'Highside Hustler' making 1st appearance of '13 at Kankakee speedway

Plans call for a rare event at the Kankakee County Speedway tonight.

The racing is serious. A full field of Late Model Division cars will compete in The Land of Lincoln Clash. It's a 40-lap, $3,000 feature that will include the stars of the Sunoco American Racing Series.

But the mood will be light. The evening is called the track's fifth annual Summer Splash Nationals because it also includes the return of the crazy belly-flop competition. This diving exhibition involves a leap from the back of a pickup truck into a small inflated kids pool.

While the belly-floppers will provide a distraction, fans will line up at the gate to see drivers such as Jason Feger, of Bloomington. make his first local appearance this season.

"I've always had a lot of luck there. I'm comfortable on that track. I'm looking forward to the race," Feger said in his typical understated style — the exact opposite of his driving habits.