August 11
East Moline Speedway,
East Moline, IL
Sanction: MARS Late Model Championship Series - $5,000
Information provided by: Mike Ruefer, series and track reports (last updated August 12, 8:13 am)
Unzicker outruns Alberson for East Moline victory
- Ryan Unzicker
- Garrett Alberson
- Jason Feger
- Jake Little
- Kye Blight
- Justin Duty
- Rich Bell
- Chris Simpson
- Bob Gardner
- Dale Markham
- Shawn Mulvany
- Thomas Hunziker
- Gary Webb
- Daniel Adam
- Cam Gardner
- Anthony Guss
- Mack Mulvany
- Matt Ryan
Ryan Unzicker takes the checkers at East Moline Speedway.
What won the race: Winning his second series race in three days, pole-starting Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., held fellow front-row starter Garrett Alberson at bay over 40 laps to win the $5,000 MARS Championship Series debut at East Moline Speedway. Unzicker, winner of Friday's series debut at Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Ill., took the checkers 0.279 of a second ahead of Alberson at East Moline's quarter-mile oval.
Quotable: "I could hear somebody behind me. Obviously it was Alberson. I knew he was gonna be good; he's always tough. Jason's always tough. This is awesome," Unzicker said, thanking his sponsors, crew and family. "I drove my guys home last night (after competing in Macon, Ill.), got back to the shop, they unloaded the car, they worked on it till like 3:30-4 o'clock this morning while I got some rest. I wouldn't have made it today if it wasn't for them. So it just takes a team effort."
Key notes: Unzicker, who captured his 10th career MARS feature, held off Alberson's last-gasp effort in the race's lone restart with two laps remaining. ... Traffic hampered the frontrunners much of the way. ... Unzicker's winning car had no graphics on the right doorpanel following the previous night's physical action at Macon (Ill.) Speedway. ... Runner-up Garrett Alberson piloted his Roberts Motorsports entry at the track near the team's home base; Alberson was fresh off a 12th-place effort in the weekend's 42nd annual North-South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. ... Third-place finisher and MARS points leader Jason Feger competed at East Moline for the first time since 2009. ... A single-caution slowed the action on lap 39 when seventh-running Daniel Adam slowed on the backstretch. ... MARS concluded a tripleheader weekend of first-time tracks. Unzicker led all but one lap to win Friday at Sycamore and Feger led the last seven laps to top Saturday’s 10th annual KerbyStrong 100 at Macon.
On the move: Rich Bell of Sheffield, Ill., started 12th and finished seventh.
Winner's sponsors: Unzicker’s MB Customs Race Car has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Low Voltage Solutions, Mosquito Hero, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home Repair & Remodeling, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Big City Automotive, Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services, Pro Tire and Automotive, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Logan Smith Collectibles, Clean It Up Pressure Washing Professionals, A Solution HVAC & Construction, Bert by Budda Transmissions, DirtcarLift.com, Keyser Manufacturing, NAPA El Paso, Fuel Factory, Varsitee Screenprint and Aftershock Decals & Design.
Points chase: After East Moline: 1. Jason Feger (648); 2. Ryan Unzicker (611); 3. Justin Duty (487); 4. Bob Gardner (486); 5. Allen Weisser (483).
Current weather: Clear, 81°F
Car count: 18
Fast qualifier: Ryan Unzicker
Time: 13.471 seconds
Polesitter: Ryan Unzicker
Heat race winners: Garrett Alberson, Ryan Unzicker
Next series race: August 23, Tri-City Speedway (Granite City, IL) $5,000
Editor's note: Corrects 13th- and 14th-place finishers