5/14/2022
Ryan Unzicker
11th-place finish Illinois Speedweek opener at Spoon River
Taking part in the inaugural Illinois Speedweek, Ryan Unzicker traveled to Spoon River Speedway (Banner, Ill.) on Wednesday afternoon to enter his RJR Transportation No. 24 Late Model into battle with the Castrol FloRacing Night in America mini-series. (Josh James Artwork)
Drawing a stout field of 56 Late Models, Ryan laid down the eighth-fastest time in his group in time trials before placing second in his heat race, which came behind Frank Heckenast Jr. Earning the 10th-starting position for the opening night feature, Unzicker faded one spot in the 50-lap affair to finish 11th.
For another $22,022-to-win Castrol FloRacing Night in America event on Thursday at Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, Ill.), Unzicker edged his way into the main event with the third-and-final transfer spot in his heat race. Losing one position in the 50-lapper, Ryan logged an 18th-place outing.
On Friday afternoon at Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, Ill.) for the MARS Racing Series-sanctioned Farmer City 74 presented by Douglas Dodge, Ryan jumped up one spot in his heat race to finish third. With $15,000 on the line on the in the feature, Unzicker clawed forward three spots to cross the line in 15th.
To wrap up the inaugural Illinois Speedweek on Saturday at Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, Ill.), Unzicker was one of 50 Late Models amassed for the Titan Industries FALS Spring Shootout. After a tangle in his heat race led to an early exit, Ryan passed four cars in his B-Main but fell short of transferring into the $30,000-to-win finale with an eighth-place finish.