By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Ray Bollinger charged hard and heavy along the topside of the
highbanks on La Salle Speedway’s ¼ mile en route to his second victory of
the season. The Kewanee Modified standout broke the five race winning streak
of Colona’s Milo Veloz Jr. in grand style to put himself back in victory
lane.
The feature starting grid hosted AJ Dixon and Bollinger on the front row
over Peru’s Joe Adam and Wally Forsythe. The next set of drivers in row
three was Veloz and Mark Vervynk. Immediately following the start of the
race, a six car pile up in between turns one and two stalled the action.
Everyone was race ready for the next complete restart.
Quite a few yellow ridden laps early kept shutting down the action but when
the field remained green it was a rigorous pace to keep.
“I didn’t want to see any more cautions come out that is for sure,”
Bollinger commented after the race.
Bollinger wasted little time grabbing the lead from a higher line leaving
Dixon to fend off a strong running Adams with Forsythe and Vervynk in tow.
Adams didn’t last long as he pulled out of contention later to find an issue
with his battery.
By Lap 10, Bollinger was riding the outer berm so fast his #77 looked like
an amusement park style ride. His ability to live dangerously up there did
not come without tension filled moments. He carried his way within inches of
the concrete retaining walls narrowly missing an unforgiving greeting.
With four laps to go, he took his ride too far into the marbles and lost
ground but not for long as he powered out of turn four right back into
control.
Nathan Balensiefen started as the last car on the lineup but didn’t let that
hold him back. He moved quickly up the pack and into fourth during the early
laps out.
“It was a fast track tonight,” Bollinger said. It was a fast track but he
set the bar.
During the final lap, Bollinger’s ride again got a little tangled up in the
rough terrain but managed to power his way to victory over Dixon, Veloz,
Balensiefen, newcomer Matt Barker, Terry Hayes, Bill Theodorf and Brian
Lucas.
Bollinger and Dixon each won their heat races. Veloz posted the fastest
qualifying lap.
Ralph Markham returned to victory lane for the fifth time this season in the
Late Model division. The Maple Park winner took advantage of his pole
position and carried the field flag to flag back to victory circle.
Twenty cars signed in for the night’s action with nineteen making the call.
On the front row was Markham with Mike Glynn on the outside. Following the
pair was Jim Loomis and Scott Schmitt.
As the head of the pack entered turn one, Loomis and Schmitt were starting
to take the first corner when Schmitt, with no where to go, ended his night
with a hard crash into the concrete safety barrier. Schmitt exited the car
on his own but his heavily damaged machine was not so lucky.
Markham quickly pulled into a generous lead over Glynn, Keith Piano and
Steve Oeder. Glynn reeled him back in on several occasions but Markham was
unstoppable dodging lapped traffic.
During Lap 13, Glynn found himself racing against the lapped ride of Lake
Knutti. The challenge ensued and gave Markham even more time to distance
himself.
For the restart of Lap 21, fifteen cars remained in action with Markham
still in charge.
Markham closed the final laps out unchallenged flying solo til the end.
Glynn picked up the second place finish ahead of Oeder, eighth place starter
Darin Furar, Eric Dauber, Loomis, Billy Weistart Jr., Piano, Ed Williams,
John Piccatto, Doug Newlin, Brian Claudnic and Brian Lock.
Markham won the Budweiser Dash from his front row start to earn the feature
pole. Glynn moved up from the last row to finish second over Loomis and
Schmitt.
Claudnic powered his way to victory in the first Heat race over Weistart,
Knutit and Lock. Furar took home the second Heat race checkers with
Williams, Dauber and Piccatto following. Schmitt earned fast time with a lap
of 13.970.
Leon Cade made his first trip to the speedway using a borrowed Street Stock
and held back some stiff competition to capture the main event.
Cade started on the second row outside but grabbed the lead during the
fourth lap of competition. One lap later, he was already lapping the back of
the pack. His highside run did not go uncontested as Tim Loomis challenged
him until the very end.
Near the conclusion of the race, Cade lost his grasp briefly almost looping
the car but managed to hang on. Cade and Loomis were rubbing hard and
battling for the win.
Cade prevailed with Loomis driving an admirable runner up. Gary Schmitt
finished with third place in front of Rick Koltveit, Randy Lucas, Justin
Rutledge, Mike Hughes, Jay Mesarchik, Bill Dauber, Justin Sellars, Alex
Clubb, Stan Daigger, Mike Stewart and Jim Partipilo.
Loomis and Hughes each won the Heat race.
DJ Werkmeister looked as though his chances of adding to his mounting Hornet
trophy collection might not be a reality during the second turn of the first
lap. His Saturn was stopped facing the wrong way coming off turn two but at
only 14, he already knew he needed to bring out the caution so he would get
a complete restart and his position back.
His thinking ahead paid off as he hung in there to win his fifth race in a
row. This youngsters name is making waves at more tracks then just La Salle.
His winning ways have been the name of the game in racing venues throughout
Illinois.
Werkmeister continued his dream season with the win over Jamie DeFord, Asa
Robart, Eric Boudreau, Mark Sutton, Jr Brown, Jon Small, Gabe Koncor, Jimmy
Johnson, Nick Clubb, Jon Wagner, Jim Lazier, Don Slover and Travis Moahoney.
DeFord and Small each won their heats.
Next Saturday night, the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series will
top the venue for the first of two visits at La Salle Speedway. The event
pays $500 to the winner.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 6/16/07
Late Model – 20 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.970
Budweiser Dash: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn Jim Loomis, Scott Schmitt
Heat One: Brian Claudnic, Billy Weistart Jr., Lake Knutti, Brian Lock
Heat Two: Darin Furar, Ed Williams, Eric Dauber, John Piccatto
Feature: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Darin Furar, Eric Dauber,
Jim Loomis, Keith Piano, Ed Williams, John Piccatto, Doug Newlin, Brian
Claudnic, Brian Lock, Jerry Vance, Foe Fratt, Al Atkinson, Lake Knutti, Jeff
Small, Scott Schmitt
UMP Modifieds – 16 Cars
Qualifying: Milo Veloz 14.899
Heat One: AJ Dixon, Joe Adam, Tony Molnar, Bill Theodorf
Heat Two: Ray Bollinger, Wally Forsythe, Mark Vervynk, Mike Janis
Fast Car Dash: Molo Veloz, Jeremy Gustaf, Jim Phelps, Marty Thompson
Feature: Ray Bollinger, AJ Dixon, Milo Veloz Jr., Nathan Balensiefen, Matt
Barker, Terry Hayes, Bill Theoldorf, Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mark
Vervynk, Mike Janis, Tony Molnar, Mark Novorolski, Joe Adam, Dan Goodhand
UMP Street Stocks – 19 Cars
Heat One: Tim Loomis, Justin Rutledge, Steve Schwemlein, Randy Lucas
Heat Two: Mike Hughes, Leon Cade, Jay Mesarchik, Steve Lewis.
Feature: Leon Cade, Tim Loomis, Gary Schmitt, Rick Koltveit, Randy Lucas,
Justin Rutledge, Mike Hughes, Jay Mesarchik, Bill Dauber, Justin Sellars,
Alex Club Stan Daigger, Mike Stewsart, Jim Partipilo, Kevin Hoffman, Roger
Rickels, Al Gray, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein
UMP Hornets – 21 Cars
Heat One: Jamie DeFord, Dan Leonard, DJ Werkmeister, Loren Westerhold
Heat Two: Jon Small, Eric Boudreau, Asa Robart, Jr Brown
Feature: DJ Werkmeister, Jamie DeFord, Asa Robart, Eric Bourdreau, Mark
Sutton, Jr Brown, Jon Small, Gabe Koncor, Jimmy Johnson, Nick Clubb, Jon
Wagner, Jim Lazier, Don Slover, Travis Mahoney, Dawn Spellious, Dan
Widdercombe, Tony Harlacher, Cory Jo West, Bubba Swinski, Dan Leonard, #13L
La Salle, IL – Ray Bollinger charged hard and heavy along the topside of the
highbanks on La Salle Speedway’s ¼ mile en route to his second victory of
the season. The Kewanee Modified standout broke the five race winning streak
of Colona’s Milo Veloz Jr. in grand style to put himself back in victory
lane.
The feature starting grid hosted AJ Dixon and Bollinger on the front row
over Peru’s Joe Adam and Wally Forsythe. The next set of drivers in row
three was Veloz and Mark Vervynk. Immediately following the start of the
race, a six car pile up in between turns one and two stalled the action.
Everyone was race ready for the next complete restart.
Quite a few yellow ridden laps early kept shutting down the action but when
the field remained green it was a rigorous pace to keep.
“I didn’t want to see any more cautions come out that is for sure,”
Bollinger commented after the race.
Bollinger wasted little time grabbing the lead from a higher line leaving
Dixon to fend off a strong running Adams with Forsythe and Vervynk in tow.
Adams didn’t last long as he pulled out of contention later to find an issue
with his battery.
By Lap 10, Bollinger was riding the outer berm so fast his #77 looked like
an amusement park style ride. His ability to live dangerously up there did
not come without tension filled moments. He carried his way within inches of
the concrete retaining walls narrowly missing an unforgiving greeting.
With four laps to go, he took his ride too far into the marbles and lost
ground but not for long as he powered out of turn four right back into
control.
Nathan Balensiefen started as the last car on the lineup but didn’t let that
hold him back. He moved quickly up the pack and into fourth during the early
laps out.
“It was a fast track tonight,” Bollinger said. It was a fast track but he
set the bar.
During the final lap, Bollinger’s ride again got a little tangled up in the
rough terrain but managed to power his way to victory over Dixon, Veloz,
Balensiefen, newcomer Matt Barker, Terry Hayes, Bill Theodorf and Brian
Lucas.
Bollinger and Dixon each won their heat races. Veloz posted the fastest
qualifying lap.
Ralph Markham returned to victory lane for the fifth time this season in the
Late Model division. The Maple Park winner took advantage of his pole
position and carried the field flag to flag back to victory circle.
Twenty cars signed in for the night’s action with nineteen making the call.
On the front row was Markham with Mike Glynn on the outside. Following the
pair was Jim Loomis and Scott Schmitt.
As the head of the pack entered turn one, Loomis and Schmitt were starting
to take the first corner when Schmitt, with no where to go, ended his night
with a hard crash into the concrete safety barrier. Schmitt exited the car
on his own but his heavily damaged machine was not so lucky.
Markham quickly pulled into a generous lead over Glynn, Keith Piano and
Steve Oeder. Glynn reeled him back in on several occasions but Markham was
unstoppable dodging lapped traffic.
During Lap 13, Glynn found himself racing against the lapped ride of Lake
Knutti. The challenge ensued and gave Markham even more time to distance
himself.
For the restart of Lap 21, fifteen cars remained in action with Markham
still in charge.
Markham closed the final laps out unchallenged flying solo til the end.
Glynn picked up the second place finish ahead of Oeder, eighth place starter
Darin Furar, Eric Dauber, Loomis, Billy Weistart Jr., Piano, Ed Williams,
John Piccatto, Doug Newlin, Brian Claudnic and Brian Lock.
Markham won the Budweiser Dash from his front row start to earn the feature
pole. Glynn moved up from the last row to finish second over Loomis and
Schmitt.
Claudnic powered his way to victory in the first Heat race over Weistart,
Knutit and Lock. Furar took home the second Heat race checkers with
Williams, Dauber and Piccatto following. Schmitt earned fast time with a lap
of 13.970.
Leon Cade made his first trip to the speedway using a borrowed Street Stock
and held back some stiff competition to capture the main event.
Cade started on the second row outside but grabbed the lead during the
fourth lap of competition. One lap later, he was already lapping the back of
the pack. His highside run did not go uncontested as Tim Loomis challenged
him until the very end.
Near the conclusion of the race, Cade lost his grasp briefly almost looping
the car but managed to hang on. Cade and Loomis were rubbing hard and
battling for the win.
Cade prevailed with Loomis driving an admirable runner up. Gary Schmitt
finished with third place in front of Rick Koltveit, Randy Lucas, Justin
Rutledge, Mike Hughes, Jay Mesarchik, Bill Dauber, Justin Sellars, Alex
Clubb, Stan Daigger, Mike Stewart and Jim Partipilo.
Loomis and Hughes each won the Heat race.
DJ Werkmeister looked as though his chances of adding to his mounting Hornet
trophy collection might not be a reality during the second turn of the first
lap. His Saturn was stopped facing the wrong way coming off turn two but at
only 14, he already knew he needed to bring out the caution so he would get
a complete restart and his position back.
His thinking ahead paid off as he hung in there to win his fifth race in a
row. This youngsters name is making waves at more tracks then just La Salle.
His winning ways have been the name of the game in racing venues throughout
Illinois.
Werkmeister continued his dream season with the win over Jamie DeFord, Asa
Robart, Eric Boudreau, Mark Sutton, Jr Brown, Jon Small, Gabe Koncor, Jimmy
Johnson, Nick Clubb, Jon Wagner, Jim Lazier, Don Slover and Travis Moahoney.
DeFord and Small each won their heats.
Next Saturday night, the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series will
top the venue for the first of two visits at La Salle Speedway. The event
pays $500 to the winner.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 6/16/07
Late Model – 20 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.970
Budweiser Dash: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn Jim Loomis, Scott Schmitt
Heat One: Brian Claudnic, Billy Weistart Jr., Lake Knutti, Brian Lock
Heat Two: Darin Furar, Ed Williams, Eric Dauber, John Piccatto
Feature: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Darin Furar, Eric Dauber,
Jim Loomis, Keith Piano, Ed Williams, John Piccatto, Doug Newlin, Brian
Claudnic, Brian Lock, Jerry Vance, Foe Fratt, Al Atkinson, Lake Knutti, Jeff
Small, Scott Schmitt
UMP Modifieds – 16 Cars
Qualifying: Milo Veloz 14.899
Heat One: AJ Dixon, Joe Adam, Tony Molnar, Bill Theodorf
Heat Two: Ray Bollinger, Wally Forsythe, Mark Vervynk, Mike Janis
Fast Car Dash: Molo Veloz, Jeremy Gustaf, Jim Phelps, Marty Thompson
Feature: Ray Bollinger, AJ Dixon, Milo Veloz Jr., Nathan Balensiefen, Matt
Barker, Terry Hayes, Bill Theoldorf, Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mark
Vervynk, Mike Janis, Tony Molnar, Mark Novorolski, Joe Adam, Dan Goodhand
UMP Street Stocks – 19 Cars
Heat One: Tim Loomis, Justin Rutledge, Steve Schwemlein, Randy Lucas
Heat Two: Mike Hughes, Leon Cade, Jay Mesarchik, Steve Lewis.
Feature: Leon Cade, Tim Loomis, Gary Schmitt, Rick Koltveit, Randy Lucas,
Justin Rutledge, Mike Hughes, Jay Mesarchik, Bill Dauber, Justin Sellars,
Alex Club Stan Daigger, Mike Stewsart, Jim Partipilo, Kevin Hoffman, Roger
Rickels, Al Gray, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein
UMP Hornets – 21 Cars
Heat One: Jamie DeFord, Dan Leonard, DJ Werkmeister, Loren Westerhold
Heat Two: Jon Small, Eric Boudreau, Asa Robart, Jr Brown
Feature: DJ Werkmeister, Jamie DeFord, Asa Robart, Eric Bourdreau, Mark
Sutton, Jr Brown, Jon Small, Gabe Koncor, Jimmy Johnson, Nick Clubb, Jon
Wagner, Jim Lazier, Don Slover, Travis Mahoney, Dawn Spellious, Dan
Widdercombe, Tony Harlacher, Cory Jo West, Bubba Swinski, Dan Leonard, #13L
