Spatola, Unzicker, Nichoalds, Brown, Brandt victorious on Fan Appreciation Night

by Darlene Miller

Three drivers took their first trip into the 2017 winner’s circle at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway during Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday. Mike Spatola (Late Model), Ryan Unzicker (Modified), and Joe Brown (Street Stock) brought home the victories. Lake Nichoalds won his third feature in the Sportsman division. Unzicker has been to the circle this season with his Late Model.

Manhattan’s Spatola started second in the Late Model feature next to Tonica’s Scott Schmitt. The pair quickly grabbed their lanes and Spatola, riding the high side, took the lead over Schmitt. Gibson City’s Kevin Weaver took the second spot with 21 laps to go in the 30-lap feature. Caution flags flew a couple of times bunching the field. The pack shook out with six laps to go as Spatola, Schmitt, and Weaver established the top three spots. Schmitt drove tough and tried to sneak in low to challenge Spatola but to no avail as Spatola crossed the line first. “We are getting better every night. I am getting more and more confident and it feels great to get a win,” said Spatola. Unzicker, doing double duty, finished fourth in front of Fairbury’s Scott Bull. Taylor Scheffler led the second five with Mike Glasscock, Dan Flessner, Steve Thorsten, and Ron Donaldson following. Spatola and Schmitt won the heats and Schmitt also had fast time with a lap of 13.129 seconds.