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Inaugural Illinois Dirt Shootout set to Debut Memorial Day Weekend 2024 for the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment at FALS

Inaugural Illinois Dirt Shootout set to Debut Memorial Day Weekend 2024 for the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment at Fairbury Speedway

FAIRBURY, IL (November 22, 2023) Modified drivers in the DIRTcar world have long looked for a blockbuster event where they truly take center stage. In 2024 the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment and Fairbury Speedway make that a reality. For the first time in history, DIRTcar UMP Modified teams throughout the Midwest will race in a World 100-hyped-feel event with the inaugural Illinois Dirt Shootout paying $20,000-to-win, and $2,000 just to start the main event. With an event purse nearly touching $200,000, and a feature payout surpassing $90,000, Modified teams throughout the country will have a chance to etch their name into the history books at America’s Dirt Track with major money on the line.

Sanctioned by the MARS Modified Championship powered by Summit Racing Equipment, the Illinois Dirt Shootout will take place on Memorial Day weekend May 23 through May 25, 2024. The first ever 3-day show at #FALS will bring in the best Modified drivers across the country as they battle in an “every lap matters” points format leading up to the 60-lap Feature finale.

“This has been two years in the making trying to put this event together” said Fairbury Speedway owner Matt Curl. “For the past number of years, the Modifieds throughout the Midwest have deserved a crown jewel event, and we are proud to bring it to them!” “Hopefully the support for this race will allow for long-term sustainability and I believe we have done a great job building this event from top to bottom.”

Pre-registration for the Illinois Dirt Shootout will open January 1, 2024, online at fairburyspeedway.com. The entry fee for the weekend will be $150 in advance which will include transponder rental. The first 150 entries will be locked into the Illinois Dirt Shootout.

Along with the MARS Modified Championship Series, Late Models will be in action throughout the weekend as well. An optional practice on Thursday, May 23 will give drivers a chance to get dialed in for the weekend’s festivities. A full FALS Cup Late Model show will take place on Friday, May 24 paying $2,500-to-win, and will culminate with a MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends event race paying $5,000-to-win on Saturday, May 25.

“An event like this has long been a thought of mine over the past few years” said MARS Modified Series Director Jonathan Clayton. “The support of the DIRTcar UMP Modified community nationwide over the course of our 2023 MARS season really helped determine that now was the time to give this event life.” “I am truly thrilled to showcase the Modified division with a blockbuster event such as this.”

On Thursday and Friday MARS Modified drivers will be split into Group A and Group B for each night’s show based on pill draw. Drivers will qualify within their group, heat race, run last chance showdowns, and feature events each night. 2 A-Mains will be held each night with 48 cars running main events nightly. MARS Modified drivers will be given a hot lap session prior to their qualifying on Thursday evening.

Drivers will accumulate points throughout the first two nights of racing action from their qualifying results, heat race finishes, last chance showdowns, and final feature rundown. After all the results are calculated, the top-12 drivers from the point standings will be locked into the Illinois Dirt Shootout. Positions 13-84 in points will line up in (4) last chance showdowns on Saturday with the top 3 from each last chance showdown transferring into the big dance. The first non-transfer in each last chance showdown will pocket $1,000.

Drivers with point totals in positions 85-150 will line up in (4) C-Mains with the top-2 in each of those respectable races transferring into the back of the last chance showdowns.

Illinois Dirt Shootout Weekend Schedule

Thursday, May 23

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Full Show with split features $1,500-to-win, $200-to-start.
Optional practice for Late Models

Friday, May 24

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Full Show with split features $1,500-to-win, $200-to-start.
Full show for FALS Cup Late Models $2,500-to-win, $300-to-start.

Saturday, May 25

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment C-Mains, Last Chance Showdowns, and the Illinois Dirt Shootout $20,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start main event.
MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends $5,000-to-win, $500-to-start.

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Illinois Dirt Shootout Nightly Payouts

Thursday Features (2 Feature Events to be ran with 48 cars making a Feature)

1. $1,500 2. $1,250 3. $1,000 4. $900 5. $800 6. $700 7. $600 8. $500 9. $400 10. $300 11. $200 12. $200 13. $200 14. $200 15. $200 16. $200 17. $200 18. $200 19. $200 20. $200 21. $200 22. $200 23. $200 24. $200. DNQ = $35

Friday Features (2 Feature Events to be ran with 48 cars making a Feature)

1. $1,500 2. $1,250 3. $1,000 4. $900 5. $800 6. $700 7. $600 8. $500 9. $400 10. $300 11. $200 12. $200 13. $200 14. $200 15. $200 16. $200 17. $200 18. $200 19. $200 20. $200 21. $200 22. $200 23. $200 24. $200. DNQ = $35

Saturday Feature Event

1. $20,000 2. $10,000 3. $7,500 4. $5,000 5. $4,000 6. $3,600 7. $3,300 8. $3,000 9. $2,750 10. $2,500 11. $2,450 12. $2,400 13. $2,350 14. $2,300 15. $2,250 16. $2,200 17. $2,150 18. $2,100 19. $2,050 20. $2,000 21. $2,000 22. $2,000 23. $2,000 24. $2,000. TOTAL = $91,900

Each (4) Last Chance Showdown on Saturday

1. TRANSFER 2. TRANSFER 3. TRANSFER 4. $1,000 5. $500 6. $450 7. $400 8. $350 9. $300 10. $250 11. $200 12. $180 13. $160 14. $140 15. $120 16. $100 17. $100 18. $100 19. $100 20. $100. DNS = $45

All C-Main starters that fail to transfer to the Last Chance Showdown events will receive $75.

Full event details including pit parking, reserved seating, reserved camping, event times, weekend point structure, and full order of events will be posted in the coming weeks.

Sponsors or interested partners looking to be part of this historic inaugural event can reach out to Fairbury Speedway Owner Matt Curl at 309-532-7862 or Series Director Jonathan Clayton at 731-467-1316. Interested parties can also reach out via email at fairburyspeedway@gmail.com or marsracingseries@gmail.com.

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 (Formerly Twitter), 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: FK Rod Ends, Summit Racing Equipment, Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts, Flo Racing, Racing Electronics, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Illinois State Rifle Association, Pontiac RV, Allstar Performance, O’Reilly Auto Parts, DIRTcar Racing, Driscoll Motors, Woods Basement Systems, 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, Out-Pace Racing Products, Keyser Manufacturing, Varsitee Screenprinting, Willy’s Carb & Dyno, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Trackside Racewear, and Hooker Harness.

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