Sycamore Speedway hosting its 'Super Bowl' on Saturday

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SYCAMORE – It is the last big race of the season.

The Twin 25 Super Late Models will be on the Big Track tonight at Sycamore Speedway.

“This is like the Super Bowl for us,” the Speedway’s William Coulter said. “It’s the last big track event this year and it really wraps up the season well.”

Gates will open at 6 p.m. and time trials are set for 7 p.m.

If Saturday wraps up the season, then on Oct. 10, the Illinois First Vintage Stock Car Racing Dirt Nationals will put a giant bow on the package. Coulter expects cars from all over the country to come in pursuit of $6,000 in prize.

He already has commitments from owners of a 1958 Oldsmobile, a 1955 Chevy, a 1951 Hudson Hornet and a 1951 Studebaker for the 50-lap feature event that will be broken into two, 25-lap segments. The cars will have a new racing chassis but are made of their original sheet metal. They are vintage cars ready for prime time and they will be racing at about 80 mph in an attempt to grab first-place prize money.

The opportunity to turn back the clock on racing has Coulter eagerly awaiting the Vintage National.

“These are show-room looking cars,” Coulter said. “I’ve been excited for this race and think it will be exciting to watch a race like it used to be. It will be great to see 1950-era cars on a race track and see some of the old racing champions from back in the 1970s out there.”

Coulter said before he even began to advertise for drivers, the event drew healthy interest.

“It was an outstanding reaction,” Coulter said. “It really was word of mouth that spread news about the event. I’m looking forward to it and hope that if everything works out well so it can become a yearly event.”

As president of Illinois Vintage Racing, Art Fehrman said the 30-car field will be filled with great drivers. Three-time Santa Fe champion Al Johnson will come out of retirement to race a 1961 Chevy.

Three years ago, Fehrman started the car club because he wanted to race again. Today his duties as president don’t leave him time to get behind the wheel anymore. But that is fine because the end result has been even more gratifying than racing.

“My payment for being president is seeing sons, daughters and grandchildren stand and cheer on the drivers,” Fehrman said. “They have seen pictures and heard stories, but to actually see the drivers in action allows them to live it.

“The Vintage National has snowballed. I expect people come to town and fill the place, they want to see it live; that’s the real fun part of racing.”