LaSalle Lucas pictures by Marcus Mackey....July 30

Former La Salle Speedway Champion in biggest race; daughter Stephanie fights
for her life
By: Betty Glynn

Cystic Fibrosis, aka CF, is an inherited chronic disease that affects the
lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the
United States. A defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick,
sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life threatening lung
infections, obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping
the body break down and absorb food.

This is nothing new to Stephanie Soberri, a thirteen year old Illinois
Valley native, and her family. They have become experts on CF and the
up-hill battle encountered. She has been fighting the disease her entire
life. Steph was diagnosed at the age of one following numerous
hospitalizations during the first twelve months of her life.

Since then, the battle has continued. Breathing treatments are just a way of
life for her. She is your typical teenager though. She attends Ottawa's
Shepherd Middle School as an eighth grader and can't wait for her Aunt
Gina's new baby to arrive.

She loves to fish and play basketball. Her prayers are filled with hopes of
a Dell Laptop for Christmas and a dirt bike. Meeting Dale Earnhardt Jr. and
one day driving a stock car are at the top of her wish list.

She is an avid sports fan to say the least; She roots for the Steelers,
Packers and Cubs but what she wants more than anything is to be healthy. At
5'2" and a mere 80 lbs this ball of fire loves life and her family.
Unfortunately, she has been stricken with many health complications but CF
is the culprit of many stolen dreams.

Stephanie is so like other kids but so limited in following her teenage type
urges. Rheumatoid arthritis keeps her on the sidelines when CF doesn't. She
follows a no chocolate, no soda, low sodium diet but none of that seems to
matter to Steph. For most kids, the three things she has to avoid are at the
top of their food pyramid.

She has a tremendous passion for her family and racing.

Coming from a line of race car drivers makes her love of the sport natural.
Her maternal grandfather, Bill Weistart Sr. of Oglesby raced stock cars,
followed up by her uncle Billy Jr. who races a dirt late model.

Her most treasured racing hero, in front of Earnhardt, is a 34 year old
female that has been an inspiration and caregiver. It is none other than her
own mother, Tina.

Tina's racing concluded in 2005, due to the family's financial burdens, but
the smiles continue whenever a walk down memory lane is shared with
Stephanie.

Her mother not only raced but she accomplished what no other female had when
she was crowned the first female Midwestern Sportsman Track Champion at
LaSalle Speedway in 2005. The proudest of times for a child who seems to not
always have dreams come true.

Stephanie still proudly talks about the season when her mom was crowned a
champ. For now, those days and her hopes to be well enough to keep the
family tradition rolling are on hold.

Although racing brings out a powerful energy in this angelic teenager it
isn't enough to keep her breathing. She has blonde straight hair and a smile
that could melt anyone's heart. She is the type of child that within five
minutes you just feel like you've known her forever.

Stephanie has to cross the finish line of a double lung transplant at the
St. Louis Children's Hospital, four hours from home, before any more of her
dreams can be fulfilled.

"Stephanie is amazing," her mom told during a recent meeting. "She has been
through so much. This is really hard for her to be so far away and she can't
keep in touch with her friends and family too easily."

On November 13th, she was admitted to the St. Louis Children's Hospital
following a check up by her transplant doctor. To become active on the
transplant list, there are many requirements including infection free. For
now, they are using intravenous medication to cure her current lung
infection. She also has to maintain her weight which is no easy task with
hospital food and being far away from everyone dear.

For now, her mother is packing on the miles traveling back and forth to take
care of family and her job at Flying J while staying strong for the entire
family.

"Flying J has been so good to work around Steph's schedule," said her mom.
"When the time comes we will officially move to St. Louis and hopefully get
her transplant quick."

The move is mandatory for her to qualify for the transplant. Once a set of
lungs becomes available, the transplant doctor will be flown via a Lear jet
to personally inspect the lungs. Stephanie will begin the prep stages at the
hospital. If the lungs are free and clear of disease and meet the strict
criteria, she will be ready in the surgical room when the doctor returns.

Staying behind will be two of the most important male figures in her life.
At home, her big brother Nick, a high school sophomore, and their father
figure Brian will hold down the fort and wait for their return. The
relocation of mother and daughter to St. Louis will be hard but everyone
knows it is the only option to save her life.

"Being so far from everyone, especially Nick and Brian, is really difficult
for her. She wants a Laptop to help her keep in touch so bad it is heart
breaking, I just wish we could afford to give it to her," Tina explained.


Due to the tremendous expenses the family has right now and ahead of them, a
benefit to help defray some of the burden is being held on December 8th. The
Knights of Columbus will be the site of this event in La Salle. Tickets are
$15, which will include dinner, beer and soda.

Local businesses have been donating items to be raffled off at the event.
The list is growing and already includes a golf course package at Senica's
Oak Ridge, a skybox party at LaSalle Speedway, a Grand Bear Lodge family
suite worth over $300, overnight rooms at the Holiday Inn, Fairfield Inn,
LaQuinta, cash prizes and much more.

"We have been so lucky that our local businesses have been so generous to
us," Tina Soberri acknowledged. "We really are grateful for everything
everyone has done."

A fund has also been established for anyone wishing to make a donation.
Funds can be sent to: Benefit of Stephanie Soberri, c/o Eureka Savings Bank
101 N. Columbia Oglesby, IL 61348.

Williams beats the best for the final Illinois Valley Cellular race
By Betty Glynn
Sept 15, 2006

LaSalle,IL - Ed Williams Jr. earned more then he could have imagined at the
LaSalle Speedway in 2006. En route to his current Street Stock championship
status, he ran hard all season long and certainly made a name for himself in
the ultra competitive division.

Saturday night was yet another milestone for the humble Streamwood
competitor. "This was the highlight of my year," Williams said in a post
race interview. Williams was referencing his incredible run in the final leg
of the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series.

The feature grid was set after qualifying, three heat races and a semi
feature. At the head of the pack were two young drivers, Jimmy Partipilo and
Tim Loomis. In row two, Williams was on the inside of Eric Whittington
behind them in row three sat Gary Schmitt and former track champ Jeff
Hamilton.

Once the green dropped, it was a true battle to gain the leadership. A
caution was signaled quickly for Joe Jelinek then Schmitt left the pack
briefly with a tire down. Once everyone got back in order the race was
nothing short of exciting.

Partipilo made a mad dash to the lead with Williams and Loomis following.
Quickly, Partipilo and Williams began to generate some real estate over
their seventeen other contenders.

Marty Thompson, the dominator in this series, was on the hunt from an eighth
place start for the lead. Thompson a standout and track champion in Modified
and Late Models at multiple tracks dropped down to the Street Stock class to
compete in the newly formed special series for the Street Stock drivers.

His domination of the previous five races had already secured his points
chase for the series and made him the man everyone wanted to beat.

By Lap 6, Thompson had positioned himself side by side for second with
Williams on the inside. One lap later, Thompson took control of the
position.

Partipilo continued to shine carrying the veteran through lapped traffic.
With twelve laps in the books he was able to maneuver his way through a
tight squeeze of lapped cars to continue the lead.

Thompson and Partipilo were racing hard in the sixteenth circuit when
contact was made between the two leaders. Williams' smart driving style
enabled him to see the opening and steal the lead. Unfortunately, a great
run by Partipilo ended with him shuffling back to fourth.

Just when it looked like Williams had it in the bag, a caution for a stopped
machine on the back stretch ended their run during the final lap.

For the single file restart, Williams was in command over the only remaining
drivers of Thompson, Hamilton, Partipilo, Justin Rutledge, Scott Schoener,
Schmitt, Whittington, Brad Severs and Nick Sell.

The fight to the finish was a description well deserving of the leaders.
Williams looked as though he was giving it all he had when he beat someone
he holds much respect for.

"Marty was the top of the field every race of this series," according to
Williams. "I would like to congratulate Marty he is an excellent racer and a
clean driver."

Thompson took second over Hamilton, Partipilo, Rutledge, Schoener, Schmitt,
Whittington, Severs and Sell.

Whittington, Partipilo and Schmitt each won their heat races. Steve Lewis
and Don Cole transferred from the semi feature.

Twenty one drivers made the Midwestern Late Model feature call. On the front
row Mike Glynn was on the inside of Scott Schmitt. Rolling up behind them
was Steve Oeder and Darin Furar over Tim Hamburg and Billy Weistart Jr.

A caution before one lap was scored stopped a dicey race between Glynn and
Schmitt. Glynn was powered up running hard with Schmitt, Oeder, Hamburg,
Furar and Weistart all flying behind him.

The pace was set early and very fast to say the least. By the fifth lap out,
the leader was lapping traffic. During Lap 13, contact up front took Oeder
out of competition and back to his pits. While the field was under yellow,
Ralph Markham left the track surface and returned to his pit.

As the leaders powered up hard coming into turn three, Markham came flying
back onto the track in front of the leader from a non designated area.

His return at that time, created chaos up front as he raced the leader.

Three laps later the second place runner, Schmitt, slid up into the wall for
a brief greeting and fell back to fourth.

The pack was flying fast and furious when a lapped car got into the path of
Glynn forcing contact with the concrete wall. Hamburg, who was working hard
on the back of Glynn, stole the lead and went on to win the twenty five lap
main event.

Glynn collected second over Furar, Eric Dauber, Schmitt, Weistart, Johnny
Heath, Bart Schwartz, Will Harris, Jim Loomis and Scott Cimei.

Oeder and Furar each won their heat races. Glynn scored the fastest
qualifying lap.

Marty Thompson, working double duty, led the Modified class flag to flag to
claim the final feature of the season.

On the front row of the grid, it was Thompson with Jim Phelps on the
outside. Rick Thomas and current division champ Vince Cooper were in the
second row.

By the third lap, Thompson was already taking cars a lap down. Thompson
began distancing himself from a hard fought battle for second between Thomas
and Cooper with Dale Lueth close behind.

The single file restart of Lap 14, held Thompson on the post over Thomas,
Cooper, Lueth, Phelps and Aaron Elgin. Only two more laps were recorded
before the caution slowed an exciting race yet again.

Following the restart, Thomas fired up to the side of Thompson to make an
outside challenge for the lead when another caution halted his run.

At the finish it was Thomas runner up over Cooper, Lueth, Phelps, Joel Funk,
Ray Bollinger, Elgin, Brian Bushong, Jordan Schramm, Mike Styrewalt, Ron
Mons, and Joe Adam.

Phelps, Bollinger and Thompson won the heat events. Cooper posted the
fastest qualifying lap.

Joe Zrostlik led the 4 Cylinder Hornet feature race flag to flag and won the
first heat race early in the night.

Controversy on and off the track shadowed the job well done by Zrostlik.
Tony Provenzano took home second with Hank Henderliter, Chris Zavada, Tyler
Griswald, Jimmie Johnson, Jr. Brown, Loren Westerhold and Corey West
trailing.

The LaSalle Speedway racing season is officially over but the drivers, fans
and promoters are already anticipating the 2007 racing season.


LaSalle Speedway Results 09/16/06

Midwestern Late Models: 21 Cars
Qualifying: Mike Glynn 13.500
Heat One: Steve Oeder, Tim Hamburg, Mike Glynn, Eric Dauber
Heat Two: Darin Furar, Scott Schmitt, Billy Weistart Jr., Ralph Markham

Feature: 1. Tim Hamburg, 2. Mike Glynn, 3. Darin Furar, 4. Eric Dauber, 5.
Scott Schmitt, 6. Billy Weistart Jr., 7. Johnny Heath, 8. Bart Schwartz, 9.
Will Harris, 10. Jim Loomis, 11. Scott Cimei, 12. Ralph Markham, 13. Aaron
Schmitt, 14. Tony Coglianese, 15. Wally Forsythe, 16. Shwawn Kemp, 17. Mike
Provenzano, 18. Ed Williams Sr., 19. Joe Fratt, 20. Steve Oeder, 21 Vince
Incrocci

Modifieds: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper
Heat One: Jim Phelps, Rick Thomas, Vince Cooper, Justin McCoy
Heat Two: Ray Bollinger, Dale Lueth, Joel Funk, Brian Bushong
Heat Three: Marty Thompson, Kelly Jones, Aaron Elgin, Joe Adam

Feature: 1. Marty Thompson, 2. Rick Thomas, 3. Vince Cooper, 4. Dale Lueth,
5. Jim Phelps, 6. Joel Funk, 7. Ray Bollinger, 8. Aaron Elgin, 9. Brian
Bushong, 10. Jordan Schramm, 11. Mike Styrewalt, 12. Ron Mons, 13. Joe Adam,
14. Leah Monfries, 15. Mike Dyas, 16. Jimmy Thompson, 17. Denck Doerr, 18.
Scott Hauge, 19. Justin McCoy, 20. Kelly Jones

Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series: 24 Cars
Qualifying: Tim Loomis
Heat One: Eric Whittington, Tim Loomis, Jeff Hamilton, Justin Rutledge
Heat Two: Jimmy Partipilo, Chuck Provenzano, Mike Hughes, Nick Sell
Heat Three: Gary Schmitt, Ed Williams Jr., Marty Thompson, Randy Balensiefen
Semi Feature: Steve Lewis, Don Cole, Bill Dauber, Joe Brown, Jim Prokup

Feature: 1. Ed Williams Jr., 2.Marty Thompson, 3. Jeff Hamilton, 4. Jimmy
Partipilo, 5. Justin Rutledeg, 6. Scott Schoener, 7. Gary Schmitt, 8. Eric
Whittington, 9. Brad Severs, 10. Nick Sell, 11. Randy Lucas, 12. Tom Legner,
13. Robert Schlappi,  14. Don Cole, 15. Steve Lewis, 16. Randy Balensiefen,
17. Mike Hughes, 18. Tim Loomis, 19. Chuck Provenzano, 20. Joe Jelinek

Hornets: 18 Cars
Heat One: Joe Zrostlik, Jeff Small, Tony Provenzano, Gabe Koncor
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Jon Small, David Przybyla, Cory West

Feature: 1. Joe Zrostlik, 2. Tony Provenzano, 3. Hank Henderliter, 4. Chris
Zavada, 5. Tyler Griswald, 6. Jamie Johnson, 7. Jr. Brown, 8. Loren
Westerhold, 9. Cory West, 10. Kyle Fisher, 11. Jeff Small, 12. Colin Baker,
13. Asa Robart, 14. Gabe Koncor, 15. Darrell Porter, 16. David Przybyla, 17.
Dan Leonard, 18. Jon Small
 

Hamburg claims final leg of Mautino Triple Crown at LaSalle
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - The much anticipated final leg of the Mautino Triple Crown
Midwestern Late Model Series wasn't the ending many had hoped. The event
became a wreck fest in both their semi feature and the 100 lap special.

It was as if a full moon was shining on the Illinois Valley speed arena when
the cars just seemed to start dropping off like flies in the cold air.

It started out with the qualifying of twenty six competitors. Sixteen were
then locked into the main event. Ten drivers were put on the semi roster
with four transferring out of it.

During the first lap of the semi, contact was made concluding with John
Heath upside down. His car had to be lifted on the hook just for him to exit
his machine. This was the sign of things to come. The field of nine got back
into a complete restart format but again things didn't go well and four
drivers were involved in a wreck in turn one.

At the finish it was Dave Miller holding back Darin Furar, Scott Cimei and
Aaron Schmidt. All four were transferred to the back of the main.

After the roll of the dice, the number five determined how many inverted
positions there would be at the front. The fastest qualifier, Scott Schmitt,
started eleventh in the line up. James Muetze became the pole sitter next to
Steve Oeder with Jason Bogle and Jim Partipilo row two.

Oeder powered up hard and quickly took the lead. A pile up after the first
lap out claimed a few cars and slowed the pace.

On the single file restart it was Oeder heading the field over Muetze, Bogle
Tim Hamburg, Billy Weistart Jr., Partipilo, Eric Dauber, Mike Glynn and
Keith Piano.

After the green dropped, Glynn took the action three wide to move up the
field from ninth. One lap later a three car wreck ended with Dauber nose
first into the turn four wall, while Bogle and Ralph Markham's were out of
contention as well.

Oeder spent many laps flying solo while Hamburg, Muetze and Glynn tried to
reel him in. The leaders wasted little time taking machine after machine a
lap down. Glynn took over third during Lap 8.

By a restart of Lap 41 twelve cars were still in action. Oeder and Hamburg
were putting on a great show for the lead as the duo aggressively ran side
by side on the back stretch. One lap later, Hamburg took over.

Oeder went high on the track and Glynn stole second from him. An immediate
caution returned Glynn to the rear of Oeder for the start.

When the yellow flag flew, the lap meter was running out as all caution laps
counted until Lap 90. The last twenty laps were nothing but green flag
racing for the mere nine remaining competitors. Hamburg was at the helm and
at times generated a quarter of a track lead over Glynn and Oeder while
Furar battled with Schmitt and Ed Williams Sr.

With two to go, Hamburg found himself stuck behind two lapped cars. Glynn
began to close the gap. On the final turn of Lap 99 it was all or nothing as
Hamburg went high and opened the door.

Glynn made a hard run under Hamburg but the lapped traffic continued to race
full throttle and contact was made. Instead of a shoot out to the checkers
Glynn suffered the consequences with heavy damage and big disappointments.

Hamburg collected the checkers for the fifth time of the season with Oeder
coming up in an impressive second place finish for the second week in a row.

Furar had made a strong presence after he journeyed up from the back of the
pack and stayed out of trouble. He scored a convincing third from his
eighteenth place beginning.

Williams didn't finish the race after a collision with Schmitt on the final
lap. He placed fourth on the official roster. Schmitt walked away with a
fifth place showing over Glynn. Rebholz was paid for seventh ahead of Dave
Miller and Tony Coglianese in ninth.

Seven drivers crossed the actual finish line at the completion of Lap 100.
Scoring was a nightmare since the top three runners lapped machines multiple
times during the early laps and now two of them were out of contention for
the final lap.

Ray Bollinger continued his winning ways in the Modified division claiming
his second feature win in a row.

Vince Cooper and Bollinger started the twenty lap feature on the front row
with Brian Lucas and Dale Lueth in row two.

Cooper wasted little time starting the field with Bollinger keeping the
pressure on. Lueth took the high road with Bill Gray in fourth.

During the eleventh circuit, lapped traffic held up Cooper enabling
Bollinger to capture the lead from a lower groove. There was too much real
estate between Bollinger, Cooper, Lueth, and Gray for any of them to try to
gain a position.

During the final lap Cooper managed to give Bollinger a run but didn't have
enough to catch him.

At the finish Cooper scored second ahead of Lueth, Jim Phelps, James
Thompson, Gray, Joe Adam and Scott Hauge.

Cooper won his heat and took away fast time. Lueth collected the second heat
checkers.

Spud Balensiefen recently purchased the police replica number 911 Street
Stock and the car continues to find its way into the winners circle.

Twenty drivers made the call for the feature with Chuck Provenzano and Ed
Williams Jr. on the front row. Williams led until Lap 6 when he fell back
and Balensiefen took control with Rick Kotveit following.

At the end of the fifteen laps, it was Koltveit in second ahead of
Provenzano, Steve Lewis, Gary Schmitt, Tim Loomis, Jake Cholke, Eric
Whittington, Nick Sell and Justin Rutledge.

Koltveit and Provenzano won the heats.

Jeff Small came up the big winner in the Hornet division making a clean
sweep of their competition. First he won his heat race then he beat his
fourteen competitors to the finish of their main event.

Billy Williams took second while Dan Leonard, Brian Clubb, Jimmy Johnson,
Brown, Loren Westerhold, and Gabe Koncor crossed the line after him.

The last race of the 2006 season will be held on September 16th. Topping the
venue will be the finale of the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series
plus regular races for the Midwestern Late Models, Modifieds and Hornet
classes.


LaSalle Speedway Results 09/02/06

Midwestern Late Models: 26 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.247
Semi Feature: Dave Miller, Darin Furar, Scott Cimei, Aaron Schmidt, Joe
Fratt, Shawn Kemp, Robert Voice, Wally Forsythe, Will Harris, Johnny Heath

Feature: 1. Tim Hamburg, 2. Steve Oeder, 3. Darin Furar, 4. Ed Williams Sr.-
DNF, 5. Scott Schmitt, 6. Mike Glynn - DNF, 7. Eric Rebholz, 8. Dave Miller,
9. Tony Coglianese, 10. Scott Cimei - DNF, 11. Keith Piano - DNF, 12. Aaron
Schmidt - DNF, 13. Billy Weistart Jr. - DNF, 14. Joe Partipilo - DNF, 15.
James Muetze - DNF, 16. Jim Partipilo - DNF, 17. Jason Bogle - DNF, 18. Eric
Dauber - DNF, 19. Ralph Markham - DNF, Jim Loomis - DNF

Modifieds: 16Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.065
Heat One: Vince Cooper, Dan Goodhand, Randy Lucas, James Thompson
Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Ray Bollinger, Leah Monfries, Bill Gray

Feature: 1. Ray Bollinger, 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Dale Lueth, 4. Jim Phelps, 5.
James Thompson, 6. Bill Gray, 7. Joe Adam, 8. Scott Hauge, 9. Don Cole, 10.
Dan Goodhand, 11. Leah Monfries, 12. Ken Fischer, 13. Brian Lucas, 14. Bryan
Dickinson, 15. Mark Novorolsky

Street Stock: 20 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Steve Lewis, Spud Balensiefen, Tim Loomis
Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell, Justin Rutledge

Feature: 1. Spud Balensiefen, 2. Rick Koltveit, 3. Chuck Provenzano, 4.
Steve Lewis, 5. Gary Schmitt, 6. Tim Loomis, 7. Jake Cholke, 8. Eric
Whittington, 9. Nick Sell, 10. Justing Rutledge, 11. Steve Schemlein, 12.
Randy Lucas, 13. Brent Carlson, 14. Jimmy Partipilo, 15. Roger Rickels, 16.
Jerry Vance, 17. Jeff Small, 18. Ed Williams Jr., 19. Jim Prokup, 20. #4

Hornets: 15 Cars
Heat One: Jimmy Johnson, Ryan Clubb, Chris Zavada, Jr. Brown
Heat Two: Jeff Small, Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Jon Small

Feature: 1. Jeff Small, 2. Billy Williams, 3. Dan Leonard, 4. Brian Clubb,
5. Jimmy Johnson, 6. Jr. Brown, 7. Loren Westerhold, 8. Gabe Koncor, 9. Cory
West, 10. Chris Zavada, 11. David Rzyblyla, 12. Colin Baker, 13. Tony
Harlacher, 14. Jon Small, 15. Alex Small
 

Thompson thunders through Illinois Valley Cellular Series at LaSalle
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - Mineral's Marty Thompson knows how to win races. The veteran
racer has held the track championship title in multi divisions at more than
one track.

For years, he has had a strong hold on the Modified division at Bureau
County Speedway. Now he is running hard in the Street Stock special series
put together between LaSalle and Bureau County Speedway's. Coming into the
night's activities he was perched at the top of the series points chase over
Eric Whittington by thirty two points.

Saturday night his advanced skills shined as he claimed the fourth leg of
the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series. In their last visit to
LaSalle's high banks Thompson came out on top as well.

Thirty two cars signed in for competition with sixteen drivers locked into
their feature positions with qualifying and heat race finishes early in the
night. Four transferred from the consolation race for a total of twenty cars
making the call.

Last week's winner, Nathan Balensiefen and Kevin Lenzen started the field on
the front row with Rick Koltveit and former track champ Jeff Hamilton behind
them. Shortly after the restart, a wreck claimed Hamilton's radiator. It
took quite a few tries to get the ball rolling but once they got a pace
underway the show heated up.

Thompson, who started seventh, was on the move and had positioned himself
into third by the sixth lap out. During the tenth circuit, Thompson and
Lenzen were in a side by side battle for second as Balensiefen came up
quickly on a lapped machine. He went high and Thompson stole the thunder
from a lower run.

Four laps later, Thompson was attempting to lap two cars racing for their
positions. Once around one of them he and Balensiefen made it interesting as
they took the action three wide. The duo traveled out front alone with
Lenzen holding off Scott Schoener and Gary Schmitt.

By Lap 20, Chuck Provenzano had become the hardest charger of the race. He
was seventeenth on the starting grid after gaining a consolation transfer
spot and was holding sixth place. For the last five laps, Thompson flew into
a convincing lead.

At the checkers, Balensiefen took home second over Lenzen, Schoener,
Provenzano, Schmitt, Spud Balensiefen, Whittington, Steve Lewis and
Koltveit.

Schoener posted the fastest lap. Lenzen, Koltveit and Balensiefen each won
their heats.

Nineteen Midwestern Late Model drivers lined up for the twenty five lap
feature. Scott Schmitt sat up front after he earned the pole position.
Current track champ Mike Glynn was on his outside. Next row hosted Ralph
Markham and Keith Piano.

Glynn shot off to a quick lead when the flag dropped. Schmitt fell in behind
him then came up briefly to his back quarter panel. Piano wasted little time
putting the pressure on Schmitt for second. A caution slowed the action when
it was called for debris on the track during the fourth lap out.

Before the pack could get a lap in, another caution was out after Markham
nearly spun and collected Billy Weistart Jr. Weistart's hard contact ended
his night.

For the single file restart, it was Glynn, Piano, Schmitt, Ed Williams Sr.,
Steve Oeder, Eric Dauber, Dave Smith and Jim Loomis holding the top eight
running positions. Piano moved a line higher to try the outside of Glynn but
couldn't manage to get around the leader.

Lapped traffic started to become a key factor as Glynn used his veteran
advantage to dodge in and out of the traffic. Piano's great run ended with
mechanical woes during the eleventh lap scored.

Glynn pulled away with the lead while Oeder was in a hunt for second. He
claimed it when Schmitt slid up a groove opening the door for Oeder.
Fourteen of the nineteen starters were left for a restart of Lap 18.

Schmitt fell on hard times too after having a tire go down ending his run.

Glynn finished the night with his fourth feature victory in the 2006
campaign. Oeder took home an impressive second over Dauber, Loomis, Markham,
Williams, Tony Coglianese, Jerry Vance, James Muetze, and Aaron Schmidt.

Glynn and Williams won the heat races while Markham qualified the fastest
timed lap.

The Modified division struggled to get their show in. The race officials cut
the race from twenty five down to fifteen laps after the rough go at keeping
the light green.

At the front of the grid, was Dale Lueth and Casey Lappin while Justin McCoy
and Ray Bollinger lined up on the second row. Lueth shot out of the blocks
fast but the caution saga began with a six car pile up.

Before the green, Lueth pulled off after losing his fuel pump belt. Lappin
was now sitting at the helm over Marty Thompson, Bollinger, Brian Bushong
and Jim Phelps. By the third circuit, the three leaders were dicing it up
three wide. Bollinger took the lead.

For a restart of the fifth lap, only nine competitors were still running.
Bollinger pulled off to a nice lead while Thompson and Lappin were door to
door.

Eight laps later, Thompson's chance at winning two divisions for the night
ended with a trip pitside for a flat tire.

At the finish of Lap 15, Bollinger took the trophy with Phelps in a
convincing second over Bushong, Lappin, McCoy, Thompson and Ken Fischer.

Bushong and Lappin each won their heat contests. Fischer posted was their
fast qualifier.

Dan Leonard claimed the Hornet feature race over twenty other drivers.

Tony Provenzano finished second ahead of Rob Hammitt, Jon Small, Dave Roggy,
Jeff Seitz, Levi Burcham, Dave Prybyla, Tommy Cain, Alex Fisch and Jimmy
Johnson.

Small and Leonard won their prelim races.

Next week, the Hornet and Street Stock champions will be honored along with
a full program.


LaSalle Speedway Results 08/19/06

Midwestern Late Models: 19 Cars
Qualifying: Ralph Markham 14.809
Heat One: Ed Williams Sr., Billy Weistart Jr., Scott Schmitt, Ralph Markham
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Keith Piano, Wally Forsythe, Aaron Schmidt

Feature: Mike Glynn, Steve Oeder, Eric Dauber, Jim Loomis, Ralph Markham, Ed
Williams Sr., Tony Coglianese, Robert Vance, James Muetzer, Aaron Schmidt,
Wally Forsythe, Scott Schmitt, #99, Will Harris, Shawn Kemp, Joe Fratt, Dave
Smith, Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr.

Modifieds: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Ken Fischer 15.838
Heat One: Brian Bushong, Dale Lueth, Scott Hauge, Justin McCoy
Heat Two: Casey Lappin, Ray Bollinger, Marty Thompson, Jim Phelps

Feature: Ray Bollinger, Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong, Casey Lappin, Justin
McCoy, Marty Thompson, Ken Fischer, Don Cole, Brian Lucas, Stanley Vervynck,
Ron Morris, Mark Vervynck, Dan Goodhand, Dale Lueth, Mark Novorolsky, Scott
Hauge, Leah Monfries

Illinois Valley Cellular Series Street Stock Special: 32 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schoener 16.670
Heat One: Kevin Lenzen, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Schoener, Randy Lucas
Heat Two: Rick Koltveit, Gary Schmitt, Spuds Balensiefen, Justin Rutledge
Heat Three: Nathan Balensiefen, Joe Jelinek, Marty Thompson, Donnie Cole
Semi Feature: Steve Lewis, Chuck Provenzano, Robert Schlappi, Tom Legner,
Nathan Ultch, Roger Rickels, Jeff Small, Jim Prokup, #43, Dan Filkowski,
Cody Sommers, Jimmy Partipilo, Mike Hughes

Feature: Marty Thompson, Nathan Balensiefen, Kevin Lensen, Scott Schoener,
Chuck Provenzano, Gary Schmitt, Spud Balensiefen, Eric Whittington, Steve
Lewis, Rick Koltveit, Robert Schlappi, Justin Rutledge, Randy Lucas, Matt
Ramer, Donnie Cole, Steve Steve Schwemlein, Brad Severs, Joe Jelinek, Tom
Legner, Jeff Hamilton

Hornets: 21 Cars
Heat One: Jon Small, David Prybyla, Corey Joe West, Gabe Koncor
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, Jeff Seitz, Chris Zavada

Feature: Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, Rob Hammitt, Jon Small, Dave Roggy,
Jeff Seitz, David Prybyla, Tommy Cain, Alex Fisch, Jimmy Johnson, Brown, Asa
Robart, Chris Zavada, Loren Westerhold, Gabe Koncor, John Wagner, Alex
Clubb, Jamie Deford, Corey West, Jeffery Wakeman
 

Piano gets his groove back at LaSalle
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL -  Keith Piano's season hasn't been his best ever. Anyone who is
familiar with a slump quickly figures out that a victory can be a major
confidence booster. Piano is not a stranger to the winners circle at LaSalle
Speedway but in 2006 finishing the feature and up front hasn't come easy.

Even though he hasn't been on top of the winning roster he has very little
difficulty going fast. During qualifying the first night out, he broke the
Midwestern Late Model track record. In addition,  he currently owns the
Midwestern Sportsman fastest qualifier title.

The Midwestern Late Model driver hailing out of Oglesby traveled the second
fastest lap Saturday and scored a runner up finish in the heat race to earn
his front row outside start. Sitting next to him on the pole was Oglesby's
Billy Weistart Jr. Behind them in row two, rolled up last week's winner
Scott Schmitt of Tonica and LaSalle's Mike Glynn.

Before a lap could be scored, the caution was signaled but not everyone
caught the quick yellow light. Glynn was one of those who missed it and
sacrificed his fourth place start with heavy front end damage.

Yet another complete restart kept the pace slow and Glynn rejoined the tail
of the field looking more like a modified then a late model.

Once the flag man flashed the green, Weistart flew into the lead with Piano
close behind over Schmitt, Darin Furar of Mark and Ed Williams Sr.

In the fifth circuit, Furar went under Schmitt to battle for third but
Schmitt's mid track line was working well and he held him off as they
battled for five more laps.

Debris in turn four brought out a yellow to stop Furar's run. Weistart was
on the point over Piano, Schmitt, Furar, Williams and Ralph Markham for the
restart of Lap 10.

Piano quickly tried every angle to move around Weistart but he kept the door
shut and held him at bay. The twelfth circuit was when Piano was able to get
his groove back as he powered up heavy on the gas under a hard charging
Weistart.

Weistart didn't give up easily as he was working every inch of the track to
catch him. Furar was flying in third when his run, and points chase, ended
on the hook of a tow truck following a hard hit into the concrete barrier
wall.

Another top three points contender, Ralph Markham, also found himself
stopped during the same caution. His car was connected to Ed Williams Sr.
and got out of his machine trying to remedy the problem. He regained the
previous lap position prior to the green.

By Lap 18, Piano was powering into a solo run with a quarter of a track
lead.

"I kept waiting for someone to put their nose up there," Piano said after
the race. "My guys kept showing me that I had a big lead and I just couldn't
hardly believe it."

When the checkers dropped it was Piano crossing the finish line alone.

"It felt so good to win. I have a lot of my old crew back and you could
really tell the difference in the last couple of weeks."

Weistart finished a convincing second with Markham, Dauber, Williams, Jim
Loomis, Schmitt, Glynn and Wally Forsythe trailing.

Schmitt earned the fastest qualifying time for the third week in a row.
Forsythe held back Weistart, Eric Rebholz, and Schmitt to win the first
heat. Glynn took home the second heat race over Piano, Williams and Loomis.

In Open Wheel Modified action, Kewanee's Ray Bollinger and Ottawa's Dale
Lueth started the twenty lap feature next to each other on the front row.

Bollinger shot out in express mode pulling out to a nice lead. But the
leader was forced to the pits with trouble and returned to the tail before
racing began again. Lueth was now at the helm for the single file line up
over Mike Spatola, LaSalle's Jim Phelps and Vince Cooper of Morris. Cooper
started eleventh on the grid but moved up quickly.

By the fifteenth circuit Cooper was up close and personal to the back side
of Lueth. A lap later he had moved down a line and was side by side with
Lueth. He was getting around him but the yellow light came out just in time.

While the leaders were battling Bollinger was on the gas and moving up the
field.

With two to go, Bollinger made contact with Phelps but luckily both were
able to keep their pace.

As Lueth and Cooper rounded the final turn their side by side showdown was
coming to a close. Lueth captured his third feature race with a narrow
victory.

"I knew Vince was moving up quick," Lueth said. "We ran again tonight on six
cylinders instead of seven. Since I started up front I could set my own pace
but if Ray wouldn't have went off earlier I knew we couldn't catch him."

Talking to Bollinger after the night's final race he was still excited about
traveling up the pack even after he fell on tough times.

"It was so much fun racing out there," he laughed after the race. "I did I
had so much fun."

Crossing the line barely after Lueth was Cooper, Jim Phelps, Ray Bollinger,
Mike Spatola, Leah Monfries, Ken Fischer, Mark Novolosky, Ron Morris, and
newcomer Zac Oedewaldt.

Cooper and Spatola were later disqualified during tech inspection.

Brian Bushong and Phelps each won their heat races.

The Street Stock class saw a larger car count then usual with twenty two
drivers making the twenty lap feature call.

Nathan Balensiefen dominated the division with a clean sweep. His pole spot
was just where he needed to start to carry the large pack en route to a flag
to flag feature victory.

At the finish line Gary Schmitt took home a strong second in front of Rich
Bell, Kevin Lenzen, Jake Cholke, Steve Lewis, Joe Brown, Scott Schoener,
Robert Schlappi, Tim Loomis and Wally Forsythe.

Joe Brown won the first heat race while Balensiefen won the second.

Tony Provenzano also made a sweep of the Hornet class. Nineteen competitors
were in the feature race.

Bill Williams charged hard to take home second in the show with Jimmy
Johnson, Jamie Deford, Dan Leonard, Jon Clubb, Mark Sutton, Gabe Koncor,
David Przybyla and Ken Johnson following.

Alex Clubb won heat two.


LaSalle Speedway Results 08/12/06

Midwestern Late Models: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.300
Heat One: Wally Forsythe, Billy Weistart Jr., Eric Rebholz, Scott Schmitt
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Jim Loomis

Feature: Keith Piano, Billy Weistart Jr., Ralph Markham, Eric Dauber, Ed
Williams Sr., Jim Loomis, Scott Schmitt, Mike Glynn, Wally Forsythe, Aaron
Schmidt, Scott Cimei, Dwayne Williford, Joe Fratt, Eric Rebholz, Darin
Furar, Vince Imrocci, Dave Miller, Jack Benson, #116

Modifieds: 19 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.393
Heat One: Brian Bushong, Casey Lappin, Bay Bollinger, Ken Fischer
Heat Two: Jim Phelps, Mike Spatola, Dale Lueth, Derek Line

Feature: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper - DQ, Jim Phelps, Ray Bollinger, Mike
Spatola - DQ, Leah Monfries, Ken Fischer, Mark Novolosky, Ron Morris, Zac
Oedewaldt, Dan Goodhand, Stanley Vervynck, Brian Bushong, Joe Adam, Derek
Line, Casey Lappin, Duane Peterson, Jerold Meirer

Street Stock: 22 Cars
Heat One: Joe Brown, Gary Schmitt, Mike Stewart, Tim Loomis
Heat Two: Nathan Balenseifen, Steve Schwemlein, Rober Schlappi, Nick Sell

Feature: Nathan Balensiefen, Gary Schmitt, Rich Bell, Kevin Lenzen, Jake
Cholke, Steve Lewis, Joe Brown, Scott Schoener, Robert Schlappi, Tim Loomis,
Wally Forsythe, Nick Sell, Chuck Provenzano, Mike Hughes, Mike Stewart, Bill
Dauber, Joe Jelinek, Roger Rickels, Ed Williams Jr., Steve Schwemlein, Rick
Koltveit, Jeff Small

Hornets: 19 Cars
Heat One: Tony Provenzano, Jamie Deford, Darrell Porter, Jr. Brown
Heat Two: Alex Clubb, Jon Small, Jon Clubb, Jimmy Johnson

Feature: Tony Provenzano Jr., Bill Willams, Jimmy Johnson, Jamie Deford, Dan
Leonard, Jon Clubb, Mark Sutton, Gabe Koncor, David Przybyla, Ken Johnson,
Jeff Jones, Asa Robart, Darrell Porter, Jon Wagner, Cory West, Loren
Westerhold, Alex Clubb, Jon Small, Jr. Brown
 

Championships nearly clinched at LaSalle Speedway
By: Betty Glynn

Anytime there is competition, some form of measurement is used to determine
success. For many, dirt track racing is not a sport but to the die hard
followers it is more then a sport, it is a lifestyle.

No doubt there are differences when compared to complete human powered
sporting events but in reality the time, effort, and commitment racers make
are no different at all.

To be successful in any sport it takes heart, soul and then some. Now of
course, how does one measure success. For dirt track racing, capturing the
top evening prize is an obvious way to judge but collectively earning a
seasonal title is yet a far more difficult road to reaching success.

The gauge of this achievement, or lack of, always comes down to where the
numbers are. Like it or not winning is everything when you're a competitor.
Consistency is the key to championships.

The measurement of points:

LaSalle Speedway's system is easy to follow and made available to the
public. An allotted number of points are awarded for each event the racers
participate in.

To get the drivers started, 15 "show-up" points are distributed to those who
sign their cars in.

The Midwestern Late Model and Modified drivers who travel the quickest lap
are the recipient of 4 points while second fast time earns 2.

For all divisions, the preliminary heat races are the path to the feature.
Not only does it help determine the main event start but they can collect 8
points for the win. The following three finishers earn 2 points less
respectively as they go down the line.

The main event, a.k.a. the Feature race, is the biggest opportunity to
stockpile points. The one to capture the checkers first not only collects
the trophy and the highest payout but is awarded 30 points for their hard
work. Each position following is less 2 points until the eleventh place
finisher. Eleventh and below all receive 10.

Summing up the current 2006 chase leaders:

Midwestern Late Models: As it stands, the coveted Midwestern Late Model
crown will belong to a racer who has yearned for a championship and always
come up short for one reason or another.

Mike Glynn's K9 machine is a familiar sight on the high banks, in the pit
area and victory lane but being runner up to a champ has also been too
familiar. Last year, the loss hurt the most when he fell short by eight
points for the Late Model title. He took an early season vacation and the
last point's night was rained out. If he wouldn't have taken the trip the 15
show up points alone would have raised him into a bracket he has never been
in, the champion.

For the 2006 racing season, this veteran racer has finally lifted the
proverbial monkey-off-his-back and earned his place in the LaSalle Speedway
record books.

"If you show up every night and put in as much effort as all of us do you
want the title," Glynn said. "There are a number of guys out here who could
win it and even more that deserve it."

No matter the class, seeing your name at the top is not only self gratifying
but also an incredible accomplishment for the racer, crew, sponsors and fans
in every division. Racing involves more then talent and equipment it is
takes incredible support and some luck as well.

"I'm lucky, we have a great crew, a lot of friends we have fun racing with
and sponsors I couldn't do without."

The racer second in points is Ralph Markham. He hasn't had the luck for the
championship either just yet. Hopefully, it won't take him as many years of
racing as Glynn.

His day is definitely coming though as this driver is always full throttle
no matter the event.

Markham has been a regular at LaSalle for about five seasons in the
Midwestern Late Model division. Nearly all have ended with him as the runner
up finisher. A position not to be ashamed of, but like any competitor he
stills wants more.

"I think I have been second every year but one," Markham said during a
recent phone interview. "And that year I think I finished third by only one
point. Something always seems to happen."

His current deficit of 98 points to Glynn is impossible to make up with one
race left. Now it is just holding onto second that has become a challenge
for the Maple Park driver.

He has had two bizarre circumstances during this final stretch.

With three chase races left, Markham had earned the pole position when a
rock flew off the fan and into his radiator during the slow paced line up
laps.

This past race, his tire rolled off the car at the start of the main show.
Things looked bleak for the points run but luck was on Markham's side in a
strange sort of way. The two drivers who were trailing him by fourteen
points also fell on unusually hard times in a freak incident.

Eric Dauber, the two time reigning champ, and Darin Furar were tied for
third going into the evening.  After Markham broke, it was their chance to
take over the second place in points.

Ironically, Dauber lost a driveshaft on the track and Furar ran over it a
couple of laps later at full speed. Both were out of contention by the
fourteenth lap. Dauber collected the same number of points as Markham for
the feature but won his heat. By his preliminary win he inched closer to
pose a threat. What a twist of fate for the Midwestern challenge for second.

"I am really lucky that I'm even still in contention for second," Markham
acknowledged about the strange night. "Now I have three DNF's so far."

Currently, Dauber trails by only 8 points with Furar 4 points behind him. If
one of the two would have finished up front last Saturday, and both were
running there, they could have lessened the pressure and easily stole the
spot away.

It just goes to show how any of the divisional chasers can make or break
their finish in the standings with a bad night.

Open Wheel Modifieds: These cars returned this season with their last
regular appearance in 1997. The young standout in the class was only nine
years old when the last Modified champ was crowned and now he will be
champion following a stellar season.

Vince Cooper may only be seventeen but this kid comes from a racing past and
family. He can win races and obviously championships. He started mounting
points when won everything raced early in the season. His smooth driving
style and smart moves have earned him the place he is at now.

He has been in the lead since the beginning. Presently, he holds first by an
88 points lead over Ray Bollinger. The closest race in their chase is
between Dale Lueth and Derek Line for third. A mere one point separates them
going into the final night.

Before last Saturday, Line was in second but Lueth just barely edged his way
past him with his third place finish and heat race victory. This Saturday
will be a showdown to decide third.

Street Stock's: Ed Williams Jr. is currently on top of the Street Stock's
chase by 57 points. If he shows up for the final points racing action he too
will automatically claim the title.

Leon Cade holds the second place on the roster but word has it that his
favored #911 car is sold and he may not be racing the remainder of the
season.

Jake Cholke trails in third by 17 points over Rick Koltveit. Anticipation
abounds to see if Cade will grace the oval to try to firm up the runner up
slot.

4-Cylinder Hornets: Going into the final night of competition Alex Clubb is
perched at the peak of the Hornet class. His 40 point advantage over Dan
Leonard would make it impossible to loose out if he signs in for the night.

The two are way out front while third and fourth have 18 points dividing
them.

John Clubb is in third over Jon Small.

The complete current standings are available on www.lasallespeedway.com.

The pressure of the points chase is almost over. Saturday night will be
filled with anticipation, hopefulness and disappointment for some but just
the points are closing. Three more races will still be on the schedule.

Qualifying begins at 6:30pm with racing at 7:30pm.
 

LaSalle Speedway Divisional Points:

Midwestern Late Model Division 5, 2006

Open Wheel Modified Division2006

 Street Stock Division

 4-Cylinder Hornet Division

 Previous Championship Holders

Championships nearly clinched at LaSalle Speedway
By: Betty Glynn

Anytime there is competition, some form of measurement is used to determine
success. For many, dirt track racing is not a sport but to the die hard
followers it is more then a sport, it is a lifestyle.

No doubt there are differences when compared to complete human powered
sporting events but in reality the time, effort, and commitment racers make
are no different at all.

To be successful in any sport it takes heart, soul and then some. Now of
course, how does one measure success. For dirt track racing, capturing the
top evening prize is an obvious way to judge but collectively earning a
seasonal title is yet a far more difficult road to reaching success.

The gauge of this achievement, or lack of, always comes down to where the
numbers are. Like it or not winning is everything when you're a competitor.
Consistency is the key to championships.

The measurement of points:

LaSalle Speedway's system is easy to follow and made available to the
public. An allotted number of points are awarded for each event the racers
participate in.

To get the drivers started, 15 "show-up" points are distributed to those who
sign their cars in.

The Midwestern Late Model and Modified drivers who travel the quickest lap
are the recipient of 4 points while second fast time earns 2.

For all divisions, the preliminary heat races are the path to the feature.
Not only does it help determine the main event start but they can collect 8
points for the win. The following three finishers earn 2 points less
respectively as they go down the line.

The main event, a.k.a. the Feature race, is the biggest opportunity to
stockpile points. The one to capture the checkers first not only collects
the trophy and the highest payout but is awarded 30 points for their hard
work. Each position following is less 2 points until the eleventh place
finisher. Eleventh and below all receive 10.

Summing up the current 2006 chase leaders:

Midwestern Late Models: As it stands, the coveted Midwestern Late Model
crown will belong to a racer who has yearned for a championship and always
come up short for one reason or another.

Mike Glynn's K9 machine is a familiar sight on the high banks, in the pit
area and victory lane but being runner up to a champ has also been too
familiar. Last year, the loss hurt the most when he fell short by eight
points for the Late Model title. He took an early season vacation and the
last point's night was rained out. If he wouldn't have taken the trip the 15
show up points alone would have raised him into a bracket he has never been
in, the champion.

For the 2006 racing season, this veteran racer has finally lifted the
proverbial monkey-off-his-back and earned his place in the LaSalle Speedway
record books.

"If you show up every night and put in as much effort as all of us do you
want the title," Glynn said. "There are a number of guys out here who could
win it and even more that deserve it."

No matter the class, seeing your name at the top is not only self gratifying
but also an incredible accomplishment for the racer, crew, sponsors and fans
in every division. Racing involves more then talent and equipment it is
takes incredible support and some luck as well.

"I'm lucky, we have a great crew, a lot of friends we have fun racing with
and sponsors I couldn't do without."

The racer second in points is Ralph Markham. He hasn't had the luck for the
championship either just yet. Hopefully, it won't take him as many years of
racing as Glynn.

His day is definitely coming though as this driver is always full throttle
no matter the event.

Markham has been a regular at LaSalle for about five seasons in the
Midwestern Late Model division. Nearly all have ended with him as the runner
up finisher. A position not to be ashamed of, but like any competitor he
stills wants more.

"I think I have been second every year but one," Markham said during a
recent phone interview. "And that year I think I finished third by only one
point. Something always seems to happen."

His current deficit of 98 points to Glynn is impossible to make up with one
race left. Now it is just holding onto second that has become a challenge
for the Maple Park driver.

He has had two bizarre circumstances during this final stretch.

With three chase races left, Markham had earned the pole position when a
rock flew off the fan and into his radiator during the slow paced line up
laps.

This past race, his tire rolled off the car at the start of the main show.
Things looked bleak for the points run but luck was on Markham's side in a
strange sort of way. The two drivers who were trailing him by fourteen
points also fell on unusually hard times in a freak incident.

Eric Dauber, the two time reigning champ, and Darin Furar were tied for
third going into the evening.  After Markham broke, it was their chance to
take over the second place in points.

Ironically, Dauber lost a driveshaft on the track and Furar ran over it a
couple of laps later at full speed. Both were out of contention by the
fourteenth lap. Dauber collected the same number of points as Markham for
the feature but won his heat. By his preliminary win he inched closer to
pose a threat. What a twist of fate for the Midwestern challenge for second.

"I am really lucky that I'm even still in contention for second," Markham
acknowledged about the strange night. "Now I have three DNF's so far."

Currently, Dauber trails by only 8 points with Furar 4 points behind him. If
one of the two would have finished up front last Saturday, and both were
running there, they could have lessened the pressure and easily stole the
spot away.

It just goes to show how any of the divisional chasers can make or break
their finish in the standings with a bad night.

Open Wheel Modifieds: These cars returned this season with their last
regular appearance in 1997. The young standout in the class was only nine
years old when the last Modified champ was crowned and now he will be
champion following a stellar season.

Vince Cooper may only be seventeen but this kid comes from a racing past and
family. He can win races and obviously championships. He started mounting
points when won everything raced early in the season. His smooth driving
style and smart moves have earned him the place he is at now.

He has been in the lead since the beginning. Presently, he holds first by an
88 points lead over Ray Bollinger. The closest race in their chase is
between Dale Lueth and Derek Line for third. A mere one point separates them
going into the final night.

Before last Saturday, Line was in second but Lueth just barely edged his way
past him with his third place finish and heat race victory. This Saturday
will be a showdown to decide third.

Street Stock's: Ed Williams Jr. is currently on top of the Street Stock's
chase by 57 points. If he shows up for the final points racing action he too
will automatically claim the title.

Leon Cade holds the second place on the roster but word has it that his
favored #911 car is sold and he may not be racing the remainder of the
season.

Jake Cholke trails in third by 17 points over Rick Koltveit. Anticipation
abounds to see if Cade will grace the oval to try to firm up the runner up
slot.

4-Cylinder Hornets: Going into the final night of competition Alex Clubb is
perched at the peak of the Hornet class. His 40 point advantage over Dan
Leonard would make it impossible to loose out if he signs in for the night.

The two are way out front while third and fourth have 18 points dividing
them.

John Clubb is in third over Jon Small.

The complete current standings are available on www.lasallespeedway.com.

The pressure of the points chase is almost over. Saturday night will be
filled with anticipation, hopefulness and disappointment for some but just
the points are closing. Three more races will still be on the schedule.

Qualifying begins at 6:30pm with racing at 7:30pm.
 

August 8
Photo Attached taken by LaSalle Speedway Track Photographer Dan Simpson
Caption: "Scott Schmitt(10S) uses the high line to pass Mike Glynn (K9) for
his first Midwestern Late Model feature victory at LaSalle Speedway"


Schmitt three wheels to victory at LaSalle
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle, IL -  It was only a matter of time for nineteen year old Scott
Schmitt to stake his claim to the checkered flag at LaSalle Speedway. The
Tonica native has been close to victory before but each week his driving
style has become more solid and his qualifying laps faster.

Schmitt, the quickest qualifier of the night, has been racing the
intimidating high banks of LaSalle for four years. Before the MLM class he
spent two years in the Street Stock class which his father Gary is currently
running and one in the Midwestern Sportsman class.

Seventeen Midwestern Late Models made the call for the starting feature grid
Saturday night. LaSalle's Mike Glynn rolled into the pole with Darin Furar
of Mark as his front row partner. Directly behind Glynn was Schmitt then
Ralph Markham of Maple Park in fourth.

Once the green dropped, Glynn shot out to the lead but one lap was all that
could be scored before a caution was signaled. By Lap 3, Furar was using a
lower groove and up to Glynn's tail. A lap later the momentum was halted
when Markham, who came into the show second in points, lost his wheel
causing more damage then just the missing rubber.

In recent years, he has had a black cloud traveling over him when the points
chase comes down to the wire. Something, if not everything, seems to go
wrong. Last Saturday night he was to start on the pole when a rock punctured
his radiator during the line up laps.

With one night of points racing left, the chase from second to fourth is
tight. After Saturday, only twelve points separate Markham, Eric Dauber of
Tonica and Furar. Glynn holds a firm lead in first.

The fourth lap out became painful as the field tried several times to get it
started. First, Jim Loomis looped his machine in turn two then a rear pack
melee involving him again slowed the restart.

During the fifth circuit, Schmitt was on fire and flew around Furar to chase
Glynn. It didn't' take the young driver long as he went heavy on the gas and
used the outside line to three wheel his way into the lead.

"When I was in third, I wasn't figuring I would run up front unless they
messed up," Schmitt said during a post race interview. "Then I got greedy
but it was worth it."

Dauber lost a driveshaft on Lap 13 which one lap later also claimed Furar's
run. Apparently, the driveshaft was still on the track when Furar ran over
it.

With ten un-scored laps, only eight cars remained in competition. The real
charger of the event was Keith Piano who had been put to the tail for
stopping to avoid a first lap situation but was able to stay out of trouble
and little by little work his way to the front.

The young Schmitt counted down the final laps and took home his first win as
a Midwestern Late Model driver.

"I was looking at the scoreboard and getting down laps," Schmitt admitted.


Glynn collected second ahead of Piano, Virgil's Dave Smith, Ed Williams Sr.,
Jack Benson, Joe Fratt and Dwayne Williford.

Glynn won his heat after a hard fought battle to pass Loomis, Schmitt
crossed in third over Smith. Dauber and Steve Oeder were nose to nose at the
finish of the second heat. Dauber narrowly took home the win, Oeder second
in front of Weistart and Furar.

The Open Wheel Modified feature was more than a race - it was a marathon
with turn two being the biggest obstacle on the course. It was incredibly
frustrating as multiple machines suffered the Bermuda Triangle type of zone
that turn two held. Looking at the corner it was like deja vu only
repeatedly.

On the front row Morris standout Vince Cooper sat inside of newcomer Casey
Lappin. LaSalle's Jim Phelps and Dale Lueth of Ottawa rolled up behind them.

Cooper was quick to lead but a first lap pile up in turn two was the
beginning of the turn two nightmare. At least, seven yellows were called
before the completion of the fourth lap out and nearly everything happened
there.

On the eighth circuit Cooper had started to pull off to a nice lead when a
car in the back spun and while under yellow Stanley Vervynck's machine had
shooting flames and required assistance from the safety crew.

The Modified event was cut short by track officials at Lap 15. Cooper won
with a battle between Phelps and Lueth making the show exciting. It was too
bad that there weren't more laps but it was time to call it quits.

Phelps crossed the line second ahead of Lueth, Lappin, Brian Bushong, Derek
Line, Ray Bollinger, and Mark Vervynck.

Phelps won the first heat uncontested with Cooper second, Bollinger and Ron
Morris in tow. During the second heat race Bushong and Lueth were taking
their action door to door when Leah Monfries left a brief stop in the
infield to race the leaders who were coming into turn three. The decision to
return to the racing surface nearly crashed the front pair. Lueth won with
Lappin second over Bushong and Jerold Meier.

Ten of the sixteen Street Stocks that started the feature crossed the line
at the finish.

For the first six laps, it was former regular Dan Filkowski in command until
he broke and Gary Schmitt took charge. Schmitt broke on the thirteenth
circuit.

Now Oglesby's Nick Sell took over the single file restart with Chicago
Ridge's Jake Cholke, Tim Loomis, Robert Schlappi, Ed Williams Jr., and Joe
Jelinek as the top six competitors. Cholke moved to the outside of Sell to
steal the lead on Lap 14.

Cholke went on to win his third feature race as Loomis followed over Sell,
Schlappi, Rick Koltveit, Bill Dauber, Steve Lewis, Mike Stewart, Jelinek,
and Steve Schwemlein.

Tony Provenzano Jr. took home the trophy for the 4 Cylinder Hornet class
with Jon Small, Mark Sutton, Jon Clubb, Alex Clubb, Gabe Koncor, Bill
Williams, Loren Westerhold, Jamie Deford, David Prybyla and Jon Wagner
following.

August 12th will be the final night of points racing with a full program on
the schedule.



LaSalle Speedway Results 08/05/06

Midwestern Late Models: 18 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.340
Heat One: Mike Glynn, Jim Loomis, Scott Schmitt, Dave Smith
Heat Two: Eric Dauber, Steve Oeder, Billy Weistart Jr., Darin Furar

Feature: Scott Schmitt, Mike Glynn, Keith Piano, Dave Smith, Ed Williams
Sr., Jack Benson, Joe Fratt, Dewayne Williford, Jim Loomis, Darin Furar,
Billy Weistart Jr., Dave Miller, Joe Partipilo, Eric Dauber, Steve Oeder,
Ralph Markham, Aaron Schmidt

Modifieds: 16 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.516
Heat One: Jim Phelps, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Ron Morris
Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Casey Lappin, Brian Bushong, Jerold Meier

Feature: Vince Cooper, Jim Phelps, Dale Lueth, Casey Lappin, Brian Bushong,
Derek Line, Ray Bollinger, Mark Vervynck, Leah Monfries, Ron Morris, Mark
Novorolsky, Scott Hauge, Joe Adam, Stanley Vervynck, Jerold Meier, Ken
Fischer

Street Stock: 16 Cars
Heat One: Gary Schmitt, Steve Schweimlein, Mike Hughes, Jake Cholke
Heat Two: Dan Filkowski, Nick Sell, Robert Schlappi, Joe Jelinek

Feature: Jake Cholke, Tim Loomis, Nick Sell, Robert Schlappi, Rick Koltveit,
Bill Dauber, Steve Lewis, Mike Stewart, Joe Jelinek, Steve Schwemlein, Mike
Hughes, Gary Schmitt, Jeff Small, Dan Filkowski, Jimmy Partipilo, Ed
Williams Jr.

Hornets: 16 Cars
Heat One: Jamie Deford, Jon Clubb, Mark Sutton, Gabe Koncor
Heat Two: Jon Small, Alex Clubb, Tony Provenzano Jr., Loren Westerhold

Feature: Tony Provenzano Jr., Jon Small, Mark Sutton, Jon Clubb, Alex Clubb,
Gabe Koncor, Bill Willams, Loren Westerhold, Jamie Deford, David Prybyla,
Jon Wagner, Cory West, Asa Robart, Dan Leonard, #7P, Darrell Porter
 

By Betty Glynn
July 29

LaSalle,IL -  The temperatures were sweltering in the Illinois Valley
Saturday night but that didn't stop fans from filling the wooden grandstands
and skyboxes of the LaSalle Speedway.

When the roster was posted, twenty nine drivers had enrolled in the Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series Illinois Valley Challenge 50. The $10,000 payday
was on the minds of all twenty nine. The drivers hot lapped their machines
and lined up for qualifying just like normal.

What wasn't expected was the "Dirtrax Dominator" making a late showing just
in time for a qualifying run. His presence increased the count to thirty.

When Scott Bloomquist, one of the most successful dirt track drivers in the
country, stormed into the speedway grounds and came out with an impressive
timed lap the crowd quickly realized the most popular dirt star showed up
ready to put an unexpected twist on the night's activities. Anyone who is
familiar with Bloomquist knows that when his unique #0 Bloomquist chassis
rolls out the excitement level in the pits and stands ignites.

When qualifying ended, the quickest lap time was traveled by the man who has
claimed the two big money events in LaSalle for 2006, Shannon Babb. Babb hit
the track running as the third competitor out and timed a fast lap of
12.377.

Three ten lap heat races made up the beginning of the racing action. The
first heat race had Bloomquist and Jeep VanWormer on the front row. The
start of this prelim race was surprising for professionals. It took many
tries to get a green flag consistently flying.

Before one lap was scored, four competitors were out of the race and back
pitside. VanWormer got the tail slide of Bloomquist ending his front feature
grid quest. Bloomquist carried the six cars from the high line until Lap 8
when Babb took over with two to go. Matt Miller claimed third, Scott James
fourth over Jim Partipilo and Mike Mataragas.

"He's (Babb) good on short tracks actually he's always good no matter what
he races," Bloomquist commented about Babb. "I was a little too tight in the
heat."

The second heat finish went to Earl Pearson Jr. Darren Miller was running
second when something went amiss and he fell from second to fifth on the
last lap. John Mason took over second finishing ahead of Jason Feger, Ryan
Dauber then Darren and Skip Martin.

For the third heat, it was former LaSalle regular Dennis Erb Jr. on the pole
next to Don O'Neal. With two laps in the books, Erb lost his driveshaft
taking Dan Schlieper with him. At the finish it was Steve Casebolt winning
over Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason Jaggers and Travis
Rokey.

Mataragas won the "B" Main over VanWormer, Billy Drake, Martin, Kevin
Weaver, Schlieper, Erb and Fiene.

With all the preliminary events done, the field of twenty four was now set.
Babb and Pearson were on the front of the grid over Casebolt and Bloomquist.

Babb and Bloomquist were flying from the first turn on. While Babb was
hugging the inside trek, Bloomquist was trying a meet and greet with the
cushion. Bloomquist was traveling high enough for a birds eye view of the
freshly painted concrete barrier walls. Only skills of his caliber would
allow him to run so over the edge and not hit the wall.

At the start finish line of Lap 7, it was Bloomquist making that high run
give him the momentum that he needed. He took over but not without a hard
fought war with Babb. Two laps later a caution was signaled for VanWormer
who was stopped coming out of turn four. Van Wormer looked like he would
have a tail end finish for the night but as usual only time will tell.

During much of the race, Bloomquist just seemed to outpower the field from
the top side while Babb, Pearson, Moran, Matt Miller and Casebolt followed.
Bloomquist's ability to lap cars showed as he used the entire track to
distance himself.

At the half way marker, a restart brought the leaders back together. Now the
leader was solo but the double file restart, without being separated by
lapped traffic, played a role in things to come. From Laps 33 to 35 the
yellow came out numerous times. Several were apparently for debris slowing
the high flying action.

For Babb, Lap 36 was unusual. He spun himself out of his groove coming off
turn two and glided into the mere rim of the infield. Appearing to stop to
avoid hitting an infield Lucas Oil banner flag display he looked as if he
could have gotten back in action. No yellow was granted for him,
unfortunately for everyone he didn't return to the field.

Bloomquist started generating some real distance as he collected a half a
track lead over Pearson. The real surprise was Van Wormer who earlier spun
now had powered from fifteenth into a third place run on the highline over
Matt Miller and Darren Miller. With nine to go, Van Wormer moved into second
but was too far behind Bloomquist to challenge him.

Bloomquist took home the $10,000 without contest to cheers and jeers but put
on a show worthy of the televised event. The last car to enter was now the
first car to victory circle.

During a post race interview he discussed his LaSalle stop. "I like coming
up here and racing. It's been a few years, maybe four since we were here
last. This is a good race track you can pass on."

"We made some adjustments after the heat because we were too tight,"
Bloomquist said of his well prepared chassis.

The twenty year racing veteran did more then pass as he dominated with his
feature run.

VanWormer earned an impressive runner up finish ahead of Darren Miller,
Pearson, James and Matt Miller. Erb came from twenty second to pick up a
hard charging seventh place finish in front of Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason
Feger, O'Neal, Casebolt, Mason, Martin and Mataragas.

The Lucas Oil event will air on SPEED channel to be determined at a later
date.

The weekly Midwestern Late Model's and Street Stock's were the support
classes for the night's venue.

For the twenty five lap main of the Midwestern's, Ralph Markham earned the
pole next to Jim Loomis. Markham traveled around the track on the front as
they lined up but realized something was not right when fluid was blowing
back at him. Apparently, a rock had flown up into the fan blade and
punctured a hole in his radiator.

"When we were lined up everything was fine," Markham explained. "Then we
were going around the track and I started getting wet. I think a rock must
have gotten into the fan and hit the radiator."

Once the flag man signaled the green, Glynn shot off to a quick lead over Ed
Williams Jr. while Jim Loomis temporarily held off strong attempts by Billy
Weistart Jr.

Glynn had Williams on his back bumper for a few laps but maneuvering lapped
traffic helped him pull away. With five to go, they were lined back up in
single file order but the lapped traffic was not put back in place.

Glynn took off to finish the race uncontested for his third seasonal
victory. Williams picked up second ahead of Eric Dauber, Weistart, Loomis,
Darin Furar, Rob Piper, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance and Dave Miller.

Markham and Dauber won their heat events.

The Street Stock class put on a great caution free show.

Jake Cholke won the feature race and may have positioned himself up from
sixth in the points to third with his finish.

Chuck Provenzano won his heat and took second in the feature over Nathan
Balensiefen, Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmitt,
Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, and Jimmy Partipilo.

Next week, a regular full program is on the schedule.



LaSalle Speedway Results 7/29/06

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 30 Cars
Qualifying: Shannon Babb 12.377
Heat One: Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Matt Miller, Scott James, Jim
Partipilo, Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Michael England, Frank Heckanast
Jr., Brian Claudnic
Heat Two: Earl Pearson Jr., John Mason, Jason Feger, Ryan Dauber, Darren
Miller, Skip Martin, Tim Hamburg, Kevin Weaver, Jay Fiene, Tony Izzo Jr.
Heat Three: Steve Casebolt, Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason
Jaggers, Travis Rokey, Billy Drake, Don O'Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Dan
Schlieper
B Main: Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Billy Drake, Skip Martin, Kevin
Weaver, Dan Schlieper, Dennis Erb Jr., Jay Fiene, Frank Heckanast Jr.,
Michael England, Travis Rokey, Tim Hamburg, Don O'Neal

Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Lap Feature: Scott Bloomquist, Jeep VanWormer,
Darren Miller, Earl Pearson Jr., Scott James, Matt Miller, Dennis Erb Jr.,
Donnie Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason Feger, Don O'Neal, Steve Casebolt, Jason
Mason, Skip Martin, Mike Mataragas, Michael England, Freddy Smith, Shannon
Babb, Bret Sievert, Billy Drake, Kevin Weaver, Jason Jaggers, Dan Schlieper,
Jim Partipilo

Midwestern Late Models: 18 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.804
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Dave Smith, Jerry Vance
Heat Two: Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Aaron Schmidt

Feature: Mike Glynn, Ed Williams Sr., Eric Dauber, Billy Weistart Jr., Jim
Loomis, Darin Furar, Rob Piper, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Dave Miller,
Joe Fratt, Scott Cimei, Dave Smith, Aaron Schmitt, Ralph Markham

Street Stock: 15 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveity, Robert Schlappi, Leon Cade, Nathan Balensiefen
Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Jake Cholke, Ed Williams Jr., Nick Sell

Feature: Jake Cholke, Chuck Provenzano, Nathan Balensiefen, Leon Cade, Ed
Williams Jr., Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein,
Jimmy Partipilo, Tim Loomis, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Jeff Small, Rick
Koltveit

James Essex-Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series PR
 
Scott Bloomquist Blazes to Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win at La Salle Speedway
 
La Salle, IL—On a hot and humid Saturday Night at La Salle Speedway no one was hotter than Mooresburg, TN driver Scott Bloomquist who picked up his sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of 2006 as he captured the annual “Illinois Valley Challenge” worth $10,000 at the Izzo Family promoted facility.  Bloomquist took the lead on the seventh lap and never looked back in taking the win in his Miller Brothers/Hawkeye Trucking/Allstar Performance/Sweet Mfg/Ohlins/K-B Carburetors/VP Racing Fuels/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Bloomquist Race Cars Chevrolet #0.  Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, MI who started 17th on the grid finished second in his Bayline Fire Protection/Cornett Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Ford Taurus and 14th starting Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL took third in his Ernie Bates Country Companies/Ideal Ready Mix/Rocket Ford Taurus.  Completing the top five were Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL in the Lucas Oil Products/Larry Wallace Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Ford Taurus and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN in the Powell Motorsports/Jay Dickens Racing Engines/Rocket GTO.
 
Shannon Babb and Earl Pearson, Jr. would make up the front row starting grid in front of the cameras of SPEED on hand with Babb firing the first shot grabbing the lead at the start of the 50 lap race.  Pearson jumped to second until Bloomquist, who started fourth would pass him.  Bloomquist then would take up the challenge of pressuring Babb for the lead.  Pearson, Donnie Moran and Steve Casebolt were the rest of the top five with five circuits complete.
 
Babb and Bloomquist would duel for the lead with Babb hanging on as Bloomquist was trying every groove to get by the May Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series winner at La Salle. Finally on the seventh lap Bloomquist was able to clear Babb in the race for the lead with Casebolt passing Moran for fourth on the same lap.  A caution on lap eight for the 10th place running Jeep VanWormer would slow the action.
 
On the restart Bloomquist would sprint ahead of Babb and Pearson with Moran going back by Casebolt in a battle for fourth.  Pearson would pull up alongside Babb as the two would race side by side for second for three laps.  Bloomquist was now up to a six car length advantage with 15 laps scored he would continue to build on that lead.  Babb would regain the second slot with Pearson, Matt Miller and Donnie Moran racing side by side for fourth place.
 
By the 16th lap Bloomquist was starting to enter some heavy traffic and that would allow Babb and Pearson to close the margin.  Bloomquist was fighting through traffic Babb really started to close coming to within two car lengths of Bloomquist.  With the crossed flags signaling the half way mark of the race Bloomquist was able to put at least three cars between himself and Babb as he was starting to develop some breathing room.  The yellow flew after lap 25 was scored when Billy Drake made contact with Don O’Neal forcing a caution flag. 
 
On the restart Bloomquist would have Babb and Pearson lined up behind him side by side on the restart with Miller and new top fiver, Scott James who started 10th now up to fifth place.  The top five would remain in the same running order until Darren Miller would charge from his 14th starting slot to go to fifth.  Matt Miller would get back in the chase passing Darren Miller for fifth on lap 31.  There were two cautions within three laps of each for debris on lap 33 and 35 which would bunch up the field for a restart.
 
On the restart to lap 36 Pearson would speed by Babb to take over second as Bloomquist was again pulling away.  Babb would spin into the infield on lap 37 ending his night while running third.  Bloomquist stretched his lead to a full straightaway over Pearson with VanWormer making a tremendous recovery now in third, from his lap eight caution flag in which he had to restart on the tail of the field.
 
With ten to go Bloomquist was cruising along with VanWormer and Darren Miller all over Pearson for second.  VanWormer would make the top line of the racing surface work as he went by Pearson in a flash for second on the 42nd lap.  Darren Miller would then follow suit racing by Pearson on the top groove a lap later.  With five to go Bloomquist was not threatened for the lead as VanWormer and Darren Miller were hoping for a caution flag to have a shot at stealing the win from Bloomquist who had been dominant the event up front to this point.
 
Bloomquist would go on to easily cross the finish line in first to take his sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season and his 12th overall of ’06. VanWormer’s performance in coming from the back earned him a runnerup check with Darren Miller a close third.  Pearson and Scott James would complete the top five.
 
“The car was real tight when we qualified,” said the 42 year old Bloomquist in victory lane.  “We went to work real hard after the heat race and the car really took a liking to the race track in the feature,” stated the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer.  “We hadn’t run here in a while, but we’ve always liked coming up here to race cause it’s a track you can really race on and we like those kinds of tracks.”
 
Rounding out the top ten were Matt Miller, Dennis Erb, Jr., Donnie Moran, Ryan Dauber and Jason Feger.
 
In preliminary action for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Shannon Babb captured the Comp Cams Fast Time with a 12.377 second qualifying lap for the 30 entries on hand.  The PBM Performance Products Heat Races were won by Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson, Jr. and Steve Casebolt. The Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main went to Mike Mataragas.  The K&N Engineering “Clean Pass of the Race” went to Steve Casebolt for his third heat race winning pass of Donnie Moran.  The K&N Engineering “Clean Pass of the Race” is awarded at each Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event and can happen during a heat race, consy or feature event.
 
Race Summary
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Saturday Night, July 29, 2006
La Salle Speedway-La Salle, Illinois
 
Comp Cams Fast Time:  Shannon Babb 12.377 seconds
 
PBM Performance Products First Heat:  (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance):  Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Matt Miller, Scott James, Jim Partipilo, Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Michael England, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Brian Claudnic
 
PBM Performance Products Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance):  Earl Pearson Jr., John Mason, Jason Feger, Ryan Dauber, Darren Miller, Skip Martin, Tim Hamburg, Kevin Weaver, Jay Fiene, Tony Izzo, Jr.
 
PBM Performance Products Third Heat:  (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance):  Steve Casebolt, Donnie Moran, Bret Sievert, Freddy Smith, Jason Jaggers, Travis Rokey, Billy Drake, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb, Jr., Dan Schlieper
 
Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno B-Main:  (12 Laps-Top 7 Advance):  Mike Mataragas, Jeep VanWormer, Billy Drake, Skip Martin, Kevin Weaver, Dan Schlieper, Dennis Erb, Jr., Jay Fiene, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Michael England, Travis Rokey, Tim Hamburg, Don O’Neal
 
“Illinois Valley Challenge” A-Main:  (50 Laps):  Scott Bloomquist, Jeep VanWormer, Darren Miller, Earl Pearson, Jr., Scott James, Matt Miller, Dennis Erb, Jr., Donnie Moran, Ryan Dauber, Jason Feger, Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, John Mason, Skip Martin, Mike Mataragas, Michael England, Freddy Smith, Shannon Babb, Bret Sievert, Billy Drake, Kevin Weaver, Jason Jaggers, Dan Schlieper, Jim Partipilo
 
Race Statistics:
Entries:  30
Yellow Flags:  6
Red Flags:  0
Lap Leaders:  Shannon Babb 1-6  Scott Bloomquist 7-50
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race:  Jeep VanWormer (Started 17th and finished second, advanced 15 positions)
K&N Engineering Clean Pass of the Race:  Steve Casebolt
Hawk Brake Tough Brake Award: Shannon Babb
Quarter Master Move of the Race: Darren Miller
On the Edge Graphics Fastest Non Qualifier:  Tony Izzo, Jr.
Weld Wheels Award:  John Mason
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Race:  Steve Casebolt
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals:  Don O’Neal and Michael England
 
 
2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
 
Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
K & N Filters - “Official Filters” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
Sunoco Race Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
Hoosier Race Tires – “Official Race Tire of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
Arizona Sport Shirts – “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:  Lucas Oil Products, K & N Filters, Sunoco Race Fuels, Arizona Sports Shirts, DART Machinery, COMP Cams, PBM Performance Products, Hawk Performance Brakes, Edelbrock, PPM, AFCO, Quarter Master, Design 500, Penske Racing Shocks, Weld Racing Wheels, Banshee Graphics, Jesel, C J Rayburn Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, Real Wheels, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Lazer Race Cars, Mason Racin, Cruise With The Champions, Petroff Towing and All-Star Performance www.lucasdirt.com
[email protected]

LaSalle is "Northern Home" for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle, IL - Two and a half years after the creation of the Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series, the LaSalle Speedway is a favored destination in a tour
that stretches across the country.

The schedule covers seventeen states with thirty nine stops. Since the first
race in Flroida on February 3rd, there have been thirteen different winners
in twenty one events so far.

"We look forward to coming to LaSalle and working with promoters Kerrianne
and Kerry Izzo," Series Director Spencer Wilson told during a recent phone
interview.

The Izzo family has been promoting the speed arena since 1992 and has played
host to some of the biggest shows in the country. Saturday night the $10,000
Illinois Valley Challenge 50 will top the venue along with the Midwestern
Late Model and Street Stock classes.

It will be the second time the traveling series has invaded the ¼ mile clay
oval this year.

"Kerrianne has been with us since we got this series off the ground and I am
a big cheerleader for her up there."

The feelings are mutual with the promoters and officials at the track.

"I love that organization," Kerry said with a smile. "Every time they come I
get excited their back. They work more closely with Kerrianne then me and I
know she really enjoys working with them a lot."

On Monday morning, speedway official Cody Sommers said they were painting
and getting the track surface ready for the big show.

"Right now we are working hard to get everything done. This is definitely
our biggest event and we look forward to them coming here."

This is a sentiment shared by more then the promoters and series director as
drivers, crews and racing enthusiasts alike have been gearing up for their
return. The added bonus of the evening being taped by a national television
channel makes it even more exciting.

The July 29th race will be captured by SPEED Channel cameras in front of
what is sure to be a full house.

According to Wilson they will be arriving early in the area and enjoying
their Northern home-away-from-home.

"Actually, we will probably be in town on Thursday," Wilson shared. "We
really like it there. We consider it to be our Northern home."

Community Benefits: Local hotels are reaping the rewards of two types of
racing this weekend. In addition to the Lucas Oil competitors and followers,
the popular DePue Boat Races are this weekend. Out of the six local hotels
contacted nearly all of them were sold out or very close to it.

Other businesses in the community are very likely to see increased revenues
from both large attractions. On any given Saturday night, haulers and race
car fans are spotted at the Illinois Valley eateries and gas stations.

The manager of Peru's Steak N Shake appreciates their Saturday night racing
customers.

"We do get a great push from the Speedway on Saturday's after the races,"
according to Kimberly McElligott. She said they really notice the additional
customers when the tours come through.

"People from the races stay here at the hotels down the street and then we
get additional breakfast and lunch customers too," she acknowledged.

Local Driver Concerns: Since the elimination of the super Late Model class
it has presented some concerns for the LaSalle Speedway's weekly racer.

To run or not to run?

The answer is not so simple. The Midwestern Late Model class is considered
the premier division but they will be racing their own program Saturday.

With a mere three races to go, the driver's have to decide whether to run
with the big dogs and possibly be bumped out of their points standing or
race their regular show.

"I don't know what to do," current points leader Mike Glynn said.

"We love racing the big shows. When you're leading the points though, it's a
big decision. I never thought last year we would be so close in the points
chase and I took a week off early in the season."

"Well we were on a winning streak and made up ground then got rained out the
last night of the points. I lost the championship by eight points. You get
fifteen for just showing up so I felt pretty bad for our crew and sponsors.
They still haven't let me forget that trip to Florida."

Currently, Ralph Markham is 56 points behind Glynn. From second to sixth in
the standings is close with a separation of approximately forty eight
points.

If a driver were to make a clean sweep in the Midwestern class which is not
uncommon, the points tallied would be: 15 Show Up, 4 Fast Time, 8 Heat Win,
and 30 Feature for a nights total of 57 points. With two nights remaining
after Saturday, the deficit would be too great to make up.

"I still don't know what I'm doing Saturday," Glynn said on Tuesday

Lucas Oil Points Battle:  Florida's Earl Pearson Jr. leads the quest by one
hundred and twenty points over Indiana's Don O'Neal. The points after the
July 23rd race are: Pearson 3555, O'Neal 3435, Donnie Moran 3200 and Matt
Miller 3005.

Lucas Oil Championship Pay: Winning the points battle is worth its weight in
gold. In 2005, the winner claimed $30,000 but in 2006 they raised the stakes
to $40,000 for the champ. Second through tenth pay is as follows: 2 -
$25,000, 3 - $20,000, 4 - $18,000, 5 - $17,000, 6 - $16,000, 7 - $15,000, 8
- $14,000, 9 - $13,000, 10 - $12,000.

Recent touring races at LaSalle Speedway: Illinoisan Shannon Babb has become
comfortable in LaSalle's victory lane. He captured both 2006 big money
events collecting $16,000 between the two different touring series.

He won the May 20th $10,000 Lucas Oil Spring Shootout and then the July 10th
$6,000 UMP Summer Nationals race.

His dominance in the grueling UMP Summer Nationals, dubbed the 'Babb
Nationals', has him conditioned for just about anything. If he rolls onto
the grounds he may be the man to beat.

Lucas Oil Recent Events: Last weekend the big Lucas Oil winner was Muscatine
racer Brian Birkhofer. He claimed the races at Knoxville, Iowa and
Wheatland, Missouri netting himself a bank roll of $20,000 for his weekend
warrior duties.

His website does not have LaSalle's fifty lap race listed on his schedule
but rumors are flying that he might be in attendance.

The Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Purse: 1 - $10,000, 2 - $5,000, 3 - $
3,000, 4 - $2,500, 5 - $2,000, 6 - $1,500, 7 - $1,400, 8 - $1,300, 9 -
$1,200, 10 - $1,100, 11 - $1,000, 12 - $950, 13 - $900, 14 - $875, 15 -
$850, 16 - $825, 17 - $800, 18 - $775, 19 - $750, 20 - $725.

Adult general admission $25.00, children eleven and under are free, sky box
admission $30.00 and pit passes $35.00.

Pit gates will open at 1:00pm with main gates opening at 4:00pm. Qualifying
starts at 6:30pm, racing begins at 7:30pm.

For Immediate Release
James Essex-Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series PR
 
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Prepares for "Illinois Invasion" This Weekend
 
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series heads to the Illini State of Illinois for back-to-back events this upcoming weekend.  On Saturday Night, July 29 the series visits the Izzo Family promoted La Salle Speedway in La Salle, IL for the second time in '06 for the annual running of the "Illinois Valley Challenge" then on Sunday Night, July 30 the series heads southwest to the Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL for the "Miller Lite 50" at the Kevin and Tammy Gundaker promoted facility.  Both shows will feature a full race program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Comp Cams Time Trials, PBM Performance Products Heat Races, Mason Racin' Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks B-Mains followed by the $10,000 to win and $700 to start A-Main.  The cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand to tape both nights feature events and will be aired on a date and time to be announced in the future.
 
It will be the series' fourth visit to La Salle Speedway in the last two years with the first three appearances having three different event winners with all three having exciting finishes.  Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, WI, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL have won in the first three trips to La Salle for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.  Sundays' event at Tri-City will mark the second appearance in two years at the racetrack located just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis.  Last year Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL claimed his first series win of 2005 which helped propel him on to the 2005 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship.  Sunday Night will also be NASCAR Night at Tri-City Speedway with Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace on hand to race and sign autographs.
 
Pearson still lays claim to the top spot in the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points chase holding a 120 point lead over Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN.  Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH, Matt Miller of Waterville, OH and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN still maintain positions in the top five heading to La Salle and Tri City.
 
Current top "Rookie of the Year" contender Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN leads the next five drivers in points followed by Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN, Michael England of Glasgow, KY, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI.
 
So far in 2006 there have been 21 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events contested with 13 different winners.  Scott Bloomquist leads the win parade with five victories followed by two each for Earl Pearson, Jr., Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR, Steve Francis of Ashland, KY and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA.  Other drivers with wins this year on the ultra competitive series include, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI, Dale McDowell of Chickamuaga, GA, Matt Miller, Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC, Chub Frank of Bear Lake, PA, Shannon Babb, Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV and Chris Wall of Holden, LA.
 
La Salle Speedway is located south of I-80 on I-39 to exit 57, then 1.5 mile east on U.S. 6.  For more information you can visit the track's website at www.lasallespeedway.com or call (815) 223-6900.  Tri- City Speedway is located in Pontoon Beach, IL for directions take I-270 to exit 4, then 0.5 mile south on State Road 203.  For more information their website address is www.tricityspeedway.net or you can call (618) 931-7836 for more information.
 
For up to date news, results, schedule updates and photos the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is online at www.lucasdirt.com or you can contact the series office at (951) 532-2503
 
Upcoming Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Schedule
 
Saturday Night, July 29
La Salle Speedway
La Salle, Illinois
www.lasallespeedway.com
"Illinois Valley Challenge"
$10,000 to win/$700 to start
 
Sunday Night, July 30
Tri-City Speedway
Pontoon Beach, Illinois
www.tricityspeedway.net
"Miller Lite 50"
$10,000 to win/$700 to start
 
2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors
 
Lucas Oil- Title Sponsor and “Official Oil Products of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
K & N Filters - “Official Filters” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
Sunoco Race Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
Hoosier Race Tires – “Official Race Tire of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
Arizona Sport Shirts – “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series”
 
2006 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:  Lucas Oil Products, K & N Filters, Sunoco Race Fuels, Arizona Sports Shirts, DART Machinery, COMP Cams, PBM Performance Products, Hawk Performance Brakes, Edelbrock, PPM, AFCO, Quarter Master, Design 500, Penske Racing Shocks, Weld Racing Wheels, Banshee Graphics, Jesel, C J Rayburn Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, Real Wheels, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Lazer Race Cars, Mason Racin, Cruise With The Champions, Petroff Towing and All-Star Performance www.lucasdirt.com
[email protected]

Furar Conquers 75 Lapper at LaSalle Speedway
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL -  Darin Furar hasn't had the best of luck with the final laps of
the coveted Midwestern Late Model 75 lap specials at LaSalle Speedway. In
recent years, the Granville driver has led many times but it has always
slipped away before the finale.

"I've led the 75 lappers before and then near the end something always
happens," Furar explained post race. "When that lapped car (Dave Miller)
came back up in front of me and Scott (Schmitt) took the lead I thought here
we go again."

Lisa Lasik, one of Darin's biggest fans and his only sibling, shared the
same sentiment. "I saw we were at Lap 72 and I got really nervous he has
never led past then. I am so proud of him and glad he finally got one."

Furar had a good start to the night when he earned his front row start next
to Oglesby's Bill Weistart Jr. On the second row, Princeton's Steve Oeder
and Scott Schmitt of Tonica rolled up ahead of Virgil's Dave Smith and Eric
Dauber of Tonica.

Once the green dropped, Furar shot to a quick lead with Weistart, Oeder and
Schmitt on his tail. By Lap 2, Oeder had made his way around Weistart for
second. Four laps later the yellow was flown for Weistart who spun coming
off of turn four.

During the special, all laps traveled with the yellow flag flying are
counted until the final ten.

By Lap 15, LaSalle's Mike Glynn was flying and on the move from an eleventh
place start. Last week's winner quickly moved into fourth. For the next
several laps the four cars running up front were Furar, Schmitt, Oeder and
Glynn all in nose to tail style.

With thirty laps scored, Glynn had just cleared Oeder for third from the
inside when the two made contact. Oeder's terrific run concluded with him
hitting hard into the concrete wall off of turn four.

Thirteen laps after that caution, Furar had Schmitt giving him a run for his
money when the lapped machine of Miller slid into his line enabling Schmitt
to gain the lead. Miller proceeded into the infield for a brief moment then
decided to return to the pack again.

Schmitt, a young local talent, showcased his abilities working through
lapped traffic when he started blowing liquid all over the surface. It
appeared he lost the motor but kept pace and he stayed in the lead. During
Lap 61, he pulled into the infield and out of the best run of his career
with engine woes.

With seven more recorded, it was now Furar leading over Glynn, Smith, Ralph
Markham and Ritchie Bell. Markham was traveling hard from a twelfth place
and got around Smith for third.

When the checkers dropped, Furar posted his second win of the season. Glynn
took home second without power steering.

While under caution during Lap 18 Glynn's power steering pump burned up. The
reality of how long the special was kicked in during the final laps.

"I was so ready for the race to be over. When I got out of the car my entire
body was numb," Glynn said of the grueling race.

"I don't know how Mike could drive like that," Furar said after learning
that he raced without power steering. "I just can't imagine that at all."

Markham posted an impressive third place finish with a good run by Smith in
fourth. Bell finished fifth in front of Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr.,
Dauber, Jim Loomis, Tony Coglianese, Aaron Schmidt and Jerry Vance.

Jim Partipilo posted the fastest qualifying lap of 13.227. Furar and Smith
each won their heat events. Schmidt took home the semi race win.

Incredible talent on the high banks was the Modified theme when Ottawa's
Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper of Morris and Ray Bollinger got up front at the
half way point of the twenty lap feature.

To kick things off Mike Stilewalt and Mike Spatola hosted the front row grid
with Cooper and Lueth in the second row. Once green Spatola powered into a
good lead for the first six laps.

A caution on Lap 7 placed Lueth on his rear bumper. For the next three laps
the pair raced in that order until Lueth shot to the lead.

During Lap 15, Lueth was running a higher line and Cooper was now running
the bottom in second when they quickly came up to lapped traffic. In the
next two laps, Cooper was able to power up to Lueth's door in turn two but
Lueth was still faster on the straights.

Lueth and Cooper brought the fans to their feet as they put on a great show
down to the wire. Lueth beat him to the line by a nose for his second
victory in a row.

Bollinger claimed third over Spatola, Dalzell's Jim Phelps, Brian Bushong,
Derek Line, Jerold Meier, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, and Terry Hudson.

Cooper held fast time. Zac Dedewaldt and Brad Willis won their heats.

Matt Ramer fell on hard times in the final lap of the Street Stock main
event. The Mendota native was flying high and leading the twenty two car
field when the car just seemed to get away from him as he was coming into
turn four for the white flag lap. He looped his machine and ended a
fantastic run.

Ed Williams Jr. won with Nathan Balensiefen, Chuck Provenzano, John
Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Robert Schlappi, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Dan
Filkowski, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Eric Whittington and Ramer in tow.

Jeff Seitz won his first Hornet feature race with Dan Leonard, John Small,
Alex Clubb, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Loren Westerhold, Jon Clubb, Shane
Whittington, Corey West, Asa Robart, John Wagner, Jason Ramos, David
Przybyla, Gabe Koncor, Chris Zavada, Lyday, #D7, Timmy Faust and Kyle Horn
rounding out the field.

Next Saturday night, the Lucas Oil Dirt Series will invade the speedway for
their televised Illinois Valley Challenge 50 Late Model special. The event
pays $10,000 to the victor.

The Midwestern Late Models and Street Stocks will be on the venue as well.




LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model 75 Lap Special: 22 Cars
Qualifying: Jim Partipilo 13.227
Heat One: Darin Furar, Ritchie Bell, Steve Oeder, Scott Schmitt
Heat Two: Dave Smith, Bill Weistart Jr., Jim Loomis, Eric Dauber
Semi Feature: Aaron Schmidt, Dave Miller, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Jack
Benson, Dewayne Williford

Feature: Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Dave Smith, Rich Bell,
Keith Piano, Ed Williams Sr., Eric Dauber, Jim Loomis, Tony Coglianese,
Aaron Schmidt, Jerry Vance, Scott Schmitt, Dave Miller, Wally Forsythe, John
Piccatto, Steve Oeder, Joe Partipilo, Bill Weistart Jr., Jim Partipilo

Modifieds: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.950
Heat One: Zac Dedewaldt, Mike Stinewalt, Ray Bollinger, Vince Cooper
Heat Two: Brad Willis, Mike Spatola, Dale Lueth, Brian Bushong

Feature: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Mike Spatola, Jim Phelps,
Brian Bushong, Derek Line, Jerold Meier, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, Terry
Hudson, Mark Novorolsky, Mike Stinewalt, Ken Fischer, Zac Dedewalt, Mike
Dyas, Scott Hauger, Paul Smith, Brad Willis, Joe Adam

Street Stock: 22 Cars
Heat One: Matt Ramer, John Peterson, Robert Schlappi, Nathan Balenseifen
Heat Two: Ed Williams Jr., Gary Schmidt, Eric Whittington, Chuck Provenzano

Feature: Ed Williams Jr., Nathan Balensiefen, Chuck Provenzano, John
Peterson, Gary Schmidt, Robert Schlappi, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Dan
Filkowski, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Eric Whittington, Matt Ramer, Nick
Sell, Roger Rickels, Mike Hughes, Jake Cholke, Bill Dauber, Tim Loomis, Jeff
Small, Jimmy Partipilo, Leon Cade

Four Cylinder Hornets: 20 Cars
Heat One: John Small, Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Jon Clubb
Heat Two: Jeff Seitz, Shane Whittington, Mark Sutton, Timmy Faust

Feature: Jeff Seitz, Dan Leonard, John Small, Alex Clubb, Mark Sutton, Jamie
Deford, Loren Westerhold, Jon Clubb, Shane Whittington, Corey West, Asa
Robart, John Wagner, Jason Ramos, David Przybyla, Gabe Koncor, Chris Zavada,
Lyday, #D7, Timmy Faust, Kyle Horn
 

Friends Lueth and Glynn share winning night
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL -  It has been many years since Ottawa's Dale Lueth and Mike
Glynn of LaSalle have spent their Saturday nights racing at the same track.
Through those years, the pair have remained close friends with Lueth even
designing and sponsoring Glynn's car with his decal business.

Since the LaSalle Speedway put the Modified competition back on their weekly
program, the two are back to racing on the same turf, just different
divisions. Saturday night they shared more in common then a friendship and
fending off the heat however.

"It's great having Dale here at LaSalle," Glynn said. "We have guys that we
pit next to week in and week out and you become friends over time." "Racing
is a family sport and it's amazing because when we started racing each other
his kids were little. Now his son is a big part of his race team."

Seventeen Midwestern Late Models signed in ready for action with young Scott
Schmitt of Tonica claiming the fastest qualifying lap of 13.272. Next the
Heat races were completed with Granville's Darin Furar winning the first
race over Ralph Markham of Maple Park, Glynn and Schmitt. Oswego's Aaron
Schmidt held back Dave Smith of Virgil, Bartlett's Ed Williams Sr. and
Tonica's Eric Dauber.

For the twenty five lap feature, it was Furar and Spring Valley's John
Piccatto earning the front row start with Markham and Aaron Schmidt in row
two. Furar used his inside line to quickly grab the lead. Markham was close
in tow while Piccatto raced his line ahead of Glynn.

A Lap 4 restart brought the field single file. Before another lap was in the
books Markham took his ride outside to give Furar a run for his money. The
two started battling with a little contact and Markham flying high and into
the lead by Lap 6. Glynn also was on the move from his fifth place start and
into second one lap later.

Markham and Glynn set a pace that was hard to keep up with for the
competition but was exciting for the heavily populated grand stands. Glynn
powered up on a lower groove and forced a two wide battle with Markham. It
was a true fan appreciation night as the crowd rose to their feet when the
duo's side by side action got a little bigger. During Lap 15, a four wide
battle ended with Glynn taking command in showmanship fashion.

Glynn powered up and used experience to guide his Rayburn chassis hard in
the turns. Glynn and Markham had distanced themselves out front while Furar
and Scott Schmitt raced for third. On Lap 19, Schmitt grabbed third. Four
laps later, Markham and Glynn made contact. Glynn stayed on the gas and
found his groove back quickly.

At the finish, it was Glynn making a trip to victory lane for the second
week in a row. Markham took home second ahead of Schmitt who hard started
his journey seventh. Fourth place went to Furar over Williams, Smith,
Dauber, Bill Weistart Jr., Keith Piano, Eric Rebholz, Tony Coglianese, Rob
Piper, Jerry Vance, Piccatto, Schmidt, Shawn Kemp and Dewayne Williford.

Last week's Open Wheel Modified winner, Ray Bollinger, took home the fastest
qualifier title for the class. Mike Spatola won the first heat ahead of
Bollinger, Vince Cooper and Aaron Elgin. Lueth claimed the second heat as
Jim Phelps came in second over Terry Hudson and Leah Monfries.

Bollinger was positioned on the pole with Lueth as his front row partner for
the twenty lap main. The two took off from the start side by side and
carried the sixteen car pack that way for several laps.

During Lap 3, Lueth found his nitch on the highside and took charge of the
race. Within a lap, caution was slowing his pace. On the single file
restart, Lueth had Bollinger, Phelps, Spatola, Elgin and Cooper behind him.
Just after green, the yellow dropped again and brought them back to a nose
to tail start.

Phelps was on the move to second during the sixth lap out but yet another
caution interrupted the pace.

By Lap 9, twelve cars remained on the clay. Lueth was working his back tires
into the rough terrain of the highside. The higher line was working for him
as he was pulling away with a good lead on the straight aways.

Like the Midwestern's it was a great race the only difference was cautions
were killing their pace. Monfries brought another fantastic run between,
Lueth, Bollinger and Cooper to a halt when she spun again during the
fourteenth lap.

Once green, the action was as hot as the air temperature with Lueth
continuing his dominating drive on the rails over a strong Bollinger down
low. The white flag was out to signal a mere one to go but another yellow
stopped the excitement. The car appeared to be out of harms way but with a
yellow this late in the race it could be anyone's game.

Cooper was now in second and ready to add to his mounting wins. Lueth had
something different in mind though.

"I knew it would be tough," Lueth said post race. "Vince was there on the
bottom but I figured I was staying on top until someone could show me that
it was faster down there."

Lucky for Lueth he listened to his gut instinct as he claimed his first
feature checkers of the season. Cooper took home a solid second over
Bollinger, Elgin, Derek Line, Ron Morris, Brian Bushong, Spatola, Mike Dyas
and Monfries.

Leon Cade continued his winning ways when he swept the Street Stock class.
Cade won his second feature in a row when he outran John Peterson, Gary
Schmitt, Kevin Lenzen, Jake Cholke, Steve Schwemlein and Dan Filkowski. Tim
Loomis finished eighth in front of Steve Lewis, Ed Williams Jr., Joe
Jelinek, Bill Dauber, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Rick Koltveit, Jeff Small,
Joe Brown, Dan Cole and Chuck Provenzano.

Koltveit and Cade won the heat events.

Alex Clubb took home the feature checkers for the fourth time in the Hornet
division. Dan Leonard, Timmy Faust, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Jon Clubb,
Chris Zavada, Justin Hamm, #85, Cory West, John Wagner, Gabe Koncor, Asa
Robart, Kyle Horn and John Small completed the official finishing order.

LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Scott Schmitt 13.272
Heat One: Darin Furar, Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Scott Schmitt
Heat Two: Aaron Schmidt, Dave Smith, Ed Williams, Eric Dauber
Feature: Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Scott Schmitt, Darin Furar, Ed Williams
Sr., Dave Smith, Eric Dauber, Bill Weistart Jr., Keith Piano, Eric Rebholz,
Tony Coglianese, Rob Piper, Jerry Vance, John Piccatto, Aaron Schmidt, Shawn
Kemp, Dewayne Williford

Modifieds: 16 Cars
Qualifying: Ray Bollinger 14.155
Heat One: Mike Spatola, Ray Bollinger, Vince Cooper, Aaron Elgin
Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Jim Phelps, Terry Hudson, Leah Monfries
Feature: Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Aaron Elgin, Derek Line,
Ron Morris, Brian Bushong, Mike Spatola, Mike Dyas, Leah Monfries, Jim
Phelps, Mark Vervynck, Terry Hudson, Stan Vervynck, Joe Adam, Mark
Novorolsky

Street Stock: 19 Cars
Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Nick Sell, Steve Schwemlein, Gary Schmidt
Heat Two: Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Jake Cholke, Kevin Lenzen
Feature: Leon Cade, John Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Kevin Lenzen, Jake Cholke,
Steve Schwemlein, Dan Filkowski, Tim Loomis, Steve Lewis, Ed Williams Jr.,
Joe Jelinek, Bill Dauber, Nick Sell, Roger Rickels, Rick Koltveit, Jeff
Small, Joe Brown, Dan Cole, Chuck Provenzano

Four Cylinder Hornets: 15 Cars
Heat One: Dan Leonard, Alex Clubb, Kyle Horn, Chris Zavada
Heat Two: Tim Faust, Mark Sutton, Jon Clubb, John Small
Feature: Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Tim Faust, Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, Jon
Clubb, Chris Zavada, Justin Hamm, #85, Cory West, John Wagner, Gabe Koncor,
Asa Robart, Kyle Horn, John Small

July 10
Babb dominates UMP Summer Nationals stop at LaSalle
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - In the Spring it was Shannon Babb, a self proclaimed simple
man, taking home the big money from LaSalle Speedway. His May 20th visit
earned him $10,000 while Monday night's victory was a little less at $6,000.
The payout may have been less but it's dividends may add up to be more in
the long run.

"I tell you we hit it right on the money," Babb told the crowd. "We pulled
it out last night and got it done here."

The 33 year old driver who hails out of Moweaque has been traveling the
grueling UMP Summer Nationals Series in dominating style. His incredible
skills at mastering track conditions, chassis setup and talent behind the
wheel of a Late Model has enabled him to etch his name deep in the record
books with victories across the country. The wins are also packing on the
points in the title chase.

So far on his Summer Nationals quest he has earned himself a staggering 11
wins and the tour still has three more races to go.

"We won here in the Spring and it has been a good summer for us," Babb told
the crowd from a victory lane interview.

Coming into Monday nights stop in the Illinois Valley Babb has nearly owned
the tour for the second year in a row. Some have nicknamed the series the
"Babb Nationals".

Monday was another Babb night as he won every event with the exception of
the fastest qualifying lap. His fast lap of 12.96 fell just a bit shy behind
Jeep Van Wormer's quick time of 12.712. Considering they were the only
drivers to sail through the high banked ¼ mile in the twelve second range it
became apparent they would be tough to beat. Especially from the front of
the grid.

Babb's Dash victory positioned him on the pole next to Randy Korte. Wendall
Wallace and Van Wormer were in row two. As soon the flagman waved the green,
it was Korte off to a great start. Three laps into the feature a yellow
slowed their action.

The temporary delay was quickly forgotten when the twenty one cars went
green. Korte tried to hold back the super fast machine of Babb. But during
the tenth lap out, Babb took over on the back stretch and distanced himself
from the competition.

Babb seemed to be in a time zone all his own as he traveled without contest
the entire remaining thirty laps. His only obstacle came from the lapped car
of Russ Scheffler. Scheffler continued to race the leaders more laps then
any were hoping.

By Lap 16, it was obvious that starting up front was a major advantage as
the track's slick surface didn't invite much in the way of door to door
action. It was an unusual follow-the-leader type of racing that is not
characteristic of the speed arena.

While Babb commanded the pace, Korte secured a second place run by himself
over Wallace, Van Wormer, and Steve Sheppard.

During Lap 24, Dennis Erb Jr. ended his sixth place run hard into the turn
two wall after losing his brakes. The unforgiving concrete barrier was still
comfortably standing while the 28 car was hanging from the back of the two
truck. Erb luckily left unscathed.

For the restart, Babb was positioned at the helm over the lapped machine of
Scheffler, then Korte, Wallace, Van Wormer, Sheppard, Wes Steidinger, and
Utica's Tony Izzo Jr.

The remaining laps were nearly uneventful as Babb pulled to over a quarter
of a track lead before collecting the checkers.

Korte picked up second in front of Wallace, Van Wormer, Steidinger,
Sheppard, Izzo, Darren Miller, Jimmy Mars, Kevin Weaver, Brian Shirley,
Jason Feger, Eric Smith and Scheffler.

Van Wormer won the first heat race over Sheppard, Tim Hamburg and Mars.
Korte captured the second heat with Steidinger second ahead of Weaver and
Eric Jacobson. Babb was the third heat winner ahead of Erb, Miller and Billy
Drake. The final heat race win was taken by Wallace over Izzo, Feger and
Scheffler.

Mars, Jacobsen, Dauber, Scheffler, Drake and Shirley all earned the semi
transfer positions.

A new face entered victory lane in the Open Wheel Modified showing.

Scott Bull took the twenty five lap main event and the $700 top prize much
like Babb, uncontested from the front row.

Riding the rim, Bull carried the twenty car field from the end of the first
lap until pulling into a great lead on Lap 13.

At the finish it was Gary Cook Jr. second over Brian Bushong, Marty
Thompson, Jason Lackey, Jim Farris, Joel Funk, Ray Bollinger, Jeff Curl,
Dale Lueth, Dennis Wilson, and Mike Spatola.

Jay Ledford, Farris, and Bushong won the heat races. Jim Phelps beat Ron
Morris at the finish line for the semi.

LaSalle Speedway Results
UMP Summer Nationals: 33 Cars
Qualifying: Jeep Van Wormer 12.712
Dash: Shannon Babb, Randy Korte, Wendall Wallace, Jeep Van Wormer
Heat One: Jeep Van Wormer, Steve Sheppard, Tim Hamburg, Jimmy Mars
Heat Two: Randy Korte, Wes Steidinger, Kevin Weaver, Eric Jacobson
Heat Three: Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr., Darren Miller, Billy Drake
Heat Four: Wendall Wallace, Tony Izzo Jr., Jason Feger, Russ Scheffler
Semi Feature: Jimmy Mars, Eric Jacobsen, Ryan Dauber, Eric Smith, Jack
Sullivan, Kerry Matthew, Mike Glynn, Steve Zakrachek, Rich Bell, Brian
Claudnic
Feature: 1. Shannon Babb(1), 2. Randy Korte(2), 3. Wendall Wallace(3), 4.
Jeep Van Wormer(4), 5. Wes Steidinger(6), 6. Steve Sheppard(5), 7. Tony Izzo
Jr.(8), 8. Darren Miller(11), 9. Jimmy Mars(13), 10. Kevin Weaver(10), 11.
Brian Shirley(18), 12. Jason Feger(12), 13. Eric Smith(21), 14. Russ
Scheffler(14), 15. Jack Sullivan(19), 16. Billy Drake(16), 17. Dennis Erb
Jr.(7), 18. Mike Glynn(20), 19. Tim Hamburg(9), 20. Ryan Dauber(17), 21.
Eric Jacobsen(15)

Modifieds: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Jay Ledford 14.507
Heat One: Jay Ledford, Gary Cook Jr., Joel Funk, Marty Thompson
Heat Two: Jim Farris, Ray Bollinger, Jason Lackey, Mike Spatola
Heat Three: Brian Bushong, Scott Bull, Vince Cooper, Denise Wilson
Semi Feature: Jim Phelps, Ron Morris, Mark Novorolsky, Leah Monfries,
Stanley Vervynck

Feature: 1. Scott Bull, 2. Gary Cook Jr., 3. Brian Bushong, 4. Marty
Thompson, 5. Jason Lackey, 6. Jim Farris, 7. Joel Funk, 8. Ray Bollinger, 9.
Jeff Curl, 10. Dale Lueth, 11. Dennis Wilson, 12. Mike Spatola, 13. Jay
Ledford, 14. Kevin Hastings, 15. Ron Morris, 16. Jason Pershy, 17. Jim
Phelps, 18. Mark Vervynck, 19. Vince Cooper, 20. Brad Willis
 

July 8
Glynn ends drought; LaSalle Speedway readies for UMP Summer Nationals
By Betty Glynn


LaSalle,IL - Being runner up isn't a bad thing when there are over twenty
competitors but for a true racer winning can be almost everything. LaSalle's
Mike Glynn started the 2006 racing season at LaSalle Speedway very similar
to last year but was still trying to capture his first checkered flag.

In 2005, Glynn finished second five times and won five feature races. With
seven nights in the books, Glynn has been very successful in his heat races,
crossed the feature finish line second four times, third once and twelfth
once. He was due for a trophy and finally got his chance to end the drought
on Saturday evening.

He qualified the second fastest lap behind Dixon's Tim Hamburg. The two then
compete in separate heat events. Knowing the passing points system, the two
veterans work hard to put on a good heat showing and work their way past the
competition to gain a front feature spot advantage.

Maple Park's Ralph Markham held off Hamburg for the first heat race win
while Aaron Schmidt took third ahead of John Piccatto of Spring Valley.
Glynn won his heat from sixth place over Tonica's Scott Schmitt, Eric Dauber
and Doug Newlin.

The main event grid hosted Hamburg on the pole with Glynn as his outside
partner. This has been the scene frequently this year.

After the green was signaled Hamburg shot to the lead but Glynn was right on
his tail. During the second lap out, Glynn used the inside trek going into
turn three to put the first and final pass on Hamburg.

The twenty five lap race was one of the longest this season as the twenty
one drivers struggled to keep the green flag flying and the yellow seemed to
take over.

When the action was green, Granville's Darin Furar was on the move in the
right direction as he started mid pack and made his way up to third behind
Hamburg. Yellow after yellow kept his pace stalled but he still had a great
run.

When the checkers dropped it was Glynn flying solo. Hamburg took home second
over Furar and Dauber. Schmitt, a talented young driver who seems to have
mastered his ride, finished fifth ahead of Bartlett's Ed Williams Sr., Eric
Rebholz, Virgil's Dave Smith, Jerry Vance and Shawn Kemp.

Kewanee's Ray Bollinger took away the glory for the Open Wheel Modified
feature. Seventeen drivers signed in for the night's action.

The reigning dominator, Vince Cooper of Morris, set fast time early in his
qualifying run. In preliminary action, Bollinger was victorious over
Dalzell's Jim Phelps, Cooper, and Ottawa's Dale Lueth. Newcomer, Jason
Pershy beat Bill Theodorf, Brandon Kessinger and Derek Line to the flag
stand for the second heat race.

For the main event, Phelps had the best run of his season leading the pack.
He lost his line on the slick track and spun. Next to spin was Cooper.

Bollinger took command and finished with his first visit to victory lane.
Phelps posted a strong second place finish in front of Robert Pohlman Jr.,
Pershy, Kessinger, Brian Bushong, Lueth, Cooper, Mark Vervynck, Mark
Novorolski and Stan Vervynck.

Leon Cade won the chase in the Street Stock division. In his police replica
machine he made the move around Oglesby's Nick Sell and took command of the
field during Lap 5.

Cade held an open track advantage over the sixteen car field leaving Sell to
fend off Matt Ramer and Rick Koltveit.

Cade collected his win in sheriff style with the lights on top of his car
illuminated for the crowd. Ramer had moved into second with nine laps in the
books and held on until the end. Sell finished third over Koltveit, Ed
Williams Jr., John Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Robert Schlappi, and
Joe Jelinek.

Sell outran Williams for the first heat with Jake Cholke third and Peterson
in fourth. Cade won the second heat over Ramer, Koltveit and Steve
Schwemlein.

Fourteen Hornets made their way to the highbanks with Alex Clubb taking home
the top honors. Dan Leonard ended his run in second with Mark Sutton third
over John Clubb, Nathan Lyday, Gabe Koncor, John Small, Jon Wagner, Cory
West and Tony Harlacher.

Monday night, the UMP Summer Nationals will take the Illinois Valley speed
arena by storm. The twenty fourth stop for the grueling traveling series is
set to top the venue with a payday of $6,000 to the Late Model victor.

With a combined series purse of $800,000 the touring series boasts some of
the best dirt track racing drivers in the country. Twenty seven events in
thirty one days is a shear test of endurance. Add in the local talent at
each track and the adrenaline rush flows high.

The Open Wheel Modifieds will be on tap as well.


LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model: 21 Cars
Qualifying: Tim Hamburg 13.623
Heat One: Ralph Markham, Tim Hamburg, Aaron Schmidt, John Piccatto
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Scott Schmitt, Eric Dauber, Doug Newlin
Feature: Mike Glynn, Tim Hamburg, Darin Furar, Scott Schmitt, Ed Williams
Sr., Dave Smith, Jerry Vance, Shawn Kemp, Aaron Schmidt, Dave Miller, John
Piccatto, Rob Piper, Jack Benson, Robert Voice, Ralph Markham, Wally
Forsythe, Danny Bardell, Scott Langer, Doug Newlin

Modifieds: 17 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.547
Heat One: Ray Bollinger, Jim Phelps, Vince Cooper, Dale Lueth
Heat Two: Jason Pershy, Bill Theodorf, Brandon Kessinger, Derek Line
Feature: Ray Bollinger, Jim Phelps, Robert Pohlman, Jason Pershy, Brandon
Kessinger, Brian Bushong, Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Mark Vervynck, Mark
Novorolski, Stan Vervynck, Mike Dyas, Derek Line, Ron Morris, Ben Hamburg,
Leah Monfries, Bill Theodorf

Street Stock: 16 Cars
Heat One: Nick Sell, Ed Williams Jr., Jake Cholke, John Peterson
Heat Two: Leon Cade, Matt Ramer, Rick Koltveit, Steve Schwemlein
Feature: Leon Cade, Matt Ramer, Nick Sell, Rick Koltveit, Ed Williams Jr.,
John Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Steve Lewis, Robert Schlappi, Joe Jelinek,
Jimmy Partipilo, Jake Cholke, Bill Dauber, Steve Schwemlein, Jeff Small,
Roger Rickels

Four Cylinder Hornets: 14 Cars
Heat One: Dan Leonard, Alex Clubb, John Moreland, Tony Provenzano Jr.
Heat Two: Mark Sutton, Jamie Deford, John Small, Jon Clubb
Feature: Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Mark Sutton, John Clubb, Nathan Lyday,
Gabe Koncor, John Small, Jon Wagner, Cory West, Tony Harlacher, Timmy Faust,
Jamie Deford, Tony Provenzano, John Moreland

July 1
Hamburg sweeps again
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - In the fall of 2005, Tim Hamburg was crowned the Late Model
track champion with LaSalle's Mike Glynn narrowly falling short. A new year,
new rules and a different class - well a return to an old class - is now
their venue.

The duo are usually ready for race day and typically finish at the top of
their game. This season has become a bit different from the old days
however. During the off season, the LaSalle Speedway promoters decided to
combine the Late's and Midwestern Late Model classes into one.

Here lies the dilemma, drivers such as Hamburg and Glynn have raced at the
Speedway for many years. The pair have finished one and two more times then
most can recall. This season is different for both not on the track but off.
Even though they are at the front of the finishing pack, deservingly so, it
isn't an easy journey. Controversy from the start has loomed over the
division and their choice to, as some put it, "move down" to the Midwestern
class.

But what so many forget is that for many years, it was Hamburg and Glynn
duking it out in a Midwestern machine long before moving "up" to the super
Late's. Now they seem back where they started but life in the fast lane has
changed.

How does one move down, when the Midwestern division is the premier racing
class at the track? Good question, especially when the LaSalle Speedway is
one mile from a driver's home.

Is it their driving style, ability to set the cars up for track conditions,
veteran skills or the aluminum motor? The question will always be out there
but the answer seems clear for some and vague for others. What some don't
realize is the competition in the class is loaded with high dollar motors.

Not all are aluminum but those with it are penalized with a 75 pound added
weight near the motor. Next what does a driver do when this is your home
turf and racing is flowing deep in your veins? Fuel prices alone can
determine where one races long before the hauler leaves the driveway.

Saturday night, the Dixon racer swept the division with his fourth win for
the season, Glynn was second.

Twenty seven competitors signed in ready for action with eighteen making the
starting feature field. Qualifying, three heat races and a semi feature
determined the grid with Hamburg on the pole next to Glynn. Maple Park's
Ralph Markham and Bartlett's Ed Williams were in row two.

Hamburg slid in front of Glynn on the first lap out and carried the
contenders from flag to flag. The leaders shot off and left Markham to fend
of Ladd's Danny Bardell, and Williams.

The front runners pulled away but the action was for third right away when
Bardell and Markham raced door to door until Bardell slipped up for a brief
second and fell back.

Glynn stayed with Hamburg until he hit the infield tires trying to move
under Hamburg. When the checkers dropped it was Hamburg again leaving with
the big trophy, Glynn runner up again, and Markham third.

Granville's Darin Furar ran an impressive race moving himself from a tenth
place start to a strong fourth finish over Bardell, Virgil's Dave Smith,
Eric Dauber of Tonica, Tony Coglianese, John Picatto, and Jim Loomis.

Hamburg, Glynn and Markham won their respective Heat races.

Thirteen Modified drivers showed up for action Saturday night. Ottawa's Dale
Lueth and Derek Line were sitting at the front of the pack for the feature
with Morris' Vince Cooper and Ray Bollinger in the second row.

When the green dropped Lueth and Line were side by side. A restart of the
second lap out was costly for the Ottawa driver though. Line got into the
back tire of Lueth sending him to the pits. Lueth didn't return to the race
and Line was now at the helm over Cooper and Bollinger.

Line tried to hold off Cooper but the young gun was on a mission as usual.
Seven laps into the race it was Cooper taking control and finishing
uncontested.

Brian Bushong took second ahead of Bollinger, Line, Dalzell's Jim Phelps,
Mike Stirewalt, Ron Morris, Mike Dyas and Leah Monfries.

Cooper set fast time. Phelps and Line won their Heats.

Jake Cholke of Chicago Ridge won his first Street Stock feature of the year.
Starting on the pole was a good place to be. The first lap out two cars
connected and traveled as conjoined twins until pummeling into the infield
tires and collecting six total cars with them. The race started with
nineteen but only thirteen were remaining for the next complete restart.

Cholke led from start to finish with Leon Cade in the second place finishing
position. Ed Williams Jr. crossed the line third over Matt Ramer, Gary
Schmitt, Nick Sell, Steve Schweinlen, Joe Jelinek, Don Exline, and Bill
Dauber.

Dan Leonard won the Hornet division with Makr Sutton, Tony Provenzano, Alex
Clubb, Timmy Faust, Jon Club, Gabe Konkor, Jon Small, Jamie Deford, and
Chris Zavada following.



LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model: 27 Cars
Qualifying: Tim Hamburg 13.260
Heat One: Tim Hamburg, Dave Smith, Eric Rebholz, Darin Furar
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Danny Bardell, Tony Coglianese, Eric Dauber
Heat Three: Ralph Markham, Ed Williams Sr., Jim Loomis, Dave Miller
Semi Feature: John Picatto, Will Harris, Jerry Vance, Robert Voice, Jack
Benson, Doug Newlin, Wally Forsythe, Rob Piper, Shawn Kemp
Feature: Tim Hamburg, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Darin Furar, Danny Bardell,
Dave Smith, Eric Dauber, Tony Coglianese, John Picatto, Jim Loomis, Eric
Rebholz, Scott Schmitt, Will Harris, Aaron Schmidt, Ed Williams Sr., Dave
Miller, Keith Piano, Jim Partipilo

Modifieds: 13 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 14.181
Heat One: Jim Phelps, Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Brian Bushong
Heat Two: Derek Line, Ray Bollinger, Mike Stirewalt, Leah Monfries
Feature: Vince Cooper, Brian Bushong, Ray Bollinger, Derek Line, Jim Phelps,
Mike Stirewalt, Ron Morris, Mike Dyas, Leah Monfries, Mark Novordsky, Justin
McCoy, Dale Lueth, Bill Theodorf

Street Stock: 19 Cars
Heat One: Jake Cholke, Mike Hughes, Jim Partipilo, Steven Schwemlein
Heat Two: Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Matt Ramer, Eric Whittington
Feature: Jake Cholke, Leon Cade, Ed Williams Jr., Matt Ramer, Gary Schmitt,
Nick Sell, Steve Schwemlein, Joe Jelinek, Don Exline, Bill Dauber, Robert
Schlappi, Mike Stewart, Rick Koltveit, Mike Hughes, Jimmy Partipilo, John
Peterson, Eric Whittington, Jay Mesarchik, Jeff Small

Four Cylinder Hornets: 14 Cars
Heat One: Mark Sutton, Gabe Koncor, Jon Clubb, Jamie Deford
Heat Two: Dan Leonard, Jon Small, Alex Clubb, #21
Feature: Dan Leonard, Mark Sutton, Tony Provenzano, Alex Clubb, Timmy Faust,
Jon Clubb, Gabe Koncor, John Small, Jamie Deford, Chris Zavada, Nathan
Lyday, Asa Robart, John Wagner
 

Partipilo victorious and new record holder
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - In the fifth regular night of racing at LaSalle Speedway,
Elmhurst's Jim Partipilo led the Midwestern Late Model field from the pole
to a flag-to-flag victory Saturday night.

The veteran racer hit the high banked clay oval hard to earn a fast time of
13.153 during time trials. His efforts not only earned him the quickest
qualifier of the night but also a place in the record books as the
divisional track record holder.

With the passing points collected by preliminary events, Partipilo had
earned his pole sitter position next to LaSalle's Mike Glynn. Behind the duo
was Ed Williams Sr. and Ladd's Danny Bardell. Third row posted Maple Park's
Ralph Markham and Tonica's Eric Dauber on the outside.

Once the flag man signaled green, it was Partipilo out fast as Glynn shot up
to his door. By the third lap, Partipilo, Glynn and Williams were putting on
a show as all three sailed nose to tail sliding through the turn two corner
as Markham and Bardell battled for fourth. A lap later their pace was slowed
when a caution was flown.

Once back to green action, Glynn looked like he had a push and began to drop
back. Three laps later another yellow restarted the field single file. Just
after the competition powered up, Markham took his ride to the bottom while
Glynn chose a higher line. Markham easily moved past Glynn to chase
Partipilo.

Partipilo had no problem leaving his challengers in the dust but his son Joe
halted his momentum for his third caution on Lap 16. This time Markham had a
birds eye view of the leaders tail and seemed to be the only car who might
be able to give him a run for his money.

Williams had already fallen back into the pack while Dave Smith, of Virgil,
was up and coming from an eleventh place start. With four remaining laps,
Partipilo, Markham, Glynn, and Smith were all separated with too much track
between each of the four lead cars. The real action was for a fifth place
finish as Jim Loomis and Bardell were in a hard fought war.

Partipilo finished with the checkers ahead of Markham, Glynn, Smith, Loomis,
Bardell, Scott Schmitt of Tonica, Dauber, Eric Rebholz and Aaron Schmidt.
Darin Furar, in a borrowed machine, finished eleventh over Keith Piano.

Williams crossed the line first in Heat one with Partipilo, Markham and
Loomis trailing. Dauber held off Bardell to score the second Heat with Glynn
and Joe Partipilo following.

Morris driver Vince Cooper has taken the new Modified class at LaSalle by
storm. The young racer is now four for five with feature wins and has
generated a huge points lead.

Cooper was already where he wanted to be before even the first lap was
traveled. As the pole sitter he was able to set the pace which he wasted
little time doing. On the outside of him was Derek Line with Brian Bushong
and Ray Bollinger filling row two.

Cooper was out of sight by the fourth lap out when Bushong and Bollinger
started to give the fans wheel to wheel action for second. The two remained
side by side for at least nine of the twenty laps.

During Lap15, Cooper was busy taking cars a lap down when contact with Ron
Morris could have changed the outcome but lucky for Cooper he managed to
hang on tight and continued lapping traffic.

At the finish Cooper had worked his way around the competition and was
behind the fifth place car.

While Cooper returned to victory lane Bushong finished a strong second in
front of Bollinger, Line, Bill Theodorf, Jim Phelps, Matt Cleary, Morris,
Leah Monfries, Mark Novordsky, Dale Lueth, and Ken Fischer.

Ed Williams Jr. earned his third Street Stock win for the 2006 season. The
driver who hails out of Streamwood took home the two events he raced in
making it a clean sweep.

Williams led Leon Cade, Robert Schlappi, Eric Whittington and Matt Ramer for
most of the feature. A caution with only one lap remaining brought everyone
back nose to tail.

Once green it was Williams, over Cade, Whittington, Schlappi and Ramer were
all racing hard. Still with one lap to go, something happened between Ramer
and Whittington leaving Whittington in a spin and stopped in turn four. No
yellow was granted and Whittington went from a strong third to a thirteenth
place pay.

The finishing order was Williams, Cade, Schlappi, Ramer, John Peterson, Jake
Cholke, Gary Schmidt, Joe Jelinek, Nick Sell, Don Exline, Rick Koltveit,
Jimmy Partipilo, and Whittington.

Tony Provenzano Jr. and Alex Clubb put action in the Hornet race as the two
duked it out side by side during their feature race.

Provenzano took the lead solo during lap seven when a lapped car found
himself in between the leaders.

At the checkers, Provenzano had ended Clubb's winning streak taking the
victory. Clubb was second over Timmy Faust, Chris Zavada, Jon Clubb, Gabe
Concor, Jon Small and Jamie Deford.


LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model: 20 Cars
Qualifying: Jim Partipilo 13.143
Heat One: Ed Williams Sr., Jim Partipilo, Ralph Markham, Jim Loomis
Heat Two: Eric Dauber, Danny Bardell, Mike Glynn, Joe Partipilo
Feature: Jim Paritpilo, Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, Dave Smith, Jim Loomis,
Danny Bardell, Scott Schmitt, Eric Dauber, Eric Rebholz, Aaron Schmidt,
Darin Furar, Keith Piano, Rob Piper, Dave Miller, Ed Williams Sr., Jack
Benson, Joe Partipilo, Robert Voice

Modifieds: 12 Cars
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.986
Heat One: Brian Bushong, Vince Cooper, Derek Line
Feature: Vince Cooper, Brian Bushong, Ray Bollinger, Derek Line, Bill
Theodor, Jim Phelps, Matt Cleary, Ron Morris, Leah Monfries, Mark Novordsky,
Dale Lueth, Ken Fischer

Street Stock: 20 Cars
Heat One: Ed Williams Jr., Matt Ramer, Eric Whittington, Mike Hughes
Heat Two: Leon Cade, Nick Sell, Robert Schlappi, John Peterson
Feature: Ed Williams Jr., Leon Cade, Robert Schlappi, Matt Ramer, John
Peterson, Jake Cholke, Gary Schmitt, Joe Jelinek, Nick Sell, Don Exline,
Rick Koltveit, Jimmy Partipilo, Eric Whittington, Donnie Cole, Mike Hughes,
Steve Lewis, Jay Mesarchik, Scott Schoener, Jeff Small, Timmy Loomis

Four Cylinder Hornets: 11 Cars
Heat One: Alex Clubb, Tony Provenzano, Timmy Faust, John Clubb
Feature: Tony Provenzano, Alex Clubb, Timmy Faust, Chris Zavada, John Clubb,
Gabe Concor, Jon Small, Jamie Deford, Jon Wagner, Dan Leonard, Asa Robart

"Marty Thompson collects the checkers in the second leg of LaSalle
Speedway's Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series"

Thompson takes Illinois Valley Cellular Series win
By Betty Glynn
July 17, 2006

LaSalle,IL - The Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series hit the high
banks of LaSalle Speedway for the second leg of their six race program
Saturday night. The promoters of both the Bureau County Speedway and LaSalle
have created an impressive series for the hard charging Street Stock
drivers.

Mineral's Marty Thompson has captured many wins in his lengthy racing
career. Most of them led to track championships. He has collected more top
honors in the Open Wheel Modified class at BCS then most of us can remember.
His #25 machines and quiet demeanor are synonymous with the class in
Princeton.

Before Saturday's event, Thompson had already positioned himself on top of
the points chase over Nathan Balensiefen, Randy Lucas, Leon Cade, Justin
Rutledge, Scott Schoener, Jamie Balensiefen, Eric Whittington, Nick Sell and
Rick Koltveit.

This year he is pulling double duty in both a Modified and, what many deem a
starting step for racing, the Street Stock division.  He, of course, has
been a strong contender in both.

Thompson started on the feature pole next to Cade with Sell and Kevin Lenzen
in row two. He flew into a quick lead with Cade and Sell trailing. During
Lap 3, Cade was a bit wild in his police replica car and nearly spun himself
out. A caution for someone else enabled him to return to the front runners
for a restart.

Three laps later, Cade and Lenzen made contact in their battle for second.
They both exited the track but Lenzen returned before the green flag
dropped. Ed Williams Jr. started ninth on the grid and had pulled into
second after they were gone.

Lap after lap, it was Thompson with a huge lead while Williams trailed. The
few restarts that they had wasn't near enough for Williams to get a shot at
Thompson.

With two laps to go, Williams got one final run after a caution but just
didn't have enough for him. Jake Cholke gave a great run at Williams from
the high side but finished third. Tim Loomis crossed in fourth ahead of
Nathan B., Jeff Hamilton who came from the semi feature transfer position up
the pack, Whittington and Schoener.

The Midwestern Late Model class was more similar to a demo derby then many
of the competitors would have liked. When drivers elect to shell out the
cash and time it takes to own that caliber of car it is pretty uncommon to
see too much intentional abuse of equipment.

Whatever the reasoning Saturday, and there couldn't have been much, it took
numerous complete restarts to get the eighteen competitors rolling. Much of
the time on the track they rolled under yellow. Side by side racing was hard
to come by.

Earlier in the night, LaSalle's Mike Glynn posted the fastest qualifying
time and rallied from sixth to win his Heat race for the feature pole spot.
The division hosts a passing points system which means a driver must earn
their feature start from early events. This creates a way to see great door
to door challenges.

Next to Glynn on the front row of the feature grid, was former track champ,
Tim Hamburg of Dixon over reigning Midwestern champ Eric Dauber and Darin
Furar of Granville. Immediately after the leaders started the action, Dauber
spun from third collecting a few cars with him.

The next complete restart was halted for several cars in trouble farther
back in the pack.

The third complete restart was the most costly to the front runners. Contact
was made between Hamburg and Dauber resulting in torn up equipment for the
machines of Glynn the leader, Furar and Dauber.

Not a great way to start the premier divisions feature especially with zero
laps scored. Glynn and Furar were forced to leave for the pit area. Unlike
Furar, Glynn was able to continue racing but the officials put him in the
tail of a single file restart instead of the traditional double file start.

Hamburg wasted little time pulling away for the twenty five laps. Dauber ran
second until Jim Partipilo took over the spot during Lap 10.

The race was filled with contact, broken equipment and bent sheet metal. At
the finish it was Hamburg with his third season victory over Ed Williams
Sr., Partipilo, Dave Smith, Eric Rebholz, Dauber, Ralph Markham, Jim Loomis,
Danny Bardell and Rob Piper.

Eleven contenders signed in for the Modified class. Vince Cooper of Morris
made a clean sweep claiming fast time, their only Heat and Feature wins.

Marty Thompson took home second in their main ahead of Brian Bushong, Ray
Bollinger, Dale Lueth, Jim Phelps, Shawn Scripter, Derek Line, Leah
Monfries, Bill Satek and Matt Weibel.

Alex Clubb picked up the Hornet checkers over Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano,
John Clubb, Jon Small, Jamison Deford, Gabe Koncor, Jon Wagner, Asa Robart
Tony Harlacher and Bill Law.


LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model:
Qualifying: Mike Glynn 13.222
Heat One: Mike Glynn, Eric Dauber, John Picatto, Ed Williams Sr.
Heat Two: Darin Furar, Dave Smith, Tim Hamburg, Danny Bardell
Semi Feature: AJ Schmidt, Rob Piper, Robert Voice, Jack Benson, Shawn Kemp,
Dave Miller
Feature: Tim Hamburg, Ed Williams Sr., Jim Paritpilo, Dave Smith, Eric
Rebholz, Eric Dauber, Ralph Markham, Jim Loomis, Danny Bardell, Rob Piper,
John Picatto, Mike Glynn, Scott Schmitt, Jerry Vance, Joe Partipilo, Darin
Furar, Gary Schmidt, Keith Piano

Modifieds:
Qualifying: Vince Cooper 13.813
Heat One: Vince Cooper, Ray Bollinger, Marty Thompson, Dale Lueth
Feature: Vince Cooper, Marty Thompson, Brian Bushong, Ray Bollinger,Dale
Lueth, Jim Phelps, Shawn Scripter, Derek Line, Leah Monfries, Bill Satek,
Matt Weibel

Illinois Valley Cellular Series Street Stock:
Qualifying: Marty Thompson 15.270
Heat One: Marty Thompson, Ed Williams Jr., Jake Cholke, Scott Schoener
Heat Two: Kevin Lenzen, Leon Cade, Robert Schlappi, Eric Whittington
Semi Feature: Jeff Hamilton, Jay Mesarchik, Nathan Ultek, Jimmy Partipilo,
Joe Jelinek, Steve Lewis, Steve Schwemlein, Bill Dauber
Feature: Marty Thompson, Ed Williams Jr., Jake Cholke, Tim Loomis, Nathen
Balensiefen, Jeff Hamilton, Eric Whittington, Scott Schoener, Robert
Schlappi, John Peterson, Gary Schmitt, Nathan Ultek, Mike Hughes, Jay
Mesarchik, Jimmy Partipilo, Kevin Lenzen, Nick Sell, Leon Cade, Brad Severs,
Donnie Cole

Four Cylinder Hornets:
Heat One: Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, John Clubb
Feature: Alex Clubb, Dan Leonard, Tony Provenzano, John Clubb, Jon Small,
Jamison Deford, Gabe Koncor, Jon Wagner, Asa Robart, Tony Harlacher, William
Law
 

June 3, 2006
Pohlman makes grand return to LaSalle; Hamburg sweeps the Midwestern's
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - Robert Pohlman Jr. used to be a regular at LaSalle Speedway
showcasing his talents on a weekly basis. Saturday night he rolled back into
town for the $1,000 special and left with his pockets a little heavier.

The Modified driver started in the second slot next to pole sitter Vince
Cooper of Morris. Behind the two was Kevin Hastings and Ottawa's Dale Lueth.

Just after the green was signaled, Cooper the new young gun of LaSalle,
pulled into the infield with a puff of smoke and apparent engine woes. His
winning streak halted as he was forced to watch one of the best Modified
shows to date from inside the grass.

Pohlman made short order of moving to the lead displaying unbelievable power
as he took the lead immediately and pulled away from his eighteen remaining
competitors. By Lap 13, Pohlman appeared to be in his own time zone as he
flew into a quarter of a track lead over the battle between Hastings and
Lueth.

At the end of Lap 18, Lueth made a bonsai move on Hastings to position
himself in second. A restart of Lap 26 brought the pack back to single file
restart with Pohlman and Lueth separated by the lapped machine of Brian
Bushong. Bushong moved up on the track and side by side with Lueth.
Hastings, Milo Veloz, Bobby Allen, Mineral's Marty Thompson and Josh Vinnage
gave chase.

Veloz was hot and certainly deserved a hard charger award as he had worked
himself up from a back of the pack start in eighteenth. He was believed, by
many spectators, to have been lapped but in fact he was silently working his
way up to the leaders.

Lueth was working hard to challenge him but the laps quickly wound down.
Lueth finished a convincing second to Pohlman. Hastings held off Veloz for
third with Thompson, Allen, Vinnage, Travis Kohler, Jim Farris, Jason
Hastings, and Phil Schnarr trailing.

Allen earned the fastest qualifier title with a lap of 14.508. Kohler won
the first Heat race ahead of Lueth, Allen and Farris. Phil Line won Heat two
over Cooper, Vinnage and Thompson. Kevin Hastings collected the third Heat
race with Pohlman, Bushong and Jason Hastings following.

Dixon's Tim Hamburg swept the Midwestern Late Model division activities. His
second win in a row came in championship style as he claimed the fastest
qualifying lap, his heat and then the feature victory.

Twenty three competitors signed in for the fourth race of the season. All
drivers were granted a starting grid spot for feature time.

On the pole, was Hamburg with Dave Smith. Bartlett's Ed Williams Sr. and
LaSalle's Mike Glynn lined up in the second row ahead of Spring Valley's
John Piccatto and Tonica's Scott Schmitt.

By the sixth lap on the board, Hamburg was already working his way around
cars to bring them a lap down. Glynn had maneuvered his way around Smith and
Williams into second.

Glynn was able to bring his nose under Hamburg to get a shot at some side by
side action but Hamburg closed the door and blocked any attempts for a
battle.

At the restart of Lap 16, a new starting line was put in place when the
officials made the call to move it closer to the flagman from the original
chalk line. Only the leader was informed, creating a little chaos for the
remaining drivers.

One lap later, Jerry Vance slammed hard into the wall between turns one and
two causing a red light stop. Once the leaders went green, Glynn tried again
both on a higher line and low but Hamburg kept the door closed.

While he gave chase, Ralph Markham was moving hard through the pack and had
positioned himself into strong third with Williams, Eric Dauber and Piccatto
behind.

At the close of the twenty five laps, Hamburg crossed the stripe first.
Glynn took home his third second place finish so far this season. Markham
finished third with Williams, Piccatto, Eric Rebholz, Darin Furar, Dauber,
Jim Partipilo, Schmitt, Aaron Schmidt, and Dave Smith in tow.

Williams earned second to Hamburg in the first heat with Dauber and Rebholz
behind. In the second Heat, Glynn passed Schmitt for the lead and held it
for almost two laps. A caution restarted the field and Glynn was put behind
him for the restart. Schmitt scored the win over Glynn, Smith and Markham.

Ed Williams Jr. earned the Street Stock top dog title for the second week in
a row. With nineteen drivers on the track, Williams took the action three
wide by the end of the first lap. He was unstoppable from then on.

Two laps into the race, Joe Brown slammed hard into the same spot as Vance
had earlier this time hitting the security fence bars.

When the green flew again, Williams powered up and left Kevin Lenzen, Scott
Schoener and Marty Thompson in a three wide fight.

A yellow on the final lap brought the show to an even higher level of
excitement. The three front runners of Williams, Lenzen and Thompson were
fighting in a down to the wire finish.

Williams prevailed as Thompson took the second place finish over Lenzen,
Schoener, Nick Sell, Rick Koltveit, Robert Schlappi, Matt Ramer, Leon Cade,
Tim Loomis and Gary Schmitt.

Alex Clubb of Morris claimed the Hornet Feature and Heat races for the
night. Tony Provenzano Jr. finished second ahead of Dan Leonard, Gabe
Roncor, Jon Small, Jamison Deford, John Clubb, Loren Westerhold, Jim Lazier
and Asa Robart.

Next Saturday night is Fan Appreciation night sponsored by Terry Monroe.
Admission cost is lowered to $5.

LaSalle Speedway Results
Midwestern Late Model:
Qualifying: Tim Hamburg 13.632
Heat One: Tim Hamburg, Ed Williams, Eric Dauber, Eric Rebholz
Heat Two: Scott Schmitt, Mike Glynn, Dave Smith, Ralph Markham
Feature: Tim Hamburg, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Ed Williams, John Piccatto,
Eric Rebholz, Darin Furar, Eric Dauber, Jim Partipilo, Scott Schmitt, Aaron
Schmitt, Dave Smith, Keith Piano, Dave Miller, Jack Benson, Joe Partipilo,
Scott Langer, Robert Voice, Jason Bogle, Shawn Kemp, Jerry Vance, Danny
Bardell, Wally Forsythe

Modifieds:
Qualifying: Bobby Allen 14.508
Heat One: Travis Kohler, Dale Lueth, Bobby Allen, Jim Farris
Heat Two: Phil Line, Vince Cooper, Josh Vinnage, Marty Thompson
Heat Three: Kevin Hastings, Bob Pohlman Jr., Brian Bushong, Jason Hastings
Semi Feature: Ray Bollinger, Derek Line, AJ Dixon, Jay Crichton, Ron Morris,
Matt Weibel, Mark Novorolsky, Scott Hauge, #64, Zac Oedewaldt, Leah Monfries
Feature: Robert Pohlman Jr., Dale Lueth, Kevin Hastings, Milo Veloz, Marty
Thompson, Bobby Allen, Josh Vinnage, Travis Kohler, Jim Farris, Jason
Hastings, Phil Schnarr, Terry Hudson, Phil Line, Brian Bushong, Ray
Bollinger, Jay Crichton, Shawn Scripter, AJ Davis, Derek Line, Vince Cooper

Street Stock:
Heat One: John Peterson, Scott Schoener, Leon Cade, Nick Sell
Heat Two: Kevin Lenzen, Ed Williams, Jack Cholke, Robert Schlappi
Feature: Ed Williams, Marty Thompson, Kevin Lenzen, Scott Schoener, Nick
Sell, Rick Koltveit, Robert Schlappi, Matt Ramer, Leon Cade, Tim Loomis,
Gary Schmitt, Joe Jelinek, Jake Cholke, Steve Schwemlein, John Peterson,
Jeff Small, Bill Dauber, Joe Brown, Mike Hughes

Four Cylinder Hornets:
Heat One: Tony Provenzano Jr., Dan Leonard, Gabe Roncor, John Clubb
Heat Two: Alex Clubb, Jamison Deford, Jon Small, Loren Westerhold
Feature: Alex Clubb, Tony Provenzano Jr., Dan Leonard, Gabe Roncor, Jon
Small, Jamison Deford, John Clubb, Loren Westerhold, Jim Lazier, Asa Robart,
Tony Harlacher, William Law, Jon Wagner, Timmy Faust, Jake Gould
 

May 27
Hamburg comes up Aces at LaSalle Speedway; Young gun still hot in his
Modified
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - Tim "Ace" Hamburg used his lucky hand to pass LaSalle's Mike
Glynn during Lap 14 en route to a hard run 75 lap special at LaSalle
Speedway on Saturday night.

Storms were brewing to the North. Storm warnings and bolts of lightening far
in the distance but the real show was on the ¼ mile clay oval when the
Midwestern Late Models rolled out to compete for the much coveted Mautino
sponsored event.

Keith Piano posted the quickest qualifying lap with a time of 13.498. In his
last outing at the speedway, the Oglesby driver set the new track record of
13.160 for the division. Twenty six competitors tried to beat his quick time
but the closest was Glynn with a time of 13.555.

Ladd's Danny Bardell took home the checkers for the first Heat race over
Piano, Jim Partipilo, and Darin Furar. Tonica's Eric Dauber beat Glynn with
John Piccatto and Eric Rebholz behind in the second Heat. Hamburg claimed
the final Heat ahead of Scott Schmidt, Ralph Markham and Aaron Schmitt.

Joe Partipilo and Jerry Vance earned transfer positions from the eleven car
Semi Feature.

With the heat races in the books the passing points determines the feature
line up. Piano was holding the pole next to Glynn. Schmidt and Dauber in row
two over Bardell and Hamburg.

Glynn shot out to an early lead over Piano, Hamburg, Dauber, Schmidt,
Bardell and Markham. By Lap 11, Hamburg was gaining ground on Glynn and in
the hunt. Two laps later, Glynn and Hamburg were battling it out in the
turns when Hamburg got around him. A yellow was immediately thrown but
Hamburg was given the point for the restart.

During the long race, laps traveled under yellow are counted. At times the
distance was adding up while the action was moving at the caution pace.

Hamburg and Glynn used the same line on the bottom of turns one and two but
worked different lines on the straight away. During Lap 19, Glynn was
chasing Hamburg as Dauber moved in on his tail. Piano tried a higher line
while Markham held off Bardell and Schmidt.

The laps under yellow were definitely factoring into the outcome as the
green flag laps were seeming disrupted. For the Lap 65 restart, thirteen
cars remained in action. Hamburg was at the point, Glynn second ahead of
Dauber, Markham, Jim Partipilo, Bardell, Ed Williams, Furar, James Muetz,
Dave Smith and Jerry Vance.

Once green, Hamburg went a little higher but came back down to shut the door
on Glynn. Markham moved into third but was distanced from the leaders.

The two leaders put on a show like old times in the division as they raced
full throttle until the final lap.

The Dixon driver's return netted him the $1,000 payday and a larger then
life trophy for his efforts. Glynn took home a strong second. Markham, who
started seventh on the grid, crossed the line third in front of Jim
Partipilo.

Partipilo was later disqualified during the post race tech inspection.
Dauber ended the night with the fourth place pay in front of Williams,
Bardell, Furar, Smith, Muetz and Eric Rebholz.

Vince Cooper of Morris has officially made his mark as the young gun
claiming his third victory in a row in the Open Wheel Modified division. The
seventeen year old driver qualified the fastest and  ran a smart race to
beat a seasoned veteran at his own game.

Cooper and Mineral's Marty Thompson started the twenty lap feature side by
side on the front row. Bill Theodorf and Matt Weibel took ownership of the
second row over Ottawa's Dale Lueth and Phil Line.

Once green, Thompson wasted little time in shooting off to a fast lead.
Cooper and Lueth powered up and gave chase. By the fifth lap out, the three
were pushing their outside tires over the cushion in the corners to gain
momentum.  Six laps later, Cooper was on Thompson's bumper and working the
low groove in turns three and four but didn't have enough to catch him.

During Lap 13, Thompson was dodging lapped cars while Cooper started to work
the bottom of the track. Eventually, Cooper got up to his inside quarter
panel but Thompson's experience shined as he shut down Cooper's attempts.

As the laps were winding down, Cooper got more comfortable on the low side
and brought the two into a side by side battle. When the flag man dropped
the checkers it was Cooper stealing the show literally at the line while
Thompson was stuck behind the lapped machine of Weibel.

Lueth picked up third with Line, Richie Biswell, Derek Line, Brian Bushong,
Peru's Joe Adam, Jim Phelps of Dalzell and Ray Bollinger completing the top
ten finishers.

Theodorf collected the first Heat race win over Lueth, Cooper and Biswell.
Weibel didn't have a great feature but put on a show to beat Thompson in the
second Heat with Phelps and Adam trailing.

Ed Williams made a clean sweep in the Street Stock divisional action. First
he came out to beat Matt Ramer and Eric Whittington in his Heat then he
wrapped things up with the Feature victory.

Leon Cade sports a police car and the number 911 on the side. Being in hot
pursuit of Williams was the name of the game for the twenty car field at
feature time.

At the end of the race it was Williams going flag to flag over Cade, Nick
Sell, Ramer, Rick Koltveit, Whittington, #34, Jake Cholke, Robert Schlappi
and Gary Schmidt.

Koltveit won the first heat with Cade, Sell and Chuck Provenzano in back of
him.

Peter Hayes won the Hornet class Heat and Feature races. Karl Hayes finished
second in the feature over Brandon Clubb, #3, #16P, Debbie Schwier, Gabe
Koncor and Timmy Faust.

Next Saturday night, the Modifieds will top the venue in a $1,000 to win
special.


LaSalle Speedway Results
Late Model:
Qualifying: Keith Piano 13.498
Heat One: Danny Bardell, Keith Piano, Jim Partipilo, Darin Furar
Heat Two: Eric Dauber, Mike Glynn, John Piccatto, Eric Rebholz
Heat Three: Tim Hamburg, Scott Schmidt, Ralph Markham, Aaron Schmitt
Semi Feature: Joe Partipilo, Jerry Vance, Dave Miller, Robert Voice, Wally
Forsythe, Shawn Kemp, Dwayne Williford, Tony Coglianese, James Muetz, Jason
Bogle, Rob Piper
Feature: Tim Hamburg, Mike Glynn, Ralph Markham, Jim Partipilo- DQ'd, Eric
Dauber, Ed Williams, Danny Bardell, Darin Furar, Dave Smith, James Muetz,
Eric Rebholz, Dave Miller, Scott Schmidt, Keith Piano, Aaron Schmitt, Jerry
Vance, John Piccatto, Robert Voice, Joe Partipilo, Jason Bogle

Modifieds:
Qualifying: Vince Cooper, 14.030
Heat One: Bill Theodorf, Dale Lueth, Vince Cooper, Richie Biswell
Heat Two: Matt Weibel, Marty Thompson, Jim Phelps, Joe Adam
Feature: Vince Cooper, Marty Thompson, Dale Lueth, Phil Line, Richie
Biswell, Derek Line, Brian Bushong, Joe Adam, Jim Phelps, Ray Bollinger,
Carl Feger, Matt Weibel, Ron Morris, Shawn Scripter, Leah Monfries, Duane
Peterson, Bill Theodorf

Street Stock:
Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Leon Cade, Nick Sell, Chuck Provenzano
Heat Two: Ed Williams, Matt Ramer, Eric Whittington, Robert Schlappi
Feature: Ed Williams, Leon Cade, Nick Sell, Matt Ramer, Rick Koltveit, Eric
Whittington, #34, Jake Cholke, Robert Schlappi, Gary Schmidt, John Peterson,
Steve Lewis, Tim Loomis, #24, Joe Jelinek, Chuck Provenzano, Steve
Schwemlein, Scott Schoenan, Bill Dauber, Jeff Small

Four Cylinders:
Heat One: Peter Hayes, #3, Kyle Horn, Asa Robart
Heat Two: Karl Hayes, Brandon Clubb, #16, John Small
Feature: Peter Hayes, Karl Hayes, Brandon Clubb, #3, #16P, Debbie Schwier,
Gabe Koncor, Timmy Faust, #31, John Small, Chris Zvada, Asa Robart, #04, Jon
Wagner, Dan Leonard, #5, Kyle Horn
 

www.lucasdirt.com
[email protected]

Babb Wins Lucas Oil Shootout at LaSalle
By Betty Glynn

LaSalle,IL - Shannon Babb, a self proclaimed simple man, was nothing of the
sort on the highbanks of LaSalle Speedway Saturday night. Hailing out of
Moweaque, Illinois the 33 year old Late Model driver hit the track running
to collect $10,000 and plenty of notoriety.

With fifty cars in attendance for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Spring Shootout, the pressure to make the feature was high. Not just any
fifty Late Model drivers, but the best of the best in dirt track racing. The
pit area was filled with high dollar trailers, haulers, race cars and
nationally recognized drivers. One of whom is currently celebrating his 40th
year of racing. This didn't keep some of the local talent out of the scene.

To set the ball in action, each driver was given a two lap qualifying run.
Out of the two laps for the fifty qualifiers it was none other then two
local boys to capture first and second of the fastest lap times. Both of
whom are former divisional track champs. Ryan Dauber, of Tonica, scored the
quickest time while last years champ, Tim Hamburg of Dixon, was second.

Three cars from the Heat races automatically earned a top six grid spot. For
the nights early races the front row was the preferred seat. Each of the six
heat winners came from there. (Five out of the six winners from the outside
front.)

Florida's Earl Pearson Jr. was unstoppable as he powered his way to the
first Heat win with Scott James and Dauber behind. Iowa's Brian Birkhofer
was the last driver to sign in for the nights racing but the first to finish
in the second Heat over Freddy Smith and Matt Miller. Third Heat winner, Tim
Dohm finished ahead of Damon Eller and Jimmy Mars. Utica's Tony Izzo Jr.
shot off to a quick lead to capture the fourth Heat ahead of Kevin Weaver
and Chub Frank. Bloomington's Billy Drake flew to the fifth win ahead of
Brady Smith and Don O'Neal.

The sixth and final heat held a couple of controversial calls. On the front
row sat Bloomington's Jason Feger and Babb with Darren Miller and Billy
Moyer in row two. Just after the green dropped, the yellow was signaled for
a bad start. A second start received the same reaction from the Lucas Oil
officials. Feger was then moved to inside of row two as Miller was granted
the pole.

Just after the green flew again, the yellow light was illuminated quickly
and stayed lit for nearly a lap. Some of the drivers slowed their pace but
not everyone. Then the green flicked back on. So those who stayed on full
power kept their pace those who followed the normal rule did not. At the
finish it was Babb over Miller and Moyer.

Two drivers from two B-Mains transferred to the feature. Hamburg generated
too much real estate for VanWormer to catch him in the first B-Main. Steve
Francis won the second over Dan Schleiper.

The fifty lap main event hosted Babb and Pearson in row one. Next row, Drake
and Birkhofer followed up by Dohm and Izzo.

Pearson and Babb quickly set a fast pace for the 24 car field. During the
second lap out, Pearson spun in turn one hitting an infield tire. The
professional in him showed as he maneuvered his machine back into action and
only slipped back in the pack to sixth.

Babb was on fire in the early laps leaving Drake to fend off Birkhofer,
Smith and Izzo. A real shootout began during Lap 14 when Birkhofer decided
to ride the rails and took his chances on the highest region of the track.
He would grab the lead on the back stretch but Babb was fast off the
corners. Lap 17, Birkhofer takes the lead but Babb quickly got back to the
helm.

Five laps later, Drake and Birkhofer were in a serious battle for the runner
up spot. Drake got it but not without a fight. A caution for Freddy Smith, a
40 year veteran racer, slowed the action down as he returned to the pits to
change a flat right front tire. Before the 21 remaining competitors could go
green, Brady Smith lost a rear tire as it rolled off without him.

On Lap 31, Scott James spun. This restart like the rest to come was not
helpful to anyone but Babb as he had become good at creating better starts
for himself. He would slow before taking off enough to force the rest of the
pack close together then give himself a great jump.

Babb and Drake dueled back and forth for the lead with Pearson now in the
hunt. With ten laps remaining it was now Frank working the outer rough
cushion charging as hard as he could up high. He was flying and in third
when he created a three wide combat with Pearson and Drake. Another caution
ended their fierce conflict.

With eight laps yet to be scored, the field assembled in double file fashion
behind Babb. The double file was Drake and Pearson, then Chub and Francis,
O'Neal and Miller ahead of Birkhofer and Izzo. Francis started the event in
twentieth and had managed to charge all the way into fifth place.

Babb was hot off the blocks from his usual restart style with Drake
trailing. The real battle was with the two #1 cars of Pearson and Frank.

At the checkers, Drake took an easy second behind Babb. Frank stole third
like a bandit in the night from Pearson at the finish line. Francis ended
his incredible run in fifth ahead of O'Neal, Miller, Birkhofer, Weaver,
Izzo, Schlieper, Freddy Smith, Moran, Steve Casebolt, Dohm, VanWormer and
Brady Smith.

The Open Wheel Modified twenty lap feature was more like a marathon. Getting
two laps in the books for the twenty one car field was the biggest challenge
of all. The yellow flag flew far more then the green for the first nine
laps.

Vince Cooper, last week's winner, sat on the pole with Derek Line as his
front row partner over Milo Veloz and Phil Line. The youngster shot out
quick but not solo as Veloz was right with him. By a Lap 7 restart, only
fourteen cars were still in action.

As Vince carried the point the entire event, Line and Veloz drove side by
side. Line grabbed second during Lap 16 for the final time.

At the finish it was Cooper the17 year old Morris driver entering victory
lane for another week. Line took home second over the ten remaining
finishers of Veloz, Ray Bollinger, Steve McCarty, Derek Line, Jim Phelps,
Joe Adam, Leah Monfries and Mike Lindsey.

Gary Wetsel Jr. won the Hornet division in front of Troy Thompson, Dan
Leonard, Timmy Faust, Ryen Johnson, Tony Provenzano Jr., Jon Clubb, Karl
Hayes, Asa Robart and John Wagner.



LaSalle Speedway Results
Lucas Oil Late Model:
Qualifying: Ryan Dauber 12.645
Heat One: Earl Pearson Jr., Scott James, Ryan Dauber, Jeep Van Wormer, Denny
Eckrich, John Provenzano, Brian Shirley, Eric Dauber, John Clemmons
Heat Two: Brian Birkhofer, Freddy Smith, Matt Miller, Tim Hamburg, Corey
Conley, Mike Mataragas, Bart Schwartz, Dennis Erb Jr.
Heat Three: Tim Dohm, Damon Eller, Jimmy Mars, Kerry Hansen, Mike Glynn,
Steve Casebolt, Jim Mineo
Heat Four: Tony Izzo Jr., Kevin Weaver, Chub Frank, Steve Francis, Rick
Eckert, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Billy Weistart Jr., Brian Claudnic
Heat Five: Billy Drake, Brady Smith, Don O'Neal, Dan Schlieper, Donnie
Moran, John Mason, Frank Heckenhast Jr., Scott Schmitt
Heat Six: Shannon Babb, Darren Miller, Billy Moyer, Jason Feger, Dave
Eckrich, Michael England, Bill Clemmons
B Main #1: Tim Hamburg, Jeep VanWormer, Kerry Hansen, Corey Conley, Dennis
Erb Jr., John Provenzano, Mike Mataragas, Brian Shirley, Eric Dauber, Jim
Mineo, Bart Schwartz, Mike Glynn, John Clemmons, Steve Casebolt, Denny
Eckrich
B Main #2: Steve Francis, Dan Schlieper, Rick Eckert, Jason Feger, Donnie
Moran, John Mason, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dave
Eckrich, Michael England, Brian Claudnic, Mike Provenzano, Scott Schmitt,
Bill Clemmons, Billy Weistart Jr.
Feature: Shannon Babb, Billy Drake, Chub Frank, Earl Pearson Jr., Steve
Francis, Don O'Neal, Darren Miller, Brian Birkhofer, Kevin Weaver, Tony Izzo
Jr., Dan Schlieper, Freddy Smith, Donnie Moran, Steve Casebolt, Tim Dohm,
Jeep VanWormer, Brady Smith, Damon Eller, Scott James, Ryan Dauber, Tim
Hamburg, Matt Miller, Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars

Modifieds:
Heat One: Derek Line, Vince Cooper, Ben Hamburg, Mike Spatola
Heat Two: Mike Veloz, Brian Bushong, Phil Line, Joe Adam
Feature: Vince Cooper, Phile Line, Milo Veloz, Ray Bollinger, Steve McCarty,
Derek Line, Jim Phelps, Joe Adam, Leah Monfries, Mike Lindsay, Ron Moms,
Bill Satek, Dale Leuth, Mike Spatola, Mark Nobvorolsky, Brian Lucas, James
Thompson, Ben Hamburg, Brian Bushong, Matt Weibel, Scott Hauge, Jeremy
Colley

Four Cylinders:
Heat One: Karl Hayes, Alex Clubb, Jeff Seitz, Gabe Roncor
Heat Two: Ryen Johnson, Dan Leonard, Gary Wetsel, Troy Thompson
Feature: Gary Wetsel, Troy Thompson, Dan Leonard, Timmy Faust, Ryen Johnson,
Tony Provenzano Jr., Jon Clubb, Karl Hayes, Asa Robart, Jon Wagner, Alex
Clubb, Jeff Seitz, Mike Stewart, Tony Harlacher, Tim Provenzano, Gabe
Roncor, Chris Zavada, Jamison Deford
 

May 13, 2006....Rain

Furar and Cooper Win with People they Admire Close By
By Betty Glynn
May 6, 2006

LaSalle, IL - With a chill in the air, engines roaring, and crowds cheering
the LaSalle Speedway opened their 15th season Saturday night. By the nights
end, two drivers finished at the top of their game with people they admire
watching closely.

For one driver, Darin Furar, the person he admired had a true bird's eye
view of his backside when he crossed the finish line. The other persons
watched from outside the ring. Furar, a Late Model driver from Granville was
okay with the thought that LaSalle's Mike Glynn was going to finish first
and him second. It all changed when he realized he had a chance at beating
someone he respects.

"After the first lap, he got around me and I thought great I will finish
second to Mike," Furar explained. "That's good, second to him is good."

Camaraderie in a sport such as racing holds deep roots. Quite often, drivers
have history together long before they are classified as the driver. Some go
back to much younger years especially with multi generational racing
families.

The Furar's and Glynn's are no exception. Then you mix in working on each
others cars, sharing set ups, pitting side by side and just plain hanging
out during the season and off season. If in fact there really is an "off
season". Most of the spouses consider twelve months a year the real season
and just five or so where everyone gets to enjoy the sport on the track.

Furar and Glynn started on the front row of the Late Model's twenty one car
field as Tonica's Eric Dauber and Scott Schmitt rolled up in row two ahead
of Oglesby's Keith Piano and John Piccatto of Spring Valley.

Once the green flew, Glynn used the high line to take over until numerous
yellows slowed the motion. Just after the first completed lap, Furar hugged
the bottom of the high banks to steal back the lead in turn two.

"I got more heat in the tires and I passed him back. It was all I could do
to not overdrive the car. I was pushing so hard and I knew he was still
there" Furar added.

He didn't have much to worry about as he flew in and out of lapped cars
leaving Glynn to find new lines around the lapped traffic. With Furar out
front and Glynn following, Dauber and Piano fought for third. During Lap 13,
Piano powered the inside trek to glide into third.

As the laps were winding down, Maple Park's Ralph Markham was on the hunt
for the front. Markham had moved himself from a fourteenth place start into
a fourth place run ahead of Dauber, James Muetze and Joe Partipillo.

At the checkers, it was Furar starting the season off in victory lane with
Glynn second. Piano crossed the line third but was later disqualified
following his final weigh in. Markham took home the third place finish over
Dauber, Muetze, Partipillo, Ed Williams, Bart Schwartz and Scott Schmitt.

In earlier action, Furar claimed the first heat over Ladd's Dan Bardell,
Dauber and David Smith. Glynn came from sixth to beat Schmitt, Schwartz and
Partipillo in the second. Piano qualified as the new track record holder
with a time of 13.160.

A 17 year old rookie from Morris won the first Open Wheel Modified weekly
feature in front of someone he has grown up admiring. Unlike Furar, Vince
Cooper's hero was outside the high banks watching closely.

"I grew up watching my dad race at Grundy," Vince explained. He quickly
turned to his father Larry to recount how long he had raced.

"In between changing diapers we raced on and off fifteen years," Larry
laughed.

The apple didn't fall far from the tree as this kid has talent and proved it
Saturday. He not only held his own, he paved his own path en route to
claiming the top prize over 27 strong competitors.

"I raced caged carts when I was 9 til about 12", Vince offered about his
past.

When the feature started Vince was hot off the blocks from the pole position
with Derek Line as his front row partner. Ray Bollinger and Jim Farris made
up row two.

Practice seemed to make perfect as the Modifieds struggled terribly to get
that first lap in the books. Turn four had become one troubled area as each
try something seemed to go wrong in the same region of the track.

But once under way, it was smooth sailing as Cooper did just that. Line was
far back in second over Bollinger, Farris, Mineral's Marty Thompson, Aaron
Elgin, Phil Line, Kevin Hastings, Ben Hamburg and Peru's Joe Adam.

Travis Kohler set the new track record for the Modifieds with a fast lap of
13.940. Bollinger won the first heat with Cooper and Hastings each winning
theirs.

A familiar face made a valiant return to winners circle in the Street Stock
class. Jeff Hamilton, the former divisional champ, returned to take home
another trophy. It has been sometime since Hamilton was a regular at the
speedway but it didn't show as he charged from fifth to victory.

Rick Koltveit started the event on the front outside and took command
quickly but Hamilton was already on his back quarter by the end of Lap 1.
Four laps later, Hamilton brought the action into side by side duel and
eventually got the lead he wanted.

Eric Whittington started sixth but moved up quickly. He was on the move and
even led several laps before Hamilton claimed his spot back.

At the finish line, it was Hamilton, Whittington, Kevin Lenzen, Koltveit, Ed
Williams, Nathan Balanseiefen, Matt Ramer, Gary Schmidt, Leon Cade, Robert
Schlappi and Mike Hughes.

Koltveit, Chuck Provenzano and Williams each won the heat races. Brad Severs
took home the semi win.

The Four Cylinder cars will be making a weekly showing as well. Karl Hayes
won the first seasonal feature over Dan Leonard, Alex Clubb, Ryen Johnson,
the 1F car, John Clubb, Jarred Fosdick, Gabe Koncor, Asa Robar and Jon
Wagner.


LaSalle Speedway Results
Late Model:
Qualifying: Keith Piano 13.160 New Track Record
Heat One: Darin Furar, Danny Bardell, Eric Dauber, David Smith
Heat Two: Mike Glynn, Scott Schmitt, Bart Schwartz, Joe Partipilo
Feature: Darin Furar, Mike Glynn, Keith Piano- DQ'd, Ralph Markham, Eric
Dauber, James Muetze, Joe Partipillo, Ed Williams, Bart Schwartz, Scott
Schmitt, Eric Rebholz, Wally Forsythe, Jerry Vance, Robert Voice, Dave
Miller, Shawn Kemp, David Smith, Aaron Schmidt, John Piccatto, Billy
Weistart Jr., Danny Bardell

Modifieds:
Qualifying: Travis Kohler 13.940 New Track Record
Heat One: Ray Bollinger, Jim Farris, Travis Kohler, Aaron Elgin
Heat Two: Vince Cooper, Phil Line, Joel Funk, James Thompson
Heat Three: Kevin Hastings, Derek Line, Eric Vaughn, Joe Adam
Semi Feature: Ben Hamburg, Ron Morris, Jim Phelps, Leah Monfries, Bill
Satek, Mike Dyas, Mike Lindsay
Feature: Vince Cooper, Derek Line, Ray Bollinger, Jim Farris, Marty
Thompson, Aaron Elgin, Phil Line, Kevin Hastings, Ben Hamburg, Joe Adam,
Eric Vaughan, Steve McCarty, Travis Kohler, James Thompson, Ron Morris,
Justin McCoy, Shawn Schipler, Joel Funk

Street Stock:
Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Jeff Hamilton, Kevin Lenzen, Joe Brown
Heat Two: Chuck Provenzano, Eric Whittington, Nathan Balensiefen, Steve
Lewis
Heat Three: Ed Williams, Gary Schmidt, Jake Cholke, Mike Hughes
Semi Feature: Brad Severs, Tim Loomis, John Peterson, Joe Jelinek, Jeff
Small, Tom Legner
Feature: Jeff Hamilton, Eric Whittington, Kevin Lenzen, Rick Koltveit, Ed
Williams, Nathan Balensiefen, Matt Ramer, Gary Schmidt, Leon Cade, Robert
Schlappi, Mike Hughes, Jake Cholke, Tim Loomis, Brad Severs, Steve Lewis,
Billy Dauber, Joe Brown

Four Cylinders:
Heat One: Dan Leonard, Ryen Johnson, Jerrod Thomas, Jimmy Johnson
Heat Two: Karl Hayes, Alex Clubb, 1F, Tony Harlacher
Feature: Karl Hayes, Dan Leonard, Alex Clubb, Ryen Johnson, 1F, John Clubb,
Jarred Fosdick, Gabe Koncor, Asa Robar, Jon Wagner, Tony Harlacher, John
Small, Tony Provenzano Jr., Jimmy Johnson, Jamison Derforth, Jerrod Thomas

April 29....rain

LaSalle Speedway Embraces Progressive Changes for 2006
By Betty Glynn

Fifteen season's ago, the Izzo family purchased Tommy's LaSalle Speedway
from the late Tommy Glynn. Since Glynn and his family converted the old
outdoor drive-in theatre into a dirt track much has changed. His vision of
dirt track racing started the wheels in motion for the LaSalle community.

Once Izzo's began the journey of promoting the ¼ mile clay oval they have
progressed into the leading outdoor entertainment arena for the Illinois
Valley area.

Saturday night Jeff's EngineMasters will sponsor the 2006 Opening Night. The
event will jump start a strong schedule of events reflecting numerous
changes from 2005.

Kerrianne Izzo, the track promoter, has overseen many of the modifications
in recent years and took time out of her busy preparation to talk about
their future path, some history and rule changes.

"This will be our 15th season at the LaSalle Speedway and we are here to
stay. We have so many exciting things planned to celebrate fifteen years of
commitment not only to our fans and drivers but also the community."

This past winter she announced two new divisions for the weekly venue. The
Open Wheel Modifieds and the 4-Cylinder Hornets will add more diversity to
the regular racing program.

Next, the track promoters have worked together with Bureau County Speedway
to create the Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Series. This new series
will give the Street Stocks six shows split between LaSalle and Bureau
County throughout the season. The division is slated to be faster, more
competitive, and better looking than ever before.

The drivers will compete for $500 to win each event with a total prize
payout exceeding $10,000. There are many other awards such as racing product
sponsorships, best appearing car and fan favorite driver of the series.
Points will be collected with one driver claiming the crown for the
inaugural "Illinois Valley Cellular Street Stock Racing Series Champion".
This newly formed series gives the Street Stock competitors a chance to
shine on two completely different racing venues.

In addition, the Late Model class has undergone a transformation combining
the former Late Models and the Midwestern Late Models into one division.
Carburetor changes, smaller tires along with weight penalties for aluminum
motors highlight the alteration.

"As the racing industry changes so in turn have we. We want to make racing
more affordable to the local Late Model racers and to do it we needed to
revamp the rules. We didn't take it to the level other tracks have with
crate motors but we want to do something," Izzo offered.

She is referencing a type of motor that many tracks across the country are
switching to. Every car has the same unsealed motor that comes straight from
GM. It is far less costly and keeps the competition on an even playing
field.

All racing classes involve expenses but motors in the Late Model class can
easily cost a monstrous $35,000 plus. Of course, not every racer competing
at LaSalle has that expensive of an engine powering them through the high
banks but none the less they aren't cheap. Now add in the remaining costs
for top equipment and most have far exceeded their anticipated expenses in
order to race competitively.

The Late Model's have changed but one thing is for sure the competition will
continue to be fierce and for most, the conversions will be so subtle they
may not even notice.

The outline of events for all four divisions is stacking up and the Late's
are no exception as they have some pretty exciting contests planned already.

On tap, will be three Mautino sponsored 75-lappers paying $1,000 each along
with three National Late Model events possessing impressive paydays. On May
20th, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return for the first of two
$10,000 checks waiting for the victor.

July will heat up as two big time events light up the summer. First, the UMP
SummerNationals cruise in July 10th for their stop to compete for $6,000.
After that, is the July 29th Lucas Oil Illinois Valley Challenge 50 as the
main attraction while SPEED Channel cameras capture the action.

The newly added Open Wheel Modifieds haven't been a permanent fixture on the
Speedway's schedule for years. Their unique style, intensely competitive
fields and ability to draw crowds made their addition a good choice for the
weekly line up. The division is unsanctioned which may in turn draw a new
driver and fan base to the track.

The final division is the 4-Cylinder Hornets. The Hornets provide a very
economical way for drivers to test the waters and have great time.

Fan Appreciation Nights and divisional specials are highlighted throughout
the racing season with even more things in the works according to Izzo.

The 2006 LaSalle Speedway schedule and rules are available on their website
www.lasallespeedway.com.

Qualifying is at 6:30pm with racing at 7:30pm.