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NASCAR Stars Shine on Special Evening at Macon Speedway
By Brett Zerfowski 

MACON, IL (Sept. 2) -  In early 2007 when the new ownership regime took over Macon Speedway, they were finally together in the same place at the same time.  Local promoter Bob Sargent, NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace and Tony Stewart were on hand for a special night of memories.  Along with them came another special man, Mark Martin.  Martin was on hand to sign autographs, but no racing tonight for “The Kid.” 

This was the fifth time Tony Stewart has been scheduled to appear and only the second time Mother Nature has allowed him to show up, sign autographs and race.  A big crowd lined up with Bill Ethridge, his wife Lynne and granddaughter Celeste started the line a little before 6:30am.  “It’s amazing.  We’ve been waiting for weather like this for an event like this for so long.  It’s finally here,” said Bill Ethridge 

Stewart started front-outside in heat three of his POWRi Midget race and had a battle on his hands.  All drivers were focused in on the Chevrolet Bass Pro Shop number 20.  Nick Knepper and Stewart traded places into the turns and the stretches.  Dave Camfield, Jr. also battled for the lead but as they came to the checkered flag, Stewart was bumped forward and finished in front of Knepper by mere inches.  Dave Darland took third and Camfield finished fourth. 

For the Modifieds, Ken Schrader started on the pole and won the heat.  Kenny Wallace took second in the third heat as Steve Ewing took the win from Aaron Burcham in the fourth turn as Burcham lost control.  Burcham took third in the heat. 

The Modified feature was led early by Brandon Sheppard.  He was on top of both Schrader and Wallace until coming out of the third turn after a caution restart caused him to have engine failure.  As the race came back to green, Wallace was the leader after inherited first place from the fallen Sheppard.  Schrader was second and Tim Hancock was in third, but not for long.  Hancock used both the high side and low side of the track to bypass Schrader but nobody could touch the St. Louis native.  Wallace went on for the feature win, his first at Macon since June 14, 2007, when Macon hosted their second NASCAR Night.  The Best Fan in the Stands driver was the drive who finished third, who was Ken Schrader.  Dean Garland Race Car Parts donated $100 to the winner of the Modified feature.  Wallace accepted his $100 bill and gave it to the fourth place finisher which was Jeremy Nichols. 

The seventh time the POWRi Micro Sprints visited Macon Speedway worked out very well for Joe B. Miller.  One of the fastest cars of the 44 in the five heat races, Miller took the second heat and halfway through the race, passed Tony Roney for the lead.  Blue Mound’s Jeremy Camp had another great run at Macon in the Micros and finished third.  For the seventh time in as many races, there has been seven different feature winners in the POWRi Micro Sprints. 

Tony Stewart would start the 30-lap feature from the third row inside position and his car wouldn’t look the same as how it finished the heat.  His Midget wouldn’t take the track as it did earlier in the night and he would battle from the middle of the field. 

Shane Hamiels would lead the early part of the race and even picked the $200 bonus for leading halfway in the Phil Sargent Halfway bonus.  But he would not lead for much longer as Brett Anderson came on strong and took the lead with ten laps to go. 

Fans held their breath in suspense as Tony Stewart took a few flips in the forth turn on lap 23.  He would be ok but the car would need a tire change.  He would head back to his trailer to exchange his flat tire.  He would come back out and start in the last position.  Anderson would lead Hamiels and Darland coming back to the green flag. 

As they came to the final lap, the real battle for the race would come for second as Anderson pulled away.  Hamiels and Darland went to the final turn of the final lap and saw Hamiels spin around in front of Darland, thus slowing him down and costing him the second spot.  Mike Hess would finish second Tim Siner, who started 17^th, took third in the POWRi Midget feature. 

Macon Speedway will return with its Saturday night program including the 5^th Annual Illinois State Street Stock Championship.  A full show is also on the schedule for the evening which starts at 7pm.