Macon Speedway facts for kids
Macon Speedway, located in Macon, Illinois, is one of Illinois's top dirt racetracks. It's also one of the longest-running racetracks in the state, having been open for many years without stopping.
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History of Macon Speedway
Macon Speedway was built in 1946 by Wayne Webb. It was built on the site of an old brick factory on the west side of Macon. The track has been open and holding races ever since it first started. Over the years, the buildings and facilities have changed a lot. However, the size of the track itself has stayed the same since it was first built.
The track's length has been called both 1/4 mile and 1/5 mile at different times. For many years, it was known as "The World's fastest 1/5 mile dirt track." It was also once called "The Other Brickyard." This name was a nod to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is also known as "The Brickyard." Macon Speedway got its nickname because old bricks from the factory sometimes came up to the track's surface. Many famous dirt track drivers have raced at Macon Speedway over the years.
The Webb Family Era
The Webb family owned and ran Macon Speedway for many years. Wayne Webb and his brother Lloyd managed the track under the name Webb Enterprises. They hosted many different kinds of motor-vehicle races. These included USAC Midgets and Sprints, as well as other races not officially organized by big groups.
Macon Speedway also held exciting Figure-8 races. These races are why the track has a unique triangle-shaped stand for the judges. The track was known for some "weird" and fun events too! One was a "Roundy-round Demo Derby." In this race, cars had to complete a certain number of laps. But they also had to crash into another car between the fourth corner and the finish line. Another unique event was a "Headlight Demo Derby." For this race, all the track lights were turned off. Drivers had to compete using only their car's headlights. To win, a driver had to knock out all other cars while still having working headlights.
Macon also hosted long races. These included 75-lap races for Street Cars. These cars later became known as Sportsman cars, and then UMP Sportsman cars. There were also "Enduro" races that lasted three hours or 300 laps.
One of the most important races at Macon was the Herald and Review 100. This race was for UMP Late Models. It became one of the biggest races in the Midwest. With a prize of $10,000, it attracted famous Late Model drivers from all over the United States.
Track Enterprises Takes Over
In 1985, a local race promoter named Bob Sargent leased Macon Speedway. His company, Track Enterprises, quickly partnered Macon with the new group called United Midwestern Promoters (UMP). This partnership lasted for many years. Sargent and Track Enterprises helped make Macon a top track for racing in the Midwest.
Because of its UMP connection, Macon hosted many races with big prize money. Drivers like Gary Webb, Scott Bloomquist, Ken Schrader, Billy Moyer, and Jim Leka won these big races at Macon Speedway. In 1994, Macon switched to the NASCAR Winston Racing Series for its weekly races. This was to get some of the large amount of money that RJ Reynolds was putting into motorsports back then. The annual Herald & Review 100 race, however, remained a UMP-sanctioned event.
From 1998 to Today
In 1998, Track Enterprises sold Macon Speedway to a group of investors. Macon continued its partnership with NASCAR's Winston Racing Series. A year later, Macon's top racing class, Late Models, was stopped. This meant many top drivers had to find other places to race.
In 2001, Macon Speedway joined up with UMP again. This happened after the Webb family bought the speedway back. Rich Webb, the son of founder Wayne Webb and a former driver at Macon, was involved in the purchase. Macon Speedway closed its 2006 season early. This was because the costs to run the track were too high. Not enough money was coming in from ticket sales, advertising, and other sources. However, on the last night of races in 2006, 100 race cars still showed up for the final event.
In 2007, Macon Speedway was sold again. Former owner Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises teamed up with NASCAR stars Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, and Tony Stewart. They became co-owners of Macon Speedway. They made some great improvements to the track. These included new safety fences and repaired grandstands. They also added new billboards along the backstretch. Plus, they bought 12 acres of nearby farmland. This land was turned into a bigger pit area for the racers.
These improvements, along with three nights of racing that included NASCAR drivers, helped bring in huge crowds in 2007. The special NASCAR nights sold out! These changes also helped attract more local racers. The 2008 season had many of the same big races. It also added a new attraction: rides in Macon Speedway's new 2-seater Late Model Race Car.
Today, the track regularly hosts races for UMP Modifieds, UMP Pro Crate Late Models, UMP B-Mods, UMP Street Stocks, and UMP Hornets. Super Late Models, UMP Sportsman, Midgets, and 410 Winged Sprint Cars also visit for special events throughout the season.
Famous Drivers and Achievements
Macon Speedway has been the home track for several National Champions over the years. One of the most notable is Jeff Leka. He was the 1999 NASCAR Heartland Regional, NASCAR Winston Racing Series Champion, and NASCAR Winston Racing Series National Champion. Macon was also the home track for the 1989 UMP National Champion. In 2007, Macon Speedway hosted Speed TV's show "Night of NASCAR Stars."
Here are some other famous drivers who used to race weekly at Macon and achieved national success:
- Shannon Babb: He is the second-winningest driver in DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals history with 97 wins. He has won the Summer Nationals series four times and the Dirt Track World Championship twice.
- Justin Allgaier: He was the 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Champion and has won races in the Xfinity Series.
- Jim Leka: He was the 1989 UMP Late Model National Champion.
- Jeff Leka: He was the 1999 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Overall Champion (Modified) and the 2008 UMP Modified National Champion.
- Brian Shirley: He won the 2006 Knoxville Late Model Nationals and is a touring driver in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
- Brandon Sheppard: He was the 2017 World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion. He has won the Dirt Track World Championship twice and was the 2015 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year.
Types of Racing Classes
Current Classes
- UMP Modifieds
- UMP Sportsman
- UMP Street Stocks
- UMP Hornets
- UMP B-Modifieds
- UMP Pro (Crate) Late Models
- UMP and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Super Late Models (4-5 events per season)
- POWRi Midgets (Multiple special shows)
- POWRi Division II Midgets (formerly Lightning Sprints)
- 600cc Winged Outlaw Micro Sprints (POWRi & Unsanctioned)
- 410 Winged Sprint Cars (Built FORD Tough MOWA Sprint Car Series, twice a year)
Former Classes
- NMMRO Mini-Sprints
- Bombers
- Mini-Stocks
- Street Cars
- "Outlaw" Late Models
- Winged Late Models
- Sprint Cars
- USAC Midgets
- Super Stocks
- 6-Cylinders
Track Record
The fastest single lap record for a Late Model qualifying race is 10.228 seconds. This record was set by Billy Moyer from Batesville, Arkansas on May 10, 2015. It happened during the 2nd Annual St. Louis U Pic A Part 100 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. The previous record was 10.311 seconds. Kyle Logue from Cisco, Illinois set that record on May 10, 2008.
