By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Brett “The Jet” Sievert stole the UMP Late Model feature event during the final circuits of the twenty five lap main. The driver who hales out of the Badger state saw a door open when race leader Mike Glynn fell off his pace with a flattening left rear tire.
Twenty four Late Models signed in for action Saturday night with some new blood showing their presence. Sievert hasn’t been a regular in years but traveled the clay oval like it was his home turf. He has been known to show up for the big shows that stop at the central Illinois track but the weekly venue has not been his weekend showcase.
Glynn and front row partner Gary Schalmo led the grid in front of Ralph Markham and Sievert while Shawn Toczek and Lil’ John Provenzano rolled up for row three. Once the green flag dropped, it was Glynn pulling out to an early lead over Markham and Provenzano. A nine car pile up halted the action just after a racey first lap. Four cars succumbed to damage with Jason Jaggers taking the brunt of the melee. Crinkled sheet metal was the least of the repair list for many of those involved. Crews worked quickly to get the racing back underway.
Glynn led the restart ahead of Markham, Lil’ John Provenzano, Sievert, Toczek, and Mike Provenzano. With three laps on the board the leaders were challenged when two cars from the tail were stopped between turns one and two taking up most of the racing surface. The experienced driving of Glynn and Markham shined as they were able to maneuver the pair. Shortly after the next restart, Lil’ John Provenzano skimmed the infield tires enough to drop him back to sixth. With the pack running fast and furious, Glynn was quickly coming up on slower machines racing for their own positions when a three and four wide battle ensued.
In the lapped traffic, Ralph Markham managed to take over the point but Glynn used the outer rim of the infield to quickly steal the lead back after forcing the lapped traffic into a four wide conflict. During the eleventh circuit, Sievert used a lower groove to move under Ralph Markham for the second place running position. Ralph’s higher line created an opening that Lil’ John Provenzano needed to cruise past him while John Piccatto ran a strong fifth place.
During Lap 19, Glynn noticed his ride was not performing as it had been. “The car was perfect in the feature which doesn’t happen too often. I knew something was wrong but just couldn’t bring myself to quit, ” Glynn said.
After Sievert took the point, Lil’ John Provenzano charged his speed plant into second but was unable to challenge Sievert due to lapped traffic. Glynn finished third over Ralph Markham, Piccatto, Greg Wagner, last week’s winner Mike Provenzano, Jim Loomis, Scott Brewer, Roger Markham, Ed Williams Sr., Dan Doherty, Dan Patnoe and Keith Piano.
Glynn outdistanced Schalmo, Ralph Markham and Sievert for the dash win. Sievert, Lil’ John Provenzano and Ralph Markham each won their heat events.
The UMP Modifieds boasted twenty four contenders for their division but one driver made his return the highlight of the night. Milo Veloz Jr., a former divisional champ, hadn’t been back to the speedway in 2009 until Saturday. His return turned out to be well worth the trip.
Veloz scored the pole position with his ability to wheel a race car from the last row of the heat to a second place finish. Brad Stewart started outside front row while heat winners Dale Lueth and Justin McCoy rolled into row two. Veloz flew out of the blocks fast as Stewart settled in second leaving Lueth and McCoy in side by side order. During Lap 2, contact sent a pack to the wall in the same position as the early caution of the Late Model class. Once the light stayed illuminated green, it was Veloz uncontested with Stewart, Lueth, Nathan Balensiefen, and Vince Cooper duking it out.
During Lap 13, Lueth took command of second while Stewart was held up by lapped machines. Two laps later Lueth’s ride was airborne after a tangle with front runners and a lapped car who was far off the pace. Veloz took the checkers uncontested while Cooper and Stewart battled to the final finish line. As they crossed under the flag stand it was a photo finish with Cooper ending their contest in second. Stewart took home third ahead of an aggressive Balensiefen, Tom Knippenberg, Jason Bahrs, Matthew Gremminger, AJ Dixon, Joe Adam, Phil Line, Justin McCoy, Don Cole, and Jason Anderson.
McCoy outran Stewart for the first heat win with Travis Kohler third. Lueth beat Cooper in heat two. The third heat checkers was taken by Balensiefen with Veloz second.
An impressive seven minutes is all it took for Jimmy Partipilo to take home the fifteen lap main event for the UMP Street Stocks. Twenty two cars registered for the evenings racing action with Mike Hughes and Jamie Balensiefen each winning their preliminary events. The duo hosted the front of the grid ahead of Partipilo and Randy Lucas.
It didn’t take the third place starter more than a half a lap to take his ride to the side of Balensiefen for the lead. By the end of Lap 1, he took over the front helm and never looked back. Sixth place starter Rick Koltveit was moving up the pack quickly while the leaders worked their way in and out of lapped traffic.
Partipilo dodged lapped cars like a pro as he raced his way into victory lane. Koltveit’s shot up to the front runners ended with a second place finish in front of Balensiefen, Hughes, Roger Rickels, Lucas, Steve Lewis, Alex Clubb, Justin Rutledge and David McKenney.
Nick Clubb won the UMP 4 Cylinder division without anyone close by when he crossed the finish line. During much of the fifteen lap feature it was front runners Chad Williams and Phil Burdette in a full fledged combat for the win. Both faded off the track during the final laps giving up any chance for the win.
Clubb, who started front row outside, took home the victory while Asa Robart held off Rick Zifko for second place. Mark Sutton collected fourth over Jerry Legner, Harold Reiter, Jamie Deford, Allen Line and Mike Morrow.
Burdette beat Robart, Legner, and Deford in the first heat race. Williams won the second heat over Morrow, Nick Clubb, and Reiter.
Next week is the UMP 4 Cylinder Special in conjunction with Fan Appreciation Night at the speedway. Adult general admission is discounted to $5.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 06/13/09
Late Models – 24 Cars
Rhyne Competition Engines Dash: Mike Glynn, Gary Schalmo, Ralph Markham, Brett Sievert
Heat One: Brett Sievert, Gary Schalmo, Ed Williams Sr., Ed Williams Jr.
Heat Two: John Provenzano, Keith Piano, Jason Jaggers, Jim Loomis
Heat Three: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Shawn Toczek, Mike Provenzano
Feature: 1. Brett Sievert, 2. John Provenzano, 3. Mike Glynn, 4. Ralph Markham, 5. John Piccatto, 6. Greg Warner, 7. Mike Provenzano, 8. Jim Loomis, 9. Scott Brewer, 10. Roger Markham, 11. Ed Williams Sr., 12. Dan Doherty, 13. Dan Patnoe, 14. Keith Piano, 15. Travis Mahoney, 16. Jon Small, 17. Ed Williams Jr., 18. Shawn Toczek, 19. Jeff Small, 20. Lake Knutti, 21. Aaron Schmidt, 22. Jason Jaggers, 23. Gary Schalmo
UMP Modifieds – 24 Cars
Heat One: Justin McCoy, Brad Stewart, Travis Kohler, #66
Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, #66, AJ Dixon
Heat Three: Nathan Balensiefen, Milo Veloz Jr., Matthew Gremminger, Jason Bahrs
Feature: 1. Milo Veloz Jr., 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Brad Stewart, 4. Nathan Balensiefen, 5. Tom Knippenberg, 6. Jason Bahrs, 7. Matthew Gremminger, 8. AJ Dixon, 9. Joe Adam, 10. Phil Line, 11. Justin McCoy, 12. Don Cole, 13. Jason Anderson, 14. Ryan Kortage, 15. Brad Carrington, 16. Simmons, 17. Paul Smith, 18. Dale Lueth, 19. Mark Novorolsky, 20. Jeremy Johnson, 21. Mike Marden, 22. Travis Kohler, 23. Ken Fischer
UMP Street Stocks – 22 Cars
Heat One: Mike Hughes, Randy Lucas, Justin Rutledge, Tim Provenzano
Heat Two: Jamie Balensiefen, Jimmy Partipilo, rick Koltveit, Roger Rickels
Feature: 1. Jimmy Partipilo, 2. Rick Koltveit, 3. Nathan Balensiefen, 4. Mike Hughes, 5. Roger Rickels, 6. Randy Lucas, 7. Steve Lewis, 8. Alex Clubb, 9. Justin Rutledge, 10. David McKenney, 11. Jay Mesarchik, 12. Matt Ramer, 13. Chris Philhower, 14. Danny Deutsch, 15. Mark Gradert, 16. Steven Schwemlein, 17. Gabe Koncor, 18. Brandon Kessinger, 19. Tim Provenzano, 20. Laura Jackinowski
UMP Hornets – 18 Cars
Heat One: Phil Burdette, Asa Robart, Jerry Legner, Jamie Deford
Heat Two: Chad Williams, Mike Morrow, Nick Clubb, Harold Reiter
Feature: 1. Nick Clubb, 2. Asa Robart, 3. Rick Zifko, 4. Mark Sutton, 5. Jerry Legner, 6. Harold Reiter, 7. Jamie Deford, 8. Allen Line, 9. Mike Morrow, 10. Anna Cain, 11. Jeremy Rotramel, 12. Todd Breitbarth, 13. Phil Burdette, 14. Chad Williams, 15. Josh Larson, 16. DJ Kilanowski, 17. Alex Clubb
La Salle, IL – Brett “The Jet” Sievert stole the UMP Late Model feature event during the final circuits of the twenty five lap main. The driver who hales out of the Badger state saw a door open when race leader Mike Glynn fell off his pace with a flattening left rear tire.
Twenty four Late Models signed in for action Saturday night with some new blood showing their presence. Sievert hasn’t been a regular in years but traveled the clay oval like it was his home turf. He has been known to show up for the big shows that stop at the central Illinois track but the weekly venue has not been his weekend showcase.
Glynn and front row partner Gary Schalmo led the grid in front of Ralph Markham and Sievert while Shawn Toczek and Lil’ John Provenzano rolled up for row three. Once the green flag dropped, it was Glynn pulling out to an early lead over Markham and Provenzano. A nine car pile up halted the action just after a racey first lap. Four cars succumbed to damage with Jason Jaggers taking the brunt of the melee. Crinkled sheet metal was the least of the repair list for many of those involved. Crews worked quickly to get the racing back underway.
Glynn led the restart ahead of Markham, Lil’ John Provenzano, Sievert, Toczek, and Mike Provenzano. With three laps on the board the leaders were challenged when two cars from the tail were stopped between turns one and two taking up most of the racing surface. The experienced driving of Glynn and Markham shined as they were able to maneuver the pair. Shortly after the next restart, Lil’ John Provenzano skimmed the infield tires enough to drop him back to sixth. With the pack running fast and furious, Glynn was quickly coming up on slower machines racing for their own positions when a three and four wide battle ensued.
In the lapped traffic, Ralph Markham managed to take over the point but Glynn used the outer rim of the infield to quickly steal the lead back after forcing the lapped traffic into a four wide conflict. During the eleventh circuit, Sievert used a lower groove to move under Ralph Markham for the second place running position. Ralph’s higher line created an opening that Lil’ John Provenzano needed to cruise past him while John Piccatto ran a strong fifth place.
During Lap 19, Glynn noticed his ride was not performing as it had been. “The car was perfect in the feature which doesn’t happen too often. I knew something was wrong but just couldn’t bring myself to quit, ” Glynn said.
After Sievert took the point, Lil’ John Provenzano charged his speed plant into second but was unable to challenge Sievert due to lapped traffic. Glynn finished third over Ralph Markham, Piccatto, Greg Wagner, last week’s winner Mike Provenzano, Jim Loomis, Scott Brewer, Roger Markham, Ed Williams Sr., Dan Doherty, Dan Patnoe and Keith Piano.
Glynn outdistanced Schalmo, Ralph Markham and Sievert for the dash win. Sievert, Lil’ John Provenzano and Ralph Markham each won their heat events.
The UMP Modifieds boasted twenty four contenders for their division but one driver made his return the highlight of the night. Milo Veloz Jr., a former divisional champ, hadn’t been back to the speedway in 2009 until Saturday. His return turned out to be well worth the trip.
Veloz scored the pole position with his ability to wheel a race car from the last row of the heat to a second place finish. Brad Stewart started outside front row while heat winners Dale Lueth and Justin McCoy rolled into row two. Veloz flew out of the blocks fast as Stewart settled in second leaving Lueth and McCoy in side by side order. During Lap 2, contact sent a pack to the wall in the same position as the early caution of the Late Model class. Once the light stayed illuminated green, it was Veloz uncontested with Stewart, Lueth, Nathan Balensiefen, and Vince Cooper duking it out.
During Lap 13, Lueth took command of second while Stewart was held up by lapped machines. Two laps later Lueth’s ride was airborne after a tangle with front runners and a lapped car who was far off the pace. Veloz took the checkers uncontested while Cooper and Stewart battled to the final finish line. As they crossed under the flag stand it was a photo finish with Cooper ending their contest in second. Stewart took home third ahead of an aggressive Balensiefen, Tom Knippenberg, Jason Bahrs, Matthew Gremminger, AJ Dixon, Joe Adam, Phil Line, Justin McCoy, Don Cole, and Jason Anderson.
McCoy outran Stewart for the first heat win with Travis Kohler third. Lueth beat Cooper in heat two. The third heat checkers was taken by Balensiefen with Veloz second.
An impressive seven minutes is all it took for Jimmy Partipilo to take home the fifteen lap main event for the UMP Street Stocks. Twenty two cars registered for the evenings racing action with Mike Hughes and Jamie Balensiefen each winning their preliminary events. The duo hosted the front of the grid ahead of Partipilo and Randy Lucas.
It didn’t take the third place starter more than a half a lap to take his ride to the side of Balensiefen for the lead. By the end of Lap 1, he took over the front helm and never looked back. Sixth place starter Rick Koltveit was moving up the pack quickly while the leaders worked their way in and out of lapped traffic.
Partipilo dodged lapped cars like a pro as he raced his way into victory lane. Koltveit’s shot up to the front runners ended with a second place finish in front of Balensiefen, Hughes, Roger Rickels, Lucas, Steve Lewis, Alex Clubb, Justin Rutledge and David McKenney.
Nick Clubb won the UMP 4 Cylinder division without anyone close by when he crossed the finish line. During much of the fifteen lap feature it was front runners Chad Williams and Phil Burdette in a full fledged combat for the win. Both faded off the track during the final laps giving up any chance for the win.
Clubb, who started front row outside, took home the victory while Asa Robart held off Rick Zifko for second place. Mark Sutton collected fourth over Jerry Legner, Harold Reiter, Jamie Deford, Allen Line and Mike Morrow.
Burdette beat Robart, Legner, and Deford in the first heat race. Williams won the second heat over Morrow, Nick Clubb, and Reiter.
Next week is the UMP 4 Cylinder Special in conjunction with Fan Appreciation Night at the speedway. Adult general admission is discounted to $5.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 06/13/09
Late Models – 24 Cars
Rhyne Competition Engines Dash: Mike Glynn, Gary Schalmo, Ralph Markham, Brett Sievert
Heat One: Brett Sievert, Gary Schalmo, Ed Williams Sr., Ed Williams Jr.
Heat Two: John Provenzano, Keith Piano, Jason Jaggers, Jim Loomis
Heat Three: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Shawn Toczek, Mike Provenzano
Feature: 1. Brett Sievert, 2. John Provenzano, 3. Mike Glynn, 4. Ralph Markham, 5. John Piccatto, 6. Greg Warner, 7. Mike Provenzano, 8. Jim Loomis, 9. Scott Brewer, 10. Roger Markham, 11. Ed Williams Sr., 12. Dan Doherty, 13. Dan Patnoe, 14. Keith Piano, 15. Travis Mahoney, 16. Jon Small, 17. Ed Williams Jr., 18. Shawn Toczek, 19. Jeff Small, 20. Lake Knutti, 21. Aaron Schmidt, 22. Jason Jaggers, 23. Gary Schalmo
UMP Modifieds – 24 Cars
Heat One: Justin McCoy, Brad Stewart, Travis Kohler, #66
Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, #66, AJ Dixon
Heat Three: Nathan Balensiefen, Milo Veloz Jr., Matthew Gremminger, Jason Bahrs
Feature: 1. Milo Veloz Jr., 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Brad Stewart, 4. Nathan Balensiefen, 5. Tom Knippenberg, 6. Jason Bahrs, 7. Matthew Gremminger, 8. AJ Dixon, 9. Joe Adam, 10. Phil Line, 11. Justin McCoy, 12. Don Cole, 13. Jason Anderson, 14. Ryan Kortage, 15. Brad Carrington, 16. Simmons, 17. Paul Smith, 18. Dale Lueth, 19. Mark Novorolsky, 20. Jeremy Johnson, 21. Mike Marden, 22. Travis Kohler, 23. Ken Fischer
UMP Street Stocks – 22 Cars
Heat One: Mike Hughes, Randy Lucas, Justin Rutledge, Tim Provenzano
Heat Two: Jamie Balensiefen, Jimmy Partipilo, rick Koltveit, Roger Rickels
Feature: 1. Jimmy Partipilo, 2. Rick Koltveit, 3. Nathan Balensiefen, 4. Mike Hughes, 5. Roger Rickels, 6. Randy Lucas, 7. Steve Lewis, 8. Alex Clubb, 9. Justin Rutledge, 10. David McKenney, 11. Jay Mesarchik, 12. Matt Ramer, 13. Chris Philhower, 14. Danny Deutsch, 15. Mark Gradert, 16. Steven Schwemlein, 17. Gabe Koncor, 18. Brandon Kessinger, 19. Tim Provenzano, 20. Laura Jackinowski
UMP Hornets – 18 Cars
Heat One: Phil Burdette, Asa Robart, Jerry Legner, Jamie Deford
Heat Two: Chad Williams, Mike Morrow, Nick Clubb, Harold Reiter
Feature: 1. Nick Clubb, 2. Asa Robart, 3. Rick Zifko, 4. Mark Sutton, 5. Jerry Legner, 6. Harold Reiter, 7. Jamie Deford, 8. Allen Line, 9. Mike Morrow, 10. Anna Cain, 11. Jeremy Rotramel, 12. Todd Breitbarth, 13. Phil Burdette, 14. Chad Williams, 15. Josh Larson, 16. DJ Kilanowski, 17. Alex Clubb
