Local Headlines

(Macon, IL) For the second time in the 2010 season, the POWRi Micros were able to compete in a show at Macon Speedway. Rain has plagued the POWRi schedule and events at Macon Speedway this season but on a hot, humid night in mid-June during the 1st ever Building Systems of Illinois Mini Sprint Nationals, they finally had their night to shine.

55 Mini Sprints, from at least eight different states, arrived to Macon Speedway for their chance at the 22-car field and $500-to-win first-place prize and the hopes of a top-six finish to automatically enter them in the $5,000-to-win, 33-car field Saturday night in the finale of the two-day show.

Nathan Benson of Concordia, MO., was chasing down Johnstown, PA. native Brock Zearfoss early in the 20-lap race. Sliding through the corners of the 65-year-old dirt track, Benson and Zearfoss exchanged the lead until the 14th lap when Benson would take over. The battle would then be for second place with Zearfoss and Austin Laskey, from Tulsa, OK.

Coming out of the turns and into victory lane would be Benson, who would also take home the $500 first-place prize. He would be guaranteed a starting spot in the $5,000-to-win finale Saturday night. Joining him would be Zearfoss, Laskey, Travis Senter, native of Arkansas, Joe Miller of Missouri and Trent Beckinger of Indiana.

In other classes, the Modifieds feature was dominated by Jeremy Nichols, who finally got his 01 dialed in. His only other trip to Macon Speedway was unsuccessful with no finish and unable to complete a feature lap. Dashing away from the field, Nichols quickly weaved his way through the lapped traffic, and amid few cautions to give second-place racer Aaron Burcham a chance to stay close, Nichols easily pulled away for his first feature of 2010. Burcham would finish runner-up with Danny Smith in third.

Mike Pickering claimed his third feature of the Street Stock class as he hugged the bottom of the racetrack the entire 12 laps. Larry Russell, Jr. made strides from fourth to second in the race bypassing Mike Pundt, Jr. and Justin Hill. As the race was wrapping up, Pundt got tangled up with another car and was send to the back for causing a take-out and caution flag with a single lap to go. Pickering would not allow the lead to get away from him as he took the win. “Bub” Russell took second, Justin Hill finished third.

Eric Wilson won his second feature in the Pro Hornet class, outlasting a full field. As a correction, in the last recap, Kevin Crowder won his second feature of 2010, not his first.

Saturday’s show will wrap up the 1st ever Building Systems of Illinois Mini Sprint Nationals, sponsored by Hyper Chassis, Hollingsworth Performance, Pipeworks Inc., Saldana Racing Products and Horve Buildings. The event will be headlined with the $5,000-to-win POWRi Micros. Also on the show will be the UMP Modifieds, Touchstone Energy Sportsman, as well as the Amateur and High School Hornets. The gates will open at 5pm, racing to start at 7pm.

This article posted by Macon Speedway. Click here for more track information.