MACON, Ill. – For the final race of the 2019 season for the Decatur Building Trades Pro Late Models, Macon Speedway fans were entertained with back-and-forth motion for the lead by front row mates Dakota Ewing and Jake Little.
Ewing, who had busted out early to the lead, started to get slowed by the top side of the track and Little – working the bottom of the track – moved his way to the front.
When the flags started to wave, Little got the pass for the lead and Ewing could not rebound enough to contend for the win. For Little, the checkered flag was a good thing but it also locked up the 2019 Midwest Big Ten Series for the Pro Late Models.
Ewing, however, got the last laugh as he won his first track championship in what was a grueling season.
Ewing, not even racing his own car, was in Jose Parga’s No. 6P for the evening’s division finale. Surprise wins and losses will reflect on Ewing’s first Decatur Building Trades Pro Late Model championship at Macon Speedway. For Little, the same could be said at Macon.
However, the multi-track, ten-race circuit was good to him as he bested the field and will take the top prize and trophy for the year.
While his father watched from the stands, Rodney Standerfer raced solidly and strong to go from fourth to second to the lead during the BillingsleyRewards.com modified feature.
Standerfer was glued to the bottom of the fifth-mile track as he closed in on Cory Daugherty. Standerfer tested the waters on the top groove and would take over the lead as the race laps closed to the finish.
Tim Hancock Sr. was a story for the race as he blasted off from the top of the track from the fifth row outside spot and locked up second place as he got by Daugherty and Trevor Neville in the race’s final laps.
Earlier in the night, Hancock moved by Rob Timmons to take the lead and drive away with the Neal Tire & Auto Pro Modified feature race. Hancock’s lock on the track championship will be finalized next week in what has been another stellar season for the Mt. Olive native.
Josh Griffith won at Macon Speedway for the first time and relished in the moment after 15 laps in the Archer’s Alley Street Stocks race. The veteran driver from Charleston has been coming to Macon Speedway for many seasons and has been racing in some of the track’s biggest Street Stock events.
Griffith took advantage of his pole position to lead him to the winner’s circle as he got out to the lead and kept enough distance from the runner-up spot. Nick Macklin rallied from third place to move into second with a late pass on Jeff Reed Jr.
Trevin Littleton from Jacksonville was once again on his A-game as he took away with the Micro Sprint feature presented by Bailey Chassis.
Adam Webb returned to victory lane in the Hornets division as he started last and took off on the drop of the green flag to grab the checkered flag once again.
In a special attraction, the Vintage Racing Series of Illinois made a stop in Macon and Justin Rutledge of Princeton was the best of 11 cars in the 15 laps.
Rutledge raced a 1968 Mustang and received the lead on a gift from a flat tire that doomed Matt Ramer midway through the race.
Decatur’s James Landis took second while racing in a 1972 Javelin.