By Betty Glynn
LaSalle,IL – Mineral’s Marty Thompson knows how to win races. The veteran racer has held the track championship title in multi divisions at more than one track.
For years, he has had a strong hold on the Modified division at Bureau County Speedway. Now he is running hard in the Street Stock special series put together between LaSalle and Bureau County Speedway’s. Coming into the night’s activities he was perched at the top of the series points chase over Eric Whittington by thirty two points.
Saturday night his advanced skills shined as he claimed the fourth leg of the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series. In their last visit to LaSalle’s high banks Thompson came out on top as well.
Thirty two cars signed in for competition with sixteen drivers locked into their feature positions with qualifying and heat race finishes early in the night. Four transferred from the consolation race for a total of twenty cars making the call.
Last week’s winner, Nathan Balensiefen and Kevin Lenzen started the field on the front row with Rick Koltveit and former track champ Jeff Hamilton behind them. Shortly after the restart, a wreck claimed Hamilton’s radiator. It took quite a few tries to get the ball rolling but once they got a pace underway the show heated up.
Thompson, who started seventh, was on the move and had positioned himself into third by the sixth lap out. During the tenth circuit, Thompson and Lenzen were in a side by side battle for second as Balensiefen came up quickly on a lapped machine. He went high and Thompson stole the thunder from a lower run.
Four laps later, Thompson was attempting to lap two cars racing for their positions. Once around one of them he and Balensiefen made it interesting as they took the action three wide. The duo traveled out front alone with Lenzen holding off Scott Schoener and Gary Schmitt.
By Lap 20, Chuck Provenzano had become the hardest charger of the race. He was seventeenth on the starting grid after gaining a consolation transfer spot and was holding sixth place. For the last five laps, Thompson flew into a convincing lead.
At the checkers, Balensiefen took home second over Lenzen, Schoener, Provenzano, Schmitt, Spud Balensiefen, Whittington, Steve Lewis and Koltveit.
Schoener posted the fastest lap. Lenzen, Koltveit and Balensiefen each won their heats.
Nineteen Midwestern Late Model drivers lined up for the twenty five lap feature. Scott Schmitt sat up front after he earned the pole position.
Current track champ Mike Glynn was on his outside. Next row hosted Ralph Markham and Keith Piano.
Glynn shot off to a quick lead when the flag dropped. Schmitt fell in behind him then came up briefly to his back quarter panel. Piano wasted little time putting the pressure on Schmitt for second. A caution slowed the action when it was called for debris on the track during the fourth lap out.
Before the pack could get a lap in, another caution was out after Markham nearly spun and collected Billy Weistart Jr. Weistart’s hard contact ended his night.
For the single file restart, it was Glynn, Piano, Schmitt, Ed Williams Sr., Steve Oeder, Eric Dauber, Dave Smith and Jim Loomis holding the top eight running positions. Piano moved a line higher to try the outside of Glynn but couldn’t manage to get around the leader.
Lapped traffic started to become a key factor as Glynn used his veteran advantage to dodge in and out of the traffic. Piano’s great run ended with mechanical woes during the eleventh lap scored.
Glynn pulled away with the lead while Oeder was in a hunt for second. He claimed it when Schmitt slid up a groove opening the door for Oeder.
Fourteen of the nineteen starters were left for a restart of Lap 18.
Schmitt fell on hard times too after having a tire go down ending his run.
Glynn finished the night with his fourth feature victory in the 2006 campaign. Oeder took home an impressive second over Dauber, Loomis, Markham, Williams, Tony Coglianese, Jerry Vance, James Muetze, and Aaron Schmidt.
Glynn and Williams won the heat races while Markham qualified the fastest timed lap.
The Modified division struggled to get their show in. The race officials cut the race from twenty five down to fifteen laps after the rough go at keeping the light green.
At the front of the grid, was Dale Lueth and Casey Lappin while Justin McCoy and Ray Bollinger lined up on the second row. Lueth shot out of the blocks fast but the caution saga began with a six car pile up.
Before the green, Lueth pulled off after losing his fuel pump belt. Lappin was now sitting at the helm over Marty Thompson, Bollinger, Brian Bushong and Jim Phelps. By the third circuit, the three leaders were dicing it up three wide. Bollinger took the lead.
For a restart of the fifth lap, only nine competitors were still running.
Bollinger pulled off to a nice lead while Thompson and Lappin were door to door.
Eight laps later, Thompson’s chance at winning two divisions for the night ended with a trip pitside for a flat tire.
At the finish of Lap 15, Bollinger took the trophy with Phelps in a convincing second over Bushong, Lappin, McCoy, Thompson and Ken Fischer.
Bushong and Lappin each won their heat contests. Fischer posted was their fast qualifier.
Dan Leonard claimed the Hornet feature race over twenty other drivers.
Tony Provenzano finished second ahead of Rob Hammitt, Jon Small, Dave Roggy, Jeff Seitz, Levi Burcham, Dave Prybyla, Tommy Cain, Alex Fisch and Jimmy Johnson.
Small and Leonard won their prelim races.
Next week, the Hornet and Street Stock champions will be honored along with a full program.
LaSalle Speedway Results 08/19/06
Midwestern Late Models: 19 Cars
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 14.809
Heat One: Ed Williams Sr., Billy Weistart Jr., Scott Schmitt, Ralph Markham
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Keith Piano, Wally Forsythe, Aaron Schmidt
Feature: Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Eric Dauber, Jim Loomis, Ralph Markham, Ed
Williams Sr., Tony Coglianese, Robert Vance, James Muetzer, Aaron Schmidt,
Wally Forsythe, Scott Schmitt, #99, Will Harris, Shawn Kemp, Joe Fratt, Dave
Smith, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr.
Modifieds: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Ken Fischer 15.838
Heat One: Brian Bushong, Dale Lueth, Scott Hauge, Justin McCoy
Heat Two: Casey Lappin, Ray Bollinger, Marty Thompson, Jim Phelps
Feature: Ray Bollinger, Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Casey Lappin, Justin
McCoy, Marty Thompson, Ken Fischer, Don Cole, Brian Lucas, Stanley Vervynck,
Ron Morris, Mark Vervynck, Dan Goodhand, Dale Lueth, Mark Novorolsky, Scott
Hauge, Leah Monfries
Illinois Valley Cellular Series Street Stock Special: 32 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schoener 16.670
Heat One: Kevin Lenzen, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Schoener, Randy Lucas
Heat Two: Rick Koltveit, Gary Schmitt, Spuds Balensiefen, Justin Rutledge
Heat Three: Nathan Balensiefen, Joe Jelinek, Marty Thompson, Donnie Cole
Semi Feature: Steve Lewis, Chuck Provenzano, Robert Schlappi, Tom Legner,
Nathan Ultch, Roger Rickels, Jeff Small, Jim Prokup, #43, Dan Filkowski,
Cody Sommers, Jimmy Partipilo, Mike Hughes
Feature: Marty Thompson, Nathan Balensiefen, Kevin Lensen, Scott Schoener,
Chuck Provenzano, Gary Schmitt, Spud Balensiefen, Eric Whittington, Steve
Lewis, Rick Koltveit, Robert Schlappi, Justin Rutledge, Randy Lucas, Matt
Ramer, Donnie Cole, Steve Steve Schwemlein, Brad Severs, Joe Jelinek, Tom
Legner, Jeff Hamilton
Hornets: 21 Cars
Heat One: Jon Small, David Prybyla, Corey Joe West, Gabe Koncor
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, Jeff Seitz, Chris Zavada
Feature: Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, Rob Hammitt, Jon Small, Dave Roggy,
Jeff Seitz, David Prybyla, Tommy Cain, Alex Fisch, Jimmy Johnson, Brown, Asa
Robart, Chris Zavada, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, John Wagner, Alex
Clubb, Jamie Deford, Corey West, Jeffery Wakeman
LaSalle,IL – Mineral’s Marty Thompson knows how to win races. The veteran racer has held the track championship title in multi divisions at more than one track.
For years, he has had a strong hold on the Modified division at Bureau County Speedway. Now he is running hard in the Street Stock special series put together between LaSalle and Bureau County Speedway’s. Coming into the night’s activities he was perched at the top of the series points chase over Eric Whittington by thirty two points.
Saturday night his advanced skills shined as he claimed the fourth leg of the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series. In their last visit to LaSalle’s high banks Thompson came out on top as well.
Thirty two cars signed in for competition with sixteen drivers locked into their feature positions with qualifying and heat race finishes early in the night. Four transferred from the consolation race for a total of twenty cars making the call.
Last week’s winner, Nathan Balensiefen and Kevin Lenzen started the field on the front row with Rick Koltveit and former track champ Jeff Hamilton behind them. Shortly after the restart, a wreck claimed Hamilton’s radiator. It took quite a few tries to get the ball rolling but once they got a pace underway the show heated up.
Thompson, who started seventh, was on the move and had positioned himself into third by the sixth lap out. During the tenth circuit, Thompson and Lenzen were in a side by side battle for second as Balensiefen came up quickly on a lapped machine. He went high and Thompson stole the thunder from a lower run.
Four laps later, Thompson was attempting to lap two cars racing for their positions. Once around one of them he and Balensiefen made it interesting as they took the action three wide. The duo traveled out front alone with Lenzen holding off Scott Schoener and Gary Schmitt.
By Lap 20, Chuck Provenzano had become the hardest charger of the race. He was seventeenth on the starting grid after gaining a consolation transfer spot and was holding sixth place. For the last five laps, Thompson flew into a convincing lead.
At the checkers, Balensiefen took home second over Lenzen, Schoener, Provenzano, Schmitt, Spud Balensiefen, Whittington, Steve Lewis and Koltveit.
Schoener posted the fastest lap. Lenzen, Koltveit and Balensiefen each won their heats.
Nineteen Midwestern Late Model drivers lined up for the twenty five lap feature. Scott Schmitt sat up front after he earned the pole position.
Current track champ Mike Glynn was on his outside. Next row hosted Ralph Markham and Keith Piano.
Glynn shot off to a quick lead when the flag dropped. Schmitt fell in behind him then came up briefly to his back quarter panel. Piano wasted little time putting the pressure on Schmitt for second. A caution slowed the action when it was called for debris on the track during the fourth lap out.
Before the pack could get a lap in, another caution was out after Markham nearly spun and collected Billy Weistart Jr. Weistart’s hard contact ended his night.
For the single file restart, it was Glynn, Piano, Schmitt, Ed Williams Sr., Steve Oeder, Eric Dauber, Dave Smith and Jim Loomis holding the top eight running positions. Piano moved a line higher to try the outside of Glynn but couldn’t manage to get around the leader.
Lapped traffic started to become a key factor as Glynn used his veteran advantage to dodge in and out of the traffic. Piano’s great run ended with mechanical woes during the eleventh lap scored.
Glynn pulled away with the lead while Oeder was in a hunt for second. He claimed it when Schmitt slid up a groove opening the door for Oeder.
Fourteen of the nineteen starters were left for a restart of Lap 18.
Schmitt fell on hard times too after having a tire go down ending his run.
Glynn finished the night with his fourth feature victory in the 2006 campaign. Oeder took home an impressive second over Dauber, Loomis, Markham, Williams, Tony Coglianese, Jerry Vance, James Muetze, and Aaron Schmidt.
Glynn and Williams won the heat races while Markham qualified the fastest timed lap.
The Modified division struggled to get their show in. The race officials cut the race from twenty five down to fifteen laps after the rough go at keeping the light green.
At the front of the grid, was Dale Lueth and Casey Lappin while Justin McCoy and Ray Bollinger lined up on the second row. Lueth shot out of the blocks fast but the caution saga began with a six car pile up.
Before the green, Lueth pulled off after losing his fuel pump belt. Lappin was now sitting at the helm over Marty Thompson, Bollinger, Brian Bushong and Jim Phelps. By the third circuit, the three leaders were dicing it up three wide. Bollinger took the lead.
For a restart of the fifth lap, only nine competitors were still running.
Bollinger pulled off to a nice lead while Thompson and Lappin were door to door.
Eight laps later, Thompson’s chance at winning two divisions for the night ended with a trip pitside for a flat tire.
At the finish of Lap 15, Bollinger took the trophy with Phelps in a convincing second over Bushong, Lappin, McCoy, Thompson and Ken Fischer.
Bushong and Lappin each won their heat contests. Fischer posted was their fast qualifier.
Dan Leonard claimed the Hornet feature race over twenty other drivers.
Tony Provenzano finished second ahead of Rob Hammitt, Jon Small, Dave Roggy, Jeff Seitz, Levi Burcham, Dave Prybyla, Tommy Cain, Alex Fisch and Jimmy Johnson.
Small and Leonard won their prelim races.
Next week, the Hornet and Street Stock champions will be honored along with a full program.
LaSalle Speedway Results 08/19/06
Midwestern Late Models: 19 Cars
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 14.809
Heat One: Ed Williams Sr., Billy Weistart Jr., Scott Schmitt, Ralph Markham
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Keith Piano, Wally Forsythe, Aaron Schmidt
Feature: Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Eric Dauber, Jim Loomis, Ralph Markham, Ed
Williams Sr., Tony Coglianese, Robert Vance, James Muetzer, Aaron Schmidt,
Wally Forsythe, Scott Schmitt, #99, Will Harris, Shawn Kemp, Joe Fratt, Dave
Smith, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr.
Modifieds: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Ken Fischer 15.838
Heat One: Brian Bushong, Dale Lueth, Scott Hauge, Justin McCoy
Heat Two: Casey Lappin, Ray Bollinger, Marty Thompson, Jim Phelps
Feature: Ray Bollinger, Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Casey Lappin, Justin
McCoy, Marty Thompson, Ken Fischer, Don Cole, Brian Lucas, Stanley Vervynck,
Ron Morris, Mark Vervynck, Dan Goodhand, Dale Lueth, Mark Novorolsky, Scott
Hauge, Leah Monfries
Illinois Valley Cellular Series Street Stock Special: 32 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schoener 16.670
Heat One: Kevin Lenzen, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Schoener, Randy Lucas
Heat Two: Rick Koltveit, Gary Schmitt, Spuds Balensiefen, Justin Rutledge
Heat Three: Nathan Balensiefen, Joe Jelinek, Marty Thompson, Donnie Cole
Semi Feature: Steve Lewis, Chuck Provenzano, Robert Schlappi, Tom Legner,
Nathan Ultch, Roger Rickels, Jeff Small, Jim Prokup, #43, Dan Filkowski,
Cody Sommers, Jimmy Partipilo, Mike Hughes
Feature: Marty Thompson, Nathan Balensiefen, Kevin Lensen, Scott Schoener,
Chuck Provenzano, Gary Schmitt, Spud Balensiefen, Eric Whittington, Steve
Lewis, Rick Koltveit, Robert Schlappi, Justin Rutledge, Randy Lucas, Matt
Ramer, Donnie Cole, Steve Steve Schwemlein, Brad Severs, Joe Jelinek, Tom
Legner, Jeff Hamilton
Hornets: 21 Cars
Heat One: Jon Small, David Prybyla, Corey Joe West, Gabe Koncor
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, Jeff Seitz, Chris Zavada
Feature: Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, Rob Hammitt, Jon Small, Dave Roggy,
Jeff Seitz, David Prybyla, Tommy Cain, Alex Fisch, Jimmy Johnson, Brown, Asa
Robart, Chris Zavada, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, John Wagner, Alex
Clubb, Jamie Deford, Corey West, Jeffery Wakeman
