By Betty Glynn
LaSalle,IL – Darin Furar hasn’t had the best of luck with the final laps of the coveted Midwestern Late Model 75 lap specials at LaSalle Speedway. In recent years, the Granville driver has led many times but it has always slipped away before the finale.
“I’ve led the 75 lappers before and then near the end something always happens,” Furar explained post race. “When that lapped car (Dave Miller) came back up in front of me and Scott (Schmitt) took the lead I thought here we go again.”
Lisa Lasik, one of Darin’s biggest fans and his only sibling, shared the same sentiment. “I saw we were at Lap 72 and I got really nervous he has never led past then. I am so proud of him and glad he finally got one.”
Furar had a good start to the night when he earned his front row start next to Oglesby’s Bill Weistart Jr. On the second row, Princeton’s Steve Oeder and Scott Schmitt of Tonica rolled up ahead of Virgil’s Dave Smith and Eric Dauber of Tonica.
Once the green dropped, Furar shot to a quick lead with Weistart, Oeder and Schmitt on his tail. By Lap 2, Oeder had made his way around Weistart for second. Four laps later the yellow was flown for Weistart who spun coming off of turn four.
During the special, all laps traveled with the yellow flag flying are counted until the final ten.
By Lap 15, LaSalle’s Mike Glynn was flying and on the move from an eleventh place start. Last week’s winner quickly moved into fourth. For the next several laps the four cars running up front were Furar, Schmitt, Oeder and Glynn all in nose to tail style.
With thirty laps scored, Glynn had just cleared Oeder for third from the inside when the two made contact. Oeder’s terrific run concluded with him hitting hard into the concrete wall off of turn four.
Thirteen laps after that caution, Furar had Schmitt giving him a run for his money when the lapped machine of Miller slid into his line enabling Schmitt to gain the lead. Miller proceeded into the infield for a brief moment then decided to return to the pack again.
Schmitt, a young local talent, showcased his abilities working through lapped traffic when he started blowing liquid all over the surface. It appeared he lost the motor but kept pace and he stayed in the lead. During Lap 61, he pulled into the infield and out of the best run of his career with engine woes.
With seven more recorded, it was now Furar leading over Glynn, Smith, Ralph Markham and Ritchie Bell. Markham was traveling hard from a twelfth place and got around Smith for third.
When the checkers dropped, Furar posted his second win of the season. Glynn took home second without power steering.
While under caution during Lap 18 Glynn’s power steering pump burned up. The reality of how long the special was kicked in during the final laps.
“I was so ready for the race to be over. When I got out of the car my entire body was numb,” Glynn said of the grueling race.
“I don’t know how Mike could drive like that,” Furar said after learning that he raced without power steering. “I just can’t imagine that at all.”
Markham posted an impressive third place finish with a good run by Smith in fourth. Bell finished fifth in front of Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Dauber, Jim Loomis, Tony Coglianese, Aaron Schmidt and Jerry Vance.
Jim Partipilo posted the fastest qualifying lap of 13.227. Furar and Smith each won their heat events. Schmidt took home the semi race win.
Incredible talent on the high banks was the Modified theme when Ottawa’s Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper of Morris and Ray Bollinger got up front at the half way point of the twenty lap feature.
To kick things off Mike Stilewalt and Mike Spatola hosted the front row grid with Cooper and Lueth in the second row. Once green Spatola powered into a good lead for the first six laps.
A caution on Lap 7 placed Lueth on his rear bumper. For the next three laps the pair raced in that order until Lueth shot to the lead.
During Lap 15, Lueth was running a higher line and Cooper was now running the bottom in second when they quickly came up to lapped traffic. In the next two laps, Cooper was able to power up to Lueth’s door in turn two but Lueth was still faster on the straights.
Lueth and Cooper brought the fans to their feet as they put on a great show down to the wire. Lueth beat him to the line by a nose for his second victory in a row.
Bollinger claimed third over Spatola, Dalzell’s Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Derek Line, Jerold Meier, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, and Terry Hudson.
Cooper held fast time. Zac Dedewaldt and Brad Willis won their heats.
Matt Ramer fell on hard times in the final lap of the Street Stock main event. The Mendota native was flying high and leading the twenty two car field when the car just seemed to get away from him as he was coming into turn four for the white flag lap. He looped his machine and ended a fantastic run.
Ed Williams Jr. won with Nathan Balensiefen, Chuck Provenzano, John Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Robert Schlappi, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Dan Filkowski, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Eric Whittington and Ramer in tow.
Jeff Seitz won his first Hornet feature race with Dan Leonard, John Small, Alex Clubb, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Loren Westerhold, Jon Clubb, Shane Whittington, Corey West, Asa Robart, John Wagner, Jason Ramos, David Przybyla, Gabe Koncor, Chris Zavada, Lyday, #D7, Timmy Faust and Kyle Horn rounding out the field.
Next Saturday night, the Lucas Oil Dirt Series will invade the speedway for their televised Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Late Model special. The event pays $10,000 to the victor.
The Midwestern Late Models and Street Stocks will be on the venue as well.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model 75 Lap Special: 22 Cars
Qualifying: Jim Partipilo 13.227
Heat One: Darin Furar, Ritchie Bell, Steve Oeder, Scott Schmitt Heat Two: Dave Smith, Bill Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Eric Dauber Semi Feature: Aaron Schmidt, Dave Miller, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Jack Benson, Dewayne Williford
Feature: Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Dave Smith, Rich Bell, Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Eric Dauber, Jim Loomis, Tony Coglianese, Aaron Schmidt, Jerry Vance, Scott Schmitt, Dave Miller, Wally Forsythe, John Piccatto, Steve Oeder, Joe Partipilo, Bill Weistart Jr., Jim Partipilo
Modifieds: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.950
Heat One: Zac Dedewaldt, Mike Stinewalt, Ray Bollinger, Vince Cooper Heat Two: Brad Willis, Mike Spatola, Dale Lueth, Brian Bushong
Feature: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Mike Spatola, Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Derek Line, Jerold Meier, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, Terry Hudson, Mark Novorolsky, Mike Stinewalt, Ken Fischer, Zac Dedewalt, Mike Dyas, Scott Hauger, Paul Smith, Brad Willis, Joe Adam
Street Stock: 22 Cars
Heat One: Matt Ramer, John Peterson, Robert Schlappi, Nathan Balenseifen Heat Two: Ed Williams Jr., Gary Schmidt, Eric Whittington, Chuck Provenzano
Feature: Ed Williams Jr., Nathan Balensiefen, Chuck Provenzano, John Peterson, Gary Schmidt, Robert Schlappi, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Dan Filkowski, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Eric Whittington, Matt Ramer, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Mike Hughes, Jake Cholke, Bill Dauber, Tim Loomis, Jeff Small, Jimmy Partipilo, Leon Cade
Four Cylinder Hornets: 20 Cars
Heat One: John Small, Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Jon Clubb Heat Two: Jeff Seitz, Shane Whittington, Mark Sutton, Timmy Faust
Feature: Jeff Seitz, Dan Leonard, John Small, Alex Clubb, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Loren Westerhold, Jon Clubb, Shane Whittington, Corey West, Asa Robart, John Wagner, Jason Ramos, David Przybyla, Gabe Koncor, Chris Zavada, Lyday, #D7, Timmy Faust, Kyle Horn
LaSalle,IL – Darin Furar hasn’t had the best of luck with the final laps of the coveted Midwestern Late Model 75 lap specials at LaSalle Speedway. In recent years, the Granville driver has led many times but it has always slipped away before the finale.
“I’ve led the 75 lappers before and then near the end something always happens,” Furar explained post race. “When that lapped car (Dave Miller) came back up in front of me and Scott (Schmitt) took the lead I thought here we go again.”
Lisa Lasik, one of Darin’s biggest fans and his only sibling, shared the same sentiment. “I saw we were at Lap 72 and I got really nervous he has never led past then. I am so proud of him and glad he finally got one.”
Furar had a good start to the night when he earned his front row start next to Oglesby’s Bill Weistart Jr. On the second row, Princeton’s Steve Oeder and Scott Schmitt of Tonica rolled up ahead of Virgil’s Dave Smith and Eric Dauber of Tonica.
Once the green dropped, Furar shot to a quick lead with Weistart, Oeder and Schmitt on his tail. By Lap 2, Oeder had made his way around Weistart for second. Four laps later the yellow was flown for Weistart who spun coming off of turn four.
During the special, all laps traveled with the yellow flag flying are counted until the final ten.
By Lap 15, LaSalle’s Mike Glynn was flying and on the move from an eleventh place start. Last week’s winner quickly moved into fourth. For the next several laps the four cars running up front were Furar, Schmitt, Oeder and Glynn all in nose to tail style.
With thirty laps scored, Glynn had just cleared Oeder for third from the inside when the two made contact. Oeder’s terrific run concluded with him hitting hard into the concrete wall off of turn four.
Thirteen laps after that caution, Furar had Schmitt giving him a run for his money when the lapped machine of Miller slid into his line enabling Schmitt to gain the lead. Miller proceeded into the infield for a brief moment then decided to return to the pack again.
Schmitt, a young local talent, showcased his abilities working through lapped traffic when he started blowing liquid all over the surface. It appeared he lost the motor but kept pace and he stayed in the lead. During Lap 61, he pulled into the infield and out of the best run of his career with engine woes.
With seven more recorded, it was now Furar leading over Glynn, Smith, Ralph Markham and Ritchie Bell. Markham was traveling hard from a twelfth place and got around Smith for third.
When the checkers dropped, Furar posted his second win of the season. Glynn took home second without power steering.
While under caution during Lap 18 Glynn’s power steering pump burned up. The reality of how long the special was kicked in during the final laps.
“I was so ready for the race to be over. When I got out of the car my entire body was numb,” Glynn said of the grueling race.
“I don’t know how Mike could drive like that,” Furar said after learning that he raced without power steering. “I just can’t imagine that at all.”
Markham posted an impressive third place finish with a good run by Smith in fourth. Bell finished fifth in front of Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Dauber, Jim Loomis, Tony Coglianese, Aaron Schmidt and Jerry Vance.
Jim Partipilo posted the fastest qualifying lap of 13.227. Furar and Smith each won their heat events. Schmidt took home the semi race win.
Incredible talent on the high banks was the Modified theme when Ottawa’s Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper of Morris and Ray Bollinger got up front at the half way point of the twenty lap feature.
To kick things off Mike Stilewalt and Mike Spatola hosted the front row grid with Cooper and Lueth in the second row. Once green Spatola powered into a good lead for the first six laps.
A caution on Lap 7 placed Lueth on his rear bumper. For the next three laps the pair raced in that order until Lueth shot to the lead.
During Lap 15, Lueth was running a higher line and Cooper was now running the bottom in second when they quickly came up to lapped traffic. In the next two laps, Cooper was able to power up to Lueth’s door in turn two but Lueth was still faster on the straights.
Lueth and Cooper brought the fans to their feet as they put on a great show down to the wire. Lueth beat him to the line by a nose for his second victory in a row.
Bollinger claimed third over Spatola, Dalzell’s Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Derek Line, Jerold Meier, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, and Terry Hudson.
Cooper held fast time. Zac Dedewaldt and Brad Willis won their heats.
Matt Ramer fell on hard times in the final lap of the Street Stock main event. The Mendota native was flying high and leading the twenty two car field when the car just seemed to get away from him as he was coming into turn four for the white flag lap. He looped his machine and ended a fantastic run.
Ed Williams Jr. won with Nathan Balensiefen, Chuck Provenzano, John Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Robert Schlappi, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Dan Filkowski, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Eric Whittington and Ramer in tow.
Jeff Seitz won his first Hornet feature race with Dan Leonard, John Small, Alex Clubb, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Loren Westerhold, Jon Clubb, Shane Whittington, Corey West, Asa Robart, John Wagner, Jason Ramos, David Przybyla, Gabe Koncor, Chris Zavada, Lyday, #D7, Timmy Faust and Kyle Horn rounding out the field.
Next Saturday night, the Lucas Oil Dirt Series will invade the speedway for their televised Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Late Model special. The event pays $10,000 to the victor.
The Midwestern Late Models and Street Stocks will be on the venue as well.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model 75 Lap Special: 22 Cars
Qualifying: Jim Partipilo 13.227
Heat One: Darin Furar, Ritchie Bell, Steve Oeder, Scott Schmitt Heat Two: Dave Smith, Bill Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Eric Dauber Semi Feature: Aaron Schmidt, Dave Miller, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Jack Benson, Dewayne Williford
Feature: Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Dave Smith, Rich Bell, Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Eric Dauber, Jim Loomis, Tony Coglianese, Aaron Schmidt, Jerry Vance, Scott Schmitt, Dave Miller, Wally Forsythe, John Piccatto, Steve Oeder, Joe Partipilo, Bill Weistart Jr., Jim Partipilo
Modifieds: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.950
Heat One: Zac Dedewaldt, Mike Stinewalt, Ray Bollinger, Vince Cooper Heat Two: Brad Willis, Mike Spatola, Dale Lueth, Brian Bushong
Feature: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Mike Spatola, Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Derek Line, Jerold Meier, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, Terry Hudson, Mark Novorolsky, Mike Stinewalt, Ken Fischer, Zac Dedewalt, Mike Dyas, Scott Hauger, Paul Smith, Brad Willis, Joe Adam
Street Stock: 22 Cars
Heat One: Matt Ramer, John Peterson, Robert Schlappi, Nathan Balenseifen Heat Two: Ed Williams Jr., Gary Schmidt, Eric Whittington, Chuck Provenzano
Feature: Ed Williams Jr., Nathan Balensiefen, Chuck Provenzano, John Peterson, Gary Schmidt, Robert Schlappi, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Dan Filkowski, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Eric Whittington, Matt Ramer, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Mike Hughes, Jake Cholke, Bill Dauber, Tim Loomis, Jeff Small, Jimmy Partipilo, Leon Cade
Four Cylinder Hornets: 20 Cars
Heat One: John Small, Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Jon Clubb Heat Two: Jeff Seitz, Shane Whittington, Mark Sutton, Timmy Faust
Feature: Jeff Seitz, Dan Leonard, John Small, Alex Clubb, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Loren Westerhold, Jon Clubb, Shane Whittington, Corey West, Asa Robart, John Wagner, Jason Ramos, David Przybyla, Gabe Koncor, Chris Zavada, Lyday, #D7, Timmy Faust, Kyle Horn
