By Brett Zerfowski
(Macon, IL) Kyle Logue has done plenty in his dirt track racing career. He has won track championship in the Late Model and Modified divisions. He claims the fastest laps in both divisions, too. He can now add the 2nd Annual Shrine 50 to his resume of success. Leading the majority, if not all, of the 50 laps, Logue dazzled the audience with his racing skills and his ability to control the race.
18 Chevrolet Late Models competed in the 50-lapper and Logue dominated but the racing behind him with the spots two-through-six all up for grabs. Joseph Hughes, a 16-year-old racer, from Springfield, made headlines earlier in the week by announcing whatever profits made would go directly to the Shriners and the Children’s Hospitals. He battled back and forth with Ryan Little, Matt Taylor, Rodney Standerfer and Brian Diveley. It was terrific back and forth action as lapped traffic helped decide which driver would race on which groove, either the top or bottom.
As Logue blew away the competition, Hughes stayed down low and Little went high. The high side worked well as Little made the pass for second but Hughes came right back as Taylor challenged for third. As the checkered flag flew, Logue took home the checkered flag and was congratulated by members of the Shriners. Hughes placed second, his best feature finish in his young career. Little would take third. The 50-lapper saw only two cautions during the race and was finished in 14 minutes.
Argenta’s Danny Smith claimed his first Billingsley Towing Modified feature of the season, besting Chevy Miller, Dave Crawley, Jr., Darcey Wey and Andy Bishop. Smith started from the pole position and raced along with Bishop, native of Gas City, Ind., but as the race drew longer, Smith had more than enough to power past Bishop. Crawley, the defending champion, started to make progress along the high groove but would be unable to catch the first and second place cars. Miller, from Clinton, ran the same line as Smith but would be unable to make pass.
Bobby Beiler is quickly becoming a household name if you’re talking about Street Stock drivers. He won his third feature of the season and extended his points lead. He was able to jump out early thanks to a heat victory and a front row starting spot. Blake Shelley of Oakley was second. Justin Hill, who’s been chasing down Beiler in the points race, finished third. Terry Reed of Decatur took fourth and Kurtis Ater of Macon was fifth.
Macon Speedway raced three divisions of 4-cylinder Hornet cars Saturday night. In the Pro Hornet division, Adam Webb grabbed his sixth feature of the season. Justunn Hilton, Bruce Dulgar, Rick Alwood and Sam McCoy finished behind the winner. Kenneth Reed won the Amateur Hornet feature. He was followed by Jimmy Goodrich, Brady Reed, Jerad Matherly and Kyle Maxwell. In the High School Hornet class, Tiffani Graham, a third generation racer, got her first feature win.
A full racing program is on the slate for the first Saturday of September and will be highlighted with the make-up Cromwell Radio Fan Appreciation/Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum Night. Also scheduled is the 7th Annual Street Stock Championship Race.