2003kankakeetr

 

Sept 19, 2003
thanks to Smash for the story, followed by the official results from Ryan Offermann

Don "The Real Deal" O'Neal scored the hat trick tonight at the Kankakee Motor Speedway, visiting victory lane for the third year straight in the Kevin Roderick Memorial event. O'Neal was the class of the field in his Petroff Towing, AFCO Race Products B Auto Parts, O'Neal Wood Products, Hoosier by Smash, Pro Powered C.J. Rayburn chassied #71.

After an early mishap in last nights action, and O'Neal being relegated to the tail of tyhe field, O'Neal came from the rear to second and fell one spot short of a visit to victory lane, but Don would not be relegated to second tonight, swapping positions with Mr. Smooth, Billy Moyer from last nights finish.

53 cars took to the track for qualifying and Moyer outqualified young gun Jason Fegers by 1/1000th of a second to claim the top spot with a
time of 13.815.

Heat races were won by Billy Drake over Moyer, Russ Sheffler and Donnie Walden. John Provenzano over Jason Fegers, Richie Hedrick and Wes Steidinger. O'Neal over Shannon Babb, Rick Aukland and Ted Loomis. Steve Hillard over Kevin Weaver, Ryan Dauber and Gary May. Brett Sievert over Frank Reaber, Roger Long and Frank Heckenast.

The five heat winners would run a dash after the heats to establish the first 5 starting positions and Bret Sievert topped the dash ahead of O'Neal, Drake, Provenzano and Hillard.

The consi's were won by Eric Kwasigroh ahead of Tony Izzo, Jr. and Randy Korte over Bob Pierce.

The feature was fast and furious from the drop of the green to the 75th circuit with 3 wide racing at points in the mid-pack. Bob Pierce ran a steady pace on the bottom of the track following the cue of Kevin Weaver and Rick Aukland who also advanced on the hub.

Following O'Neal at the stripe were Moyer, Weaver, Pierce from the 24th starting position, Aukland, Fegers, Reaber, Kwasigroh, Korte, Dauber, Heckenast and Walden.

A special thanks to all who wished me a Happy 40th Birthday, I hope I have 40 more to spend in the sport that I love, doing what I love to do!
The worst night at the races is still always better than the best day at any football game, baseball game or round of golf!

See ya in winners circle!

53 Late Models on hand. 21 Moyer set fast time- 13.815
 

thanks to Ryan Offermann for the official results
Heat 1
1. 9 Drake
2. 21 Moyer
3. 74 R. Scheffler
4. 1w Walden
5. 18k Kwasigroh
6. 32 Pierce
7. 11L Legrand
8. 2B Toczek
9. 25 Roderick
10. 17 Miller
11. 17 Turner

Heat 2
1. 7 Provenzano
2. 25 Feger
3. 0 Hedrick
4. s9 Steidinger
5. 27 Melvin
6. 2B Metz
7. 28 Patterson
8. 48 Brach
9. z28 R. Harlan
10. 45 Schwartz
11. 28 Erb

Heat 3
1. 71 Oneal
2. 18 Babb
3. 12 Aukland
4. 23 Loomis
5. 16 Izzo
6. 10 Parker
7. 27 M. Provenzano
8. 6s B. Slager
9. 3E Snyder
10. 7 Letizia
11. 38 Anderson

Heat 4
1. 47 Hillard
2. B12 Weaver
3. 64 Dauber
4. 45 May
5. 00 Korte
6. 4 M. Slager
7. 114 Treadway
8. 20 Dixon
9. 1m Mataragas
10. 52 Mathew

Heat 5
1. 5 Sievert
2. 7 Reaber
3. 36 Long
4. 99 Heckenast
5. 14 Partipillo
6. 61 Wilson
7. Z J. Harlan
8. 19 G. Slager
9. 76 Routson
10. 92 Potts

Dash
1. 5 Sievert
2. 71 Oneal
3. 9 Drake
4. 7 Provenzano
5. 47 Hillard

Consi 1
1. 18k Kwasigroh
2. 16 Izzo
3. 28 Erb
4. Z J. Harlan
5. 4 M. Slager
6. 7 Letizia
7. 27 M. Provenzano
8. 20 Dixon
9. 11L Legrand
10. 25 Roderick
11. 48 Brach
12. 17 Miller
13. 10 Parker
14. 3E Snyder
15. 14 Partipillo

Consi 2
1. 00 Korte
2. 32 Pierce
3. 27 Mevlin
4. 2B Toczek
5. 1m Mataragas
6. 19 G. Slager
7. 76 Routson
8. 28 Patterson
9. 45 Schwartz
10. 2m Metz
11. 114 Treadway
12. 6s B. Slager
13. 61 Wilson
14. z28 R. Harlan

Feature
Finish Driver Start
1. 71 Oneal(2)
2. 21 Moyer(6)
3. B12 Weaver(9)
4. 32 Pierce(24)
5. 12 Aukland(13)
6. 25 Feger(7)
7. 7 Reaber(10)
8. 18k Kwasigroh(21)
9. 00 Korte(22)
10. 64 Dauber(14)
11. 99 Heckenast(20)
12. 1w Walden(16)
13. 9 Drake(3)
14. 23 Loomis(18)
15. 18 Babb(8)
16. s9 Steidinger(17)
17. 47 Hillard(5)
18. 36 Long(15)
19. 16 Izzo(23)
20. 0 Hedrick(12)
21. 7 Provenzano(4)
22. 5 Sievert(1)
23. 74 R. Scheffler(11)
24. 45 May(19)

Hard Charger goes to 32 Pierce who started 24 to finish 4. Picking up 20 spots in the feature

Non Qualifier Feature
1. Z J. Harlan
2. 1m Mataragas
3. 19 G. Slager
4. 76 Routson
5. 2B Toczek
6. 27 M. Provenzano
7. 4 M. Slager
8. 28 Patterson
9. 11L Legrand
10. z28 R. Harlan
11. 6s B. Slager
12. 7 Letizia
13. 17 Miller
14. 114 Treadway
15. 48 Brach

 

Thursday, Sept 18, 2003
Thanks to Smash for the story

Billy Moyer shook the monkey off his back, claiming the final Challenge of Champions event and earned a qualifier spot in the season finale $15,000 to win to be held October 4th at the I-55 Speedway.

Moyer who has experienced a lackluster year thus far, showed why he has earned the name Mr.Smooth and took his Dickens powered Rayburn Chassis from his 12th starting position to the front, taking the lead from teammate Shannon Babb on lap 16 and never looked back in what was a finish reminiscent of the PETROFF POSSE days with three of the original clan filling the top 3 positions, and claiming the $2,000.00 winners share in a tune-up for tomorrow evenings $15,000 to win Kevin Roderick Memorial race.

Babb started the evening by recording the fast time with a lap of 13.932, as the only car in the 13 second barrier.

The dash was captured by Babb from his 5th starting position as he took the checkers ahead of Rodney Melvin, Don O'Neal, Randy Korte, Eric Smith, Jason Feger, Robert Pohlman, Kevin Weaver and Roger Long who was a DNF.

The first heat was captured by Lil' John Provenzano over Wes Steidinger, Bruce Unterbrink. Non transfer positions were filled by Richie Hedrick, Kerry Mathews, Jammie Wilson, #2m?.

The second heat went to Kevin Weaver over Moyer, and Ryan Dauber with non transfers following: Frank Reaber, Don Hammer, Mike Provenzano, Garret Slager, Larry LeGrand and Brandon Slager.

Third heat honors went to Herb Sheffler over Rick Aukland and Steve Hillard. Consi-bound cars followed: Joe Harlan, Pete Parker, #45?, #z28?, Jim Latizia and Matt Slager.

The fourth and final heat would transfer Ted Loomis, Dennis Erb and Corey Turner with Frank Heckenast, Tony Izzo, Jr., Jim Partipillo, Jay Fiene, Rylan Dagg, Bob Anderson and Kyle Roderick finding themselves headed for one of the two consi races.

The first consi was topped by Harlan over Wilson followed by Mathews, Hedrick, Dick Potts, z28, Latizia, M. .Slager and #45.

The second consi would fill the fiel with the final two positions going to Izzo, Jr. and Reaber. Thos loading up for the night were Hammer, Partipillo, Fiene, Dagg, Heckenast, G. Slager, M. Provenzano, LeGrand and S. Slager.

The feature finish was as follows:

1. Billy Moyer
2. Don O'Neal
3. Shannon Babb
4. Jason Feger
5. Rodney Melvin
6. Randy Korte
7. Corey Turner
8. Kevin Weaver
9. Herb Sheffler
10. Eric Smith
11. Tony Izzo, Jr.
12. Ryan Dauber
13. Steve Hillard
14. Frank Reaber
15. Dennis Erb
16. Jammie Wilson -1lap

47 late models were on hand for tonights tune up for the KEVIN RODERICK Memorial tomorrow night which is expected to draw in excess of 65 cars in a chase for the $15,000 winners share!

Thursday, September 18th, UMP Challenge of Champions, $2,000 TW. Gates open at 5pm, hot laps 6:15pm, time trials 7pm, races 8pm. includes modifieds and street stocks. Adult general $15, kids free, pits $25.
Friday, September 19th, Kevin Roderick Memorial, $15,000 TW. $500 fast qualifier award plus non-qualifier feature(s) for all late models not making the show.
Lots of prizes given away including two bicycles (compliments of Nelson Motorsports). Gates open at 4pm, hot laps 6:15pm, time trials 7pm, races 8pm. Adult General $25, kids $10, pits $35. includes modifieds and street stocks. Past winners of Roderick include Moyer in 2000, and O'Neal in 2001 and 2002.
Awards banquet will be held Friday, November 14th. Tickets will be on sale at the racetrack on Thursday and Friday.

Roderick Memorial rescheduled from August 29 to August 31....now rescheduled to Sept. 19, with UMP Challenge of Champions Sept 18.

August 15, 2003
Late Models
28 Late Models take time
99 Heckenast sets fast time 14.134

Dash
7 J. Provenzano
64 Dauber
36 Long
s9 Steidinger
99 Heckenast
Z Harlan

Heat 1
33 Steele
52 Mathew
4 M. Slager
6s B. Slager
19 G. Slager
45 Hammer
11L Legrand
56 Shelly
3E Snyder
20 Dixon

Heat 2
1W Walden
27 M. Provenzano
17 Turner
25 Roderick
25 Feger
17 Stetler
27 Gall
27 Pohlman
55 Toczek

Heat 3
23 Loomis
7 J. Provenzano
99 Heckenast
Z Harlan
s9 Steidinger
45 May
64 Dauber
61 Wilson

Consi
1W Walden
27 Gall
19 G. Slager
6s B. Slager
27 Provenzano
52 Mathew
33 Steele
3E Snyder
56 Shelly
25 Roderick
4 M. Slager
11L Legrand

Feature
36 Long
7 J. Provenzano
64 Dauber
Z Harlan
27 Pohlman
s9 Steidinger
99 Heckenast
17 Turner
23 Loomis
1W Walden
19 G. Slager
61 Wilson
27 Gall
6s B. Slager
17 Stetler
45 May
25 Feger
55 Toczek

Modifieds
Dash
25 Porth
1k Kroll
11 Rhyne
27G Gall
28 Bachman
69 Farris

Heat 1
130 Osterhoff
5 Purcell
07 Hughes
35 J. Hastings
7 Head
R3 Ritter
51 Mosier
11 Warner

Heat 2
36 K. Hastings
D1 Dehm
J16 Lakey
96 Lueth
40 Reynolds
23JR Funk
95 Ricketts
0 Kohler
23T Thomas

Heat 3
83 Bull
25 Porth
1k Kroll
66 Line
11 Rhyne
27G Gall
68 Bachman
69 Farris

Consi
0 Kohler
J16 Lakey
35 J. Hastings
23T Thomas
5 Purcell
11 Warner
R3 Ritter
07 Hughes

Feature
11 Rhyne
25 Porth
1k Kroll
83 Bull
68 Bachman
27G Gall
D1 Dehm
40 Reynolds
96 Lueth
23JR Funk
66 Line
36 K. Hastings
0 Kohler
95 Ricketts
23T Thomas
J16 Lakey
35 J. Hastings
69 Farris
 

Long, Rhyne, Osterhoff all victorious at Kankakee
 
by Paul D. Bayne
 
KANKAKEE, IL (August 15) - With other tracks around Illinois already concluding their points battles, several drivers have decided to shake things down at Kankakee Motor Speedway on Friday nights for the remainder of the year.  One such driver is Roger Long of Fithian, IL, who recently captured the track championship at Farmer City Raceway, an hour south of Kankakee. 
 
Long, the 49-year-old veteran driver, started the 30-lap feature event in the third slot, took command of the event on lap five, but not without polesitter and early race leader John Provenzano of Marseilles, IL putting up a valiant fight.  Provenzano, and everyone in the state of Illinois for that matter, knows that Roger Long is hell on wheels if he can run the top side of a race track.  With that in mind, Provenzano moved off the bottom to the top to block Long's run as long as he could.  Needless to say, Long wasted little time in dropping to the hub to get by Provenzano and leave the battle for second up to everyone else.  By lap 10, Long's lead was nearly a straightaway over Provenzano, Joe Harlan, Ryan Dauber, and Wes Steidinger.  Chasing that group were fast qualifier Frank Heckenast, Bob Pohlman Jr., Corey Turner, Ted Loomis, and newcomer Donnie Walden of Towanda, IL. 
 
Only moments earlier did both Harlan and Dauber slip past Steidinger in turn two as Steidinger bobbled a bit upon the exit.  Walden, making his first appearance of the season, had to capture the consolation event to make the field after a disappointing qualifying effort as the night's festivities began. 
 
As the race approached the midway point, Long and Provenzano had separated themselves from the field, but all eyes were on the battle for third between Harlan and Dauber.  Seemingly never more than a half-car length apart for the duration of the final 15 laps, they took turns swapping the position countless times before Dauber eventually won out at the line. 
 
As Long worked his way past several lap cars to take the checkered flag, he was followed to the stripe by Provenzano, Dauber, Harlan, Pohlman, Steidinger, Heckenast, Turner, Loomis, and Walden. 
 
Harlan, who sustained a lethal blow to his points lead a year ago on the final night with a flat tire, padded his lead for the track championship with the fourth place run.  Heading into next week's season points finale, Harlan leads Corey Turner by 47 points, and Provenzano by 65 points.  Barring an unforeseen collapse, Harlan needs to do little more than sign in and make the show, as he appears to have his title hopes locked up this year.  In fact, if Harlan qualifies within the top 14 next Friday night, he will lock up the championship, as the best Turner could do with a win (and a heat win) is finish one point behind.
 
Heat race wins were captured by Chuck Steele, Walden, and Loomis, while Walden also captured the consi.  John Provenzano opened the night by claiming the six-lap dash.
 
In Open-wheeled modified action, it seems like it's been since last year since Matt Rhyne of Chesterton, IN last visited victory lane, and by God it has been!  Rhyne, the defending track champion of a year ago, picked his first win of the season as he got by Dave Porth and Tommy Kroll near the midway mark, and held on to secure the win. 
 
Rhyne, who started third, took his White Lumber/Reaber Transport/Peterson Aluminum/ Pierce Chassis/Rhyne Competition Engines entry to the front with a nifty move off of turn two and powered past early race leader Porth.  "We had our struggles this year for sure," said Rhyne, "but tonight we finally put it all together, and let me tell you, it feels good," he added. 
 
Following Rhyne to the stripe were Porth, Kroll, Scott Bull, Matt Bachman, R.J. Gall, Lance Dehm, Tim Reynolds, Dale Lueth, and
Joel Funk.  Bull, the rookie driver from Fairbury, continues to impress fans with a season best finish at KMS.
 
Win the win, Rhyne keeps his hopes alive to claim his second consecutive track title.  The top four in points are separated by a mere 31 points with Lance Dehm leading the way with 440, Tommy Kroll 430, Matt Bachman 421, and Rhyne at 409.  With only one race left to decide the title (August 22nd) everything is up for grabs and may the best man win!
 
Heat race triumphs went to Chad Osterhoff, Kevin Hastings, and Bull, while Porth won the dash, and Travis Kohler took the consi. 
 
Street stocks action also proved to be very exciting as Chad Osterhoff edged out Darrin Kohler at the line for the win.  Coming off of turn four on the final lap, Osterhoff and Kohler made door-to-door contact, then Osterhoff got a nudge from behind that pushed him by Kohler at the stripe.  Kohler had led every lap up to that point, and appeared to have another win in sight, but Osterhoff hustled by others on the bottom before closing in on Kohler.
 
Billy Wicker, who held the points lead coming into the night, found himself slapped up against the water barrels in turn two near the midway mark of the race.  Wicker was able to return but lost a lot of ground to Osterhoff who took over the points battle by 37 points.  Wicker was riding comfortably along behind Osterhoff in third when he slipped off the track in turn two and could not recover in time.  The car was not heavily damaged, thanks to the water barrels, but Wicker was slightly sore and shaken afterwards complaining of a pounding headache.
 
Another driver who continues to impress and rise up the ranks is Jake Howard of Manteno.  Howard, a former standout in the karting and midget ranks, finished with a season-best third place run, and was locked solidly in the top five all race long.  Won't be long before we see another new face in victory lane at Kankakee.
 
Following Osterhoff, Kohler, and Howard, were defending track champion Kevin Lenzen, Rick LaFine, Don McCarty, Jay Hamilton, Norm Nesselrodt, Mike Cavanaugh, and Donnie Lutz.  Nesselrodt, car owner for the #41 machine normally campaigned by Steve McCarty, was filling in for McCarty while he nurses a sore shoulder.
 
Heat races were won by Osterhoff, Darrin Kohler, and Lenzen, while Nesselrodt won the consi, and Cavanaugh claimed the dash.
 
Next Friday night (August 22nd) concludes the regular season points championships for all drivers at Kankakee Motor Speedway, but several other big events remain on the docket.  August 29th, KMS will once again host the Kevin Roderick Memorial race for late models.  Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN has had a stranglehold on this coveted title the past two years that pays an enormous $15,000 to the winner.  It is one of perhaps the most coveted championships a driver can own in the state of Illinois.  Drivers will come from several states including Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois.  Last year, even Kansas was represented with the entry of Gary Gorby.  Some drivers expected for this huge show include Shannon Babb, Bob Pierce, Don O'Neal, Billy Moyer, Darren Miller, Mark Burgtorf, Pete Parker, Russ Scheffler, Bret Sievert, Kevin Weaver, Billy Drake, Ryan Dauber, Roger Long, and Dennis Erb Jr.
 
Also, September 19th, Kankakee Motor Speedway will host the UMP Challenge of Champions for late models.  The night will also include a full program of racing for street stocks and modifieds. 
 
Complete Race Summary

LATE MODELS (28)

99 Frank Heckenast sets fast time 14.134

Dash - 1. 7 John Provenzano  2. 64 Ryan Dauber  3. 36 Roger Long  4. s9 Wes Steidinger  5. 99 Frank Heckenast  6. Z Joe Harlan

Heat 1 - 1. 33 Chuck Steele  2. 52 Kerry Mathew  3. 4 Matt Slager  4. 6s Brandon Slager  5. 19 Garrett Slager  6. 45 Don Hammer
7. 11L Larry Legrand  8. 56 Brad Shelly  9. 3E Kent Snyder  10. 20 A.J. Dixon

Heat 2 -  1. 1W Donnie Walden  2. 27 Mike Provenzano  3. 17 Corey Turner  4. 25 Kyle Roderick  5. 25 Jason Feger  6. 17 Mark  Stetler
7. 27 R.J. Gall  8. 27 Bob Pohlman Jr.  9. 55 Shawn Toczek

Heat 3 - 1. 23 Ted Loomis  2. 7 J. Provenzano  3. 99 Heckenast  4. Z Harlan  5. s9 Steidinger  6. 45 Gary May  7. 64 Dauber  8. 61 Jammie Wilson

Consi - 1. 1W Walden  2. 27 Gall  3. 19 G. Slager  4. 6s B. Slager  5. 27 M. Provenzano  6. 52 Mathew  7. 33 Steele  8. 3E Snyder
9. 56 Shelly  10. 25 Roderick  11. 4 M. Slager  12. 11L Legrand

Feature - 1. 36 Long  2. 7 J. Provenzano  3. 64 Dauber  4. Z Harlan  5. 27 Pohlman  6. s9 Steidinger  7. 99 Heckenast  8. 17 Turner
9. 23 Loomis  10. 1W Walden  11. 19 G. Slager  12. 61 Wilson  13. 27 Gall  14. 6s B. Slager  15. 17 Stetler  16. 45 May  17. 25 Feger
18. 55 Toczek

RANK CAR # DRIVER POINTS
1. Z JOE HARLAN 425
2. 17 COREY TURNER 378
3. 7 JOHN PROVENZANO 360
4. 23 TED LOOMIS 337
5. 7 FRANK REABER 327
6. 27 BOB POHLMAN, JR. 308
7. 99 FRANK HECKENAST 302
8. 45 GARY MAY 241
9. 19 GARRETT SLAGER 223
10. 27 R.J. GALL 217
11. 28 DENNIS ERB, JR. 211
12. 64 RYAN DAUBER 201
13. S9 WES STEIDINGER 185
14. 6 BRANDON SLAGER 168
15. 52 KERRY MATHEW 162
16. 33 CHUCK STEELE 159
17. 11 LARRY LEGRAND 139
18. 0 RICHIE HEDRICK 130
19. 4 MATT SLAGER 117
20. 25 KYLE RODERICK 97
21. 55 SHAWN TOCZEK 92
22. 27 MIKE PROVENZANO 88
23. 36 ROGER LONG 81
24. 3E KEN SNYDER 71
25. 37 CHUCK DIXON 62

MODIFIEDS

Dash - 1. 25 Dave Porth  2. 1k Tommy Kroll  3. 11 Matt Rhyne  4. 27G R.J. Gall  5. 28 Matt Bachman  6. 69 Jim Farris

Heat 1 - 1. 130 Chad Osterhoff  2. 5 Randy Purcell  3. 07 Rick Hughes  4. 35 Jason Hastings  5. 7 Bill Head  6. R3 Tim Ritter
7. 51 Mike Mosier  8. 11 Jarrod Warner

Heat 2 - 1. 36 Kevin Hastings  2. D1 Lance Dehm  3. J16 Jason Lakey  4. 96 Dale Lueth  5. 40 Tim Reynolds  6. 23JR Joel Funk
7. 95 Aaron Ricketts  8. 0 Travis Kohler  9. 23T Rick Thomas

Heat 3 - 1. 83 Scott Bull  2. 25 Porth  3. 1k Kroll  4. 66 Phil Line  5. 11 Rhyne  6. 27G Gall  7. 68 Bachman  8. 69 Farris

Consi - 1. 0 Kohler  2. J16 Lakey  3. 35 J. Hastings  4. 23T Thomas  5. 5 Purcell  6. 11 Warner  7. R3 Ritter  8. 07 Hughes

Feature - 1. 11 Rhyne  2. 25 Porth  3. 1k Kroll  4. 83 Bull  5. 68 Bachman  6. 27G Gall  7. D1 Dehm  8. 40 Reynolds  9. 96 Lueth
10. 23JR Funk  11. 66 Line  12. 36 K. Hastings  13. 0 Kohler  14. 95 Ricketts  15. 23T Thomas  16. J16 Lakey  17. 35 J. Hastings
18. 69 Farris
 
RANK CAR # DRIVER POINTS
1. D1 LANCE DEHM 440
2. 1k TOMMY KROLL 430
3. 68 MATT BACHMAN 421
4. 11 MATT RHYNE 409
5. 25 DAVE PORTH 359
6. 27 RJ GALL 308
7. 40 TIM REYNOLDS 291
8. 66 PHIL LINE 282
9. 69 JIM FARRIS 275
10. 83 SCOTT BULL 230
11. 95 AARON RICKETTS 219
12. 36 KEVIN HASTINGS 207
13. 35 JASON HASTINGS 191
14. 96 DALE LEUTH 150
15. 0 TRAVIS KOHLER 134
16. 23jr JOEL FUNK 133
17. 51 MIKE MOSIER 129
18. 0 RICHIE HEDRICK 123
19. 23t RICK THOMAS 118
20. 23 DAVE SMITH 114
21. G4 GEORGE AIMONE 103
22. J16 JASON LAKEY 102
23. 130 CHAD OSTERHOFF 72
24. 1p BOB POHLMAN JR. 66
25. 51h ANTHONY RICKETTS 62
 
STREET STOCKS
 
Dash  - 1. Mike Cavanaugh  2. Don McCarty  3. Billy Wicker  4. Kevin Lenzen
 
Heat 1 - 1. Chad Osterhoff  2. Wicker  3. Steve Thorsten  4. John Geary
 
Heat 2 - 1. Darrin Kohler  2. Rick LaFine  3. Jake Howard  4. Nick Simonek
 
Heat 3 - 1. Kevin Lenzen  2. Matt Cleary  3. Travis Kohler  4. John Hennessey
 
Consi - 1. Norm Nesselrodt  2. Cavanaugh  3. Jay Morris  4. Justin Witthoft  5. David Billingsley  6. Nick Marshalek  7. Brett Owens
8. James Sain  9. Mark Benfield  10. Jerry Little  11. Bill Stevenson  12. Joe Brown  13. Vern Gaus  14. Robert Turner
 
Feature - 1. Osterhoff  2. D. Kohler  3. Howard  4. Lenzen  5. LaFine  6. McCarty  7. Jay Hamilton  8. Nesselrodt  9. Cavanaugh 
10. Donnie Lutz  11. Wicker  12. T. Kohler  13. Thorsten  14. Simonek  15. Hennessey  16. Morris  17. Geary  18. Cleary
 
RANK CAR # DRIVER POINTS
1. 130 CHAD OSTERHOFF 434
2. 55 BILLY WICKER 397
3. 10K DARRIN KOHLER 390
4. 6 JAY HAMILTON 387
5. 7T STEVE THORSTEN 370
6. L3 KEVIN LENZEN 364
7. 05 JOHN GEARY 350
8. 41 STEVE McCARTY 333
9. 28 JAKE HOWARD 285
10. 6 MIKE CAVANAUGH 284
11. 4C RICK LAFINE 264
12. 1 IN MEMORY – JOSH KOHLER 127
13. 50 DON McCARTY 243
14. 75 MATT CLEARY 202
15. 33 JAY MORRIS 199
16. 70 KEN BUSHEY 144
17. 13 DON LUTZ 143
18. 3J JUSTIN WITTHOFT 141
19. 4 GORDON WEAVER 124
20. 1 TRAVIS KOHLER 123
21. 0 NICK SIMONEK 114
22. 18 DAVID BILLINGSLEY 111
23. 7 JAMES SAIN 108
24. 31 NICK MARSHALEK 100
25. 16T ROBERT TURNER 89

August 8th, 2003
28 Lates on hand. 27 Bob Pohlman sets fast time:
14.356

Dash
1. 7 John Provenzano
2. Z Joe Harlan
3. 27 Pohlman
4. 45 Gary May
5. 7 Frank Reaber
6. 27 RJ Gall

Heat 1
1. 4 Matt Slager
2. 20 AJ Dixon
3. 56 Jonathon Bateman
4. 51J Jason Beier
5. 11L Larry Legrand
6. 00 Matt Melvin
7. 6s Brandon Slager
8. 3E Ken Snyder

Heat 2
1. 52 Kerry Mathew
2. 99 Frank Heckenast
3. 0 Richie Hedrick
4. 8 Reece Oconnor
5. 10 Russ Scheffler
6. 61 Jammie Wilson
7. 19 Garrett Slager
8. 33 Chuck Steele
9. 27 Mike Provenzano

Heat 3
1. 23 Ted Loomis
2. 17 Corey Turner
3. 7 Reaber
4. s9 Wes Steidinger
5. Z Harlan
6. 27 Pohlman
7. 7 Provenzano
8. 27 Gall
9. 45 May

Consi
1. 99 Heckenast
2. 52 Mathew
3. 27 Provenzano
4. 6s Slager
5. 51J Beier
6. 33 Steele
7. 56 Bateman
8. 00 Melvin
9. 11L Legrand
10. 3E Snyder
11. 4 Slager

Feature
1. Z Harlan
2. 23 Loomis
3. 45 May
4. 17 Turner
5. s9 Steidinger
6. 7 Provenzano
7. 19 Slager
8. 27 Gall
9. 99 Heckenast
10. 7 Reaber
11. 27 Provenzano
12. 0 Hedrick
13. 10 Scheffler
14. 61 Wilson
15. 52 Mathew
16. 27 Pohlman
17. 6s Slager
18. 8 Oconnor

26 Mods on hand. D1 Dehm sets fast time: 15.438

Dash
1. 1K Kroll
2. 68 Bachman
3. 11 Rhyne
4. D1 Dehm
5. 66 Line

Heat 1
1. 51H Ricketts
2. 07 Hughes
3. 51 Mosier
4. 35J Hastings
5. 4 Estrada
6. c12 Curl
7. 7 Head

Heat 2
1. 40 Reynolds
2. 27G Gall
3. 0 Kohler
4. 36 Hastings
5. 83 Bull
6. 23JR Funk
7. 95 Ricketts
8. 89 Friedman

Heat 3
1. 0 Hedrick
2. 1K Kroll
3. 68 Bachman
4. 69 Farris
5. 11 Rhyne
6. 66 Line
7. D1 Dehm

Consi
1. 40 Reynolds
2. 0 Kohler
3. 07 Hughes
4. 35J Hastings
5. 51 Mosier
6. c12 Curl
7. 4 Estrada
8. 7 Head
9. 51H Ricketts

Feature
1. 68 Bachman
2. 0 Hedrick
3. 1K Kroll
4. 40 Reynolds
5. 83 Bull
6. 11 Rhyne
7. 23JR Funk
8. 35J Hastings
9. 0 Kohler
10. 07 Hughes
11. 36 Hastings
12. 69 Farris
13. 51 Mosier
14. c12 Curl
15. 95 Ricketts
16. D1 Dehm
17. 25 Porth
18. 27G Gall

 

July 25, 2003....Thanks to Ryan Offermann for the results.....
If you see Ryan, thank him....:)

26 Late Models on hand, 25 take time
45 Gary May takes fast time: 14.394

Dash
1. 27 Pohlman
2. 45 May
3. 99 Heckenast
4. 7 Provenzano
5. Z Harlan
6. 7 Reaber

Heat 1
1. s9 Steidinger
2. 56 Bateman
3. 33 Steele
4. 4 Slager
5. 52 Mathew
6. 19 Slager
7. 3E Snyder
8. 00 Melvin
9. 69 Pursell

Heat 2
1. 8 Oconnor
2. 17 Turner
3. 28 Erb
4. 11L Legrand
5. 20 Dixon
6. 23 Loomis
7. 27 Provenzano
8. 25 Roderick

Heat 3
1. 61 Wilson
2. 27 Gall
3. 7 Reaber
4. Z Harlan
5. 7 Provenzano
6. 99 Heckenast
7. 45 May
8. 27 Pohlman

Consi
1. 52 Mathew
2. 33 Steele
3. s9 Steidinger
4. 19 Slager
5. 4 Slager
6. 00 Melvin
7. 56 Bateman
8. 69 Pursell
9. 27 Provenzano
10. 3E Snyder

Feature
1. 45 May
2. 27 Pohlman
3. 17 Turner
4. 7 Provenzano
5. 99 Heckenast
6. 7 Reaber
7. 61 Wilson
8. s9 Steidinger
9. 27 Gall
10. 52 Mathew
11. 11L Legrand
12. Z Harlan
13. 8 Oconnor
14. 20 Dixon
15. 28 Erb
16. 23 Loomis
17. 19 Slager
18. 33 Steele

Modifieds
Dash
1. 1K Kroll
2. 23JR Funk
3. 11 Rhyne
4. D1 Dehm
5. 68 Bachman
6. 27G Gall

Heat 1
1. 7L Ledford
2. 40 Reynolds
3. 35 Hastings
4. 16 Matillo
5. 51 Mosier
6. 7 Crego
7. R3 ?

Heat 2
1. 52 Harrison
2. 6 Roach
3. 66 Line
4. 130 Osterhoff
5. 69 Ferris
6. 36 Hastings
7. 0 Kohler
8. 83 Bull

Heat 3
1. 68 Bachman
2. 95 Ricketts
3. 11 Rhyne
4. 27G Gall
5. 1K Kroll
6. 23JR Funk
7. 23 Smith

Consi
1. 6 Roach
2. 40 Reynolds
3. 52 Harrison
4. 16 Matillo
5. 35 Hastings
6. 7L Ledford
7. 7 Crego
8. R3 ?
9. 51 Mosier

Feature
1. D1 Dehm
2. 1K Kroll
3. 27G Gall
4. 68 Bachman
5. 36 Hastings
6. 69 Ferris
7. 23 Smith
8. 52 Harrison
9. 66 Line
10. 16 Matillo
11. 6 Roach
12. 83 Bull
13. 95 Ricketts
14. 40 Reynolds
15. 0 Kohler
16. 11 Rhyne
17. 23JR Funk
18. 130 Osterhoff
 

Darrin Kohler highlights emotional night at Kankakee Motor Speedway
 
by Paul D. Bayne
 
KANKAKEE, Ill. (July 18) - On a night that overflowed with emotions due to the tragic losses of two of our racing communities young men, one man rose up and shined amongst all others to capture the "Josh Kohler Memorial" street stock special Friday night at the Kankakee Motor Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois.  Darrin Kohler of Chebanse, IL, cousin to the late Josh Kohler, 21, who recently lost his life June 30th in an auto accident in nearby Ashkum, would runaway from the competition to capture the $1,000 top prize. 
 
But the evening featured more than just dirt racing competition.  It featured compassion and caring for one another, as every driver present brought their cars onto the track to honor one of Kankakee Motor Speedway's very own, Nathan Barber.   Nate, 22, was killed in a freak construction accident Monday, July 14th. "Cone Boy" as I liked to call him, was a very integral part to the success of racing at KMS. Nate not only manned the starting cone, but also repaired cars under caution, and helped with getting the cars in their proper order prior to each restart. He has been with the O'Connor family from the beginning, and has done anything and everything asked of him by track management. A finer, more dedicated employee you will not find. Nate loved the races, the racers, the crowds, and loved to share his laughter with others.  The entire crowd sat in silence as "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlin was played at the request of the Barber family.  Both families of the deceased expressed their interest in being a part of the racing program Friday night, as they felt it was the best place for all to feel closest to these two young men. Neither would have wanted nothing more than to see racing on Friday nights.
 
Kohler, who started the special 20-lap event third on the grid, would get by front row mates Rick Lafine and Matt Cleary, to lead every lap in what could only be described as a flawless performance.  Lafine and Cleary would tangle along the frontstretch wall when the green flag dropped, and Kohler pounced on the opportunity, as did Steve Thorsten.  Another veteran driver who had all eyes upon him was Josh's older brother Travis.  Travis, a veteran modified driver, was given the go ahead from father Earl, to drive the #1 machine one final time.  After starting thirteenth amongst the field of twenty-one, Travis Kohler wasted very little time in moving towards the front.  In fact, he would climb as high as third in the running order until a crafty bit of driving by current points leader Jay Hamilton sent him back to fourth.  Hamilton tried time and time again to get by Travis on the high side, and finally pulled it off with just one lap to go.
 
As the field crossed the stripe, it was Darrin Kohler scoring the popular win, with Thorsten running a surprising second, followed by Jay Hamilton, Travis Kohler, and Joe Hamilton, who himself put together a fantastic ride to the front, after winning the first of two consolation races.  Rounding out the top ten were the McCarty brothers, Don and Steve, then came Donnie Luetz, Jay Morris, and Chad Osterhoff.
 
Thirty-six street stocks entered the event, and were divided up into four heats of nine each.  Among the heat winners were Lafine, Cleary, D. Kohler, and Gordon Weaver.  Joe Hamilton and Chuck Leason each captured consolation triumphs.  
 
Three-time track champion Billy Wicker of Bradley, was the first of many who succombed to attrition, when he pulled off into the pit area only one lap into the $1,000-to-win special.  Others who failed to finish were former track champion Lafine, and defending track champion Kevin Lenzen.  Another to pull off in the early going was A.J. Dixon, another cousin of the late Kohler, who said "I seen my cousin was leading and just pulled in to cheer him on".  In fact, Dixon hadn't even qualified for the feature lineup, but was added to the grid with a special provisional.  Friends and family donated $500 to increase the winner's share to $1,000.
 
It certainly could make a believer out of anyone that divine intervention does indeed exist from time to time.  Josh Kohler and Nate Barber surely had to be smiling from above.  These two glowing individuals spirits will be sorely missed...  but always remembered.
 
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The UMP modifieds also competed in a special $1,500 to win 25-lap affair.  Twenty-nine drivers showed up vying for the top prize, and when the dust settled it was Jason Lakey of Urbana, IL who took home the cash.  Lakey, who started fourth, took over the top spot on lap eight, and was never headed, despite the efforts of one Matt Bachman to reel him in, who himself was blazing a trail towards the front.  Bachman started third, but would find himself on the heels of Lakey by race's end.  Rick Thomas meanwhile, was blazing a trail of his own in hopes of catching the two front-runners, but time was not on his side this night.  Thomas started ninth. 
 
After several failed starts that negated polesitter Matt Rhyne's early edge, Joel Funk got the jump into turn one and paced the field over the first seven circuits.  Lakey meanwhile moved inside of Rhyne on lap two to take over second.  On lap three, several cars got together on the frontstretch bringing out a red flag situation to clean up the debris.  Scott Bull, Daren Friedman, Aaron Ricketts, and Keith Allen.  Only Ricketts was able to make repairs and continue on.
 
When the race resumed, Funk again bolted out front followed by Lakey, Rhyne, Matt Bachman, and Thomas.  However, on lap eight Lakey moved up alongside Funk in turn four and wrestled the lead away.  With five laps remaining, Lakey's lead was about 12 car lengths over Bachman, Thomas, Funk, and Rhyne.  Dave Porth meanwhile, had his hands full of Wes Steidinger throughout the event until Steidinger's car went sour on him in the closing laps and he fell to thirteenth luck a wounded bird.
 
When the checkered flag flew it was Lakey earning the win, followed by Bachman, Thomas, Funk, and Rhyne.  Chasing that fivesome were points leader Lance Dehm,  Porth, Tommy Kroll, Kevin Hastings, and Phil Line.
 
Heat race winners included Rhyne, Funk, and Bachman, while Davis Daughtery claimed the consolation event.
 
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Capping off the night were the mighty late models in a 30-lap contest.  It wasn't much of a contest as far as Minonk's (IL) Gary May could tell, as he took off at the drop of the green and never wavered, leading all thirty laps and scoring his first win of the season at KMS.  May, a NAPA store owner in his hometown of Minonk, is but a part-time competitor at KMS, but rest assure when he shows up, he is almost certainly a threat to win it all.
 
Frank Reaber of Bensenville nearly had carved out a nifty slide job for the lead on lap two, but May held him at bay running the high line.  After ten laps the running order was May, Reaber, Frank Heckenast, Ted Loomis, and Corey Turner.  Loomis moved around Heckenast for third by the half way mark.
 
Loomis made his move late in the race, getting by Reaber with three to go, but unable to catch the elusive May.  As they crossed the line it was May, Loomis, Reaber, Heckenast, and Turner, followed by Joe Harlan, John Provenzano, Jay Fiene, Wes Steidinger, and Garrett Slager.  Provenzano, who drove with one hand in a cast, complained of soreness when, in qualifying, he caught a rut in turn three and jarred the hand pretty good.  He admittedly said he shouldn't have been driving, but never say never is the mindset of most drivers when it comes to chasing a championship.
 
Twenty-two late models were in attendance with heat races being won by Tom Newquist, Ryan Dauber, and Reaber.  May won the dash, while Mike Provenzano won the consolation race after returning from a hand injury of his own.  Heckenast was fastest among the 22 qualifiers, posting a lap of 14.602.
 
Racing continues at Kankakee Motor Speedway this Friday night. KMS is located off I-57 at the 308 exit and then south on Route 45 until you come to Airport Road (4000S Rd.). Turn right (east) and enter the fairgrounds on your immediate right.

Gates open at 5pm, time trials at 7pm, with racing at 8pm. Adult grandstand admission is $10, with $20 for pits.

For more information, please call (815) 929-9105.
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Complete Race Summary and Current Points
 
36 Street Stocks

Heat 1 (top 4) - 1. Rick LaFine 2. Steve Thorsten 3. Billy Wicker 4. Travis Kohler 5. Jay Morris 6. Al Gray 7. Nick Marshalek 8. Jake Howard 9. Nick Simonek

Heat 2 (top 4) - 1. Matt Cleary 2. Jay Hamilton 3. Chad Osterhoff 4. Steve McCarty 5. Calvin Wagner 6. James Sain 7. Mark Benfield 8. Casey Mainerd 9. A.J. Dixon

Heat 3 (top 4) - 1. Darrin Kohler 2. Kevin Lenzen 3. John Geary 4. Donnie Luetz 5. Joe Hamilton 6. Tim Hill 7. David Billingsley
8. Steve Dimmick 9. Josh Anderson

Heat 4 (top 4) - 1. Gordon Weaver 2. Justin Witthoft 3. Don McCarty 4. Mike Cavanaugh 5. Chuck Leason 6. Jeremy Christer
7. Robert Turner 8. Ken Bushey 9. Matt Doris

Consi 1 - 1. Joe. Hamilton 2. Morris 3. Howard 4. Hill 5. Anderson 6. Billingsley 7. Dimmick 8. Simonek 9. Gray 10. Marshalek

Consi 2 - 1. Leason 2. Bushey 3. Sain 4. Benfield 5. Wagner 6. Mainerd 7. Turner 8. Dixon 9. Doris 10. Christer

Feature (20-lap $1,000 to win Josh Kohler Memorial)
1. D. Kohler
2. Thorsten
3. Jay Hamilton
4. T. Kohler
5. Joe Hamilton
6. D. McCarty
7. S. McCarty
8. Luetz
9. Morris
10. Osterhoff
11. Witthoft
12. Geary
13. Cleary
14. Bushey DNF
15. LaFine DNF
16. Lenzen DNF
17. Cavanaugh DNF
18. Dixon DNF
19. Leason DNF
20. Weaver DNF
21. Wicker DNF

Current points after night's events

1. Jay Hamilton 316 +2
2. Steve McCarty 304 -1
3. Chad Osterhoff 291 -1
4. Billy Wicker 270 -1
5. Darrin Kohler 264 +1
6. John Geary 262 -1
7. Steve Thorsten 254 U
8. Kevin Lenzen 210 U
9. Mike Cavanaugh 193 U
10. Rick Lafine 184 U

11. Matt Cleary 160 +1
12. JOSH KOHLER 127 -2 (Josh will be awarded 12th place posthumously at season's end)
12. Jake Howard 155 -1
13. Jay Morris 149 +1
14. Don McCarty 142 +1
16. Ken Bushey 116 U
17. Gordon Weaver 106 U
18. Justin Witthoft 97 U
19. James Sain 78 +1
19. David Billingsley 78 +1

29 modifieds

Fast Qualifier - Wes Steidinger 15.416 (unsure)

Heat 1 - 1. Matt Rhyne 2. Jason Lakey 3. Dale Leuth 4. Dave Porth 5. Phil Line 6. Tony Roland 7. Kevin Hastings 8. Nick Allen
9. Tim Ritter 10. Randy Purcell

Heat 2 - 1. Joel Funk 2. Wes Steidinger 3. Jim Farris 4. Lance Dehm 5. Keith Allen 6. David Daughtery 7. Mike Mosier 8. Tommy Kroll 9. Jason Hastings 10. Anthony Ricketts

Heat 3 - 1. Matt Bachman 2. Daren Friedman 3. Rick Thomas 4. Aaron Ricketts 5. Jason Connoyer 6. R.J. Gall 7. Scott Bull
8. Dave Smith 9. Tony Hayden

Consi - 1. Daughtery 2. K. Hastings 3. Roland 4. Kroll 5. Bull 6. N. Allen 7. Smith 8. J. Hastings 9. Mosier 10. Hayden 11. Gall

Feature (25-laps, $1,500 to win)
1. Lakey                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2. Bachman
3. Thomas                                                                                                                                                                                                                               4. Funk                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     5. Rhyne
6. Dehm
7. Porth
8. Kroll
9. K. Hastings
10. Line
11. Daughtery
12. Aaron Ricketts
13. Steidinger
14. Farris -3
15. Leuth DNF
16. Roland DNF
17. Friedman DNF
18. Bull DNF
19. K. Allen DNF
20. Connoyer DNF

Current points after tonight's events
1. Lance Dehm 327 U
2. Matt Rhyne 294 +2
3. Dave Porth 285 -1
4. Tommy Kroll 276 -2
5. Matt Bachman 272 U
6. Phil Line 225 U
7. Jim Farris 203 +1
7. R.J. Gall 203 +2
9. Tim Reynolds 194 -2
10. Aaron Ricketts 162 +3

11. Kevin Hastings 149 U
12. Jason Hastings 130 -1
13. Dale Leuth 123 U
14. Scott Bull 122 -2
15. George Aimone Jr. 103 -2
16. Rick Thomas 100 +5
17. Mike Mosier 89 +2
18. Travis Kohler 88 -2
19. Dave Smith 82 -1
20. Jason Lakey 82 +10

22 Late Models

Fast Qualifier - Frank Heckenast 14.602

Dash - 1. Gary May 2. Frank Reaber 3. Frank Heckenast 4. Jay Fiene 5. Ted Loomis 6. John Provenzano

Heat 1 - 1. Tom Newquist 2. Chuck Steele 3. Kerry Mathew 4. Jonathan Bateman 5. Steve Metz 6. Dan Komisarik 7. Mike Provenzano 8. Matt Slager

Heat 2 - 1. Ryan Dauber 2. Joe Harlan 3. Brandon Slager 4. Garrett Slager 5. Larry LeGrand 6. R.J. Gall 7. Wes Steidinger

Heat 3 - 1. Reaber 2. Corey Turner 3. May 4. Heckenast 5. Fiene 6. Loomis 7. J. Provenzano

Consi - 1. M. Provenzano 2. Steele 3. M. Slager 4. Newquist 5. Metz 6. Komisarik 7. Bateman 8. Mathew

Feature (30-laps)
1. May
2. Loomis
3. Reaber
4. Heckenast
5. Turner
6. Harlan
7. J. Provenzano
8. Fiene
9. Steidinger
10. G. Slager
11. Gall
12. Dauber -1
13. M. Provenzano -1
14. B. Slager -1
15. M. Slager -1
16. Newquist -1
17. LeGrand -1
18. Steele DNF

Points after tonight's events


1. Joe Harlan 302 U
2. Frank Reaber 265 U
3. Corey Turner 250 U
4. Ted Loomis 232 +3
5. John Provenzano 226 U
6. Frank Heckenast 199 +2
7. Bob Pohlman Jr. 197 -3
8. Dennis Erb Jr. 191 -2
9. Garrett Slager 155 +1
10. Ryan Dauber 153 -1

11. R.J. Gall 141 U
12. Brandon Slager 123 +1
13. Chuck Steele 115 +1
13. Gary May 115 +10
15. Richie Hedrick 110 -3
16. Kerry Mathew 102 -1
17. Larry LeGrand 100 -1
18. Matt Slager 78 +8
19. Kyle Roderick 76 -2
19. Wes Steidinger 76 +8

Next week (7/11/03), Kankakee Motor Speedway will be running a $1000-to-win Street Stock special in memory of Josh Kohler who passed away last week following a single car accident. Josh ran a black #1 at Kankakee was was sitting 8th in points at the time of the accident. Josh's friends and family have put money towards the winner and the track will raise the payback all the way down. Kankakee Street Stock rules will be in effect and you can find them on the website at http://www.kankakeemotorspeedway.com or e-mail [email protected]

Shannon Babb wins UMP Summer National Stop #5 at Kankakee!

Shannon Babb of Mowequa, IL. made a comeback from behind tonight and earned
the $10,000 winners share for his efforts, after falling behind in the early
stages of the race. Starting from the outside pole position, Babb fell as far
back as sixth in the opening laps. However; displaying a never give up attitude,
Babb who was 3rd at lap 15 took to the low side and pulled ahead of Darrel
Lanigan on the 28th lap and never looked back.

This was Babbs second consecutive win after also visiting victory lane the
previous night at Crown Point Speedway. By virtue of his win this evening, Babb
moved into the 4th all time Summer National win position recording his 14th
UMP Summer National victory. This now ranks him behind only Billy Moyer with 57
wins, Scott Bloomquist with 24 wins and Rick Aukland with 23 wins.

Babb was piloting the Moyer Racing, Jay Dickens powered, PRC Pro Rod and
Custom, Red Line Oil, J&J Steel, Watters, Car City, Arkansas Motors, Hoosier by
Smash, WICK Racing Products, Sunoco Fuels, Custom Craft, Platinum Motors
sponsored #18 Mastersbilt Chassis.

Kevin Weaver started the night by recording the fastest qualifying lap with a
time of 14.492.

The trophy dash was won by Wendell Wallace over Babb, Darrel Lanigan, Weaver,
Dennis Erb, Billy Moyer, Robert Pohlman, Terry English and Tony Izzo, Jr.

The first heat was won by Brett Sievert over Roger Long, English, Dave
Eckrich, Joe Harlan, Bob Pierce, Steve Casebolt, R.J. Gall, Brandon Slager and Larry
Legrand.

The second heat was topped by Jeep Van Wormer over Duke Whiseant, Robert
Pohlman, Darren Miller, Richie Hedrick, Ted Loomis, Johnny Johnson, Frank
Heckenast, Russ Sheffler, Sherri Heckenast and Wes Steidinger.

Third heat honors went to Randy Korte over Rick Aukland, Shawn Toczek,
Garrett Durrett, Garrett Slager, Turk Letizia, Jim Letizia and Jim Partipillo.

The fourth and final heat was won by Billy Drake over Don O'Neal, John
Provenzano, Pete Parker, Gary May, Greg Johnson, Ryan Dauber, Frank Reaber, Steve
Hillard and Brent Slocum.

There were two consis's with 4 from each that were added to the main event.
The first consi would transfer Joe Harlan, Eckrich, Slager and Pierce while
the second consi added Parker, Miller, Johnson and Hedrick.

The feature finish seen Babb followed to the checkers by Lanigan, Moyer,
Wallace, Weaver, O'Neal,  Drake, Aukland, Miller, Whiseant, Parker, Van Wormer,
Harlan, Korte, Toczek, Pierce, Hedrick, English, Johnson, Slager, Erb and 
Eckrich, Long, Sievert and Pohlman who were DNF's.

Tomorrow night will see the UMP traveling group make the trek just a short
way down the road to the Fairbury American Legion Speedway for a $10,000 to win
main event on stop #6 of the 2003 rendition of the Summer Nationals.

See ya all in Victory Lane!

************************************************
Joe Harlan dusts field for second straight at Kankakee

KANKAKEE, IL (June 21) - "There's more than one way to skin a cat," so the saying goes, and 30-year-old Joe Harlan of El Paso, IL proved that last Friday's 30-lap door-to-door duel with Dennis Erb Jr. at Kankakee Motor Speedway was no fluke.  While the characters may have changed on this night, the results looked the same, as Harlan won his second consecutive late model feature at the 1/3-mile clay oval Friday night.

Harlan, driving the always colorful J.R. Pick Motorsports Rayburn / Howard Race Engines Monte Carlo took command of the 30-lap A main when early pacesetter and pole-sitter Corey Turner of Collum (IL) ran into trouble in the form of young 16-year-old third generation driver Kyle Roderick, son of the late Kevin Roderick.  Turner attempted to split the seams of Roderick and Garrett Slager on lap 19 as the three entered turn one, only Roderick did not know Turner was there and contact was made.  Turner found himself facing oncoming traffic and was relegated to the rear of the field because he initiated the contact, ruled track officials.  Certainly, a tough break for the 2001 track champion who held a commanding lead up to that point, but a welcomed turn of events for Harlan, who suddenly found himself in the cat-bird's seat when green flag resumed.

 

Caution slowed the field as early as lap two, when Larry LeGrand and Chuck Dixon got to know each other a little better in turns one and two.  Both were able to continue. 

 

Harlan, who started third behind Turner, then faced the tough task of holding back perhaps his biggest rival in Bob Pohlman Jr.  After all, it was Pohlman who beat out Harlan for the track championship at the conclusion of the 2002 racing season at Kankakee.  Pohlman in fact, would take the point away from Harlan with ten to go, but Harlan quickly responded with a skillful move of his own to reclaim the top spot.  Furthermore, it was Harlan who would get the last laugh on this day, as he literally used every inch of the track to keep Pohlman and John Provenzano at bay.  Several laps in a row, Harlan darted low off of turn two, stirring up a cloud of dry dust that made visibly near impossible.  Harlan would use that craftiness to open up all the advantage he would need, as he went on to record the victory and the $1,200 pay day.

 

Pohlman would narrowly hold off Provenzano at the stripe, while Frank Reaber of Bensenville (IL), and Ted Loomis of Kingston (IL), who themselves are former track champions, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.  Frank Heckenast, Garrett Slager, R.J. Gall, track promoter Reece O'Connor, and Turner rounded out the top ten. 

 

Heckenast was forced to use the back up car of daughter Sherri for the feature, and showed the crowd what that car was capable of as he rocketed up through the field from the rear.  With Frank's water pump pulley coming apart during his heat race, and Sherri's car having trouble with a rocker arm following qualifying, both drivers turned to engine builder and modified ace Matt Rhyne to get the problems solved.  Unfortunately, at the pace the program moved along tonight, the water pump pulley failure could not be rectified in time.  One can just imagine that scene, as dad had to ask his daughter "if he could borrow the car for a while." 

 

Heat race winners included Loomis and Provenzano, while Turner captured the 6-lap dash.  Pohlman checked in with fast time honors among the 19 cars that took time, turning a lap of 14.570.

 

In open-wheeled modified action, it was Chatsworth's (IL) Lance Dehm scoring a thrilling victory over R.J. Gall, Tommy Kroll, Matt Rhyne, and Jim Farris.  The win was also the second of the season for Dehm at Kankakee.  The 20-lap affair often times featured three and sometimes four-wide racing down the back chute.

 

Farris paced the early going from his pole position after surviving a first lap spin that prompted a complete restart.  However, when the green waved for the second time, Farris and Kroll went side by side into turn one, while Dehm looked to challenge Kroll for second on the inside.  As the trio came off of turn four three wide after only one lap, Kroll muscled his way between both to grab the early lead.  On lap two, the yellow was unfurled for Jim Henson, who had spun in turn one.  One lap later, Jim Moore brought the action to a crawl as he slid off the topside in turn one as well. 

 

While Farris remained committed to the high side, and Kroll on the hub, Gall was now challenging Dehm for third by lap three.  A large tarpaulin would have been more than enough to cover all four cars as they battled for the lead, but the car on the move was clearly defending track champion Matt Rhyne of Chesterton, IN, who started 16th and was already in the top ten.  On lap five, Farris would reclaim the lead while Gall slipped into second, sending Kroll to third, Dehm to fourth, and Dave Porth now up to fifth from his eighth starting position.  Porth has his own hands full with Dave Smith in the battle for fifth.  Folks... were only on lap five mind you!

 

On lap nine, Smith was able to take fifth from Porth, but only momentarily, as Porth carved his way back around Smith to keep the leaders in his sights.  Caution came out once again as several cars came together in turn four.  Among those involved were Matt Bachman, Travis Koehler, and Scott Bull.  Bachman suffered a bit too much damage in the exchange and was forced to retire to the pits.  For Bachman, of Gibson City (IL), it was a tough blow, as he entered the night second in points, only one point behind Kroll. 

 

Lap 12 would see Kevin Hastings get loose in turn two, then get plowed by George Aimone Jr. thus slowing the pace once again.  Aaron Ricketts and Dale Leuth narrowly escaped the incident, though both took on heavy sheet metal damage.  For both Hastings and Ricketts, the damages would prove too much to overcome.

 

With now just four to go, Gall would poke his nose underneath Farris and take over the lead, while Rhyne motored to fourth sending Kroll back to fifth.  However, caution for Koehler on lap 16 would set up a four lap shootout between Gall, Farris, Dehm, and Rhyne.  On the restart, Kroll would get back by Rhyne for fourth while Dave Smith, who had a sensational run going, spun in turn four bringing out the final caution of the race.

 

With the field of 15 now facing three laps to decide a winner, both Kroll and Rhyne would get past Farris for third and fourth, respectively.  With two to go, Dehm looked to the inside of Gall for the lead.  As the two crossed the line to take the white flag, it was too close to call, but Dehm would get a good run off of turn two to inch out front and hold on the for the hard fought victory.  Gall would hold on for second, Kroll third, Rhyne fourth, and Farris fifth.  Tim Reynolds, Phil Line, Porth, Leuth, and Jim Henson rounded out the top ten.  For Henson, it was a great outing after starting 19th on the grid.

 

Heat race winners were Rhyne and Kevin Hastings, while Farris won the dash, and Bull won the consolation race.

 

The evenings nightcap went to Jay Hamilton winning the street stock feature over a charging Kevin Lenzen, and Steve McCarty.  Early leader Jake Howard held more than his own to finish fourth, while Matt Cleary came home fifth.  Rounding out the top ten were Josh Kohler, Steve Thorsten, John Geary, Chad Osterhoff, and Mike Cavanaugh. 

 

Action was brought to a halt with one lap to go when Ken Bushey drove hard into the water barrels protecting the outer wall in turn two.  After several tense minutes, Bushey climbed from his battered car under his own power, though he was slightly dazed and complaining of light-headedness.  He was checked over by trackside paramedics and released. 

Complete Race Summary 

Late Model results
Fast Qualifier (19 entrants)
1. 27 Bob Pohlman Jr. - 14.570
Dash - 6 laps
1. 17 Corey Turner  2. 7 Frank Reaber  3. Z Joe Harlan  4. 7 John Provenzano  5. 72 Jay Fiene  6. 27 Bob Pohlman Jr.

Heat 1 - 8 laps
1. 23 Ted Loomis  2. 33 Chuck Steele  3. 6 Brandon Slager  4. 37 Chuck Dixon  5. 52 Kerry Mathew  6. 4 Matt Slager
7. 11L Larry LeGrand  8. 8 Reece O'Connor

Heat 2 - 8 laps
1. 7 Provenzano  2. 99 Frank Heckenast  3. 7 Reaber  4. 27G R.J. Gall  5. 72 Fiene  6. 19 Garrett Slager  7. 17 Turner
8. Z Harlan  9. 25 Kyle Roderick  10. 27 Pohlman Jr.

Feature - 30 laps
1. Z Harlan  2. 27 Pohlman Jr.  3. 7 Provenzano  4. 7 Reaber  5. 23 Loomis  6. 99 F. Heckenast  7. 19 G. Slager
8. 27G Gall  9. 8 O'Connor  10. 17 Turner  11. 33 Steele (-1)  12. 37 Dixon (-1)  13. 4 M. Slager (-1)  14. 6 B. Slager (-1)
15. 11L LeGrand (-1)  16. 25 Roderick DNF  17. 52 Mathew DNF  18. 72 Fiene DNF
Updated Late Model Points

Pos.   Name   Total    Change

1. Joe Harlan 198 +1
2. Bob Pohlman Jr. 177 +2
3. Dennis Erb Jr. 173 -2
4. Corey Turner 154 -1
5. Ted Loomis 151 U
6. Frank Reaber 148 U
7. Frank Heckenast 135 +1
8. John Provenzano 114 +2
9. Ryan Dauber 100 -2
10. R.J. Gall 84 +3
11. Garrett Slager 78 +5
12. Brandon Slager 75 U
13. Kerry Mathew 74 -2
14. Richie Hedrick 70 -5
15. Shawn Toczek 54 -2
15. Chuck Steele 54 +6
17. Chuck Dixon 52 +4
18. Al Atkinson 51 -3
18. Mike Mataragus 51* U
20. Matt Slager 50 +3
21. Kyle Roderick 48 +5
21. Larry LeGrand 48 +5
23. Gary May 43 -6
24. Sherri Heckenast 41*+1
25. Wes Steidinger 40 -6
26. Mark Stetler 34 -6
27. Bret Sievert 32 -4
28. Ken Snyder 31 -3
29. Mike Provenzano 29 -1
30. Jay Fiene 28 +11
31. Mark Ziesmer 24 -2
32. Rylan Dagg 21 -2
33. Bill Reiniche 20 -2
34. Phil Gerlach 19 -2
35. Jason Feger 18 -2
35. Ed Dixon 18 -2
35. Mike Glynn 18 -2
38. Mike Kingma 14 -2
39. Don Hammer 13 -2
39. Keith Williams 13 -2
41. Bobby Prosise 12 -2
42. Jason Widdes 11 -2
43. Bart Schwartz 10 -2
43. Mike Widdes 10 -2

U=unchanged N=new to points

NOTE: Next Friday's UMP Summernationals WILL be a points night for Late Models!!! 

UMP Modified results

Dash - 6 laps
1. 69 Jim Farris   2. 1k Tommy Kroll   3. D1 Lance Dehm   4. 66 Phil Line   5. 27 R.J. Gall   6. 23 Dave Smith

Heat 1 - 6 laps
1. 11 Matt Rhyne   2. G4 George Aimone   3. 3H Jim Hensen   4. 130 Chad Osterhoff   5. 0 Travis Koehler
6. 68 Matt Bachman   7. 83 Scott Bull   8. 95 Aaron Ricketts   9. K4 Jim Moore   10. 35 Jason Hastings

Heat 2 - 6 laps
1. 36 Kevin Hastings   2. 25 Dave Porth   3. 96 Dale Leuth   4. 40 Tim Reynolds   5. 69 Farris   6. 23 Smith
7. 27 Gall   8. 1k Kroll   9. 66 Line   10. D1 Dehm

Consi - 10 laps
1. 83 Bull   2. 95 Ricketts   3. G4 Aimone   4. 11 Rhyne   5. 3H Hensen   6. 130 Osterhoff

Feature - 20 laps (starting position)
1. D1 Dehm (3)  2. 27 Gall (5)  3. 1k Kroll (2)  4. 11 Rhyne (16)  5. 69 Farris (1)  6. 40 Reynolds (7)  7. 66 Line (4)
8. 25 Porth (8)  9. 96 Leuth (10)  10. 3H Hensen (19)  11. G4 Aimone (17)  12. 0 Koehler (13)  13. 83 Bull (15)
14. K4 Moore (12)  15. 23 Smith (6) 16. 95 Ricketts DNF (18)  17. 130 Osterhoff DNF (20)  18. 36 K. Hastings DNF (9)
19. 68 Bachman DNF (11)  20. 35 J. Hastings DNF (14)

Current points after June 20th
Pos.   Name   Points   Change

1. Tommy Kroll 189 U
2. Lance Dehm 179 +3
3. Matt Bachman 158 -1
3. Tim Reynolds 158 U
5. Phil Line 153 -1
6. Matt Rhyne 151 +1
7. Dave Porth 139 -1
8. Jim Farris 114 +1
9. R.J. Gall 103 +8
10. Travis Kohler 88 U
11. Aaron Ricketts 85 U
11. George Aimone Jr. 85 +1

13. Dale Leuth  81 +1 
13. Jason Hastings 81 U
13. Scott Bull 81 U
16. Bob Pohlman Jr. 76 -7
16. Kevin Hastings 76 U
18. Dave Smith 72 -2
19. Rick Thomas 50 -1
20. Jim Henson 43 +3
21. Jay Ledford 39 -1
22. Mike Mosier 32 -1
23. Bryan Clendenen 20 -1
24. Gary Sheffer 18 -1
24. Jim Moore 18 N
24. Chad Osterhoff 18 N
27. Kyle Cooper 14 -2
28. Joel Funk 13 -2
29. Rick Roedel 12 -2
30. Wes Steidinger 10 -2
30. Jeremy Aimone 10 -2
30. Anthony Ricketts 10 -2
30. Josh Rediens 10 -2
30. Mark Grosvenor 10 -2

U=unchanged N=new to points

 

Street Stock results

 

Dash - 6 laps
1. Darrin Kohler   2. Billy Wicker   3. Chad Osterhoff   4. Steve McCarty   5. John Geary   6. Mike Cavanaugh

Heat 1 - 6 laps
1. Darrin Kohler  2. John Geary  3. Mike Cavanaugh  4. Jay Morris  5. Chad Osterhoff  6. Mike Foster
7. Gordon Weaver  8. Nick Marshalek  9. Larry Mobbs  10. Billy Wicker

Heat 2 - 6 laps
1. Matt Cleary  2. Steve Thorsten  3. Jake Howard  4. Nick Simonek  5. Ken Bushey  6. Chris Schoon
7. Josh Anderson  8. James Sain  9. David Billingsley  10. Jeremy Christer

Heat 3 - 6 laps
1. Jay Hamilton  2. Kevin Lenzen  3. Steve McCarty  4. Don McCarty  5. Josh Kohler  6. Rick LaFine
7. Justin Witthoft  8. John Hennessy  9. Casey Mainard  10. Mark Benfield

Consi - 10 laps
1. Gordon Weaver  2. David Billingsley  3. Mike Foster  4. Robert Turner  5. Larry Mobbs  6. Josh Anderson
7. James Sain  8. Nick Marshalek  9. Rick LaFine  10. Casey Mainard  11. Mark Benfield

Feature 15-laps
1. Jay Hamilton  2. Kevin Lenzen  3. Steve McCarty  4. Jake Howard  5. Matt Cleary  6. Josh Kohler  7. Steve Thorsten
8. John Geary  9. Chad Osterhoff  10. Mike Cavanaugh  11. Jay Morris  12. Don McCarty  13. Gordon Weaver  14. Ken Bushey 
15. Darrin Kohler  16. Mike Foster  17. David Billingsley  18. Nick Simonek

 


May, 30, 2003....Rain

May 29, 2003....Xtreme $10,000....Don O'Neal

May 28, 2003....Rain

***********************************************************
May 24, 2003

Late Models....Dennis Erb, Jr
************************************************************

 Results (May 16, 2003)

UMP Late Model

Trophy Dash - John Provenzano
Heat #1 - Brandon Slager, Chuck Steele, Sherri Heckenast, Phil Gerlach
Heat #2 - Frank Reaber, Richie Hedrick, Bryan Dauber, Mike Provenzano
Heat #3 - Gary May, Joe Harlan, Ted Loomis, Wes Steidinger
Consi - Richie Hedrick, Mike Provenzano, Phil Gerlach, Mike Mataragas
Feature - Dennie Erb Jr., Bob Pohlman, Richie Hedrick, Joe Harlan, Corey Turner, Ted Loomis, Shawn Toczek, Gary May, RJ Gall, John Provenzano, Garrett Slager, Phil Gerlach, Wes Steidinger, Frank Reaber, Mike Mataragas, Ryan Dauber, Mike Provenzano, Frank Heckenast

UMP Modified

Trophy Dash - Lance Dehm
Heat #1 - Travis Kohler, Tim Reynolds, Kevin Hastings, Mike Mosier
Heat #2 - RJ Gall, Lance Dehm, Aaron Ricketts, Matt Bachman
Consi - Tim Reynolds, Jim Henson, Travis Kohler, Kevin Hastings, Mike Mosier
Feature - Matt Bachman, Lance Dehm, Bob Pohlman, Phil Line, Matt Rhyne, Dave Porth, George Aimone, Kevin Hastings, Tommy Kroll, Tim Richards, Aaron Ricketts, Jim Farris, Travis Kohler, Scott Bull, Rick Thomas, Jim Henson, Jason Hastings, Mike Mosier, RJ Gall


NEXT EVENT

5/9/03....Rain before Feature....to be rerun May 28

FRIDAY, MAY 9TH
        XTREME DIRTCAR SERIES/$10,000 TO WIN
                 (Includes Modifieds and Street Stocks)

 
2003 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 16TH	FULL PROGRAM – SEASON POINTS BEGIN
FRIDAY, MAY 23RD	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, MAY 30TH	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH	OFF
FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH 	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, JUNE 27TH	UMP SUMMERNATIONALS
	                (Includes Modifieds and Street Stocks)
FRIDAY, JULY 4TH	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, JULY 11TH	STREET STOCK SPECIAL - $500 TO WIN
FRIDAY, JULY 18TH	OPEN WHEEL MOD SPECIAL - $1,500 TO WIN
FRIDAY, JULY 25TH	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1	OFF (FAIR)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH	FULL PROGRAM – CARSTAR Night.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH	FULL PROGRAM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22ND	FULL PROGRAM  - SEASON POINTS FINAL
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH	KEVIN RODERICK MEMORIAL