MidwestRacin.com - In The Fast Lane by Terry Young

"In the Fast Lane"

Stories and photos by Terry Young unless stated otherwise.

CARR collects Springfield Mile win for an even dozen!

Rusty Wallace interviews Modified feature winner Ken Schrader. All photo's by Terry Young

NASCAR Night at Macon Speedway

by: Terry Young

With the United States Army celebrating their birthday this week, they joined efforts with the MACON Speedway in Macon, Illinois for NASCAR Night on Thursday night. The central Illinois legendary speedplant, co-owned by Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Tony Stewart and Bob Sargent would see a number of NASCAR stars visit the track for the first scheduled NASCAR night of the season.

Joining Schrader and Wallace were Michael, Rusty and Steven Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, David and Buzzy Reutiman, Michael McDowell, Josh Wise, David Stremme, Dave Blaney, Mike Bliss and Jason Leffler.

Both Schrader and Wallace showed that they know the track well, as they ran 1-2 in the main event with Wallace overtaking Buzzy Reutiman early in the event and paving the way until the stronger Shrader was able to power past Wallace to relegate him to the bridesmaid role.

   Schrader once in the lead, never looked back and took the win ahead of Wallace, rounding out the top 5 in the star studded event were Steven Wallace, David Stremme and Buzzy Reutiman.

   Also on the nights race card were the UMP Sportsman division which seen Mike Pickering in victory lane as he claimed the feature event over ahead of Joel Funk, Jeff Graham, Scott Landers, Tim Bedinger, Norm Wood, Kerby Damery, Tom Graham, Tom Riech and Travis Martin. Heat races were won by Pickering and Landers.

   The UMP Street Stock division was topped by veteran Macon driver Al "Mr. Excitement" Crawley as he took the checkers ahead of Steve Ewing, Terry Reed, Troy Dodson, Pickering, Roy McGee, Larry Russell, Jr., Kelby Simmons, Bob Simmons and Tim Feldhake. Heat races in the division were won by Ewing, Terry Reed and Blake Shelly.

   In early events the track conducted an auction for a ride in the track two-seater with the hottest driver in NASCAR , Kyle Busch. $1,300.00 was raised from this and will benefit the Kyle Busch Foundation for it's charitable efforts.

Left: Kyle Busch gives a ride to winning fan in $1300 fundraiser auction. Right: UMP Street Stock feature winner Al Crawley. Above Left: Michael Waltrip greets UMP Sportsman feature winner Mike Pickering. Above Right: Track co-owner Kenny Wallace interviews NASCAR'S Hottest Current Driver.

JEFRA BLAND named 2008 Ms. Eldora Speedway

   Prelude to the Dream week activities recently seen a passing of the torch as such when Dusti Rayburn and Andrea Pyles ended their year of representation of the Eldora Speedway after winning their crowns in 2007, as the Ms. Eldora Speedway 2008 pageant took place in the ballroom of the speedway the night after the Prelude event.

   The evening after the pageant two new representatives would begin their representation of the track in the DREAM 100 activities. When the checkers fell and the dust settled emerging victorious in the competition was Jefra Bland, sister of late model young gun Jordan Bland of Campbelsville, Ky. Jefra is also half of the Dirt Dolls duo who host an internet radio show on Wednesday evenings. Jefra will be busy this summer as she represents the Eldora Speedway along with first runner up Erin Moore. The two took the top honors among 17 beautiful contestants, each of whom were deserving in their own rights. Bland was awarded $2,000 for her win in the contest and Moore received $1,000 for her runner up finish.

   Both will certainly represent the speedway in the first class fashion that a track of it's stature deserves! Good Luck to both of the young ladies as they begin their new positions.

HOT ROD Nationals invade Springfield, Illinois

   The HOT ROD Nationals presented by Family Events recently made their trek through Springfield, Illinois with a stop at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

   The highlight of the event is the Ms. HOT ROD Supernationals competition which caps the weekend event. A number of beautiful contestants entered the competition and the winner emerged with a $500 cash prize and various awards packages from local businesses.

   Information on future events presented by Family Events can be found by pointing your web browser to www.familyevents.com where the schedule of all of their events can be found which covers not only those at the Illinois State Fairgrounds but others as well.

   Be sure to make a visit to the 2nd Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Midwest 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals when they visit the capitol city on June 28-29, 2008 or their is the Route 66 Mother Road Festival which will take place in Downtown Springfield on September 26-28 which is always a fun time for all.