Strong Field Of Super Late Model Put On Fast Paced Show

It was week #2 at Lincoln IL Speedway this past Friday, April 22 and the Super Late Models of the Midwest Big Ten Series were at the top of the card. Joining them were the Midwest Big Ten Street Stocks, Midwest Technical Institute Modifieds, Sportsman, and Hornets. Many of those in attendance came to see the Super Late Models and they did not disappoint.

In Midwest Big Ten Super Late Model qualifying, Sheffield, IL driver Rich Bell bested a field of 22 wicked quick cars to set the fast lap of the night. Bell’s lap of 14.147 was about a tenth quicker than the lap of Bob Gardner. Brian Diveley, last year’s Big Ten champion, Ryan Unzicker, and Rick Salter rounded out the top five.

Super Late Model heat race action, which set the feature lineup, saw Bell, Gardner, and Diveley fend off strong challenges from behind to claim wins. At intermission, the top six scheduled starters came out for a redraw. Chuck Mitchell of Jacksonville, IL and Bell drew the one and two pills, slating them alongside one another for the feature event.

After a couple of failed starts for minor skirmishes, Mitchell raced out front with Daryn Klein in tow. Bell, who started second, fell to third but only briefly, as he moved back into the second spot on lap seven. Around the race’s midpoint, Unzicker joined the top two to make it a three car battle up front. As the trio caught some slower traffic, Mitchell went one way, while Bell went the other. For Bell, the move was right as he raced out front and into the lead. Mitchell fell to third, while Unzicker set his sights on the lead spot. As the laps wore down, the top three pulled out to a breakaway, but all within striking distance of one another. When the double checkered flew, it was Sheffield, IL driver Rich Bell taking the victory with Unzicker, Mitchell, Klein, and Gardner completing the top five. Others in the top ten included McKay Wenger, Brian Diveley, Kolby Vandebergh, Myles Moos, and Greg Kimmons. After the two early cautions at the beginning, the drivers finished with 24 straight laps of green flag racing, turning laps close to the 13 second bracket.

In the Midwest Technical Institute Modifeds, week one winner Ray Bollinger shot into the lead and quickly became the man to beat. Bollinger, a Lincoln Speedway regular in 2015, is looking like the early favorite for this year’s championship. With only a caution on lap four, the Kewanee, IL driver had plenty of time to build his advantage and put the field far behind him. The race to watch throughout much of the event was the battle for second between Zach Rhodes and Donovan Lodge. Over the final five laps, Rhodes was nearly dislodged from second, but never opened up the bottom and held onto the runner-up spot. For Bollinger, it was his second win in as many nights at Lincoln this year. Following the dominant #77 were Rhodes, Lodge, Curt Rhodes, and Brian Lynn.

It was a big show for the Street Stocks, as Lincoln Speedway was the site for the Midwest Big Ten Series season opener. Decatur, IL driver and 2015 Big Ten champion Terry Reed to the lead at the get go with Dave Crawley, Jr. close behind. On lap five, Crawley decided it was go time and made the move for the top spot. A few cautions during the event would stack of the field and give everyone a shot to improve their positions, however, Crawley turned out to be too strong. Following the veteran driver were Jeremy Nichols, Reed, John Farris, and Brian Gaines. Kyle Waters, Braden Bilger, Brian Dasenbrock, Jeremy Madsen, and Andy Gaines were in the top ten.

It was a rare appearance for the UMP Sportsman division at Lincoln Speedway. Track Enterprises has the Sportsman scheduled around 15 times this season with three at Lincoln, ten at Macon, one at the Christian County Fair, and the big one at the Illinois State Fair. On this night, Timmy Dick outlasted the other Sportsman competitors to take the victory. Following the #22 were Scott Landers, Tim Bedinger, Jerry Myers, and Jeremy Nichols.

Decatur, IL driver and strong Hornet competitor, Adam Webb was the man to beat on Friday night. Webb busted out the Hornet to prepare for the big $1,000 to win Hornet challenge features coming up on May 6 at Lincoln and May 7 at Macon. Webb cruised to the win with Matt Mackey, Jerad Matherly, Thad Gee, and Mike Eskew finishing off the top five.

With that, week #2 is complete at Lincoln Speedway. Competitors will now have one week off to get ready for the next event coming up on Friday, May 6. That night will feature the aforementioned $1,000 to win Hornet Challenge. The Big Ten Pro Late Models will be having their season opener in addition to racing from the Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Nutech Seed DII Midgets.

Looking ahead to the other May event, on Friday, May 20, the Arctic Cat All-Star Sprints head to Lincoln, IL for their only race in the state this season. The series, owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, Tony Stewart, will absolutely fly around the 1/4-mile oval. On that night, the Midwest Tech Modifieds and Nutech Seed DII Midgets will also race.

For more information, follow Lincoln Speedway online at www.lincolnspeedwayil.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LincolnILSpeedway), and Twitter (@LincolnILSpdwy). Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

Lincoln Speedway is located at the Logan County Fairgrounds, in Lincoln, IL. The physical address is 1408 Short 11th St., Lincoln, IL 62656. Lincoln Speedway races a number of UMP classes as well as specials on a near bi-weekly schedule of Friday and Sunday evenings.

Lincoln Speedway Feature Results

UMP Big 10 Super Late Models – 1) Rich Bell-Sheffield, IL 2) Ryan Unzicker 3) Chuck Mitchell 4) Daryn Klein 5) Bob Gardner 6) McKay Wenger 7) Brian Diveley 8) Kolby Vandeburgh 9) Myles Moos 10) Greg Kimmons

UMP Modifieds – 1) Ray Bollinger-Kewanee, IL 2) Zach Rhodes 3) Donovan Lodge 4) Curt Rhodes 5) Brian Lynn 6) Dave Crawley, Jr. 7) Kelly Kovski 8) Alan Crowder 9) Jim Farley, III, 10) Shawn Vaughn

UMP Big 10 Street Stocks – 1) Dave Crawley, Jr.-Decatur, IL 2) Jeremy Nichols 3) Terry Reed 4) John Farris 5) Brian Gaines 6) Kyle Waters 7) Braden Bilger 8) Brian Dasenbrock 9) Jeremy Madsen 10) Andy Gaines

UMP Sportsman – 1) Timmy Dick-Monticello, IL 2) Scott Landers 3) Tim Bedinger 4) Jerry Myers 5) Jeremy Nichols

UMP Hornets – 1) Adam Webb-Decatur, IL 2) Matthew Mackey 3) Jerad Matherly 4) Thad Gee 5) Mike Eskew 6) Cook Crawford 7) Alex O’Donoghue 8) Torry Lyons 9) Bob Sanders