6/19/2023
Charleston Speedway
97 Entries, Erwin with a clean sweep, Pro Modified feature goes into overtime, Wilson wins 3rd in a row--
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6.17.2023 CHARLESTON SPEEDWAY: CHARLESTON, IL.
Yet another absolutely gorgeous evening at The Charleston Speedway. We have been so blessed of late with outstanding weather to enjoy racing, both for fans and teams!
At our last outing, the racing surface threw Brad and his staff a curve ball with an uncharacteristic rough surface. Determined to not let that happen again, extra time and effort were put into this week surface and boy did it pay off! Multiple lanes of racing, smooth, somewhat of a curb to lean on, grip on the bottom, grip on top, lil slick, and not too dusty provided for some GREAT racing! Danny Schwartz started his Modified 16th and worked his way through the field to WIN the DIRTcar Modified Feature. This is just one example of the multiple lanes of racing that the racing surface offered. Atta boy to Brad and the entire track prep crew!
We single-car qualified 4 divisions. Quick time went to the following:
DIRTcar Modified, #63 Dustin King; 14.327
DIRTcar Pro Modified, #23OG Bryce Farr; 15.083
DIRTcar Street Stock, #14 Megan Erwin; 15.504
DIRTcar Factory Stock, #90 Lee Joseph Hall; 16.963
Qualifying in the books, it was time for track chaplain Noah Manship to offer the invocation and Lucy Ross to sing the greatest song in the USA, our National Anthem!
7:03pm, Heat races would get underway. Megan Erwin with a quick time gave her the #1 starting position, and beside the challenge from #91 Jordan Smith, Megan led every lap and won Heat #1. Fast time, and Heat #1 win meant the #14 of Erwin would start P1 in the Street Stock feature! The green flag dropped and the 15 lap Feature was underway. Megan put her #14 out front and led the field. The 2022 Charleston Speedway Track Champion #42 Jesse Simmons would put up an incredibly valiant fight, but Erwin would not relinquish the lead! 15 laps in the books and the #14 of Megan Erwin completed the clean sweep in the DIRTcar Street Stock Division! The DIRTcar Street Stock Feature can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/DbrrYCBrfWk
All heat races provided for some excellent side by side racing. Videographer Zack Carter went live to our FB page for some of the heat race action for those not able to attend. Here are the list of heat race winners:
DIRTcar Modified: #63 Dustin King & #J24 Jeremy Nichols
DIRTcar Pro Modified: #23OG Bryce Farr & 121 Deece Schwartz
DIRTcar Street Stock: #14 Megan Erwin & #42 Jesse Simmons
DIRTcar Factory Stock: #66JR Steve Nolen & #X Randy Smyser
Limited Late Model: #61 Jammie Wilson & #10C Colby Eller
DIRTcar Hornet: #19 Dee Friar & #28 Jimmy Dutlinger
DIRTcar KidModz: #3X Keatin Lyons
Heat races in the books-Feature line-ups set, after a 20 minute intermission--It was FEATURE TIME! Features started by 9pm with the DIRTcar Modified division and man was it a show! The opening laps of the race provided great racing between #J24 Nichols and #63 King as they went back and forth for the lead. Nichols lead the first 9 laps with King right there every lap. Austin Lynn in the 72A kept the leaders honest with constant pressure as well. However, with all that happening at the front, the 21D of Danny Schwartz was closing in. Danny took the lead on lap 10, had to give it up for laps 13 & 14, but when he took it back on lap 15, he never looked back! Nichols would hang on to finish 2nd and Lynn finished 3rd. This race was awesome to see in person, and if you weren’t able to attend or just want to relive the excitement, you can watch it by clicking the link: https://youtu.be/95aFk4lHy3A
The DIRTcar Pro Modified feature would eventually be won by the #121 of Deece Schwartz, but not before the race was ravaged by multiple cautions. Several single car and 2 car incidents caused the race to run well past 20minutes before reaching lap 5. One yellow flag incident that involved multiple cars occurred on a restart where the #23OG of Bryce Farr and the #59 of JD Evans got together coming to the green that collected in the 40J of Johnny Nethery, the #69 of Mason Lynch, the #66 of Kaleb Stephens, the #8 of Jimmy Wheatley, the #29 of Josh Orman and the 21JR of Drew Schwartz. Several cars were not able to continue but that did not mean the racing would suffer. Deece Schwartz, Gabe Menser, and Brayden Doyle went to battle and the racing was GREAT. The race was nearly called due to passing it’s time limit, but as we vow to make every attempt to finish every event with a checkered flag at the posted distance, the field was notified this was the last attempt to complete the race and they proceeded to show the fans what they are made of, side by side, door to door, wheel to wheel, incredible racing to the posted distance. The 121 of Deece Schwartz found victory lane yet again, while #44 of Gabe Menser would have to settle for 2nd and #2 of Brayden Doyle finished 3rd. Although, the race started off unfavorably, and we absolutely hate seeing tore up race cars; the DIRTcar Pro Modified division ended up putting on a GREAT show for all the fans. The complete race can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/a3iNF7AKam4
Our Limited Late Model Division has a new name at the top of the chart. #61 Jammie Wilson has won 3 features in a row. The Hoopeston, IL. native has ran up front the past couple of seasons, but this season in particular, he has been a force to be reckoned with. Jammie’s son, Chase Wilson set fast time and won his heat race last week, so racing definitely runs in the family, but it appears dad has a few tricks he’s not yet shared with the youngster. Jammie led lap 1 and every lap there after to claim his 3rd WIN in a row. Congratulations Jammie! The complete race can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mza_uy3Tzhw
The track surface was great, the weather was great, and the on track action was better than GREAT--Not to mention the drivers, teams and speedway staff are working hard to get the show on track and over in a respectable time frame. 7 Divisions, 97 Race cars; Started right on time at 7pm, had a short 25min intermission, and everything in the books by 11pm. That is a HUGE success!! If you didn’t make it out to The Charleston Speedway, make plans NOW to be at one of the 2 races on tap for this week!
Next up is a midweek race on June 22nd, it is the opener of Illinois Speedweek for the POWRi National Midgets. DIRTcar Modified, DIRTcar Pro Modified and DIRTcar Hornets will be racing along side the Mighty Midgets. This is the ONLY Open Wheel event on the 2023 schedule--SO DON’T MISS IT!
Then Saturday June 24th will be The Summer Shootout. Our 6 Divisions will compete for normal purse money AND DOUBLE TRACK POINTS. The coveted title of Charleston Speedway Track Champion is on the line, and for those who have struggled, this is an opportunity to gain some much needed points, but for those leading points, this will be an opportunity to stretch that lead by collecting DOUBLE POINTS! You won’t want to miss this event!
Make plans NOW, June 22nd and June 24th, The Charleston Speedway is the place to be!!
Here are the Winners from 6.17.2023
DIRTcar Modified 21D DANNY SCHWARTZ
DIRTcar Pro Modified 121 DEECE SCHWARTZ
DIRTcar Street Stock 14 MEGAN ERWIN
Limited Late Model 61 JAMMIE WILSON
DIRTcar Factory Stock 90 LEE JOSEPH HALL
DIRTcar Hornets 28 JIMMY DUTLINGER
KidModz 3X Keatin Lyons
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON…………..AT THE RACES!!!
#chuckvegas
Pictures can be viewed and purchased here: https://srldesigns.smugmug.com/CHARLESTON-2023/6-17-2023/i-KN6VkQp
Photo credit: SRL Designs, Scott Leeman
Feature Event Videos can be viewed here:
DIRTcar Factory Stock Feature: https://youtu.be/JkDLziPM_kc
DIRTcar Hornet Feature: https://youtu.be/Z_fn4Z1DzQM
KidModz Feature: https://youtu.be/Ae0FcHhddYQ.
Zack Carter Videographer.
Submitted By: Sonny Ross
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