Kloos, Nicely, Meiferdt, Nichoalds, Brandt Take Opening Night Wins

by Rocky Ragusa

A large crowd braved cold temperatures as the Fairbury American Legion Speedway opened their 72nd year of racing action. Taking feature wins were Michael Kloos (Trenton), Tyler Nicely (Owensboro, Ky.), AJ Meiferdt (Coal City), Lake Nichoalds (Onarga), and Jason Brandt (East Peoria).

27 I Beam Sliding Doors Late Models vied for a starting position in the 30-lap feature race. Jay Morris set quick time with a 13.058. Ryan Unzicker, Dan Flessner, and Kevin Weaver won their respective heat races, and Scott Bull was the B-Main winner. The final ten circuits had the fans on their feet as Michael Kloos rode the bottom of the track, while Ryan Unzicker and Jason Feger tried different grooves to move into the lead. Kloos weaved and dodged lapped traffic in the closing laps, in a race that was not decided until Jim Whittington waved the checkered flag. Feger held on for second, followed by early race leader, Unzicker. Mike Spatola, Scott Schmitt, Jordan Bauer, Taylor Scheffler, 16th starter Scott Bull (hard charger), Chad Zobrist, and Rich Bell rounded out the top ten. Kloos, preparing for a big racing weekend in early May, commented in the winner’s circle, “That was a fun race when you can go two-three wide with the caliber of these drivers. We came up on lap traffic and I had to make a decision on where to go. Luckily, it worked out.”

A stout field of Varsitee Screen Printing Modified drivers were on hand for a 20-lap feature race. Steven Brooks topped 29 other drivers with a 14.008 time in qualifying. Heat race wins went to Tyler Nicely, Jeffrey Ledford, and Chad Bauer. Nick Clubb took the B-Main. Nicely has struggled thus far in the 2017 campaign with DNFs and several top fives to show for his results. Making the haul from Kentucky, Nicely held the field in check to post his first win of the year. Jeffrey Ledford shook off a brief challenge from Brooks, but wasn’t able to pose a threat to Nicely and settled for second. Jay Ledford, Brooks, and Bauer took the first five positions. The rest of the top ten were 11th starter Jeff Curl (hard charger), Jamie Lomax, Jimmy Dehm, TD Burger, and Rich Dawson.