By: Betty Glynn
LaSalle, IL - Bobby Morgan Jr. put the finishing touches on his stellar season with the division’s final Midwestern Sportsman Special. For the young Streator resident his victory Saturday night capped the season off with a seventh visit to LaSalle Speedway’s victory lane.
For the feature starting grid, it was Crest Hill’s Tom Legner on the pole next to Aaron Schmidt of Oswego while Magnolia’s Scott Cimei and Morgan were in row two.
Legner shot across the start line fast and into the lead as Cimei and Schmidt battled for second. The two made contact without sacrificing their front runner status. During the fourth lap around the highbanks, it was Morgan using the inside trek between turns three and four to take control of the nine car field.
Morgan charged full steam ahead distancing himself from Cimei, Legner and Schmidt for much of the event. A restart of Lap 12, brought everyone back to a nose to tail lineup with Morgan heading up Cimei, Schmidt, Scott Hatzer and Rick Koltveit as the only remaining competitors.
This time, Morgan wasn’t too far away from Cimei’s sights as he stayed close by in case the door opened. With three to go, the third place runner, Legner, spun alone sending himself backwards.
At the finish, it was Morgan with the final divisional trophy over Cimei, Hatzer, Legner and Koltveit.
Morgan was fast qualifier. Legner won the Dash over Schmidt, Cimei and Morgan. Fleety Beltz won the Heat race by process of elimination as the only car remaining in operation.
Only fourteen super Late Models registered for competition but the twenty-five lap feature race was filled with action.
Former track champion, Lil’ John Provenzano of Marseilles played host to the pole with West Chicago’s Jay Fiene as his front row partner. LaSalle’s Mike Glynn held the inside of row two along side McHenry’s Skip Martin. Row three was filled with the fastest qualifier, Tom Markham, and Mike Provenzano.
Once green, Fiene strutted his stuff and took control early as John, Glynn and Martin fell in behind him. Two laps later, Glynn took second away from John as Fiene powered up and away from them.
During Lap 5, Glynn was now searching hard on the low line as he and Fiene distanced themselves from John. During Lap 8, Tony Izzo Jr. met the infield tires sending his impressive drive from tenth, on the start, to fourth into a screeching halt.
For the restart, the lineup was now Fiene, Glynn, John, Markham, Martin, Jeff Larson, Frank Reaber, Dan Thacker and Travis Rokey in the top nine running positions. Glynn quickly tried to make his move on Fiene when another caution was signaled for a three car pile up in the back of the pack.
A couple yellows in the next three laps kept bringing the pace to a crawl. Once green action remained Fiene moved up a line and Glynn powered into the lead.
Glynn collected his fourth victory-in-a-row with Fiene full throttle trying to catch him. Reaber worked his way up using the highside to take home third over Markham, John, Mike Provenzano, Joe Burba, Rokey, Larson, Sommer, Martin, Thacker, Izzo and Schwartz.
Markham’s fastest lap was 12.800. Fiene beat Martin, Izzo and Reaber to the line for the first Heat win. John held back Glynn, Markham and Rokey to claim the second Heat race.
The Midwestern Late Model drivers showed the fans their potential of heart pounding racing as their feature event was filled with it from the first turn to the last turn of their twenty-five laps .
When the action got underway, Streator’s Shane Hill powered up on three wheels on the highside to take over. His front row outside start, positioned him in a good running position on the highbanks but Johnny Heath and the remaining thirteen competitors were ready for battle.
During Lap 4, Hill had managed to pull away from Heath and Steve Oeder who were in a contest for second while brothers TJ and Reno Markham were side by side for fourth.
Four laps later, the struggle for the coveted lead was prominent as Hill, Heath and TJ took the corner of turn four three wide. Hill held on for two more laps but TJ was running strong on the outside. On Lap 10, TJ made his move under the flag stand but not without a fight from Hill.
TJ was now sitting at the helm but a caution slowed him down. During Lap 15, Oeder, Ralph, and Eric Dauber were dicing it up for fourth battling back and forth.
With only three remaining laps un-scored, TJ had pulled out into a comfortable lead when a yellow changed the fate of the race.
Right after the racing was under green Heath was moving full steam ahead and passed him with two laps left. TJ tried everything going low then high but lost out to his boss in the real world, Heath.
Heath celebrated his victory and earned bragging rights for Monday morning coffee while TJ took second over Hill, Oeder, Ralph, Dauber, John Piccatto, James Muetze, Brian Ray, Doug Newlin and Robert Voice.
Ralph posted the fastest lap. Mark Jilbert and TJ each won the Heat events.
Thirteen Street Stocks took the call for feature time with this season’s track champion Al Gray sitting in the front with Tom Otrembiak as his neighbor. Behind the two was Jay Mesarchik and Chuck Provenzano.
Before one lap could be scored, Gray fell back into fourth quickly as Otrembiak used the front to take charge. By Lap 8, Otrembiak was leaving Provenzano and Mesarchik trailing.
Four laps following, the order was unchanged with the exception of Nick Sell who took over the fourth position from Gray and the field stayed in the same order til the checkers.
Next weekend the Speedway will host two events for the Labor Day season finale. On Saturday night the Midwestern Late Models will headline the evening with a 100 lapper special with $1,000 to win. The Late Model and Midwestern Late Model Champions will be honored.
Sunday night some of the nations top professionals will take on the locals to close the season out in the first ever WDRL Polydome Late Model Series paying $ 5,000 to win. The Street Stocks are slated for a $500 special as the Hornets will be the last support class.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Late Model
Qualifying: Tom Markham 12.800
First Heat: Jay Fiene, Skip Martin, Tony Izzo Jr., Frank Reaber
Second Heat: John Provenzano, Mike Glynn, Tom Markham, Travis Rokey
Feature: Mike Glynn, Jay Fiene, Frank Reaber, Tom Markham, John Provenzano, Mike Provenzano, Joe Burba, Travis Rokey, Jeff Larson, Cody Sommer, Skip Martin, Dan Thacker, Tony Izzo Jr., Bart Schwartz
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 13.832
First Heat: Markh Jilbert, James Muetze, Shane Hill, Brian Ray
Second Heat: TJ Markham, Reno Markham, Ralph Markham, John Piccatto
Feature: Johnny Heath, TJ Markham, Shane Hill, Steve Oeder, Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, John Piccatto, James Muetze, Brian Ray, Doug Newlin, Robert Voice, Mick Miller, Mark Jilbert, Reno Markham
Midwestern Sportsman
Qualifying: Bobby Morgan 14.993
Dash: Tom Legner, Aaron Schmidt, Scott Cimei, Bobby Morgan
First Heat: Fleety Beltz, Danny Ledger, Ken Schiradelly, Rick Koltveit
Feature: Bobby Morgan, Scott Cimei, Scott Hatzer, Tom Legner, Rick Koltveit, Jerry Heath, Aaron Schmidt, Fleety Beltz, Ken Schiradelly
Street Stock
First Heat: Jay Mesarchik, Tom Otrembiak, Chuck Provenzano, Jeff Small
Second Heat: Al Gray, Eric Legner, Nick Sell, Mike Flanagan
Feature: Tom Otrembiak, Chuck Provenzano, Jay Mesarchik, Nick Sell, Al Gray, Bill Clemmons, Eric Legner, Mike Flanagan, Bill Dauber, Jake Cholke, Jeff Small, Robert Schlappi, Tom Legner
LaSalle, IL - Bobby Morgan Jr. put the finishing touches on his stellar season with the division’s final Midwestern Sportsman Special. For the young Streator resident his victory Saturday night capped the season off with a seventh visit to LaSalle Speedway’s victory lane.
For the feature starting grid, it was Crest Hill’s Tom Legner on the pole next to Aaron Schmidt of Oswego while Magnolia’s Scott Cimei and Morgan were in row two.
Legner shot across the start line fast and into the lead as Cimei and Schmidt battled for second. The two made contact without sacrificing their front runner status. During the fourth lap around the highbanks, it was Morgan using the inside trek between turns three and four to take control of the nine car field.
Morgan charged full steam ahead distancing himself from Cimei, Legner and Schmidt for much of the event. A restart of Lap 12, brought everyone back to a nose to tail lineup with Morgan heading up Cimei, Schmidt, Scott Hatzer and Rick Koltveit as the only remaining competitors.
This time, Morgan wasn’t too far away from Cimei’s sights as he stayed close by in case the door opened. With three to go, the third place runner, Legner, spun alone sending himself backwards.
At the finish, it was Morgan with the final divisional trophy over Cimei, Hatzer, Legner and Koltveit.
Morgan was fast qualifier. Legner won the Dash over Schmidt, Cimei and Morgan. Fleety Beltz won the Heat race by process of elimination as the only car remaining in operation.
Only fourteen super Late Models registered for competition but the twenty-five lap feature race was filled with action.
Former track champion, Lil’ John Provenzano of Marseilles played host to the pole with West Chicago’s Jay Fiene as his front row partner. LaSalle’s Mike Glynn held the inside of row two along side McHenry’s Skip Martin. Row three was filled with the fastest qualifier, Tom Markham, and Mike Provenzano.
Once green, Fiene strutted his stuff and took control early as John, Glynn and Martin fell in behind him. Two laps later, Glynn took second away from John as Fiene powered up and away from them.
During Lap 5, Glynn was now searching hard on the low line as he and Fiene distanced themselves from John. During Lap 8, Tony Izzo Jr. met the infield tires sending his impressive drive from tenth, on the start, to fourth into a screeching halt.
For the restart, the lineup was now Fiene, Glynn, John, Markham, Martin, Jeff Larson, Frank Reaber, Dan Thacker and Travis Rokey in the top nine running positions. Glynn quickly tried to make his move on Fiene when another caution was signaled for a three car pile up in the back of the pack.
A couple yellows in the next three laps kept bringing the pace to a crawl. Once green action remained Fiene moved up a line and Glynn powered into the lead.
Glynn collected his fourth victory-in-a-row with Fiene full throttle trying to catch him. Reaber worked his way up using the highside to take home third over Markham, John, Mike Provenzano, Joe Burba, Rokey, Larson, Sommer, Martin, Thacker, Izzo and Schwartz.
Markham’s fastest lap was 12.800. Fiene beat Martin, Izzo and Reaber to the line for the first Heat win. John held back Glynn, Markham and Rokey to claim the second Heat race.
The Midwestern Late Model drivers showed the fans their potential of heart pounding racing as their feature event was filled with it from the first turn to the last turn of their twenty-five laps .
When the action got underway, Streator’s Shane Hill powered up on three wheels on the highside to take over. His front row outside start, positioned him in a good running position on the highbanks but Johnny Heath and the remaining thirteen competitors were ready for battle.
During Lap 4, Hill had managed to pull away from Heath and Steve Oeder who were in a contest for second while brothers TJ and Reno Markham were side by side for fourth.
Four laps later, the struggle for the coveted lead was prominent as Hill, Heath and TJ took the corner of turn four three wide. Hill held on for two more laps but TJ was running strong on the outside. On Lap 10, TJ made his move under the flag stand but not without a fight from Hill.
TJ was now sitting at the helm but a caution slowed him down. During Lap 15, Oeder, Ralph, and Eric Dauber were dicing it up for fourth battling back and forth.
With only three remaining laps un-scored, TJ had pulled out into a comfortable lead when a yellow changed the fate of the race.
Right after the racing was under green Heath was moving full steam ahead and passed him with two laps left. TJ tried everything going low then high but lost out to his boss in the real world, Heath.
Heath celebrated his victory and earned bragging rights for Monday morning coffee while TJ took second over Hill, Oeder, Ralph, Dauber, John Piccatto, James Muetze, Brian Ray, Doug Newlin and Robert Voice.
Ralph posted the fastest lap. Mark Jilbert and TJ each won the Heat events.
Thirteen Street Stocks took the call for feature time with this season’s track champion Al Gray sitting in the front with Tom Otrembiak as his neighbor. Behind the two was Jay Mesarchik and Chuck Provenzano.
Before one lap could be scored, Gray fell back into fourth quickly as Otrembiak used the front to take charge. By Lap 8, Otrembiak was leaving Provenzano and Mesarchik trailing.
Four laps following, the order was unchanged with the exception of Nick Sell who took over the fourth position from Gray and the field stayed in the same order til the checkers.
Next weekend the Speedway will host two events for the Labor Day season finale. On Saturday night the Midwestern Late Models will headline the evening with a 100 lapper special with $1,000 to win. The Late Model and Midwestern Late Model Champions will be honored.
Sunday night some of the nations top professionals will take on the locals to close the season out in the first ever WDRL Polydome Late Model Series paying $ 5,000 to win. The Street Stocks are slated for a $500 special as the Hornets will be the last support class.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Late Model
Qualifying: Tom Markham 12.800
First Heat: Jay Fiene, Skip Martin, Tony Izzo Jr., Frank Reaber
Second Heat: John Provenzano, Mike Glynn, Tom Markham, Travis Rokey
Feature: Mike Glynn, Jay Fiene, Frank Reaber, Tom Markham, John Provenzano, Mike Provenzano, Joe Burba, Travis Rokey, Jeff Larson, Cody Sommer, Skip Martin, Dan Thacker, Tony Izzo Jr., Bart Schwartz
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 13.832
First Heat: Markh Jilbert, James Muetze, Shane Hill, Brian Ray
Second Heat: TJ Markham, Reno Markham, Ralph Markham, John Piccatto
Feature: Johnny Heath, TJ Markham, Shane Hill, Steve Oeder, Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, John Piccatto, James Muetze, Brian Ray, Doug Newlin, Robert Voice, Mick Miller, Mark Jilbert, Reno Markham
Midwestern Sportsman
Qualifying: Bobby Morgan 14.993
Dash: Tom Legner, Aaron Schmidt, Scott Cimei, Bobby Morgan
First Heat: Fleety Beltz, Danny Ledger, Ken Schiradelly, Rick Koltveit
Feature: Bobby Morgan, Scott Cimei, Scott Hatzer, Tom Legner, Rick Koltveit, Jerry Heath, Aaron Schmidt, Fleety Beltz, Ken Schiradelly
Street Stock
First Heat: Jay Mesarchik, Tom Otrembiak, Chuck Provenzano, Jeff Small
Second Heat: Al Gray, Eric Legner, Nick Sell, Mike Flanagan
Feature: Tom Otrembiak, Chuck Provenzano, Jay Mesarchik, Nick Sell, Al Gray, Bill Clemmons, Eric Legner, Mike Flanagan, Bill Dauber, Jake Cholke, Jeff Small, Robert Schlappi, Tom Legner
