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MARS Championship Tours Head to Pair of Illinois Bullrings to Round Out the Month of April

MARS Championship Tours Head to Pair of Illinois Bullrings to Round Out the Month of April

FAIRBURY, IL (April 20, 2026) – The 2026 season for the MARS Championship Tours has been a memorable one as we prepare to close out the month of April this weekend. For the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment? Opening weekend went off without a hitch about a week and a half ago with a practice night, and two smooth nights of competition, with impressive racing action around every turn at the Farmer City Raceway. For the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends? Here we are with what should now be races six and seven on the schedule, but thanks to mother nature, the tour looks to hit the track for the first time in 2026 this weekend at Brownstown Bullring and Peoria Speedway.

Friday, April 24, the MARS Championship Tours will head to the Fayette County Fairgrounds to try to tame the Brownstown Bullring, in Brownstown, Illinois, for the Sievers JCB Diggin’ Dirt 40 for the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends and the Sievers JCB Diggin’ Dirt 30 for the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment for the lone stop of the 2026 season for both tours. The Brownstown Bullring always compiles an interesting crop of drivers in both divisions as its location is ideal to bring together the invaders of the north, the invasion of southern drivers, and of course the St. Louis area hot shoes looking to defend home turf. The last time the MARS Modifieds hit the Bullring was in September of 2024 when defending series champion Cole Falloway captured the 50-lap $3,000-to-win event over Will Krup, Mike McKinney, Ray Bollinger, and Michael Long. The MARS Late Models last battle contested at the 3/8-mile was in September of 2025 when Tanner English claimed the victory from his seventh place starting position over defending series champion Jason Feger, Dennis Erb Jr, Shannon Babb, and Justin Duty.

Following the Sievers JCB Diggin’ Dirt night at the races at Brownstown Bullring, teams and fans alike will make the two-and-a-half-hour drive north to the Peoria Speedway, in Peoria, Illinois, for the Garry Swibold Memorial for both the MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends and the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment. Much like the MARS Late Model tour, the weather has been a major player in Peoria’s 2026 season, and as a result this will now serve as the tracks season opener. Last season’s Garry Swibold Memorial saw 30 MARS Late Models and 35 MARS Modifieds fill the pit area as Ryan Unzicker passed thirteen cars en route to his first MARS victory of the season. Michael Ledford picked up the MARS Modified victory over an impressive field of drivers with Cole Falloway and Kyle Hammer rounding out the podium.

After opening weekend of the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment, it’s a tie at the top of current point standings between Cole Falloway and Mike McKinney. By virtue of tie breaker, it will be Cole Falloway carrying the LRD Products red spoiler into the weekend as series points leader. Michael Ledford, Michael Long, and Zeke McKenzie round out the top-5 after one weekend of action.

With the crop of Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year drivers locked in and ready for battle throughout the MARS Modified season, it is currently Kouts, Indiana driver Matthew Baker leading the way over a tightly contested battle of Brayden Doyle, Owen Steinkoenig, Kyle Barker, John Dimmitt, and Dalton Lane closely behind.

Event Info

Friday, April 24

Brownstown Bullring
Brownstown, IL

Sievers JCB Diggin’ Dirt 40/30

$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
B-Mods
DIRTcar Factory Stocks
DIRTcar Hornets

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

Adult General Admission $30
General Admission for Kids 10 and under FREE

Pit Pass $45
Pit Pass for Kids 6-12 $25
Pit Pass for Kids 5 and under FREE

Saturday, April 25

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
B-Mods
DIRTcar Hornets
Crown Vics

Pits open at 2:00 P.M.
Grandstands open at 4:00 P.M.
Drivers Meeting at 5:00 P.M.
Hot Laps at 5:30 P.M.

Adult General Admission $25
General Admission for Kids 10 and under FREE

Pit Pass $45
Pit Pass for Kids 10 and under $20

Garry Swibold Memorial Added Money

$598 MARS Late Model Fast Qualifier award
(2) $500 drawings for two separate finishing positions in the MARS Late Model Feature
$300 MARS Late Model Hard Charger award courtesy of Tim Wells & Rick and Joes Semi Detailing
$200 MARS Late Model Longest Tow award courtesy of Swibold Racing

MARS Late Model Feature Event lap sponsors ($25 per lap led)

1. Charley Hess Racing
2. Nick Porter Racing
3. Porter Handyman & Painting Services?
4. Dakota Traver Racing
5. Spoonies Bar & Grill
6. In Loving Memory of Kool Hand
7. Dakota Traver Racing
8. In Loving Memory of Kool Hand
9. Michael Leach Racing
10. In Memory of Bob Hall
11. In Memory of Bill Hall Sr.
12. In Memory of Bob Hall
13. In Memory of Garry Swibold
14. In Memory of Glen Thompson
15. Nigel Shannon for Matt Shannon Racing
16. M16 Crew
17. In Memory of Bill Hall Sr
18. Billy Decker
19. Lil Crew Chief Kingsley Garrison
20. We miss you Bob and Bill Hall
21. Quick Electric
22. In Memory of Marty Scheuttler?
23. In Loving Memory of Chase Bennett
24. Clarsice Abbadusky
25. Weisser Racing
26. Ashwood Racing
27. In Memory of Bailey Aukland
28. In Memory of Dave McClelland
29. T-Shirt House
30. Bauman Motorsports
31. Billy Decker
32. In Memory of Bill Decker
33. In Memory of Keith Siegel
34. In Memory of Karen Thurman
35. In Memory of Keith Siegel
36. In Memory of Jerry Bagby Sr
37. In Memory of Marscella Henshilwood and Bill Francis
38. In Memory of Lyle and Sharon Bauman
39. Central Illinois Flea Market
40. Charley Hess Racing

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 Purses

MARS Late Model Friday 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 - Friday $120

MARS Late Model Saturday A-Main payout: 1) $5,098 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 - Saturday $120

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Friday A-Main payout: 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 - $70 Friday

MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Saturday A-Main payout: 1) $2,098 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 - $70 Saturday

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

1. Cole Falloway – Owensboro, KY – 140 Points
2. Mike McKinney – Plainfield, IL – 140 Points
3. Michael Ledford – Pontiac, IL – 116 Points
4. Michael Long – Fowler, IL – 105 Points
5. Zeke McKenzie – Claypool, IN – 102 Points
6. Damian Kiefer – Ste Genevieve, MO – 102 Points
7. Trevor Neville – Mackinaw, IL – 94 Points
8. Beau DeYoung – Demotte, IN – 92 Points
9. Carson Friedman – Fairbury, IL – 89 Points
10. Ray Bollinger – Kewanee, IL – 88 Points
11. Dave Wietholder – Liberty, IL – 86 Points
12. Kyle Hammer – Clinton, IL – 86 Points
13. Matthew Baker – Kouts, IN – 84 Points
14. Brayden Doyle – Ashmore, IL – 79 Points
15. Austin Friedman – Fairbury, IL – 78 Points
16. Collin Alexander – Clinton, IL – 77 Points
17. Owen Steinkoenig – Highland, IL – 75 Points
18. Steven Brooks – Bourbonnais, IL – 72 Points
19. Lyndon Whitfill – Fairbury, IL – 69 Points
20. Frank Marshall – Valpariso, IN – 64 Points

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Point Standings

1. Matthew Baker – Kouts, IN – 84 Points
2. Brayden Doyle – Ashmore, IL – 79 Points
3. Owen Steinkoenig – Highland, IL – 75 Points
4. Kyle Barker – Cooksville, IL – 58 Points
5. John Dimmitt – Macomb, IL – 53 Points
6. Dalton Lane – Botkins, OH – 42 Points

2026 MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Statistics

Multi Fire X Fast Time Award Winner

Cole Falloway – 1
Brayden Doyle – 1

Willy’s Carb & Dyno Heat Race #1 Winner

Michael Ledford – 1
Matthew Baker – 1

Lethal Chassis Heat Race #2 Winner

Mike McKinney – 1
Michael Long – 1

Allgaier Performance Heat Race #3 Winner

Cole Falloway – 1
Damian Kiefer – 1

Vanquish Race Cars Heat Race #4 Winner

Trevor Neville – 1
Cole Falloway – 1

Equiplinc Trucks & Equipment B-Main #1 Winner

Kyle Hammer – 1
Owen Steinkoenig – 1

Summit Racing Equipment 2nd Place Finisher

Mike McKinney – 2

Fast Shafts 3rd Place Finisher

Michael Ledford – 1
Cole Falloway – 1

Swift Springs 4th Place Finisher

Trevor Neville – 1
Carson Friedman – 1

Keyser Manufacturing 7th Place Finisher

Ray Bollinger – 1
Michael Ledford – 1

Hooker Harness 11th Place Finisher

Matthew Baker – 1
Kyle Hammer – 1

MD3 Hard Charger Award Winner

Dave Wietholder – 1
Mike McKinney – 1

Wilwood Brakes Hard Luck Award Winner

Carson Friedman – 1
Dave Wietholder – 1

Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Winner

Brayden Doyle – 1
Matthew Baker – 1

Lethal Chassis Bonus Bucks Award Winner

Trevor Neville – 2

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:

• KING OF P-TOWN: No one in Late Model racing has been as consistently fast at Peoria the past two seasons than El Paso, Illinois’ Ryan Unzicker. In his last five Late Model starts at the speedway, Unzicker has three wins, and no finish worse than fourth. The #24 camp has to be optimistic about getting off to a hot start on tour with Peoria now being a part of opening weekend.

• GETTING DIALED IN: The first few nights behind the wheel this season is going to be all about getting comfortable for defending champion, Jason Feger. Over the offseason, many of the Longhorn Chassis drivers jumped shipped to the Ohlins Shocks camp, including Feger. With only a couple of nights in the books for the 2026 season, could this stunt the beginning of a great start to the season for Feger?

• ENGINE ISSUES HAUNT ROOKIE HOPEFULS: First it was Dalton Lane with a motor expiring at Farmer City on the final night of Illini 100 weekend. Last weekend it was Brayden Doyle with similar issues at Brownstown Bullring in weekly competition. Can both get their problems straightened out and be back at the track to resume MARS Modified action this weekend?

• ON THE RISE: After one year of being full-time on the MARS Modified tour, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri driver Damian Kiefer seems to have a swagger about him that is contagious for the 2026 season. Maybe it’s knowing he has what it takes to compete at the top level? Maybe it’s the new Mullins Race Engine under the hood? Maybe it’s the familiarity of tracks on the tour schedule for 2026? Whatever it is, look for the #0 to finish on the podium at some point this season, if not also parking it in victory lane. He picked up his first career MARS heat win at Farmer City last time out.

• BONUS BUCKS ON THE LINE: With the added bonus money to the Garry Swibold Memorial on Saturday, a MARS Late Model driver could possibly take home over $6,500 for their efforts if they were to set fast time and lead every lap of the feature event.

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 2026 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 2026 racing season: FK Rod Ends (MARS Late Model title sponsor), Summit Racing Equipment (MARS Modified title sponsor), 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), 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, Allgaier Performance, Vanquish Race Cars, Swift Springs, LRD Products, Equiplinc Trucks & Equipment, K&S Ford, MatMan Designs, and Angry Duck Graphics.

MARS Championship Upcoming Events

• April 24, 2026 - 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

• April 25, 2026 – 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

• May 15, 2026 – Quincy Raceways – Quincy, IL - Gem City Showdown - $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 16, 2026 – 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 17, 2026 – Coles County Speedway – Mattoon, IL - Mission 40 - $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

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