By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Ralph Markham is a weekly warrior at La Salle Speedway and always running strong. Last season what he wanted most seemed to elude him week in and week out. A feature victory was in his sights and close but finished runner up far too many times for the Maple Park racer.
Saturday night, that black cloud vaporized when he powered his familiar #10 Late Model Rayburn chassis into the coveted winners circle.
Sixteen Late’s lined up in double file format to kick off their first feature of ’07. On the front row sat the reigning champ, Mike Glynn, on the inside of Tonica’s young gun, Scott Schmitt. Markham was positioned behind the pole sitter next to Steve Oeder on the outside.
Glynn took off to a quick lead as Schmitt moved back in the pack. Before the second lap could be scored, a caution was signaled. Under the single file start, Markham was now on the back bumper of Glynn as Oeder, Schmitt, Eric Dauber, Keith Piano and Will Harris filed in.
Markham wasted little time putting the pressure on once the light turned green. He moved to the outside then side by side with Glynn. Glynn got the lead back before the starting line but it was only temporary.
Markham squeezed his way through lapped traffic to take the lead during the sixth lap of competition. With him now in command Glynn gave chase. Four laps later, Glynn hit the turn two infield tires hard but tried to keep his pace.
As the leaders flew through the corners, Oeder was busy racing Schmitt and Dauber for third. During Lap 17, Schmitt rallied hard and took the action door to door until a yellow slowed his run.
Three laps later, only eleven drivers were left on the field when they struggled to get the restart rolling.
The laps were winding down and Markham had only one goal left unfinished, taking the checkers and collecting his biggest fan for the winners circle celebration.
“As soon as I won, I knew I was going to head right to the scales and then pick up Dale (his son). I wanted him down there with me,” Markham told after the race.
“If feels good to get the win, it has been too long.”
It was obvious emotions were running pretty high when they arrived trackside and the hugs began.
The father and son team don’t always have the opportunity to spend their racing nights together as Dale raced in Sycamore last season while his father charged the high banks of La Salle.
Glynn scored a second place finish over Oeder, Schmitt, Dauber, Ed Williams Sr., Aaron Schmidt, Doug Newlin, Shawn Kemp and Brian Lock.
Markham traveled the fastest qualifying run with a time of 13.227. Glynn won the first heat from a fifth place start as Markham collected second in front of Dauber and Billy Weistart Jr.
Schmitt won the second preliminary race from sixth. Oeder, Piano and Lake Knutti finished second through fourth.
Modified racer Ray Bollinger finished his 2006 points season in the same runner up position as Markham did in Late’s but ironically they both held the reigning champions to their back bumper.
Last season, when the crowning of the champs took place, it was Bollinger second to Vince Cooper and Markham ending the season behind Glynn. But opening night was sweet revenge as both drivers came back to beat the ones they finished second to.
The UMP Modified’s main event was more then a just a feature, it was a marathon. The first five laps were nothing less then painful for the drivers, their freshly prepared cars and spectators. The twenty one cars who originally lined up for the race seemed to be way too many for green action. During the first lap out twelve cars found themselves in a melee between turns three and four.
Only thirteen racers were left in action before the third lap could be officially scored.
Bollinger, who started on the pole next to Jim Phelps, led flag to flag but not without a powerful struggle with Cooper.
If it weren’t for the cautions continually hovering over the field, the green flag racing was incredible especially between the Bollinger and Cooper showdown.
Cooper kept the pressure on using the highside and trekked down low using every bit of ground he could travel as the two led the nine cars remaining.
When the checkers finally flew it was Bollinger ahead of Cooper, Mike Janis, Nathan Balensiefen, Mark Vervynk, Terry Hudson, Joe Adam, Jim Phelps and Scott Carlson.
Cooper traveled the fastest lap in qualifications. Bollinger and Phelps each won their heat races.
The UMP Street Stock class hosted a strong car count with 26 and was full throttle racing from the first event to the last.
Mendota’s Matt Ramer started the field at the helm next to Oglesby’s Nick Sell. Before the second lap was scored, red flag stopped them in their tracks until the three car crash could be cleared away. Before the restart of the fifth lap, officials talked to Ramer who had some rear damage and went pit side briefly sacrificing his lead to Ed Wiliams Jr.
Williams never gave up the lead and held off a good run by Sell. At the checkers it was Eric Whittington in third over Rick Koltveit, Tim Loomis, Mike Stewart, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers and Justin Rutledge.
Ramer, Sell and Loomis each took home the heat race wins. Kevin Lenzen won the semi.
The UMP Hornets showed up in full force with an impressive twenty four cars. Rick Wishard took home the top honors over Dan Leonard, Roy Alm, Josh Wishard, Jr. Brown, Jarrod Gall, Bob Barkes, Kyle Fisher, Loren Westerhold, Cory West, Gabe Koncor, Jame DeFord, Josh Larson and Mark Sutton.
Alm, Leonard and Jimmy Johnson won their heat races. Barkes won the semi feature.
La Salle Speedway Results 4/28/07
Late Model – 17 Cars
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 13.227
Heat One: Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr.
Heat Two: Scott Schmitt, Steve Oeder, Keith Piano, Lake Knutti
Feature: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Scott Schmitt, Eric Dauber, Ed Williams Sr., Will Harris, Aaron Schmidt, Doug Newlin, Shawn Kemp, Brian Lock, Keith Piano, Dave Miller, Lake Knutti, Jeff Small, Jerry Vance
UMP Modifieds – 21 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.921
Heat One: Ray Bollinger, Travis Koehler, Vince Cooper, Tom Otrembiak
Heat Two: Jim Phelps, Mike Janis, Joe Adam, Justin McCoy
Feature: Ray Bollinger, Vince Cooper, Mike Janis, Nathan Balensiefen, Mark Vervynk, Terry Hudson, Joe Adam, Jim Phelps, Scott Carlson, Jason Anderson, Bill Thedorf, Zac Oedewaldt, Tom Otrembiak, Brian Bushong, Wally Forsythe, Justin McCoy, Milo Veloz, Travis Koehler, Mark Novorolsky, Terry Hayes, Eric Alwin
UMP Street Stocks – 26 Cars
Heat One: Matt Ramer, Eric Whittington, Ed Williams Jr., Steve Lewis
Heat Two: Nick Sell, Steve Schwemlein, Jimmy Partipilo, Mike Stewart
Heat Three: Tim Loomis, Rick Koltveit, Bud Balensiefen, Justin Rutledge
Semi Feature: Kevin Lenzen, #99, Eric Rebholz, Jason Abens, #5D, Joe Jelinek, Bill Dauber
Feature: Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell, Eric Whittington, Rick Koltveit, Tim Loomis, Mike Stewart, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers, Justin Rustledge, Kevin Lenzen, Chuck Provenzano, Mark Kurrle, Gary Schmitt, Steve Schwemlein, Alex Clubb, Matt Ramer, Spud Balensiefen, Steve Lewis
UMP Hornets – 24 Cars
Heat One: Roy Alm, Mark Sutton, Brown, Jarrod Gall
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Rick Wishard, Jamie DeFord, Loren Westerhold
Heat Three: Jimmy Johnson, Josh Wishard, Cory West, Kyle Fisher
Semi Feature: Bob Barkes, Albert Hardisty, Bubba Siwinski, Travis Mahoney, #H57, Nick Clubb, #723, Brown, Don Slover
Feature: Rick Wishard, Dan Leonard, Roy Alm, Josh Wishard, Brown, Jarrod Gall, Bob Barkes, Kyle Fisher, Loren Westerhold, Cory West, Gabe Koncor, Jamie DeFord, Josh Larson, Mark Sutton, Albert Hardisty, Jimmy Johnson, Jim Lazier, Bubba Siwinski
La Salle, IL – Ralph Markham is a weekly warrior at La Salle Speedway and always running strong. Last season what he wanted most seemed to elude him week in and week out. A feature victory was in his sights and close but finished runner up far too many times for the Maple Park racer.
Saturday night, that black cloud vaporized when he powered his familiar #10 Late Model Rayburn chassis into the coveted winners circle.
Sixteen Late’s lined up in double file format to kick off their first feature of ’07. On the front row sat the reigning champ, Mike Glynn, on the inside of Tonica’s young gun, Scott Schmitt. Markham was positioned behind the pole sitter next to Steve Oeder on the outside.
Glynn took off to a quick lead as Schmitt moved back in the pack. Before the second lap could be scored, a caution was signaled. Under the single file start, Markham was now on the back bumper of Glynn as Oeder, Schmitt, Eric Dauber, Keith Piano and Will Harris filed in.
Markham wasted little time putting the pressure on once the light turned green. He moved to the outside then side by side with Glynn. Glynn got the lead back before the starting line but it was only temporary.
Markham squeezed his way through lapped traffic to take the lead during the sixth lap of competition. With him now in command Glynn gave chase. Four laps later, Glynn hit the turn two infield tires hard but tried to keep his pace.
As the leaders flew through the corners, Oeder was busy racing Schmitt and Dauber for third. During Lap 17, Schmitt rallied hard and took the action door to door until a yellow slowed his run.
Three laps later, only eleven drivers were left on the field when they struggled to get the restart rolling.
The laps were winding down and Markham had only one goal left unfinished, taking the checkers and collecting his biggest fan for the winners circle celebration.
“As soon as I won, I knew I was going to head right to the scales and then pick up Dale (his son). I wanted him down there with me,” Markham told after the race.
“If feels good to get the win, it has been too long.”
It was obvious emotions were running pretty high when they arrived trackside and the hugs began.
The father and son team don’t always have the opportunity to spend their racing nights together as Dale raced in Sycamore last season while his father charged the high banks of La Salle.
Glynn scored a second place finish over Oeder, Schmitt, Dauber, Ed Williams Sr., Aaron Schmidt, Doug Newlin, Shawn Kemp and Brian Lock.
Markham traveled the fastest qualifying run with a time of 13.227. Glynn won the first heat from a fifth place start as Markham collected second in front of Dauber and Billy Weistart Jr.
Schmitt won the second preliminary race from sixth. Oeder, Piano and Lake Knutti finished second through fourth.
Modified racer Ray Bollinger finished his 2006 points season in the same runner up position as Markham did in Late’s but ironically they both held the reigning champions to their back bumper.
Last season, when the crowning of the champs took place, it was Bollinger second to Vince Cooper and Markham ending the season behind Glynn. But opening night was sweet revenge as both drivers came back to beat the ones they finished second to.
The UMP Modified’s main event was more then a just a feature, it was a marathon. The first five laps were nothing less then painful for the drivers, their freshly prepared cars and spectators. The twenty one cars who originally lined up for the race seemed to be way too many for green action. During the first lap out twelve cars found themselves in a melee between turns three and four.
Only thirteen racers were left in action before the third lap could be officially scored.
Bollinger, who started on the pole next to Jim Phelps, led flag to flag but not without a powerful struggle with Cooper.
If it weren’t for the cautions continually hovering over the field, the green flag racing was incredible especially between the Bollinger and Cooper showdown.
Cooper kept the pressure on using the highside and trekked down low using every bit of ground he could travel as the two led the nine cars remaining.
When the checkers finally flew it was Bollinger ahead of Cooper, Mike Janis, Nathan Balensiefen, Mark Vervynk, Terry Hudson, Joe Adam, Jim Phelps and Scott Carlson.
Cooper traveled the fastest lap in qualifications. Bollinger and Phelps each won their heat races.
The UMP Street Stock class hosted a strong car count with 26 and was full throttle racing from the first event to the last.
Mendota’s Matt Ramer started the field at the helm next to Oglesby’s Nick Sell. Before the second lap was scored, red flag stopped them in their tracks until the three car crash could be cleared away. Before the restart of the fifth lap, officials talked to Ramer who had some rear damage and went pit side briefly sacrificing his lead to Ed Wiliams Jr.
Williams never gave up the lead and held off a good run by Sell. At the checkers it was Eric Whittington in third over Rick Koltveit, Tim Loomis, Mike Stewart, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers and Justin Rutledge.
Ramer, Sell and Loomis each took home the heat race wins. Kevin Lenzen won the semi.
The UMP Hornets showed up in full force with an impressive twenty four cars. Rick Wishard took home the top honors over Dan Leonard, Roy Alm, Josh Wishard, Jr. Brown, Jarrod Gall, Bob Barkes, Kyle Fisher, Loren Westerhold, Cory West, Gabe Koncor, Jame DeFord, Josh Larson and Mark Sutton.
Alm, Leonard and Jimmy Johnson won their heat races. Barkes won the semi feature.
La Salle Speedway Results 4/28/07
Late Model – 17 Cars
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 13.227
Heat One: Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr.
Heat Two: Scott Schmitt, Steve Oeder, Keith Piano, Lake Knutti
Feature: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Scott Schmitt, Eric Dauber, Ed Williams Sr., Will Harris, Aaron Schmidt, Doug Newlin, Shawn Kemp, Brian Lock, Keith Piano, Dave Miller, Lake Knutti, Jeff Small, Jerry Vance
UMP Modifieds – 21 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.921
Heat One: Ray Bollinger, Travis Koehler, Vince Cooper, Tom Otrembiak
Heat Two: Jim Phelps, Mike Janis, Joe Adam, Justin McCoy
Feature: Ray Bollinger, Vince Cooper, Mike Janis, Nathan Balensiefen, Mark Vervynk, Terry Hudson, Joe Adam, Jim Phelps, Scott Carlson, Jason Anderson, Bill Thedorf, Zac Oedewaldt, Tom Otrembiak, Brian Bushong, Wally Forsythe, Justin McCoy, Milo Veloz, Travis Koehler, Mark Novorolsky, Terry Hayes, Eric Alwin
UMP Street Stocks – 26 Cars
Heat One: Matt Ramer, Eric Whittington, Ed Williams Jr., Steve Lewis
Heat Two: Nick Sell, Steve Schwemlein, Jimmy Partipilo, Mike Stewart
Heat Three: Tim Loomis, Rick Koltveit, Bud Balensiefen, Justin Rutledge
Semi Feature: Kevin Lenzen, #99, Eric Rebholz, Jason Abens, #5D, Joe Jelinek, Bill Dauber
Feature: Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell, Eric Whittington, Rick Koltveit, Tim Loomis, Mike Stewart, Jimmy Partipilo, Justin Sellers, Justin Rustledge, Kevin Lenzen, Chuck Provenzano, Mark Kurrle, Gary Schmitt, Steve Schwemlein, Alex Clubb, Matt Ramer, Spud Balensiefen, Steve Lewis
UMP Hornets – 24 Cars
Heat One: Roy Alm, Mark Sutton, Brown, Jarrod Gall
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Rick Wishard, Jamie DeFord, Loren Westerhold
Heat Three: Jimmy Johnson, Josh Wishard, Cory West, Kyle Fisher
Semi Feature: Bob Barkes, Albert Hardisty, Bubba Siwinski, Travis Mahoney, #H57, Nick Clubb, #723, Brown, Don Slover
Feature: Rick Wishard, Dan Leonard, Roy Alm, Josh Wishard, Brown, Jarrod Gall, Bob Barkes, Kyle Fisher, Loren Westerhold, Cory West, Gabe Koncor, Jamie DeFord, Josh Larson, Mark Sutton, Albert Hardisty, Jimmy Johnson, Jim Lazier, Bubba Siwinski
