4/26/2025
Ryan Unzicker
Ryan Unzicker Scores Garry Swibold Memorial Three-Peat at Peoria Speedway
Earns $5,098 MARS Late Model Championship Series Payday
EL PASO, Ill. (04/29/25) – There was no stopping Ryan Unzicker at Peoria Speedway this past weekend, as the El Paso, Illinois native advanced 13 positions to secure his third straight Gary Swibold Memorial victory aboard his RJR Transportation / Brucker Farms / Mosquito Hero No. 24 Pro Power Racing Engine / Longhorn Chassis Super Late Model.
Saturday’s $5,098 triumph marked Unzicker's first win of the season and 12th MARS Late Model Championship victory of his career.
“I suck at qualifying, that’s basically where it’s at. I’ve started in the back many a times, last year I think I started 12th and came up and won,” Unzicker said. “I’m just glad they watered the top cause it gave an extra lane, ya know. I made an adjustment tonight that I’ve never done before in this Longhorn and I think it paid dividends right there. … I needed (the win) really, you guys know this sport’s expensive and this is what keeps me going right here, to be able to come and still put it in victory lane.”
After inclement weather washed out the Diggin’ Dirt 40 at Brownstown (IL) Bullring on Friday, Unzicker unloaded his RJR Transportation No. 24 at Peoria Speedway on Saturday for the annual Garry Swibold Memorial.
Joining a competitive 29-car field, Unzicker’s night began with little early momentum. He qualified mid-pack and finished fifth in his heat, placing him 14th on the grid for the 40-lap feature. But much like his memorable 2024 performance, the veteran driver wasted little time making his move forward.
By lap 15, Unzicker had surged into third. Ten laps later, he found an opening underneath front-runner Jason Feger and made the pass for the lead. Remaining out front for the remainder of the 40-lapper, Ryan wheeled to his third consecutive Garry Swibold Memorial victory.
The $5,098 triumph represented his sixth notable victory at the Illinois oval since 2016.
Complete results and the latest MARS standings can be found at www.MARSRacingSeries.com.
Although Unzicker has yet to finalize his plans for the upcoming weekend, the No. 24 team is tentatively scheduled to return to competition on May 6 for the FloRacing Night in America presented by Kubota event at LaSalle Speedway. The northern Illinois venue, which has remained inactive since 2019, is set to reopen with a $20,000-to-win A-Main on Tuesday evening.
Full event details are available at www.FloSeries.com.
Ryan Unzicker would like to thank his marketing partners and sponsors including RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Mosquito Hero, Remtek Enterprises, Low Voltage Solutions, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Varsitee Screenprinting, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home & Repair, Fuel Factory Race Fuels, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Unzicker Equipment, Aftershock, Budda Bert Transmission, Konstruction Services, Leach and Company Heating & Cooling, Pro Power Racing Engines, Speedwerx, Longhorn Chassis, NAPA Auto Parts, Allstar Performance, Quickcar, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Hooker Harness, Willy's Carb & Dyno Shop, Kevko Drive Shafts, The Joie of Seating, Sweet MFG, Pontiac RV, Wehrs Machine, PEM Racing, Dyer’s Top Rods, Allen Automotive, Keyser Manufacturing, Ultra Force Machines, Quarter Master, Performance Bodies, DirtCarLift, FK Rod Ends, Action Suspension, Micro-Armor Racing, Total Power, KDM Services, Arkansas Septic Pumping, Rural Route Repair, Swift Springs, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.
For more information on Ryan Unzicker, please visit his website at www.RyanUnzicker.com.
Fans eager to keep up with Unzicker’s latest news and updates can subscribe to his official mailing list by completing the sign-up form at [https://pages/RyanUnzickerRacing] (https://pages.insightly.services/RyanUnzickerRacing).
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