MACON, Ill. — The 78th racing season at Macon Speedway is a little over three months away, but the schedule is already looking promising with several new special events and a weekly racing program.
The one-fifth-mile dirt track is under new ownership, with Chris, Jolene and Blade Kearns taking over from longtime promoter Bob Sargent in addition to Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart and Kenny Wallace.
Everything from super late models, sprint cars, midgets, modifieds and street stocks will visit the Central Illinois bullring will again be Macon County’s go-to place for Saturday night entertainment. The season all begins on Saturday, April 8, with opening night, featuring six of the track’s staple divisions.
On track will be DIRTcar Pro Late Models, modifieds, pro modifieds, sportsman, street stocks and Hornets. Macon’s other regular division, the Micros, will be back on track one week later for their opener under the POWRi banner.
When it comes to marquee events, the high banked bullring has plenty with the first one coming on Saturday, April 22, when the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series comes to town. The highly popular tour brings some of the best super late model drivers from all over the country to compete in one of the most exciting events anywhere.
The quick and nimble midget race cars will again be on schedule, this year for three events. The first two are POWRi events on May 13 and June 24, while the visit on Saturday, August 19 will be sanctioned by USAC as part of the Illinois State Fair race weekend.
Memorial Day weekend is a lot busier this year with “Cornfield Combat”, as a three-day Non-Wing Micro special will be on tap along with racing from the JR Sprints. It all begins on Thursday, May 25, with Micro practice and JR Sprint racing. Racing then picks up on Friday night for both classes and all culminates on Saturday night with a $5,000-to-win Micro feature. Sunday will feature an off day before the traditional Memorial Day Twin 50’s are held for Big 10 Pro Late Models and Big 10 Modifieds. A handful of other divisions will also race.
Early July just got bigger for Macon Speedway. It’s always been big with the Summer Nationals visit for the Herald & Review 100. This year, add two more nights of racing with “Top Gun” for the USAC/AMSOIL National Sprint Cars. Thursday, July 6, will feature the best in late model racing for 100 laps, while USAC comes to town on July 7-8. The three days will feature some of the best that racing has to offer.
On June 17 and September 9, the MOWA Sprint cars will visit the track.
The Diane Bennett Memorial returns on Saturday, August 5, for a fifth straight season. Bennett was a longtime official at the track who passed away in 2015. Bennett’s family reached out a few years ago about putting on a big race in her memory and the first four editions have been huge for the weekly divisions, paying out plenty of extra purse money throughout the fields.
The final month of the season will be highlighted by the 9th running of the KERBYSTRONG event. The pro late models, modifieds and sportsman classes will compete for extra prize money during the night.
The event brings awareness to cancer screening and is in memory of former Macon Speedway champion, Kerby Damery.