October 28, 2009

Jason Feger 2009 Monster Midwest Series Champion

With the cancellation of the Lincoln race, the Monster Midwest Series has concluded their season. With eight victories out of the 15 total events, Jason Feger is the series champion for 2009. Feger was victorious at Kamp in April, Charleston, Kamp in July, Kankakee, Highland, Farmer City, Lincoln in September, and Lincoln in October.

Ryan Unzicker, the LaSalle winner, was second in points. Eric Smith won at Fairbury and was third in points. Dennis Erb Jr. took the checkers at Vermilion County and was fourth in points. Donny Walden rounded out the top five. Other winners this season include: Steve Sheppard Jr. (Lincoln), Joe Harlan (Farmer City), Daren Friedman (Farmer City), and Mark Burgtorf (Quincy).

Thanks to all our sponsors for your support and to all the drivers who ran our series this season, we'll see you all in 2010!

October 3, 2009

Jason Feger Victorious at Lincoln for Eighth MMS Victory

On night fifteen of the Monster Midwest Series season it was a familiar face back in victory lane as Jason Feger picked up his eighth MMS victory of the season Saturday night at the Lincoln Speedway. 21 Late Models were on hand with Feger the quickest in qualifications. Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 went to Steve Sheppard Jr. over Feger and Brandon Sheppard. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 was won by Jim Moon followed by Donny Walden and Steve Lance. Ryan Unzicker took the win in Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 over Brian Harris and Charley Hess.

The re-draw would see Harris drawing the pole with Moon along side. Row two would see Walden and Unzicker and the third row had Sheppard Jr. and Feger. On the first lap of the feature a huge pile-up in turn one would eliminate Lance, Ryan Little, and Steve Thorsten from the race. Eric Smith and Mike Glasscock would join the field at the tail after making repairs. A caution would fly again on lap twenty for a spin by second place running Sheppard Jr. after contact with a lap car. The lap car would end up on top of Sheppard's eliminating Sheppard from the race. Feger would go on and take the win over Unzicker, Harris, Moon, and Hess. Feger, the series points leader, extends his points lead to 62 over Unzicker.

September 6, 2009

Jason Feger Takes Seventh MMS Win at Lincoln

The Monster Midwest Series was at the Lincoln Speedway on Sunday night for event fourteen of the season. 25 Late Models were in attendance with Brandon Sheppard the quick qualifier. In Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 it was Paul Bailey taking the win over Ryan Unzicker and Sheppard. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Steve Sheppard Jr. followed by Mark Voigt and Mike Glasscock. MMS points leader Jason Feger was victorious in Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 with Dennis Erb Jr. and Nick Bauman to follow. Ryan Little took the semi-feature win.

The re-draw would see Voigt on the pole with Unzicker along side. In row two at the start was Bailey and Feger and row three was Erb and Sheppard. In turn one on lap one Voigt was sideways causing a big pileup. Glasscock suffered terminal damage along with Rickey Frankel while Eric Smith changed a tire in the infield and rejoined the field at the rear. The caution would fly on lap eight as Mike Schulte tried to exit the track but gets caught up with the leaders. Feger would lead followed by Unzicker, Sheppard Jr., and Erb. The caution would fly again on lap eleven as Sheppard Jr. would pull to the infield to change a tire. Feger continued to show the way followed by Unzicker, Erb, Voigt, and Bailey. Feger would not be denied as he would go on to take his seventh MMS win of the season over Erb, Voigt, Sheppard, and Bailey.

September 4, 2009

Jason Feger Rolls to Farmer City 50 Victory

After racing for $2,000 all season, the Monster Midwest Series was racing for big money on Friday night at Farmer City Raceway as $5,000 was on the line to the MMS winner at the 5th Annual Farmer City 50. 37 Late Models were on hand with Billy Moyer clocking in quickest at 12.383 seconds. Moyer would then go on and win Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 over Frank Heckenast Jr., Aaron Ricketts, and Aaron Ridley. Eric Smith who was third coming into tonight in MMS points suffered mechanical problems and did not finish. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to MMS points leader Jason Feger followed by Steve Sheppard Jr., Daren Friedman, and Joe Harlan. Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 was won by Darren Miller over Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr., and Rocky Griffin. The final heat, Double H Crane Service and Porta Pottie Rental Heat Race 4, was won by Billy Drake with Ryan Unzicker, Rodney Melvin, and Scott Bull to follow. The Semi Features were won by Donny Walden and Kyle Logue.

After the re-draw it was Miller and Feger on row one, Sheppard Jr. and Drake in row two, Moyer and Babb on row three, with Heckenast Jr. and Unzicker in row four. After taking the green, Sheppard Jr. would spin in turn one causing a big pile up. After the restart, Feger would jump out to the lead but Sheppard Jr. would stay close and pull alongside Feger but couldn't make the pass. After a few laps Feger would extend his lead while behind him Babb who earlier jumped the cushion and fell back to about eighth was making his move to the front and got up to second when the race would see its only caution (after the initial restart) on lap 39 for a spin. Miller, Sheppard Jr., and Moyer were all involved and were all sent to the tail. After the restart it was all Feger as he would hold off Babb and collect the $5,000 Farmer City 50 victory. Babb was second, Unzicker third, Erb Jr. fourth, and Melvin fifth.

August 23, 2009

Mark Burgtorf Scores First MMS Win at Quincy

Feature recap by Jack Walbring

Sunday night saw the Monster Midwest Series at the Quincy Raceway for event twelve of the season. Donny Walden was the fast qualifier of the 24 MMS Late Models in attendance. Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 went to Matt Bailey over Dennis Woodworth and Walden. Last night's feature winner Jason Feger took the win in Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 followed by Mark Burgtorf and Jason Frankel. Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 was won by Dennis Erb Jr. with Ryan Unzicker and Terry Schlipman to follow. The semi-feature win went to Ed Dixon.

The re-draw of the top two out of the heats would see Feger and Woodworth in row one, Unzicker and Burgtorf in row two, with Bailey and Erb in row three. Feger jumped to the lead on the first lap but Unzicker used the bottom line to pull even with Feger exiting turn two on the second lap and held on for the top spot through lap nine. Fourteen time Quincy Raceways Late Model Track Champion, Burgtorf started outside the second row and worked his way into the second spot on lap six and set his sights on Unzicker and the lead. Burgtorf blasted into the lead on the tenth lap leaving Unzicker, Feger and Erb to battle for the second spot. Feger grabbed the second spot from Unzicker on the thirty second lap and closed to within 2.8 seconds as the checkered flag fell holding off Erb in third, Unzicker in fourth and Frankel in fifth.

August 22, 2009

Jason Feger Drives to Fifth MMS Victory at Highland

The Monster Midwest Series visited the Highland Speedway on Saturday night for event eleven of the season. 24 MMS Late Models were on hand with Randy Korte the fast qualifier. Korte would follow that up by taking the win in Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 in a side by side battle with Chad Zobrist throughout the race. Michael Kloos would finish third. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Mark Faust in another side by side battle with Jason Feger until the final lap. Paul Bailey was third. Ryan Unzicker took the win in Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 over Frankie Martin and Donny Walden. Dick Taylor took the semi-feature win.

The re-draw would put Faust and Martin on the front row with Feger and Zobrist in row two and Korte and Unzicker in row three. After the green, it didn't take long for the battle to take place between Feger, Korte and eighth place starter Paul Bailey. These guys put on a great show for the lead and then Zobrist joined in after a few laps going four wide at one time which was quite exciting on the narrow track. Unfortunately for Bailey, as they caught up to lap traffic, contact was made and Bailey suffered damage and was unable to finish the race. He was the car to beat as he took the lead over two of the top UMP drivers in the nation before catching the lap traffic. The lead swapping battle then continued between Feger and Korte with Feger on the top and Korte on the bottom. Another battle was taking place a few spots back in the field between Kloos and pole starter Faust until they got together and Kloos suffered damage and pulled into the infield. In the final laps of the feature, Feger took the lead for good and took home his fifth Monster Midwest Series win with Korte finishing second. Zobrist was third, Martin fourth, and Unzicker fifth.

August 15, 2009

Eric Smith Captures First MMS Win at Fairbury

On night ten the Monster Midwest Series was at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway. 28 Late Models signed in to do battle for the $2,000 top prize. Daren Friedman was quickest in qualifications at 13.020 seconds. Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 was won by Frank Heckenast Jr. over Friedman and Donny Walden. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to last night's feature winner Jason Feger, followed by Ryan Unzicker and Jimmy Dehm. Joe Harlan took the win in Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 with Eric Smith and Scott Bull to follow. The Semi Feature win went to Lisa Shickel.

Smith would draw the pole for the feature with Friedman along side. Unzicker and Feger is row two, and Heckenast Jr. and Harlan in row three. The top groove was the quickest way around tonight and Friedman would use his outside starting position to his advantage and jump out to the lead. Friedman would continue to pace the field as the laps wound down until suffering a flat tire with fifteen laps to go, ending his hopes of winning his second MMS race. Smith would inherit the lead and after each of the three additional restarts would distance himself from the rest of the field and go on to take the feature win. Harlan would get second, Unzicker third, Heckenast Jr. fourth, and Dennis Erb Jr., from the seventeenth starting position, fifth. Bad luck would find the MMS points leader (going into tonight) as Feger suffered a flat tire with two laps to go while running third.

August 14, 2009

Jason Feger Victorious at Kankakee for Fourth MMS Win

The Monster Midwest Series visited the Kankakee County Speedway on Friday for night nine of the season. 26 Late Models were on hand with Jason Feger taking fast time honors at 13.913. Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 had a hard time getting started as the flagman didn't like the start and the front row of Feger and Richie Hedrick were docked one row which put Eric Smith and Steve Dimmick on row one. Smith led the first few laps until Feger made a great move to get around Smith on the high side as they came out of turn four. Feger would go on and grab the win followed by Smith and Hedrick. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Dennis Erb Jr. but not before a great side by side battle with Frank Heckenast Jr. Kevin Weaver was third. The final heat, Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3, was won by Ryan Unzicker holding off Mike Provenzano with Aaron Ricketts third. Gary Schalmo took the Semi Feature win.

The top two out of the three heats would draw for their starting spots and that put Heckenast Jr. and Unzicker on the front row of the forty lap feature. A caution would fly after taking the green for a spin in turn four and a complete restart. With two laps in another caution would come out for a couple cars going over turn one. After getting back under green we stayed that way for the next 38 laps. A great four car battle between the top four cars early until Erb would jump out and lead. Feger would use the high side and run Erb down and make the pass. Feger would extend his lead and go on to take the $2,000 feature win, his fourth MMS victory of the season. Erb was second, Unzicker third, Provenzano fourth, and Weaver fifth.

July 26, 2009

Dennis Erb Jr. Grabs First MMS Win at Vermilion County

On Sunday night the Monster Midwest Series was at the Vermilion County Speedway in Danville for stop number 8 of the season. 19 cars were on hand with Dillan White the fast qualifier at 13.151. Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 went to last night's feature winner Jason Feger over Ryan Unzicker and Kevin Weaver. Dennis Erb Jr. was victorious in Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 followed by Frank Heckenast Jr. and Joe Harlan. Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 was won by Donny Walden with Jayme Zidar and Eric Smith to follow.

After the redraw it was the top 2 in UMP national points Erb and Feger on the front row of the 40 lap feature. These two would put on a great show swapping the lead several times with Erb Jr. taking the win with Feger second. Heckenast Jr. was third, Unzicker fourth, and MMS points leader Smith fifth.

July 25, 2009

Jason Feger Records Third MMS Victory at Kamp

On night 7 of the MMS season it was a familiar face back in victory lane as Jason Feger recorded his third MMS victory of the season and second consecutive MMS victory at Kamp Motor Speedway. Dennis Erb Jr. was second, Frank Heckenast Jr. third, Eric Smith fourth, and Ryan Unzicker fifth. Feger swept the night also taking fast time honors of the 27 cars in attendance and winning Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 over Unzicker and Smith. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Dillan White with Ted Loomis and Richie Hedrick to follow. The final heat, Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3, was won by Heckenast Jr. over Erb Jr. and Donny Walden. The Semi-Feature was won by Alan Vochuska.

July 24, 2009

Daren Friedman Rides the Rim to Victory at Farmer City

25 Late Models were on hand for event 6 of the Monster Midwest Series season Friday night at the Farmer City Raceway. Brandon Sheppard clocked in as the quickest in qualifications. Last night's feature winner Jason Feger took the win in Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 followed by Donny Walden and Brandon Sheppard. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Kevin Weaver over Eric Smith and Ryan Unzicker. The final heat, Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3, was won by Dennis Erb Jr. with Daren Friedman and Joe Harlan to follow. Scott Bull was the Double H Crane Service and Porta Pottie Rental Semi Feature winner.

Smith and Friedman would lead the field to the green for the 40 lap main event. Friedman would find the outside groove to his liking throughout the race. He would build up a several car length advantage until a few laps remaining when Erb Jr. caught Friedman as they both battled lap traffic. Erb could get to Friedman's bumper but couldn't make the pass as Friedman went on to collect the $2,000 payday. Erb Jr. was second, Smith third, and Weaver fourth.

July 23, 2009

Jason Feger Scores Second MMS Win at Charleston

The Monster Midwest Series was at the Charleston Speedway Thursday night for race 5 of the season. Jason Feger set quick time in qualifying with a new track record at 13.63. Feger followed that up by taking the win in Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 over Ryan Unzicker and Dillan White. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Richie Hedrick from his last starting position followed by Scott Schmitt and Tim Lance. After the re-draw Feger would start outside of the front row and he went on to score his second MMS win of the season. Second thru fifth was Richie Hedrick, new MMS points leader Ryan Unzicker, Tim Lance, and Dennis Erb Jr. from his 12th starting spot. 14 Late Models were on hand.

May 29, 2009

Four Races, Four Faces so far in the 2009 Monster Midwest Series as Joe Harlan takes the win at Farmer City Raceway Friday night

by Dan Stewart

So far in 2009, Jason Feger, Steve Sheppard Jr and Ryan Unzicker had won series races. But tonight was Joe Harlan's night to put his name in the record books. Thursday night's LaSalle Speedway winner Ryan Unzicker started the night with fast time of the 20 late models on hand at 13.449 seconds. Unzicker then won Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 over Donny Walden, Brandon Sheppard and Eric Smith. The Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 was a good close race as Michael Kloos held off the challenges of Steve Sheppard Jr, followed closely by Richie Hedrick and Charley Hess. The final heat, Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3, had Joe Harlan showing his hand, as he ran away and hid from second place finisher Derek Chandler, who was followed by Tim Lance and Kyle Logue.

Come feature time, with the series redraw, Michael Kloos started on the front row with Joe Harlan alongside, followed by Derek Chandler, Steve Sheppard Jr, Donny Walden and Ryan Unzicker. On the ultra-smooth race track, Joe Harlan took off to an immediate lead, and never looked back, leading all 40 laps, withstanding the challenges of two yellow flag periods, until after the white flag was in the air. Then Unzicker stopped on the backstretch, and just as Harlan went to lap Charley Hess, Hess spun in front of Harlan, taking Harlan around with him. Harlan got his spot back, the race was restarted with green and white flags waving, and Harlan went on to the victory over Steve Sheppard Jr, Richie Hedrick, Derek Chandler, Eric Smith, Tim Lance, Donny Walden and Charley Hess.

May 28, 2009

Ryan Unzicker takes Checkers at LaSalle

The Monster Midwest Series was at the LaSalle Speedway Thursday night for stop number 3 of the 2009 MMS season. 28 Late Models were on hand with Brandon Sheppard recording the fastest time in qualifying. Sheppard followed that up by taking the win in Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 over Eric Smith and Daren Friedman. Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Dennis Erb Jr. over Ryan Unzicker and Joe Harlan. Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3 was won by Jason Feger over Steve Sheppard Jr. and Frank Heckenast Jr. The Semi-Feature win went to Jayme Zidar.

After qualifying second fastest to fellow rookie contender Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Unzicker finished second in his heat race to Dennis Erb Jr. But second place was not good enough for him in the $2000 to win main event. Starting on the pole of the feature after the top two in each heat redrew for their starting positions, Unzicker commanded the lead until the closing laps when Erb Jr. decided he wanted to lead for a few laps. The two then continued to swap the lead back and forth until the final lap when Unzicker crossed the line first and took home the top prize.

More excitement was taking place throughout the field as Brandon Sheppard who started third and Jason Feger who started fourth both went to the back of the field for separate reasons. Sheppard hit one of the infield tires in the early laps of the feature and worked his way back up to a respectable seventh place finish. After the "Highside Hustler" went a little too high and suffered a flat right rear, his crew managed to do a quick pit stop, send him back out and watch as he picked off cars one by one to finish in his original fourth place starting position.

Following Unzicker and Erb across the line in the feature were Eric Smith, Feger, Daren Friedman, Kevin Weaver, Sheppard, Frank Heckenast Jr., Mike Provenzano and Joe Harlan.

April 26, 2009

Steve Sheppard Jr. Wins MMS Event at Lincoln

The Monster Midwest Series was at the Lincoln (IL) Speedway on Sunday for race two of the 2009 season. 28 MMS Late Models were in attendance with last night's feature winner Jason Feger recording the quickest lap in qualifications. Feger followed that up taking the win in Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 followed by Kevin Weaver and Michael Kloos. The Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Steve Sheppard Jr. over Ryan Unzicker and Donny Walden. The final heat, Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3, was won by Dennis Erb Jr. followed by Eric Smith and Jayme Zidar. Todd Bennett took the semi feature win. The 40 lap, $2,000 to win feature went to pole sitter Sheppard Jr. followed by Feger, Weaver, Unzicker, and Smith. Click the "results" link above for the complete results.

April 25, 2009

Jason Feger Wins MMS Season Opener at Kamp

The Monster Midwest Series opened the 2009 season Saturday at the Kamp (IN) Motor Speedway. 27 MMS Late Models were on hand with Frank Heckenast Jr. timing in with the fastest lap in qualifying. Heckenast Jr. followed that up winning Sheppard Car Crushing Heat Race 1 followed by Richie Hedrick and Mike Petersak. The Douglas Pontiac GMC Dodge Heat Race 2 went to Brandon Sheppard over Kerry Mathew and Michael Kettnick. The final heat, Pick A Part Indy Heat Race 3, was won by Steve Sheppard Jr. followed by Eric Smith and Ryan Unzicker. Jason Feger took the semi feature win after suffering a flat tire in his heat race. Feger would start 15th in the feature and work his way through the field to take the $2,000 feature win. Following Feger across the line was Smith, Heckenast Jr., Hedrick, and Unzicker. Click the "results" link above for the complete results.

April 19, 2009

Additional Series Information Released

The website has been updated with the year-end points fund payout (plus sponsor product awards), along with rookie of the year awards, race payouts, show-up money, and the race format. Click the "ABOUT" and "POINTS" links above for the complete details.

April 9, 2009

Schedule Changes

MMS events have been added at Kamp Motor Speedway on April 25, Kankakee County Speedway on August 14, and Quad City Raceway on October 17.

March 1, 2009

TruSpeed Forum Now Online!

We would like to invite everyone to our new TruSpeed Forum. This is the place to ask any questions, comments, compliments, and even complaints (this is a family friendly forum so language will be monitored) about the Monster Midwest Series. Click the "forum" link above.

February 27, 2009

Points Fund and Products Released

The Monster Midwest Series has released their 2009 points fund and product information. Click the "points" link above to take a look.

February 25, 2009

Monster Midwest Series Schedule Updated

The Monster Midwest Series has updated their 2009 schedule. Recent additions include the season opening $5,000 to win at the Kankakee County Speedway. Races at Highland Speedway and Quincy Raceways have also been added. The series will conclude its season on October 23-24 with the Fall Harvest paying $10,000 to win at the Lincoln Speedway. For a complete look at the schedule click the "schedule" link above.

January 9, 2009

Welcome to the New Monster Midwest Series Website!

Don & Bonny Hammer would like to welcome you to the new Monster Midwest Series website. This Late Model series will visit many midwest tracks in 2009. Thanks to our sponsors who help make this series possible.

January 9, 2009

Tentative Schedule Released

The 2009 schedule of events for the Monster Midwest Series is available by clicking on the "schedule" link.