Awesome Night of Racing at Fairbury
By: Rocky Ragusa
Fairbury, IL (August 2, 2008) - Despite lower than
usual car counts, it was a term I heard used quite often Saturday
night at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway, "AWESOME!!!"
The race fans were treated by the annual visit of the Illinois
Vintage Cars as well.
 Herb
Shannon Jr, won the Vintage Car trophy dash and heat race. Before
the vintage cars took to the track for their 15 lap feature,
Art "Fireball" Fehrman presented the 2nd annual Eli
"Spud" Schlipf memorial award. Schlipf was one of the
pioneers in getting racing started at Fairbury. This year the
award went to multi track champion and an area legend Jack Tyne
of Streator. Jack paced the field in his famed number 89 during
parade laps. Billy Knippenburg Sr. took the lead at the start
of the feature with Heb Shannon Jr and John Provenzano following.
 Knippenburg
slowed on the track which allowed Provenzano to move to the point.
While "Lil" John's car was hugging the bottom Shannon
Jr. was working the middle and top grooves to add another trophy
for the night. Shannon's quest ended on lap 13 when his car began
to overheat. Provenzano, a former track champion and current
late model competitor drove the last 2 laps in his 1946 Mercury
Coupe to a 2 car length win over 1987 track champion Bill Knippenburg
in his 1970 Nova. 3rd went to Danny Shannon of Charlotte N.C.
in his 1932 Ford, followed by Donnie Harmann Jr. in a 1955 Chevy,
and Larry Robb in his 1971 Ford Torino.
 The
UMP street stock class brought the most cars to the track. Outside
front row starter Kevin Lenzen paced the field at start of the
15 lap main. Lenzen running the top groove battled door handle
to door handle with Terry Miller. Just as Miller took the lead
on the 5th lap, caution fell and Miller was place back to 2nd.
As the green flag was waved, Lenzen changed his line to the bottom
in order to stop Miller's bid. Miller countered by going to the
top of the speedway and got past Lenzen on the 6th lap Brandon
Kessinger,along with Lenzen and Jay Hamilton each made a run
at Miller, but Miller managed turn back his foes. Hamilton, Lenzen,
Kissinger,Tom Legner, Billy Wicker, Darrell Lehigh, Nick Montalta,
Eric Gaus, and Darrin Kohler completed the top 10. Heat race
winners were Legner, Lenzen, and Miller. The semi feature went
to Kohler.
 The
UMP sportsman class brought the lowest car count of the night,
but the action was fast and furious. Gary Turpin led the 1st
lap before Jason Unzicker took over and led the next lap. 4th
place starter Rick Thomas running the top of the track overtook
Unzicker on the next lap. Thomas was challenged by Unzicker whose
car was gripped to the bottom and Joel Funk, who followed at
the top. Funk got by Thomas on lap 10 held on to lead the rest
of the way. Unzicker, Thomas, and Andrew Funk were all together
and finished in that order. Turpin, Loren Haberkorn, Tim Fitzpatrick,
Mike Stirewalt, Chris Eden, and Dan Flessner completed the top
10.Heat winners were Unzicker and Turpin.
 The
UMP modified division ran a 20 lap feature and before a lap could
be completed George Aimone and point contender Jeff Curl were
eliminated a track incident. Again outside is the place to be
as Jeb Friedman took the lead. Friedman ran the middle groove
while McKay Wenger was on the edge at the top. Wenger finally
overtook Friedman on the 4th lap, while current point leader
Dave Porth soon began to set his sight on Wenger. Several early
cautions flew which prevented Porth from over taking Wenger for
the lead. Wenger got into the marbles and that allowed Porth
to slip into the lead. Wenger and Porth battled side by side
with Wenger able to be scored the leader at the start/finish
line. Wenger appeared to be headed to his 1st Fairbury win of
the year, but again Wenger jumped the cushion and Porth took
the lead with 2 to go and Porth picked up the win. Wenger, Jim
Farris, Jay Ledford, Matt Bachman, Kevin Hastings, Darcy Wey,
Friedman, Justin Delong, and Dennis Wilson rounded out the top
10. Wenger set fast time with a 14.215 and heat races went to
Farris and Wenger.
 While
the Chicago Cubs seek to end their 99 year drought of winning
the World Series, another drought ended in the 30 lap UMP late
model race. Derek Chandler got the jump on pole sitter Scott
Bull at the start of the race a held on for his 1st career late
model win. The win did not come easy as Chandler held off many
a challenge.
 Chandler
kept his car at the top the entire race while Bull, Jr. Shickel
, and Joe Harlan moved up to challenge for the lead. While the
trio was racing each other Chandler was able to open up a small
lead. At the end a blanket could have been thrown over the top
5 as they were that close. Chandler, a 2nd generation driver
of famed racer Don, Harlan, Shickel, Bull, and John Provenzano
were the top 5. The 2nd 5 cosisted of Daren Friedman, Jay Sparks,
Donny Walden, Aaron Ricketts, and Mike Provenzano. Scott Bull
set fast time with a 12.76. Heat races went to John Provenzano
and Bull.
Racing action continues next Saturday with 5 divisions of
racing. There will be free ice cream for all the kids. Pit gates
open at 3, back gate open at 5, hot laps start at a new time
of 5:45, qualifing begins at 6:30, and racing action kicks off
at 7:30 at the 2 time UMP national track of the year, the Fairbury
American Legion Speedway.
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