By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – La Salle Speedway had plenty to celebrate Saturday night with a full crowd and an electrifying fireworks show but most of all it was rain free. This season race enthusiasts in the Illinois Valley have had to catch just a glimpse of their summertime fun at the track. Every big show planned thus far has been postponed or canceled due to inclement weather so for most Saturday proved one of the best nights to be trackside even with sweltering temperatures during the sunny part of the day.
UMP Late Model’s:
Former Late Model track champion, Mike Provenzano, posted the quickest qualifying time with a 13.613 lap time. Bret Sievert wasn’t too far behind with a timed lap of 13.703.
The first heat contest for the division boasted the fastest qualifiers to determine the first nine positions on the feature grid. Third place starter Mike Glynn shot to the lead during the second lap but two laps later he messed up off turn four opening the door for a low running Sievert. Glynn temporarily fell back in the pack. The front runners put on a good show with Sievert taking the checkers over Provenzano, Glynn and Rich Bell.
Jon Small was in command from the pole until Dale Markham charged into the lead during the third lap. Small took the lead back after the two made a little contact. The red flag waved during the fifth lap while under the caution, the leader went pit side relinquishing his post to second place runner John Piccatto. Two laps later Ed Williams Sr. started a side by side battle for the lead. He stole the show at the line leaving Piccatto second over Markham and Ed Williams Jr.
The Late Model feature showcased eighteen racers with Sievert and Provenzano on the front row grid ahead of Glynn and Bell. Lake Knuti and Bob Cullen took the third row. With so many rainouts lately, the fans were ready for Late Model action but the boys couldn’t seem to get the momentum going as several complete restarts kept the action at bay. Two laps were recorded but the cautions continued to plague the early laps. Once they scored the fourth lap in the books it was fast and furious with Sievert leading the way.
Sievert kept his ride on the bottom of the track but Bell charged high around the outside picking up speed and looking like he might have a chance for a side by side duel. Sievert started taking cars a lap down and forcing three wide battles with the front runner. By Lap 16, Bell was reeling Sievert back in but couldn’t get a good enough run at the leader. Provenzano was working a low line along with Glynn who was in fourth. When the white flag dropped, Bell was on the highside looking for his opportunity but a lapped ride was running the same line extinguishing any last ditch effort to steal the show.
Sievert won the twenty five lap main event with only five cars on the lead lap. Bell finished second ahead of Provenzano, Glynn, and Cullen. Darin Furar finished sixth place finish over Ed Williams Jr., Ed Williams Sr., Joe Fratt, Piccatto and Markham.
UMP Modified’s:
Justin McCoy’s quick lap of 15.140 topped the fourteen UMP Modified contenders with Jamie Lomax earning a timed lap of 15.200.
Lomax, who is currently a UMP National points contender needed a rain free weekend. As of the end of June, he was ranked third in the ultra competitive UMP Modified DIRTcar National Points chase. He managed to charged his way to victory in the first heat race finishing ahead of Steve Brooks, Tom Knippenberg and Matt Gremminger. Geno Hewitt claimed the second contest ahead of Jason Kolbe, Kevin Hughes and Don Cole.
Twelve Mods were ready for action in their feature race with Lomax starting on the pole next to Brooks. Like the Late’s they got off to a rocky start with caution filled early laps. Once the green light stayed illuminated it was nothing but a Lomax show as he charged into his own zip code for much of the race. The only driver to move much in the field was McCoy who had headed pit side during a caution and had to restart from the tail. He managed to move his way up to a third place run.
One last caution with a mere lap left allowed an opportunity to overtake the leader but no one had enough for Lomax who easily scored the win. The victory had to be welcomed considering his quest for the national chase is tough enough without the rain outs he has been faced with.
Brooks finished second over McCoy, Gremminger, Mike Marden, Cole, Kolbe, and Matt McCarty.
UMP Street Stock’s:
Eighteen Street Stocks were on hand for their division’s contests. Roger Rickels charged to score the first heat race ahead of Nick Sell, Jake Miller, and Mike McKinney. Jamie Balensiefen claimed the second heat contest finishing in front of Justin Hamm, Steve Schwemlein, and Keith Lucas.
Their feature hit the highbanks first before the fireworks display with defending track champion Rickels on the pole next to Balensiefen. Sell and Hamm were behind them on the grid. Once the flag dropped, it was a side by side action between Balensiefen and Rickels with Balensiefen lower on the track. A caution right away slowed their pace. Once green, Balensiefen took over the show. One lap later, Balensiefen turned right up the track as if something broke and Rickels had no where to go but stop when he was hit by McKinney. Rickels night ended pit side.
Balensiefen was starting to pull away from Hamm until caution slowed the pace. Fourteen place starter Steve Lewis was a mover and a shaker and had already managed to charge into third by the sixth lap. Two circuits later, Lewis was on the tail of the leader and took over the point. Aggressive driving up front ended with Lewis in a spin forcing a caution.
Balensiefen won the fifteen lap race over Miller, Hamm, Sell, Justin Rutledge, Randy Lucas, Steve Schwemlein, and Mike Stewart.
UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets:
JR Brown claimed the first Hornet divisional heat contest ahead of Andy Schwarko, Freddie Thatcher, and Crystal Provenzano Broyles. Jon Provenzano scored the second heat over Allen Provenzano, Phil Burdette and Scottt Redden.
Allen Provenzano continued his hot streak with yet another victory in the division. He has been dominating the class for the last few outings at La Salle. Jon Provenzano crossed the line in second with Brown, Burdette, Schwarko, Paul Smith, Aaron Sutton, Brandon Mallery, Thatcher, Broyles Arnold Colton, and Mark Sutton after him.
Upcoming Events:
Next Saturday night is Sixteen Racing Products sponsored double points night for every division. The much anticipated UMP SummerNationals event will follow on Wednesday, July 13th. The toughest competitors on dirt will invade the speedway for the $5,000 payday as the tour winds down to a close.
La Salle Speedway Results 7/2/11
UMP Late Models: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Mike Provenzano 13.613
Heat 1: Bret Sievert, Mike Provenzano, Mike Glynn, Rich Bell
Heat 2: Ed Williams Sr., John Piccatto, Dale Markham, Ed Williams Jr.
Feature: Bret Sievert, Rich Bell, Mike Provenzano, Mike Glynn, Bob Cullen, Darin Furar, Ed Williams Jr., Ed Williams Sr., Joe Fratt, John Piccatto, Dale Markham, Brian Locke, Jeff Small, Steve Dimmick, Allen Gendusa, Scott Lange, Lake Knutti, Jon Small
UMP Modifieds: 14 Cars
Qualifying: Justin McCoy 15.140
Heat 1: Jamie Lomax, Steven Brooks, Tom Knippenberg, Matt Gremminger
Heat 2: Geno Hewitt, Jason Kolbe, Kevin Hughes, Don Cole
Feature: Jamie Lomax, Steven Brooks, Justin McCoy, Matt Gremminger, Mike Marden, Don Cole, Jason Kolbe, Matt McCarty, Bill Theodorf, Tom Knippenberg, Geno Hewitt, Kevin Hughes
UMP Street Stocks: 18 Cars
Heat 1: Roger Rickels, Nick Sell, Jake Miller, Mike McKinney
Heat 2: Jamie Balensiefen, Justin Hamm, Steve Schwemlein, Keith Lucas
Feature: Jamie Balensiefen, Jake Miller, Justin Hamm, Nick Sell, Justin Rutledge, Randy Lucas, Steve Schwemlein, Mike Stewart, Matt Hennchs, Mike McKinney, Steve Lewis, Keith Miller, Aaron Near, Keith Lucas, Roger Rickels, Dave Foster
UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 13 Cars
Heat 1: JR Brown, Andy Schwarko, Freddie Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano Broyles
Heat 2: Jon Provenzano, Allen Provenzano, Phil Burdette, Scott Redden
Feature: Allen Provenzano, Jon Provenzano, JR Brown, Phil Burdette, Andy Schwarko, Paul Smith, Aaron Sutton, Brandon Mallery, Freddie Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Arnold Colton, Mark Sutton