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Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area Doubleheader Up Next for MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Tour

Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area Doubleheader Up Next for MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Tour

FAIRBURY, IL (April 16, 2024) – With the first weekend of the season in the history books for the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment, all sights are set for what’s next. Last weekend was travel friendly as we raced at Farmer City two consecutive nights at the same location. This weekend is the next best thing: two tracks separated by only a 30-minute drive. On Friday night, the series will make their second all-time appearance to the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois while on Saturday the action shifts to the World-Famous Highland Speedway in Highland, Illinois for the first stop of two in 2024.

Last season at the Tri-City event, an epic battle for the lead transpired throughout the race between Michael Long and Josh Harris, but ultimately it was Treb Jacoby blasting the top on a restart with 2-to-go to take home his first career MARS Modified victory. These 3, plus many more are expected to be in attendance Friday night as this will be Tri-City’s season opener. In the 1 visit all-time to the World-Famous Highland Speedway for the series, Michael Long was victorious over defending Highland Speedway track champion Owen Steinkoenig and Ray Bollinger. 29 cars were in attendance for the event held last year.

With 1 weekend of racing in the books 2 juggernauts of Modified racing currently sit tied atop the MARS Modified point standings: Michael Long and Mike McKinney. St. Charles, Missouri driver Kyle Steffens currently holds third place after a pair of top-10 finishes at Farmer City. A driver that progressively improved over the weekend at Farmer City last weekend was Cole Falloway. His efforts of MD3 Hard Charger award on Friday night and a 4th place finish on Saturday was enough to boost him into fourth in series standings. Kyle Hammer and Michael Ledford are currently in a tie for fifth.

After a strong showing on opening night, Kyle Hammer leads the large contingent of Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year contingent with 2 nights completed. Treb Jacoby (Tri-City MARS feature winner in 2023), Lyndon Whitfill, Trey Harris, and Jarret Stryker currently round out the top-5. While Hammer leads the rookie standings by 33 points, 2nd-12th are only separated by 31 points.

Tri-City Speedway
Granite City, IL

Friday, April 19

$2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
$700-to-win B-Mods
Street Stocks (DIRTcar Factory Stocks)
DIRTcar 4-Cylinders
Kidz Mods

Pits open at 4:00 p.m.
Grandstands open at 5:30 p.m.
Drivers Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m.

Adult General Admission $20
General Admission ages 12 and under is FREE of charge
Pit Pass $40
Pit Pass ages 6-12 $15
Pit Pass ages 5 and under FREE

World Famous Highland Speedway
Highland, IL

Saturday, April 20

$2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
DIRTcar Pro Modifieds
Street Stocks (DIRTcar Factory Stocks)
Micro Sprints

Pits open at Noon
Grandstands open at 4:00 p.m.
Drivers Meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Hot Laps at 6:00 p.m.

Adult General Admission $20 (Box seat $25)
General Admission ages 13-18 $10
General Admission ages 12 and under FREE
Pit Pass $40
Pit Pass ages 12 and under $20

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment NIGHTLY Feature purse: 1) $2,000 2) $1,500 3) $1,200 4) $1,000 5) $800 6) $600 7) $500 8) $400 9) $300 10) $275 11) $250 12) $250 13) $250 14) $250 15) $250 16) $250 17) $250 18) $250 19) $250 20) $250 21) $250 22) $250. Non-Transfer Tow Money: $65 each night

2024 MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Statistics

Multi Fire X Fast Time Award Winners
Austin Friedman – 1
Michael Long – 1

Willy’s Carb & Dyno Heat Race #1 Winners
Michael Long – 1
Charlie Mefford – 1

Lethal Chassis Heat Race #2 Winners
Josh Harris – 1
Mike McKinney – 1

Summit Racing Equipment 1st Place Finisher
Michael Long – 1
Mike McKinney – 1

Fast Shafts 3rd place Finisher
Michael Ledford – 1
Kyle Steffens – 1

Keyser Manufacturing 7th Place Finisher
Allen Weisser – 1
Ray Bollinger – 1

MD3 Hard Charger Award Winners
Cole Falloway – 1
Lucas Lee – 1

Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winners
Ryan Thomas – 1
Rick Frasure – 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winners
Kyle Hammer – 2

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

• TIE AT THE TOP: With 1 weekend of competition in the books for the series, tough decisions are already having to be made for several teams, but none larger than for the race for the championship. Michael Long and Mike McKinney currently sit tied at the top of the standings. While Long plans to chase the tour in hopes of capturing another title, Mike McKinney was currently undecided on what his next move will be for the 2024 season. As one of the best Modified drivers in DIRTcar UMP Modified racing the past few seasons, does McKinney take his talents on tour for 2024 or continue picking and choosing?

• TOUGH LUCK: While having one of the best cars on property all weekend long at Farmer City, Josh Harris did not quite have the finishes he was looking for in the end. After winning his heat, and drawing the pole position for the feature, Harris fought a damaged nose for most of the feature event and spun with 3 laps remaining while running 4th. He finished 17th on that night. On Saturday he did not have as good of a qualifying effort as he hoped but charged throughout the night en route to a 10th place finish. Look for Harris to rebound this weekend after almost winning the Tri-City event in 2023.

• STARTING OFF STRONG: No one has been more dominant through 4 races at Highland this season than Freeburg, Illinois driver Zeb Moake. Moake has 2 victories, 3 top-5 finishes, and 4 top-10 finishes to his credit which has earned him a position at the top of the track point standings. But don’t think his dominance is something new. Last season he started on the pole for the MARS event at the speedway and ultimately finished a respectable 7th.

• KING OF THE LOU: There has been no one in the St. Louis region that has shown more speed as of late than Wentzville native Rick Conoyer. After a rough start to the season at Speedweeks, Conoyer has went on to finish podium at Clarksville Speedway for the Toilet Bowl, rattled off 3 straight wins between visits to Highland and Federated Auto Parts Raceway @ I-55, and is the current DIRTcar UMP national point leader. Will the Destroyer try his luck this weekend with the tour when the best in the Midwest rolls into town?

• MARS LATE MODEL KICKOFF: Next weekend the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends join the MARS Modifieds at Brownstown Bullring on Friday, Peoria Speedway on Saturday, and the Late Models will run a standalone show on Sunday at East Moline.

For more information about the MARS Dirt Series, please contact Jonathan Clayton at 731-467- 1316, visit the tour’s webpage at marsracingseries.com, or visit @MARSDirtRacing on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends and MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2024 racing season: FK Rod Ends (MARS Late Model title sponsor), Summit Racing Equipment (MARS Modified title sponsor), Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts (Official trailer and golf cart provider of the MARS Dirt Series), Flo Racing (Official streaming provider of the MARS Late Model tour), Racing Electronics (Official communications provider of the MARS Dirt Series), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official tire manufacturer of the MARS Dirt Series), Sunoco Race Fuels (Official fuel of the MARS Dirt Series and proud sponsor of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year chase all season long on the MARS Late Model & Modified Championship tours), Illinois State Rifle Association, Pontiac RV (Official RV Dealer of the MARS Dirt Series), Allstar Performance, O’Reilly Auto Parts, DIRTcar Racing, Driscoll Motors (Official dealership of the MARS Dirt Series), Woods Basement Systems (Official Basement Contractor of the MARS Dirt Series), MD3, Josh James Artwork, MWD Signs & Graphix, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, King’s Graphix, Dirt Draft, Digital Copy Systems, Whelen, Multi Fire X, Budda Bert Transmission, Dyer’s Top Rods, Fast Shafts, Wilwood Brakes, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Keyser Manufacturing, Varsitee Screenprinting, Willy’s Carb & Dyno, Trackside Racewear, Hooker Harness, Lethal Chassis, Remtek Enterprises, and QuickCar Racing Products.

MARS Championship Upcoming Events

o April 19, 2024 – Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, IL - $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

o April 20, 2024 – World Famous Highland Speedway – Highland, IL - $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

o April 26, 2024 – Brownstown Bullring – Brownstown, IL – Sievers JCB Diggin’ Dirt 40 $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & Sievers JCB Diggin’ Dirt 30 $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

o April 27, 2024 – Peoria Speedway – Peoria, IL – Garry Swibold Memorial $5,098-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $2,098-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

o April 28, 2024 – East Moline Speedway – East Moline, IL – MARS Invasion of East Moline – $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends

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