La Salle’s defending champ beats father to sweep Late Model’s; Street’s and Hornet’s go caution free
By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Mike Provenzano ended last season with the coveted UMP Late Model track championship crown after posting a stellar season at La Salle Speedway. Saturday night, the racing returned to the Illinois Valley’s speed arena with Mike ready to rumble.
He started his evening off right by outdistancing the competition to win the first heat race of the 2010 racing season. Rich Bell took second finishing in front of Scott Schmitt and John Piccatto. Billy Weistart Jr. took command of the second heat race when the green flag dropped. Weistart crossed the finish line a half of a lap ahead of Jimmy Partipilo, Todd Alexander and Eric Rebholz. Unfortunately, Weistart forgot to cross the mandatory scaling area immediately after the race forfeiting the favored dash and feature starting positions.
Keith Piano held back Lil’ John Provenzano to score the final heat contest. Ryan Dauber and Ed Williams Sr. crossed the line behind them. The Late Model dash was a father and son showdown til the very end. Mike Provenzano and his father Lil’ John started side by side on the front row and battled back and forth with Bell and Piano on their tail. Mike took home the trophy, followed by Bell who snuck into second, Lil’ John and Piano.
Just before the twenty-one Late’s could hit the track for their main event, Mother Nature decided to moisten the sky. As rain drops sprinkled on May Day over the area, the drivers tried to keep the track race ready. Once the drops stopped, the racers turned on the horsepower. The sound of high powered engines didn’t last long as a tangle between Piano and Partipilo on the back stretch ended with heavy damage to the new ride of Piano. This was just the first complete restart of what became far too many for a division of this caliber. They struggled repeatedly to score the first lap.
Front row starters, Mike Provenzano and Bell set the pace with Lil’ John and Todd Alexander on the second row ahead of Schmitt and Partipilo for the third double file start. Shortly after green, trouble mounted between Bell and Schmitt leaving Schmitt’s machine headed the wrong way. The pair were sent to the tail where not long after another caution was signaled. This time Bell left the competition and headed pitside.
With only fifteen cars left in the very beginning of actual scored laps, Mike Provenzano was running low with his father challenging his every move. Without a scoreboard, it was difficult to know how many laps were actually in the books due to all the cautions but it appeared by the eighth lap that it was a Provenzano show up front leaving the competition to battle for third.
During the final laps, Mike Provenzano worked thru the lapped field with Lil’ John finding his own route. At the completion, Mike Provenzano beat the 40 year veteran racer to the line. Schmitt was right there with the pair after he had moved up the pack to finish an impressive third place. Former Street Stock standout Partipilo scored fourth ahead of Dauber, Ed Williams Sr., Piccatto, Alexander, Rebholz, Travis Mahoney, Gary Schalmo and Ed Williams Jr. as the only other finishers.
Nathan Balensiefen flew to a solo victory during the first UMP Modified heat contest. He beat Kevin Thompson, Darryl Lowe and Scott Hauge. Joe Adam and Vince Cooper put on a great showing during the second preliminary event with a side by side battle and a little contact. Adam took the checkers as Cooper traveled the last two laps with a flat tire. Travis Kohler took third ahead of Tim Loomis. AJ Dixon went from the last row to claim the checkers in the final heat. Phil line took second followed by Shawn Scripter and Matt Gremminger.
During the final lap of the dash race, Line was leading with Adam going to challenge the leader when Adam lost control collecting Dixon and Balensiefen. Balensiefen ended his night flipped upside down in turn four. Line earned the win over Cooper, Thompson and Adam.
Due to their dash efforts, Line and Cooper got the front row of the feature grid ahead of Thompson, Adam and Lowe. Cooper headed quickly to the outside after green but Line was not giving up. The duo put on a challenge for the lead lap after lap with Line always coming out ahead by the start/finish line.
Line’s impressive driving style earned him the first feature of the season in front of Cooper, Kohler, Thompson, Justin McCoy, DJ Werkmeister, Gremminger, Steve Brooks, Knippenburg and Lowe.
Fifteen UMP Street Stocks signed in for action on Saturday. From the first lap of the first heat they put on an impressive showing for the fans. Roger Rickels and Rick Koltveit battled in an exciting challenge for the point. Rickels took the win with Koltveit, Matt Ramer and Jamie Balensiefen behind him. Dave McKinney took home the second heat over Steve Lewis, Randy Lucas and Nick Sell.
The Street’s put forth a great performance in their main event. Twelve competitors made the call and raced an impressive caution free first feature.
McKinney was smooth sailing from the first lap to the final one collecting the victory. Koltveit was not close enough to challenge for the lead but had a fight of his own to hold off Rickels for the runner up spot. He managed to pull it off with Lewis fourth ahead of Lucas, Provenzano, Scott Hauge, Miller, Sell, Ramer, Jackinaust, and Himichs.
Fifteen UMP 4-Cylinder Hornets showed up for the first night of racing. Asa Robart held off Phil Burdette, #15, and Jerry Legner to score heat one. Allen Provenzano beat Rick Zifko, Harry Reiter and Fred Thatcher in the second heat.
Allen Provenzano started the main front row outside and wasted little time taking the point. He was unstoppable flying solo in the caution free event. Robart earned second while Burdette, Zifko, Reiter, Legner, #04, Mark Sutton, Robert Houtz, and #26 crossed the line to complete the ten cars.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results May 1, 2010
UMP Late Models – 21 Cars
Heat One: Mike Provenzano, Rich Bell, Scott Schmitt, John Piccatto
Heat Two: Billy Weistart Jr., Jimmy Partipilo, Todd Alexander, Eric Rebholz
Heat Three: Keith Piano, John Provenzano, Ryan Dauber, Ed Williams Sr.
Dash: Mike Provenzano, Rich Bell, John Provenzano, Keith Piano
Feature: 1. Mike Provenzano, 2. John Provenzano, 3. Scott Schmitt, 4. Jimmy Partipilo, 5. Ryan Dauber, 6. Ed Williams Sr., 7. John Piccatto, 8. Todd Alexander, 9. Eric Rebholz, 10. Travis Mahoney, 11. Gary Schalmo, 12. Ed Wiliams Jr., 13. Mike Marler, 14. Billy Weistart Jr., 15. Lake Knutti, 16. Brian Lock, 17. Rich Bell, 18. Dave Patva, 19. Manos, 20. Keith Piano, 21. Aaron Schmidt
UMP Modifieds – 20 Cars
Heat One: Nathan Balensiefen, Kevin Thompson, Darryl Lowe, Scott Hauge
Heat Two: Joe Adam, Vince Cooper, Travis Kohler, Tim Loomis
Heat Three: AJ Dixon, Phil Line, Shawn Scripter, Matt Gremminger
Dash: Phil Line, Vince Cooper, Kevin Thompson, Joe Adam
Feature: 1. Phil Line, 2.Vince Cooper, 3. Travis Kohler, 4. Kevin Thompson, 5. Justin McCoy, 6. DJ Werkmeister, 7. Matt Gremminger 8. Brooke, 9. Knippenburg, 10. Darryl Lowe, 11. Vacha, 12. Line, 13. Shawn Scripter, 14. Brad Stewart, 15. Joe Adam, 16. Tim Loomis, 17. Scott Hauge
UMP Street Stocks – 15 Cars
Heat One: Roger Rickels, Rick Koltveit, Matt Ramer, Jamie Balensiefen
Heat Two: Dave McKinney, Steve Lewis, Randy Lucas, Nick Sell
Feature: 1. Dave McKinney, 2. Rick Koltevit, 3. Roger Rickels, 4. Steve Lewis, 5. Randy Lucas, 6. Tim Provenzano, 7. Scott Hauge, 8. Miller, 9. Nick Sell, 10. Matt Ramer, 11. Jackinaust, 12. Himichs
UMP Hornets – 15 Cars
Heat One: Asa Robart, Phil Burdette, #15, Jerry Legner
Heat Two: Allen Provenzano, Rick Zifko,, Harry Reiter, Fred Thatcher
Feature: 1. Allen Provenzano, 2. Asa Robart, 3. Phil Burdette, 4. Rick Zifko, 5. Harry Reiter, 6. Jerry Legner, 7. #04, 8. Mark Sutton, 9. Robert Houtz, 10. #26
By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Mike Provenzano ended last season with the coveted UMP Late Model track championship crown after posting a stellar season at La Salle Speedway. Saturday night, the racing returned to the Illinois Valley’s speed arena with Mike ready to rumble.
He started his evening off right by outdistancing the competition to win the first heat race of the 2010 racing season. Rich Bell took second finishing in front of Scott Schmitt and John Piccatto. Billy Weistart Jr. took command of the second heat race when the green flag dropped. Weistart crossed the finish line a half of a lap ahead of Jimmy Partipilo, Todd Alexander and Eric Rebholz. Unfortunately, Weistart forgot to cross the mandatory scaling area immediately after the race forfeiting the favored dash and feature starting positions.
Keith Piano held back Lil’ John Provenzano to score the final heat contest. Ryan Dauber and Ed Williams Sr. crossed the line behind them. The Late Model dash was a father and son showdown til the very end. Mike Provenzano and his father Lil’ John started side by side on the front row and battled back and forth with Bell and Piano on their tail. Mike took home the trophy, followed by Bell who snuck into second, Lil’ John and Piano.
Just before the twenty-one Late’s could hit the track for their main event, Mother Nature decided to moisten the sky. As rain drops sprinkled on May Day over the area, the drivers tried to keep the track race ready. Once the drops stopped, the racers turned on the horsepower. The sound of high powered engines didn’t last long as a tangle between Piano and Partipilo on the back stretch ended with heavy damage to the new ride of Piano. This was just the first complete restart of what became far too many for a division of this caliber. They struggled repeatedly to score the first lap.
Front row starters, Mike Provenzano and Bell set the pace with Lil’ John and Todd Alexander on the second row ahead of Schmitt and Partipilo for the third double file start. Shortly after green, trouble mounted between Bell and Schmitt leaving Schmitt’s machine headed the wrong way. The pair were sent to the tail where not long after another caution was signaled. This time Bell left the competition and headed pitside.
With only fifteen cars left in the very beginning of actual scored laps, Mike Provenzano was running low with his father challenging his every move. Without a scoreboard, it was difficult to know how many laps were actually in the books due to all the cautions but it appeared by the eighth lap that it was a Provenzano show up front leaving the competition to battle for third.
During the final laps, Mike Provenzano worked thru the lapped field with Lil’ John finding his own route. At the completion, Mike Provenzano beat the 40 year veteran racer to the line. Schmitt was right there with the pair after he had moved up the pack to finish an impressive third place. Former Street Stock standout Partipilo scored fourth ahead of Dauber, Ed Williams Sr., Piccatto, Alexander, Rebholz, Travis Mahoney, Gary Schalmo and Ed Williams Jr. as the only other finishers.
Nathan Balensiefen flew to a solo victory during the first UMP Modified heat contest. He beat Kevin Thompson, Darryl Lowe and Scott Hauge. Joe Adam and Vince Cooper put on a great showing during the second preliminary event with a side by side battle and a little contact. Adam took the checkers as Cooper traveled the last two laps with a flat tire. Travis Kohler took third ahead of Tim Loomis. AJ Dixon went from the last row to claim the checkers in the final heat. Phil line took second followed by Shawn Scripter and Matt Gremminger.
During the final lap of the dash race, Line was leading with Adam going to challenge the leader when Adam lost control collecting Dixon and Balensiefen. Balensiefen ended his night flipped upside down in turn four. Line earned the win over Cooper, Thompson and Adam.
Due to their dash efforts, Line and Cooper got the front row of the feature grid ahead of Thompson, Adam and Lowe. Cooper headed quickly to the outside after green but Line was not giving up. The duo put on a challenge for the lead lap after lap with Line always coming out ahead by the start/finish line.
Line’s impressive driving style earned him the first feature of the season in front of Cooper, Kohler, Thompson, Justin McCoy, DJ Werkmeister, Gremminger, Steve Brooks, Knippenburg and Lowe.
Fifteen UMP Street Stocks signed in for action on Saturday. From the first lap of the first heat they put on an impressive showing for the fans. Roger Rickels and Rick Koltveit battled in an exciting challenge for the point. Rickels took the win with Koltveit, Matt Ramer and Jamie Balensiefen behind him. Dave McKinney took home the second heat over Steve Lewis, Randy Lucas and Nick Sell.
The Street’s put forth a great performance in their main event. Twelve competitors made the call and raced an impressive caution free first feature.
McKinney was smooth sailing from the first lap to the final one collecting the victory. Koltveit was not close enough to challenge for the lead but had a fight of his own to hold off Rickels for the runner up spot. He managed to pull it off with Lewis fourth ahead of Lucas, Provenzano, Scott Hauge, Miller, Sell, Ramer, Jackinaust, and Himichs.
Fifteen UMP 4-Cylinder Hornets showed up for the first night of racing. Asa Robart held off Phil Burdette, #15, and Jerry Legner to score heat one. Allen Provenzano beat Rick Zifko, Harry Reiter and Fred Thatcher in the second heat.
Allen Provenzano started the main front row outside and wasted little time taking the point. He was unstoppable flying solo in the caution free event. Robart earned second while Burdette, Zifko, Reiter, Legner, #04, Mark Sutton, Robert Houtz, and #26 crossed the line to complete the ten cars.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results May 1, 2010
UMP Late Models – 21 Cars
Heat One: Mike Provenzano, Rich Bell, Scott Schmitt, John Piccatto
Heat Two: Billy Weistart Jr., Jimmy Partipilo, Todd Alexander, Eric Rebholz
Heat Three: Keith Piano, John Provenzano, Ryan Dauber, Ed Williams Sr.
Dash: Mike Provenzano, Rich Bell, John Provenzano, Keith Piano
Feature: 1. Mike Provenzano, 2. John Provenzano, 3. Scott Schmitt, 4. Jimmy Partipilo, 5. Ryan Dauber, 6. Ed Williams Sr., 7. John Piccatto, 8. Todd Alexander, 9. Eric Rebholz, 10. Travis Mahoney, 11. Gary Schalmo, 12. Ed Wiliams Jr., 13. Mike Marler, 14. Billy Weistart Jr., 15. Lake Knutti, 16. Brian Lock, 17. Rich Bell, 18. Dave Patva, 19. Manos, 20. Keith Piano, 21. Aaron Schmidt
UMP Modifieds – 20 Cars
Heat One: Nathan Balensiefen, Kevin Thompson, Darryl Lowe, Scott Hauge
Heat Two: Joe Adam, Vince Cooper, Travis Kohler, Tim Loomis
Heat Three: AJ Dixon, Phil Line, Shawn Scripter, Matt Gremminger
Dash: Phil Line, Vince Cooper, Kevin Thompson, Joe Adam
Feature: 1. Phil Line, 2.Vince Cooper, 3. Travis Kohler, 4. Kevin Thompson, 5. Justin McCoy, 6. DJ Werkmeister, 7. Matt Gremminger 8. Brooke, 9. Knippenburg, 10. Darryl Lowe, 11. Vacha, 12. Line, 13. Shawn Scripter, 14. Brad Stewart, 15. Joe Adam, 16. Tim Loomis, 17. Scott Hauge
UMP Street Stocks – 15 Cars
Heat One: Roger Rickels, Rick Koltveit, Matt Ramer, Jamie Balensiefen
Heat Two: Dave McKinney, Steve Lewis, Randy Lucas, Nick Sell
Feature: 1. Dave McKinney, 2. Rick Koltevit, 3. Roger Rickels, 4. Steve Lewis, 5. Randy Lucas, 6. Tim Provenzano, 7. Scott Hauge, 8. Miller, 9. Nick Sell, 10. Matt Ramer, 11. Jackinaust, 12. Himichs
UMP Hornets – 15 Cars
Heat One: Asa Robart, Phil Burdette, #15, Jerry Legner
Heat Two: Allen Provenzano, Rick Zifko,, Harry Reiter, Fred Thatcher
Feature: 1. Allen Provenzano, 2. Asa Robart, 3. Phil Burdette, 4. Rick Zifko, 5. Harry Reiter, 6. Jerry Legner, 7. #04, 8. Mark Sutton, 9. Robert Houtz, 10. #26
