By: Betty Glynn
LaSalle, IL - Earl Pearson Jr. was a long way from home but found himself in familiar territory Saturday night. Pearson captured the first ever Stacker 2® Xtreme DirtCar Illinois Valley Challenge 50 before a full house and SPEED channel tv cameras making this his second win on the highbanks of the LaSalle Speedway.
The Jacksonville, Florida native entered victory lane the first time in the June 2002 after securing the first and only Renegade race at the speedway. His visits to this region are few and far between but when he journeys north he has surely set the record straight as the man to beat. This time his victory was more then the big purse he took over the YJ Stinger Cup Points lead by twenty two points.
An even forty drivers entered the $10,000 to win special but only 24 cars could make it for the big show. Through earlier qualifying, heat races and the dash the field was set into place with a starting line up mixed with professional, semi professional and once a week drivers who race as a hobby.
Pole sitter and Iowa native Brian Birkhofer with former Million Dollar winner Donnie Moran led the grid. Behind the two was Matt Miller and Eddie Carrier Jr. over Bloomington’s Billy Drake and Pearson. Fourth row starters were Ray Cook and Stacker 2® house car Jimmy Mars.
Once the green light was triggered Birkhofer and Moran were off and running but Moran quickly grabbed the lead. An immediate yellow during Lap 1 slowed the momentum with Moran at the point as the rest of the field restarted in Xtreme style side by side the rest of the way back.
As the next lap was scored Moran went high while Drake trekked down to the low side taking over second from Birkhofer. Just as the field seemed to be looking for their favored groove to run another caution was waved this time for Jeep Van Wormer who was stalled coming off turn four with mechanical problems. The caution would be the second of only five to fly during the 50-lapper.
Moran led the first sixteen laps with Drake in hot pursuit. During that time Moran was creeping up farther to the top of the track. Unfortunately rough terrain was over the cushion and during the seventeenth lap out Drake powered up on a lower line to fly into the lead. For a couple of laps the two ran nearly side by side but the bottom was on fire for Drake and he held off all attempts Moran had.
Contact on Lap 23 between second place runner Moran and Birkhofer sent Birkhofer into a spin forcing the yellow. Before the lap could be scored the second to the last caution of the event was signaled after a three wide battle up front left Cook slammed into the concrete barrier wall.
With the nearly half way marker on the boards green flag racing was set to roll. By this point Drake was still at the helm but now it was Pearson on his tail over Moran and Matt Miller. Lap 25 belonged to Pearson as he slid around a bottom running Drake for the lead at the line.
The action at the front was always there but the show mid field was just as exciting as local drivers Tim Hamburg, Tony Izzo Jr. and Ryan Dauber traded spaces and were making themselves well known.
For several laps Pearson moved off his favored low run and attempted the high terrain but quickly realized he had the car to beat on the bottom.
"Once I got by him (Billy Drake) I thought I’d try and run the top but within a few laps I saw Billy down below me. That’s when I told myself to get back down to the bottom." Pearson explained.
Down to the bottom he went and he began to slip away through lapped traffic. By Lap 33, Pearson held a good lead with Drake, M. Miller, Moran Darren Miller, twenty first place starter Shane Clanton, Dixon’s Tim Hamburg, Carrier, Utica’s Tony Izzo Jr., and Tonica’s Ryan Dauber trailing.
Moran and D. Miller were trading spaces lap after lap until Lap 38 when a three wide battle between Moran, M. Miller and D. Miller ended with D. Miller’s impressive run halted as he spun.
Now with a mere nine remaining laps and Pearson staking claim on the bottom of the track Drake tried his best to catch him using the same line but Pearson proved too much. Clanton dodged all over the field to find the quickest way to the front.
When the checkers dropped it was Drake second in front of Clanton, Moran, Steve Shaver, M. Miller, Birkhofer, Carrier, Izzo, Dauber, Hamburg, Brady Smith, John Mason, D. Miller, Cook, Elmhurst’s Jim Partipilo, Jay Fiene of West Chicago, and Denny Eckrich.
Denny Eckrich earned the fastest qualifying lap of 12.693. M. Miller, Moran, Birkhofer and Carrier each won their Heat races. Dauber and Shaver won their B Main events.
Locals starting positions and finishes: Izzo started twenty second finished ninth, Dauber started fifteenth finished tenth, Hamburg started thirteenth finished eleventh, Partipilo started ninteenth finished sixteenth, Fiene started twenty third finished seventeenth and Bret Sievert started fourteenth finished twenty third.
Additional race notes: Dauber blew an engine during hot laps, missed qualifying but returned in another car to run the Heat race and eventually winning the B Main and finishing an impressive tenth place in the feature.
Clanton earned the hard charger award as he moved forward the most positions from twenty first starting spot to a third place finish.
M. Miller was the only driver granted an additional warm up lap and an unusual third qualifying lap after two bad times were recorded. Upon questioning, Stacker 2® officials response was vague. His new time was far greater and positioned him ninth quick instead of last.
The SPEED channel is set to air the Illinois Valley Challenge 50 on Saturday, August 28th at 2:00pm central time.
The Midwestern Sportsman and Street Stock division were the only support classes to join the Xtreme event.
Jim Phelps won his first feature win in the Midwestern Sportsman car after a several year hiatus from the sport. Fourteen drivers competed with Scott Cimei finishing second in front of Bobby Morgan, Tina Soberri, John Garrett, Brian Claudnic, Daryll Grandys, BJ Grabow, Jake Patterson, Sharon Schlappi and Fleety Beltz.
The Street Stock feature was ended with a yellow checker after outlasting their time limit. Scott Schmitt took home the win over Tom Legner, Dan Filkowski, Charles Herhold, Al Gray, Chuck Leason, Robert Schlappi, Nick Sell, Jerry Legner and Brent Carlson.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Xtreme Illinois Valley Challenge 50
Qualifying: Denny Eckrich 12.693
Dash: Birkhofer, Moran, M. Miller, Carrier
B Main 1: Dauber
B Main 2: Shaver
Feature: Pearson, Drake, Clanton, Moran, Shaver, M. Miller, Birkhofer, Carrier, Izzo, Dauber, Hamburg, Smith, Mason, D. Miller, Cook, Partipilo, Fiene, Eckrich, Conley, Steidinger, Webb, Mars, Seivert, Van Wormer
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Jeff Hartzell, Jim Phelps, Daryll Grandys, Aaron Smith
Second Heat: Bobby Morgan, Duane McCarville, Fleety Beltz, Sharon Schlappi
Feature: Jim Phelps, Scott Cimei, Bobby Morgan, Tina Soberri, John Garrett, Brian Claudnic, Daryll Grandys, BJ Grabow, Jake Patterson, Sharon Schlappi, Fleety Beltz, Jeff Hartzell, Aaron Schmitt
Street Stock
First Heat: Tom Legner, Charles Herhold, Nick Sell, Dan Filkowski
Second Heat: Scott Schmitt, Al Gray, Brent Carlson, Steve Markey
Feature: Scott Schmitt, Tom Legner, Dan Filkowski, Charles Herhold, Al Gray, Chuck Leason, Robert Schlappi, Nick Sell, Jerry Legner, Brent Carlson, Steve Lewis, John Peterson, Jay Mesarchick, Steve Markey, Mike Stewart, Tom Otrembiak, Craig Hoffman, Gary Schmitt, Tony Harlacher
LaSalle, IL - Earl Pearson Jr. was a long way from home but found himself in familiar territory Saturday night. Pearson captured the first ever Stacker 2® Xtreme DirtCar Illinois Valley Challenge 50 before a full house and SPEED channel tv cameras making this his second win on the highbanks of the LaSalle Speedway.
The Jacksonville, Florida native entered victory lane the first time in the June 2002 after securing the first and only Renegade race at the speedway. His visits to this region are few and far between but when he journeys north he has surely set the record straight as the man to beat. This time his victory was more then the big purse he took over the YJ Stinger Cup Points lead by twenty two points.
An even forty drivers entered the $10,000 to win special but only 24 cars could make it for the big show. Through earlier qualifying, heat races and the dash the field was set into place with a starting line up mixed with professional, semi professional and once a week drivers who race as a hobby.
Pole sitter and Iowa native Brian Birkhofer with former Million Dollar winner Donnie Moran led the grid. Behind the two was Matt Miller and Eddie Carrier Jr. over Bloomington’s Billy Drake and Pearson. Fourth row starters were Ray Cook and Stacker 2® house car Jimmy Mars.
Once the green light was triggered Birkhofer and Moran were off and running but Moran quickly grabbed the lead. An immediate yellow during Lap 1 slowed the momentum with Moran at the point as the rest of the field restarted in Xtreme style side by side the rest of the way back.
As the next lap was scored Moran went high while Drake trekked down to the low side taking over second from Birkhofer. Just as the field seemed to be looking for their favored groove to run another caution was waved this time for Jeep Van Wormer who was stalled coming off turn four with mechanical problems. The caution would be the second of only five to fly during the 50-lapper.
Moran led the first sixteen laps with Drake in hot pursuit. During that time Moran was creeping up farther to the top of the track. Unfortunately rough terrain was over the cushion and during the seventeenth lap out Drake powered up on a lower line to fly into the lead. For a couple of laps the two ran nearly side by side but the bottom was on fire for Drake and he held off all attempts Moran had.
Contact on Lap 23 between second place runner Moran and Birkhofer sent Birkhofer into a spin forcing the yellow. Before the lap could be scored the second to the last caution of the event was signaled after a three wide battle up front left Cook slammed into the concrete barrier wall.
With the nearly half way marker on the boards green flag racing was set to roll. By this point Drake was still at the helm but now it was Pearson on his tail over Moran and Matt Miller. Lap 25 belonged to Pearson as he slid around a bottom running Drake for the lead at the line.
The action at the front was always there but the show mid field was just as exciting as local drivers Tim Hamburg, Tony Izzo Jr. and Ryan Dauber traded spaces and were making themselves well known.
For several laps Pearson moved off his favored low run and attempted the high terrain but quickly realized he had the car to beat on the bottom.
"Once I got by him (Billy Drake) I thought I’d try and run the top but within a few laps I saw Billy down below me. That’s when I told myself to get back down to the bottom." Pearson explained.
Down to the bottom he went and he began to slip away through lapped traffic. By Lap 33, Pearson held a good lead with Drake, M. Miller, Moran Darren Miller, twenty first place starter Shane Clanton, Dixon’s Tim Hamburg, Carrier, Utica’s Tony Izzo Jr., and Tonica’s Ryan Dauber trailing.
Moran and D. Miller were trading spaces lap after lap until Lap 38 when a three wide battle between Moran, M. Miller and D. Miller ended with D. Miller’s impressive run halted as he spun.
Now with a mere nine remaining laps and Pearson staking claim on the bottom of the track Drake tried his best to catch him using the same line but Pearson proved too much. Clanton dodged all over the field to find the quickest way to the front.
When the checkers dropped it was Drake second in front of Clanton, Moran, Steve Shaver, M. Miller, Birkhofer, Carrier, Izzo, Dauber, Hamburg, Brady Smith, John Mason, D. Miller, Cook, Elmhurst’s Jim Partipilo, Jay Fiene of West Chicago, and Denny Eckrich.
Denny Eckrich earned the fastest qualifying lap of 12.693. M. Miller, Moran, Birkhofer and Carrier each won their Heat races. Dauber and Shaver won their B Main events.
Locals starting positions and finishes: Izzo started twenty second finished ninth, Dauber started fifteenth finished tenth, Hamburg started thirteenth finished eleventh, Partipilo started ninteenth finished sixteenth, Fiene started twenty third finished seventeenth and Bret Sievert started fourteenth finished twenty third.
Additional race notes: Dauber blew an engine during hot laps, missed qualifying but returned in another car to run the Heat race and eventually winning the B Main and finishing an impressive tenth place in the feature.
Clanton earned the hard charger award as he moved forward the most positions from twenty first starting spot to a third place finish.
M. Miller was the only driver granted an additional warm up lap and an unusual third qualifying lap after two bad times were recorded. Upon questioning, Stacker 2® officials response was vague. His new time was far greater and positioned him ninth quick instead of last.
The SPEED channel is set to air the Illinois Valley Challenge 50 on Saturday, August 28th at 2:00pm central time.
The Midwestern Sportsman and Street Stock division were the only support classes to join the Xtreme event.
Jim Phelps won his first feature win in the Midwestern Sportsman car after a several year hiatus from the sport. Fourteen drivers competed with Scott Cimei finishing second in front of Bobby Morgan, Tina Soberri, John Garrett, Brian Claudnic, Daryll Grandys, BJ Grabow, Jake Patterson, Sharon Schlappi and Fleety Beltz.
The Street Stock feature was ended with a yellow checker after outlasting their time limit. Scott Schmitt took home the win over Tom Legner, Dan Filkowski, Charles Herhold, Al Gray, Chuck Leason, Robert Schlappi, Nick Sell, Jerry Legner and Brent Carlson.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Xtreme Illinois Valley Challenge 50
Qualifying: Denny Eckrich 12.693
Dash: Birkhofer, Moran, M. Miller, Carrier
B Main 1: Dauber
B Main 2: Shaver
Feature: Pearson, Drake, Clanton, Moran, Shaver, M. Miller, Birkhofer, Carrier, Izzo, Dauber, Hamburg, Smith, Mason, D. Miller, Cook, Partipilo, Fiene, Eckrich, Conley, Steidinger, Webb, Mars, Seivert, Van Wormer
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Jeff Hartzell, Jim Phelps, Daryll Grandys, Aaron Smith
Second Heat: Bobby Morgan, Duane McCarville, Fleety Beltz, Sharon Schlappi
Feature: Jim Phelps, Scott Cimei, Bobby Morgan, Tina Soberri, John Garrett, Brian Claudnic, Daryll Grandys, BJ Grabow, Jake Patterson, Sharon Schlappi, Fleety Beltz, Jeff Hartzell, Aaron Schmitt
Street Stock
First Heat: Tom Legner, Charles Herhold, Nick Sell, Dan Filkowski
Second Heat: Scott Schmitt, Al Gray, Brent Carlson, Steve Markey
Feature: Scott Schmitt, Tom Legner, Dan Filkowski, Charles Herhold, Al Gray, Chuck Leason, Robert Schlappi, Nick Sell, Jerry Legner, Brent Carlson, Steve Lewis, John Peterson, Jay Mesarchick, Steve Markey, Mike Stewart, Tom Otrembiak, Craig Hoffman, Gary Schmitt, Tony Harlacher
