By Betty Glynn
LaSalle, IL- Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee has been affectionately dubbed the "Wisconsin Wildman" for his ferocious on-the-edge driving style but Saturday night at the LaSalle Speedway his title was not entirely befitting. His domination of more then half the fifty lap Xtreme Dirt Car Series main event proved he is one of the best and most exciting contenders in the dirt track scene.
The thirty-six drivers in attendance, from at least ten different
states, were more then a little anxious of the $10,000 paycheck as rain pummeled the Illinois Valley just before qualifications. When the rain hit, it was as if Mother Nature was playing yet another cruel joke on the Speedway. This season it seemed as though when the big bucks were on the line, rain played a role in when the bounty would be settled.
Settling up for Schlieper appeared easy but everyone knows nothing in a traveling series of professionals is easy. "This is my first feature win here," Schlieper explained during a trackside interview. For many years, he traveled South to the speedway before beginning his professional career in racing.
At 10:30pm it was finally showtime as the preliminary events were completed and the starting grid had already been established. In the front of the twenty-four car field it was Don O'Neal of IN and former winner of the historical Million dollar race Donnie Moran with Scott Bloomquist of TN and Rick Eckert of PA on their back bumpers. The third row held Brian Birkhofer of IA next to Schlieper.
When the green flag dropped, O'Neal was fast out of the blocks and took off leaving Moran to fend off Eckert and Bloomquist. A caution during Lap 3 brought the field quickly back into a double file restart putting Bloomquist on the outside of Moran and Eckert next to Schlieper.
Back under green, O'Neal continued to lead but Bloomquist took his Warrior chassis higher on the track as Schlieper, in a Rayburn, moved in behind him for third. By the end of the lap Schlieper had positioned himself exactly where he wanted to be, staring up the back of O'Neal figuring where and when he would make his move.
Schlieper used every inch of the track to gain momentum and make his final pass for the lead during Lap 15 when he stole the lead like a bandit in the night. As Schlieper was flying through the quarter mile high banks O'Neal followed as Bloomquist worked a low groove to catch up. While the three were dodging lapped traffic, two cars sharing the same number were going nose to nose for fourth, Carpentersville Dennis Erb Jr. and Wisconsin's Jimmy Mars were duking it out for several laps.
On Lap 30, Bloomquist moved low and attempted an inside pass but Schlieper held on while O'Neal now had Erb coming on strong in fourth. A yellow five laps later for Steve Francis of Kentucky and Bloomington's Billy Drake stopped the pace. Schlieper was still at the point with Bloomquist, O'Neal, Erb, Mars, Moran, Steve Shaver of West Virginia, Dale McDowell of Georgia, Birkhofer, and Earl Pearson Jr. of Florida all following.
Thirteen laps later, Schlieper was pulling away to an undeniable lead over Bloomquist, O'Neal and Erb who were all running nose to tail.
With three to go Erb, who had started eighth, was sitting in third but Bloomquist was hard on the gas and running strong in second.
When the checkers dropped, Schlieper was there to claim his $10,000 as Bloomquist picked up $6,000, Erb who staked claim to $3,000, Moran in fourth taking home $2,500, O'Neal fifth with a pay of $2,000. Birkhofer finished sixth ($1,800) over, Mars ($1,600), Shaver ($1,400), Pearson ($1,200), McDowell ($1,100), Randy Korte ($1,000) and Matt Miller ($950).
Bob Pierce finished thirteenth as Francis, Chris Carlson, Drake, Skip Martin, Jeff Smith, Freddy Smith, Frank Reaber, Jim Partipilo, Darren Miller, Eckert and Kerry Hansen completed the twenty car finishing places.
Eckert posted a qualifying lap of 12.232 staking claim to a new track record. The four Heat races set the feature field starting positions as the Dash determined the top four positions on the grid.
Moran won the fast qualifiers Dash over O'Neal, Bloomquist and Eckert. Eckert won the first Heat as Birkhofer, Francis and Miller tried to catch him. Bloomquist won the second Heat as Schlieper, Pearson and Hansen followed. O'Neal won Heat three as Shaver, McDowell and Reaber finished behind him. Heat four victor was Moran with Erb, Mars and Martin following.
Streator's Shane Hill won the Midwestern Sportsman feature over Jeff Hartzell, Scott Hatzer, Duane McCarville, Brian Claudnic, Keith Piano, Darryl Grandys, Duane Peterson, Todd Carpenter, Sharon Schlappi, Aaron Schmitt and BJ Grabow.
Joe Hamilton took home the Street Stock win over Chuck Leason, Jay Hamilton, Eric Whittington, Scott Schmitt, Chuck Provenzano, Al Gray, Justin Rutledge, Nick Sell, Gary Schmitt, Charles Herhold, Craig Hoffman, Mike Taylor, James Sain, Brandon Maciejewski, Ian Stewart and Sheryl Los.
Scoreboard Results
LaSalle Speedway
Xtreme Dirt Car Series
Qualifying: Rick Eckert 12.232 New Track Record
Dash: Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert
First Heat: Rick Eckert, Brian Birkhoffer, Steve Francis, Matt Miller,
Bob Pierce, Randy Korte, Tom Markham, Jay Fiene, Mick Miller
Second Heat: Scott Bloomquist, Dan Schlieper, Earl Pearson Jr., Kerry Hansen, Darren Miller, Jim Partipilo, Reece O'Connor, Matt Rhyne, Scott Anderson
Third Heat: Don O'Neal, Steve Shaver, Dale McDowell, Frank Reaber, Ryan Dauber, Billy Drake, Jason Feger, Freddy Smith
Fourth Heat: Donnie Moran, Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Mars, Skip Martin, Chris Carlson, Jeff Smith, Brad Schwartz, Garrett Slager
1st Consi: Bob Pierce, Darren Miller, Randy Korte, Jim Partipilo, Tom Markham, Jay Fiene, Reece O'Connor, Matt Rhyne, Mick Miller, Scott Anderson
2nd Consi: Billy Drake, Chris Carlson, Jeff Smith, Ryan Dauber, Freddy Smith, Jason Feger, Brad Schwartz, Garrett Slager
Feature: Dan Schlieper, Scott Bloomquist, Dennis Erb Jr., Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal, Brian Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, Steve Shaver, Earl Pearson Jr., Dale McDowell, Randy Korte, Matt Miller, Bob Pierce, Steve Francis, Chris Carlson, Billy Drake, Skip Martin, Jeff Smith, Freddy Smith, Frank Reaber, Jim Partipilo, Darren Miller, Rick Eckert, Kerry Hansen
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Duane Peterson, Jeff Hartzell, Shane Hill, Aaron Schmidt
Second Heat: Keith Piano, Scott Hatzer, Darryl Grandys, Todd Carpenter
Feature: Shane Hill, Jeff Hartzell, Scott Hatzer, Duane McCarville,
Brian Claudnic, Keith Piano, Darryl Grandys, Duane Peterson, Todd Carpenter, Sharon Schlappi, Aaron Schmidt, BJ Grabow
Street Stock
First Heat: Chuck Leason, Mike Taylor, Justin Rutledge, Al Gray
Second Heat: Eric Whittington, Joe Hamilton, Jay Hamilton, Scott
Schmitt
Feature: Joe Hamilton, Chuck Leason, Jay Hamilton, Eric Whittington, Scott Schmitt, Chuck Provenzano, Al Gray, Justin Rutledge, Nick Sell, Gary Schmitt, Charles Herhold, Craig Hoffman, Mike Taylor, James Sain, Brandon Maciejewski, Ian Stewart, Cheryl Los
LaSalle, IL- Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee has been affectionately dubbed the "Wisconsin Wildman" for his ferocious on-the-edge driving style but Saturday night at the LaSalle Speedway his title was not entirely befitting. His domination of more then half the fifty lap Xtreme Dirt Car Series main event proved he is one of the best and most exciting contenders in the dirt track scene.
The thirty-six drivers in attendance, from at least ten different
states, were more then a little anxious of the $10,000 paycheck as rain pummeled the Illinois Valley just before qualifications. When the rain hit, it was as if Mother Nature was playing yet another cruel joke on the Speedway. This season it seemed as though when the big bucks were on the line, rain played a role in when the bounty would be settled.
Settling up for Schlieper appeared easy but everyone knows nothing in a traveling series of professionals is easy. "This is my first feature win here," Schlieper explained during a trackside interview. For many years, he traveled South to the speedway before beginning his professional career in racing.
At 10:30pm it was finally showtime as the preliminary events were completed and the starting grid had already been established. In the front of the twenty-four car field it was Don O'Neal of IN and former winner of the historical Million dollar race Donnie Moran with Scott Bloomquist of TN and Rick Eckert of PA on their back bumpers. The third row held Brian Birkhofer of IA next to Schlieper.
When the green flag dropped, O'Neal was fast out of the blocks and took off leaving Moran to fend off Eckert and Bloomquist. A caution during Lap 3 brought the field quickly back into a double file restart putting Bloomquist on the outside of Moran and Eckert next to Schlieper.
Back under green, O'Neal continued to lead but Bloomquist took his Warrior chassis higher on the track as Schlieper, in a Rayburn, moved in behind him for third. By the end of the lap Schlieper had positioned himself exactly where he wanted to be, staring up the back of O'Neal figuring where and when he would make his move.
Schlieper used every inch of the track to gain momentum and make his final pass for the lead during Lap 15 when he stole the lead like a bandit in the night. As Schlieper was flying through the quarter mile high banks O'Neal followed as Bloomquist worked a low groove to catch up. While the three were dodging lapped traffic, two cars sharing the same number were going nose to nose for fourth, Carpentersville Dennis Erb Jr. and Wisconsin's Jimmy Mars were duking it out for several laps.
On Lap 30, Bloomquist moved low and attempted an inside pass but Schlieper held on while O'Neal now had Erb coming on strong in fourth. A yellow five laps later for Steve Francis of Kentucky and Bloomington's Billy Drake stopped the pace. Schlieper was still at the point with Bloomquist, O'Neal, Erb, Mars, Moran, Steve Shaver of West Virginia, Dale McDowell of Georgia, Birkhofer, and Earl Pearson Jr. of Florida all following.
Thirteen laps later, Schlieper was pulling away to an undeniable lead over Bloomquist, O'Neal and Erb who were all running nose to tail.
With three to go Erb, who had started eighth, was sitting in third but Bloomquist was hard on the gas and running strong in second.
When the checkers dropped, Schlieper was there to claim his $10,000 as Bloomquist picked up $6,000, Erb who staked claim to $3,000, Moran in fourth taking home $2,500, O'Neal fifth with a pay of $2,000. Birkhofer finished sixth ($1,800) over, Mars ($1,600), Shaver ($1,400), Pearson ($1,200), McDowell ($1,100), Randy Korte ($1,000) and Matt Miller ($950).
Bob Pierce finished thirteenth as Francis, Chris Carlson, Drake, Skip Martin, Jeff Smith, Freddy Smith, Frank Reaber, Jim Partipilo, Darren Miller, Eckert and Kerry Hansen completed the twenty car finishing places.
Eckert posted a qualifying lap of 12.232 staking claim to a new track record. The four Heat races set the feature field starting positions as the Dash determined the top four positions on the grid.
Moran won the fast qualifiers Dash over O'Neal, Bloomquist and Eckert. Eckert won the first Heat as Birkhofer, Francis and Miller tried to catch him. Bloomquist won the second Heat as Schlieper, Pearson and Hansen followed. O'Neal won Heat three as Shaver, McDowell and Reaber finished behind him. Heat four victor was Moran with Erb, Mars and Martin following.
Streator's Shane Hill won the Midwestern Sportsman feature over Jeff Hartzell, Scott Hatzer, Duane McCarville, Brian Claudnic, Keith Piano, Darryl Grandys, Duane Peterson, Todd Carpenter, Sharon Schlappi, Aaron Schmitt and BJ Grabow.
Joe Hamilton took home the Street Stock win over Chuck Leason, Jay Hamilton, Eric Whittington, Scott Schmitt, Chuck Provenzano, Al Gray, Justin Rutledge, Nick Sell, Gary Schmitt, Charles Herhold, Craig Hoffman, Mike Taylor, James Sain, Brandon Maciejewski, Ian Stewart and Sheryl Los.
Scoreboard Results
LaSalle Speedway
Xtreme Dirt Car Series
Qualifying: Rick Eckert 12.232 New Track Record
Dash: Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert
First Heat: Rick Eckert, Brian Birkhoffer, Steve Francis, Matt Miller,
Bob Pierce, Randy Korte, Tom Markham, Jay Fiene, Mick Miller
Second Heat: Scott Bloomquist, Dan Schlieper, Earl Pearson Jr., Kerry Hansen, Darren Miller, Jim Partipilo, Reece O'Connor, Matt Rhyne, Scott Anderson
Third Heat: Don O'Neal, Steve Shaver, Dale McDowell, Frank Reaber, Ryan Dauber, Billy Drake, Jason Feger, Freddy Smith
Fourth Heat: Donnie Moran, Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Mars, Skip Martin, Chris Carlson, Jeff Smith, Brad Schwartz, Garrett Slager
1st Consi: Bob Pierce, Darren Miller, Randy Korte, Jim Partipilo, Tom Markham, Jay Fiene, Reece O'Connor, Matt Rhyne, Mick Miller, Scott Anderson
2nd Consi: Billy Drake, Chris Carlson, Jeff Smith, Ryan Dauber, Freddy Smith, Jason Feger, Brad Schwartz, Garrett Slager
Feature: Dan Schlieper, Scott Bloomquist, Dennis Erb Jr., Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal, Brian Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, Steve Shaver, Earl Pearson Jr., Dale McDowell, Randy Korte, Matt Miller, Bob Pierce, Steve Francis, Chris Carlson, Billy Drake, Skip Martin, Jeff Smith, Freddy Smith, Frank Reaber, Jim Partipilo, Darren Miller, Rick Eckert, Kerry Hansen
Midwestern Sportsman
First Heat: Duane Peterson, Jeff Hartzell, Shane Hill, Aaron Schmidt
Second Heat: Keith Piano, Scott Hatzer, Darryl Grandys, Todd Carpenter
Feature: Shane Hill, Jeff Hartzell, Scott Hatzer, Duane McCarville,
Brian Claudnic, Keith Piano, Darryl Grandys, Duane Peterson, Todd Carpenter, Sharon Schlappi, Aaron Schmidt, BJ Grabow
Street Stock
First Heat: Chuck Leason, Mike Taylor, Justin Rutledge, Al Gray
Second Heat: Eric Whittington, Joe Hamilton, Jay Hamilton, Scott
Schmitt
Feature: Joe Hamilton, Chuck Leason, Jay Hamilton, Eric Whittington, Scott Schmitt, Chuck Provenzano, Al Gray, Justin Rutledge, Nick Sell, Gary Schmitt, Charles Herhold, Craig Hoffman, Mike Taylor, James Sain, Brandon Maciejewski, Ian Stewart, Cheryl Los
