2012lasalle.htm

Track Promoter
Joe Izzo
Office Non-Race Days (815) 223-6939
    Thanks to Betty Glynn for the stories/results
Photos by track photographer Karen Kenney-Oles.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Set for Hartford and LaSalle This Weekend

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:59 PM PDT

Lucas Oil Late Models Saturday May 12th

Posted: 06 May 2012 08:32 PM PDT

photo submitted by Dan Simpson track photographer.

"Rich Bell (#21B) charges the high side of Steve Dimmick (#11) en route to his feature victory Saturday night."
 

Bell rings in victory; McKinney back on top

By: Betty Glynn

 

La Salle, IL – Sheffield racer Rich Bell took his UMP Late Model on a wild run topside to capture the feature race victory Saturday night at La Salle Speedway.

 

UMP Late Model’s:

Steve Dimmick charged hard to score the fastest timed lap out of the twenty two cars with a time of 13.033. Next he won the first heat event over Mike Glynn, Bell, Bill Rezutek and Jon Small. Bret Sievert took the second heat win in front of Mike Provenzano, Gary Schalmo, Charlie Hess and Roger Rebholz. Scott Schmitt wheeled his way to victory in the final heat beating out Mike Spatola, Jason Jaggers, Mike Fryer and Keith Piano.

 

With the heat contests behind them, the starting grid for the main event was set after a redraw by they top two in each heat. Dimmick and Glynn were on the front row over Schmitt and Provenzano. After the parade lap, a brief side by side run from the front row ensued. Dimmick moved his ride to the high side and started to outrun the field. By the fifth lap, Glynn and Schmitt were putting on a show for the second place running spot. Two laps later as Spatola was trying to enter the infield he found himself in the path of Bell who climbed over his ride’s nose. The contact didn’t slow Bell as he had his sights on nothing but a win no matter what was in his path.

 

In the tenth circuit, Provenzano looped his machine which brought the field back to a nose to tail restart. Three laps later a three wide battle between Glynn, Sievert, and Bell for second ensued while Dimmick pulled into a sizeable lead. Two laps after that Bell took over second and continued his wild journey on the highside to catch the leader. Dimmick was the fastest car on the track for the early laps. During Lap 15, Sievert hit the infield tires buried between turns one and two. Two laps later, the nose of his ride bent under into the track causing a whole in the oil pan and a trip pitside on the hook. After the restart, Bell was heavy on the throttle and made contact with the leader which caused him to drop back a couple spots. Dimmick was able to charge back up to the front.

 

The pace was incredibly quick as Bell led the field. With only four laps to go, a caution for Schmitt and Hess stopped the pace after a lap twenty one restart. No one went to the tail for the restart. At the end of the twenty five lap main Bell was returning to victory lane ahead of Dimmick, Jason Jaggers, Schmitt, Hess, Glynn, Jon Small, Piano, Jeff Small, Doug Zartler, David McAdams, and Matthew McAdams, Joe Jelinek, and Provenzano.

 

UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:

Jamie Lomax qualified fastest with a time of 14.412. He won his heat race in front of Jason Pershy, Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, and Matt Gremminger. Travis Kohler took the second heat while Donovan Lodge, Kyle Neels, Mike Mennel, and Nathan Balensiefen crossed the line after him. Milo Veloz won the final heat ahead of AJ May, Scott May, Chris Amstead, and Charlie Harmon.

 

Lodge rolled onto the pole of the feature grid next to Pershy. Lodge took charge right away but second row starter, Veloz took it away after the second lap and remained uncontested until the end. Lodge trailed the leader until disappearing from the track after the ninth lap.

Veloz collected the win ahead of Kohler, and Scott May. Eighth place starter Lueth traveled up to a fourth place finish in front of Balensiefen, AJ May, Jamie Balensiefen, Mennel, Amstead, Gremminger, Hughes, Harmon, Barry Sauder, and Don Cole.

 

UMP Street Stock’s:

Mike McKinney’s last visit to La Salle ended on a hook but Saturday’s outing was far better for the young gun. McKinney won his heat race over Tony Provenzano, Mike Hughes, John Farris, and Kevin Lenzen. The second heat winner Jake Miller took the checkers ahead of Roger Rickels, Keith Lucas, Nick Sell, and Randy Lucas.

 

McKinney charged from the front row outside to take the lead of their feature event over his seventeen competitors. The entire fifteen laps was the McKinney show as he was unstoppable lap after lap as Rickels gave chase until the final lap when he fell off the pace and dropped back a few spots.

 

With McKinney capturing the win Provenzano ended runner up to Farris, Rickels, Lenzen, Near, Hughes, Sell, Steve Schemlein, and Randy Lucas.

 

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet’s:

Jon Provenzano beat his brother Allen in the first heat race with JR Brown in third, Phil Burdette fourth and Jerry Legner fifth.

 

The Provenzano winning streak ended after both Jon and Allen each left the action. Brown won the main event in grand style over Burdette, Josh Larson, Legner, Don Slover, Nolan Kaufman, Erick Miller and Rich Miller. 

 

Next Saturday night, the Lucas Oil Late Models will top the venue with a $10,000 payday to the winner. The Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Hornets will be competing as well. Pit gates open at 1:00pm, Grandstand at 3:00pm, Racing at 7:30pm. Adults $25.00, Kids 6-11 $5.00, Skybox Seat $30.00, Pit Pass $35.00, Pit Pass & Skybox Seat $45.00.

 

La Salle Speedway Results 05/05/12

 

UMP Late Models: 22 Cars

Qualifying: Steve Dimmick 13.033

Heat 1: Steve Dimmick, Mike Glynn, Rich Bell, Bill Rezutek, Jon Small

Heat 2: Bret Sievert, Mike Provenzano, Gary Schalmo, Charlie Hess, Roger Rebholz

Heat 3: Scott Schmitt, Mike Spatola, Jason Jaggers, Mike Fryer, Keith Piano

Feature: Rich Bell, Steve Dimmick Jason Jaggers, Scot Schmitt, Charlie Hess, Mike Glynn, John Small, Keit Piano, Jeff Small, Doug Zartler, David McAdams, Matthew McAdams, Joe Jelinek, Mike Provenzano, Bret Sievert, Bill Rezutek, Roger Rebholz, Mike Spatola, Gary Schalmo, Mike Fryer, Cameron  Guidi

 

UMP Modifieds: 21 Cars

Qualifying: Jamie Lomax 14.412

Heat 1: Jamie Lomax, Jason Pershy, Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Matt Gremminger

Heat 2: Travis Kohler, Donovan Lodge, Kyle Neels, Mike Meenel, Nathan Balensiefen

Heat 3: Milo Veloz, AJ May, Scott May, Chris Amstead, Charlie Harmon

Feature: Milo Veloz, Travis Kohler, Scott May, Dale Lueth, Nathan Balensiefen, AJ May, Jamie Balensiefen, Mike Mennel, Chris Amstead, Matt Gremminger, Kevin Hughes, Charlie Harmon, Barry Sauder, Don Cole, Ken Fischer, Scott Hauge, Jason Pershy, Austin Hewitt, Jamie Lomax, Donovan Lodge, Kyle Neels

 

UMP Street Stocks: 20 Cars

Heat 1: Mike McKinney, Tony Provenzano, Mike Hughes, John Farris, Kevin Lenzen

Heat 2: Jake Miller, Roger Rickels, Keith Lucas, Nick Sell, Randy Lucas

Feature: Mike McKinney, Tony Provenzano, John Farris, Roger Rickels, Kevin Lenzen, Aaron Near, Mike Hughes, Nick Sell, Steve Schemlein, Randy Lucas, Ben Gallentine, Justin Hamm, Jake Miller, Curtis Radtke, Hugo Lindner, Jim Prokup, Matt Heinrichs, Keith Lucas

 

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 12 Cars

Heat 1: Jon Provenzano, Allen Provenzano, JR Brown, Phil Burdette, Jerry Legner

Feature: JR Brown, Phil Burdette, Josh Larson, Jerry Legner, Don Slover, Nolan Kaufman, Erick Miller, Rich Miller, Jon Provenzano, Allen Provenzano, Nathan Proctor

Next Race: “$5 Night” Saturday April 28th

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 05:58 AM PDT

this saturday night, will be the first $5 fan appreciation night, with racing in all divisions and hornet drivers will battle for a $250 to win prize.

1 hornet winner allen provenzano

2 street stock winner alex clubb

3 the result of the mckinney/ramer incident

4 mod winner jamie lomax

5 late model winner kevin weaver

6 42a shawn toczek, 74 pete parker, 3s brian shirley battle eary in the 25 lap late model race.

Photo submitted by: Dan Simpson, official track photographer.
"Kevin Weaver (B12) passes last week's winner Ryan Unzicker (24) in his quest to carry the field to the finish line. The UMP Late Models traveled all of their laps in the heats and feature races without caution."

Weaver captures the checkers without caution

By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – Kevin Weaver led the pack to a caution free UMP Late Model twenty five lap main at La Salle Speedway Saturday night. Street Stock leaders didn’t play nearly as nice.

UMP Late Model’s:

National Dirt Late Model 2006 Hall of Fame Inductee Pete Parker posted the fastest lap time of 12.913 to top the thirty one competitors. The front row starting spots for the heat races proved to be the coveted beginning as the four heat winners started either on the pole or front row outside. Last week’s winner, Ryan Unzicker, stole the lead during the first lap of the first heat and never looked back. Rich Bell finished second over Shawn Toczek, Jay Morris, and McKay Wenger. Frank Heckanast Jr. started the second heat on the pole and pulled away to an easy win over Parker, Mike Glynn, Steve Thorsten, and Ed Williams Sr.

Weaver took command early during the third heat leaving Mike Provenzano to cross the finish line in second over Bret Sievert, Derek Chandler, and Jay Sparks. Scott Schmitt beat out Brian Shirley, Billy Drake, Aaron Ricketts, and John Rogers in heat four. McKay Wenger won the division’s consi race with Jay Sparks, Roger Rebholz, John Rogers, Jason Jaggers, Matthew McAdams, David McAdams, Jeff Small, Lake Knutti, Joe Jelinek, Ed Williams Sr., Torin Mettille, John Small and Gary Schalmo behind him.

Unzicker and Heckanast were positioned at the top of the feature’s twenty car grid. Weaver and Schmitt in row two. After the first circuit, Weaver shot around Unzicker from the second row inside and had complete command for the next twenty four laps around the bullring. Heckanast faded back in the field while Unzicker chased the leader.

During Lap 7, Weaver’s veteran style was most evident as he was already faced with side by side action at the tail of the field. He maneuvered his way into a three and four wide dance to outdistance his competition that was chasing him.

Weaver was relentless in his quest for the win as the twenty car field managed to perform heavy on the gas caution free. Unzicker claimed the runner up finishing spot ahead of Bell, Parker, Provenzano, Shirley, Drake, Toczek, Schmitt, Glynn, Sparks, Chandler, Heckanast, Rebholz, Morris, Sievert, Wenger, Ricketts, Thorsten and Rogers.

UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:

The Modified class saw a second week of thirty three racers on hand. John Rogers posted the fastest time of 14.343. Dave Porth outran his competition leaving Jeff Curl second over Justin McCoy, Frank Marshall, and Bob Silaggi at the completion of the first heat contest. Jamie Lomax claimed the victory of heat two over Rogers, Dale Lueth, Jason Pershy, and T.D. Burger. Steve Brooks won the third heat in front of Mike Porth, Matt Gremminger, Kevin Hastings and Charlie Harmon. Vince Cooper easily won the final heat in front of Jim Farris, Nathan Balensiefen, Mike Marden, and Doug Sauder.

Bob Silaggi, Charlie Harmon, Andrew Funk and Tim Hamburg transferred to the feature event from their consi race.

Dave Porth led the first two laps of the Modified feature until Jamie Lomax started his campaign to the finish line. He spent much of the twenty laps racing against lapped traffic leaving second place runner Brooks without a trace of the leader. Curl had the third place running position ahead of Jim Farris and Porth.

With only one lap left, the first yellow flag was thrown bringing the pack back together for a single file restart. The nose to tail start positioned the machines in their running order without lapped traffic in their path for a challenge at the lead. From the fourth place spot, Farris was flying topside when he lost control causing another caution to stop the pace. Before the following restart the second place Brooks left the track.

Lomax won with Curl in second ahead of Cooper, and Dave Porth. The twelfth place starter Balensiefen finished a strong fifth over McCoy, Marshall, Mike Porth, Pershy, Hastings, Harmon, Farris, Rogers, Funk, Gremminger, Marden, Silaggi, Hamburg, Brooks, and Lueth.

UMP Street Stock’s:

Matt Ramer charged to victory in the first heat contest over Nick Sell, Jake Miller, Justin Hamm, and Sam Casko. Mike McKinney continued his winning ways after sweeping last week’s division with the second heat win. Alex Clubb finished second in front of Randy Lucas, Keith Miller and Matt Henrichs.

Ramer and McKinney rolled into the first row of the feature grid line up. Right after the start, they were side by side for the lead with McKinney taking the point. During Lap 6, everything changed when Ramer was running the outside line of McKinney. He found his ride up the track at the outside retaining wall. That didn’t stop him as he again was faster on the outside and passed McKinney when the effort was ended with a spun leader out of the action. Ramer’s ride was stopped on the front stretch where as the pack continued racing. Apparently he took the act personally as he waited for the new leader and powered him up the turn three wall like Lightening McQueen. The outcome ended with two wrecked machines returning pitside on the hook.

Clubb who had been running third was now in charge and stayed the leader until the final crossing under the flagstand with Mike Hughes finishing third, Lucas fourth ahead of Jake Miller, AJ Meiferdt, Sell, Curtis Radke, Hamm, Casko, and Aaron Near.

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet’s:

For the second week in a row Allen Provenzano beat his brother John after duking it out early for the lead in the feature race. Roy Alm took third with Jerry Legner, Josh Larson, Tom Happ, Nathan Proctor, Aaron Sutton, Brandon Mallery, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, and Don Slover.

John Provenzano won their division heat ahead of Allen Provenzano, Legner, Larson and Alm.

La Salle Speedway Results 4/21/12

UMP Late Models: 31 Cars

Qualifying: Pete Parker 12.913

Heat 1: Ryan Unzicker, Rich Bell, Shawn Toczek, Jay Morris, McKay Wenger

Heat 2: Frank Heckanast Jr., Pete Parker, Mike Glynn, Steve Thorsten, Ed Williams Sr.

Heat 3: Kevin Weaver, Mike Provenzano, Bret Sievert, Derek Chandler, Jay Sparks

Heat 4: Scott Schmitt, Brian Shirley, Billy Drake, Aaron Ricketts, John Rogers

Consi: McKay Wenger, Jay Sparks, Roger Rebholz, John Rogers, Jason Jaggers, Matthew McAdams, David McAdams, Jeff Small, Lake Knutti, Joe Jelinek, Ed Williams Sr., Torin Mettille, Jon Small, Gary Schalmo

Feature: Kevin Weaver, Ryan Unzicker, Rich Bell, Pete Parker, Mike Provenzano, Brian Shirley, Billy Drake, Shawn Toczek, Scott Schmitt, Mike Glynn, Jay Sparks, Derek Chandler, Frank Heckanast Jr., Roger Rebholz, Jay Morris, Bret Sievert, McKay Wenger, Aaron Ricketts, Steve Thorsten, John Rogers

UMP Modifieds: 33 Cars

Qualifying: John Rogers 14.343

Heat 1: Dave Porth, Jeff Curl, Justin McCoy, Frank Marshall, Bob Silaggi

Heat 2: Jamie Lomax, John Rogers, Dale Lueth, Jason Pershy, T.D. Burger

Heat 3: Steve Brooks, Mike Porth, Matt Gremminger, Kevin Hastings, Charlie Harmon

Heat 4: Vince Cooper, Jim Farris, Nathan Balensiefen, Mike Marden, Doug Sarden

Consi: Bob Silaggi, Charlie Harmon, Andrew Funk, Tim Hamburg, Tim Sorn, T.D. Burger, Chris Morefield, Geno Hewitt, Jamie Balensiefen, Richie Dawson, Kevin Hughes, Tom Knippenberg, Doug Sauder

Feature: Jamie Lomax, Jeff Curl, Vince Cooper, Dave Porth, Nathan Balensiefen, Justin McCoy, Frank Marshall, Mike Porth, Jason Pershy, Kevin Hastings, Charlie Harmon, Jim Farris, John Rogers, Andrew Funk, Matt Gremminger, Mike Marden, Bob Silaggi, Tim Hamburg, Steve Brooks, Dale Lueth

UMP Street Stocks: 17 Cars

Heat 1: Matt Ramer, Nick Sell, Jake Miller, Justin Hamm, Sam Casko

Heat 2: Mike McKinney, Alex Clubb, Randy Lucas, Keith Miller, Matt Henrichs

Feature: Alex Clubb, Mike Hughes, Randy Lucas, Jake Miller, AJ Meiferdt, Nick Sell, Curtis Radke, Justin Hamm, Sam Casko, Aaron Near, Tim Provenzano, Mike McKinney, Matt Ramer, #01, Keith Miller

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 11 Cars

Heat 1: Jon Provenzano, Allen Provenzano, Jerry Legner, Josh Larson, Roy Alm

Feature: Allen Provenzano, Jon Provenzano, Roy Alm, Jerry Legner, Josh Larson, Tom Happ, Nathan Proctor, Aaron Sutton, Brandon Mallery, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Don Slover

Congratulations to our Feature Winners on April 21st!

Photo submitted by Track Photographer Dan Simpson. "Ryan Unzicker (#24) works the outside of Shawn Toczek (#42a) en route to his Late Model feature victory at La Salle Speedway"

Unzicker throttles into Victory Lane; Allen sweeps Modified’s

By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – Twenty one UMP Late Model racers along with thirty four UMP Open Wheel Modified drivers kicked off the 2012 regular racing season at La Salle Speedway Saturday night with impressive divisional car counts and exciting racing.

UMP Late Model’s:

Russ Scheffler traveled the quickest lap during qualifying with a fast time of 13.091. He started the first heat event but rolled to a stop during the third circuit. His evening ended with the mechanical woes. With Scheffler off the helm, Shawn Toczek took the lead with Tim Isenberg and Mike Glynn following. Mike Spatola ended Glynn’s heat run by taking him into a spin over the infield tires. At the finish line, Toczek narrowly beat out the low running Spatola with Steve Dimmick third ahead of Isenberg and Matt Furman.

Unzicker lead flag to flag from the pole of the second heat race. He was unstoppable at times generating a decent section of real estate between him and Scott Schmitt with Bret Sievert running a strong third. As the contenders were finishing the final lap, Schmitt had reeled in the leader but not enough to challenge him for the checkers. The heat finish was Unzicker, Schmitt, Sievert, Mike Provenzano, and Rich Bell.

Toczek and Unzicker sat at the top of the feature grid with Spatola and Schmitt rolling into the second row as Dimmick and Sievert took their spots in row three. When the green was signaled, an all out duel ensued between the front row pair. Two cautions in the second lap didn’t halt their battle for long as they picked up right where they left off until the fourth lap when Unzicker took command. He was unstoppable and pulled away from the pack dodging lapped traffic in the process.  

Unzicker’s ride was dialed into the exact setup for the bullring running over twenty laps unchallenged. As he was about to take the white flag lap, a caution for Rich Bell brought the pack back to a single file restart for one last chance at the win. Unzicker led the single file format restart with Isenberg now in second ahead of Toczek, Sievert, Spatola, Dimmick, Jason Jaggers, and Schmitt.

Without question, Unzicker was the man to beat capturing the victory over Isenberg, Sievert, Toczek, Spatola, Dimmick, Jaggers, Schmitt, Torin Mettille, Furman, Provenzano, Glynn, Bell, Lake Knutti, Steve Thorsten, John Small, and Jeff Small.

UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:

Nick Allen posted the fastest timed lap beating out the thirty three other entrants with a quick time of 14.425. Just after the start of the first heat contest, the leaders got sideways down the back stretch with a horrific flip by Nathan Balensiefen. With no where to go, Jamie Lomax smashed nose first into his crashed ride. Both drivers were able to exit their machines on their own but their cars both suffered significant damage. Allen held on to take the win with Vince Cooper finishing second in front of Milo Veloz, Kyle Neels, and Cody Bauman.

Dave Porth won the next heat over Donovan Lodge, AJ May, Jason Pershy, and Mike Porth. Jim Farris collected the third heat contest in front of Collin Thirlby, Austin Hewitt, Darcy Wey, and Jamie Balensiefen. Justin McCoy won the consi over Andrew Funk, Tom Knippenberg, Kevin Hughes, and Chris Morefield. The top five finishers for both the heat and consi races were transferred into the main event.

Before the first lap of the twenty lap feature could be scored, three and four wide battles were well underway. The pace was set wide open with Farris, Cooper, Dave Porth, Allen, Thirlby and Lodge all battling to take the lead. By the second lap, it was Farris leading the field of hot rods over Cooper with Allen close on his back bumper. During Lap 8, Allen took the outside line for an attempt at the lead. Farris managed to hang on even pulling away at times.

A caution on the thirteenth lap positioned Allen with a birdseye view of the leader in the single file restart. It didn’t take Allen long to attempt a higher line run on the outside of Farris for a side by side dance. Allen’s choice of a higher groove paid off as most of the front runners were all in a low line. He took the lead with only a few laps left charging his way to victory lane. Farris led the most laps in his impressive run finishing second over Lodge, Cooper, Thirlby, Andrew Funk, Dave Porth, Pershy, Bauman, Morefield, Neels, AJ May, McCoy, Knippenberg, Mike Porth, Jamie Balensiefen, and Hewitt.

UMP Street Stock’s:

Mike McKinney won the only heat event for the fourteen car Street Stock division over Mike Hughes, Kevin Lenzen, Cody Gibson and Keith Miller. Feature pole sitter Hughes was in charge of the main’s first eight laps until McKinney worked the bottom of the track to take the lead. Once he was out front, Hughes continued to be a contender for the lead providing heat until the final two laps when McKinney outran his challenge.

Hughes took second over Lenzen, Gibson, Jake Miller, Aaron Near, Keith Miller, Nick Sell, Matt Heinrichs, Steven Schwemlein, Curtis Radtke, Hamm, Joe Brown, and Michael Prokup.

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet’s:

Thirteen UMP 4 Cylinder cars were in attendance for the regular season opener. Rick Zifko won their heat race over Allen Provenzano, Peter Hayes, Jon Provenzano and Tyler Benson.

A couple laps into their feature race, the ride of Dull (#56) turned into a moving inferno as it became completely engulfed in flames leaving a ring of fire in its wake. The driver managed to get out on the front stretch as the fire crew quickly extinguished the fiery scene.

Once back in action Allen Provenzano was the man to beat. He made a valiant return to victory lane ahead of his brother Jon with Benson in third followed by Jerry Legner, Zifko, Hayes, Zac Bollinger, Luke Gash, and Crystal Provenzano Broyles.

Next Week:

April 21 – Weekly Super Show for all divisions

La Salle Speedway Results 4/14/12

UMP Late Models: 21 Cars

Qualifying: Russ Scheffler 13.091

Heat 1: Shawn Toczek, Mike Spatola, Steve Dimmick, Steve Thorsten, Matt Furman

Heat 2: Ryan Unzicker, Scott Schmitt, Bret Sievert, Mike Provenzano, Rich Bell

Feature: Ryan Unzicker, Tim Isenberg, Bret Sievert, Shawn Toczek, Mike Spatola, Steve Dimmick, Jason Jaggers, Scott Schmit, Torin Mettile, Matt Furman, Mike Provenzano, Mike Glynn, Rich Bell, Lake Knutti, Steve Thorsten, John Small, Jeff Small, Joe Jelinek, Tom Duncan, Tim Provenzano

UMP Modifieds: 34 Cars

Qualifying: Nick Allen 14.425

Heat 1: Nick Allen, Vince Cooper, Milo Veloz, Kyle Neels, Cody Bauman

Heat 2: Dave Porth, Donovan Lodge, AJ May, Jason Pershy, Mike Porth

Heat 3: Jim Farris, Collin Thirlby, Austin Hewitt, Darcy Wey, Jamie Balensiefen

Consi: Justin McCoy, Andrew Funk, Tom Knippenberg, Kevin Hughes, Chris Morefield, Rick Thomas, Mike Marden, Mike Mennel, Scott Hauge, Don Cole, Richie Dawson

Feature: Nick Allen, Jim Farris, Donovan Lodge, Vince Cooper, Collin Thirlby, Andrew Funk, Dave Porth, Jason Pershy, Cody Bauman, Chris Morefield, Kyle Neels, AJ May, Justin McCoy, Tom Knippenberg, Mike Porth, Jamie Balensiefen, Austin Hewitt, Kevin Hughes, Darcy Wey, Milo Veloz

UMP Street Stocks: 14 Cars

Heat 1: Mike McKinney, Mike Hughes, Kevin Lenzen, Cody Gibson, Keith Miller

Feature: Mike McKinney, Mike Hughes, Kevin Lenzen, Cody Gibson, Jake Miller, Aaron Near, Keith Miller, Nick Sell, Matt Hinrichs, Steven Schwemlein, Curtis Radtke, Hamm, Joe Brown, Michael Prokup

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 13 Cars

Heat 1: Rick Zifko, Allen Provenzano, Peter Hayes, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Tyler Benson

Feature: Allen Provenzano, Jon Provenzano, Tyler Benson, Jerry Legner, Rick Zifko, Peter Hayes, Zac Bollinger, Luke Gash, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Dull, Aaron Sutton, Brandon Mallery, Erick Miller

Erb Hot at LaSalle’s Thaw Brawl
pics by Rocky Ragusa

got a new camera and was practice day for it

LaSalle, Ill. (4/07/12) LaSalle Speedway began their 20^th year of racing action Saturday night with the running of the “Thaw Brawl” sanctioned by UMP. The featured class the UMP late model class, paid $5000 to the winner of the 40 lap race.

 32 drivers took time trials and Bret Sievert, planning to run for the track championship, earning fast time honors at a 13.272. Sievert, along with Dennis Erb Jr , Frank Heckenast Jr, and Brandon Sheppard winning heat races. Gary Schalmo and Scott Bull advanced to the feature by winning the two semi features.

 Sheppard and Sievert started on the front row. Sievert took command at the start, while Sheppard had to contend with Erb. Erb got by Sheppard for second on lap 4 and began reeling in Sievert. On the eight lap, Sievert and Erb ran side by side, before Erb took the lead on the 10^th circuit. Erb began to distance himself from the field, while Heckenast put the heat on Sheppard, in a race for the third spot. Erb’s rapid pace was only slowed temporarily as he worked slower cars beginning on lap 14. Heckenast got by Sheppard on the 15^th lap and closed up on Sievert. Heckenast moved around Sievert on lap 18, while Erb held a straight away lead on the field. At the halfway mark with Erb leading Heckenast, Sievert had his hands full, trying to hold off Sheppard, Brian Birkhofer, Brian Shirley, Ryan Unzicker, and Shannon Babb. Birkhofer moved to third on lap 22 and closed up to Heckenast. Birkhofer was on Heckenast’s bumper by lap 30 and three laps later, had got by, and pulled away. Time had run out for Birkhofer, as 1994 track champion, Erb, took his third win of the year. Birkhofer, Heckenast, Babb, Unzicker, Sievert, Shirley, Kevin Weaver, Sheppard, and Tyler Reddick completed the top 10.

 In the 25 lap UMP modified race, “The Lethal One”, Dave Porth starting on the outside, front row alongside, Ray Bollinger, took the lead at the start of the race. Porth went uncontested until several late race cautions made things interesting. After a lap 17 caution, Bollinger made his presence know, putting the bumper to Porth. After a caution on the 20^th lap, Porth motored away from the field to pick up the $1000 to win special. Bollinger, Jamie Lomax, Donovan Lodge, Jacob Poel, Milo Veloz, Butch Weisser, Gary Cook Jr, Kevin Hastings, and Phil Line taking the top ten positions. 46 modified drivers were on hand, with Erik Bruce setting quick time at a 14.62. Bollinger, Lodge, Porth, Lomax, and Weisser won heat races, while Hastings and Vince Cooper taking the two semi features.

 Mike McKinney began his year at LaSalle as he started. McKinney ended the 2011 year with a feature win at his home track and began 2012 with a victory in the $300 to win, UMP street stock race. Jake Miller, Mike Hughes, Joe Brown, and Nick Sell took the top five spots. McKinney won the lone heat race for the 11 cars on hand.

 The 4 cylinder/ Hornet drivers ended the night and Michael Gosselt took the $150 to win race. Peter Hayes, Jake Greensly, Shane Kelly, and Bryce Garnhart were the top five. John Provenzano and Zach Bollinger won heat races.

 Next week, LaSalle Speedway will host a weekly program of late models, modifieds, street stocks, and hornets. On May 12^th, the Lucas Oil Late Model series invades the track with a $10,000 to win feature.

Erb heats up the Thaw Brawl

By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – Thirty two UMP Late Model teams stormed the Illinois Valley area for La Salle Speedway’s opening day on Saturday night. The Thaw Brawl proved to not be a challenge for Dennis Erb Jr. who claimed the Easter weekend title.

UMP Late Models:

Bret Sievert scored the fastest lap overall with a time of 13.272. Four heat race line ups were determined based on the group qualifying results. Sievert and Jason Feger took their spots on the front row of the first heat contest. Sievert took charge early with Feger making his way up to his driver door by the fourth lap but he faded back a few car lengths quickly. Sievert pulled into a comfortable lead leaving Feger and Ryan Unzicker to battle for second. Sievert took the checkers with Unzicker beating Feger to the line for the second place finish and Jay Morris earned the final transfer spot.

Erb was uncontested from start to finish beating Brian Shirley, Shawn Toczek, and Rich Bell in the second heat. Frank Heckenast Jr. won the third heat from the front row outside over fourth place starter Brian Birkhofer, Steve Dimmick and Russ Scheffler. Brandon Sheppard held off a strong run by Tyler Reddick to capture the final heat victory. Kevin Weaver and Shannon Babb finished behind them.

Gary Schalmo and Scott Bull each won the B-Main’s.

Sheppard and Sievert topped the grid on the lead row in front of Heckenast and Erb. Unzicker and Shirley were behind them in row three. When the green flag dropped, Sievert was in command with Sheppard lower on the track. During the sixth circuit, Erb was working on passing Sheppard and eyeing the leader. Two laps later, he effortlessly took charge of the pack.

Erb generated a great deal of real estate and outdistanced the competition by Lap 11. Sievert was holding his own in the runner up position while Heckenast and Sheppard duked it out for third.

At the half way point of the race, Erb was leading by nearly half a track. His only challenge was lapped traffic that seemed to stall his smooth operation. With seven laps remaining, seventh place starter Birkhofer moved to the outside of Heckenast for the second place running position. Two laps later, Erb appeared to be a sitting duck as Birkhofer was able to reel him in a bit closing the gap.

Erb’s ride looked seamless from the first lap to the fortieth en route to his $5,000 payday. The former La Salle champion earned the Thaw Brawl title with complete ease. He was dead on with car set up and tires for the drier than normal conditions of the high banks. Birkhofer claimed an impressive second over Babb, Unzicker, Sievert and Shirley.

UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:

Forty six contenders in the Open Wheel Modified class offered up stiff competition for the twenty five lap main special paying $1,000 to the winner.

Former regular at La Salle, Ray Bollinger earned the pole next to Dave Porth with Jamie Lomax and Donovan Lodge in the second row. Porth shot off to a quick lead with Bollinger close behind him. Bollinger worked hard to take control but Porth seemed to have his car dialed in exactly where he wanted it. The running order stayed the same much of the race as Bollinger couldn’t gain momentum enough to challenge the leader. A couple late race restarts opened the door for him to give Porth a better run for his money but the leader had the stronger machine. At the finish line, it was Porth winning over Bollinger, Lomax, Lodge, Jacob Poel, Milo Veloz, Weisser, Gary Cook, Kevin Hastings, Phil Line and Scooter May.

UMP Street Stock’s:

Mike McKinney swept the Street Stock class taking home both the heat and feature victories.  The car count on opening night was a little low for the class with only eleven drivers in attendance. McKinney won over Jake Miller, Mike Hughes, Joe Brown, Nick Sell, Matt Ramer, Matt Hennchs, and Wayne Orrick.

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet’s:

Michael Gosselt claimed the top honors for the 4 Cylinder division beating out Peter Hayes, Jake Greensly, Shane Kelly, Bryce Garnhart, Jerry Legner, Tom Happ, Freddy Thatcher, Don Slover, and Josh Miller.

Next Week:

April 14 – Weekly Super Show for all divisions

Thaw Brawl 40

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 05:04 PM PDT

2012 LaSalle Speedway Season Pass now available

Night Before the Brawl & Thaw Brawl 40

Rule Change Clarification

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 12:05 PM PST

LaSalle 2012 Payout & Rule Changes

LaSalle Speedway will be attending the Racers Performance Expo February 25th and 26th in St. Charles, Illinois check out the shows website at http://www.raceperformanceexpo.com/Home.htm

Stop by the LaSalle Speedway booth to register to win prizes, pick up a 2012 schedule, or purchase your season pass.