By Betty Glynn
LaSalle, IL- Saturday nights cold weather and several wrecks, including two
spectacular flips, couldn't take away from the grand style of Dennis Erb
Jr's return to LaSalle Speedway's victory circle. The last visit Erb made to
LaSalle was the final race of the 2002 season in September when the former
track champion closed the season as the winner of one of the season finale
twin twenty-five lappers. It would seem only fitting that he sail into the
new year with the Spring Shootout victory.
"The car worked good," Erb announced to the packed grandstands after his
outstanding run. "I had a good feeling about tonight and I had myself set on
winning this week.
Early in the evening, there was no question that Gibson City's Kevin Weaver
was going to set a fast pace for the forty-three UMP Late Models in
attendance, as he cruised the ¼ mile with a quick time of 12.930. His smooth
performance equaled the title he so proudly has earned through the years,
the Flatland Flash.
Once the feature was underway, Weaver was quick to stake claim on the
outside line, from the fourth position on the grid, and charged around front
row sitters Eric Smith of Bloomington and Dixon's Tim Hamburg. A restart
during the first lap slowed his momentum but there was no question he was
going to be one of the toughest competitors in the pack.
By the fourth lap on the scoreboard, Weaver had distanced himself from
Hamburg, Smith, Matt Rhyne, Tonica's Ryan Dauber, Erb and Wauconda's Skip
Martin.
During the eleventh lap of the forty lap main event, Erb was on the move and
in hot pursuit of a powerful Hamburg and the four thousand dollar payout.
Using the short distance around the track he grabbed second and started to
hunt down Weaver. While Weaver set the stride, Erb honed in on his tail
planning out his next move. The two Rayburn chassis dodged lapped traffic
until Lap 34 when Erb brought his machine to the outside line and used the
lapped traffic to his advantage.
The following lap a persistent Weaver gave it his all to catch the number 28
but Erb had the lapped cars where he needed them and gained too much real
estate four the three lap shootout.
When the checkered dropped it was Erb over Weaver, Hamburg in an impressive
third, Darren Miller fourth, former Shootout winner Tony Izzo Jr., and
Smith. Last seasons track champion, Lil' John Provenzano was coming on at
the end and finished seventh in what he claims will be one of only a few
appearances in LaSalle this season. He and his crew have decided to race
weekly in Fairbury. Dave Eckrich, Dauber, Junior Schickel, Steve Tyne,
Robert Pohlman Jr., Gary May, Roger Long and Martin completed the top
fifteen finishers respectively.
In earlier action, Smith won the Dash ahead of Hamburg, Rhyne, Weaver,
Martin and Dauber to determine the top six feature starting spots. Erb
succeeded in holding back Provenzano, Tyne and Corey Turner for the first
heat victory. Heat two it was Eckrich winning with Izzo, Schickel and Long
behind him. The third and final heat winner was Miller crossing the line
before Chris Carlson, Pohlman and Garrett Slager.
The twenty three cars who hadn't already earned a starting spot for the
feature, were forced into combat for fifteen laps with only four cars
transferring to the main event. Tim Routson earned what felt like a feature
race over May, Jay Fiene, and Mike Glasscock.
Granville's Darin Furar claimed the big win for the Midwestern Late Model
division opener with TJ Markham in tow. Gary Wetsel held the point for the
first half of the race until Furar moved to the outside trek and stole the
lead.
As Furar worked the lapped traffic, Markham stayed low on his tail. At the
finish line, it was Furar with the win while Markham held second in front
Wetsel, Charlie Olson - who was later disqualified due to not meeting the
weight requirements, Eric Dauber, Ralph Markham, Bryan Byers, John Piccatto,
Ken Fischer, Brian Ray and Johnnie Johnson.
Joe Burba held fast time. Byers and Wetsel each won their heat races.
Genoa's Jeff Hartzell returned to Midwestern Sportsman class and claimed the
win over Eric Rebholz, Scott Hatzer, Keith Piano, Duane McCarville, Duane
Peterson, Scott Cimei, Ed Scapardine, Jerry Vance and Darryl Grandys.
Matt Weibel won the Street Stock fiercely competitive feature in front of a
hard charging Kevin Lenzen, John Geary, Chuck Provenzano, Jacob Howard, Ken
Schiradelli, Charles Herhold, Justin Whitoft and Gary Schmitt.
Scoreboard Results
LaSalle Speedway
UMP Late Model
Qualifying: Kevin Weaver 12.930
Dash: Eric Smith, Tim Hamburg, Matt Rhyne, Kevin Weaver
First Heat: Dennis Erb Jr., John Provenzano, Steve Tyne, Corey Turner
Second Heat: Dave Eckrich, Tony Izzo Jr., Junior Schickel, Roger Long
Third Heat: Darin Miller Chris Carlson, Robert Pohlman, Garrett Slager
Semi Feature: Tim Routson, Gary May, Jay Fiene, Mike Glasscock, Jason Feger,
Don Walden, Mike Busch, Tim Brach, Sherri Heckanast, Jason Jaggers, Scott
Anderson, Bradon Slager, Mike Mataragas, Larry Legrand, Scott Johnson, Tom
Markham, Matt Ramer
Feature: Dennis Erb Jr., Kevin Weaver, Tim Hamburg, Darin Miller, Tony Izzo
Jr., Eric Smith, John Provenzano, Dave Eckrich, Ryan Dauber, Junior
Schickel, Steve Tyne, Robert Pohlman, Gary May, Rober Long, Skip Martin, Tim
Routson, Jay Fiene, Matt Rhyne, Garrett Slager, Corey Turner, Chris Carlson,
Mike Glasscock
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Joe Burba 13.522
First Heat: Bryan Byers, Tony Coglianese, Brian Ray, Ken Fischer Second Heat: Gary Wetsel, Darin Furar, Johnny Johnson, Eric Dauber
Feature: Darin Furar, TJ Markham, Gary Wetsel, Eric Dauber, Ralph Markham,
Bryan Byers, John Piccatto, Ken Fischer, Brian Ray, Johnnie Johnson, Dan
Patnoe, Mike Migliorini, Jim Prokup, Rob Piper, Mike Lock, Charlie McGavin,
Joe Burba, Tony Coglianese
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Jim Guisto, Jeff Hartzell, Eric Rebholz, Darryl Grandys Second Heat: Scott Hatzer, Duane Peterson, Sharon Schlappi, Tim Fitzpartrick Third Heat: Shane Hill, Keith Piano, Tony Emralino, Duane McCarville
Feature: Jeff Hartzell, Eric Rebholz, Scott Hatzer, Keith Piano, Duane
McCarville, Duane Peterson, Scott Cimei, Ed Scarpardine, Jerry Vance, Darryl
Grandys, Brian Claudnic, Tina Soberri, Bill Satek, Jason Abens, Jim Guisto,
Tim Fitzpatrick, Sharon Schlappi, Shane Hill
Street Stock
First Heat: Jay Hamilton, Matt Weibel, Wesley Alkins, Eric Whittington Second Heat: John Geary, Joe Hamilton, Matthew Scott, Jacob Howard Third Heat: Kevin Lenzen, Chuck Leason, Chuck Provenzano, Charles Herhold
Feature: Matt Weibel, Kevin Lenzen, John Geary, Chuck Provenzano, Jacob
Howard, Ken Schiradelly, Charles Herhold, Justin Whitoft, Gary Schmitt,
Steve Lewis, Jay Hamilton, Joe Hamilton, Travis Rokey, Chuck Leason, Matthew
Scott, Eric Whittington, Wesley Alkins, Jerry McRoberts
LaSalle, IL- Saturday nights cold weather and several wrecks, including two
spectacular flips, couldn't take away from the grand style of Dennis Erb
Jr's return to LaSalle Speedway's victory circle. The last visit Erb made to
LaSalle was the final race of the 2002 season in September when the former
track champion closed the season as the winner of one of the season finale
twin twenty-five lappers. It would seem only fitting that he sail into the
new year with the Spring Shootout victory.
"The car worked good," Erb announced to the packed grandstands after his
outstanding run. "I had a good feeling about tonight and I had myself set on
winning this week.
Early in the evening, there was no question that Gibson City's Kevin Weaver
was going to set a fast pace for the forty-three UMP Late Models in
attendance, as he cruised the ¼ mile with a quick time of 12.930. His smooth
performance equaled the title he so proudly has earned through the years,
the Flatland Flash.
Once the feature was underway, Weaver was quick to stake claim on the
outside line, from the fourth position on the grid, and charged around front
row sitters Eric Smith of Bloomington and Dixon's Tim Hamburg. A restart
during the first lap slowed his momentum but there was no question he was
going to be one of the toughest competitors in the pack.
By the fourth lap on the scoreboard, Weaver had distanced himself from
Hamburg, Smith, Matt Rhyne, Tonica's Ryan Dauber, Erb and Wauconda's Skip
Martin.
During the eleventh lap of the forty lap main event, Erb was on the move and
in hot pursuit of a powerful Hamburg and the four thousand dollar payout.
Using the short distance around the track he grabbed second and started to
hunt down Weaver. While Weaver set the stride, Erb honed in on his tail
planning out his next move. The two Rayburn chassis dodged lapped traffic
until Lap 34 when Erb brought his machine to the outside line and used the
lapped traffic to his advantage.
The following lap a persistent Weaver gave it his all to catch the number 28
but Erb had the lapped cars where he needed them and gained too much real
estate four the three lap shootout.
When the checkered dropped it was Erb over Weaver, Hamburg in an impressive
third, Darren Miller fourth, former Shootout winner Tony Izzo Jr., and
Smith. Last seasons track champion, Lil' John Provenzano was coming on at
the end and finished seventh in what he claims will be one of only a few
appearances in LaSalle this season. He and his crew have decided to race
weekly in Fairbury. Dave Eckrich, Dauber, Junior Schickel, Steve Tyne,
Robert Pohlman Jr., Gary May, Roger Long and Martin completed the top
fifteen finishers respectively.
In earlier action, Smith won the Dash ahead of Hamburg, Rhyne, Weaver,
Martin and Dauber to determine the top six feature starting spots. Erb
succeeded in holding back Provenzano, Tyne and Corey Turner for the first
heat victory. Heat two it was Eckrich winning with Izzo, Schickel and Long
behind him. The third and final heat winner was Miller crossing the line
before Chris Carlson, Pohlman and Garrett Slager.
The twenty three cars who hadn't already earned a starting spot for the
feature, were forced into combat for fifteen laps with only four cars
transferring to the main event. Tim Routson earned what felt like a feature
race over May, Jay Fiene, and Mike Glasscock.
Granville's Darin Furar claimed the big win for the Midwestern Late Model
division opener with TJ Markham in tow. Gary Wetsel held the point for the
first half of the race until Furar moved to the outside trek and stole the
lead.
As Furar worked the lapped traffic, Markham stayed low on his tail. At the
finish line, it was Furar with the win while Markham held second in front
Wetsel, Charlie Olson - who was later disqualified due to not meeting the
weight requirements, Eric Dauber, Ralph Markham, Bryan Byers, John Piccatto,
Ken Fischer, Brian Ray and Johnnie Johnson.
Joe Burba held fast time. Byers and Wetsel each won their heat races.
Genoa's Jeff Hartzell returned to Midwestern Sportsman class and claimed the
win over Eric Rebholz, Scott Hatzer, Keith Piano, Duane McCarville, Duane
Peterson, Scott Cimei, Ed Scapardine, Jerry Vance and Darryl Grandys.
Matt Weibel won the Street Stock fiercely competitive feature in front of a
hard charging Kevin Lenzen, John Geary, Chuck Provenzano, Jacob Howard, Ken
Schiradelli, Charles Herhold, Justin Whitoft and Gary Schmitt.
Scoreboard Results
LaSalle Speedway
UMP Late Model
Qualifying: Kevin Weaver 12.930
Dash: Eric Smith, Tim Hamburg, Matt Rhyne, Kevin Weaver
First Heat: Dennis Erb Jr., John Provenzano, Steve Tyne, Corey Turner
Second Heat: Dave Eckrich, Tony Izzo Jr., Junior Schickel, Roger Long
Third Heat: Darin Miller Chris Carlson, Robert Pohlman, Garrett Slager
Semi Feature: Tim Routson, Gary May, Jay Fiene, Mike Glasscock, Jason Feger,
Don Walden, Mike Busch, Tim Brach, Sherri Heckanast, Jason Jaggers, Scott
Anderson, Bradon Slager, Mike Mataragas, Larry Legrand, Scott Johnson, Tom
Markham, Matt Ramer
Feature: Dennis Erb Jr., Kevin Weaver, Tim Hamburg, Darin Miller, Tony Izzo
Jr., Eric Smith, John Provenzano, Dave Eckrich, Ryan Dauber, Junior
Schickel, Steve Tyne, Robert Pohlman, Gary May, Rober Long, Skip Martin, Tim
Routson, Jay Fiene, Matt Rhyne, Garrett Slager, Corey Turner, Chris Carlson,
Mike Glasscock
Midwestern Late Model
Qualifying: Joe Burba 13.522
First Heat: Bryan Byers, Tony Coglianese, Brian Ray, Ken Fischer Second Heat: Gary Wetsel, Darin Furar, Johnny Johnson, Eric Dauber
Feature: Darin Furar, TJ Markham, Gary Wetsel, Eric Dauber, Ralph Markham,
Bryan Byers, John Piccatto, Ken Fischer, Brian Ray, Johnnie Johnson, Dan
Patnoe, Mike Migliorini, Jim Prokup, Rob Piper, Mike Lock, Charlie McGavin,
Joe Burba, Tony Coglianese
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Jim Guisto, Jeff Hartzell, Eric Rebholz, Darryl Grandys Second Heat: Scott Hatzer, Duane Peterson, Sharon Schlappi, Tim Fitzpartrick Third Heat: Shane Hill, Keith Piano, Tony Emralino, Duane McCarville
Feature: Jeff Hartzell, Eric Rebholz, Scott Hatzer, Keith Piano, Duane
McCarville, Duane Peterson, Scott Cimei, Ed Scarpardine, Jerry Vance, Darryl
Grandys, Brian Claudnic, Tina Soberri, Bill Satek, Jason Abens, Jim Guisto,
Tim Fitzpatrick, Sharon Schlappi, Shane Hill
Street Stock
First Heat: Jay Hamilton, Matt Weibel, Wesley Alkins, Eric Whittington Second Heat: John Geary, Joe Hamilton, Matthew Scott, Jacob Howard Third Heat: Kevin Lenzen, Chuck Leason, Chuck Provenzano, Charles Herhold
Feature: Matt Weibel, Kevin Lenzen, John Geary, Chuck Provenzano, Jacob
Howard, Ken Schiradelly, Charles Herhold, Justin Whitoft, Gary Schmitt,
Steve Lewis, Jay Hamilton, Joe Hamilton, Travis Rokey, Chuck Leason, Matthew
Scott, Eric Whittington, Wesley Alkins, Jerry McRoberts
