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MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment to Help Open the Season for Kankakee County Speedway and Red Hill Raceway This Weekend

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment to Help Open the Season for Kankakee County Speedway and Red Hill Raceway This Weekend

FAIRBURY, IL (April 28, 2025) – April showers bring May flowers… Or so they say. After fighting through the month of April with a handful of successful MARS Late Model and MARS Modified events, and losing some to mother nature along the way, we look to kick off the month of May with a MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment doubleheader at Kankakee County Speedway and Red Hill Raceway that will open the 2025 season at both facilities.

On Friday, May 2 the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment will make an appearance at the Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois for the 2nd annual Tom Pasek Memorial. Pasek was a beloved husband, son, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend that entered eternal life on January 10, 2024. He frequented many of the Illinois racetracks in his familiar #94 DIRTcar UMP Modified, especially Kankakee County Speedway, and we are excited to continue his legacy this Friday evening with one of the largest events on the schedule.

The 2nd annual Tom Pasek Memorial boasts a feature purse in excess of $20,000 while $5,094 will go to the victor and each driver that takes the green flag in the main event will receive $494. This is the second highest paying event for the tour in 2025 so expect an exceptional field of talent for this event. Last year the DIRTcar sanctioned event drew 45 cars with back-to-back MARS Modified Series champion Michael Long taking home the victory over Trevor Neville and Nick Allen.

Following the Friday night event, series staff and race teams will make the 3-hour trip south to the beautiful Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Illinois for a $2,000-to-win event on Saturday, May 3. This will mark race one of a fifteen race schedule in 2025, for the speedway, that includes DIRTcar UMP Modifieds at every single event. Red Hill is known for having one of the strongest contingents of DIRTcar UMP Modifieds weekly so expect many southern Illinois aces to mix it up with the best of the Midwest with the MARS tour.

Pontiac, Illinois driver Michael Ledford leads the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment standings into the weekend after picking up two consecutive victories in MARS competition. Cole Falloway currently resides in second with Michael Long, Ray Bollinger, and Success, Mississippi driver Chase Holland rounding out the top-5.

Beau DeYoung leads an impressive crop of Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year contenders into the month of May with Damian Kiefer, Matthew Baker, Alan Stipp, Zach Taylor, and a host of others hot on his heals for the coveted honors.

Event Info

Friday, May 2

Kankakee County Speedway
Kankakee, Illinois

2nd annual Tom Pasek Memorial

$5,094-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
DIRTcar Stock Cars
DIRTcar Pro Modifieds
DIRTcar Factory Stocks
DIRTcar Four Cylinders
Crown Vics

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

Adult General Admission $15
General Admission ages 11 and under free
Pit Pass $40
Pit Admission ages 5-10 $20
Pit Admission ages 4 and under free

Saturday, May 3

Red Hill Raceway
Sumner, Illinois

$2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
Midwest Thunder 410 Sprint Car Series
DIRTcar Hornets
B-Modifieds

Pits open at 3:30 p.m.
Grandstands open at 5:00 p.m.
Drivers Meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Hot Laps at 6:00 p.m.

Adult General Admission $25
General Admission ages 6-12 $5
General Admission ages 5 and under free
Pit Pass $40
Pit Admission ages 10 and under $25

Event Purse

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Friday, May 2 Feature purse: 1) $5,094 2) $2,500 3) $1,500 4) $1,250 5) $1,000 6) $900 7) $800 8) $750 9) $700 10) $600 11) $494 12) $494 13) $494 14) $494 15) $494 16) $494 17) $494 18) $494 19) $494 20) $494 21) $494 22) $494. Non-Transfer Tow Money: $65

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Saturday, May 3 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

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Point Standings (Top 20)

1. Michael Ledford – Pontiac, IL – 215 Points
2. Cole Falloway – Owensboro, KY – 197 Points
3. Michael Long – Fowler, IL – 166 Points
4. Ray Bollinger – Kewanee, IL – 162 Points
5. Chase Holland – Success, MS – 159 Points
6. Kyle Hammer – Clinton, IL – 152 Points
7. Beau DeYoung – DeMotte, IN – 148 Points
8. Austin Friedman – Fairbury, IL – 138 Points
9. Damian Kiefer – Ste. Genevieve, MO – 131 Points
10. Trevor Neville – Mackinaw, IL – 124 Points
11. Jeff Curl – Fairbury, IL – 118 Points
12. Matthew Baker – Kouts, IN – 109 Points
13. Mike McKinney – Plainfield, IL – 105 Points
14. Lyndon Whitfill – Fairbury, IL – 103 Points
15. Alan Stipp – Chatsworth, IL – 99 Points
16. Dave Wietholder – Liberty, IL – 97 Points
17. Zach Taylor – Springfield, IL – 97 Points
18. Tyler Nicely – Owensboro, KY – 85 Points
19. Zeke McKenzie – Claypool, IN – 82 Points
20. Ryan Hamilton – Fairview Heights, IL – 82 Points

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Point Standings (Top 10)

1. Beau DeYoung – DeMotte, IN – 148 Points
2. Damian Kiefer – Ste. Genevieve, MO – 131 Points
3. Matthew Baker – Kouts, IN – 109 Points
4. Alan Stipp – Chatsworth, IL – 99 Points
5. Zach Taylor – Springfield, IL – 97 Points
6. Ryan Hamilton – Fairview Heights, IL – 82 Points
7. Mark Roades – West Chicago, IL – 81 Points
8. Michael Mennel – Peoria, IL – 77 Points
9. Austin Seets – Brighton, IL – 61 Points
10. Wes Harms – Carmi, IL – 51 Points

2025 MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Statistics

Multi Fire X Fast Time Award Winner

Cole Falloway – 2
Chase Holland – 1

Willy’s Carb & Dyno Heat Race #1 Winner

Chase Holland – 2
Cole Falloway – 1

Lethal Chassis Heat Race #2 Winner

Mike McKinney – 1
Michael Ledford – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1

Allgaier Performance Heat Race #3 Winner

Cole Falloway – 1
Michael Long – 1
Beau DeYoung – 1

Shepard Synthetics 1st Place Finisher

Michael Ledford – 2
Mike McKinney – 1

Summit Racing Equipment 2nd Place Finisher

Cole Falloway – 2
Michael Long – 1

Fast Shafts 3rd Place Finisher

Michael Ledford – 1
Michael Long – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1

Keyser Manufacturing 7th Place Finisher

Tyler Nicely – 1
Beau DeYoung – 1
Austin Friedman – 1

Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher

Carson Friedman – 1
Trevor Neville – 1
Degan Dozard – 1

MD3 Hard Charger Award Winner

Dave Wietholder – 1
Damian Kiefer – 1
Degan Dozard – 1

Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winner

Mike Chasteen Jr – 1
Dave Wietholder – 1
Damian Kiefer – 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winner

Damian Kiefer – 2
Beau DeYoung – 1

Lethal Chassis Bonus Bucks Award Winner

Trevor Neville – 2
Degan Dozard – 1

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

• NEW TITLE FAVORITE: With what started as a weekend to sit behind the wheel of a chassis new to him has turned into a phenomenal start to the season for Michael Ledford. This weekend will be the crossroads for the young Pontiac, Illinois driver. While originally planning to pilot his new Dynasty Chassis DIRTcar Late Model on opening night at Fairbury Speedway on Saturday, will we now see him make the trek south to Red Hill with his hot start with the MARS tour?

• STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: With three races in the books for the tour so far, the tour is still maintaining an average car count of 34 cars per event. The more impressive number? 21 drivers have maintained perfect attendance to-date.

• RED HILL ROCKET: DIRTcar UMP Modified drivers know that when they roll into the Red Hill Raceway that there’s always a man to beat… Will Krup. The Mt. Carmel, Illinois driver was a perfect 8/8 in 2024 at the speedway.

• IMPRESSIVE OUT OF THE BOX: Drivers know that when they are planning to run with the MARS tour that the absolute best of the best in DIRTcar UMP Modified racing will be unloaded out of the box nightly. That statement hasn’t phased the DeMotte, Indiana driver, Beau DeYoung. After finishing 14th on the opening night of the Illini 100 he has improved his finishing position nightly and picked up a career best 4th-place finish with the tour at Peoria. Can he reach the podium this weekend?

• BACK ON TRACK: For most people, a 2nd, 3rd, and a 20th place finish to open the MARS season would honestly be a success. For Michael Long, that may or may not hold true. After being involved in a pair of unfortunate circumstances to open the season, Long will look to get back to victory lane on Friday at Kankakee… A race that he is the defending champion of.

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

• May 2, 2025 - Kankakee County Speedway - Kankakee, IL - Tom Pasek Memorial - $5,094-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

• May 3, 2025 - Red Hill Raceway - Sumner, IL - $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

• May 16, 2025 - Quincy Raceways - Quincy, IL - $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

• May 17, 2025 - World Famous Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends & $2,000-to-win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment

• May 23, 2025 - Tri-City Speedway - Granite City, IL - $5,000-to-win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends

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