FAIRBURY, Ill. — A big win on a big stage in Illinois has been a long time coming for Zeke McKenzie. Saturday night at Fairbury Speedway, he finally got it.
The Claypool, Ind., native returned to victory lane with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals for the first time since 2020, besting six-time series champion Mike Harrison in a thrilling back-and-forth battle in the closing laps.
That first win, coming nearly six years ago at Kokomo Speedway, was special. But this one, driving his self-built Vanquish Race Cars brand, meant that much more on the big stage of America’s Dirt Track.
“We’ve really been working on our program and our stuff’s been better and I feel like I’ve been driving better,” McKenzie said. “A win like this gives you a chip on your shoulder a little bit and it definitely makes you know our stuff’s good and gives you a little momentum in the next one.”
The opening circuit of the 30-lap feature was led by McKenzie’s No. 24 machine. But outside polesitter Ray Bollinger used the cushion in turns three and four to find the momentum needed to take the lead from McKenzie on Lap 3.
Both drivers swapped the lead multiple times with McKenzie using the low lane around Fairbury and Bollinger continuing to pound the top.
Four lead changes in seven laps ensued with McKenzie taking the lead back and building a small advantage before a Lap 13 caution backed him up to Bollinger on the restart.
The restart saw a three-wide battle for the lead with Harrison utilizing the late race restart and coming out on top on Lap 24.
McKenzie did what he did all night and trusted the bottom lane that got him into that spot and retook the lead on Lap 26.
“I was committed to the bottom because it was the smoother route and I knew if I could keep my car from bouncing, I usually have a lot of traction. I probably outran the two best cushion bangers on the bottom.” McKenzie said.
McKenzie rolled the bottom all the way to victory, ending a six-year drought with the Summit Modifieds over Harrison, Curt Spalding from eighth, Bollinger and Lyndon Whitfill.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 24-Zeke McKenzie[1]; 2. 24H-Mike Harrison[5]; 3. 5CS-Curt Spalding[8]; 4. 77-Ray Bollinger[2]; 5. 21-Lyndon Whitfill[6]; 6. 96M-Mike McKinney[9]; 7. 110-Landen Miller[7]; 8. 389-Carson Friedman[14]; 9. 18L-Michael Long[11]; 10. 10Y-Trent Young[12]; 11. 99-Justin Haley[22]; 12. 7-Brad DeYoung[13]; 13. 15H-Jeff Hamby[21]; 14. (DNF) B5-Matthew Baker[24]; 15. (DNF) 05-Dave Wietholder[15]; 16. (DNF) 777-Trevor Neville[10]; 17. (DNF) 88S-Alan Stipp[16]; 18. (DNF) 0-Damian Kiefer[3]; 19. (DNF) 27B-Kyle Barker[20]; 20. (DNF) 5-Steven Brooks[19]; 21. (DNF) 89-Austin Friedman[18]; 22. (DNF) 21A-Nick Allen[17]; 23. (DNF) 12-Jeff Curl[23]; 24. (DNF) 1TS-Tyler Spalding[4]
