By: Betty Glynn
LaSalle, IL - The blistering heat at LaSalle may have been more then some could handle but three of the four divisions hosted "three-peat" winners Saturday night making a cool statement. With nine nights of competition in the books three drivers have posted their names three times as feature winners at LaSalle Speedway thus far in the 2005 season.
The super Late Model division held fifteen entries at sign in but only thirteen were available for the starting grid line up. Former track champ Frank Reaber left before qualifying due to oil pump issues and newcomer Starks never made it out of the gate for qualifying.
At feature time Dixon’s Tim Hamburg found himself with the most points tallied for earlier action granting him the pole with McHenry’s Skip Martin on the outside. Jay Fiene of West Chicago and Mike Provenzano of Marseilles staked claim to row two in front of LaSalle’s Mike Glynn and Sheffield’s Rich Bell.
Hamburg took the lead at the green jumping to a quick lead with Martin falling behind him. By the end of the first lap Glynn had traveled his way up to Martin’s back bumper. One lap later, Glynn took over second to begin his hunt for the leader.
Hamburg continued to dominate the pack generating a big lead while Glynn trailed in second as Martin and Fiene raced side by side at times. During Lap 8, the two were door to door in the corners but Martin was quicker from the high side on the back stretch.
A caution on Lap 17 brought the competition to a halt with Hamburg sitting at the helm for the restart with two lapped cars separating himself from Glynn who had Martin, Fiene, Provenzano and Jaggers directly behind him. The lapped traffic held Glynn up allowing Hamburg to just drive off for his third victory uncontested. With only four laps to go, Fiene and Martin’s battle was blocked with lapped traffic racing for their own positions.
Only nine finishers crossed the line after Hamburg took the checkers. Glynn was in second over Fiene, Martin, and Provenzano. Cody Sommer claimed sixth after an impressive journey up the pack from a twelfth place start. Wyanet’s Jason Jaggers finished seventh ahead of Streator’s Dan Thacker, Joe Partipilo, and Bell.
Hamburg earned the fastest timed lap of 13.275 for the Late’s. Martin flew to the first Heat win without threat over Bell, Provenzano and Tom Markham. Fiene held off a strong running Hamburg for the second Heat win as Travis Rokey and Glynn finished behind them.
TJ Markham was the second driver to lay claim on his third win of the year in the Midwestern Late Model class. TJ’s front row start was not necessarily a path to easy street as twenty cars lined up behind him ready and willing to take him on.
Before the Midwestern’s could score a lap the caution was signaled for a multi car pile up on the front stretch. The pole sitter quickly exited the field once the green restarted. TJ wasted no time in powering off leaving Johnny Heath and Tonica’s Eric Dauber to battle out second while last weeks victor, David Smith held onto third.
Before too many laps were scored the competition became fierce for second as Heath and Dauber were battling. Heath had his hands full with Dauber when Maple Park’s Ralph Markham showed face from ninth and took the three into a trio race of their own. All three diced it up back and forth for the majority of the race.
Shane Hill of Streator was running sixth behind Smith when he found himself stopped bringing out the yellow. For the restart of Lap 18, TJ sat in command with Heath, Ralph, Dauber, Smith and Oglesby’s Keith Piano making up the top six front runners. The struggle for second continued with Ralph, Heath and Dauber all charging for runner up position. Two laps later Ralph and Heath made contact and Heath fell back several spots. Without another lap in, a yellow was again thwarting the action.
Heath tried to come back up the field but he and Smith made contact again causing him to fall back.
At the checkers it was TJ with his third win over Ralph, Dauber, Smith, Piano, Heath, Joe Dynek, Dan Thryselius, Tony Coglianese, and Brian Ray.
Piano posted the fasted qualifying lap of 14.170. Jerry Vance owned the first heat as Ralph took home the second.
The Midwestern Sportsman division held six cars in the roster with last week’s winner Scott Schmitt of Tonica on the pole next to Oglesby’s Tina Soberi.
Soberi took the point early when a yellow slowed them. The pole sitter Schmitt left the track smoking. Now with only five cars in competition the green was back and Soberi was quick to lead with Magnolia’s Scott Cimei close behind. Cimei worked hard to find the right groove to take over and finally did so for the first and final time on Lap 11. Soberi lost her line and Cimei took over for the remaining laps to claim his third win of the season.
Morgan grabbed second during the final lap leaving Soberi in third ahead of Rick Koltveith and Aaron Schmitt.
Scott won the Heat race over Aaron, Soberi and Cimei.
Charles Herhold crossed the line first in the Street Stock division feature but was later disqualified during tech inspection. Tom Legner the pole sitter took home the win after finishing runner up. Third went to Eric Legner with Tom Otrembiak, Gary Schmitt, Al Gray, Mike Hughes, Jerry Legner, Nick Sell, Joe Jelinek, and Bill Dauber wrapping up the top eleven finishers.
Otrembiak won his Heat over Herhold, Dauber and Lewis. Tom Legner claimed the second Heat with Eric finishing second in front of Schmitt and Gray.
Tim Faust won the Hornet race in their second showing this season. He beat Ande Bivens and Jerrod Thomas.
Next Saturday night a regular race program plus fireworks is on the schedule.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Late Model
Qualifying: Tim Hamburg 13.275
First Heat: Skip Martin, Rich Bell, Mike Provezano, Tom Markham
Second Heat: Jay Fiene, Tim Hamburg, Travis Rokey, Mike Glynn
Feature: Tim Hamburg, Mike Glynn, Jay Fiene, Skip Martin, Mike Provenzano, Cody Sommer, Jason Jaggers, Dan Thacker, Joe Partipilo, Ritchie Bell, Tom Markham, Travis Rokey, Joe Burba
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Keith Piano 14.170
First Heat: Jerry Vance, Wally Forsythe, Tony Coglianese, Mark Jilbert
Second Heat: Ralph Markham, Reno Markham, Eric Dauber, David Smith
Feature: TJ Markham, Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, David Smith, Keith Piano, Johnny Heath, Joe Dynek, Dan Thryselius, Tony Coglianese, Brian Ray, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Dave Miller, Jack Benson, Shane Hill, Doug Newlin, #18, Reno Markham, Mick Miller, Rob Piper, Mark Jilbert
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Scott Schmitt, Aaron Schmitt, Tina Soberi, Scott Cimei
Feature: Scott Cimei, Bobby Morgan, Tina Soberi, Rick Kotveit, Aaron Schmitt, Scott Schmitt
Street Stock
First Heat: Tom Otrembiak, Charles Herhold, Bill Dauber, Steve Lewis
Second Heat: Tom Legner, Eric Legner, Gary Schmitt, Al Gray
Feature: Charles Herhold - DQ’d, Tom Legner, Eric Legner, Tom Otrembiak, Gary Schmitt, Al Gray, Mike Hughes, Jerry Legner, Nick Sell, Joe Jelinek, Bill Dauber, Steve Lewis, Bill Clemmons - DQ’d, Ray Buchnan
Hornets
First Heat: Tim Faust, Ande Bivens, Kyle Fisher, Jerrod Thomas
Feature: Tim Faust, Ande Bivens, Jerrod Thomas
LaSalle, IL - The blistering heat at LaSalle may have been more then some could handle but three of the four divisions hosted "three-peat" winners Saturday night making a cool statement. With nine nights of competition in the books three drivers have posted their names three times as feature winners at LaSalle Speedway thus far in the 2005 season.
The super Late Model division held fifteen entries at sign in but only thirteen were available for the starting grid line up. Former track champ Frank Reaber left before qualifying due to oil pump issues and newcomer Starks never made it out of the gate for qualifying.
At feature time Dixon’s Tim Hamburg found himself with the most points tallied for earlier action granting him the pole with McHenry’s Skip Martin on the outside. Jay Fiene of West Chicago and Mike Provenzano of Marseilles staked claim to row two in front of LaSalle’s Mike Glynn and Sheffield’s Rich Bell.
Hamburg took the lead at the green jumping to a quick lead with Martin falling behind him. By the end of the first lap Glynn had traveled his way up to Martin’s back bumper. One lap later, Glynn took over second to begin his hunt for the leader.
Hamburg continued to dominate the pack generating a big lead while Glynn trailed in second as Martin and Fiene raced side by side at times. During Lap 8, the two were door to door in the corners but Martin was quicker from the high side on the back stretch.
A caution on Lap 17 brought the competition to a halt with Hamburg sitting at the helm for the restart with two lapped cars separating himself from Glynn who had Martin, Fiene, Provenzano and Jaggers directly behind him. The lapped traffic held Glynn up allowing Hamburg to just drive off for his third victory uncontested. With only four laps to go, Fiene and Martin’s battle was blocked with lapped traffic racing for their own positions.
Only nine finishers crossed the line after Hamburg took the checkers. Glynn was in second over Fiene, Martin, and Provenzano. Cody Sommer claimed sixth after an impressive journey up the pack from a twelfth place start. Wyanet’s Jason Jaggers finished seventh ahead of Streator’s Dan Thacker, Joe Partipilo, and Bell.
Hamburg earned the fastest timed lap of 13.275 for the Late’s. Martin flew to the first Heat win without threat over Bell, Provenzano and Tom Markham. Fiene held off a strong running Hamburg for the second Heat win as Travis Rokey and Glynn finished behind them.
TJ Markham was the second driver to lay claim on his third win of the year in the Midwestern Late Model class. TJ’s front row start was not necessarily a path to easy street as twenty cars lined up behind him ready and willing to take him on.
Before the Midwestern’s could score a lap the caution was signaled for a multi car pile up on the front stretch. The pole sitter quickly exited the field once the green restarted. TJ wasted no time in powering off leaving Johnny Heath and Tonica’s Eric Dauber to battle out second while last weeks victor, David Smith held onto third.
Before too many laps were scored the competition became fierce for second as Heath and Dauber were battling. Heath had his hands full with Dauber when Maple Park’s Ralph Markham showed face from ninth and took the three into a trio race of their own. All three diced it up back and forth for the majority of the race.
Shane Hill of Streator was running sixth behind Smith when he found himself stopped bringing out the yellow. For the restart of Lap 18, TJ sat in command with Heath, Ralph, Dauber, Smith and Oglesby’s Keith Piano making up the top six front runners. The struggle for second continued with Ralph, Heath and Dauber all charging for runner up position. Two laps later Ralph and Heath made contact and Heath fell back several spots. Without another lap in, a yellow was again thwarting the action.
Heath tried to come back up the field but he and Smith made contact again causing him to fall back.
At the checkers it was TJ with his third win over Ralph, Dauber, Smith, Piano, Heath, Joe Dynek, Dan Thryselius, Tony Coglianese, and Brian Ray.
Piano posted the fasted qualifying lap of 14.170. Jerry Vance owned the first heat as Ralph took home the second.
The Midwestern Sportsman division held six cars in the roster with last week’s winner Scott Schmitt of Tonica on the pole next to Oglesby’s Tina Soberi.
Soberi took the point early when a yellow slowed them. The pole sitter Schmitt left the track smoking. Now with only five cars in competition the green was back and Soberi was quick to lead with Magnolia’s Scott Cimei close behind. Cimei worked hard to find the right groove to take over and finally did so for the first and final time on Lap 11. Soberi lost her line and Cimei took over for the remaining laps to claim his third win of the season.
Morgan grabbed second during the final lap leaving Soberi in third ahead of Rick Koltveith and Aaron Schmitt.
Scott won the Heat race over Aaron, Soberi and Cimei.
Charles Herhold crossed the line first in the Street Stock division feature but was later disqualified during tech inspection. Tom Legner the pole sitter took home the win after finishing runner up. Third went to Eric Legner with Tom Otrembiak, Gary Schmitt, Al Gray, Mike Hughes, Jerry Legner, Nick Sell, Joe Jelinek, and Bill Dauber wrapping up the top eleven finishers.
Otrembiak won his Heat over Herhold, Dauber and Lewis. Tom Legner claimed the second Heat with Eric finishing second in front of Schmitt and Gray.
Tim Faust won the Hornet race in their second showing this season. He beat Ande Bivens and Jerrod Thomas.
Next Saturday night a regular race program plus fireworks is on the schedule.
LaSalle Speedway Results
Late Model
Qualifying: Tim Hamburg 13.275
First Heat: Skip Martin, Rich Bell, Mike Provezano, Tom Markham
Second Heat: Jay Fiene, Tim Hamburg, Travis Rokey, Mike Glynn
Feature: Tim Hamburg, Mike Glynn, Jay Fiene, Skip Martin, Mike Provenzano, Cody Sommer, Jason Jaggers, Dan Thacker, Joe Partipilo, Ritchie Bell, Tom Markham, Travis Rokey, Joe Burba
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Keith Piano 14.170
First Heat: Jerry Vance, Wally Forsythe, Tony Coglianese, Mark Jilbert
Second Heat: Ralph Markham, Reno Markham, Eric Dauber, David Smith
Feature: TJ Markham, Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, David Smith, Keith Piano, Johnny Heath, Joe Dynek, Dan Thryselius, Tony Coglianese, Brian Ray, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Dave Miller, Jack Benson, Shane Hill, Doug Newlin, #18, Reno Markham, Mick Miller, Rob Piper, Mark Jilbert
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Scott Schmitt, Aaron Schmitt, Tina Soberi, Scott Cimei
Feature: Scott Cimei, Bobby Morgan, Tina Soberi, Rick Kotveit, Aaron Schmitt, Scott Schmitt
Street Stock
First Heat: Tom Otrembiak, Charles Herhold, Bill Dauber, Steve Lewis
Second Heat: Tom Legner, Eric Legner, Gary Schmitt, Al Gray
Feature: Charles Herhold - DQ’d, Tom Legner, Eric Legner, Tom Otrembiak, Gary Schmitt, Al Gray, Mike Hughes, Jerry Legner, Nick Sell, Joe Jelinek, Bill Dauber, Steve Lewis, Bill Clemmons - DQ’d, Ray Buchnan
Hornets
First Heat: Tim Faust, Ande Bivens, Kyle Fisher, Jerrod Thomas
Feature: Tim Faust, Ande Bivens, Jerrod Thomas
