(Peoria, IL) Many of the usual suspects were in victory lane Saturday night at Peoria Speedway on a hot and steamy evening in Central Illinois. 4 of the 5 divisions saw repeat winners, with only Donovan Lodge in the UMP Modifieds the only first-time winner.
Steve Lance, Jr. started 3rd, but made a move down the backstretch to pass pole-sitter John Gardner on the first lap and was never seriously challenged in the UMP Late Model division. A lap 18 caution had erased a nearly straightaway lead for Lance as Todd Bennett had given chase, but Bennett could never close the distance and had to settle for 2nd. Mike Mullvain finished 3rd, with Roger Rebholtz and 15th-starting Charley Hess completing the top 5.
“We’ve been running real good lately”, Lance, Jr. said in victory lane. “We’ve been running these Rayburn cars a long time so we’ve got lots of laps here. The car is easy to drive. I really want to thank all the fans for coming out in this heat tonight. Whether you love or hate me, I really appreciate it. You guys are hardcore fans for sure!”.
Moline driver Donovan Lodge held off a race-long challenge from Gosport, IN ace Ryan Thomas for his first win of the season at the track in the UMP Modifieds. Lodge survived 4 caution periods and repeated attacks from Thomas for the win. Thomas finished 2nd, followed by Ray Bollinger and Erik Bruce, who both experimented in the high groove. Tommy Duncan rounded out the top 5.
“It really helped to start up front of our heat and the feature tonight”, said Lodge. “There were a whole bunch of good cars here tonight, so I wanted to get to the bottom and hold my line. It feels great to get a win here.”
Jack Siegel dominated the Limited Late Model feature, leading all 15 laps over Rob Bauman, Sr., Brian Crebo, Bobby Cowell Sr., and CJ VanBeveran. Kenny Butterfield picked up his 5th win of the season at the track (his 10th overall) in the UMP Hornets.
On Independence weekend, there were fireworks early in the Street Stock division as Chuck Barnes, Jr. and Paula Harrison tangled in their heat race. Harrison spun out going into turn 3, and Barnes was sent to the rear for rough driving. Visibly unhappy with the call, Barnes climbed out of the car at the judges’ stand and voiced his displeasure to Speedway officials. At intermission, Barnes requested the microphone and went on the PA system to apologize for his actions and tirade, with Harrison at his side.
As for the Street Stock feature, John Farris went 3-wide going into turn 3 on lap 1 with Harrison and Wally Zander to take the lead and drove away for the win. Harrison, Barnes, Jr., Zander and Virgil Nussel rounded out the top 5.
Wednesday night, July 6, the UMP DirtCar Late Model “Summernationals” will return to Peoria Speedway. The 40 lap “Hell Tour” feature will pay $5,000 to-win. UMP Modifieds will race for $1,000 to-win and UMP Hornets will also be in action. Weekly UMP racing resumes at the track Saturday, July 9.
OFFICIAL RESULTS, PEORIA SPEEDWAY, July 2, 2011
UMP LATE MODELS (16 cars)
1. 25-Steve Lance, Jr., Cuba
2. T2-Todd Bennett, Peoria
3. 4-Mike Mullvain, Bartonville
4. 10-Roger Rebholtz, Sparland
5. 40-Charley Hess, Bartonville
6. 38C- John Gardner, Peoria
7. 65-Gerry Reeder, Jr., Peoria
8. 93-Kevin Paul, Colchester
9. 4G-Bob Gardner, Peoria
10. 50-Tim Fauklenberry, Mapleton
11. 16-Shane Allen, East Peoria
12. 57-Matt McAdams, Hanna City
13. 95-Frank Shickel Sr., Bloomington
14. 32J-Jason Jaggers, Wyanet
15. 25K-Bill Kettering, Pekin
16. 7-Jay Sparks, Metamora (DNS)
FAST TIME: Steve Lance Jr. 12.289
HEAT 1: 1. Lance, Jr. 2. J. Gardner 3. Jaggers 4. Mullvain 5. Rebholtz 6. Faulkenberry 7. McAdams 8. Hess
HEAT 2: 1. Bennett 2. B, Gardner 3. Reeder 4. Shickel 5. Paul 6. Allen 7. Sparks 8. Kettering
UMP MODIFIEDS (26 cars)
1. 32-Donovan Lodge, Moline
2. T9-Ryan Thomas, Gosport, IN
3. 77-Ray Bollinger, Kewanee
4. 2-Erik Bruce, Norwood
5. 32D-Tommy Duncan, Peoria
6. 01-Don Kiger, Danville
7. 87-Dan Turner, Princeville
8. 26J-Mark Johnson, Glasford
9. D3-Matt Dillon, Peoria
10. M1-Dale Munson, Fairview
11. 4-John Winters, Canton
12. 26D-Derrick Doerr, Peoria
13. 89-Noah Faw, Hanna City
14. 44x-Roger Cary, Catlin
15. 44-John Smith, Peoria
16. 38-Steve Turner, Princeville
17. 59-Johnny Parlier, Peoria
18. 40JR-Mike Chasteen, Jr., East Peoria
19. Z1-Zac Oedewaldt, Hanna City
20. 7-Cody Spirling, Peoria
HEAT 1: 1. Bruce 2. Lodge 3. Chasteen 4. Bollinger 5. Zac Oedewaldt 6. Kiger 7. Spirling 8. Dillon 9. Dane Tilstra (Onarga)
HEAT 2: 1. Johnson 2. Munson 3. Smith 4. Parlier 5. Faw 6. Doerr 7. Rick Etherton (Pekin) 8. Duncan
HEAT 3: 1. Thomas 2. D. Turner 3. Winters 4. S. Turner 5. Joe Cook (Spring Bay) 6. Jim Picardi (Pekin) 7. Smith 8. Zane Oedewaldt (Hanna City)
SEMI 1: 1. Cary 2. Zac Oedewaldt 3. Doerr 4. Spirling 5. Tilstra 6. Billy Puckett (Metamora) 7. Cook
SEMI 2: 1. Duncan 2. Faw 3. Kiger 4. Dillon 5. Zane Oedewaldt 6. Picardi 7. Ehterton
LIMITED LATE MODELS (19 cars)
1. A2-Jack Siegel, Pekin
2. 30-Rob Bauman, Sr., Fairview
3. 99-Brian Crebo, Hanna City
4. 22c-Bobby Cowell, Sr., East Peoria
5. 55-C J VanBeveran, East Galesburg
6. 83-Jim Carmody, Dunlap
7. 28M-Matt Mills, East Peoria
8. 30JR-Robbie Bauman, Jr., Fairview
9. 15-Steve Shannon, Bartonville
10. 00-Jason Weyeneth, Peoria
11. 01-Jim Sellner, Peoria Heights
12. F4-Chris Feger, Marquette Heights
13. 45-Dewayne Walters, Metamora
14. 7-Rick Erwin, Peoria
15. 5-John Traver, Peoria
16. 93-Amanda Ellis, Wahsington
17. 51- Cameron Guidi, Hanna City
18. 8-Matt Murphy, Peoria
19. 1-Brad Carrington, Peoria
HEAT 1: 1. Siegel 2. Shannon 3. Bauman Jr. 4. Crebo 5. Erwin 6. Traver 7. Guidi 8. Sellner 9. Ellis 10. Carrington
HEAT 2: 1. Carmody 2. Feger 3. Bauman Sr. 4. Weyeneth 5. VanBeveran 6. Cowell 7. Mills 8. Walters 8. Murphy
STREET STOCK (14 cars)
1. 90-John Farris, Peoria
2. 4h-Paula Harrison, Germantown Hills
3. B22-Chuck Barnes, Jr., Peoria
4. 68-Wally Zaner, Groveland
5 258-Virgil Nussel, Peoria
6 22x-Bob Cowell, Jr., East Peoria
7 63p-Greg Sauder, Peoria
8 30-Nate Griffin, Peoria
9 6S-Squoria Rivers, East Peoria
10. 56-Ed Keith, Peoria
11. 20-Bob Simpson, Bartonville
12. 63p-Greg Sauder, Peoria
13. R22-Rudy Oldberg, Galesburg
14. 52-Michael Wells, Peoria
HEAT: 1. Harrison 2. Zander 3. Simpson 4. Barnes 5. Rivers 6. Keith 7. Wells
HEAT 2: 1. Farris 2. Nussel 3. Cowell 4. Griffin 5. Sauder 6. Oldberg
UMP HORNETS (12 cars)
1. 24-Kenny Butterfield, Kingston Mines
2. K2-Jeremy Kingsley, Peoria
3. B5-Tyler Benson, Creve Coeur
4. 18W-Tommy Wisher, Peoria
5. 13-Matt Musgrave, Peoria
6. 77-Zac Bollinger, Kewanee
7. WFO-Tyler Etherton, Pekin
8. 39-Brent Terry, Pekin
9. 25J-Jerry Sally, Manito
10. 57-Fred Logsdon, Pekin
11. 65B-Don Britton, Peoria
12. 18z-Zach Nimrick, Pekin
HEAT 1: Kingsley 2. Wisher 3. Logsdon 4. Nimrick Sally
HEAT 2: 1. Butterfield 2. Musgrave 3. Benson 4. Terry 5.Etherton 6. Bollinger