by Paul D. Bayne
KANKAKEE, IL (June 3) - A field of twenty-two I-MOD drivers made the trip over to Kankakee Valley Motor Speedway for their inaugural visit on a warm, muggy Friday night, and what an impressive display they put on for the race fans at the fast, semi-banked 1/3-mile clay oval. In all, which included three heat races, a dash, and a 20-lap feature, not one caution flag was brought out by this talented corps of drivers and machines.
After Thursday night rains soaked the racing surface, the track was near perfect for multi-groove racing action. In preliminary heat race action, Donnie Rance of Valparaiso, IN won heat one over Chris Carden, Tom Duckworth, and Aaron Shidler. Heat two saw the #55 of Toby Howard of Medaryville, IN out distance local runner Neil Martin, Kyle Cooper, and Trent Porter. Martin ranin Kankakee's street stock class for six seasons before making the switch to I-MOD's several years ago. Finally, heat three saw Winamac's Jeff Barger score the win over Brad DeYoung, Dennis Ireland, and Bob Fortner. At the conclusion of all heat races, the top two in each heat then lined up for a 6-lap dash. DeYoung earned the win over Martin, Howard, Carden, Barger, and Rance.
The 20-lap main event began with DeYoung and Martin on row one. DeYoung wasted little time in establishing himself out front as the car to beat, as he opened up a sizable lead over Martin, Barger, Howard, and Chris Carden. Howard would move past Barger on the outside on lap three to take ove third. Heat race winner Donnie Rance, who started sixth, would be the first car to fall off the pace as he took his machine pitside on lap four. After five laps were complete, it was DeYoung well out in front by 15-car lengths with Howard, Martin, Barger, and Carden all giving chase. Kyle Cooper, who also competed tonight in the UMP modified portion of the race program, would move alongside Carden to challenge for the fifth spot, while Aaron Shidler posed a threat to take over sixth.
Bob Fortner retired to the pits on lap nine, as Barger and Martin made slight contact in turn one giving Barger the edge to takeover the third spot. Chris Fortner, Shidler, and Carden would take it three wide into turn one in a battle for the sixth position.
At the halfway point it was still DeYoung about four car lengths in front of a fast-closing Howard, with Barger alone in third, Martin fourth, and Cooper in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Chris Fortner, Shidler, Chris Carden, Porter, and Dennis Ireland. With eight laps to go, Howard closed to the rear bumper of DeYoung as the leaders began to make their way through lap traffic. Cooper would challenge Martin for fourth and take over that spot as they raced side by side through turns three and four.
With five to go, DeYoung held about a two car length lead over Howard as they both cleared slower traffic. This gave Barger an opportunity to close in as well as he split the lap cars of Joe Gynn and Mike Sullivan coming out of turn two. Howard would pull even with DeYoung and take over the top spot with three to go, with Barger a distant third, Cooper, and Fortner in pursuit. Howard opened up his lead to about twelve car lengths as the white flag came out, with Barger now on the heels of DeYoung for second. DeYoung was able to hold off Barger for second, as Howard took the checkered flag. Cooper and Fortner finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Rounding out the top ten were Martin, Carden, Shidler, Kurt Allison, and Porter rounding out the top ten.
The response to the I-MOD visit has been very favorable from both the Osterhoff family, who promote the Kankakee facility, and race fans, and future dates for their return will be announced in the coming weeks. The drivers themselves also reacted favorably to the track, saying that it was nice to run on "real clay" and a track with considerable banking.
Jeff Barger and his father Bob, a former racer himself, together build what ar known as the B&L chassis. Their shop is located in Winamac, IN, and besides being the major supplier of I-MOD chassis and components, they also distribute the series' tires for all drivers, as well as, repair cars each week to keep the series regular drivers running each week. The I-MOD series races regularly at Shadyhill Speedway in Medaryville, IN every Saturday night, and more information can be obtained by going to www.imods4u.com or by calling Dick Leach at 219-987-3578 or Bob Barger at 574-946-7137. The costs of a new competitive I-MOD is roughly $10,000 for a race-ready machine, but used cars can be obtained in race-ready condition at season's end for as little as $3,000.
Summary of results 6/03
I-MODS 22 cars on hand
Heat 1
1. 82 Donnie Rance
2. 6C Chris Carden
3. 13 Tom Duckworth
4. 11 Aaron Shidler
5. 444 Chris Fortner
6. 36 Cam Bales
7. 00 Mike Fase
8. 89 Joe Gynn
Heat 2
1. 55 Toby Howard
2. 88 Neil Martin
3. 24 Kyle Cooper
4. 54 Trent Porter
5. 12 Mike Sullivan
6. 15C Branden Carden
7. 22 William Corning
Heat 3
1. 16 Jeff Barger
2. B7 Brad DeYoung
3. 84 Dennis Ireland
4. 71 Bob Fortner
5. 48 Kurt Allison
6. 7 Jerry Danford Jr.
7. 56 Brady Stalbaum
Dash
1. B7 Brad DeYoung
2. 88 Neil Martin
3. 55 Toby Howard
4. 6C Chris Carden
5. 16 Jeff Barger
6. 82 Donnie Rance
Feature (20-laps)
1. 55 Toby Howard
2. B7 Brad DeYoung
3. 16 Jeff Barger
4. 24 Kyle Cooper
5. 444 Chris Fortner
6. 88 Neil Martin
7. 6C Chris Carden
8. 11 Aaron Shidler
9. 48 Kurt Allison
10. 54 Trent Porter
11. 7 Jerry Danford Jr.
12. 00 Mike Fase
13. 13 Tom Duckworth
14. 36 Cam Bales
15. 84 Dennis Ireland
16. 15C Branden Carden
17. 12 Mike Sullivan -1
18. 56 Brady Stalbaum -1
19. 89 Joe Gynn DQ
20. 71 Bob Fortner DNF
21. 82 Donnie Rance DNF
Cautions - 0
Lead Changes - 1 (lap 17 )
Lap Leaders - B7 Brad DeYoung (1 - 16), 55 Toby Howard (17 - 20)
KANKAKEE, IL (June 3) - A field of twenty-two I-MOD drivers made the trip over to Kankakee Valley Motor Speedway for their inaugural visit on a warm, muggy Friday night, and what an impressive display they put on for the race fans at the fast, semi-banked 1/3-mile clay oval. In all, which included three heat races, a dash, and a 20-lap feature, not one caution flag was brought out by this talented corps of drivers and machines.
After Thursday night rains soaked the racing surface, the track was near perfect for multi-groove racing action. In preliminary heat race action, Donnie Rance of Valparaiso, IN won heat one over Chris Carden, Tom Duckworth, and Aaron Shidler. Heat two saw the #55 of Toby Howard of Medaryville, IN out distance local runner Neil Martin, Kyle Cooper, and Trent Porter. Martin ranin Kankakee's street stock class for six seasons before making the switch to I-MOD's several years ago. Finally, heat three saw Winamac's Jeff Barger score the win over Brad DeYoung, Dennis Ireland, and Bob Fortner. At the conclusion of all heat races, the top two in each heat then lined up for a 6-lap dash. DeYoung earned the win over Martin, Howard, Carden, Barger, and Rance.
The 20-lap main event began with DeYoung and Martin on row one. DeYoung wasted little time in establishing himself out front as the car to beat, as he opened up a sizable lead over Martin, Barger, Howard, and Chris Carden. Howard would move past Barger on the outside on lap three to take ove third. Heat race winner Donnie Rance, who started sixth, would be the first car to fall off the pace as he took his machine pitside on lap four. After five laps were complete, it was DeYoung well out in front by 15-car lengths with Howard, Martin, Barger, and Carden all giving chase. Kyle Cooper, who also competed tonight in the UMP modified portion of the race program, would move alongside Carden to challenge for the fifth spot, while Aaron Shidler posed a threat to take over sixth.
Bob Fortner retired to the pits on lap nine, as Barger and Martin made slight contact in turn one giving Barger the edge to takeover the third spot. Chris Fortner, Shidler, and Carden would take it three wide into turn one in a battle for the sixth position.
At the halfway point it was still DeYoung about four car lengths in front of a fast-closing Howard, with Barger alone in third, Martin fourth, and Cooper in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Chris Fortner, Shidler, Chris Carden, Porter, and Dennis Ireland. With eight laps to go, Howard closed to the rear bumper of DeYoung as the leaders began to make their way through lap traffic. Cooper would challenge Martin for fourth and take over that spot as they raced side by side through turns three and four.
With five to go, DeYoung held about a two car length lead over Howard as they both cleared slower traffic. This gave Barger an opportunity to close in as well as he split the lap cars of Joe Gynn and Mike Sullivan coming out of turn two. Howard would pull even with DeYoung and take over the top spot with three to go, with Barger a distant third, Cooper, and Fortner in pursuit. Howard opened up his lead to about twelve car lengths as the white flag came out, with Barger now on the heels of DeYoung for second. DeYoung was able to hold off Barger for second, as Howard took the checkered flag. Cooper and Fortner finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Rounding out the top ten were Martin, Carden, Shidler, Kurt Allison, and Porter rounding out the top ten.
The response to the I-MOD visit has been very favorable from both the Osterhoff family, who promote the Kankakee facility, and race fans, and future dates for their return will be announced in the coming weeks. The drivers themselves also reacted favorably to the track, saying that it was nice to run on "real clay" and a track with considerable banking.
Jeff Barger and his father Bob, a former racer himself, together build what ar known as the B&L chassis. Their shop is located in Winamac, IN, and besides being the major supplier of I-MOD chassis and components, they also distribute the series' tires for all drivers, as well as, repair cars each week to keep the series regular drivers running each week. The I-MOD series races regularly at Shadyhill Speedway in Medaryville, IN every Saturday night, and more information can be obtained by going to www.imods4u.com or by calling Dick Leach at 219-987-3578 or Bob Barger at 574-946-7137. The costs of a new competitive I-MOD is roughly $10,000 for a race-ready machine, but used cars can be obtained in race-ready condition at season's end for as little as $3,000.
Summary of results 6/03
I-MODS 22 cars on hand
Heat 1
1. 82 Donnie Rance
2. 6C Chris Carden
3. 13 Tom Duckworth
4. 11 Aaron Shidler
5. 444 Chris Fortner
6. 36 Cam Bales
7. 00 Mike Fase
8. 89 Joe Gynn
Heat 2
1. 55 Toby Howard
2. 88 Neil Martin
3. 24 Kyle Cooper
4. 54 Trent Porter
5. 12 Mike Sullivan
6. 15C Branden Carden
7. 22 William Corning
Heat 3
1. 16 Jeff Barger
2. B7 Brad DeYoung
3. 84 Dennis Ireland
4. 71 Bob Fortner
5. 48 Kurt Allison
6. 7 Jerry Danford Jr.
7. 56 Brady Stalbaum
Dash
1. B7 Brad DeYoung
2. 88 Neil Martin
3. 55 Toby Howard
4. 6C Chris Carden
5. 16 Jeff Barger
6. 82 Donnie Rance
Feature (20-laps)
1. 55 Toby Howard
2. B7 Brad DeYoung
3. 16 Jeff Barger
4. 24 Kyle Cooper
5. 444 Chris Fortner
6. 88 Neil Martin
7. 6C Chris Carden
8. 11 Aaron Shidler
9. 48 Kurt Allison
10. 54 Trent Porter
11. 7 Jerry Danford Jr.
12. 00 Mike Fase
13. 13 Tom Duckworth
14. 36 Cam Bales
15. 84 Dennis Ireland
16. 15C Branden Carden
17. 12 Mike Sullivan -1
18. 56 Brady Stalbaum -1
19. 89 Joe Gynn DQ
20. 71 Bob Fortner DNF
21. 82 Donnie Rance DNF
Cautions - 0
Lead Changes - 1 (lap 17 )
Lap Leaders - B7 Brad DeYoung (1 - 16), 55 Toby Howard (17 - 20)
