By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL. – On May 7th, Bret Sievert took home the UMP Late Model victory while Jamie Lomax scored the Modified win. It was like déjà vu Saturday night at La Salle Speedway when history repeated itself. Sievert who hails form Wisconsin and Lomax of Indiana start their journey long before the green flag drops on Saturday nights. The hot shoes hit the interstate early to play at the Illinois Valley’s largest outdoor sports arena. Their travels paid off on Saturday.
UMP Late Model’s:
Seventeen UMP Late Models were in the pit area ready for competition. Rich Bell posted the fastest timed lap at 12.834 over Mike Glynn’s quickest circuit of 12.947. The two were then positioned on the front row of the fast heat. Glynn managed to pull away for much of the race taking the checkers over Sievert, Mike Provenzano, and Robert Cullen.
Aaron Schmidt won the second heat contest in front of Darin Furar, Nathan Balensiefen and Tom Smith.
Glynn and Sievert were putting on a good show at the beginning of the feature until Glynn’s ride went pitside with smoke rolling. Later the LaSalle driver learned he had broken a brake line. He wasn’t the only driver to end a great night in the infield. By the race end nearly half the field was sitting idle.
Sievert, a former UMP Wisconsin and Indiana State Champ, took the lead and held on beating out a strong run by Keith Piano. Piano gave him a run for his money but he eventually pulled away with the win. Ed Williams Sr. rolled across the finish line third in front of Cullen, Smith, Jon Small, Lake Knutti, Balensiefen, and Mike Lock.
UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:
Fifteen Modified racers showed up for the night of competition. Steven Brooks was the fastest in time trials scoring a lapped time of 14.451 over Travis Kohler’s fastest lap of 14.765. Brooks came out blazing to win the first heat race. Jamie Lomax placed second in front of Kohler and Jue Huenefeld. Mike Marden captured the checkers for the division’s second heat race in front of Kevin Hughes, Charlie Harmon and Jason Kolbe.
Lomax won the Modified feature event ahead of Justin McCoy, Kohler, Huenefeld, Geno Hewitt, Knippenberg, Matt Gremminger, Kolbe, Harmon, Hughes, Marden, Theodorf, Hauge, and Brooks.
UMP Street Stock’s:
Seventeen Street Stock’s signed in for their class. Steve Lewis outran Darrell Matthews, Jake Miller, and Kevin Snowberger for heat one. Roger Rickels claimed the second preliminary race over Nick Sell, Jamie Balensiefen, and Tim Provenzano.
Roger Rickels and Steve Lewis battled for their main events top title. The two contenders charged hard for the victory battling lap after lap in an ultra competitive duel. Rickels earned his way into victory lane while Lewis finished his run with a solid second place finish in front of Miller, Balensiefen, Provenzano, Mike Stewart, Sell, Justin Hamm, Matthews, Justin Rutledge, Ryan Weistart, Keith Miller, Keith Lucas, Matt Ramer and Randy Lucas.
UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet’s:
Phil Burdette swept the 4 Cylinder class with victories in both the heat race and the feature event. Thirteen contenders were in attendance. Freddy Thatcher finished second to him in the heat race over JR Brown, and Mark Sutton. Allen Provenzano won the other heat with Jon Provenzano, Andrew Schwarko, and Mike Gossett crossing the line after him.
Burdette out-powered the field of ten to claim their feature race. Jon Provenzano took home second in front of Allen Provenzano, Schwarko, Brown, Thatcher, Crystal Provezano Broyles, Shannon Mudro, Aaron Sutton, Arnold Cotton, and Mark Sutton.
UMP Summer Nationals a.k.a. “Hell Tour”:
The next event on the La Salle Speedway’s schedule is Monday, June 20th with the UMP Late Model’s taking center stage. The much anticipated UMP DIRTcar SummerNationals Tour is back. The ultra competitive tour stretches 25 races in 9 states over 32 days. The tour kicks off June 15th, with La Salle being one of the earlier events so car counts are expected to be high. Former La Salle regular, Jason Feger, is the current defending champion of the tour. He along with a lengthy list of best in dirt track racing will be in attendance for the challenge. The tour has been well publicized and is regarded as some of the best racing in the country.
The UMP Late Models will be battling it out for the $5,000 first place prize with $500 to start the main event. The UMP Modified race pays $1,000 to the victor and $100 to make the starting grid. In addition, the Street Stocks and Hornets will be the support classes.
Pit and Grandstand Gates will open at 3:00 PM
Prices: Adults $20.00, kids 11 under free, pit passes $30.00 all ages, skyboxes $25.00 all ages. Advance tickets are on sale with full refunds should the show be cancelled/rained out and not rescheduled. Reserved camp spots are available as well with a reserved spot costing $25.00.
The La Salle Speedway management is looking for all previous track champions. On June 25, fan appreciation night is planned to celebrate the La Salle Speedway’s 20th Racing Season by honoring all previous champions. The past champions will receive free admission and food for their immediate family. Activities involving them will highlight the evening’s activities. For more information please check their website (www.lasallespeedway.com) or contact the speedway office 815-223-6939.
La Salle Speedway Results 06/11/11
UMP Late Models: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Rich Bell 12.834
Heat 1: Mike Glynn, Bret Seivert, Mike Provenzano, Robert Cullen
Heat 2: Aaron Schmidt, Darin Furar, Nathan Balensiefen, Tom Smith
Feature: Bret Sievert, Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Robert Cullen, Tom Smith, Jon Small, Lake Knutti, Nathan Balensiefen, Mike Lock, Mike Provenzano, Jeff Small, Darin Furar, Allen Gendusz, Justin Danes, Aaron Schmidt, Mike Glynn, Rich Bell
UMP Modifieds: 15 Cars
Qualifying: Steven Brooks 14.451
Heat 1: Steven Brooks, Jamie Lomax, Travis Kohler, Joe Huenefeld
Heat 2: Mike Marden, Kevin Hughes, Charlie Harmon, Jason Kolbe
Feature: Jamie Lomax, Justin McCoy, Travis Kohler, Joe Huenefeld, Geno Hewitt, Knippenberg, Matthew Gremminger, Jason Kolbe, Charlie Harmon, Kevin Hughes, Mike Marden, Bill Theodorf, Scott Hauge, Steve Brooks
UMP Street Stocks: 17 Cars
Heat 1: Steve Lewis, Darrell Matthews, Jake Miller, Kevin Snowberger
Heat 2: Roger Rickels, Nick Sell, Nathan Balensiefen, Tim Provenzano
Feature: Roger Rickels, Steve Lewis, Jake Miller, Jamie Balensiefen, Tim Provenzano, Mike Stewart, Nick Sell, Justin Hamm, Darrell Matthews, Justin Rutledge, Ryan Weistart, Keith Miller, Keith Lucas, Matt Ramer, Randy Lucas
UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 13 Cars
Heat 1: Phil Burdette, Freddy Thatcher, JR Brown, Mark Sutton
Heat 2: Allen Provenzano, Jon Provenzano, Andrew Schwarko, Mike Gossett
Feature: Phil Burdette, Jon Provenzano, Allen Provenzano, Andrew Schwarko, JR Brown, Freddy Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano – Broyles, Shannon Mudro, Aaron Sutton, Arnold Cotton, Mark Sutton