3/31/2023
MARS - Midwest Auto Racing Series
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Set to Begin Inaugural Season at Tri-City Speedway
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Set to Begin Inaugural Season at Tri-City Speedway
FAIRBURY, IL (March 31, 2023) - As the anticipation continues to build, the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment opener nears. The series is set to kick off with a pair of $2,000 to win and $250 to start events on April 7 & 8 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. This marks the only weekend of the season that back-to-back events are held at the same racetrack for the series. Not only will this kick off the series, but “Winter Meltdown” will be Tri-City Speedway’s season opener and sure to include great fields in all divisions.
The weekend is set to begin on Friday April 7 with the $2,000 to win/$250 to start MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment sharing the card with the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models racing for $5,000 to win, and the B-Mods racing for $1,000 to win. On Friday, the pit gates are set to open at 2:00 p.m. and the general admission gates will be open at 5:30 p.m. The driver’s meeting is set for 6 p.m. with hot laps slated to hit the speedway at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices for Friday night’s event in the general admission area will be $25 for adults with children ages 12 and under free. Pit passes for Friday’s event will be $40 for adults, $15 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages 5 and under.
The ”Winter Meltdown” will conclude on Saturday April 8 with another $2,000 to win/$250 to start MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment event, while the ante will increase for the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models as they will race for $7,000 to win in their main event. B-Mods will round out the racing program on Saturday with another $1,000 to win show. On Saturday, the pit gates are set to open at 2:00 p.m. while other times will be shifted up an hour earlier from Friday’s starting times. General admission gates will open at 4:30 p.m. while the driver’s meeting is set for 5 p.m. Hot laps are slated to hit the speedway at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying and racing to shortly follow. Ticket prices for Saturday night’s event in the general admission area will be $30 for adults with children ages 12 and under free. Pit passes for Saturday’s event will be $40 for adults, $15 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages 5 and under.
A full show will be contested each night for the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment including 3 lap hot lap/qualifying, 8 lap heat races, 10 lap b-main(s), and a 30-lap feature event paying $2,000 to win. The entry fee each night will be $25, transponders will be available to rent for $20 for the weekend (only MYLAPS (AMB) transponders can be used), and a valid DIRTcar membership is mandatory. Any driver not transferring to the feature event will receive $65 tow money nightly.
MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment Feature purse for each night: 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
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR:
o Season Split: In the 15 DIRTcar UMP Modified feature events contested at the Tri-City Speedway in 2022, no driver was more successful than 2022 DIRTcar National Champion Mike Harrison (Highland, IL) and 2022 Mod Mania winner Michael Long (Fowler, IL). Over the course of the season, each driver captured 5 victories apiece with Long picking up the final 3 checkered flags of the season including the Summit Racing Equipment Mod Mania finale on September 24 worth $6,000. Both are expected to be in attendance and sure to be towards the front of the pack.
o Model of Consistency: If there’s one driver to take a bet on running top 10 at Tri-City, it would be Wentzville, Missouri’s Rick Conoyer. In 14 feature events in 2022, Conoyer finished top 10 in all but 2 events. With 4 different 2nd places finishes throughout 2022 at Tri-City, Conoyer will be looking to advance one step further on opening weekend of the season.
o Show me the Money: One point of emphasis in the inaugural season for the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment is the purse structure. With the standard purse at each event being $2,000 to win, $1,000 for fourth, and $250 to start, this makes the tour the highest paying DIRTcar UMP Modified series in the country with the feature event purse alone eclipsing $11,000 nightly.
o Season-long Point Battles Begin: Over $25,000 in point fund money is set to be dispersed at the end of the season, and the chase for the championship is set to begin at Tri-City. Many of the top DIRTcar UMP Modified drivers across the Midwest have expressed interest in following the 20-race tour with $5,000 going to the champion and $1,000 guaranteed to any driver with perfect attendance on the tour.
o Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year: Sunoco Race Fuels will ramp up the Rookie of the Year chase in 2023 with $1,000 going to the winner with the top 4 in Rookie of the Year standings being paid for their efforts. Numerous drivers have already filed their paperwork with intent on chasing the inaugural prize. Drivers have until the completion of the series’ first weekend of events to declare their status. Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year candidates will be released following the first weekend’s events.
Tri-City Speedway is located at 5100 Nameoki Road in Granite City, IL 62040. For more information, please visit the track’s webpage at tricityspeedway.net or by visiting them on their social media channels.
For more information about the MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment, please contact Jonathan Clayton at 731-467-1316, visit the tour’s webpage at marsracingseries.com, or visit @MARSDirtRacing on Facebook, Twitter, 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 2023 racing season: FK Rod Ends, Summit Racing Equipment, Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts, Flo Racing, Racing Electronics, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Illinois State Rifle Association, Pontiac RV, Allstar Performance, O’Reilly Auto Parts, DIRTcar Racing, Driscoll Motors, Woods Basement Systems, MD3, Josh James Artwork, MWD Signs & Graphix, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, King’s Graphix, Dirt Draft, Digital Copy Systems, Whelen, Multi Fire X, Budda Bert Transmission, Dyer’s Top Rods, Fast Shafts, Wilwood Brakes, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Out-Pace Racing Products, Keyser Manufacturing, Varsitee Screenprinting, Willy’s Carb & Dyno, and Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating.
MARS Championship Upcoming Events
o April 7, 2023 – Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, IL – Winter Meltdown – $2,000 to win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
o April 8, 2023 – Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, IL – Winter Meltdown – $2,000 to win MARS Modified Championship Powered by Summit Racing Equipment
o April 28, 2023 – Brownstown Bullring – Brownstown, IL – Sievers JCB “Diggin Dirt” 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
o April 29, 2023 – Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, 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
o April 30, 2023 – Red Hill Raceway – Sumner, IL – $5,000 to win MARS Late Model Championship Powered by FK Rod Ends
Article Credit: Jonathan Clayton
Submitted By: Jonathan Clayton
