Steve Sheppard (5S) and Don O'Neal (71) battle briefly before Sheppard charges into easy victory during the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals at La Salle Speedway on July 12th.
By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Steve Sheppard has been to the La Salle Speedway four or five times through the years. None of them were as rewarding as Thursday night’s UMP DIRTcar Summernationals with a hefty payday of $6,000.
Money is good but nothing could compare to the fact that he led some of the biggest names in dirt in an incident free forty lapper. Not only did he lead uncontested he put a whooping on drivers who don’t normally get lapped when they are cruising in the front of the pack.
Forty two drivers signed in for the third to the last tour date. This grueling 30 day marathon can take its toll on even the best of the best. But Sheppard looked no worse for the wear as he laughed and recounted his evening.
When asked about keeping up with such a difficult schedule Steve was quick with a smile and shake of his head.
“I have been tired since the first half of the series,” Sheppard said.
Former track champ and current Summernationals points leader, Dennis Erb Jr., has been gone from home since June 14th but he isn’t complaining. Erb is on the home stretch with only two races left for the tour and increased his lead with a strong third place feature finish.
“The Summernationals is a fun month,” Erb commented before the races. “It’s a lot of work but its great to race almost every night and go to different places – it is a challenge though.”
The title and points fund money will be a constant reminder of his accomplishments.
To kick things off, Jason Feger of Bloomington scored the fastest qualifying lap with a clocked time of 12.922. Sheppard also was in the twelve second range after completing a lap of 12.957.
Russ Scheffler pulled away from Feger using his front row outside start to capture the first heat race. Kevin Weaver ended his run on the low side over Utica’s Tony Izzo Jr.
Sheppard’s flag to flag lead in the second heat was nearly stolen when Wes Steidinger put on a show for the crowd in a final lap duel. Sheppard won it at the line with Steidinger, Scott Bull and Mike Marlar behind him.
Don O’Neal was the third heat pole sitter and pulled out to an early lead over Tonica’s Ryan Dauber. Brady Smith had a run on Dauber but finished third in front of AJ Diemel.
The most exciting heat race was the fourth and final one. Randy Korte started front row outside but had to hold back strong performances by Shannon Babb, who has been on a hot streak, and Erb. Erb and Babb were side by side much of the event but Babb took second, Erb third and Eddie Kerchoff fourth.
Twenty two cars lined up for the starting grid with O’Neal and Sheppard at the helm. Once the flagman dropped the green flag, it was nothing short of a perfect race. Not one single yellow to slow up the momentum or pace.
Sheppard grabbed the lead at the start line and never looked back. By the eighth lap out, he had distanced himself from O’Neal, Korte, Steidinger, Russ Scheffler and Feger.
Sheppard was already lapping cars by the tenth lap in the books. The fact that he lapped the back of the field did not seem too unusual but what was a little uncommon was the way he flew through the high banks picking off one car after another until he made his way to the front runners.
The man on the move was Erb he quietly passed his way up from twelfth into fifth before the half way marker.
Starting on Lap 24, Sheppard was strategically stuck behind three cars vying for their own spots. It looked like O’Neal was going to reel him in but it was clearly Sheppard’s night to shine and make a mark all his own.
Forty laps, without caution, is incredible but to lead it flag to flag is even a better memory.
“This is the biggest win I have ever had,” Sheppard declared after the race.
He’s been racing for about 15 years and is now watching his 14 year old son, Brandon, strap on a helmet as a Late Model racer.
When the checkers dropped, O’Neal was protecting his second place run over Erb, Korte, Steidinger, Smith, Babb, Feger, Jeep VanWormer, Russ Scheffler, Dauber, Bull, Nascar driver Ken Schrader, Weaver, Eddie Kerchoff and George Scheffler. Not finishing the race was Mike Marlar, Greg Johnson, AJ Diemel, Tim Manville, Mike Glynn and Ralph Markham.
Bob Pohlman Jr. made his second trip in the UMP Open Wheel Modified class and took home the top honors for their feature race. He started on the pole next to weekly standout Ray Bollinger and grabbed the lead early.
Bollinger took his action to the highside grinding his back quarter panel along the unforgiving wall on several laps.
Polhman pulled away to a generous lead leaving Bollinger to fend off Dave Porth and Mike Spatola.
Pohlman went the distance solo with Porth collecting second in front of Gary Cook Jr., Bollinger, Casey Lappin, Spatola, Jeff Curl, #12, Marty Thompson, Jay Ledford, Lance Dehm, Jim Phelps, Mike Garland, Vince Cooper, Nathan Balensiefen, Jason Hastings, Dan Deinel, Joe Adam, John McCaull and Bill Gray.
Dehm, Spatola and Porth each won their heat events.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 07/12/07
UMP Summernationals Late Model – 42 Cars
Qualifying: Jason Feger 12.922
Heat One: Russ Scheffler, Jason Feger, Kevin Weaver, Tony Izzo Jr.
Heat Two: Steve Sheppard, Wes Steidinger, Scott Bull, Mike Marlar Heat Three: Don O’Neal, Ryan Dauber, Brady Smith, AJ Diemel Heat Four: Randy Korte, Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr., Eddie Kerchoff Semi Feature One: Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, George Scheffler, John Provenzano, Jim Felker, Rich Bell, Jim Partipilo, Tony Izzo Jr., Jim Mineo, Shawn Toczek, Scott Schmitt, Mike Provenzano, Mike Mataragas, Brian Moon, Charles Hess Semi Feature Two: Jeep VanWormer, Eddie Kerchoff, Ken Schrader, Jason Jaggers, Ralph Markham, Ted Loomis, Steve Oeder, Jason McBride, Keith Piano, Mike Glynn, Tim Manville, AJ Diemel, Jim Westaway
Feature: Steve Sheppard, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Randy Korte, Wes Steidinger, Brady Smith, Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, Jeep VanWormer, Russ Scheffler, Ryan Dauber, Scott Bull, Ken Schrader, Kevin Weaver, Eddie Kerchoff, George Scheffler, Mike Marlar DNF, Greg Johnson DNF, AJ Diemel DNF, Tim Manville DNF, Mike Glynn DNF, Ralph Markham DNF
UMP Modifieds – 28 Cars
Heat One: Lance Dehm, Bob Pohlman Jr., Ray Cook Jr., #12 Heat Two: Mike Spatola, Joe Adam, Mike Garland, Vince Cooper Heat Three: Dave Porth, Ray Bollinger, Jay Ledford, Jim Phelps
Feature: Bob Pohlman Jr., Dave Porth, Gary Cook Jr., Ray Bollinger, Casey Lappin, Mike Spatola, Jeff Curl, #12, Marty Thompson, Jay Ledford, Lance Dehm, Jim Phelps, Mike Garland, Vince Cooper, Nathan Balensiefen, Jason Hastings, Dan Deimel, Joe Adam, John McCaull, Bill Gray
