(Taylorville, IL) The 2019 Christian County Agricultural Fair opens up Tuesday July 23 and runs through July 27, but it's Wednesday, July 24 that racing fans have marked on their schedules as three divisions of racing return.
The Taylorville, IL fair put racing back on the schedule in 2014, much to the delight of racers and fans in the area. The event is promoted by Track Enterprises of Macon, IL and presented by Larry's Service Center and NAPA of Taylorville.
Races at the fair returned in 2014 and were held again the last five years with solid car counts and great racing. The 2014 event, which was the first in decades, was very successful, boasting a strong turnout in cars and fans. The inaugural edition of the event saw Kaleb Wood take the win in a field of 20 Street Stocks. Jeremy Nichols claimed the Sportsman feature, while Jeremy Reed won the Hornet A-Main.
The 2015 NAPA Tripleheader presented by Larry's Service Center saw Nichols again winning the Sportsman event, while Terry Reed won the Street Stock race, and Jeremy Reed ended the night in Hornet victory lane for a second time in two years.
In 2016, heavy rainfall hit the fairgrounds during the afternoon hours. Despite the rain and subsequent flooding at the facility, officials worked hard to get back on track. The event drew 20 Midwest Big Ten Street Stocks with Lovington, IL driver, Jeremy Nichols, claiming the win. Nichols also bested a field of 13 Sportsman to claim that victory. In Hornet competition, Decatur, IL driver Jeremy Reed took the win.
Weather was again an issue in 2017, as the event was barely completed with storms threatening throughout the night. Despite this, the racing again had solid fields of cars with Timmy Dick besting a 13 car field of Sportsman. Jeremy Nichols took the top prize in the Midwest Big Ten Street Stocks. In Hornet competition, Marty Sullivan claimed the victory as rainfall started.
Last season saw another solid field of cars hit the track with Jeremy Nichols claiming the Big Ten Street Stock top prize over Timmy, Chris, and Darrell Dick. Ashkum, IL driver, Brandon Pralle bested a good field of Sportsman, while Eric Vanapeldoorn won the Hornet feature.
This year's Larry's Service Center presented NAPA Triple Header will again feature Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Hornets. While all races will be UMP sanctioned, the Street Stock event is also part of the Big Ten Series.
Pits open at 4:00 on Wednesday, July 24, grandstands at 5:00, competitor pill draw ends when the drivers meeting begins at 6:00, hotlaps at 6:20, with racing action taking the green at 7:00.
Macon Speedway rules will apply for all classes of racing. For more information, visit www.trackenterprises.com or www.christiancountyfair.com. For further details call 217-764-3200.
Many of the Sportsman contenders consider Taylorville their hometown race (Double J Photo
The Hornet will be two wide and possibly more on Wednesday night at the fair (Double J Photo)
Jeremy Nichols held off Timmy Dick during the 2018 Street Stock event (Double J Photo
