Controversial ending to Modified feature
(Peoria, IL) Bobby Pierce is beginning to like Peoria Speedway. The 14 year-old from Oakwood picked up his 2nd UMP DirtCar Super Late Model win of the year on a beautiful Wednesday night despite fighting an ill-handling race car.
The 30 lap feature began with front row starters Brian Diveley and Scott Schmitt going side-by side for the entire first lap, and the duo were door-to-door going down the backstretch on lap 2. As Diveley and Schmitt entered turn 3, they both slipped up the track, leaving the bottom groove open for Pierce, who had started 3rd.
Pierce dove on the bottom going into turn 3, making it 3-wide for the lead, and made the pass coming out of turn 4 on lap 2. Todd Bennett had followed Pierce on the low side of the track, and moved into 2nd by lap 4 and began the race-long chase of Pierce. Bennett chased Pierce as they entered lapped traffic on lap 13, but Pierce handled the traffic like a seasoned veteran and had a clear track again by lap 20.
Over the last 10 laps, Bennett could close on Pierce but could never make the pass and had to settle for 2nd as the 30 laps went caution-free. Billy Drake finished 3rd, with Tim Lance in 4th driving a Bob Gardner entry. 15th-starting Steve Lance, Jr. made a spectacular run to finish 5th.
“I saw Schmitt and Diveley both slip up a little going into 3 there, so I dove underneath them and got the lead”, said Pierce about the winning pass. “The right front tire started giving up at the end there, so I had to steer with the brake to hold Todd off. We were lucky to get this win, this is great.”
The UMP Modified feature began with a bang as a 4 car pileup in turn 2 forced a complete re-start, with pole-sitter Butch Weisser getting the jump on the field. Weisser ran out to a comfortable lead as a terrific battle between Erik Bruce and Ray Bollinger developed for 2nd. Bruce was running the bottom and Bollinger was using the middle and top, beginning on lap 7. For the next 3 laps, Bruce and Bollinger would run nearly dead even until Bollinger finally made the pass for 2nd on lap 10 with a turn 3 pass.
Bollinger chased Weisser down as Weisser was getting slowed by lapped traffic on lap 14. After seeing Bollinger’s nose, Weisser turned up the wick and began to drive noticably harder in lapped traffic in an effort to stave off Bollinger. On lap 17, Bollinger went to the middle and raced door-to-door with Weisser down the front chute. Bollinger finally made the pass stick coming out of turn 4 as the 2 laps to go flag flew.
Going into turn 1 on lap 18, Weisser got into the rear of Bollinger, spinning him around and bringing out the caution. Speedway officials penalized Weisser for rough driving and put him in the back of the field, but he elected to pull off the track. Bollinger held off a charging Bruce, who tried every inch of the track to get by Bollinger, but had to settle for 2nd. Mike Chasteen,Jr, Scott May, and Mark Johnson completed the top 5.
“I don’t know if Butch was mad or what, but he hit me hard there going into 1”, Bollinger said in victory lane. “I never touched him the whole race so I’m not sure what the deal was, but that is why I race here. The officials are not afraid to do the right thing, and it was clear he took me out.”
Jack Siegel dominated the Limited Late Model feature, leading flag-to-flag over Brian Crebo, who was right on his bumper as the checkered flag flew. Jim Carmody, Evan Fink and Chad Evans rounded out the top 5.
In the Street Stock feature, a first-lap pileup claimed front row starters John Farris and Wally Zander, along with Bob Simpson. On the re-start, 3rd starting Chuck Barnes, Jr, moved to the pole and led flag-to-flag for the win. Behind Barnes, a terrific battle for 2nd between Jamie Balenseifen, Andrew Funk and Virgil Nussel was raging. Balenseifen and Funk swapped paint on several occasions and showed their displeasure with each other on a lap 8 caution. The physical battle enabled Nussel to slip by on the last 2 laps for 2nd, with Balenseifen, Funk, and Farris, who came from dead last on the re-start, to finish 5th.
“There were cars going everywhere there on the start, I can’t believe I didn’t get caught up in it”, Barnes said after the race. “I kept getting signals from the crew so I just kept it on the bottom. I want to thank everyone who helps me out for this win.”
The story in the Hornet feature was another battle between Jeremy Kinglsey and Kenny Butterfield, wth Kingsley leading all 10 laps for the win. Butterfield finished 2nd, followed by Eric Wisher, Matt Musgrave, and Tyler Benson.
“It sure helps to have clean air like that”, Kingsley said of the open track he saw the entire race. “Keeping Kenny behind me was a big deal, he’s been tough all year”.
Action resumes at Peoria Speedway with a full UMP DirtCar racing program this Saturday night, July 2. On Wednesday, July 6 the UMP Summernationals make their return to the quarter-mile oval with many of the nations’ biggest stars expected to compete. UMP Modifieds and Hornets will be in action with the “Hell Tour” regulars.