Spatola Fourth at Farmer City; Transfers into Summer Nationals at FALS
(June 25, 2017) Mike Spatola III and his #89 team invaded Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois and Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois over the June 23-24 weekend. In a weekly Super Late Model program on Friday night at FCR, Mike laid down the quickest lap overall during time trials, ran second in his heat race, and later placed fourth in the $1,000 to win main event behind only winner Mckay Wenger, Rusty Schlenk, and Scott Bull. On Saturday in a $10,000 to win UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals shootout at FALS, "Opie" finished fifth in his heat race and won his B-Main before winding up fifteenth in the final rundown of the 50-lap feature event. Complete results from both Illinois bullrings can be accessed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.fairburyspeedway.com.

Huge Four-Race Weekend for Spatola Racing in Illinois & Indiana
(June 18, 2017) The first week of the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals wrapped up tonight with a $5,000 to win throwdown at Daugherty Speedway in Boswell, Indiana. Mike Spatola III laid down the quickest time in his group during qualifying prior to scoring a triumph in his loaded heat race. The Manhattan, Illinois ace was then running fourth in the 30-lapper when overheating woes caused Mike to retire in the twelfth finishing position.

(June 17, 2017) Next up for the Spatola Racing team was a visit to Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois tonight for a weekly UMP Super Late Model showdown, which paid $1,300 to the victor. Mike Spatola III posted the fourth fastest lap overall during qualifying before running second in heat race action. Unfortunately, Mother Nature wiped out the main event, as rain showers invaded the Fairbury area before the feature could get underway.

(June 16, 2017) The grueling UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour made their first-ever stop at Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Illinois tonight and 38 competitors showed up to vie for the $7,500 payday. Mike Spatola III timed in ninth fastest in Group B during the qualifying session and later ran fifth in his heat race and fourth in the B-Main. After receiving a provisional to gain access into the 40-lap feature event, Mike was able to advance five positions to garner a fifteenth place showing.

(June 15, 2017) Mike Spatola III and his #89 team kicked off a huge extended weekend tonight at Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois, as the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour rolled into town to preside over a $5,000 to win shootout. Mike clicked off the fastest lap in his group during time trials, but unfortunately blew a right rear tire running towards the front of his loaded heat race. "Opie" then rallied to grab the second transfer spot through the B-Main and started the 40-lapper from the inside of the ninth row. The Manhattan, Illinois native was then involved in an early tangle and eventually retired in the twenty-first position.

Spatola Runner-Up to Unzicker Last Night at Farmer City Raceway
(June 10, 2017) The Spatola Racing team entered only one Super Late Model event over the weekend, as they tackled Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois on Friday evening, June 9. Mike Spatola III laid down the quickest time overall during the UMP qualifying session prior to scoring the victory in his heat race. After starting the $1,000 to win feature event from the pole position, Mike ran second the entire distance and eventually garnered an impressive runner-up showing behind only victor Ryan Unzicker. Full results from last night at FCR can be accessed online at www.farmercityracing.com.

One-Two Weekend for Mike Spatola III in Land of Lincoln!!!
(June 4, 2017) Mike Spatola III racked up his second feature win of 2017 on Saturday night, June 3 at Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois! Mike stopped the clock second fastest during the qualifying session, won his heat race, and later led all thirty circuits of the headliner. "Opie" beat Scott Schmitt, Kevin Weaver, Ryan Unzicker, and Scott Bull to the checkered flag to bag the the $1,300 windfall. Earlier in the weekend at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois on Friday evening, the Manhattan, Illinois ace earned Fast Time honors during qualifying and won his heat race before settling for a strong runner-up performance in the $1,000 to win headliner to finish behind only race winner Ryan Unzicker. Complete results from both weekly shows can be viewed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.fairburyspeedway.com. (Rocky Ragusa Photo)

Spatola Racing Finds Victory Lane for First Time in 2017 at Spoon River!
(May 29, 2017) The Spatola Racing team celebrated in victory lane for the first time in 2017 on Sunday night, May 28 at Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Illinois! Mike Spatola III laid down the quickest lap during qualifying, won his heat race, and later took the lead around the halfway mark of the UMP headliner on his way to capturing the $1,500 top prize! Earlier in the holiday weekend, Mike battled of the $2,000 winner's check on Saturday evening, May 27 at Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois. "Opie" won his heat race in preliminary action, but later slipped back to sixth in the main event to finish behind only winner Billy Drake, Scott Bull, Michael Kloos, Ryan Unzicker, and Jason Feger. Full results from both weekend shows can be viewed online at www.fairburyspeedway.com and www.spoonriverspeedway.com. (Hall Racing Photos)

Mike Spatola III Busy in Huge Tripleheader at Farmer City & FALS
(May 14, 2017) Mike Spatola III was behind the wheel of his new Moyer Victory Chassis from May 11-13 in a huge MARS Dirt Car Series triple shot at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois and Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois. On Thursday night in the $3,000 to win weekend opener at Farmer City, Mike battled more fuel pressure problems throughout the program and unfortunately missed out on the 35-lapper, which was won by Shannon Babb. In the inaugural $20,000 to win 'Farmer City 74' on Friday evening, "Opie" took use of a track provisional to gain access into the 74-lap main event and was eventually credited with a twenty-sixth place performance.

The big Mother's Day weekend tripleheader then wrapped up on Saturday at Fairbury with the annual running of 'FALS Frenzy,' which carried a $10,000 top prize. Mike laid down the ninth quickest lap in Group B during qualifying prior to running fourth in his stacked heat race. After grabbing the second transfer spot through his B-Main, the Manhattan, Illinois native advanced up to eighteenth in the 50-lap headliner. Complete results from all three races can be accessed online at www.marsracingseries.com.

Mechanical Woes Slow Spatola Racing All Weekend in Land of Lincoln
(May 7, 2017) The Spatola Racing team unloaded a brand-new Moyer Victory Chassis on Friday evening, May 5 at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois. After suffering through fuel issues on the new ride all night, Mike Spatola III switched to a back-up car for the $1,000 to win feature and wound up nineteenth in the final finishing order after caving his nose in during the race. At Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois on Saturday night, May 6, Mike hurt a motor during qualifying for the $1,300 to win show and was forced to scratch from the remainder of the weekly Super Late Model program. Full results from both Land of Lincoln venues can be accessed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.fairburyspeedway.com.

Spatola Sixth at Farmer City; Climbs to Fourth in FALS Opener
(April 23, 2017) Mike Spatola III and his Spatola Racing team traveled to Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois and Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois over the April 21-22 weekend for a pair of weekly UMP Super Late Model shows. On Friday night at Farmer City, Mike timed in seventh quickest during qualifying, ran fourth in his heat race, and later moved past four competitors during the $1,000 to win feature to finish in the sixth position. In the 2017 season opener at FALS on Saturday evening, Mike qualified eleventh fastest in time trials and later placed fourth in heat race action. The Manhattan, Illinois ace then blitzed by a trio of racecars during the $1,300 to win main event to earn a strong fourth place performance behind only victor Michael Kloos, Jason Feger, and Ryan Unzicker! Full results from both Land of Lincoln venues can be accessed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.fairburyspeedway.com.

Mike Spatola III Leads Early; Finishes on the Podium at Peoria Speedway!
(April 16, 2017) Following a rain-out on Friday evening at Farmer City (IL) Raceway, the Spatola Racing team invaded Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Illinois on Saturday night, April 15 for a weekly Super Late Model show. Mike Spatola III won his heat race in preliminary action and later started the 25-lap headliner from the pole position. After leading the first half of the feature, "Opie" lost the point following a restart and wound up third in the final finishing order behind only $1,000 victor Rich Bell and runner-up Todd Bennett. Complete results from last night at Peoria Speedway can be accessed online at www.peoriaspeedway.com.

Spatola Starts Season with Solid Runs at Farmer City and Peoria!
(April 9, 2017) Mike Spatola III and his #89 team kicked off their version of the 2017 racing season over the April 7-8 weekend in a pair of events in the Land of Lincoln. On Friday night in a weekly UMP show at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois, Mike earned Fast Time honors during qualifying prior to running second in heat race action. Mike, who recently became a father in late-March to a son, then knocked down a solid fifth place effort in the $1,000 to win season opener behind only victor Jason Feger, Bob Gardner, Ryan Unzicker, and Rodney Sanders!

At Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Illinois on Saturday evening, a $5,000 top prize was on the line in the annual running of the 'Chuck Hamilton Memorial.' Mike timed in fifth quickest in UMP qualifying before placing sixth in his loaded heat race. During the course of the 50-lapper, "Opie" blasted past five competitors en route to a sixth place showing behind only winner Brian Shirley, Bobby Pierce, Jason Feger, Ryan Unzicker, and Frank Heckenast, Jr. Full results from both weekend battles can be viewed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.peoriaspeedway.com.