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MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Back to Business this Weekend at Kankakee and Red Hill

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Back to Business this Weekend at Kankakee and Red Hill

FAIRBURY, IL (August 18, 2025) – After a weekend off, the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends drivers, teams, staff, and fans are readied for the final stretch of the 2025 season. Starting this weekend, the MARS Championship Tours will hit the roads hard as one, if not both, series will be in action each and every weekend through the first weekend of October with the exception of World 100 weekend. A dozen MARS Late Model events remain on the calendar with the first two being on tap this weekend: Kankakee County Speedway and Red Hill Raceway.

Friday, August 22, the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends tour heads north to the Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois for the Big Daddy Scrap 40. MARS Late Models will battle 40 laps for a $5,000 top prize where the best in the Midwest will converge for the only stop at Kankakee on the tour’s schedule in 2025. Last season’s MARS Late Model event was a dandy as Urbana, Missouri driver Dillon McCowan topped Bob Gardner and Kye Blight after 40 laps. Last year the MARS stop was in the month of May while it was shifted to August this year. Track promoter Billy Knippenberg and Kankakee County Speedway fans are eager to get back to racing, as much like most of the Midwest, has been in a constant battle with mother nature as she has claimed 5 of the 14 scheduled events this season. Friday will be the first race since July 18 thanks to the combination of weather and the Kankakee County Fair festivities. This Friday night will be the first of six straight weeks of racing to cap off the 2025 season at the speedway.

Following a night in northern Illinois, the convoy of the MARS tour will head three hours south to the Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Illinois for the third annual Red Hill Rumble. 2025 marks race season number four for track owner Jeremy Sneed at the 3/8-mile high-banked oval, and his most ambitious schedule yet, with sixteen events on the initial schedule for the season. A wide array of events littered the schedule this season including USAC Sprint Cars, Midwest Thunder 410 Sprint Car tour, DIRTcar Summer Nationals, MOWA Sprint Cars, and the Jay Jones Memorial for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds among other events. Unfortunately, the MARS Modified stop for the month of May was claimed by mother nature. Last year it was Ryan Unzicker victorious in MARS competition at the speedway after 30 laps with Jason Feger and Justin Duty rounding out the podium.

After events at Sycamore and Macon two weeks ago, the battle for the Midwest Sheet Metal points lead has begun to once again heat up. With his $10,000 dollar win at the KerbyStrong at Macon Speedway, Ryan Unzicker has shrunken the gap between he and current points leader Jason Feger to only 25 points. Tony Jackson rides third in series standings ahead of fourth place Shannon Babb by a mere 8 points. Oregon native Justin Duty currently rounds out the top 5.

Daryn Klein continues to lead the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year chase, as he has most of the season, but the race at the top is beginning to tighten as we head down the final stretch of the season. Jake Little is now only 27 points behind Klein with Festus, Missouri driver Jeff Herzog only 16 points behind Little. Brennon Willard rounds out the field of remaining rookies in fourth after a tough weekend last time out.

Event Info

Friday, August 22

Kankakee County Speedway
Kankakee, Illinois

Big Daddy Scrap 40

$5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
DIRTcar Stock Cars
Vintage Cars
DIRTcar Pro Modifieds
Crown Vics

Pits open at 4:00 P.M.
Grandstands open at 5:30 P.M.
Drivers Meeting at 5:45 P.M.
Hot Laps at 6:15 P.M.

Adult General Admission $30
General Admission for Kids ages 11 and under FREE

Pit Pass $45
Pit Pass for Kids ages 5-10 $25
Pit Pass for Kids ages 4 and under FREE

Saturday, August 23

Red Hill Raceway
Sumner, Illinois

Red Hill Rumble

$5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
B-Modifieds
DIRTcar Hornets

Pits open at 4:00 P.M.
Grandstands open at 5:00 P.M.
Drivers Meeting at 6:15 P.M.
Hot Laps at 6:45 P.M.

Adult General Admission $25
General Admission for Kids ages 6-12 $5
General Admission for Kids ages 5 and under FREE

Pit Pass $45
Pit Pass for Kids ages 10 and under $25

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Tire Rule for each night:

LF: Any (90) Hoosier
RF: Hoosier NLMT2 (90)
LR: Hoosier NLMT2 (90)
RR: Hoosier NLMT3 (92) or Hoosier NLMT4 (92)

Grooving and Siping will be permitted.

Event Purse

MARS Late Model Friday & Saturday A-Main payout: 1) $5,000 2) $2,500 3) $2,000 4) $1,600 5) $1,400 6) $1,200 7) $1,000 8) $800 9) $700 10) $600 11) $500 12) $500 13) $500 14) $500 15) $500 16) $500 17) $500 18) $500 19) $500 20) $500 21) $500 22) $500. Non-Transfer Tow Money - $120

MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Point Standings (Top 15)

1. Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – 892 Points
2. Ryan Unzicker – El Paso, IL – 867 Points
3. Tony Jackson Jr – Lebanon, MO – 769 Points
4. Shannon Babb – Moweaqua, IL – 761 Points
5. Justin Duty – Molalla, OR – 743 Points
6. Daryn Klein – Fairview Heights, IL – 603 Points
7. Jake Little – Springfield, IL – 576 Points
8. Jeff Herzog – Festus, MO – 560 Points
9. Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – 557 Points
10. McKay Wenger – Fairbury, IL – 506 Points
11. Brennon Willard – Lebanon, MO – 505 Points
12. Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 465 Points
13. Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 445 Points
14. Bob Gardner – Washington, IL – 441 Points
15. Mark Voigt – Marine, IL – 383 Points

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Standings

1. Daryn Klein – Fairview Heights, IL – 603 Points
2. Jake Little – Springfield, IL – 576 Points
3. Jeff Herzog – Festus, MO – 560 Points
4. Brennon Willard – Lebanon, MO – 505 Points

2025 MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends Statistics

Pontiac RV Heat Race #1 Winner

Shannon Babb – 4
Brian Shirley – 2
Bobby Pierce – 2
Ricky Thornton Jr – 1
Carson Ferguson – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Allen Weisser – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Tony Jackson Jr – 1
Daryn Klein – 1
Mike Spatola – 1

FK Rod Ends 1st Place Finisher

Bobby Pierce – 6
Jason Feger – 4
Ryan Unzicker – 3
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Shannon Babb – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Dennis Erb Jr – 1
Tyler Erb – 1

FK Rod Ends 5th Place Finisher

Tony Jackson Jr – 3
Garrett Alberson – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Shannon Babb – 1
Allen Weisser – 1
Austin Howes – 1
Jordan Bauer – 1
Guy Taylor – 1
McKay Wenger – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Ryan Unzicker – 1
Chris Simpson – 1
Justin Duty – 1
Jeff Herzog – 1
Jason Feger – 1

Fairbury Fasteners 7th Place Finisher

McKay Wenger – 2
Jason Feger – 2
Daryn Klein – 2
Justin Duty – 2
Jeff Herzog – 2
Ryan Gustin – 1
Dennis Erb Jr – 1
Daniel Adam – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Ryan Unzicker – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Shannon Babb – 1
Rusty Griffaw – 1

Budda by Bert Transmission 9th Place Finisher

Jason Feger – 4
Brian Shirley – 2
Shannon Babb – 2
Dylan Thornton – 1
Jake Little – 1
Brennon Willard – 1
Mike Harrison – 1
Jordan Bauer – 1
Justin Duty – 1
Tyler Erb – 1
Kayden Clatt – 1
Billy Moyer Jr – 1
Todd Rehg – 1

Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher

Shannon Babb – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Derrick Stewart – 1
Chris Simpson – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Tony Jackson Jr – 1
Justin Duty – 1
Mike McKinney – 1
Blaze Burwell – 1
Jeffrey Ledford – 1
Trevor Gundaker – 1
McKay Wenger – 1
Dennis Erb Jr – 1
Jeff Herzog – 1
Jason Wagner – 1
Zach Taylor – 1
Mike Provenzano – 1
Mark Voigt – 1

Keyser Manufacturing 13th Place Finisher

Bob Gardner – 2
Daryn Klein – 2
Zach Taylor – 2
Chris Simpson – 1
Ryan Unzicker – 1
McKay Wenger – 1
Trevor Gundaker – 1
Mike McKinney – 1
Guy Taylor – 1
Reid Millard – 1
Mike Provenzano – 1
Mike Spatola – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Shannon Babb – 1
Tommy Sheppard Jr – 1

Fast Shafts 15th Place Finisher

Justin Duty – 2
McKay Wenger – 2
Jake Little – 2
Mike Spatola – 1
Chad Simpson – 1
Andy Clark – 1
Mark Voigt – 1
Austin Howes – 1
Myles Moos – 1
Aaron Marrant – 1
Rich Bell – 1
Daryn Klein – 1
Roben Huffman – 1
Kayden Clatt – 1
Billy Moyer Jr – 1

MD3 Hard Charger Award Winner

Tony Jackson Jr – 3
Ryan Unzicker – 3
Jason Feger – 1
Dennis Erb Jr – 1
Daryn Klein – 1
Bob Gardner – 1
Trevor Gundaker – 1
Mike Provenzano – 1
Brennon Willard – 1
Bobby Pierce – 1
Jason Wagner – 1
Jake Little – 1
Greg Cantrell – 1
Greg Kimmons – 1

Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winner

Bob Gardner – 3
Ryan Unzicker – 2
Gordy Gundaker – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Frank Heckenast Jr – 1
Kayden Clatt – 1
Cody Maguire – 1
Guy Taylor – 1
Rodney Melvin – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Thomas Hunziker – 1
Daryn Klein – 1
Michael Kloos – 1
Jeremy Spoonmore – 1
Quenton Lewis – 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winner

Daryn Klein – 8
Jeff Herzog – 6
Jake Little – 3
Austin Howes – 1

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

• TIGHT AT THE TOP: New year… Same story… With some of the toughest competition ever on the MARS tour added to the roster for 2025, you began to wonder after the first 10 events how exactly the season would shake down. With a dozen races remaining the picture is becoming clearer as Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker have distanced themselves from the field. This weekend is another intriguing one between the two as both have had their rounds of success at Kankakee over the past decade while Unzicker picked up the most recent MARS event at Red Hill (in 2024) while Feger picked up the DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory at Red Hill back in July.

• ROOKIE BATTLE HEATING UP: Daryn Klein has headed the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year battle thanks to his constant consistency throughout the season. But as he has hit a summer slump, the competition has picked up their game behind him. Klein’s best finish in his past 6 features is a 10th place at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway and from the looks of the rear-view mirror, he must improve on that streak this weekend to continue to lead the pack.

• HERZOG HEROICS: If there was an award for most improved driver for this stage of the season it would definitely go to Jeff Herzog. He has maneuvered himself up to 8th in season standings thanks to his rally that has included four consecutive top 7 finishes.

• HEARTBREAKER FOR LITTLE: The driver that still needs a tip-of-the-hat two weeks later is Springfield, Illinois driver Jake Little. Little was destined for his first career MARS victory at Macon two weeks ago until a stumble through the holes in the track coming out of turn 4 cost him as Unzicker snuck by him at the finish line. This is the third consecutive season that Little has tried to conquer the MARS tour, with attrition setting in the first two tries. This season Little looks bound to complete the schedule with hopefully finding victory lane along the way.

• DUTY CONTINUING TO CLIMB: Justin Duty continues to have a strong showing in 2025 after picking up his second podium of the season our last night out at Macon. Duty, much like Jeff Herzog, has finished top 7 in his last 5 starts on the tour.

If you are unable to make it to the track, you can catch EVERY MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends event in 2025 live at floracing.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, 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 2025 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), 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, 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, QuickCar Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Midwest Sheet Metal, Shepard Synthetics, and Allgaier Performance.

MARS Championship Upcoming Events

• August 22, 2025 – Kankakee County Speedway – Kankakee, IL – Big Daddy Scrap 40 – $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends

• August 23, 2025 – Red Hill Raceway – Sumner, IL – Red Hill Rumble – $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends

• August 29, 2025 – Farmer City Raceway – Farmer City, IL – Chuckwagon Food Services 40 – $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends

• August 30, 2025 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – Illinois Dirt Shootout – $10,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $10,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

• August 31, 2025 – Spoon River Speedway – Canton, IL – Plowboy Nationals – $10,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $10,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

(Jack Reitz Photo)

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