Jason Feger hustles to capture checkered flag at Fairbury Speedway

FAIRBURY — How big was the racing card Saturday night at Fairbury Speedway? Well, there were 121 race teams coming from a total 13 states and Australia on hand to compete in late model and modified action.

The MARS Championship Series, featuring the late model and modified divisions, were joined by the Big 10 pro late models and sportsman classes as part of the Memorial Day weekend festivities.

It was Jason Feger claiming the checkered flag in the main event as he captured the MARS late model race. Also scoring victories were Mike McKinney (MARS Modified), Jose Parga (Big 10 pro late model) and Tommy Duncan (sportsman) on Fairbury Fastener and Supply Night.

After a pause for track prep, 22 MARS late model competitors laced up the gloves for the $5,000-to-win, 40-lap main event. Outside front row starter Tommy Sheppard Jr. took the lead on the start with fourth starting Shannon Babb taking second from Kevin Weaver.

Sheppard and Babb raced side by side for the lead as Weaver held third over Feger and Mike Harrison. Babb went to the topside in turns three and four. With his momentum coming off the turn, he was able to take the lead on lap 11.

The first caution came out on lap 14 for Paul Parker, who spun out on the backstretch. Feger, known as the “Highside Hustler,” was running in fifth at the time of the caution. On the restart, he moved past Harrison and Weaver.

Feger moved his mount to the top and at the halfway point got past Sheppard for second. He then quickly tracked down Babb and was able to take the lead on lap 28.

Feger wasn’t able to shake off Babb, even slowing enough for Babb to be credited with leading lap 33. Feger retook the lead from Babb and went on to take his second MARS win of the year.

It was a satisfying win for Feger and his team as it was his first win at Fairbury since winning the Prairie Dirt Classic in 2012.

Taking over the MARS point lead with his win, the Bloomington native commented in victory lane.

“We have had some really good cars here at Fairbury. It has been a long time since we have won here and boy it feels good to get the monkey off our back,” Feger, the Bloomington native who took over the MARS point lead. “It is always great to race with Shannon. We are good buddies and he is a heck of a driver. I always know he is going to race you hard, but clean.”

Babb, the opening night winner, finished in second and Sheppard was third. Billy Moyer, the MARS winner the previous night at Farmer City, took fourth and Ryan Unzicker finished in fifth. Weaver, Billy Moyer Jr., Harrison, Bob Gardner and Georgia’s Payton Freeman completed the top 10.

There were 37 cars making qualifying runs. Australia’s Kye Blight led Group 1 with a time of 12.766 seconds. Freeman’s time of 12.976 led Group 2. Feger, Weaver, Babb and Sheppard won heat races. Two B-main race winners were Mike Mataragas and Frank Heckenast Jr.

Michael Long sat on the pole and jumped out to the lead at the start of the $2,000-to-win modified event. With McKinney was right behind, Long put his car up on the top. On the fourth lap, Long slipped up on the Fairbury cushion in turn two, allowing McKinney to take the lead.

Now it was Long and McKinney battling with side-be-side racing. Long was credited for leading on lap eight.

The caution flag fell on lap 10 for debris on the track. Afterward, Long wasn’t able to shake off the bid for the lead by McKinney as the two raced nose to tail.

McKinney had a good run on Long on the backstretch of the 18th lap and reclaimed the lead. The yellow flag appeared with five laps to go, as Lyndon Whitfill was punted from behind and stopped in turn two.

The restart saw McKinney run the bottom and go on to win his first career MARS modified win.

“This Longhorn Chassis has been really good,” McKinney said. “The car would roll out the bottom and the middle the best it has ever has. We didn’t need to make a lot of adjustments for the feature and I have to thank the guys at Longhorn.”

Long settled for second, followed by Dillon Nussbaum, MARS point leader Tyler Nicely and Josh Harris. Alan Stipp led the second group with Kyle Steffens, Cole Falloway, Caden McWhorter, and Jared Thomas in tow.

A good field of 44 modifieds took time trials. Austin Friedman led Group One with a time of 14.008 seconds on his circuit, and Jared Thomas turned a time of 13.949 to lead Group Two. Four heat races saw Harris, Long, McKinney and Nussbaum taking wins. Long and Steven Brooks were the B-main winners.

Making their first of two appearances at Fairbury, the Big 10 Pro Late Models drew 31 drivers for a 20-lap, $1,000-to-win special. Three-time pro late model national champion Jose Parga got the lead on the start and turned back the challenges from Dakota Ewing to take the win.

Devin McLean took third with Matt Hammond, Braden Johnson, Timmy Dick, Billy Knippenberg, Jammie Wilson, Colby Sheppard and Amber Crouch rounding out the top 10.

Timmy Dick’s time of 13.691 seconds gave him fast time honors. Parga, Torin Mettille and Johnson won heat races. Gary Schalmo was the semi-feature winner.

Landen Miller turned a lap at 14.533 seconds as nine sportsman drivers were on hand for a 15-lap feature race. Tommy Duncan won the lone heat race to start in the pole position.

At the green flag, Duncan, running the bottom of the track, raced out to a 10-car length lead as Steven Mattingly, running the topside, and Landen Miller, on the bottom, dueled for second. Mattingly was able to pull away from Miller and closed in on Duncan.

With three laps remaining, sparks and smoke appeared from under Mattingly’s car. He slowed in the third turn to bring out the caution flag. Duncan of Metamora took command on the restart and went on to take the win. It was his 26th sportsman career win at Fairbury.

“It is nice to start off the year with a win,” Duncan, winner of three straight sportsman titles, said. “We had a good setup and made it work. I can’t thank all my sponsors for the support.”

This Saturday night will feature a regular night of racing with five classes in action.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Jason Feger hustles to capture checkered flag at Fairbury Speedway