Maciejewski a true speed racer at La Salle Speedway!

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By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – Brandon Maciejewski didn’t fare so well in the Street Stock heat race pulling off the track and out of competition early. But the La Salle Speedway Fan Appreciation Night’s attendees got what they paid for and then some for the main event due in part to Maciejewski’s determination and perseverance.

Current point’s leader Roger Rickels and Mike McKinney earned the front row starting spots ahead of Jamie Balensiefen and Tim Provenzano for the feature grid. As the green flag dropped, it was clearly going to be one of the best races of the season for the speedsters. Rickels and McKinney started their racey battle for the point during Lap 5 with McKinney edging in front by a nose until caution collapsed the pace.

For three laps, McKinney worked hard at finding a groove to make the pass again but spun at the turn four tire relinquishing his top running spot. For the restart, it was Rickels, then fifth place starter Mike Hughes, Balensiefen, Steve Lewis, Kevin Snowberger, Wayne Hoffman and the hard charging Maciejewski. Maciejewski had already moved up from nineteenth into the seventh place running position.

On the twelfth circuit, Maciejewski forced a three wide battle for fourth until a yellow brought them back to a single file restart. The pack being nose to tail proved to be an opportunity for him as he quickly moved into third.

Rickels and Hughes were running side by side lap after lap with Rickels continuing to hold the point. A Lap 18 caution stopped their battle after Balensiefen left the track with smoke trailing.

One lap later, as Rickels and Hughes were door to door, Maciejewski took his power to the low side for a trio dance down the back stretch. After a little contact, it was Maciejewski running like Speed Racer taking control. Hughes maintained his run up high on the track but Maciejewski took over and pulled away for the final laps.

Hughes earned his impressive runner up finish ahead of Rickels. McKinney stayed heavy on the gas to finish with a strong fourth place after his restart at the tail of the eighth lap. Lewis crossed in fifth over Jake Miller, Aaron Near, Provenzano, Hoffman, Keith Lucas, and John Hogue.

Maciejewski was fast qualifier. Rickels and McKinney each won their heat races.

Twenty three UMP Late Models signed in for action with the points battle tight between Lil’ John Provenzano and his son Mike. Coming into the evening, Lil John held the lead by twenty points but after the strong performance by his son there might be a mere six points separating the pair. Four race nights are remaining for the chase with crowns on the line in nearly all the divisions.

For the Late Models, Mike Provenzano got the ball rolling with a qualifying time of 13.165 to earn the pole of the fast heat. The pole was a great place for him to start as he quickly jumped to the lead. He scored the win over an impressive run by Keith Piano. Rich Bell beat Mike Glynn at the line for third.

Pole sitter, John Piccatto, hit head first into the concrete barrier of turn three ending his run up front of the second heat contest. Jon Small went on to outpower his brother Jeff to win the heat. Jimmy Partipilo claimed third over Scott Schoener. Travis Mahoney took advantage of his front row inside start to claim the final heat race. Finishing behind the young gun was Ed Williams Sr., Aaron Schmidt and Todd Alexander.

Mike Provenzano rolled into the pole for the feature grid with Piano on the outside. Bell and Glynn were in row two ahead of Bill Weistart Jr. and Jason Jaggers. Mike Provenzano shot out quick with Bell falling in behind him. Bell quickly chose a high line to run with Mike down lower.

Mike wasted little time pulling away from the pack. Bell was holding on to a steady second place while Lil’ John and Piano were battling for third. By Lap 10, Mike was running the lowest line of the turns to pull away from the field. He looked unstoppable until a caution during Lap 22 positioned the pack directly behind him.

After the flagman signaled the green, Bell shot off to the outside rim and stole the lead. Mike Provenzano took second while his father Lil’ John managed to work his way into a third place finish after starting seventh. Jason Jaggers was third in front of Piano, Weistart, Glynn, Jon Small, Jeff Small, Mahoney, Aaron Schmidt, Ed Williams Sr., and Jim Partipilo.

The UMP Modified division boasted a stacked field with over 26 drivers showing up ready for action. Eric Bruce traveled the fastest lap and won the first heat race over Dale Lueth, Phil Line and Ray Bollinger. Nathan Balensiefen won heat two in front of Derrick Doerr, Tim Loomis, and Geno Hewitt. Former track champion Vince Cooper took home the checkers of the final heat race ahead of Jamie Lomax, Don Cole and Zack Odewalt.

Bruce and Lueth started the main on the front row and put on a great showing running the highside like a roller coaster ride. The two raced as far up the track as their right side tires would allow. Bruce held the point until Bollinger powered hard on the bottom of the track to steal the lead during the ninth lap out.

Bollinger, a former regular at La Salle, made a valiant return to the winners circle. Bruce took second in front of Balensiefen, Cooper, Lueth, Tom Duncan, Lomax, Steven Brooks, Phil Line, Travis Kohler, Charlie Harmon, Kevin Thompson and Tom Knippenberg.

Nineteen UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet cars were in attendance. JR Brown one of the division dominators held the point with Phil Burdette running in second. There have been many races where Burdette was runner up to Brown but it wasn’t happening again. Burdette powered up heavy on the gas to capture the victory stopping Brown’s winning streak.

Brown was runner up over Jerry Legner, DJ Kilanowski, Buddy Boyd, Gabe Schrader, Andrew Schwarko, Rick Zifko, Mark Sutton, and Bryce Garnhart.

Legner and Mudro won the heat races.



La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 7/17/10

UMP Late Models 23 Cars
Qualifying: Mike Provenzano 13.165
Heat 1: Mike Provenzano, Keith Piano, Rich Bell, Mike Glynn
Heat 2: Jon Small, Jeff Small, Jimmy Partipilo, Scott Schoener
Heat 3: Travis Mahoney, Ed Williams Sr., Aaron Schmidt, Todd Alexander
Feature: Rich Bell, Mike Provenzano, Lil’ John Provenzano, Jason Jaggers, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr., Mike Glynn, Jon Small, Jeff Small, Travis Mahoney, Aaron Schmidt, Ed Williams Sr., Jimmy Partipilo, Joe Fratt, Todd Alexander, Jim Hagedorn, Lake Knutti, Eric Rebholz, Ed Williams Jr., Scott Langer

UMP Moldifieds 26 Cars
Qualifying: Eric Bruce 14.739
Heat 1: Eric Bruce, Dlae Lueth, Phil Line, Ray Bollinger
Heat 2: Nathan Balensiefen, Derrick Doerr, Tim Loomis, Geno Hewitt
Heat 3: Vince Cooper, Jamie Lomax, Don Cole, Jack Odewalt
Feature: Ray Bollinger, Eric Bruce, Nathan Balensiefen, Vince Cooper, Dale Lueth, Tom Duncan, Jamie Lomax, Steven Brooks, Phil Line, Travis Kohler, Charlie Harmon, Kevin Thompson, Tom Knippenberg, Don Cole, Tim Loomis, Matt Gremminger, Geno Hewitt, AJ Dixon, Zack Odewalt, Derrick Doerr

UMP Street Stock Special 20 Cars
Qualifying: Brandon Maciejewski 15.732
Heat 1: Roger Rickels, Jamie Balensiefen, Mike Hughes, Kevin Snowberger
Heat 2: Mike McKinney, Tim Provenzano, Justin Hamm, Aaron Near
Feature: Brandon Maciejewski, Mike Hughes, Roger Rickels, Mike McKinney, Steve Lewis, Jake Miller, Aaron Near, Tim Provenzano, Wayne Hoffman, Keith Lucas, John Hogue, Randy Lucas, Kevin Snowberger, Nick Sell, Justin Hamm, Jamie Balensiefen, Ande Bivens, Scott Schoener, Matt Henrichs

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets 19 Cars
Heat 1: Jerry Legner, Shannon Mudro, Cory Jo West, Mark Sutton
Heat 2: JR Brown, Phil Burdette, Rick Zifko, DJ Kilanowski
Feature: Phil Burdette, JR Brown, Jerry Legner, DJ Kilanowski, Buddy Boyd, Gabe Schrader, Andrew Schwarko, Rick Zifko, Mark Sutton, Bryce Garnhart, Asa Robart, Aaron Sutton, Dustin Forbes, Shannon Mudro, Cory Jo West, Butch Helfrich, Johsn Trahan, Josh Garnhart
 
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