By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Saturday night at La Salle Speedway qualified as one of the longest racing nights ever for the Illinois Valley speed arena. To kick off the evening, a power outage shut down the normal schedule of events until the power company located the problem and got the electricity flowing.
The full moon illuminated the sky with a bright glow high above the track and the evening seemed befitting of what one expects when the moon has that eery look and feel.
Once the power was restored, the Street Stocks held time trials while the Late Model and UMP Modifieds had their heat races decided by draw to help save time.
Veteran racer Marty Thompson has been a common name in victory lane longer then some of his competitors have been alive. The Mineral driver is not only a former multi track champion at several facilities he also holds the title in various car classes.
In a combined effort with Bureau County Speedway, the Street Stock drivers have four races split between the two tracks with many prizes and added payouts highlighting their events.
With thirty three drivers signed in for the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series, La Salle promoter Kerrianne Izzo couldn’t help but feel fortunate to have such a great turnout.
“I’m pretty lucky to have this many Street Stocks and they put on a helk of a show,” Izzo announced over the loud speaker after the main event.
Thompson led the twenty five lapper flag to flag after his front row outside start. He was uncontested until the final laps of the race. The first challenge came from former division champion Jeff Hamilton who had a great run on him until he spun himself out in lapped traffic with only three laps remaining.
Young gun Jimmy Partipilo is showing signs of a bright future with each passing week. The final lap just added to his reputation when he tried to steal Thompson’s thunder. A yellow halted his efforts. But Partipilo didn’t go easily, he gave it all he had coming off the turn two corner but Thompson was on a roll til the end.
Thompson took home the top honors with Partipilo in second. Provenzano charged from a mid pack start to finish third over Tim Loomis, Matt Ramer, Justin Sellers, Roger Rickels, Mike Lucas, Spud Balensiefen, Jay Mesarchik, Gary Schmitt and Nick Sell.
Justin Rutledge, Bill Dauber and Rick Koltveit each won their Heat races.
Hamilton scored the fastest qualifying lap.
A “B” Main was held for the division but official results were not presented.
Twenty two Late Model drivers showed up for competition. What they got was bit less then competitive action however. The entire feature was plagued by a caution epidemic.
There was really never much of a rhythm for what used to be the premier class of racing action. From the early laps it was truly painful trying to get the entire field across the start line to complete a lap.
La Salle’s Mike Glynn had a strong hold and was even able to pull away from the pack until Lap 13 when he lost his groove briefly coming off turn four and Ralph Markham saw the door was open and charged outside to the lead.
The caution fest continued when a lap later Scott Schmitt hit the front retaining wall hard. His powerful drive on the outside has ended with his car smashing into the concrete barrier more then once so far this season.
Soon after green, Glynn had a tire going down and just couldn’t keep the pace and quickly fell back. Eric Dauber on the other hand was moving quickly to the front and found his way around Darin Furar for second.
The race was called early ending long before planned. Markham continued his stellar season with his sixth victory. Dauber took home second in front of Steve Oeder, Furar, Glynn, John Picatto, Ed Williams, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis and Eric Rebholz.
Glynn and Markham each won their heats.
Twenty eight UMP Modifieds rolled into the grounds with nineteen making the starting grid. Vince Cooper and Joe Adam held the front row over Ray Bollinger and Mike Dyas.
Before a lap could be scored, it was already showing signs of similarity to the Late’s with one caution after another. The clock hands were signaling midnight with a mere sixth laps in the books. It was almost too much to bear and yet there was still one more feature, the B Main, to be completed for the Street Stock drivers.
Ten cars remained for the restart of Lap 14. Cooper led the shortened race from beginning to end while the Street Stock winner, Thompson, was on the move.
He had made the transfer from a semi feature positioning himself in seventeenth but journeyed up to a third place run by Lap 15.
The checkers were thrown early with the reigning divisional champ Cooper capturing the win on his first night back after a hiatus from La Salle.
Thompson beat Ray Bollinger narrowly back to the finish line for second.
Adam took home fourth with Nathan Balensiefen, Terry Hayes, Jim Phelps, Bill Theodorf, and Scott Carlson behind him.
Dyas, Adam and Matt Barker each won the heat events.
Jon Small made a clean sweep for the Hornet class after he took home top honors in the Heat and the twelve lap feature event. Jamie DeFord, DJ Werkmeister, Mark Sutton, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, Dan Slover, Don Leonard, Asa Robart, Jimmy Johnson and Trevor Pertell were the top eleven finishers respectively.
Sutton and DeFord won the other preliminary races.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 6/30/07
Late Model – 22 Cars
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Eric Rebholz, Darin Furar, Scott Schmitt Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Eric Dauber, Ed Williams, John Piccatto
Feature: Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Steve Oeder, Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, John Piccatto, Ed Williams, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Eric Rebholz, Lake Knutti, Dave Miller, Jack Benson, Jerry Vance, Jeff Small, Joe Fratt, Brian Lock, Scott Schmitt, Aaron Schmidt, Doug Newlin, Brian Claudnic
UMP Modifieds – 28 Cars
Qualifying: N/A
Heat One: Mike Dyas, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Brian Lucas Heat Two: Joe Adam, Scott Carlson, Steve Clark, Mark Vervynck Heat Three: Matt Barker, Jeremy Gustaf, Milo Veloz Jr., Nathan Balensiefen Semi Feature: Jim Phelps, Darryl Lowe, Marty Thompson
Feature: Vince Cooper, Marty Thompson, Ray Bollinger, Joe Adam, Nathan Balensiefen, Terry Hayes, Jim Phelps, Bill Theodorf, Scott Carlson, Darryl Lowe, Jeremy Gustaf, Matt Barker, Mark Vervynk, Steve Clark, Milo Veloz Jr., Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mike Dyas, AJ Dixon, Jason Anderson
UMP Street Stocks – 33 Cars
Qualifying: Jeff Hamilton 15.253
Budweiser Dash: Chuck Provenzano, Marty Thompson, Spud Balensiefen, Jeff Hamilton Heat One: Justin Rutledge, Chuck Provenzano, Mike Hughes, Randy Lucas Heat Two: Bill Dauber, Jay Mesarchik, Gary Schmitt, Justin Sellers Heat Three: Rick Koltveit, Jason Abens, Matt Ramer, Al Gray
Feature: Marty Thompson, Jimmy Partipilo, Chuck Provenzano, Tim Loomis, Matt Ramer, Justin Sellers, Roger Rickels, Mike Lucas, Spud Balensiefen, Jay Mesarchik, Gary Schmitt, Nick Sell, Jason Abens, Bill Dauber, Justin Rutledge, Jeff Hamilton, John Peterson, Mike Hughes, Ed Williams, Al Gray, Rick Koltveit
UMP Hornets – 18+ Cars
Heat One: Mark Sutton, Dan Leonard, Don Slover, Gabe Koncor Heat Two: Jon Small, Asa Robart, 25M, Jimmy Johnson Heat Three: Jamie DeFord, DJ Wekmeister, Loren Westerhold, Tony Harlacher
Feature: Jon Small, Jamie DeFord, DJ Werkmeister, Mark Sutton, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, Don Slover, Dan Leonard, Asa Robart, Jimmy Johnson, Trevor Pertell, 03, 25, Jr Brown, Tony Harlacher, Travis Mahoney, Eric Bourdreau, Jim Lazier
La Salle, IL – Saturday night at La Salle Speedway qualified as one of the longest racing nights ever for the Illinois Valley speed arena. To kick off the evening, a power outage shut down the normal schedule of events until the power company located the problem and got the electricity flowing.
The full moon illuminated the sky with a bright glow high above the track and the evening seemed befitting of what one expects when the moon has that eery look and feel.
Once the power was restored, the Street Stocks held time trials while the Late Model and UMP Modifieds had their heat races decided by draw to help save time.
Veteran racer Marty Thompson has been a common name in victory lane longer then some of his competitors have been alive. The Mineral driver is not only a former multi track champion at several facilities he also holds the title in various car classes.
In a combined effort with Bureau County Speedway, the Street Stock drivers have four races split between the two tracks with many prizes and added payouts highlighting their events.
With thirty three drivers signed in for the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series, La Salle promoter Kerrianne Izzo couldn’t help but feel fortunate to have such a great turnout.
“I’m pretty lucky to have this many Street Stocks and they put on a helk of a show,” Izzo announced over the loud speaker after the main event.
Thompson led the twenty five lapper flag to flag after his front row outside start. He was uncontested until the final laps of the race. The first challenge came from former division champion Jeff Hamilton who had a great run on him until he spun himself out in lapped traffic with only three laps remaining.
Young gun Jimmy Partipilo is showing signs of a bright future with each passing week. The final lap just added to his reputation when he tried to steal Thompson’s thunder. A yellow halted his efforts. But Partipilo didn’t go easily, he gave it all he had coming off the turn two corner but Thompson was on a roll til the end.
Thompson took home the top honors with Partipilo in second. Provenzano charged from a mid pack start to finish third over Tim Loomis, Matt Ramer, Justin Sellers, Roger Rickels, Mike Lucas, Spud Balensiefen, Jay Mesarchik, Gary Schmitt and Nick Sell.
Justin Rutledge, Bill Dauber and Rick Koltveit each won their Heat races.
Hamilton scored the fastest qualifying lap.
A “B” Main was held for the division but official results were not presented.
Twenty two Late Model drivers showed up for competition. What they got was bit less then competitive action however. The entire feature was plagued by a caution epidemic.
There was really never much of a rhythm for what used to be the premier class of racing action. From the early laps it was truly painful trying to get the entire field across the start line to complete a lap.
La Salle’s Mike Glynn had a strong hold and was even able to pull away from the pack until Lap 13 when he lost his groove briefly coming off turn four and Ralph Markham saw the door was open and charged outside to the lead.
The caution fest continued when a lap later Scott Schmitt hit the front retaining wall hard. His powerful drive on the outside has ended with his car smashing into the concrete barrier more then once so far this season.
Soon after green, Glynn had a tire going down and just couldn’t keep the pace and quickly fell back. Eric Dauber on the other hand was moving quickly to the front and found his way around Darin Furar for second.
The race was called early ending long before planned. Markham continued his stellar season with his sixth victory. Dauber took home second in front of Steve Oeder, Furar, Glynn, John Picatto, Ed Williams, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis and Eric Rebholz.
Glynn and Markham each won their heats.
Twenty eight UMP Modifieds rolled into the grounds with nineteen making the starting grid. Vince Cooper and Joe Adam held the front row over Ray Bollinger and Mike Dyas.
Before a lap could be scored, it was already showing signs of similarity to the Late’s with one caution after another. The clock hands were signaling midnight with a mere sixth laps in the books. It was almost too much to bear and yet there was still one more feature, the B Main, to be completed for the Street Stock drivers.
Ten cars remained for the restart of Lap 14. Cooper led the shortened race from beginning to end while the Street Stock winner, Thompson, was on the move.
He had made the transfer from a semi feature positioning himself in seventeenth but journeyed up to a third place run by Lap 15.
The checkers were thrown early with the reigning divisional champ Cooper capturing the win on his first night back after a hiatus from La Salle.
Thompson beat Ray Bollinger narrowly back to the finish line for second.
Adam took home fourth with Nathan Balensiefen, Terry Hayes, Jim Phelps, Bill Theodorf, and Scott Carlson behind him.
Dyas, Adam and Matt Barker each won the heat events.
Jon Small made a clean sweep for the Hornet class after he took home top honors in the Heat and the twelve lap feature event. Jamie DeFord, DJ Werkmeister, Mark Sutton, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, Dan Slover, Don Leonard, Asa Robart, Jimmy Johnson and Trevor Pertell were the top eleven finishers respectively.
Sutton and DeFord won the other preliminary races.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 6/30/07
Late Model – 22 Cars
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Eric Rebholz, Darin Furar, Scott Schmitt Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Eric Dauber, Ed Williams, John Piccatto
Feature: Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Steve Oeder, Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, John Piccatto, Ed Williams, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Eric Rebholz, Lake Knutti, Dave Miller, Jack Benson, Jerry Vance, Jeff Small, Joe Fratt, Brian Lock, Scott Schmitt, Aaron Schmidt, Doug Newlin, Brian Claudnic
UMP Modifieds – 28 Cars
Qualifying: N/A
Heat One: Mike Dyas, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Brian Lucas Heat Two: Joe Adam, Scott Carlson, Steve Clark, Mark Vervynck Heat Three: Matt Barker, Jeremy Gustaf, Milo Veloz Jr., Nathan Balensiefen Semi Feature: Jim Phelps, Darryl Lowe, Marty Thompson
Feature: Vince Cooper, Marty Thompson, Ray Bollinger, Joe Adam, Nathan Balensiefen, Terry Hayes, Jim Phelps, Bill Theodorf, Scott Carlson, Darryl Lowe, Jeremy Gustaf, Matt Barker, Mark Vervynk, Steve Clark, Milo Veloz Jr., Brian Lucas, Wally Forsythe, Mike Dyas, AJ Dixon, Jason Anderson
UMP Street Stocks – 33 Cars
Qualifying: Jeff Hamilton 15.253
Budweiser Dash: Chuck Provenzano, Marty Thompson, Spud Balensiefen, Jeff Hamilton Heat One: Justin Rutledge, Chuck Provenzano, Mike Hughes, Randy Lucas Heat Two: Bill Dauber, Jay Mesarchik, Gary Schmitt, Justin Sellers Heat Three: Rick Koltveit, Jason Abens, Matt Ramer, Al Gray
Feature: Marty Thompson, Jimmy Partipilo, Chuck Provenzano, Tim Loomis, Matt Ramer, Justin Sellers, Roger Rickels, Mike Lucas, Spud Balensiefen, Jay Mesarchik, Gary Schmitt, Nick Sell, Jason Abens, Bill Dauber, Justin Rutledge, Jeff Hamilton, John Peterson, Mike Hughes, Ed Williams, Al Gray, Rick Koltveit
UMP Hornets – 18+ Cars
Heat One: Mark Sutton, Dan Leonard, Don Slover, Gabe Koncor Heat Two: Jon Small, Asa Robart, 25M, Jimmy Johnson Heat Three: Jamie DeFord, DJ Wekmeister, Loren Westerhold, Tony Harlacher
Feature: Jon Small, Jamie DeFord, DJ Werkmeister, Mark Sutton, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, Don Slover, Dan Leonard, Asa Robart, Jimmy Johnson, Trevor Pertell, 03, 25, Jr Brown, Tony Harlacher, Travis Mahoney, Eric Bourdreau, Jim Lazier
