By Betty Glynn
LaSalle,IL – The temperatures were sweltering in the Illinois Valley Saturday night but that didn’t stop fans from filling the wooden grandstands and skyboxes of the LaSalle Speedway.
When the roster was posted, twenty nine drivers had enrolled in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Illinois Valley Challenge 50. The $10,000 payday was on the minds of all twenty nine. The drivers hot lapped their machines and lined up for qualifying just like normal.
What wasn’t expected was the “Dirtrax Dominator” making a late showing just in time for a qualifying run. His presence increased the count to thirty.
When Scott Bloomquist, one of the most successful dirt track drivers in the country, stormed into the speedway grounds and came out with an impressive timed lap the crowd quickly realized the most popular dirt star showed up ready to put an unexpected twist on the night’s activities. Anyone who is familiar with Bloomquist knows that when his unique #0 Bloomquist chassis rolls out the excitement level in the pits and stands ignites.
When qualifying ended, the quickest lap time was traveled by the man who has claimed the two big money events in LaSalle for 2006, Shannon Babb. Babb hit the track running as the third competitor out and timed a fast lap of 12.377.
Three ten lap heat races made up the beginning of the racing action. The first heat race had Bloomquist and Jeep VanWormer on the front row. The start of this prelim race was surprising for professionals. It took many tries to get a green flag consistently flying.
Before one lap was scored, four competitors were out of the race and back pitside. VanWormer got the tail slide of Bloomquist ending his front feature grid quest. Bloomquist carried the six cars from the high line until Lap 8 when Babb took over with two to go. Matt Miller claimed third, Scott James fourth over Jim Partipilo and Mike Mataragas.
“He’s (Babb) good on short tracks actually he’s always good no matter what he races,” Bloomquist commented about Babb. “I was a little too tight in the heat.”
The second heat finish went to Earl Pearson Jr. Darren Miller was running second when something went amiss and he fell from second to fifth on the last lap. John Mason took over second finishing ahead of Jason Feger, Ryan Dauber then Darren and Skip Martin.
For the third heat, it was former LaSalle regular Dennis Erb Jr. on the pole next to Don O’Neal. With two laps in the books, Erb lost his driveshaft taking Dan Schlieper with him. At the finish it was Steve Casebolt winning over Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason Jaggers and Travis Rokey.
Mataragas won the “B” Main over VanWormer, Billy Drake, Martin, Kevin Weaver, Schlieper, Erb and Fiene.
With all the preliminary events done, the field of twenty four was now set.
Babb and Pearson were on the front of the grid over Casebolt and Bloomquist.
Babb and Bloomquist were flying from the first turn on. While Babb was hugging the inside trek, Bloomquist was trying a meet and greet with the cushion. Bloomquist was traveling high enough for a birds eye view of the freshly painted concrete barrier walls. Only skills of his caliber would allow him to run so over the edge and not hit the wall.
At the start finish line of Lap 7, it was Bloomquist making that high run give him the momentum that he needed. He took over but not without a hard fought war with Babb. Two laps later a caution was signaled for VanWormer who was stopped coming out of turn four. Van Wormer looked like he would have a tail end finish for the night but as usual only time will tell.
During much of the race, Bloomquist just seemed to outpower the field from the top side while Babb, Pearson, Moran, Matt Miller and Casebolt followed.
Bloomquist’s ability to lap cars showed as he used the entire track to distance himself.
At the half way marker, a restart brought the leaders back together. Now the leader was solo but the double file restart, without being separated by lapped traffic, played a role in things to come. From Laps 33 to 35 the yellow came out numerous times. Several were apparently for debris slowing the high flying action.
For Babb, Lap 36 was unusual. He spun himself out of his groove coming off turn two and glided into the mere rim of the infield. Appearing to stop to avoid hitting an infield Lucas Oil banner flag display he looked as if he could have gotten back in action. No yellow was granted for him, unfortunately for everyone he didn’t return to the field.
Bloomquist started generating some real distance as he collected a half a track lead over Pearson. The real surprise was Van Wormer who earlier spun now had powered from fifteenth into a third place run on the highline over Matt Miller and Darren Miller. With nine to go, Van Wormer moved into second but was too far behind Bloomquist to challenge him.
Bloomquist took home the $10,000 without contest to cheers and jeers but put on a show worthy of the televised event. The last car to enter was now the first car to victory circle.
During a post race interview he discussed his LaSalle stop. “I like coming up here and racing. It’s been a few years, maybe four since we were here last. This is a good race track you can pass on.”
“We made some adjustments after the heat because we were too tight,”
Bloomquist said of his well prepared chassis.
The twenty year racing veteran did more then pass as he dominated with his feature run.
VanWormer earned an impressive runner up finish ahead of Darren Miller, Pearson, James and Matt Miller. Erb came from twenty second to pick up a hard charging seventh place finish in front of Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason Feger, O’Neal, Casebolt, Mason, Martin and Mataragas.
The Lucas Oil event will air on SPEED channel to be determined at a later date.
The weekly Midwestern Late Model’s and Street Stock’s were the support classes for the night’s venue.
For the twenty five lap main of the Midwestern’s, Ralph Markham earned the pole next to Jim Loomis. Markham traveled around the track on the front as they lined up but realized something was not right when fluid was blowing back at him. Apparently, a rock had flown up into the fan blade and punctured a hole in his radiator.
“When we were lined up everything was fine,” Markham explained. “Then we were going around the track and I started getting wet. I think a rock must have gotten into the fan and hit the radiator.”
Once the flag man signaled the green, Glynn shot off to a quick lead over Ed Williams Jr. while Jim Loomis temporarily held off strong attempts by Billy Weistart Jr.
Glynn had Williams on his back bumper for a few laps but maneuvering lapped traffic helped him pull away. With five to go, they were lined back up in single file order but the lapped traffic was not put back in place.
Glynn took off to finish the race uncontested for his third seasonal victory. Williams picked up second ahead of Eric Dauber, Weistart, Loomis, Darin Furar, Rob Piper, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance and Dave Miller.
Markham and Dauber won their heat events.
The Street Stock class put on a great caution free show.
Jake Cholke won the feature race and may have positioned himself up from sixth in the points to third with his finish.
Chuck Provenzano won his heat and took second in the feature over Nathan Balensiefen, Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, and Jimmy Partipilo.
Next week, a regular full program is on the schedule.
LaSalle Speedway Results 7/29/06
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 30 Cars
Qualifying: Shannon Babb 12.377
Heat One: Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Matt Miller, Scott James, Jim Partipilo, Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Michael England, Frank Heckanast Jr., Brian Claudnic Heat Two: Earl Pearson Jr., John Mason, Jason Feger, Ryan Dauber, Darren Miller, Skip Martin, Tim Hamburg, Kevin Weaver, Jay Fiene, Tony Izzo Jr.
Heat Three: Steve Casebolt, Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason Jaggers, Travis Rokey, Billy Drake, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Dan Schlieper B Main: Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Billy Drake, Skip Martin, Kevin Weaver, Dan Schlieper, Dennis Erb Jr., Jay Fiene, Frank Heckanast Jr., Michael England, Travis Rokey, Tim Hamburg, Don O’Neal
Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Lap Feature: Scott Bloomquist, Jeep VanWormer, Darren Miller, Earl Pearson Jr., Scott James, Matt Miller, Dennis Erb Jr., Donnie Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason Feger, Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Jason Mason, Skip Martin, Mike Mataragas, Michael England, Freddy Smith, Shannon Babb, Bret Sievert, Billy Drake, Kevin Weaver, Jason Jaggers, Dan Schlieper, Jim Partipilo
Midwestern Late Models: 18 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.804
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Dave Smith, Jerry Vance Heat Two: Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Aaron Schmidt
Feature: Mike Glynn, Ed Williams Sr., Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Darin Furar, Rob Piper, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Dave Miller, Joe Fratt, Scott Cimei, Dave Smith, Aaron Schmitt, Ralph Markham
Street Stock: 15 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveity, Robert Schlappi, Leon Cade, Nathan Balensiefen Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Jake Cholke, Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell
Feature: Jake Cholke, Chuck Provenzano, Nathan Balensiefen, Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Jimmy Partipilo, Tim Loomis, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Jeff Small, Rick Koltveit
LaSalle,IL – The temperatures were sweltering in the Illinois Valley Saturday night but that didn’t stop fans from filling the wooden grandstands and skyboxes of the LaSalle Speedway.
When the roster was posted, twenty nine drivers had enrolled in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Illinois Valley Challenge 50. The $10,000 payday was on the minds of all twenty nine. The drivers hot lapped their machines and lined up for qualifying just like normal.
What wasn’t expected was the “Dirtrax Dominator” making a late showing just in time for a qualifying run. His presence increased the count to thirty.
When Scott Bloomquist, one of the most successful dirt track drivers in the country, stormed into the speedway grounds and came out with an impressive timed lap the crowd quickly realized the most popular dirt star showed up ready to put an unexpected twist on the night’s activities. Anyone who is familiar with Bloomquist knows that when his unique #0 Bloomquist chassis rolls out the excitement level in the pits and stands ignites.
When qualifying ended, the quickest lap time was traveled by the man who has claimed the two big money events in LaSalle for 2006, Shannon Babb. Babb hit the track running as the third competitor out and timed a fast lap of 12.377.
Three ten lap heat races made up the beginning of the racing action. The first heat race had Bloomquist and Jeep VanWormer on the front row. The start of this prelim race was surprising for professionals. It took many tries to get a green flag consistently flying.
Before one lap was scored, four competitors were out of the race and back pitside. VanWormer got the tail slide of Bloomquist ending his front feature grid quest. Bloomquist carried the six cars from the high line until Lap 8 when Babb took over with two to go. Matt Miller claimed third, Scott James fourth over Jim Partipilo and Mike Mataragas.
“He’s (Babb) good on short tracks actually he’s always good no matter what he races,” Bloomquist commented about Babb. “I was a little too tight in the heat.”
The second heat finish went to Earl Pearson Jr. Darren Miller was running second when something went amiss and he fell from second to fifth on the last lap. John Mason took over second finishing ahead of Jason Feger, Ryan Dauber then Darren and Skip Martin.
For the third heat, it was former LaSalle regular Dennis Erb Jr. on the pole next to Don O’Neal. With two laps in the books, Erb lost his driveshaft taking Dan Schlieper with him. At the finish it was Steve Casebolt winning over Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason Jaggers and Travis Rokey.
Mataragas won the “B” Main over VanWormer, Billy Drake, Martin, Kevin Weaver, Schlieper, Erb and Fiene.
With all the preliminary events done, the field of twenty four was now set.
Babb and Pearson were on the front of the grid over Casebolt and Bloomquist.
Babb and Bloomquist were flying from the first turn on. While Babb was hugging the inside trek, Bloomquist was trying a meet and greet with the cushion. Bloomquist was traveling high enough for a birds eye view of the freshly painted concrete barrier walls. Only skills of his caliber would allow him to run so over the edge and not hit the wall.
At the start finish line of Lap 7, it was Bloomquist making that high run give him the momentum that he needed. He took over but not without a hard fought war with Babb. Two laps later a caution was signaled for VanWormer who was stopped coming out of turn four. Van Wormer looked like he would have a tail end finish for the night but as usual only time will tell.
During much of the race, Bloomquist just seemed to outpower the field from the top side while Babb, Pearson, Moran, Matt Miller and Casebolt followed.
Bloomquist’s ability to lap cars showed as he used the entire track to distance himself.
At the half way marker, a restart brought the leaders back together. Now the leader was solo but the double file restart, without being separated by lapped traffic, played a role in things to come. From Laps 33 to 35 the yellow came out numerous times. Several were apparently for debris slowing the high flying action.
For Babb, Lap 36 was unusual. He spun himself out of his groove coming off turn two and glided into the mere rim of the infield. Appearing to stop to avoid hitting an infield Lucas Oil banner flag display he looked as if he could have gotten back in action. No yellow was granted for him, unfortunately for everyone he didn’t return to the field.
Bloomquist started generating some real distance as he collected a half a track lead over Pearson. The real surprise was Van Wormer who earlier spun now had powered from fifteenth into a third place run on the highline over Matt Miller and Darren Miller. With nine to go, Van Wormer moved into second but was too far behind Bloomquist to challenge him.
Bloomquist took home the $10,000 without contest to cheers and jeers but put on a show worthy of the televised event. The last car to enter was now the first car to victory circle.
During a post race interview he discussed his LaSalle stop. “I like coming up here and racing. It’s been a few years, maybe four since we were here last. This is a good race track you can pass on.”
“We made some adjustments after the heat because we were too tight,”
Bloomquist said of his well prepared chassis.
The twenty year racing veteran did more then pass as he dominated with his feature run.
VanWormer earned an impressive runner up finish ahead of Darren Miller, Pearson, James and Matt Miller. Erb came from twenty second to pick up a hard charging seventh place finish in front of Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason Feger, O’Neal, Casebolt, Mason, Martin and Mataragas.
The Lucas Oil event will air on SPEED channel to be determined at a later date.
The weekly Midwestern Late Model’s and Street Stock’s were the support classes for the night’s venue.
For the twenty five lap main of the Midwestern’s, Ralph Markham earned the pole next to Jim Loomis. Markham traveled around the track on the front as they lined up but realized something was not right when fluid was blowing back at him. Apparently, a rock had flown up into the fan blade and punctured a hole in his radiator.
“When we were lined up everything was fine,” Markham explained. “Then we were going around the track and I started getting wet. I think a rock must have gotten into the fan and hit the radiator.”
Once the flag man signaled the green, Glynn shot off to a quick lead over Ed Williams Jr. while Jim Loomis temporarily held off strong attempts by Billy Weistart Jr.
Glynn had Williams on his back bumper for a few laps but maneuvering lapped traffic helped him pull away. With five to go, they were lined back up in single file order but the lapped traffic was not put back in place.
Glynn took off to finish the race uncontested for his third seasonal victory. Williams picked up second ahead of Eric Dauber, Weistart, Loomis, Darin Furar, Rob Piper, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance and Dave Miller.
Markham and Dauber won their heat events.
The Street Stock class put on a great caution free show.
Jake Cholke won the feature race and may have positioned himself up from sixth in the points to third with his finish.
Chuck Provenzano won his heat and took second in the feature over Nathan Balensiefen, Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, and Jimmy Partipilo.
Next week, a regular full program is on the schedule.
LaSalle Speedway Results 7/29/06
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 30 Cars
Qualifying: Shannon Babb 12.377
Heat One: Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Matt Miller, Scott James, Jim Partipilo, Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Michael England, Frank Heckanast Jr., Brian Claudnic Heat Two: Earl Pearson Jr., John Mason, Jason Feger, Ryan Dauber, Darren Miller, Skip Martin, Tim Hamburg, Kevin Weaver, Jay Fiene, Tony Izzo Jr.
Heat Three: Steve Casebolt, Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason Jaggers, Travis Rokey, Billy Drake, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Dan Schlieper B Main: Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Billy Drake, Skip Martin, Kevin Weaver, Dan Schlieper, Dennis Erb Jr., Jay Fiene, Frank Heckanast Jr., Michael England, Travis Rokey, Tim Hamburg, Don O’Neal
Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Lap Feature: Scott Bloomquist, Jeep VanWormer, Darren Miller, Earl Pearson Jr., Scott James, Matt Miller, Dennis Erb Jr., Donnie Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason Feger, Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Jason Mason, Skip Martin, Mike Mataragas, Michael England, Freddy Smith, Shannon Babb, Bret Sievert, Billy Drake, Kevin Weaver, Jason Jaggers, Dan Schlieper, Jim Partipilo
Midwestern Late Models: 18 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.804
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Dave Smith, Jerry Vance Heat Two: Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Aaron Schmidt
Feature: Mike Glynn, Ed Williams Sr., Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Darin Furar, Rob Piper, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Dave Miller, Joe Fratt, Scott Cimei, Dave Smith, Aaron Schmitt, Ralph Markham
Street Stock: 15 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveity, Robert Schlappi, Leon Cade, Nathan Balensiefen Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Jake Cholke, Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell
Feature: Jake Cholke, Chuck Provenzano, Nathan Balensiefen, Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Jimmy Partipilo, Tim Loomis, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Jeff Small, Rick Koltveit
