Jason Feger
by Paul D. Bayne
(KANKAKEE, IL) - AUGUST 14 - With the skies ominously perched around the Kankakee County Speedway area, racing was in question Friday night at the Kankakee County Speedway, but aside from a brief light 20-minute shower, the speed plant avoided what most surrounding areas were getting...RAIN, and lots of it. With nearly every other track in Illinois having to cancel due to inclement weather, the staff of KCS pressed on, limiting how much water to put on the track throughout the day, just waiting for Mother Nature to drop the load. That rain never did come, and more water was added shortly before hotlaps to the bottom grooves. The result was an extremely tacky fast, multi-grooved racing surface that promoted two and three lane racing all during the night.
A better than average crowd was on hand despite the questionable weather. Also making a return was last week's Late Model feature winner Jason Feger of Bloomington, IL to give the fans an encore performance of a week ago in his quest for a UMP National points title. Feger, who started third on the feature grid, wasted little time in taking to the high side and charging around both pole sitter Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, and second place John Provenzano of Marseilles, who led the first several laps of the 25-lap affair. Feger gave a replay of not only his pass for the lead of a week ago that still has this racing community buzzing, but also of his dominating performance. Once out front, Feger hit the cruise control and distanced himself from Unzicker, who claimed second ahead of Scott Schmitt of Tonica, Frank Heckenast Jr., and his father Frank Sr. The elder Heckenast, who started eighth, was sent to the rear of the field under caution for speeding through an infield corner, yet still mounted a charge back to the front to garner a top five. Most eyes were on the battle for third between Schmitt and Heckenast Jr., and despite Heckenast briefly speeding into the third spot, Schmitt charged back off of turn four using the wall and the passenger side of Heckenast's car to make the pass and retain the third spot.
Heat races went to Dwight's Clay Watters and Unzicker.
In UMP Modified action, Nick Allen of Wheatfield, IN held off a very persistent and stubborn Kevin Hastings of Kankakee, who was trying to follow his son Jason's lead of winning last week's 20-lap feature event. The two diced back and forth, side-by-side, despite Allen never relinquishing the lead. With the checkered flag high in the air, the duo exited turn four and came across the stripe to close to call. The track officials declared Allen the winner, with Hastings settling for second ahead of Mike Spatola, Dave Porth, and Jamie Lomax, who rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included Porth, Allen, and Spatola, while Shawn Scripter scored the consi win over Gary Cook Jr.
In UMP Street Stock action, it was Chebanse's Darrin Kohler scoring another win on the season, besting Joe Hillman, Brian Wirtz, Rick Thomas, and Ron Donaldson. For Wirtz, it was a career best finish. Thomas, the UMP National points leader, had some a flat tire in his heat race and was forced to the consolation race in which he won. From his 19th starting spot on the grid, he raced his way up to fourth and was awarded hard charger of the race. Heat races went to Hillman, Joel Funk, and Kohler, while Thomas grabbed the consi checkers over Richard Woodruff.
A season high 18 Hornets made their appearance with Cody Clubb scoring the win over Scott Cupples, Axle Wicker, Dustin Stork, and Matt McCarty. Heat race winners included McCarty and Clubb.
Join us next week as we celebrate Military Appreciation Day - Salute to the Troops. All active military personnel will be admitted FREE, with all Veterans getting in for half-price ($6). The program will feature a full show of UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, and I-Mods. Pit gates open at 3PM with Main Grandstand gates open at 5PM. Hotlaps at 6PM, Qualifying at 630PM, and Racing at 730PM. For more information, please visit our website at www.kankakeecountyspeedway.com or call 815-935-9000.
Summary of Results
21 Late Models
Fast Time Jason Feger 13.992
Heat 1
1. 38 Watters
2. 99JR Heckenast Jr.
3. 77M Morris
4. 05 Schalmo
5. 45 Busch
6. 7T Thorsten
7. 24 Quill
8. 14 Thompson
9. 10H Hilleary
10. 4G Gardener
11. 43 Gendusa
12. 11 Dimmick
13. 23 Loomis - no start
Heat 2 (fast Heat)
1. 24 Unzicker
2. 7 Provenzano
3. 25 Feger
4. 10 Schmitt
5. 5 Sievert
6. M27 Provenzano
7. 55 Toczek
8. 99SR Heckenast Sr.
FEATURE 25-laps
1. 25 Jason Feger (3)
2. 24 Ryan Unzicker (1)
3. 10 Scott Schmitt (4)
4. 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. (10)
5. 99SR Frank Heckenast Sr. (8)
6. M27 Mike Provenzano (6)
7. 45 Zack Busch (11)
8. 11 Steve Dimmick (19)
9. 24 John Quill (13)
10. 7 John Provenzano (2)
11. 10H Don Hilleary (15)
12. 38 Clay Watters (7)
13. 7T Steve Thorsten (14)
14. 77M Jay Morris (9)
15. 4G Bob Gardener (18)
16. 43 Alan Gendusa (17)
17. 5 Bret Sievert (5)
18. 14 Glen Thompson (16)
19. 05 Gary Schalmo (12)
FastLane Web DeZign Hard Charger Award - Steve Dimmick
30 Mods
Heat 1 (top 6 transfer)
1. 25P Porth
2. 36 K. Hastings
3. 1K Kroll
4. 01 Kiger
5. 69 Farris
6. 4M Marden
7. 7K Myszkiewicz
8. 5J Johnson
9. 5o Todd
10. 17 Martin
11. 35 J. Hastings
Heat 2 (top 6 transfer)
1. 21A Allen
2. 88S Stipp
3. 40R Reynolds
4. G4 Aimone
5. 10H Howard
6. 48 Pockrus
7. 7 Klopp
8. 10 Scripter
9. 0 Kohler
10. 64x Klingbell
Heat 3 (top 6 transfer)
1. 89 Spatola
2. 70 Cooper
3. 31 Bell
4. 36L Lomax
5. 130 Osterhoff
6. 42J Gregory
7. 63 Coleman
8. 20 Dixon
9. 06 Kortge
10. 64 Cook Jr.
Consi (2 transfer)
1. 10 Shawn Scripter
2. 64 Gary Cook Jr.
3. 06 Ryan Kortge
4. 5J Jeremy Johnson
5. 63 Calvin Coleman
6. 5o Mike Todd
7. 64x William Klingbell
8. 7K Jason Hastings
9. 7 Jason Klopp
10. 20 AJ Dixon - no start
11. 0 Travis Kohler - no start
12. 17 Neil Martin - no start
FEATURE 20-laps
1. 21A Nick Allen (2)
2. 36 Kevin Hastings (4)
3. 89 Mike Spatola (3)
4. 25P Dave Porth (1)
5. 36L Jamie Lomax (12)
6. 1K Tommy Kroll (7)
7. 64 Gary Cook Jr. (20)
8. 69 Jim Farris (13)
9. 31 Tom Bell (9)
10. 42J Justin Gregory (18)
11. 48 Adam Pockrus (17)
12. 4M Mike Marden (16)
13. 10 Shawn Scripter (19)
14. 7K Jason Hastings (21)
15. 10H Snick Howard (14)
16. 40R Tim Reynolds (8)
17. 88S Alan Stipp (5)
18. G4 George Aimone (11)
19. 70 Vince Cooper (6)
20. 01 Don Kiger (10)
21. 130 Chad Osterhoff (15)
FastLane Web DeZign Hard Charger Award - Gary Cook Jr.
28 Street Stocks
Heat 1 (top 6 transfer)
1. J01 Hillman
2. 96 Malone
3. 55 Wicker
4. 69S V. Gaus
5. 15G E. Gaus
6. 71 Lehigh
7. 22 Clubb
8. V7 Glassford
9. 64 Richardson
10. 23 Hemp
Heat 2 (top 6 transfer)
1. 23JR Funk
2. 1W Wirtz
3. 10 Franks
4. 46 Kroll
5. 5D Donaldson
6. 43 Hubert
7. 420R Woodruff
8. 23T Thomas
9. 92 Riley
Heat 3 (top 6 transfer)
1. 21 Kohler
2. V17 D. McCarty
3. 52 Kingsnorth
4. 16 Turner
5. 6 Hamilton
6. 68 Thompson
7. 36 Keen
8. 70x M. McCarty
9. 33G K. Gaus
Consi (2 transfer)
1. 23T Rick Thomas
2. 420R Richard Woodruff
3. 23 Tony Hemp (alternate)
4. 36 Brian Keen
5. 22 Nick Clubb
6. 33G Katie Gaus
7. 64 Chris Richardson
8. V7 Scott Glassford
9. 70x Matt McCarty
10. 92 Jeff riley - no start
FEATURE 20-laps
1. 21 Darrin Kohler (3)
2. J01 Joe Hillman (1)
3. 1W Brian Wirtz (5)
4. 23T Rick Thomas (19)
5. 5D Ron Donaldson (14)
6. V17 Don McCarty (6)
7. 16 Robert Turner (12)
8. 96 Joe Malone (4)
9. 55 Billy Wicker (7)
10. 69S Vern Gaus (10)
11. 15G Eric Gaus (13)
12. 71 Darryl Lehigh (16)
13. 23JR Joel Funk (2)
14. 6 Jay Hamilton (15)
15. 43 Dustin Hubert (17)
16. 46 Nate Kroll (11)
17. 68 J. Thompson (18)
18. 10 Lon Franks (8)
19. 52 Rick Kingsnorth (9)
20. 23 Tony Hemp (20)
FastLane Web DeZign Hard Charger Award - Rick Thomas
18 Hornets
1. 25 McCarty
2. 37 Cupples
3. 28D Stork
4. 9 Schmink
5. 31H Hamilton
6. 66 Mudro
7. 11B Boring
8. 28 Kemp
9. W12 Wright
Heat 2
1. 23 Clubb
2. 118 Wicker
3. 22 Line
4. 71 Lang
5. 37H Hesson
6. 36 Wasney
7. 42Jr Summar
8. C2 Stowe
9. 73 Bushey
FEATURE 15-laps
1. 23 Cody Clubb (2)
2. 37 Scott Cupples (3)
3. 118 Axle Wicker (17)
4. 28D Dustin Stork (5)
5. 25 Matt McCarty (1)
6. 71 Lucas Lang (6)
7. C2 Cody Stowe (14)
8. W12 Matt Wright (15)
9. 37H Josh Hesson (8)
10. 42JR Jessica Summar (12)
11. 28 Jason Kemp (13)
12. 66 Shannon Mudro (11)
13. 31H Gary Hamilton (9)
14. 36 Bill Wasney (10)
15. 73 Eric Bushey (16)
16. 22 Allen Line (4)
17. 9 Chris Schmink (7)
18. 11B Nick Boring - no start
FastLane Web DeZign Hard Charger Award - Axle Wicker
