By: Betty Glynn
The biggest barometer used to measure a driver’s season is where he or she finishes in the point standings when it is all over. At LaSalle Speedway, the season is not quite over but the excitement of the final points races Saturday night are already weighing heavily on many minds. At the completion of the features on Saturday the new champions will be awaiting the definitive announcement.
Regardless of the length of time a driver has been zipping up a firesuit and securing himself behind the wheel, of his chosen class, the thought of becoming the division’s top champion is usually a sought after goal.
We always hear winning isn't everything in sports and racing is no different. But in competition winning is everything. When racing at a track week in and week out there aren’t many drivers who don’t find themselves thick in the points chase near the end.
"Everyone is looking at the points right now," Frank Reaber, as the defending champion knows a thing or two about points and what it takes to get there, said before last Saturday’s races.
How the points system works:
The system is easy to follow with an allotted number of points being awarded for each event the racers participate in. To get the drivers started, 15 "show-up" points are distributed to those signed in.
For the average program, Late Model and Midwestern Late Model qualifiers who travel the quickest lap is the recipient of 4 points for the Late’s and 6 for the Midwestern’s. Following, is the Heat races where the winner collects 8 points for their efforts. The next three finishers earn two less respectively as they go down the line.
The biggest opportunity to add to the kitty is the main event a.k.a. the Feature race. The top winner not only collects the trophy and the highest payout but takes in 30 points for their hard work. Each position following is less 2 points until the tenth place finisher. Eleventh and lower all receive 10 points.
Summing up the top points holders:
The standings, following the August 6th races, are posted on www.lasallespeedway.com. As it stands, the Late Model crown is truly up for grabs as Dixon’s Tim Hamburg leads the pack with 544 points over LaSalle’s Mike Glynn, who is 8 points behind. West Chicago’s Jay Fiene is still in the leader chase as well sitting in third with 533 points over Reaber, who boasts 523.
Fourth to first place is only separated by 21 points going into Saturday. Getting to this point hasn’t been easy as Hamburg and Glynn each hold three feature wins while Reaber has scored two for the season. Fiene’s consistency has kept him in the battle without a visit to victory circle.
For much of the schedule, Hamburg held a big lead in the points with Glynn nowhere in sight. Since June 18th, Glynn has won two of his three features and earned second place four times. It has been a tough journey back since the local racer took an early season vacation. Missing only one race can quickly diminish the title chase.
"We took a week off for vacation in May and that hurt us," Glynn acknowledged. "I never thought we would be this close."
For Hamburg, Glynn and Fiene the coveted title is finally within reach. "Right now there are four of us competing for the title and it should get exciting Saturday," according to Glynn.
Reaber, a veteran who has held three of the champ titles at LaSalle, is considering this to be his last shot at a final title.
In the Midwestern Late Model class, Eric Dauber is the reigning champ and started off the season strong claiming two wins in the first three nights of action.
The Tonica driver now sits at the top of the charts with 645 over Maple Park’s Ralph Markham. Markham has a deficit of only nine points. Third on the roster is Johnny Heath who has accumulated 578 points and Streator’s Shane Hill with 566.
Like Dauber, Markham holds two feature victories thus far and is hungry for the title after being close too many times in the past. Historically, the last night of competition hasn’t been lucky for Markham but this just might be his year to shine.
Ottawa’s Tina Soberri, also in her last year of racing, holds the most points in the Midwestern Sportsman division with 551. Last years champ, Scott Cimei of Magnolia, sits only one point behind with Bobby Morgan Jr. in third at 545.
If Morgan can repeat his clean sweep, like last week, the chase will even be tighter as only six points divide the top three places.
As for the Street Stock’s, Al Gray of Ottawa has pulled out into a safe lead with 711. Tom Legner and Eric Legner are both too far back to be a threat. Gray’s five feature wins have enabled him to walk away with the championship with an 81 point lead so far.
Tom also is ending the points with a great season of four wins. Oglesby’s Nick Sell however is only 8 points from earning a the top three finish.
The pressure of the points chase is almost over but that last night of competition will be filled with anticipation, hopefulness and for some broken dreams.
For the Late Model drivers, more then just a title is on the line. A points fund from tire sales is lingering along with the possible provisional positions for special events hosted by the Speedway next season.
Only one racer can be named the divisional champ but the hard work and dedication can not be gauged. Qualifying will begin at 6:30pm with racing at 7:30pm.
Late Model
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
57
Tim Hamburg
544
2
K9
Mike Glynn
536
3
72
Jay Fiene
533
4
7
Frank Reaber
523
5
20
Tom Markham
398
6
15
Skip Martin
351
7
15
Travis Rokey
346
8
21
Rich Bell
335
9
32J
Jason Jaggers
335
10
97
Joe Burba
268
Midwestern Late Model
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
22
Eric Dauber
645
2
10
Ralph Markham
636
3
133
Johnny Heath
578
4
89
Shane Hill
566
5
21
TJ Markham
552
6
5
Eric Rebholz
510
7
23
Dave Smith
498
8
21
Keith Piano
470
9
27R
Brian Ray
396
10
99
Joe Dynek
373
Midwestern Sportsman
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
72
Tina Soberri
551
2
47
Scott Cimei
550
3
89
Bobby Morgan
545
4
10
Jake Patterson
495
5
36
Aaron Schmidt
452
6
10
Scott Schmitt
423
7
67
Richard Koltveit
346
8
213
BJ Grabow
307
Street Stock
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
77
Al Gray
711
2
3
Tom Legner
630
3
27
Eric Legner
585
4
82
Nick Sell
577
5
26
Robert Schlappi
514
6
29
Jerry Legner
469
7
52
Steve Lewis
465
8
25
Tom Otrembiak
456
9
97
Joe Jelinek
389
10
33
Gary Schmitt
347
The biggest barometer used to measure a driver’s season is where he or she finishes in the point standings when it is all over. At LaSalle Speedway, the season is not quite over but the excitement of the final points races Saturday night are already weighing heavily on many minds. At the completion of the features on Saturday the new champions will be awaiting the definitive announcement.
Regardless of the length of time a driver has been zipping up a firesuit and securing himself behind the wheel, of his chosen class, the thought of becoming the division’s top champion is usually a sought after goal.
We always hear winning isn't everything in sports and racing is no different. But in competition winning is everything. When racing at a track week in and week out there aren’t many drivers who don’t find themselves thick in the points chase near the end.
"Everyone is looking at the points right now," Frank Reaber, as the defending champion knows a thing or two about points and what it takes to get there, said before last Saturday’s races.
How the points system works:
The system is easy to follow with an allotted number of points being awarded for each event the racers participate in. To get the drivers started, 15 "show-up" points are distributed to those signed in.
For the average program, Late Model and Midwestern Late Model qualifiers who travel the quickest lap is the recipient of 4 points for the Late’s and 6 for the Midwestern’s. Following, is the Heat races where the winner collects 8 points for their efforts. The next three finishers earn two less respectively as they go down the line.
The biggest opportunity to add to the kitty is the main event a.k.a. the Feature race. The top winner not only collects the trophy and the highest payout but takes in 30 points for their hard work. Each position following is less 2 points until the tenth place finisher. Eleventh and lower all receive 10 points.
Summing up the top points holders:
The standings, following the August 6th races, are posted on www.lasallespeedway.com. As it stands, the Late Model crown is truly up for grabs as Dixon’s Tim Hamburg leads the pack with 544 points over LaSalle’s Mike Glynn, who is 8 points behind. West Chicago’s Jay Fiene is still in the leader chase as well sitting in third with 533 points over Reaber, who boasts 523.
Fourth to first place is only separated by 21 points going into Saturday. Getting to this point hasn’t been easy as Hamburg and Glynn each hold three feature wins while Reaber has scored two for the season. Fiene’s consistency has kept him in the battle without a visit to victory circle.
For much of the schedule, Hamburg held a big lead in the points with Glynn nowhere in sight. Since June 18th, Glynn has won two of his three features and earned second place four times. It has been a tough journey back since the local racer took an early season vacation. Missing only one race can quickly diminish the title chase.
"We took a week off for vacation in May and that hurt us," Glynn acknowledged. "I never thought we would be this close."
For Hamburg, Glynn and Fiene the coveted title is finally within reach. "Right now there are four of us competing for the title and it should get exciting Saturday," according to Glynn.
Reaber, a veteran who has held three of the champ titles at LaSalle, is considering this to be his last shot at a final title.
In the Midwestern Late Model class, Eric Dauber is the reigning champ and started off the season strong claiming two wins in the first three nights of action.
The Tonica driver now sits at the top of the charts with 645 over Maple Park’s Ralph Markham. Markham has a deficit of only nine points. Third on the roster is Johnny Heath who has accumulated 578 points and Streator’s Shane Hill with 566.
Like Dauber, Markham holds two feature victories thus far and is hungry for the title after being close too many times in the past. Historically, the last night of competition hasn’t been lucky for Markham but this just might be his year to shine.
Ottawa’s Tina Soberri, also in her last year of racing, holds the most points in the Midwestern Sportsman division with 551. Last years champ, Scott Cimei of Magnolia, sits only one point behind with Bobby Morgan Jr. in third at 545.
If Morgan can repeat his clean sweep, like last week, the chase will even be tighter as only six points divide the top three places.
As for the Street Stock’s, Al Gray of Ottawa has pulled out into a safe lead with 711. Tom Legner and Eric Legner are both too far back to be a threat. Gray’s five feature wins have enabled him to walk away with the championship with an 81 point lead so far.
Tom also is ending the points with a great season of four wins. Oglesby’s Nick Sell however is only 8 points from earning a the top three finish.
The pressure of the points chase is almost over but that last night of competition will be filled with anticipation, hopefulness and for some broken dreams.
For the Late Model drivers, more then just a title is on the line. A points fund from tire sales is lingering along with the possible provisional positions for special events hosted by the Speedway next season.
Only one racer can be named the divisional champ but the hard work and dedication can not be gauged. Qualifying will begin at 6:30pm with racing at 7:30pm.
Late Model
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
57
Tim Hamburg
544
2
K9
Mike Glynn
536
3
72
Jay Fiene
533
4
7
Frank Reaber
523
5
20
Tom Markham
398
6
15
Skip Martin
351
7
15
Travis Rokey
346
8
21
Rich Bell
335
9
32J
Jason Jaggers
335
10
97
Joe Burba
268
Midwestern Late Model
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
22
Eric Dauber
645
2
10
Ralph Markham
636
3
133
Johnny Heath
578
4
89
Shane Hill
566
5
21
TJ Markham
552
6
5
Eric Rebholz
510
7
23
Dave Smith
498
8
21
Keith Piano
470
9
27R
Brian Ray
396
10
99
Joe Dynek
373
Midwestern Sportsman
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
72
Tina Soberri
551
2
47
Scott Cimei
550
3
89
Bobby Morgan
545
4
10
Jake Patterson
495
5
36
Aaron Schmidt
452
6
10
Scott Schmitt
423
7
67
Richard Koltveit
346
8
213
BJ Grabow
307
Street Stock
Pos.
Car #
Name
Points
1
77
Al Gray
711
2
3
Tom Legner
630
3
27
Eric Legner
585
4
82
Nick Sell
577
5
26
Robert Schlappi
514
6
29
Jerry Legner
469
7
52
Steve Lewis
465
8
25
Tom Otrembiak
456
9
97
Joe Jelinek
389
10
33
Gary Schmitt
347
