Prairie Dirt Classic
Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, Illinois
Saturday, July 29, 2023
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Tickets can be purchased at the gate.

For more information, call the track at (815) 692-3222

Event Info

Prairie Dirt Classic
2023-07-29
Fairbury Speedway
600 South Third Street
Fairbury, Illinois 61739 

Event Description
The highly anticipated Prairie Dirt Classic returns to the schedule in 2023, again paying $50,000-to-win. Some of the best drivers in Late Model racing will make the trek to Central Illinois to try to win one of the most prestigious races of the season.

This event also caps off the Summit Modified Nationals Hell Tour with $500 features on Friday and $5,000-to-win on Saturday, followed by the crowning of a champion.

series Racing
Summit Modified Nationals

Late Model Track Record
12.143 seconds by Kyle Strickler on 9/15/20

Event Hashtag
#PDC2023

Frequently Asked Questions
Reserved Seating
Back stretch: sections A through I; front stretch: sections R, S, T, U.

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers - No backs

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are not allowed

Handicapped Seating
In front of main covered grandstands on front stretch and a few select handicap spots on the first row of bleachers. Please email Infoatfals@gmail.com to request accessible seating at least one week in advance.

Handicapped Parking
Near the main front grandstands

Pit Age Limit
No Age limit - All minor's require proper waiver

Pit Gate Location
3rd Street entrance

Personal Coolers
They are allowed on the grounds, but NOT in the bleachers or grandstands.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available to purchase at the track. Only FALS purchased cans and alcohol allowed in the bleachers or grandstands. Alcohol is prohibited in the pit area until the races are over for the evening.

Smoking Policy
No smoking or vaping in the bleachers or grandstands at any time.

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
non-electric, offsite, onsite

Camping Cost
Available day of race only

Closest Airport
Bloomington, IL (BMI / KBMI) Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal

Other Airport
Champaign, IL (CMI / KCMI) University of Illinois Willard Airport

Track Info
Track Phone
(815) 692-3222

Track Email
fairburyspeedway@gmail.com

Track Type
0.250; Semi-banked

Late Model Track Record
12.143 seconds by Kyle Strickler on 9/15/20

Competitor Info
DIRTVision Highlights
Race Recap
Mike Harrison Survives Multiple Duels For Third Prairie Dirt Classic Win

Standing atop the roof of his DIRTcar UMP Modified, Mike Harrison’s cheers were drowned by the emphatic celebration resonating from a sea of fans encompassing Fairbury Speedway.

Helping bring the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals 2023 season to an epic conclusion, Harrison fended off a series of onslaught attacks to score his third Prairie Dirt Classic victory (2017, 2018, 2023) in Fairbury, IL Saturday night.

“It’s pretty important,” said Harrison, of Highland, IL, about winning his third Prairie Dirt Classic in his home state. “Every win here at Fairbury is special, just because of the atmosphere. Especially the PDC here, to do it in front of this many fans. Ultimately, that’s who we do it for.”

Harrison started off the weekend as the fastest driver, setting Quick Time Friday night. Then, he went on to win one of the four Showdown Features to lock himself into Saturday’s 40-lap, $5,000-to-win, Feature and the redraw.

Drivers in the first four rows drew for their starting position, leading to Nick Allen on the pole, Charlie Mefford second, Mason Duncan third, Ethan Dotson fourth, Michael Ledford fifth, Harrison sixth, Drake Troutman seventh and Trent Young eighth.

When the Feature commenced, Allen held the lead on the start while Medford had to battle with Dotson for second. The #00 of Dotson was a force in the early laps, taking second on Lap 3 and then the lead on Lap 5.

However, the next lap, Dotson jumped the cushion and slammed his right rear into the Turn 4 wall. Fortunately, for him, the first caution of the race came out at the same time, allowing him to regroup.

Able to continue, Dotson led the field back to green but soon found himself in a fierce battle with Harrison, who was making a steady climb from his sixth starting position. The veteran slid his car ahead of Dotson and rocketed ahead once he found grip in the top lane.

After Dotson lost the lead, he continued to fall, losing second to Allen.

Another caution fell on Lap 12, helping put Allen on the back of Harrison’s bumper. However, Allen’s hopes of dethroning Harrison ended on the restart after he jumped the cushion and slowed. His downfall led to Mefford getting his shot at Harrison.

Mefford gave Harrison his first scare, running side by side with the veteran for multiple laps, nosing ahead at times. But another caution killed his battle. Then, when the race resumed, Ledford bested Mefford on the restart and took his turn at trying to run down Harrison.

The 18-year-old – looking for his first PDC crown – gave Harrison another fight, running side by side with Harrison’s #24H, lap after lap. However, another caution plagued Ledford’s chances.

PDC racing 2023

When the race resumed, Harrison made consistent laps around the top, leaving Ledford to duel with Kyle Steffens for second. The two went back and forth for multiple laps with Steffens eventually securing the spot.

After a caution on Lap 25, Michael Long made his presence known – on a charge from his 19th starting position. Ripping the top, he went from fifth to third on the restart and then ran down Steffens to take second on Lap 31.

Three more cautions hindered Long’s chances of trying to build enough of a run to challenge Harrison before the checkered flag, forcing him to settle for second. However, after racing from 19th to second in the Last Chance Showdown to transfer into the Feature, and then go from 19th to second in the main event, he’s still leaving satisfied.

“The beginning of the night, I thought my chances were way slim,” Long said. “In the Feature, I knew we always have a good car here when the Feature time rolls around, to just be patient on that cushion. I was really good on the bottom and was able to work my way up through there and had a few cautions where I gained spots on most of the cautions, and everything worked out and got to second with 10 to go.

“I needed just a long green flag, I think, to have something for [Harrison]. I was just a little bit too tight on the restarts. All in all, I can’t complain about this at all. I need to go buy a lottery ticket.”

Steffens also had a good showing, finishing third after starting 14th.

“We kind of just bought our time and raced our way through,” Steffens said. “Put ourselves in position. We were second for a long time. The top just got so gnarly, and my car was too soft in the right rear. We kind of had to roll the middle to the top and we ended up P3. It’s our best PDC yet. I’m really thankful.”

Tyler Nicely, who was crowned the 2023 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals on Friday, finished fourth. Dotson rounded out the top five.

In Victory Lane, climbing out of his car to a roar of cheers, Harrison had the checkered flag in one hand and his third Prairie Dirt Classic trophy in the other. And while he scored the win with more than a second lead, Harrison wasn’t sure he was going to make it to the end.

“I got something broke in the back end,” Harrison said. “My god, that was a handful of laps… I seen the 18 (of Long) on the board. Michael Long, he’s a fierce competitor just like I am. He’ll do whatever it takes to get it done on that cushion. I knew that I couldn’t screw up. I knew I had to be spot on and make the right decisions.

“When you have these guys throwing everything at you, you can’t back off and just ride. You have to go to get a little gap to where you can make the laps you think you need to make… It’s always fun coming here and winning, especially at the Prairie Dirt Classic in front of these fans. It’s quite an accomplishment.”

Mike Harrison at Fairbury

RESULTS:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 24H-Mike Harrison[6]; 2. 18L-Michael Long[19]; 3. 8-Kyle Steffens[14]; 4. 25-Tyler Nicely[17]; 5. 00-Ethan Dotson[4]; 6. 21M-Willy Myers[18]; 7. 10Y-Trent Young[8]; 8. 777-Trevor Neville[22]; 9. C40-Mike Chasteen Jr[11]; 10. 37-Michael Ledford[5]; 11. 14-Caden McWhorter[15]; 12. 32-Mason Duncan[3]; 13. 17N-Dillon Nusbaum[20]; 14. 5T-Drake Troutman[7]; 15. 24Z-Zeke McKenzie[9]; 16. 124-Ryan Unzicker[10]; 17. 22-Josh Harris[13]; 18. 13-Charlie Mefford[2]; 19. 54-Zachary Hawk[24]; 20. 88S-Alan Stipp[23]; 21. 0F-Matt Fabrizius[12]; 22. K9-Will Krup[16]; 23. 82-Dalton Lane[21]; 24. 21A-Nick Allen[1]



Results
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
16+524HMike Harrison 400.00034Running80$5,000
219+1718LMichael Long 40-1.0300Running75$2,000
314+118Kyle Steffens 40-1.6630Running70$1,500
417+1325Tyler Nicely 40-1.8910Running65$1,000
54-100Ethan Dotson 40-1.9933Running60$900
618+1221MWilly Myers 40-2.7050Running55$800
78+110YTrent Young 40-3.0240Running53$700
822+14777Trevor Neville 40-4.1620Running51$600
911+2C40Mike Chasteen Jr40-5.1400Running49$550
105-537Michael Ledford 40-5.8620Running47$500
1115+414Caden McWhorter 40-6.5020Running45$475
123-932Mason Duncan 37-3 Laps0DNF44$450
1320+717NDillon Nusbaum 33-7 Laps0DNF43$425
147-75TDrake Troutman 30-10 Laps0DNF42$400
159-624ZZeke McKenzie 30-10 Laps0DNF41$400
1610-6124Ryan Unzicker 30-10 Laps0DNF40$400
1713-422Josh Harris 30-10 Laps0DNF39$400
182-1613Charlie Mefford 30-10 Laps0DNF38$400
1924+554Zachary Hawk 25-15 Laps0DNF37$400
2023+388SAlan Stipp 24-16 Laps0DNF36$400
2112-90FMatt Fabrizius 17-23 Laps0DNF35$400
2216-6K9Will Krup 14-26 Laps0DNF34$400
2321-282Dalton Lane 12-28 Laps0DNF33$400
241-2321ANick Allen 11-29 Laps3DNF32$400
Hard Charger: Michael Long
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
14+325Tyler Nicely 150.00015Running0$0
219+1718LMichael Long 15-2.2520Running0$0
314+1145HChase Holland 15-2.3620Running0$0
424+2054Zachary Hawk 15-3.0130Running0$0
518+13463Daniel Sanchez 15-4.2430Running0$0
63-377Ray Bollinger 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
76-1777Trevor Neville 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
812+489Austin Friedman 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
911+21Nash Hilmes 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
107-38LJimmy Lennex 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
1122+111SBrian Shaw 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
1220+836VMacy Vaughan 14-1 Laps0Running0$0
131-128KLevi Kissinger 11-4 Laps0Running0$0
1410-494Tom Pasek 10-5 Laps0Running0$0
1515071TTroy Ricketts 10-5 Laps0Running0$0
168-824TTrevor Ringle 6-9 Laps0Running0$0
1713-482Dalton Lane 5-10 Laps0Running0$0
1816-221Lyndon Whitfill 2-13 Laps0Running0$0
192-175CSCurt Spalding 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
205-1563Dustin King 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
219-1212Skylar Marlar 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
2217-528MFrank Marshall 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
2321-296MMike McKinney 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
2423-15SOwen Steinkoenig 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
Last Chance Showdown 2 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11021MWilly Myers 150.00015Running0$0
25+317NDillon Nusbaum 15-0.1490Running0$0
36+33Mike Brooks 15-0.6460Running0$0
42-283Kasey Schrock 15-0.7390Running0$0
57+221DDanny Schwartz 15-2.7410Running0$0
615+920Brian Skaggs 15-3.4110Running0$0
78+1757Bradley Jameson 15-3.7730Running0$0
813+543Jared Thomas 15-5.3380Running0$0
912+37Tim Nash 15-6.0190Running0$0
1020+1036Eric Vaughan 15-6.3490Running0$0
1114+30JGarrett Jameson 15-6.6920Running0$0
1221+935Ethan Weber 15-7.6700Running0$0
133-1098Zac Harris 15-8.3750Running0$0
1419+518SJarrett Stryker 15-8.9640Running0$0
1522+70Travis Kohler 15-9.0730Running0$0
164-1218Ryan Sutter 9-6 Laps0DNF0$0
1717016CJohn Clippinger 7-8 Laps0DNF0$0
1811-788SAlan Stipp 7-8 Laps0DNF0$0
1910-95Steven Brooks 7-8 Laps0DNF0$0
2018-2121Deece Schwartz 6-9 Laps0DNF0$0
219-1225WAllen Weisser 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
2216-645Don Hammer 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
23230130Chase Allen 0-15 Laps0DNS0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverHometownDifference
11000Ethan Dotson Bakersfield, CA0.000
210+832Mason Duncan Metamora, IL0.000
35+224ZZeke McKenzie Claypool, IN0.000
49+522Josh Harris Utica, KY0.000
54-18KLevi Kissinger Mt. Vernon, IN0.000
67+177Ray Bollinger Kewanee, IL0.000
78+163Dustin King Charleston, IL0.000
814+68LJimmy Lennex MAYSVILLE, KY0.000
911+212Skylar Marlar Knoxville, TN0.000
1012+21Nash Hilmes Walnut, IL0.000
1113+282Dalton Lane Botkins, OH0.000
1215+371TTroy Ricketts Fairbury, IL0.000
132-1128MFrank Marshall Valpariso, IN0.000
143-1118LMichael Long Fowler, IL0.000
156-996MMike McKinney Plainfield, IL0.000
161605SOwen Steinkoenig Highland, IL0.000
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverHometownDifference
11010YTrent Young Crofton, KY0.000
25+321ANick Allen Wheatfield, IN0.000
34+1C40Mike Chasteen JrPeoria, IL0.000
410+614Caden McWhorter Fairbury, IL0.000
56+15CSCurt Spalding Watervilet, MI0.000
68+225Tyler Nicely Owensboro, KY0.000
770777Trevor Neville Mackinaw, IL0.000
811+324TTrevor Ringle Pontiac, IL0.000
914+594Tom Pasek Momence, IL0.000
102-889Austin Friedman Forrest, IL0.000
1113+245HChase Holland Success, MS0.000
129-321Lyndon Whitfill Fairbury, IL0.000
1312-1463Daniel Sanchez Averill Park, NY0.000
1415+136VMacy Vaughan Fairbury, IL0.000
153-121SBrian Shaw Robinson, IL0.000
1616054Zachary Hawk Rockford, OH0.000
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverHometownDifference
11024HMike Harrison Highland, IL0.000
24+213Charlie Mefford Belton, KY0.000
36+3124Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL0.000
42-28Kyle Steffens St. Charles, MO0.000
515+1021MWilly Myers Collinsville, IL0.000
67+198Zac Harris Elkton, KY0.000
714+717NDillon Nusbaum Warsaw, IN0.000
816+821DDanny Schwartz Ashmore, IL0.000
911+225WAllen Weisser Peoria, IL0.000
1010088SAlan Stipp Fairbury, IL0.000
119-243Jared Thomas Edinburg, IL0.000
123-920Brian Skaggs Ironton, OH0.000
1313016CJohn Clippinger Evansville, IN0.000
148-618SJarrett Stryker Breese, IL0.000
1512-335Ethan Weber Fairbury, IL0.000
165-11130Chase Allen Midlothian, TX0.000
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverHometownDifference
12+137Michael Ledford Pontiac, IL0.000
23+15TDrake Troutman Hyndman, PA0.000
36+30FMatt Fabrizius Genoa, IL0.000
41-3K9Will Krup Mt. Carmel, IL0.000
55083Kasey Schrock Ashmore, IL0.000
69+318Ryan Sutter Coldwater, OH0.000
74-33Mike Brooks Peoria, IL0.000
810+2757Bradley Jameson Royal Center, IN0.000
98-15Steven Brooks Bourbanais, IL0.000
1012+27Tim Nash Farmington, MO0.000
1113+20JGarrett Jameson Royal Center, IN0.000
1211-145Don Hammer Clinton, IL0.000
1315+2121Deece Schwartz Ashmore, IL0.000
1414036Eric Vaughan Fairbury, IL0.000
157-80Travis Kohler Morris, IL0.000
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverTimeDifference
12100Ethan Dotson 0.0000.000
21810YTrent Young 0.0000.000
31028MFrank Marshall 0.0000.000
42989Austin Friedman 0.0000.000
53218LMichael Long 0.0000.000
6161SBrian Shaw 0.0000.000
718KLevi Kissinger 0.0000.000
89C40Mike Chasteen Jr0.0000.000
9824ZZeke McKenzie 0.0000.000
103121ANick Allen 0.0000.000
112496MMike McKinney 0.0000.000
12285CSCurt Spalding 0.0000.000
132777Ray Bollinger 0.0000.000
1414777Trevor Neville 0.0000.000
151763Dustin King 0.0000.000
162325Tyler Nicely 0.0000.000
172222Josh Harris 0.0000.000
18721Lyndon Whitfill 0.0000.000
19332Mason Duncan 0.0000.000
20614Caden McWhorter 0.0000.000
21212Skylar Marlar 0.0000.000
221924TTrevor Ringle 0.0000.000
2351Nash Hilmes 0.0000.000
2411463Daniel Sanchez 0.0000.000
252682Dalton Lane 0.0000.000
262545HChase Holland 0.0000.000
27138LJimmy Lennex 0.0000.000
282094Tom Pasek 0.0000.000
29471TTroy Ricketts 0.0000.000
303036VMacy Vaughan 0.0000.000
31125SOwen Steinkoenig 0.0000.000
321554Zachary Hawk 0.0000.000
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverTimeDifference
12224HMike Harrison 0.0000.000
227K9Will Krup 0.0000.000
338Kyle Steffens 0.0000.000
41937Michael Ledford 0.0000.000
51820Brian Skaggs 0.0000.000
6245TDrake Troutman 0.0000.000
71713Charlie Mefford 0.0000.000
8143Mike Brooks 0.0000.000
923130Chase Allen 0.0000.000
102083Kasey Schrock 0.0000.000
1126124Ryan Unzicker 0.0000.000
12310FMatt Fabrizius 0.0000.000
13698Zac Harris 0.0000.000
1440Travis Kohler 0.0000.000
151018SJarrett Stryker 0.0000.000
16115Steven Brooks 0.0000.000
17543Jared Thomas 0.0000.000
18718Ryan Sutter 0.0000.000
191688SAlan Stipp 0.0000.000
2015757Bradley Jameson 0.0000.000
21225WAllen Weisser 0.0000.000
222945Don Hammer 0.0000.000
231335Ethan Weber 0.0000.000
2497Tim Nash 0.0000.000
25816CJohn Clippinger 0.0000.000
26120JGarrett Jameson 0.0000.000
27117NDillon Nusbaum 0.0000.000
282836Eric Vaughan 0.0000.000
292121MWilly Myers 0.0000.000
3030121Deece Schwartz 0.0000.000
312521DDanny Schwartz 0.0000.000
Redraw Order Results