By Betty Glynn
LaSalle,IL – The much anticipated final leg of the Mautino Triple Crown Midwestern Late Model Series wasn’t the ending many had hoped. The event became a wreck fest in both their semi feature and the 100 lap special.
It was as if a full moon was shining on the Illinois Valley speed arena when the cars just seemed to start dropping off like flies in the cold air.
It started out with the qualifying of twenty six competitors. Sixteen were then locked into the main event. Ten drivers were put on the semi roster with four transferring out of it.
During the first lap of the semi, contact was made concluding with John Heath upside down. His car had to be lifted on the hook just for him to exit his machine. This was the sign of things to come. The field of nine got back into a complete restart format but again things didn’t go well and four drivers were involved in a wreck in turn one.
At the finish it was Dave Miller holding back Darin Furar, Scott Cimei and Aaron Schmidt. All four were transferred to the back of the main.
After the roll of the dice, the number five determined how many inverted positions there would be at the front. The fastest qualifier, Scott Schmitt, started eleventh in the line up. James Muetze became the pole sitter next to Steve Oeder with Jason Bogle and Jim Partipilo row two.
Oeder powered up hard and quickly took the lead. A pile up after the first lap out claimed a few cars and slowed the pace.
On the single file restart it was Oeder heading the field over Muetze, Bogle Tim Hamburg, Billy Weistart Jr., Partipilo, Eric Dauber, Mike Glynn and Keith Piano.
After the green dropped, Glynn took the action three wide to move up the field from ninth. One lap later a three car wreck ended with Dauber nose first into the turn four wall, while Bogle and Ralph Markham’s were out of contention as well.
Oeder spent many laps flying solo while Hamburg, Muetze and Glynn tried to reel him in. The leaders wasted little time taking machine after machine a lap down. Glynn took over third during Lap 8.
By a restart of Lap 41 twelve cars were still in action. Oeder and Hamburg were putting on a great show for the lead as the duo aggressively ran side by side on the back stretch. One lap later, Hamburg took over.
Oeder went high on the track and Glynn stole second from him. An immediate caution returned Glynn to the rear of Oeder for the start.
When the yellow flag flew, the lap meter was running out as all caution laps counted until Lap 90. The last twenty laps were nothing but green flag racing for the mere nine remaining competitors. Hamburg was at the helm and at times generated a quarter of a track lead over Glynn and Oeder while Furar battled with Schmitt and Ed Williams Sr.
With two to go, Hamburg found himself stuck behind two lapped cars. Glynn began to close the gap. On the final turn of Lap 99 it was all or nothing as Hamburg went high and opened the door.
Glynn made a hard run under Hamburg but the lapped traffic continued to race full throttle and contact was made. Instead of a shoot out to the checkers Glynn suffered the consequences with heavy damage and big disappointments.
Hamburg collected the checkers for the fifth time of the season with Oeder coming up in an impressive second place finish for the second week in a row.
Furar had made a strong presence after he journeyed up from the back of the pack and stayed out of trouble. He scored a convincing third from his eighteenth place beginning.
Williams didn’t finish the race after a collision with Schmitt on the final lap. He placed fourth on the official roster. Schmitt walked away with a fifth place showing over Glynn. Rebholz was paid for seventh ahead of Dave Miller and Tony Coglianese in ninth.
Seven drivers crossed the actual finish line at the completion of Lap 100.
Scoring was a nightmare since the top three runners lapped machines multiple times during the early laps and now two of them were out of contention for the final lap.
Ray Bollinger continued his winning ways in the Modified division claiming his second feature win in a row.
Vince Cooper and Bollinger started the twenty lap feature on the front row with Brian Lucas and Dale Lueth in row two.
Cooper wasted little time starting the field with Bollinger keeping the pressure on. Lueth took the high road with Bill Gray in fourth.
During the eleventh circuit, lapped traffic held up Cooper enabling Bollinger to capture the lead from a lower groove. There was too much real estate between Bollinger, Cooper, Lueth, and Gray for any of them to try to gain a position.
During the final lap Cooper managed to give Bollinger a run but didn’t have enough to catch him.
At the finish Cooper scored second ahead of Lueth, Jim Phelps, James Thompson, Gray, Joe Adam and Scott Hauge.
Cooper won his heat and took away fast time. Lueth collected the second heat checkers.
Spud Balensiefen recently purchased the police replica number 911 Street Stock and the car continues to find its way into the winners circle.
Twenty drivers made the call for the feature with Chuck Provenzano and Ed Williams Jr. on the front row. Williams led until Lap 6 when he fell back and Balensiefen took control with Rick Kotveit following.
At the end of the fifteen laps, it was Koltveit in second ahead of Provenzano, Steve Lewis, Gary Schmitt, Tim Loomis, Jake Cholke, Eric Whittington, Nick Sell and Justin Rutledge.
Koltveit and Provenzano won the heats.
Jeff Small came up the big winner in the Hornet division making a clean sweep of their competition. First he won his heat race then he beat his fourteen competitors to the finish of their main event.
Billy Williams took second while Dan Leonard, Brian Clubb, Jimmy Johnson, Brown, Loren Westerhold, and Gabe Koncor crossed the line after him.
The last race of the 2006 season will be held on September 16th. Topping the venue will be the finale of the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series plus regular races for the Midwestern Late Models, Modifieds and Hornet classes.
LaSalle Speedway Results 09/02/06
Midwestern Late Models: 26 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.247
Semi Feature: Dave Miller, Darin Furar, Scott Cimei, Aaron Schmidt, Joe Fratt, Shawn Kemp, Robert Voice, Wally Forsythe, Will Harris, Johnny Heath
Feature: 1. Tim Hamburg, 2. Steve Oeder, 3. Darin Furar, 4. Ed Williams Sr.- DNF, 5. Scott Schmitt, 6. Mike Glynn - DNF, 7. Eric Rebholz, 8. Dave Miller, 9. Tony Coglianese, 10. Scott Cimei – DNF, 11. Keith Piano – DNF, 12. Aaron Schmidt – DNF, 13. Billy Weistart Jr. – DNF, 14. Joe Partipilo – DNF, 15.
James Muetze – DNF, 16. Jim Partipilo – DNF, 17. Jason Bogle – DNF, 18. Eric Dauber – DNF, 19. Ralph Markham – DNF, Jim Loomis – DNF
Modifieds: 16Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.065
Heat One: Vince Cooper, Dan Goodhand, Randy Lucas, James Thompson Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Ray Bollinger, Leah Monfries, Bill Gray
Feature: 1. Ray Bollinger, 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Dale Lueth, 4. Jim Phelps, 5.
James Thompson, 6. Bill Gray, 7. Joe Adam, 8. Scott Hauge, 9. Don Cole, 10.
Dan Goodhand, 11. Leah Monfries, 12. Ken Fischer, 13. Brian Lucas, 14. Bryan Dickinson, 15. Mark Novorolsky
Street Stock: 20 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Steve Lewis, Spud Balensiefen, Tim Loomis Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell, Justin Rutledge
Feature: 1. Spud Balensiefen, 2. Rick Koltveit, 3. Chuck Provenzano, 4.
Steve Lewis, 5. Gary Schmitt, 6. Tim Loomis, 7. Jake Cholke, 8. Eric Whittington, 9. Nick Sell, 10. Justing Rutledge, 11. Steve Schemlein, 12.
Randy Lucas, 13. Brent Carlson, 14. Jimmy Partipilo, 15. Roger Rickels, 16.
Jerry Vance, 17. Jeff Small, 18. Ed Williams Jr., 19. Jim Prokup, 20. #4
Hornets: 15 Cars
Heat One: Jimmy Johnson, Ryan Clubb, Chris Zavada, Jr. Brown Heat Two: Jeff Small, Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Jon Small
Feature: 1. Jeff Small, 2. Billy Williams, 3. Dan Leonard, 4. Brian Clubb, 5. Jimmy Johnson, 6. Jr. Brown, 7. Loren Westerhold, 8. Gabe Koncor, 9. Cory West, 10. Chris Zavada, 11. David Rzyblyla, 12. Colin Baker, 13. Tony Harlacher, 14. Jon Small, 15. Alex Small
LaSalle,IL – The much anticipated final leg of the Mautino Triple Crown Midwestern Late Model Series wasn’t the ending many had hoped. The event became a wreck fest in both their semi feature and the 100 lap special.
It was as if a full moon was shining on the Illinois Valley speed arena when the cars just seemed to start dropping off like flies in the cold air.
It started out with the qualifying of twenty six competitors. Sixteen were then locked into the main event. Ten drivers were put on the semi roster with four transferring out of it.
During the first lap of the semi, contact was made concluding with John Heath upside down. His car had to be lifted on the hook just for him to exit his machine. This was the sign of things to come. The field of nine got back into a complete restart format but again things didn’t go well and four drivers were involved in a wreck in turn one.
At the finish it was Dave Miller holding back Darin Furar, Scott Cimei and Aaron Schmidt. All four were transferred to the back of the main.
After the roll of the dice, the number five determined how many inverted positions there would be at the front. The fastest qualifier, Scott Schmitt, started eleventh in the line up. James Muetze became the pole sitter next to Steve Oeder with Jason Bogle and Jim Partipilo row two.
Oeder powered up hard and quickly took the lead. A pile up after the first lap out claimed a few cars and slowed the pace.
On the single file restart it was Oeder heading the field over Muetze, Bogle Tim Hamburg, Billy Weistart Jr., Partipilo, Eric Dauber, Mike Glynn and Keith Piano.
After the green dropped, Glynn took the action three wide to move up the field from ninth. One lap later a three car wreck ended with Dauber nose first into the turn four wall, while Bogle and Ralph Markham’s were out of contention as well.
Oeder spent many laps flying solo while Hamburg, Muetze and Glynn tried to reel him in. The leaders wasted little time taking machine after machine a lap down. Glynn took over third during Lap 8.
By a restart of Lap 41 twelve cars were still in action. Oeder and Hamburg were putting on a great show for the lead as the duo aggressively ran side by side on the back stretch. One lap later, Hamburg took over.
Oeder went high on the track and Glynn stole second from him. An immediate caution returned Glynn to the rear of Oeder for the start.
When the yellow flag flew, the lap meter was running out as all caution laps counted until Lap 90. The last twenty laps were nothing but green flag racing for the mere nine remaining competitors. Hamburg was at the helm and at times generated a quarter of a track lead over Glynn and Oeder while Furar battled with Schmitt and Ed Williams Sr.
With two to go, Hamburg found himself stuck behind two lapped cars. Glynn began to close the gap. On the final turn of Lap 99 it was all or nothing as Hamburg went high and opened the door.
Glynn made a hard run under Hamburg but the lapped traffic continued to race full throttle and contact was made. Instead of a shoot out to the checkers Glynn suffered the consequences with heavy damage and big disappointments.
Hamburg collected the checkers for the fifth time of the season with Oeder coming up in an impressive second place finish for the second week in a row.
Furar had made a strong presence after he journeyed up from the back of the pack and stayed out of trouble. He scored a convincing third from his eighteenth place beginning.
Williams didn’t finish the race after a collision with Schmitt on the final lap. He placed fourth on the official roster. Schmitt walked away with a fifth place showing over Glynn. Rebholz was paid for seventh ahead of Dave Miller and Tony Coglianese in ninth.
Seven drivers crossed the actual finish line at the completion of Lap 100.
Scoring was a nightmare since the top three runners lapped machines multiple times during the early laps and now two of them were out of contention for the final lap.
Ray Bollinger continued his winning ways in the Modified division claiming his second feature win in a row.
Vince Cooper and Bollinger started the twenty lap feature on the front row with Brian Lucas and Dale Lueth in row two.
Cooper wasted little time starting the field with Bollinger keeping the pressure on. Lueth took the high road with Bill Gray in fourth.
During the eleventh circuit, lapped traffic held up Cooper enabling Bollinger to capture the lead from a lower groove. There was too much real estate between Bollinger, Cooper, Lueth, and Gray for any of them to try to gain a position.
During the final lap Cooper managed to give Bollinger a run but didn’t have enough to catch him.
At the finish Cooper scored second ahead of Lueth, Jim Phelps, James Thompson, Gray, Joe Adam and Scott Hauge.
Cooper won his heat and took away fast time. Lueth collected the second heat checkers.
Spud Balensiefen recently purchased the police replica number 911 Street Stock and the car continues to find its way into the winners circle.
Twenty drivers made the call for the feature with Chuck Provenzano and Ed Williams Jr. on the front row. Williams led until Lap 6 when he fell back and Balensiefen took control with Rick Kotveit following.
At the end of the fifteen laps, it was Koltveit in second ahead of Provenzano, Steve Lewis, Gary Schmitt, Tim Loomis, Jake Cholke, Eric Whittington, Nick Sell and Justin Rutledge.
Koltveit and Provenzano won the heats.
Jeff Small came up the big winner in the Hornet division making a clean sweep of their competition. First he won his heat race then he beat his fourteen competitors to the finish of their main event.
Billy Williams took second while Dan Leonard, Brian Clubb, Jimmy Johnson, Brown, Loren Westerhold, and Gabe Koncor crossed the line after him.
The last race of the 2006 season will be held on September 16th. Topping the venue will be the finale of the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series plus regular races for the Midwestern Late Models, Modifieds and Hornet classes.
LaSalle Speedway Results 09/02/06
Midwestern Late Models: 26 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.247
Semi Feature: Dave Miller, Darin Furar, Scott Cimei, Aaron Schmidt, Joe Fratt, Shawn Kemp, Robert Voice, Wally Forsythe, Will Harris, Johnny Heath
Feature: 1. Tim Hamburg, 2. Steve Oeder, 3. Darin Furar, 4. Ed Williams Sr.- DNF, 5. Scott Schmitt, 6. Mike Glynn - DNF, 7. Eric Rebholz, 8. Dave Miller, 9. Tony Coglianese, 10. Scott Cimei – DNF, 11. Keith Piano – DNF, 12. Aaron Schmidt – DNF, 13. Billy Weistart Jr. – DNF, 14. Joe Partipilo – DNF, 15.
James Muetze – DNF, 16. Jim Partipilo – DNF, 17. Jason Bogle – DNF, 18. Eric Dauber – DNF, 19. Ralph Markham – DNF, Jim Loomis – DNF
Modifieds: 16Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.065
Heat One: Vince Cooper, Dan Goodhand, Randy Lucas, James Thompson Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Ray Bollinger, Leah Monfries, Bill Gray
Feature: 1. Ray Bollinger, 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Dale Lueth, 4. Jim Phelps, 5.
James Thompson, 6. Bill Gray, 7. Joe Adam, 8. Scott Hauge, 9. Don Cole, 10.
Dan Goodhand, 11. Leah Monfries, 12. Ken Fischer, 13. Brian Lucas, 14. Bryan Dickinson, 15. Mark Novorolsky
Street Stock: 20 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Steve Lewis, Spud Balensiefen, Tim Loomis Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell, Justin Rutledge
Feature: 1. Spud Balensiefen, 2. Rick Koltveit, 3. Chuck Provenzano, 4.
Steve Lewis, 5. Gary Schmitt, 6. Tim Loomis, 7. Jake Cholke, 8. Eric Whittington, 9. Nick Sell, 10. Justing Rutledge, 11. Steve Schemlein, 12.
Randy Lucas, 13. Brent Carlson, 14. Jimmy Partipilo, 15. Roger Rickels, 16.
Jerry Vance, 17. Jeff Small, 18. Ed Williams Jr., 19. Jim Prokup, 20. #4
Hornets: 15 Cars
Heat One: Jimmy Johnson, Ryan Clubb, Chris Zavada, Jr. Brown Heat Two: Jeff Small, Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Jon Small
Feature: 1. Jeff Small, 2. Billy Williams, 3. Dan Leonard, 4. Brian Clubb, 5. Jimmy Johnson, 6. Jr. Brown, 7. Loren Westerhold, 8. Gabe Koncor, 9. Cory West, 10. Chris Zavada, 11. David Rzyblyla, 12. Colin Baker, 13. Tony Harlacher, 14. Jon Small, 15. Alex Small
