands open at 11:00 A.M.
Drivers Meeting at 5:00 P.M.
Hot Laps at 5:30 P.M.

Adult General Admission $30
General Admission for Kids 12 and under FREE
Pit Pass $45
Pit Pass for Kids 12 and under $15

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Tire Rule for each night:
LF: Any (90) Hoosier
RF: Hoosier NLMT2 (90)
LR: Hoosier NLMT2 (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 Friday A-Main payout: 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 Friday A-Main payout: 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 Saturday A-Main payout: 1) $12,000 2) $6,000 3) $4,000 4) $3,000 5) $2,000 6) $1,900 7) $1,800 8) $1,700 9) $1,600 10) $1,500 11) $1,450 12) $1,400 13) $1,350 14) $1,300 15) $1,250 16) $1,200 17) $1,150 18) $1,100 19) $1,050 20) $1,000 21) $1,000 22) $1,000. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $110

MARS Modified Saturday A-Main payout: 1) $3,000 2) $1,500 3) $1,200 4) $1,100 5) $1,000 6) $800 7) $700 8) $600 9) $500 10) $400 11) $300 12) $300 13) $300 14) $300 15) $300 16) $300 17) $300 18) $300 19) $300 20) $300 21) $300 22) $300. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $70

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Point Standings (Top 10)

1. Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – 869 Points
2. Ryan Unzicker – El Paso, IL – 862 Points
3. Justin Duty – Molalla, OR – 684 Points
4. Bob Gardner – Washington, IL – 654 Points
5. Kye Blight – Bunbury, Western Australia – 635 Points
6. McKay Wenger – Fairbury, IL – 577 Points
7. Daniel Adam – Peru, IL – 569 Points
8. Mark Voigt – Marine, IL – 518 Points
9. Allen Weisser – Peoria, IL – 483 Points
10. Dale Markham – Maple Park, IL – 443 Points

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Standings

1. Justin Duty – 684 Points
2. Daniel Adam – 569 Points
3. Dale Markham – 443 Points

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Point Standings (Top 10)

1. Michael Long – Fowler, IL – 810 Points
2. Mike McKinney – Plainfield, IL – 755 Points
3. Zeke McKenzie – Claypool, IN – 582 Points
4. Ray Bollinger – Kewanee, IL – 567 Points
5. Kyle Hammer – Clinton, IL – 487 Points
6. Cole Falloway – Owensboro, KY – 458 Points
7. Lyndon Whitfill – Fairbuy, IL – 450 Points
8. Dylan Woodling – Warsaw, IN – 407 Points
9. Jarrett Stryker – Breese, IL – 363 Points
10. Mike Chasteen Jr. – Peoria, IL – 323 Points

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Standings

1. Kyle Hammer – 487 Points
2. Lyndon Whitfill – 450 points
3. Jarrett Stryker – 379 points

2024 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Statistics

Pontiac RV Heat Race #1 Winners

Jason Feger - 4
Shannon Babb - 2
Colby Sheppard - 1
Mike Harrison - 1
Allen Weisser - 1
Brian Shirley - 1
Gordy Gundaker - 1
Dennis Erb Jr - 1
Garrett Alberson - 1
Kye Blight - 1
McKay Wenger - 1

FK Rod Ends 1st Place Finisher

Jason Feger - 4
Ryan Unzicker - 4
Brian Shirley - 2
Dillon McCowan - 1
Dennis Erb Jr - 1
Daniel Adam - 1
Shannon Babb - 1
McKay Wenger - 1

FK Rod Ends 5th Place Finisher

Bob Gardner - 2
Matt Bailey - 2
Allen Weisser - 2
Kye Blight - 2
Kevin Weaver - 1
Jake Little - 1
Chad Simpson - 1
Shannon Babb - 1
Justin Duty - 1
Dennis Erb Jr - 1
Brandon Sheppard - 1

Fairbury Fasteners 7th Place Finisher

Kye Blight - 3
Mark Voigt - 3
Ryan Unzicker - 2
Mike Spatola - 1
McKay Wenger - 1
Justin Duty - 1
Mitch McGrath - 1
Rich Bell - 1
Bob Gardner - 1
Brandon Eskew - 1

Budda by Bert Transmission 9th Place Finisher

Bob Gardner - 2
Joe Chalmers - 2
Myles Moos - 2
Rich Bell - 1
Turk Letizia - 1
Daniel Adam - 1
Donny Walden - 1
Aaron Marrant - 1
Mitch McGrath - 1
Allen Weisser - 1
Jayme Zidar - 1
Chad Finley - 1

Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher

Kye Blight - 1
Justin Duty - 1
Darrel Moser Jr - 1
Daniel Adam - 1
Aaron Marrant - 1
Rusty Griffaw - 1
Rickey Frankel - 1
Mike Provenzano - 1
Jake Little - 1
Shawn Mulvany - 1
Doug Tye - 1
Terry Bolin - 1
Brayton Wallace - 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Matt Bailey - 1

Keyser Manufacturing 13th Place Finisher

Daniel Adam - 2
Bob Gardner - 1
Dale Markham - 1
Jason Suhre - 1
Jeffrey Ledford - 1
Allen Weisser - 1
Gordy Gundaker - 1
Jason Perry - 1
Curtis Eller - 1
Gary Webb - 1
Justin Duty - 1
Kyle McMahon - 1
Devin McLean - 1
Mark Voigt - 1

Fast Shafts 15th Place Finisher

Tucker Finch - 2
Kye Blight - 2
Brian Shirley - 1
Jake Little - 1
Jordan Bauer - 1
Timmy Dick - 1
Trey Mills - 1
Colby Sheppard - 1
Jeremy Spoonmore - 1
Dakota Ewing - 1
Camden Gardner - 1
Lee Williams - 1
Daniel Adam - 1

MSD Hard Charger Award Winners

Bob Gardner - 3
Dale Markham - 2
Mark Voigt - 2
Frank Heckenast Jr - 1
Turk Letizia - 1
Kye Blight - 1
Jason Perry - 1
Mike Provenzano - 1
Allen Weisser - 1
Rich Bell - 1
Terry Bolin - 1

Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winners

Mark Voigt - 1
David Marlow - 1
Michael Kloos – 1
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Rich Bell - 1
Dustin Hodges - 1
Dale Markham - 1
Colby Sheppard - 1
Greg Kimmons - 1
Matt Ryan - 1
Terry Bolin - 1
Blaze Burwell - 1
Thomas Hunziker - 1
Logan Moody - 1
Doug Tye - 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners

Allen Weisser - 5
Justin Duty - 5
Jake Little - 2
Tommy Sheppard Jr - 1
Mitch McGrath - 1
Daniel Adam - 1

2024 MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Statistics

Multi Fire X Fast Time Award Winners

Mike McKinney - 5
Austin Friedman - 2
Michael Long - 2
Will Krup - 2
Derek Losh - 1
Hunt Gossum - 1

Willy’s Carb & Dyno Heat Race #1 Winners

Michael Long - 2
Mike McKinney - 2
Will Krup - 2
Charlie Mefford - 1
Derek Losh - 1
Ray Bollinger - 1
Zeke McKenzie - 1
Dylan Woodling - 1
Michael Ledford - 1
Mike Chasteen Jr - 1

Lethal Chassis Heat Race #2 Winners

Michael Long - 5
Josh Harris - 1
Mike McKinney - 1
Michael Ledford - 1
Dean Hoffman - 1
Austen Becerra - 1
Lyndon Whitfill - 1
Trent Young - 1
Ray Bollinger - 1

Summit Racing Equipment 1st Place Finisher

Michael Long - 8
Cole Falloway - 3
Mike Harrison - 2
Mike McKinney - 1
Will Krup - 1

Fast Shafts 3rd Place Finisher

Mike McKinney - 3
Michael Ledford - 2
Zeke McKenzie - 2
Kyle Steffens - 1
Trey Harris - 1
Dillon Nusbaum - 1
Dean Hoffman - 1
Austin Friedman - 1
Ryan Thomas - 1
Trent Young - 1
Charlie Mefford - 1

Keyser Manufacturing 7th Place Finisher

Ray Bollinger - 2
Treb Jacoby - 2
Kyle Hammer - 2
Dylan Woodling - 2
Allen Weisser - 1
Chad Sellers - 1
Brad Deyoung - 1
Mason Duncan - 1
Frank Marshall - 1
Will Krup - 1
Dave Wietholder - 1

Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher

Cole Falloway - 1
Trevor Neville - 1
Rick Salter - 1
Caden McWhorter - 1
Lyndon Whitfill - 1
Jeremy Pate - 1
Lucas Lee - 1
Jason Hollon - 1
Blake Brown - 1
Dylan Woodling - 1
Jarrett Stryker - 1
Shawn Deering - 1
Steven Brooks - 1
Josh Allen - 1
Kenny Wallace - 1

MD3 Hard Charger Award Winners

Zeke McKenzie - 2
Cole Falloway - 1
Lucas Lee - 1
Dylan Woodling - 1
Ray Bollinger - 1
Jason Hastings - 1
Lyndon Whitfill - 1
Austen Becerra - 1
Mike Harrison - 1
Allen Weisser - 1
Kelly Kovski - 1
Treb Jacoby - 1
Dave Wietholder - 1
Michael Long - 1

Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winners

Ryan Thomas - 1
Rick Frasure - 1
CJ Springer - 1
Noah Faw - 1
Mason Duncan - 1
Cody Zobrist - 1
Tim Nash - 1
Kyle Strickler - 1
Nick Allen - 1
Justin McCoy - 1
Josh Harris - 1
Justin Reed - 1
Charlie Mefford - 1
Lyndon Whitfill - 1
Billy Knebel - 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners

Kyle Hammer - 7
Trey Harris - 2
Mason Duncan - 2
Lyndon Whitfill - 2
Treb Jacoby - 1

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

• THE RACE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP: After a season long battle, it all comes down to this… Who can outrun who? Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker are separated by only 7 points going into FALS Frenzy weekend that includes two complete points paying shows. Both drivers consider Fairbury one of their home tracks and have a many of laps around “America’s Dirt Track.” Surprisingly, Feger only has 2 victories at the speedway this year, while Unzicker has yet to find victory lane at FALS.

• ENDING THE YEAR WITH NEW: While most drivers at this point of the season are hoping their rides can make it through one more night of racing, MARS Modified Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year point leader Kyle Hammer is currently quite the opposite. Last Saturday night he debuted a ride acquired from Maryland native Glenn Elliott at Spoon River Speedway and managed a 4th place finish in the event after being unable to complete a qualifying run early in the night. Hammer is looking to hold off Lyndon Whitfill for the 2024 Rookie of the Year title.

• ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: For Jarrett Stryker the 2024 season was about 1 thing… Starting and completing the entire season with the MARS Modified tour. Mechanical issues have seemed to plague the #18 machine no matter where he has rolled to this season, but none worse than at the last MARS event at Brownstown Bullring where Stryker blew an engine during the main event. After being unsure as to if he would be able to race another lap in 2024, fellow MARS Modified Series regular Zeke McKenzie stepped up and offered his spare engine to Stryker to allow him to finish out his goal of perfect attendance on the tour.

• ONE LAST HOORAH: For the past few seasons, Bunbury, Western Australia driver Kye Blight has spent an extended period of time in the states racing as much as possible for fellow Australian Paul Stubber while following the MARS Late Model tour the past 2 years. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end as Blight has worked diligently to try to acquire a P1 Visa to continue his racing career in the states but was unsuccessful. Blight has been a real asset to the MARS tour over the past 2 seasons and has become a fan-favorite across the United States.

• TOTAL DOMINATION: Defending MARS Modified series champion Michael Long will be looking to seal the deal in hopes of collecting yet another title at the conclusion of the weekend. 2024 looks to be extra special as Long is also well on his way to winning his first ever DIRTcar UMP Modified National Championship. He heads into Championship Weekend 2 weeks after sweeping all 3 nights of Mod Mania weekend at Tri City Speedway.

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

• October 4, 2024 - Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - FALS Frenzy Presented by Edelman Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electric, & Solar - $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

• October 5, 2024 - Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - FALS Frenzy Presented by Edelman Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electric, & Solar - $12,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $3,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

---

Back to News