(Peoria, IL) Six classes or racing produced 3 repeat winners on Thursday night at Peoria Speedway as the track presented a rare Thursday night UMP racing program.
Todd Bennett won his 2nd Budweiser UMP Late Model race in a row, taking the lead from Roger Rebholtz on lap 7 and never looking back for his 2nd win in as many weeks. On a night where the high line was the preferred line, Bennett dove under Rebholtz coming out of turn 4 and drove through heavy traffic for the win. Billy Drake closed in on Bennett on several occasions but had to settle for 2nd, followed by Steve Lance, Jr, Bob Gardner and Scott Schmitt, who charged from a last place starting spot to finish 5th.
“This Pierce car is really working well right now”, said Bennett. “The car feels great. I normally struggle coming off the top but not tonight, the track was really good and it made working lapped traffic a lot easier.”
In the DuPont Pioneer UMP Modified division, Erik Bruce continued the theme of repeat winners, going flag-to-flag to win his 2nd feature in a row. Veterans Billy Tuckwell and Charley Hess had a terrific side-by-side battle for 2nd, with Tuckwell coming out on top. Hess settled for 2nd, with Derrick Doerr and Noah Faw rounding out the top 5.
“The track was really good tonight, thanks to the track prep crew for a good job”, Bruce told the crowd. “We got a good start and the top is where I like to run so it all worked out great.”
Steve Shannon used the high line to drive past Carl Feger on lap 7 and took the win in the Steel Block Late Model class. Jason Wagner, Rob Bauman Sr., Evan Fink and Robbie Bauman, Jr. completed the top 5.
“Hats off to the track prep guys, this track was perfect”, Shannon said. “The car was really good and we could run anywhere, although I am a catfish and like that bottom line.”
Barry Sauder won his second straight UMP Street Stock feature, holding off 2 of the top 4 in UMP national points in the process. Sauder led flag-to-flag, followed by Jeff Semmens, UMP National points leader Jarrid Krick, 4th in national points Terry Miller and Wally Zander.
“I’ve got to thank my dad for his help on this car, we’ve really got it going good”, Sauder explained. “To beat 2 of the top drivers in the nation is a huge accomplishment.”
Billy Brickley went side-by-side with race leader Brent Burrrows for 4 laps before making the pass for the lead on lap 7 and survived a scary incident for the win in the Speedway Motors Illinois Lightning Sprints. Gedd Ross, Brad Funk, Dave Baugh and Andy Baugh completed the top 5.
“The car ran great and this track was perfect”, Brickley told the crowd. “We nearly got flipped there on lap 17 and I am glad she (Stacy Bolen) is OK. We were on 2 wheels and I was afraid we were going over.
UMP National points leader David Webb made the trip to Peoria pay off, driving past pole sitter Tyler Etherton at the start and leading all 10 laps for the win.
“I knew Tyler would take the high groove so I planned on jumping to the bottom and it paid off”, said Webb. “A big thanks to Jeremy Reed, who is 2nd in the national points behind me. He paid for me to come here tonight, now how cool is that!”
Action resumes at Peoria Speedway next Saturday, August 3 with a full UMP racing program.