FALS Promoter Matt Curl buys the MARS Late Model Series from Tony Izzo Jr.

[HoosierDirtFan]

Fairbury American Legion Speedway

Curl Strikes Deal to Purchase MARS Late Model Series from Izzo Jr; Forms New MARS Modified Championship Tour Coming in 2023. Tabs Clayton as Series Director

Fairbury, IL (December 5, 2022) — Matt Curl, owner and promoter of the Fairbury Speedway, announced today that he has reached a deal to acquire the MARS Dirt Late Model Series from Tony Izzo Jr. effective immediately. Curl, a past Series Director of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, will take over the reigns of the MARS Late Model Series and rebrand the series to go along with the newly formed MARS Modified Championship in 2023.

“I am truly excited about this opportunity to acquire the MARS Series from Tony. It’s been a passion of mine to build and develop a racing series and now I have that opportunity with the MARS Championship Tours. The combination of the Late Models and Modifieds racing throughout the Midwest speaks for itself. The regional talent we have in both divisions will no doubt be highlighted throughout the year”, says Curl.

Tony Izzo Jr, owner of Sixteen Race Promotions, and promoter of some of the Midwest biggest events including the Thaw Brawl and a past UMP National Championship Driver, will continue his event promotions at a variety of venues moving forward.

“It’s a bittersweet day for me;” says Izzo Jr. “I am sad I will no longer be at the helm of the MARS Series but also very excited that Matt sees the value we built with the series over the last 3 years. I plan to work with him on the transition and wish him nothing but the best for him to help make the MARS series great and keep moving forward. I would like to thank every single fan, racer, and track for all their support the past three years. To all the sponsors, it wouldn’t of been possible to do this without you so Thank You!”

In addition to the purchase and design of the new MARS Championship Tour’s (Late Model and Modified Series); Curl has hired Jonathan Clayton as the new full time Series Director for both divisions. Clayton, a past event coordinator with DIRTcar Midwest, series official and marketing coordinator with the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, comes in highly respected in the industry and will take care of all the day to day operations of both series.

“I am also extremely excited to have the opportunity to hire Jonathan Clayton as my Series Director for both of the tours;” Curl conveyed. “Jonathan and I go back to our World of Outlaw days and he is going to do great things with the series.”

Clayton 29, who resides in Tolono, Illinois, comments: "Having the opportunity to build and grow the MARS brand is an honor. When Matt and I originally started talking about the chance to team up and do this, I knew it was too good of an opportunity to turn down. Over the past 23 years of the Late Model series, a lot of things have been tried, which gives us a good baseline of what works and what doesn't.”

“The Modified portion is just as exciting though, because drivers in this area are hungry for a series to follow throughout the season. I am looking forward to working with the promoters, drivers, teams, sponsors, and fans this upcoming season to make this one of the most exciting in recent memory. I truly believe we have the best in all of those categories right here in the Midwest and we can't wait to showcase that.”

“I can't go without thanking Brian Carter, Sam Driggers, and the entire team at WRG for giving me the knowledge and tools over the past 9 years to take this next step in my career;” says Clayton.
Business will heat up fast for Curl and Clayton, as they will be working on all aspects of both series leading into the PRI Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis December 8-10. Exciting schedule announcements, series sponsors, rules, and much more will be announced coming in January 2023.

The Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS) Championship tours will feature some of the best grass roots dirt track racing in the country as it will visit some of the “hidden gems” throughout the Midwest including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Designed for the regional racer and promoter, the MARS Championship Tours will work hand in hand to integrate a long lasting partnership to promote exciting racing in the late model and modified divisions.

“One thing that I feel is extremely important in any series is communication and trust. Trust that we as a series, will work alongside tracks and race teams to give them the best opportunity and resources to be successful. It was the number one goal I set out to do in 2018 with the World of Outlaws, and will continue our mission with the new midwestern MARS Tours,” conveyed Curl.

New social media and website development are currently underway to bring the MARS Championship to your fingertips in the near future highlighting local drivers and tracks. Any promoters, sponsors, or drivers wishing to inquire about the new MARS Championship Tours can send an email to www.marsracingseries@gmail.com , or Contact Matt Curl at 309-532-7862 or Jonathan Clayton at 731-467-1316.

[ride height]

Uh…wow. Ok. Why? You’ve already got the golden goose with Fairbury, which you clearly deserve a trainload of credit for building into a hell of an outfit…but I don’t get this at all….MARS has always been kind of the red headed stepchild, passed from pillar to post with different people. Hope you don’t take your eye off the ball and let Fairbury suffer. That place is special.

[HoosierDirtFan]

ride height
Uh…wow. Ok. Why? You’ve already got the golden goose with Fairbury, which you clearly deserve a trainload of credit for building into a hell of an outfit…but I don’t get this at all….MARS has always been kind of the red headed stepchild, passed from pillar to post with different people. Hope you don’t take your eye off the ball and let Fairbury suffer. That place is special.


I get what your say and not taking your eye off the ball but why would he let FALS fail? Maybe Tony wanted someone with brains run the series rather than it possibly die off if he sold to someone else. Matt has proven himself to be great. I'm going to let this all play out in year 1 and see what happens myself.

[HoosierDirtFan]

IMO it will be some what interesting to see what track tracks schedule races with the series considering their looking to race in 7 states including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This could turn out to be a great thing for racing in the Midwest.

Kankakee Speedway in Illinois has 2 races schedule with the series on May 19th and September 15th & the Paragon Speedway in Indiana have posted their 2023 schedule they have a race on August 19th with the series in 2023 and it’s safe to assume Farmer Cit, Fairbury will as well. From what I have red it looks like Davenport will have a few races.

[ftfiowa]

hopefully dubuque, moberly, I-70 odessa mo., donnellson, spoon river, us 36 raceway osborn mo. all try for races.

[MittenMadman]

Other than Hartford I dont really see any other Michigan tracks showing up on this schedule

[PushinDad]

Adams County, Illinois Speedway Quincy) has indicated they will be on the schedule.

[Big Daddy 37]

Kankakee vs Knoxville, Sept 15th?

[dirtluver]

Kankakee would be a better race.

[Highside Hustler25]

Kankakee vs Knoxville, Sept 15th?

100% non conflicting. Might effect 1 or 2 guys.

[Morgs153]

Dubuque definitely. Good races there last year. Davenport, a must.

I-70, no. If I had a tour anchored in middle Illinois as a regional I wouldn't drag them nearly to Kansas City to a motor killer of a track. That Lucas Oil race last season was -not so good- and that was to teams with big budgets. Let MLRA have at it, that's kind of more their country.

They had Lancaster, WI on the schedule last year and weather won that one. That track doesn't run a whole bunch of specials and they might want to try again. There's not too many dirt tracks in the southern part of Wisconsin to choose from and Lancaster really isn't far from Iowa either. Not been impressed with Wilmot as a late model venue, same with Angell Park in Sun Prairie. The third mile in Beaver Dam would be a good track if they wanted to tow up there.

[ftfiowa]

memphis mo. is a great track and should be considered, Lakeside is another good track as is springfield mo. Bolivar mo. has tore the asphalt off the 3/8ths and should be considered by all groups as should monett mo. callaway raceway in fulton mo. is another possibility.