5/14/2022
Ashton Winger
12th-place finish in Illinois Speedweek opener at Spoon River
Ashton Winger made the trek to Spoon River Speedway (Banner, Ill.) on Wednesday afternoon to compete in the inaugural Illinois Speedweek. (Josh James Artwork)
Drawing a stout field of 56 Castrol FloRacing Night in America mini-series entries, Winger claimed the fast time honors with a 13.270-second lap in time trials before placing first in his heat. Rolling off on the pole for the feature, Ashton led the first 21 circuits until a charging Brandon Sheppard snuck by. After getting spun around on the ensuing restart, Winger raced from the tail to finish 12th in the 50-lapper.
For another $22,022-to-win Castrol FloRacing Night in America event on Thursday at Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, Ill.), Ashton was taken out by another competitor in his heat race, relegating him into the B-Main. Slated to start in 17th, Winger was a scratch to save equipment.
On Friday evening at Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, Ill.) for the MARS Racing Series-sanctioned Farmer City 74 presented by Douglas Dodge, Winger clocked in ninth-fastest in his group before placing third in his heat. With $15,000 on the line in the feature, Ashton dropped two spots in the 50-lapper to finish 19th.
To wrap up the inaugural Illinois Speedweek, Ashton stopped at Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, Ill.) on Saturday for the Titan Industries FALS Spring Shootout. Following the fourth-fastest time in his group, Winger secured his spot the $30,000-to-win finale with a second-place finish in his heat. Starting in seventh, Ashton was an early retiree with 12 circuits remaining.
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