By Terry Young
36 cars rolled into the always meticulously prepared speedplant known as FARMER CITY RACEWAY under the watchful eye of Bob Sargent, and when the checkered flag fell on Night #1 of the season finale for the Northern All Star Late Model Series it was Dennis Erb taking the loot to the bank! Erb, driving the Petroff Towing, Peterson Aluminum, Hoosier Racing Tire, C.J. Rayburn Chassis, Reaber Transport #28 was the class of the field from his 3rd row starting position.
Gary May was the fast qualifier for the evening turning the lap with a time of 13.198, recording the fastest overall qualifier honors.
Theevening began with a preliminary dash which transferred the top 2 finishers into the Spotted Dog Collectibles dash, a 20 lap event for all of the seasons dash winners over the regular season, which would pay the winner a $500 gelt for their efforts.
The preliminary dash was topped by Don O'Neal and Gary May over Joe Harlan, Wes Steidinger, Butch Smith and Jason Feger.
The Spotted Dog 20 lap event was won by 2004 Northern All Star Late Model Series champion Brian Shirley of Chatham, Illinois over Dennis Erb, Ryan Dauber, Jr. Schickel, Don Hammer, Donnie Walden, May and O'Neal.
Heat races would transfer the top 4 finishers to the evenings 30 lap A-Main event with Shirley claiming the first heat over O'Neal, Schickel, Butch Smith, Harlan, Rod Sandage and May.
The second heat was won by Dauber over Erb, Walden, Michael Bradley, Hammer, Mike Mullvain, Ed Barth and Bruce White, Jr.
Third heat honors went to Billy Drake over Steve Hillard, Duane Chamberlain, Eric Smith, Steidinger, Rohn Moon, Kerby Damery, Mark Wiesricht and Joe Ross, Jr.
Fourth heat action was topped by Kevin Weaver over Feger, Chris Dick, Ritchie Hedrick, Lil' John Provenzano, Roger Brickler, Scott Duvall and Don Cisco III.
Two consi events were comleted with each transferring the top 3 finishers to the finale. The first consi was captured by Joe Harlan over May, Hammer, Sandage, R.J. Gall, Rich Harlan and Barth.
The second consi was won by Steidinger ahead of Moon, Damery, Weisricht, Ross, Jr., Brickler, Duvall and Cisco III.
A-Main action got underway with the young sensation Brian Shirley standing true to his championship form and flexing muscle as he jumped to a sizeable lead over Kevin Weaver with Dennis Erb, Ryan Dauber, Billy Drake and Don O'Neal trading spots behind him. Shirley would lead the first 17 markers with Weaver taking the point from Shirley as the duo began to lap traffic. On lap 20 Erb had moved into second position behind Weaver and was applying pressure for the lead. As Weaver approached traffic with Erb in persuit, Weaver attempted a slide in turns three and four on Donnie Walden in an effort to put the young driver a lap in arrears. Unfortunately for Walden, contact was made as Walden tried to avoid Weaver and Walden hit the outside wall in turn 4 bringing caution over the field.
On the restart Erb wasted no time in pressuring Weaver, taking the lead on the next marker and would not look back as he led the closing laps in the 30 lap A-Main event.
Following Erb to the checkers and his $2,000.00 payday were Weaver, Drake, Shirley, O'Neal, Fegers, Dauber, Hillard, Steidinger, Hedrick, J. Harlan, Smith, Bradley, Chamberlain, May, Hammer, Dick, Walden and Butch Smith.
The Northern All Star Late Model Series will end their season tomorrow night with the season finale at Farmer City Raceway and an $8,000.00 paycheck awaiting the winner.
I would like to wish a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to 2004 Champion Brian Shirley and his entire team and their sponsors DINKER, Capitol Storage, Canham Graphics, Hoosier by Smash, Five Star Engines, C.J. Rayburn Chassis, Skateland South, Giganti and Giganti Jewelers, Budda Performance, Jayco Construction, Charlie Parkers Cafe and Kim's Auto Body.
36 cars rolled into the always meticulously prepared speedplant known as FARMER CITY RACEWAY under the watchful eye of Bob Sargent, and when the checkered flag fell on Night #1 of the season finale for the Northern All Star Late Model Series it was Dennis Erb taking the loot to the bank! Erb, driving the Petroff Towing, Peterson Aluminum, Hoosier Racing Tire, C.J. Rayburn Chassis, Reaber Transport #28 was the class of the field from his 3rd row starting position.
Gary May was the fast qualifier for the evening turning the lap with a time of 13.198, recording the fastest overall qualifier honors.
Theevening began with a preliminary dash which transferred the top 2 finishers into the Spotted Dog Collectibles dash, a 20 lap event for all of the seasons dash winners over the regular season, which would pay the winner a $500 gelt for their efforts.
The preliminary dash was topped by Don O'Neal and Gary May over Joe Harlan, Wes Steidinger, Butch Smith and Jason Feger.
The Spotted Dog 20 lap event was won by 2004 Northern All Star Late Model Series champion Brian Shirley of Chatham, Illinois over Dennis Erb, Ryan Dauber, Jr. Schickel, Don Hammer, Donnie Walden, May and O'Neal.
Heat races would transfer the top 4 finishers to the evenings 30 lap A-Main event with Shirley claiming the first heat over O'Neal, Schickel, Butch Smith, Harlan, Rod Sandage and May.
The second heat was won by Dauber over Erb, Walden, Michael Bradley, Hammer, Mike Mullvain, Ed Barth and Bruce White, Jr.
Third heat honors went to Billy Drake over Steve Hillard, Duane Chamberlain, Eric Smith, Steidinger, Rohn Moon, Kerby Damery, Mark Wiesricht and Joe Ross, Jr.
Fourth heat action was topped by Kevin Weaver over Feger, Chris Dick, Ritchie Hedrick, Lil' John Provenzano, Roger Brickler, Scott Duvall and Don Cisco III.
Two consi events were comleted with each transferring the top 3 finishers to the finale. The first consi was captured by Joe Harlan over May, Hammer, Sandage, R.J. Gall, Rich Harlan and Barth.
The second consi was won by Steidinger ahead of Moon, Damery, Weisricht, Ross, Jr., Brickler, Duvall and Cisco III.
A-Main action got underway with the young sensation Brian Shirley standing true to his championship form and flexing muscle as he jumped to a sizeable lead over Kevin Weaver with Dennis Erb, Ryan Dauber, Billy Drake and Don O'Neal trading spots behind him. Shirley would lead the first 17 markers with Weaver taking the point from Shirley as the duo began to lap traffic. On lap 20 Erb had moved into second position behind Weaver and was applying pressure for the lead. As Weaver approached traffic with Erb in persuit, Weaver attempted a slide in turns three and four on Donnie Walden in an effort to put the young driver a lap in arrears. Unfortunately for Walden, contact was made as Walden tried to avoid Weaver and Walden hit the outside wall in turn 4 bringing caution over the field.
On the restart Erb wasted no time in pressuring Weaver, taking the lead on the next marker and would not look back as he led the closing laps in the 30 lap A-Main event.
Following Erb to the checkers and his $2,000.00 payday were Weaver, Drake, Shirley, O'Neal, Fegers, Dauber, Hillard, Steidinger, Hedrick, J. Harlan, Smith, Bradley, Chamberlain, May, Hammer, Dick, Walden and Butch Smith.
The Northern All Star Late Model Series will end their season tomorrow night with the season finale at Farmer City Raceway and an $8,000.00 paycheck awaiting the winner.
I would like to wish a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to 2004 Champion Brian Shirley and his entire team and their sponsors DINKER, Capitol Storage, Canham Graphics, Hoosier by Smash, Five Star Engines, C.J. Rayburn Chassis, Skateland South, Giganti and Giganti Jewelers, Budda Performance, Jayco Construction, Charlie Parkers Cafe and Kim's Auto Body.
