By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – Mike Provenzano went from underdog to under the checkers first on Saturday night at La Salle Speedway. His third row starting spot positioned the Grand Ridge driver with a perfect view of his biggest challengers and an opportunity to take over the UMP Late Models heavily contested points chase.
Sixteen Late’s took the starting grid for the thirty lap main event. The five added laps, after last week’s caution free efforts, changed the outcome for several racers. Ralph Markham and Wisconsin racer Brett Sievert were the front row partners with Provenzano and Mark Larson in row two. Ed Williams Sr. and Roger Markham took charge of the third row.
Sievert wasted little time shooting to the lead with Ralph Markham giving chase. By the fourth lap in the circuit, Provenzano and Ralph Markham were dicing back and forth with an exciting door to door battle. Several times Provenzano’s efforts would move him to the runner up position but caution would halt the action and put him back to third.
With half the laps scored, a caution brought the thirteen remaining machines back to a single file format with Sievert at the helm over Ralph Markham, Provenzano and Williams. Scott Schmitt’s surge to the front was noted as he had charged from the tail of the grid to his fifth place running position. After the green dropped, Provenzano took his ride low for a second place challenge. The run for second was heated with the two putting forth a great show of talent while Sievert flew comfortably as the pace setter.
During Lap 22, Provenzano found an extra boost of power and flew around Ralph Markham. His sights were set on the leader and just as he began challenging Sievert for the point caution stopped their fight. Even though two laps were under his belt, the officials put Provenzano’s ride back to third for the restart.
“They (the officials) said I passed before the cone on the restart before that one so I had to go back to third,” Provenzano explained of the call. “I may have passed before the cone. I didn’t think I did but I might have.”
His return to the third place position, with seven laps remaining, may have been the fuel he needed to get himself charged up. Just after the green, Provenzano took over second and started working towards the lead.
Ralph Markham fell off his pace with smoke billowing out of his power plant. It was an evening filled with smoke which ended several drivers nights too early in multiple classes.
Sievert’s powerful charge in the lead had only been challenged once late in the race until Provenzano tried his luck with three laps to go. He couldn’t do it. But as the duo came off the final turn for the final time, it was Provenzano testing his horsepower.
Provenzano narrowly took the scripted victory as they ended with him just inches ahead of Sievert at the finish line. Saturday’s win gave Provenzano a perfect scorecard for the weekend. He had back to back victories with a win at Kankakee Speedway the night before.
Schmitt’s hard charging efforts earned him a third place finish. Nine cars were remaining at the end of the thirty laps. Roger Markham earned fourth in front of Aaron Schmidt, Williams, Dan Doherty, Lake Knutti, and John Piccatto.
With the points chase nearly over, Mike Glynn came into the night fourteen points in front of Ralph Markham but a blown engine earlier in the heat action denied him a chance for another title. Ralph’s win in the dash and heat added to his total but with a scored position of tenth he trailed new points leader Provenzano at the completion of the nights racing.
Sievert started last and worked his way up to the leaders during the dash action. The race was close but Ralph crossed the checkers first with Provenzano in third. Ralph ran flag to flag in the first heat race beating out Sievert, Roger Markham and Dan Doherty. Provenzano’s run in the heat race scored him the win ahead of Schmitt, Williams and Randy Manos.
Seventeen UMP Modified’s signed in for competition. Vince Cooper recorded a big night winning his heat and the feature races in his quest for another track title.
Cooper powered his way into the lead early for the ten lap heat contest beating out third place starter Joe Adam, Nathan Balensiefen and Dale Lueth. At the beginning of the second Mod heat Mark Novorlsky hit the pit exit safety barrels that are filled with water with such force it looked like a geyser shooting in the air on impact. The damage done to the area stalled the action but the racer exited the car on his own. Once back to racing, it was pole sitter Phil Line holding off Justin McCoy for the win. Brock Bauman took third over Brad Carrington.
Thirteen cars made the call for their feature. McCoy and Cooper were front row partners ahead of Line and Balensiefen. Just after the green was signaled, Cooper darted to a comfortable lead in front of McCoy. Cooper’s high flying ride sent him as close to the barrier walls as he could get nearly skimming the concrete. He flew solo leaving McCoy to fend off Balensiefen.
McCoy and Balensiefen put on some door to door action with Balensiefen moving to second briefly. Cooper claimed the win as McCoy took second over Line and Balensiefen. Adam, who had been sent to the tail after being involved in a yellow early, worked his way back up to a fifth place finish. Tom Knippenburg took sixth in front of AJ Dixon, Lueth and Coy Williams.
Twenty one UMP Street Stocks were on hand. Jimmy Partipilo continued his winning ways with a heat victory over David McKenney, Randy Lucas, and Duane Peterson. Steve Lewis scored the second heat win with Roger Rickels, Gary Schmitt, and Mike Hughes trailing.
Partipilo has been the dominator this season with his ability to wheel his way to the winners circle week after week. His dues paid dividends with winning all but one feature thus far in the season. As the man to beat, he has been chased all season long but Saturday his streak was broken by a man who has finished runner up to him numerous times.
Partipilo and Lewis started the event side by side on the front row. Partipilo took the point from the pole quickly using a high line but Lewis stayed right with him. During the tenth lap of the circuit, Lewis was challenging him when contact by the pair was made as the crossed under the flag stand.
The exchange did not end in Partipilo’s favor as he fell back to second. Lewis hit the gas hard and outpowered the hard charging Partipilo to score the win. McKenney collected third in front Rickels, Jaime Balensiefen, Schmitt, Peterson, Alex Clubb, Hughes and Steve Schwemlein.
Jim Ellison worked his way up the pack in the UMP Hornet division to claim his feature win. He trailed race leader Eric Wilson until Wilson fell off the pace during the eleventh lap.
With twenty three taking their positions on the grid the track was full of the racey four cylinder machines. Ellison flew solo until the final lap beating out Asa Robart, Allen Provenzano, Chad Williams, Alex Clubb, Andrew Sharwarko, Rick Zifko, Mark Sutton, Jim Wilson, Allen Line, Harold Reiter, JR Brown, Rick Wagner and Anna Cain.
Sharwarko beat out Wilson, Allen Line, and Williams in the first heat contest. Robart won the second preliminary event in front of Jerry Legner, Provenzano and Zifko. Phil Burdette scored the third heat win ahead of Ellison, Wilson and Nick Clubb.
Next week, the speedway will host the Nothern Allstars Late Model Series paying $2,000 to win. The UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks and UMP Hornets will also be in action.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 07/25/09
UMP Late Models – 18 Cars
Dash: Ralph Markham, Brett Sievert, Mike Provenzano, Mark Larson
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Brett Sievert, Roger Markham, Dan Doherty
Heat Two: Mike Provenzano, Scott Schmitt, Ed Williams, Randy Manos
Feature: 1. Mike Provenzano, 2. Brett Sievert, 3. Scott Schmitt, 4. Roger Markham, 5. Aaron Schmidt 6. Ed Williams Sr., 7. Dan Doherty, 8. Lake Knutti, 9. John Piccatto, 10. Ralph Markham, 11. Ande Bivens, 12. Jeff Small, 13. Greg Wagner, 14. Mark Larson, 15. Jon Small, 16. Randy Manos
UMP Modifieds – 17 Cars
Heat One: Vince Cooper, Joe Adam, Nathan Balensiefen, Dale Lueth
Heat Two: Phil Line, Justin McCoy, Brock Bauman, Brad Carrington
Feature: 1. Vince Cooper, 2. Justin McCoy, 3. Phil Line, 4. Nathan Balensiefen, 5. Joe Adam, 6. Tom Knippenberg, 7. AJ Dixon, 8. Dale Lueth, 9. Coy Williams, 10. Don Cole, 11. Wally Forsythe, 12. Brad Carrington, 13. Brock Bauman
UMP Street Stocks – 21 Cars
Heat One: Jimmy Partipilo, David McKenny, Randy Lucas, Duane Peterson
Heat Two: Steve Lewis, Roger Rickels, Gary Schmitt, Mike Hughes
Feature: 1. Steve Lewis, 2. Jimmy Partipilo, 3. David McKenny, 4. Roger Rickels, 5. Jamie Balensiefen, 6. Gary Schmitt, 7. Duane Peterson, 8. Alex Clubb, 9. Mike Hughes, 10. Steve Schwemlein, 11. Aaron Near, 12. Jake Miller, 13. Justin Hamm, 14. Marty Gradert, 15. Gabe Koncor, 16. Dan Patnoe, 17. Darren Matthews, 18. Randy Lucas, 19. Karl Hayes, 20. Tony Provenzano
UMP Hornets – 25 Cars
Heat One: Andrew Sharwarko, Eric Wilson, Allen Line, Chad Williams
Heat Two: Asa Robart, Jerry Legner, Allen Provenzano, Rick Zifko
Heat Three: Phil Burdette, Jim Ellison, Jim Wilson, Nick Clubb
Feature: 1. Jim Ellison, 2. Asa Robart, 3. Allen Provenzano, 4. Chad Williams, 5. Nick Clubb, 6. Andrew Sharwarko, 7. Rick Zifko, 8. Mark Sutton, 9. Jim Wilson, 10. Allen Line, 11. Harold Reiter, 12. JR Brown, 13. Rick Wagner, 14. Anna Cain, 15. Eric Wilson, 16. Chad Breitbarth, 17. Freddie Thatcher, 18. Shannon Mudro, 19. Jason Wagner, 20. Jerry Legner, 21. Jeremy Rotramel., 22. Phil Burdette, 23. Josh Larson
La Salle, IL – Mike Provenzano went from underdog to under the checkers first on Saturday night at La Salle Speedway. His third row starting spot positioned the Grand Ridge driver with a perfect view of his biggest challengers and an opportunity to take over the UMP Late Models heavily contested points chase.
Sixteen Late’s took the starting grid for the thirty lap main event. The five added laps, after last week’s caution free efforts, changed the outcome for several racers. Ralph Markham and Wisconsin racer Brett Sievert were the front row partners with Provenzano and Mark Larson in row two. Ed Williams Sr. and Roger Markham took charge of the third row.
Sievert wasted little time shooting to the lead with Ralph Markham giving chase. By the fourth lap in the circuit, Provenzano and Ralph Markham were dicing back and forth with an exciting door to door battle. Several times Provenzano’s efforts would move him to the runner up position but caution would halt the action and put him back to third.
With half the laps scored, a caution brought the thirteen remaining machines back to a single file format with Sievert at the helm over Ralph Markham, Provenzano and Williams. Scott Schmitt’s surge to the front was noted as he had charged from the tail of the grid to his fifth place running position. After the green dropped, Provenzano took his ride low for a second place challenge. The run for second was heated with the two putting forth a great show of talent while Sievert flew comfortably as the pace setter.
During Lap 22, Provenzano found an extra boost of power and flew around Ralph Markham. His sights were set on the leader and just as he began challenging Sievert for the point caution stopped their fight. Even though two laps were under his belt, the officials put Provenzano’s ride back to third for the restart.
“They (the officials) said I passed before the cone on the restart before that one so I had to go back to third,” Provenzano explained of the call. “I may have passed before the cone. I didn’t think I did but I might have.”
His return to the third place position, with seven laps remaining, may have been the fuel he needed to get himself charged up. Just after the green, Provenzano took over second and started working towards the lead.
Ralph Markham fell off his pace with smoke billowing out of his power plant. It was an evening filled with smoke which ended several drivers nights too early in multiple classes.
Sievert’s powerful charge in the lead had only been challenged once late in the race until Provenzano tried his luck with three laps to go. He couldn’t do it. But as the duo came off the final turn for the final time, it was Provenzano testing his horsepower.
Provenzano narrowly took the scripted victory as they ended with him just inches ahead of Sievert at the finish line. Saturday’s win gave Provenzano a perfect scorecard for the weekend. He had back to back victories with a win at Kankakee Speedway the night before.
Schmitt’s hard charging efforts earned him a third place finish. Nine cars were remaining at the end of the thirty laps. Roger Markham earned fourth in front of Aaron Schmidt, Williams, Dan Doherty, Lake Knutti, and John Piccatto.
With the points chase nearly over, Mike Glynn came into the night fourteen points in front of Ralph Markham but a blown engine earlier in the heat action denied him a chance for another title. Ralph’s win in the dash and heat added to his total but with a scored position of tenth he trailed new points leader Provenzano at the completion of the nights racing.
Sievert started last and worked his way up to the leaders during the dash action. The race was close but Ralph crossed the checkers first with Provenzano in third. Ralph ran flag to flag in the first heat race beating out Sievert, Roger Markham and Dan Doherty. Provenzano’s run in the heat race scored him the win ahead of Schmitt, Williams and Randy Manos.
Seventeen UMP Modified’s signed in for competition. Vince Cooper recorded a big night winning his heat and the feature races in his quest for another track title.
Cooper powered his way into the lead early for the ten lap heat contest beating out third place starter Joe Adam, Nathan Balensiefen and Dale Lueth. At the beginning of the second Mod heat Mark Novorlsky hit the pit exit safety barrels that are filled with water with such force it looked like a geyser shooting in the air on impact. The damage done to the area stalled the action but the racer exited the car on his own. Once back to racing, it was pole sitter Phil Line holding off Justin McCoy for the win. Brock Bauman took third over Brad Carrington.
Thirteen cars made the call for their feature. McCoy and Cooper were front row partners ahead of Line and Balensiefen. Just after the green was signaled, Cooper darted to a comfortable lead in front of McCoy. Cooper’s high flying ride sent him as close to the barrier walls as he could get nearly skimming the concrete. He flew solo leaving McCoy to fend off Balensiefen.
McCoy and Balensiefen put on some door to door action with Balensiefen moving to second briefly. Cooper claimed the win as McCoy took second over Line and Balensiefen. Adam, who had been sent to the tail after being involved in a yellow early, worked his way back up to a fifth place finish. Tom Knippenburg took sixth in front of AJ Dixon, Lueth and Coy Williams.
Twenty one UMP Street Stocks were on hand. Jimmy Partipilo continued his winning ways with a heat victory over David McKenney, Randy Lucas, and Duane Peterson. Steve Lewis scored the second heat win with Roger Rickels, Gary Schmitt, and Mike Hughes trailing.
Partipilo has been the dominator this season with his ability to wheel his way to the winners circle week after week. His dues paid dividends with winning all but one feature thus far in the season. As the man to beat, he has been chased all season long but Saturday his streak was broken by a man who has finished runner up to him numerous times.
Partipilo and Lewis started the event side by side on the front row. Partipilo took the point from the pole quickly using a high line but Lewis stayed right with him. During the tenth lap of the circuit, Lewis was challenging him when contact by the pair was made as the crossed under the flag stand.
The exchange did not end in Partipilo’s favor as he fell back to second. Lewis hit the gas hard and outpowered the hard charging Partipilo to score the win. McKenney collected third in front Rickels, Jaime Balensiefen, Schmitt, Peterson, Alex Clubb, Hughes and Steve Schwemlein.
Jim Ellison worked his way up the pack in the UMP Hornet division to claim his feature win. He trailed race leader Eric Wilson until Wilson fell off the pace during the eleventh lap.
With twenty three taking their positions on the grid the track was full of the racey four cylinder machines. Ellison flew solo until the final lap beating out Asa Robart, Allen Provenzano, Chad Williams, Alex Clubb, Andrew Sharwarko, Rick Zifko, Mark Sutton, Jim Wilson, Allen Line, Harold Reiter, JR Brown, Rick Wagner and Anna Cain.
Sharwarko beat out Wilson, Allen Line, and Williams in the first heat contest. Robart won the second preliminary event in front of Jerry Legner, Provenzano and Zifko. Phil Burdette scored the third heat win ahead of Ellison, Wilson and Nick Clubb.
Next week, the speedway will host the Nothern Allstars Late Model Series paying $2,000 to win. The UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks and UMP Hornets will also be in action.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 07/25/09
UMP Late Models – 18 Cars
Dash: Ralph Markham, Brett Sievert, Mike Provenzano, Mark Larson
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Brett Sievert, Roger Markham, Dan Doherty
Heat Two: Mike Provenzano, Scott Schmitt, Ed Williams, Randy Manos
Feature: 1. Mike Provenzano, 2. Brett Sievert, 3. Scott Schmitt, 4. Roger Markham, 5. Aaron Schmidt 6. Ed Williams Sr., 7. Dan Doherty, 8. Lake Knutti, 9. John Piccatto, 10. Ralph Markham, 11. Ande Bivens, 12. Jeff Small, 13. Greg Wagner, 14. Mark Larson, 15. Jon Small, 16. Randy Manos
UMP Modifieds – 17 Cars
Heat One: Vince Cooper, Joe Adam, Nathan Balensiefen, Dale Lueth
Heat Two: Phil Line, Justin McCoy, Brock Bauman, Brad Carrington
Feature: 1. Vince Cooper, 2. Justin McCoy, 3. Phil Line, 4. Nathan Balensiefen, 5. Joe Adam, 6. Tom Knippenberg, 7. AJ Dixon, 8. Dale Lueth, 9. Coy Williams, 10. Don Cole, 11. Wally Forsythe, 12. Brad Carrington, 13. Brock Bauman
UMP Street Stocks – 21 Cars
Heat One: Jimmy Partipilo, David McKenny, Randy Lucas, Duane Peterson
Heat Two: Steve Lewis, Roger Rickels, Gary Schmitt, Mike Hughes
Feature: 1. Steve Lewis, 2. Jimmy Partipilo, 3. David McKenny, 4. Roger Rickels, 5. Jamie Balensiefen, 6. Gary Schmitt, 7. Duane Peterson, 8. Alex Clubb, 9. Mike Hughes, 10. Steve Schwemlein, 11. Aaron Near, 12. Jake Miller, 13. Justin Hamm, 14. Marty Gradert, 15. Gabe Koncor, 16. Dan Patnoe, 17. Darren Matthews, 18. Randy Lucas, 19. Karl Hayes, 20. Tony Provenzano
UMP Hornets – 25 Cars
Heat One: Andrew Sharwarko, Eric Wilson, Allen Line, Chad Williams
Heat Two: Asa Robart, Jerry Legner, Allen Provenzano, Rick Zifko
Heat Three: Phil Burdette, Jim Ellison, Jim Wilson, Nick Clubb
Feature: 1. Jim Ellison, 2. Asa Robart, 3. Allen Provenzano, 4. Chad Williams, 5. Nick Clubb, 6. Andrew Sharwarko, 7. Rick Zifko, 8. Mark Sutton, 9. Jim Wilson, 10. Allen Line, 11. Harold Reiter, 12. JR Brown, 13. Rick Wagner, 14. Anna Cain, 15. Eric Wilson, 16. Chad Breitbarth, 17. Freddie Thatcher, 18. Shannon Mudro, 19. Jason Wagner, 20. Jerry Legner, 21. Jeremy Rotramel., 22. Phil Burdette, 23. Josh Larson
