By: Betty Glynn
LaSalle, IL - For many years the race talk has always been that LaSalle Speedway is not a "Rayburn Track". Well Rayburn chassis’ are now two-for-two in wins for the 2004 Late Model action. When Tonica’s Ryan Dauber hit the field for qualifying it was clear to everyone watching it was not only a "Rayburn Track" but quite possibly his night to shine.
Mother Nature’s recent heavy rains may have played an important role in making the 1/4 mile highbanks the perfect running ground for the Rayburn’s but it was certainly the young driver who sealed his fate with a powerful run.
With fast time and the Heat win under his belt, he was ready for show time when the green flag dropped on the twenty five lap race.
The first four laps out, Brett Seivert held the reins with Elmhurst’s Jim Partipilo, Mike Mataragas of Dekalb and Dauber trying to reel him in. Mataragas and Dauber made contact during Lap 5 which could have created a different ending but both hung on and Dauber used the high groove to make his way to the front trio.
During Lap 9, Seivert was still in the lead, Partipilo followed in second as Dauber brought the action side by side in lapped traffic. Dauber seemed to hit rough ground and got a little loose but not for long as he quickly took over the point the next lap scored.
Dauber used the high line which was not a favorite by most, as the track conditions were rough at the very least. The rains were not kind to the clay oval leaving rough terrain as their only stomping ground.
At times, Dauber was in his own time zone. A restart on the eighteenth lap out showed the cushion he had earned with three lapped cars separating himself from Partipilo. Seivert was positioned third over Mataragas, Utica’s Tony Izzo Jr., Jay Fiene of West Chicago, Tom Markham of Kirkland, Wauconda’s Skip Martin, Tom Newquist and LaSalle’s Mike Glynn.
Back under green, Dauber’s fury never ended but the pace was slowed for another caution on Lap 23. Before the restart, it was noticeable that one of Dauber’s back tires was so low it looked completely flat. His determination and confidence kept him on the field for a true showdown with Seivert and an up and coming Fiene, who began the event in seventh, and ninth place starter Frank Reaber.
Seivert got under Dauber with only one-to-go but Dauber out powered him to the finish line. Fiene rolled across the line third in front of Reaber, Partipilo, Izzo, Martin, Markham, Glynn, Scott Johnson, Rich Bell, Tim Brach, Mataragas, Newquist, Bart Schwartz, Matt Ramer, Dan Source, Tim Hamburg and Jan Tiberi.
Ralph Markham narrowly held off a late charge by relative Reno Markham to win what had to be one of the longest twenty five lap feature races the Midwestern Late Model division has had. Ridden with cautions too many to count, Ralph did what he set out to accomplish from his fourth place start.
Two yellows before the first lap was scored set the tone for what had to be frustrating for all and costly to so many.
Rookie Travis Rokey put on a stellar performance heading the pack for the majority of the race. As he kept control and level headed, some pretty tough competitors were flying through the corners on his tail. During the twelfth lap out, Ralph was on Rokey’s outside to take the two into door-to-door action but Rokey held him off.
Two laps later, Ralph made his final pass down low but yet another caution slowed the field. By Lap 19 only fourteen drivers remained on the track.
During the final lap, Reno took the duo into a nose to nose race for the win. Ralph was able to narrowly escape the loss but Reno picked up his second place finish from an impressive journey from his start in tenth.
At the checkers, Rokey finished third but was later disqualified due to not making the required weight. Unfortunately for the young rookie, the unforeseen cautions and time on the track may have burned off more fuel then he anticipated.
Officially finishing third was Streator’s Shane Hill in a strong run from eighth, over Dixon’s Ben Hamburg, John Johnson, Bill Weistart Jr., Tonica’s Eric Dauber, Joe Adam of Peru, Wally Forsythe, Ken Fisher, Jason Abens, Don Bell and Nick Voules.
Darin Furar may have earned the new track record with a qualifying lap of 13.195.
Duane McCarville took home the Midwestern Sportsman main event after trailing Keith Piano and Jeff Hartzell for the first ten laps out.
During Lap 10, Hartzell pulled under Piano’s back quarter panel to take a run at the lead. As the two came down the front stretch contact was made. Hartzell found himself off the ground and heavily damaged while Piano finished his spin into the turn one tires. It was apparent before the two tangled that Hartzell may have become the faster car but his night ended on the hook of a tow truck.
Sharon Schlappi finished second place to McCarville over BJ Grabow, Brian Claudnic, Scott Cimei, Tina Soberri, Piano, Aaron Schmidt, and Scott Hauge.
Scott Schmitt collected the Street Stock win after beating former track champ Jay Hamilton, Craig Hoffman, Chuck Provenzano, Eric Whittington, Jerry Legner, Tom Otrembiak, Mike Stewart, and Robert Schlappi.
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LaSalle Speedway Results
Xtreme Late Model
Qualifying: Ryan Dauber 12.477
Dash: Jim Partipilo, Bret Seivert, Ryan Dauber, Mike Mataragas
First Heat: Dan Source, Skip Martin, Tim Hamburg, Tim Brach
Second Heat: Ryan Dauber, Frank Reaber, Bret Seivert, Tom Markham
Feature: Ryan Dauber, Bret Seivert, Jay Fiene, Frank Reaber, Jim Partipilo, Tony Izzo Jr., Skip Martin, Tom Markham, Mike Glynn, Scott Johnson, Rich Bell, Tim Brach, Mike Mataragas, Tom Newquist, Bart Schwartz, Matt Ramer, Dan Source, Tim Hamburg, Jan Tiberi
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Darin Furar 13.195 (Possible track record)
First Heat: Ben Hamburg, Wally Forsythe, Rich Leach, Eric Rebholz
Second Heat: Ralph Markham, John Johnson, Reno Markham, Ken Fisher
Feature: Ralph Markham, Reno Markham, Shane Hill, Ben Hamburg, John Johnson, Bill Weistart, Eric Dauber, Joe Adam, Wally Forsythe, Ken Fisher, Jason Abens, Don Bell, Nick Voules, Eric Rebholz, Jerry Vance, Rich Leach, Boyce, Darin Furar, John Piccatto
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Keith Piano, Duane McCarville, Scott Hauge, Jim ONeil
Second Heat: Darryl Grandys, Sharon Schlappi, BJ Grabow, Jeff Hartzell
Feature: Duane McCarville, Sharon Schlappi, BJ Grabow, Brian Claudnic, Scott Cimei, Tina Soberri, Keith Piano, Aaron Schmidt, Scott Hauge, Jeff Hartzell, Darryl Grandys, Fleety Beltz, Jake Patterson, Dan Goodnard
Street Stock
First Heat: Chuck Leason, Jay Hamilton, Nick Sell, Eric Whittington
Second Heat: Al Gray, Gary Schmitt, Charlie Herhold, Robert Schlappi
Third Heat: Scott Schmitt, Chuck Provenzano, Tom Legner, John Peterson
Semi Feature: Mike Stewart, Eric Legner, Matthew Scott, Robert Morath, Bill Clemmons, Shawn Mikolatis, Steve Lewis
Feature: Scott Scmitt, Jay Hamilton, Craig Hoffman, Chuck Provenzano, Eric Whittington, Jerry Legner, Tom Otrembiak, Mike Stewart, Robert Schlappi, Matthew Scott, Robert Morath, Nick Sell, Tom Legner, Al Gray, Charlie Herhold, John Peterson, Chuck Leason, Gary Schmitt
LaSalle, IL - For many years the race talk has always been that LaSalle Speedway is not a "Rayburn Track". Well Rayburn chassis’ are now two-for-two in wins for the 2004 Late Model action. When Tonica’s Ryan Dauber hit the field for qualifying it was clear to everyone watching it was not only a "Rayburn Track" but quite possibly his night to shine.
Mother Nature’s recent heavy rains may have played an important role in making the 1/4 mile highbanks the perfect running ground for the Rayburn’s but it was certainly the young driver who sealed his fate with a powerful run.
With fast time and the Heat win under his belt, he was ready for show time when the green flag dropped on the twenty five lap race.
The first four laps out, Brett Seivert held the reins with Elmhurst’s Jim Partipilo, Mike Mataragas of Dekalb and Dauber trying to reel him in. Mataragas and Dauber made contact during Lap 5 which could have created a different ending but both hung on and Dauber used the high groove to make his way to the front trio.
During Lap 9, Seivert was still in the lead, Partipilo followed in second as Dauber brought the action side by side in lapped traffic. Dauber seemed to hit rough ground and got a little loose but not for long as he quickly took over the point the next lap scored.
Dauber used the high line which was not a favorite by most, as the track conditions were rough at the very least. The rains were not kind to the clay oval leaving rough terrain as their only stomping ground.
At times, Dauber was in his own time zone. A restart on the eighteenth lap out showed the cushion he had earned with three lapped cars separating himself from Partipilo. Seivert was positioned third over Mataragas, Utica’s Tony Izzo Jr., Jay Fiene of West Chicago, Tom Markham of Kirkland, Wauconda’s Skip Martin, Tom Newquist and LaSalle’s Mike Glynn.
Back under green, Dauber’s fury never ended but the pace was slowed for another caution on Lap 23. Before the restart, it was noticeable that one of Dauber’s back tires was so low it looked completely flat. His determination and confidence kept him on the field for a true showdown with Seivert and an up and coming Fiene, who began the event in seventh, and ninth place starter Frank Reaber.
Seivert got under Dauber with only one-to-go but Dauber out powered him to the finish line. Fiene rolled across the line third in front of Reaber, Partipilo, Izzo, Martin, Markham, Glynn, Scott Johnson, Rich Bell, Tim Brach, Mataragas, Newquist, Bart Schwartz, Matt Ramer, Dan Source, Tim Hamburg and Jan Tiberi.
Ralph Markham narrowly held off a late charge by relative Reno Markham to win what had to be one of the longest twenty five lap feature races the Midwestern Late Model division has had. Ridden with cautions too many to count, Ralph did what he set out to accomplish from his fourth place start.
Two yellows before the first lap was scored set the tone for what had to be frustrating for all and costly to so many.
Rookie Travis Rokey put on a stellar performance heading the pack for the majority of the race. As he kept control and level headed, some pretty tough competitors were flying through the corners on his tail. During the twelfth lap out, Ralph was on Rokey’s outside to take the two into door-to-door action but Rokey held him off.
Two laps later, Ralph made his final pass down low but yet another caution slowed the field. By Lap 19 only fourteen drivers remained on the track.
During the final lap, Reno took the duo into a nose to nose race for the win. Ralph was able to narrowly escape the loss but Reno picked up his second place finish from an impressive journey from his start in tenth.
At the checkers, Rokey finished third but was later disqualified due to not making the required weight. Unfortunately for the young rookie, the unforeseen cautions and time on the track may have burned off more fuel then he anticipated.
Officially finishing third was Streator’s Shane Hill in a strong run from eighth, over Dixon’s Ben Hamburg, John Johnson, Bill Weistart Jr., Tonica’s Eric Dauber, Joe Adam of Peru, Wally Forsythe, Ken Fisher, Jason Abens, Don Bell and Nick Voules.
Darin Furar may have earned the new track record with a qualifying lap of 13.195.
Duane McCarville took home the Midwestern Sportsman main event after trailing Keith Piano and Jeff Hartzell for the first ten laps out.
During Lap 10, Hartzell pulled under Piano’s back quarter panel to take a run at the lead. As the two came down the front stretch contact was made. Hartzell found himself off the ground and heavily damaged while Piano finished his spin into the turn one tires. It was apparent before the two tangled that Hartzell may have become the faster car but his night ended on the hook of a tow truck.
Sharon Schlappi finished second place to McCarville over BJ Grabow, Brian Claudnic, Scott Cimei, Tina Soberri, Piano, Aaron Schmidt, and Scott Hauge.
Scott Schmitt collected the Street Stock win after beating former track champ Jay Hamilton, Craig Hoffman, Chuck Provenzano, Eric Whittington, Jerry Legner, Tom Otrembiak, Mike Stewart, and Robert Schlappi.
.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Xtreme Late Model
Qualifying: Ryan Dauber 12.477
Dash: Jim Partipilo, Bret Seivert, Ryan Dauber, Mike Mataragas
First Heat: Dan Source, Skip Martin, Tim Hamburg, Tim Brach
Second Heat: Ryan Dauber, Frank Reaber, Bret Seivert, Tom Markham
Feature: Ryan Dauber, Bret Seivert, Jay Fiene, Frank Reaber, Jim Partipilo, Tony Izzo Jr., Skip Martin, Tom Markham, Mike Glynn, Scott Johnson, Rich Bell, Tim Brach, Mike Mataragas, Tom Newquist, Bart Schwartz, Matt Ramer, Dan Source, Tim Hamburg, Jan Tiberi
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Darin Furar 13.195 (Possible track record)
First Heat: Ben Hamburg, Wally Forsythe, Rich Leach, Eric Rebholz
Second Heat: Ralph Markham, John Johnson, Reno Markham, Ken Fisher
Feature: Ralph Markham, Reno Markham, Shane Hill, Ben Hamburg, John Johnson, Bill Weistart, Eric Dauber, Joe Adam, Wally Forsythe, Ken Fisher, Jason Abens, Don Bell, Nick Voules, Eric Rebholz, Jerry Vance, Rich Leach, Boyce, Darin Furar, John Piccatto
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Keith Piano, Duane McCarville, Scott Hauge, Jim ONeil
Second Heat: Darryl Grandys, Sharon Schlappi, BJ Grabow, Jeff Hartzell
Feature: Duane McCarville, Sharon Schlappi, BJ Grabow, Brian Claudnic, Scott Cimei, Tina Soberri, Keith Piano, Aaron Schmidt, Scott Hauge, Jeff Hartzell, Darryl Grandys, Fleety Beltz, Jake Patterson, Dan Goodnard
Street Stock
First Heat: Chuck Leason, Jay Hamilton, Nick Sell, Eric Whittington
Second Heat: Al Gray, Gary Schmitt, Charlie Herhold, Robert Schlappi
Third Heat: Scott Schmitt, Chuck Provenzano, Tom Legner, John Peterson
Semi Feature: Mike Stewart, Eric Legner, Matthew Scott, Robert Morath, Bill Clemmons, Shawn Mikolatis, Steve Lewis
Feature: Scott Scmitt, Jay Hamilton, Craig Hoffman, Chuck Provenzano, Eric Whittington, Jerry Legner, Tom Otrembiak, Mike Stewart, Robert Schlappi, Matthew Scott, Robert Morath, Nick Sell, Tom Legner, Al Gray, Charlie Herhold, John Peterson, Chuck Leason, Gary Schmitt
