(Peoria, IL) El Paso driver Ryan Unzicker accomplished something Sunday night he had been trying to do for the last few years- beat Jason Feger in a big race at Peoria Speedway  by winning the UMP Late Model “Don Bohlander Tribute“ 50.

Fairbury driver Wes Steidinger, piloting a Larry Reikert-owned Rayburn, took the lead from his pole starting spot as the gren flag flew over the 20 car field. Steidinger looked strong and led until a lap 9 caution for a spin involving Scott Schmitt and Frank Heckenast, Jr. slowed the field. The 7^th-starting Feger had driven in to the 2^nd spot, and immediately challenged Steidinger on the high-side of the track on the double-file restart. Feger got a run off turn 2 and dove under Steidinger on lap 11 in turn 3 for the lead. Feger then dominated the middle of the race, driving through lapped traffic for a 4 second lead until a caution flew on lap 38 for Donny Walden re-set the field.

The 8^th-starting Unzicker had moved into the runner-up spot utilizing the high line, and was actually closing in on Feger when the caution flew. On the lap 38 restart, Feger broke an axle going into turn 3, handing the lead to Unzicker. Unzicker survived a lap 42 caution and held off Mike Spatola for the $4,000 victory. 15^th-starting Brian Shirley finished 3^rd, with 10^th-starting Rodney Melvin and Billy Drake, who started 12^th, completing the top 5.

“I hate that something happened to Jason, I was a little worried when he got in front”, said Unzicker in victory lane. “But something happened to him, and we got the lead. He is so tough to beat here, but  we will take it”

Unzicker, who won the night before at Macon,  had bolted 4 hard tires on his Mastersbuilt Race Car for the 50 lap feature, but had to adjust when the Peoria track crew watered the top side prior to the UMP Modified feature. “We had 4 hard tires on, but when they put that water on top, we put soft tires on all but the right rear and that might have won us the race”, said Unzicker. “It’s just such an honor to win a race named after one of the greatest drivers off all time in Don Bohlander. This is a special win for us.”

Butch Weisser led flag-to-flag in the UMP Modified feature event, holding off Donovan Lodge, Mike Chasteen, Jr. and Brian Lynn for the win. “The track was really slick up top, so we wanted to get a good jump and protect the lead on the bottom and it worked out”, said Weisser. Decatur driver Joe Reed drove a 9-year old car to the win in the Hornet division.

Next Saturday night, April 9, will be the first regular UMP program at Peoria Speedway. UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Limited Late Models, UMP Street Stocks and UMP Hornets will be in action.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

UMP LATE MODEL “DON BOHLANDER TRIBUTE 50”

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011

PEORIA SPEEDWAY, PEORIA, IL

Finish (starting position), car number, driver, hometown

1. (8) 24-Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL

2. (4) 89-Mike Spatola, Manhattan, IL

3. (15) 3s- Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL

4. (10) 27-Rodney Melvin, Logan, IL

5. (14) 75-Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL

6. (2) 11d-Brian Diveley, Springfield, IL

7. (13) 48- Tim Lance, Brimfield, IL

8. (9) B5- Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL

9. (11) 1w-Donny Walden, Towanda, IL

10. (16) 99JR-Frank Heckenast, Jr., Orland Park, IL

11. (19) T2- Todd Bennett, Peoria, IL

12. (12) B12-Kevin Weaver, Gibson City, IL

13. (17) 21b- Richie Bell, Sheffield, IL

14. (18) 35-Derek Chandler, Pontiac, IL

15. (7) 25-Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL

16. (6) 32-Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL

17. (20) 83x-Nathan Balensiefen

18. (1) 94-Wes Steidinger, Fairbury, IL

19. ( 5) 40-Charley Hess, Bartonville, IL

20. (3) 10-Scott Schmitt, Tonica, IL

FAST TIME (31 cars): 25- Jason Feger 12.414

HEAT 1: 1. Spatola 2. Hess 3. Sheppard 4. T Lance 5. Bell 6. Jaggers 7. CJ Van Beveran

HEAT 2: 1. Schmitt 2. Pierce 3. Melvin 4. Shirley 5. Bennett 6. Steve Gardner, Jr. 7.Geno Markham 8. Brandon Thirlby

HEAT 3: 1. Steidinger 2. Feger 3. Walden 4. Heckenast, Jr. 5. Russ Adams 6. Chandler 7. Bob Gardner 8. Gerry Reeder, Jr. (DNS)

HEAT 4: 1. Diveley 2. Unzicker 3.Weaver 4. Drake 5. Jerry Carmody 6. Nathan Balenseifen

SEMI 1: 1. T Lance. 2. Shirley 3. Bell 4.Bennett 5. Markham 6. Thirlby 7. S. Gardner 8. Dick Taylor 9. Jason Jaggers 10. Van Beveran

SEMI 2: 1. Drake 2. Heckenast, Jr. 3. Chandler 4. Balenseifen 5. Carmody 6. B. Gardner 7. Adams

UMP MODIFIED FEATURE

1. 25-Butch Weisser, Bartonville

2. 32x-Donovan Lodge, Moline

3. 40JR- Mike Chasteen, Jr, East Peoria

4. 72- Brian Lynn, Mason City

5. 42-McKay Wenger, Fairbury

6. 2-Eric Bruce, Norwood

7. 32d-Tommy Duncan, Metamora

8. 25w-Allen Weisser, Bartonville

9. C4-Chris Morefield, Edwards

10. 77-Ray Bollinger, Kewanee

11. 59-Johnny Parlier, Peoria

12. 6- Robbie Bauman, Fairview

13. Z1-Zac Odewaldt, Hanna City

14. 89-Noah Faw, Creve Couer

15. 7k- Kenny Egan, Peroria

16. 98-Shawn Vaughn, Loami

17. 555-Chad Goff, Galesburg

18. A9-Austin May, Creve Couer

19. M1-Dale Munson, Fairview

20. 99- Bill Gray, Germantown Hills

HEAT WINNERS: Weisser, Lynn, Gray

SEMI WINNERS: Bruce, Bauman

HORNET FEATURE:

1. 64c-Joe Reed, Decatur.

2. 24-Kenny Butterfield, Peoria

3.k2-Jeremy Kingsley, Peoria

4. 11-Derrick DeFord, Canton

5. 39-UNKNOWN

6. 68m-UNKNOWN

7. 79-Dustin Forbes, Creve Couer

8. C7-Mike Cusack,Sr., Edwards

9. 13-Matt Musgrave, Peoria

10. 18z-Zach Nimmick, Pekin

11. 24b-Craig Boue, Canton

12. D30- Cody Wisher

13. 21-UNKNOWN

14.33k-Jeremy Reed, Decatur

HEAT WINNERS: Reed, Wisher