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Story & Results from Jack Pugh
BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- The first night of racing for the 2007 season at Belle Clair Speedway took place on Sunday after Mother Nature wiped out the normal opening day. The racing started earlier and that brought out a large field of cars and a good crowd in the stands. This year there are several changes to the racing program, the features will start 20 cars in each class and the dashes will be lined up by a pill draw rather than the pill draw being done after the race.
In the UMP Late Model class, there were 22 cars ready to race. In the first heat race, Ed Dixon took the first checkered flag of the new season followed by Mike Hammerle, Mark Voigt, Kenny Helmick, Don Klein, Mike Schulte and Andy Pryor. In the second heat, Frankie Martin won over Aaron Kleine, Mike Bryant, Ron Jarrell, Dan Dondero, Bob Geaschel, and Casey Schaefer. The third heat went to Brian Wolfmeier with Jim Gibson, Brent Kreke, Billy Laycock, Dave Thornton, and Brad White trailing. The dash went to Dixon followed by Martin, Gibson, Hammerle, Wolfmeier and Kleine. The semi sent Schulte, Rusty Schlenk, Pryor, Geaschel and White to the feature.
The feature started with Dixon and Martin on the front row. With dropping of the first green flag for a feature race in 2007, Dixon jumped into the lead with Wolfmeier, Hammerle and Voigt following.
The first caution came on lap seven as Helmick spun in turn four. The running order was Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Voigt and Kreke in the top five.
With green flag back out, Dixon continued to lead with Wolfmeier pressing Dixon. With most of the racing being done on the bottom of the track, the passing was going on in the back. Rusty Schlenk from Michigan started 17th and was moving though the field as was 15th starting Thornton.
The race ran green until lap 18 when Martin pulled up with a problem as he rode the top of the track slowly. As he came down the back straight, he had an opening to go down the track to pull off and allow the race to continue green. But as he exited the track the front runners were coming. Voigt, Kreke and Schlenk tangled in turn three. The tangled resulted in a long delay to get Kreke and Schlenk apart. The running order for the restart was Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk I the top five.
With the green light back on, Dixon continued with the lead and Wolfmeier was still trying hard to stay with the leader. Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk stayed close to the leaders.
The final caution came on lap 22 for spinning Dondero in turn one. The order was still Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk in the top five.
The final green light came on and race went to the checkered flag with Dixon taking the first feature of the new season. Dixon lead every lap in the feature and also had a sweep for the night. Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk completed the top five.
In the UMP Modified class, there were 24 cars on hand to race. In the first heat race, Chris Smith won over Paul Reinneck, Bobby Bittle, Lenny Bryant, Ray Wagner, Tom Ratajczyk and Todd Feber. In the second heat race, Mark Miner took the checkered flag ahead of Marty Smith Jr., Tim Hancock, Chris Gray, Chad Fraunfelder, Dean Hoffman,Bobby Johnson and Jake Seets. The third heat was won by Brian Bielong over Chad Evans, Brett Korves, Mark Clary, Marty Smith Sr., David Seger, Matt Koesterer and Steve Ellison. The dash went to Evans followed by Smith Jr., Bielong, C. Smith, Miner and Reinneck. The semi sent Hoffman, Ratajczyk, Seger, Johnson and Feber to the rear of the feature.
The 20 lap feature started with Evans and Smith Jr. on the front row. Evans and Smith Jr. stayed side-by-side for the first lap. The race did not last long as eight cars tangled in turn three. Smith Sr. was eliminated at this time. The top five were Evans, Smith Jr., C. Smith, Reinneck and Miner.
When the race restarted, Evans continued to lead with Smith Jr. trying several different lines to overtake the leader. Chris Smith did not last long in the top five as he slowed on the track and was done after losing a driveshift. The top five was Evans, Smith Jr., Reinneck, Hancock and Miner.
With the green light back on, Evans continued his lead, but things were about to change in the rest of the order. Smith back to lose ground as first Reinneck move past to take over second place. Then a few laps later, Hancock to over third from Smith Jr.
The final stoppage cam on lap 13, when Clary spun in turn three. The lineup was Evans, Reinneck, Hancock Smith Jr. and Miner in the top five.
With just two laps left, the green flag was waving again and nothing changed in the top five as Evans went on to win his first feature at Belle Clair Speedway. Reinneck, Hancock, Smith Jr. and Miner completed the top five.
In the UMP Sportsmen class, there were 24 cars available to race. In the first heat race, Joe Volluz took the win over Jimmy Cummins, Ronnie Bader, Troy Neager, Derek Bryant, Matt Tettaton and Louie Hayes. In the second heat, Justin Ketrow got the checkered flag followed by Tom Smallwood, Jason Keller, Brad McKinnon, Adam Haas, Randy Dietzel, Mike Jones and Chris Lodike. In the third heat, Jimmy Clark took the win with Mike Harris, Shawn Seymour, Troy Medley, Matt Workmen, Jimmy Miller and Brian Schlichter trailing. The dash went to Volluz over Ketrow, Cummins, Harris, Smallwood and Clark. The semi sent Dietzel, Jones, Workmen, Miller and Hayes to the feature.
The 15 lap feature started with Volluz and Ketrow on the front row. With the dropping of the green flag, Volluz took command of the race with Ketrow, Cummins and Harris in tow.
The first caution came on lap four when Hayes spun on the back straight away. The running order was Volluz, Ketrow, Cummins, Harris and Clark in the top five.
With the race restarted, Volluz continued to dominate the race while Harris was on the move. Harris moved past Cummins for third and then past Ketrow for second.
The final caution came on lap 11 for debris on the track. The running order now was Volluz, Harris, Ketrow, Cummins and Clark.
Volluz took the victory over Harris, Ketrow, Clark and Shubirg to complete the first feature of the 2007 season.
UMP Late Models - 22 cars
Heat 1: Ed Dixon(50), Mike Hammerle(16), Mark Voigt(30), Kenny Helmick(27), Don Klein(28), Mike Schulte(27), Andy Pryor(10)
Heat 2: Frankie Martin(25), Arron Kleine(9), Mike Bryant(11), Ron Jarrell(78), Dan Dondero(2), Bob Geaschel(8), Casey Schaefer(11)
Heat 3: Brian Wolfmeier(37), Jim Gibson(66), Brent Kreke(13), Billy Laycock(82), Dave Thornton(12t), Brad White(b10)
Dash: Dixon, Martin, Gibson, Hammerle, Wolfmeier, Kleine
Semi: Schulte, Rusty Schlenk(91), Pryor, Geaschel, White, Schaefer, Rick Standridge(12)
Feature: Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine, Schlenk, Thornton, Gibson, Klein, Geaschel, Schulte, Pryor, Laycock, White, Dondero(DNF), Jarrell(DNF), Voigt(DNF), Kreke(DNF), Martin(DNF), Helmick(DNF)
UMP Modifieds - 24 cars
Heat 1: Chris Smith(155), Paul Reinneck(51), Bobby Bittle(89), Lenny Bryant(78), Ray Wagner(6), Tom Ratajczyk(12), Todd Ferber(2f)
Heat 2: Mark Miner(7), Marty Smith Jr.(55), Tim Hancock(t0), Chris Gray(57), Chad Fraunenfelder(74), Dean Hoffman(1d), Bobby Johnson(50), Jake Seets(18)
Heat 3: Brian Bielong(70), Chad Evans(59), Brett Korves(25), Mark Clary(94), Marty Smith Sr.(5), David Seger(22), Matt Koesterer(27), Steve Ellison(00)(DNF)
Dash: Evans, Smith Jr., Bielong, C. Smith, Miner, Reinneck
Semi: Hoffman, Ratajczyk, Seger, Johnson, Feber, Davinroy, Seets, Koesterer
Feature: Evans, Reinneck, Hancock, Smith Jr., Miner, Bittle, Korves, Bryant, Hoffman, Ratajczyk, Bielong, Gray, Johnson, Feber, Fraunenfelder, Clary(DNF), Wagner(DNF), C. Smith (DNF), Smith Sr.(DNF)
UMP Sportsmen - 24 cars
Heat 1: Joe Volluz(55), Jimmy Cummins(19), Ronnie Bader(67), Troy Neager(12), Derek Bryant(69), Matt Tettaton(t2), Lewis Hayes(4)(DNF)
Heat 2: Jason Ketrow(85), Tommy Smallwood(28), Jason Keller(55k), Brad McKinnon(20), Adam Haas(27), Randy Dietzel(95), Mike Jones(17), 27
Heat 3: Jim Clark(82), Mike Harris(43), Brian Shubirg(31), Shawn Seymour(54), Troy Medley(62), Matt Workman(18), Jimmy Miller(20), 9s
Dash: Volluz, Ketrow, Cummins, Harris, Smallwood, Clark,
Semi: Dietzel, Jones, Workmen, Miller, Hayes, 9s, Tettaton(DNF), 27(DNF)
Feature: Volluz, Harris, Ketrow, Clark, Shubirg, Cummins, Bader, Smallwood, Neager, Keller, Seymour, Medley, McKinnon, Haas, Workmen, Dietzel, Miller, Jones, Hayes, Bryant
Story & Results from Jack Pugh
BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- The first night of racing for the 2007 season at Belle Clair Speedway took place on Sunday after Mother Nature wiped out the normal opening day. The racing started earlier and that brought out a large field of cars and a good crowd in the stands. This year there are several changes to the racing program, the features will start 20 cars in each class and the dashes will be lined up by a pill draw rather than the pill draw being done after the race.
In the UMP Late Model class, there were 22 cars ready to race. In the first heat race, Ed Dixon took the first checkered flag of the new season followed by Mike Hammerle, Mark Voigt, Kenny Helmick, Don Klein, Mike Schulte and Andy Pryor. In the second heat, Frankie Martin won over Aaron Kleine, Mike Bryant, Ron Jarrell, Dan Dondero, Bob Geaschel, and Casey Schaefer. The third heat went to Brian Wolfmeier with Jim Gibson, Brent Kreke, Billy Laycock, Dave Thornton, and Brad White trailing. The dash went to Dixon followed by Martin, Gibson, Hammerle, Wolfmeier and Kleine. The semi sent Schulte, Rusty Schlenk, Pryor, Geaschel and White to the feature.
The feature started with Dixon and Martin on the front row. With dropping of the first green flag for a feature race in 2007, Dixon jumped into the lead with Wolfmeier, Hammerle and Voigt following.
The first caution came on lap seven as Helmick spun in turn four. The running order was Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Voigt and Kreke in the top five.
With green flag back out, Dixon continued to lead with Wolfmeier pressing Dixon. With most of the racing being done on the bottom of the track, the passing was going on in the back. Rusty Schlenk from Michigan started 17th and was moving though the field as was 15th starting Thornton.
The race ran green until lap 18 when Martin pulled up with a problem as he rode the top of the track slowly. As he came down the back straight, he had an opening to go down the track to pull off and allow the race to continue green. But as he exited the track the front runners were coming. Voigt, Kreke and Schlenk tangled in turn three. The tangled resulted in a long delay to get Kreke and Schlenk apart. The running order for the restart was Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk I the top five.
With the green light back on, Dixon continued with the lead and Wolfmeier was still trying hard to stay with the leader. Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk stayed close to the leaders.
The final caution came on lap 22 for spinning Dondero in turn one. The order was still Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk in the top five.
The final green light came on and race went to the checkered flag with Dixon taking the first feature of the new season. Dixon lead every lap in the feature and also had a sweep for the night. Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine and Schlenk completed the top five.
In the UMP Modified class, there were 24 cars on hand to race. In the first heat race, Chris Smith won over Paul Reinneck, Bobby Bittle, Lenny Bryant, Ray Wagner, Tom Ratajczyk and Todd Feber. In the second heat race, Mark Miner took the checkered flag ahead of Marty Smith Jr., Tim Hancock, Chris Gray, Chad Fraunfelder, Dean Hoffman,Bobby Johnson and Jake Seets. The third heat was won by Brian Bielong over Chad Evans, Brett Korves, Mark Clary, Marty Smith Sr., David Seger, Matt Koesterer and Steve Ellison. The dash went to Evans followed by Smith Jr., Bielong, C. Smith, Miner and Reinneck. The semi sent Hoffman, Ratajczyk, Seger, Johnson and Feber to the rear of the feature.
The 20 lap feature started with Evans and Smith Jr. on the front row. Evans and Smith Jr. stayed side-by-side for the first lap. The race did not last long as eight cars tangled in turn three. Smith Sr. was eliminated at this time. The top five were Evans, Smith Jr., C. Smith, Reinneck and Miner.
When the race restarted, Evans continued to lead with Smith Jr. trying several different lines to overtake the leader. Chris Smith did not last long in the top five as he slowed on the track and was done after losing a driveshift. The top five was Evans, Smith Jr., Reinneck, Hancock and Miner.
With the green light back on, Evans continued his lead, but things were about to change in the rest of the order. Smith back to lose ground as first Reinneck move past to take over second place. Then a few laps later, Hancock to over third from Smith Jr.
The final stoppage cam on lap 13, when Clary spun in turn three. The lineup was Evans, Reinneck, Hancock Smith Jr. and Miner in the top five.
With just two laps left, the green flag was waving again and nothing changed in the top five as Evans went on to win his first feature at Belle Clair Speedway. Reinneck, Hancock, Smith Jr. and Miner completed the top five.
In the UMP Sportsmen class, there were 24 cars available to race. In the first heat race, Joe Volluz took the win over Jimmy Cummins, Ronnie Bader, Troy Neager, Derek Bryant, Matt Tettaton and Louie Hayes. In the second heat, Justin Ketrow got the checkered flag followed by Tom Smallwood, Jason Keller, Brad McKinnon, Adam Haas, Randy Dietzel, Mike Jones and Chris Lodike. In the third heat, Jimmy Clark took the win with Mike Harris, Shawn Seymour, Troy Medley, Matt Workmen, Jimmy Miller and Brian Schlichter trailing. The dash went to Volluz over Ketrow, Cummins, Harris, Smallwood and Clark. The semi sent Dietzel, Jones, Workmen, Miller and Hayes to the feature.
The 15 lap feature started with Volluz and Ketrow on the front row. With the dropping of the green flag, Volluz took command of the race with Ketrow, Cummins and Harris in tow.
The first caution came on lap four when Hayes spun on the back straight away. The running order was Volluz, Ketrow, Cummins, Harris and Clark in the top five.
With the race restarted, Volluz continued to dominate the race while Harris was on the move. Harris moved past Cummins for third and then past Ketrow for second.
The final caution came on lap 11 for debris on the track. The running order now was Volluz, Harris, Ketrow, Cummins and Clark.
Volluz took the victory over Harris, Ketrow, Clark and Shubirg to complete the first feature of the 2007 season.
UMP Late Models - 22 cars
Heat 1: Ed Dixon(50), Mike Hammerle(16), Mark Voigt(30), Kenny Helmick(27), Don Klein(28), Mike Schulte(27), Andy Pryor(10)
Heat 2: Frankie Martin(25), Arron Kleine(9), Mike Bryant(11), Ron Jarrell(78), Dan Dondero(2), Bob Geaschel(8), Casey Schaefer(11)
Heat 3: Brian Wolfmeier(37), Jim Gibson(66), Brent Kreke(13), Billy Laycock(82), Dave Thornton(12t), Brad White(b10)
Dash: Dixon, Martin, Gibson, Hammerle, Wolfmeier, Kleine
Semi: Schulte, Rusty Schlenk(91), Pryor, Geaschel, White, Schaefer, Rick Standridge(12)
Feature: Dixon, Wolfmeier, Hammerle, Kleine, Schlenk, Thornton, Gibson, Klein, Geaschel, Schulte, Pryor, Laycock, White, Dondero(DNF), Jarrell(DNF), Voigt(DNF), Kreke(DNF), Martin(DNF), Helmick(DNF)
UMP Modifieds - 24 cars
Heat 1: Chris Smith(155), Paul Reinneck(51), Bobby Bittle(89), Lenny Bryant(78), Ray Wagner(6), Tom Ratajczyk(12), Todd Ferber(2f)
Heat 2: Mark Miner(7), Marty Smith Jr.(55), Tim Hancock(t0), Chris Gray(57), Chad Fraunenfelder(74), Dean Hoffman(1d), Bobby Johnson(50), Jake Seets(18)
Heat 3: Brian Bielong(70), Chad Evans(59), Brett Korves(25), Mark Clary(94), Marty Smith Sr.(5), David Seger(22), Matt Koesterer(27), Steve Ellison(00)(DNF)
Dash: Evans, Smith Jr., Bielong, C. Smith, Miner, Reinneck
Semi: Hoffman, Ratajczyk, Seger, Johnson, Feber, Davinroy, Seets, Koesterer
Feature: Evans, Reinneck, Hancock, Smith Jr., Miner, Bittle, Korves, Bryant, Hoffman, Ratajczyk, Bielong, Gray, Johnson, Feber, Fraunenfelder, Clary(DNF), Wagner(DNF), C. Smith (DNF), Smith Sr.(DNF)
UMP Sportsmen - 24 cars
Heat 1: Joe Volluz(55), Jimmy Cummins(19), Ronnie Bader(67), Troy Neager(12), Derek Bryant(69), Matt Tettaton(t2), Lewis Hayes(4)(DNF)
Heat 2: Jason Ketrow(85), Tommy Smallwood(28), Jason Keller(55k), Brad McKinnon(20), Adam Haas(27), Randy Dietzel(95), Mike Jones(17), 27
Heat 3: Jim Clark(82), Mike Harris(43), Brian Shubirg(31), Shawn Seymour(54), Troy Medley(62), Matt Workman(18), Jimmy Miller(20), 9s
Dash: Volluz, Ketrow, Cummins, Harris, Smallwood, Clark,
Semi: Dietzel, Jones, Workmen, Miller, Hayes, 9s, Tettaton(DNF), 27(DNF)
Feature: Volluz, Harris, Ketrow, Clark, Shubirg, Cummins, Bader, Smallwood, Neager, Keller, Seymour, Medley, McKinnon, Haas, Workmen, Dietzel, Miller, Jones, Hayes, Bryant
