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2008 archives

TruSpeed forum....for fans of Farmer City Raceway, Lincoln Speedway and Monster Midwest Series

 Smith Does the Monster Mash at Fairbury

Fairbury,Il. (8/15/09) The Monster Midwest Series made their first appearance Saturday night at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway. 28 UMP late model drivers checked in for the 40 lap $2000 to win special. Defending track champion Daren Friedman set fast time with a 13.020. Heat race victors were Frank Heckenest Jr., Jason Feger, and Joe Harlan; while Lisa Shickel topped a stellar field to win the semi feature. A redraw was held among the first and second place finishers in each heat race to determine their starting positions. Front row starters Eric Smith and Daren Friedman led the field to the green flag with Friedman taking the lead followed by Jason Feger and Smith. One driver everyone had their eye on was defending UMP national champion Dennis Erb Jr. After having mechanical problems in his heat race, Erb had to start 12^th in the semi feature and advanced to the main after finishing 2^nd to Lisa Shickel. Erb started 17^th in the feature and moved up to 11^th by the time caution fell on lap 7. Following the caution, Friedman, Feger, and Smith took on running the as high as possible, scraping the wall in each turn. Joe Harlan used the low side while running in the 4^th spot, waiting for someone to make a mistake. Caution came out on the 15^th lap and Erb had moved up to the 8^th position. After the caution, Friedman pulled to a 6 car length lead, while Feger and Smith raced side by side for second. Caution again came out on lap 24 for Don Cisco spinning out in turn 4. After the caution, as Friedman took the green flag he appeared to jump the cushion in turn 2 and allowed Smith to move to the point. Caution came out a lap later as Friedman stopped on the track with a flat tire. Friedman came back out, but was relegated to the tail end of the field. Smith immediately built a 5 car length lead while Feger and Joe Harlan raced for 2^nd. In the closing laps, several more cautions fell, but they proved to be no help in allowing Feger or Harlan to overtake Smith. Feger’s style of rim riding proved to be fatal as he burned up his right rear with 2 laps to go and dropped out. At the end of the 40 laps, Smith had a ½ straight away lead over Harlan, Ryan Unzicker, Frank Heckenest Jr., Dennis Erb Jr., Scott Schmitt, Scott Bull, Donny Walden, Rocky Griffin, and Mike Mullvain. It was the second win of the year for Smith at Fairbury; Erb took the hard charger honors.

 In the 20 lap UMP modified feature, pole sitter and newly crowned track champion Lance Dehm made short work of his competition. At the drop of the green flag, Dehm took off and quickly built a comfortable margin over the field. The race was for second position between Jason Hastings and Jim Farris. Farris tried using the bottom groove, but it proved be futile in his attempt to wrestle the runner-up spot. As the checkered flag fell, Deehm had his 8^th win in 16 races. Jason Hastings, Jim Farris, Jeff Curl, George Aimone, Gary Turpin, Lake Nichoalds, Dave Porth, Mckay Wenger, and Darcey Wey completed the top 10. 31 modifieds were on hand with Jeff Curl setting fast time at a 14.337. Heat races went to Justin Delong, Gary Turpin, Lake Nichoalds, and Lance Dehm. 2 semi features took place with Bobby Crego and Darcey Wey winning, Ms. Wey also took hard charger honors in the feature.

 In the 15 lap UMP sportsman race, pole sitter Andrew Funk took the lead at the start with Terry Worth and Joel Funk on his bumper. Joel Funk took the second spot on lap 4 and on the following circuit he overtook brother Andrew for first. Andrew seeking his first win of the year raced side by side with Joel for the lead. Following a lap 8 caution, Shawn Diggs made his presence known as he challenged Andrew for second. In the closing laps, Andrew Funk slipped which allowed Diggs to move into second. Diggs made several attempts to take first from Joel Funk, but came up short in his bid. Funk took his 8^th win of the year and Diggs had a season best 2^nd. Andrew Funk hung on for 3^rd, followed by Jason Unzicker, Loren Haberkorn, Terry Worth, Jonny Garret, Chris Eden, Paul Graf, and Rod Rusher. The hard charger of the race went to Garret, while Andrew Funk and Worth won the heat races for the 17 drivers in attendance.

 Action began in the 15 lap UMP street stock race, originally Ron Donaldson was suppose to start from the pole, but had engine problems and choose to start in the rear. Polesitter Rick Thomas had his hands full with Brandon Kessinger and Joel Funk through out the contest. While Thomas took the lead at the start, first Kessinger made his presence known. Kessinger tried the top and bottom to overtake Thomas for the lead, but Thomas had the power down the straight away to hold on. Following a caution at lap 7, Joel Funk took the 2^nd position and had the same results. He could pull even with Thomas in the turns, but Thomas had the power down the straights. At the end Thomas held on for his 6^th win of the year. Joel Funk , Darrin Kohler, Eric Gaus, Chris Tackett, Kevin Lenzen, Brandon Kessinger, Gary Barnes, Joseph Hillman, and Robert Turner completed the top 10. 20 street stock signed in with heats going to Ron Donaldson and Thomas, while Darin Kohler took the hard charger award.

NOTES: This weekend is the annual fair races as the last night for drivers to receive points. Entering the late model race, Jason Feger had won 4 races in a row, including Friday’s monster Midwest race at Kankakee. Jason Hastings took the modified race at Kankakee, while at Farmer City Jay Ledford took his first modified win of the year. Alan Mondos from Lakeville, Minnesota made his first ever attempts in the late model race at Kankakee with a 5^th place finish and at Fairbury , where he had a top 10 going until cutting a tire. Congratulations and best of luck go to Pontiac’s Albie Perez on accepting a position with the NASCAR nationwide team of Key Motorsports #40 with Scott Wimmer the main driver.

Kamp Motor Speedway Results 7-25-09
 
Monster Midwest Series
Late Model Feature
1. Jason Feger 25
2. Dennis Erb 28
3. Frank Heckenast Jr. 99
4. Eric Smith 9
5. Ryan Unzicker 24
6. Ted Loomis 23
7. Joe Janowski 6J
8. Dillan White 54
9. Guy Volk V77
10. Donny Walden 1W
11. Brian Rickey 27
12. Alan Vochaska 34
13. Dan Walden 25
14. Jimmy Dehm 99J
15. Jayme Zidar 9Z
16. Justin Sondgergroth 24
17. Zach Busch 45
18. Dick Potts 92
19. Richie Hedrick 0
20. Gary Schalmo 05

Thanks to Rocky Ragusa for the photos and story

Feger Rolls to Charleston Win

Charleston,Il. (7/23/09) The Monster Midwest Series began a 4 race trek on Thursday night at the 3/8 mile high banked Charleston,Illinois Speedway. 14 UMP late model drivers signed in with Jason Feger setting a new track record with a 13.63. 2 heats were run with the 1^st race going to Feger over Ryan Unzicker and Kentucky driver Dillion White. In a real crowd pleasing performance, Richie Hedrick came from in back of the pack to take the lead on the final lap and win over Scott Schmitt and Tim Lance. In the 40 lap $2000 to win feature, Feger took the lead at the drop of the green and was never serious challenged to take the win. In a battle for 2^nd, Hedrick held off Unzicker, Lance took 4^th, after starting last due to engine problems, Dennis Erb Jr. came home in 5^th, Schmitt, White, point leader Eric Smith, Rusty Schlenk, Kevin Weaver, Chris Dick, Russ Adams, Kevin Cole, and Mitchell Lankford completed the field. The next stop for the series his Farmer City Raceway for another 40 lap,$2000 to win race.

We were informed by UMP that we would not be receiving UMP points at the MMS race scheduled for Saturday May 30th at Lincoln Speeday??? As the MMS is supposed to be a UMP series, we have decided to cancel the race so as not to penalize the drivers who have supported us and are following the series. We will reschedule this race. We would like to apologize for any inconvience caused by this cancellation.

Unzicker is the Monster of the Midwest at La Salle Speedway

By: Betty Glynn                                                                                

La Salle, IL – El Paso racer Ryan Unzicker had forty laps to prove himself as the top monster Thursday night at La Salle Speedway. With a stacked field of nineteen contenders to outrun, he made a mad dash for the lead during the first lap and fought off some heavy hitters to score his big victory. With the likes of Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Feger, Eric Smith and Kevin Weaver rolling up behind him he had to earn his first victory at the Illinois Valley speed arena and a coveted place in the record books the hard way.

The Monster Midwest Dirt Late Model Series race kicked off the 2009 season. The season opener boasted twenty eight Late Model drivers along with twenty two UMP Modified cars as their support division.

First up was qualifying with young gun Brandon Sheppard, of Berlin, charging hard for the fastest timed lap. His quick time guaranteed his pole position of the first of three heat races. On the front row outside of Brandon sat Daren Friedman. Rolling into row two was Eric Smith and Steve Dimmick. Brandon Sheppard was fast out of the blocks and took control early on. He captured the checkers with Smith, Friedman, Scott Schmitt and Richie Hedrick behind him.

Dennis Erb Jr. scored the second heat race win over Unzicker, Joe Harlan, Michael Kloos, Mike Mataragas and Jayme Zidar. Unzicker led for the first three laps until Erb used a low line to steal the lead for the first and final time.

The third heat race winner was former La Salle regular Feger. He took command from the pole and traveled in his own zip code until the checkers dropped ten laps later. Steve Sheppard Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., Kevin Weaver, Ted Loomis and Jimmy Dehm completed the top six finishers.

Zidar, Bell, Dehm, Mike Glynn and Mike Provenzano earned the transfer positions from the semi feature race of ten laps.

At 9:21 pm the thunder of Late Models returned to the area’s largest outdoor sports venue. Twenty contenders all with one thing in mind – winning. On the front row was pole sitter Unzicker next to Steve Sheppard. Steve’s son Brandon held the inside of row two with Feger as his second row partner. Smith and Erb rolled into the next row ahead of Friedman and Harlan in row four.

When the flagman signaled the green, Unzicker wasted little time taking the helm with Steve Sheppard in second and Feger already powering up the outer rim of the track. Brandon Sheppard had some problems navigating turns one and two bringing out a yellow before the first lap was scored.

For the restart, it was Unzicker over Steve, Feger, Erb, Smith, Friedman and Harlan. While Unizicker chose a lower line Feger lived up to his nickname of the Highside Hustler working the highest groove at full throttle. During the fifth lap out, he found himself a little too close to the unforgiving concrete barrier. After skimming his back side off the turn two wall the right side tire went flat. A trip pitside placed him back at the tail of the seventeen remaining cars.

By Lap 11, Unzicker had started to distance himself from Steve Sheppard and Erb as they battled side by side for second. Erb took over the runner up position setting his sights on Unzicker who seemed to be on auto pilot lapping traffic with ease. During Lap 22, Smith challenged Steve Sheppard for the third running position forcing door to door combat. While they battled, Unzicker and Erb pulled away to a comfortable lead. Feger was thundering his way up front using the rim again.

Twenty four minutes after starting the event, a caution slowed the pace for the final time. Now the field was back together for a six lap shootout. In single file format, Unzicker still held the lead over Erb, Smith, Friedman, Brandon Sheppard and Feger. The leaders hit the gas hard with a duel ensuing between Unzicker and Erb. With three laps to go, Erb grabbed the lead but an unrelenting Unzicker brought the action back side by side. On the final lap, Unzicker had charged his way back to the number one position for the final time.

A caution late in the race can change the outcome but can create some added excitement for the fans. “I think the caution at the end could have changed things. I hated to see Unzicker loose after leading the whole race but it was great racing and a good show for the fans,” Monster Midwest promoter Don Hammer explained post race.

Unzicker took home the $2,000 check and trophy over Erb. Smith put forth a solid performance scoring third place. Feger was still coming on strong charging his way back from last to an impressive fourth place finish. Friedman crossed under the checkers in sixth ahead of Weaver, Brandon Sheppard, Heckenast, Provenzano, Harlan, Dehm, Steve Sheppard, and Bell as the final finishers. Seven contenders were already pitside for the final laps.

Jeff Leka led flag to flag en route to the first heat race for the UMP Modified division. Mike Spatola claimed second in front of Chad Osterhoff and Kevin Hastings. Dale Lueth and Tommy Duncan duked it out for the win in the second heat race. Lueth prevailed the victor over Duncan, McKay Wenger and Nathan Balensiefen.

Twenty two Modified drivers made the call for twenty lap main. Leka and Lueth rolled in front with Spatola and Duncan staking claim to row two. Osterhoff and Wenger were in row three. Lueth and Leka came around the first turns fast and furious when Leka slid up into Lueth’s higher run. Lueth kept the high trek but hit some rough ground and fell back a few positions. Unlucky for Lueth contact with Balensiefen ended with Lueth being pushed hard down the front stretch signaling caution and forcing the pair to the rear of the field.

By Lap 5, Spatola had moved his speed plant up to the door of Leka. Leka opened the door and Spatola took over the lead for the final time. Wenger stole third as Leka slipped back. A caution with three to go brought the pack back together but after the restart second place runner Wenger appeared to break something in the front end when his machine didn’t turn left and ended his night in the turn three wall.

With a green, white, and checkers finish Spatola led the pace to the end. Spatola won the $1,000 prize over Osterhoff, and Leka. Starting tenth on the grid, Alan Weisser scored a big finish on his sixteenth birthday with a strong fourth place finish. Kevin Hastings finished fifth over Justin McCoy, Ray Bolinger, Thad Wilson, Jeremy Nichols, Balensiefen, and Duncan.

 June 6^th the regular weekly racing program at LaSalle Speedway gets underway with Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks and 4 Cylinder Hornets.  

La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 05/28/09

Monster Midwest Series Late Models – 28 Cars

Fast Qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Heat One: Brandon Sheppard, Eric Smith, Daren Friedman, Scott Schmitt, Richie Hedrick, Mike Provenzano, Steve Dimmick, Brian Crebo, Aaron Schmitt, Derek Chandler

Heat Two: Dennis Erb Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Joe Harlan, Michael Kloos, Mike Mataragas, Jayme Zidar, Rich Bell, Mike Glynn, Roger Markham

Heat Three: Jason Feger, Steve Sheppard Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., Kevin Weaver, Ted Loomis, Jimmy Dehm, Ed Williams Jr., Joe Burba, Scott Brewer

Semi Feature: Jayme Zidar, Rich Bell, Jimmy Dehm, Mike Glynn, Mike Provenzano, Scott Brewer, Roger Markham, Joe Burba, Steve Dimmick, Brian Crebo, Derek Chandler, Aaron Schmitt, Ed Williams Jr.

Feature: 1. Ryan Unzicker, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Eric Smith, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Daren Friedman, 6. Kevin Weaver, 7. Brandon Sheppard, 8. Frank Heckenast Jr., 9. Mike Provenzano, 10. Joe Harlan, 11. Jimmy Dehm, 12. Steve Sheppard Jr., 13. Rich Bell, 14. Mike Mataragas, 15. Scott Schmitt, 16. Michael Kloos, 17. Richie Hedrick, 18. Ted Loomis, 19. Mike Glynn, 20. Jayme Zidar

UMP Modifieds 22 Cars

Heat One: Jeff Leka, Mike Spatola, Chad Osterhoff, Kevin Hastings

Heat Two: Dale Lueth, Tommy Duncan, McKay Wenger, Nathan Balensiefen

Feature: 1. Mike Spatola,  2. Chad Osterhoff, 3. Jeff Leka, 4. Alan Weisser, 5. Kevin Hastings, 6. Justin McCoy, 7. Ray Bollinger, 8. Thad Wilson, 9. Jeremy Nichols, 10. Nathan Balensiefen, 11. Tommy Duncan, 12. Mike Marden, 13. Mark Vervynk, 14. Tom Knippenberg, 15. Mark Novorolsky, 16. McKay Wenger, 17. Joe Adam, 18. Jim Farris, 19. Dale Lueth, 20. Gabe Menser, 21. Donovan Lodge

Ryan Unzicker takes Checkers at LaSalle May 28

The Monster Midwest Series will be back in action for 4 straight nights starting on Wednesday...

May 27 Shepp's Speedway - Alexander, IL - $2,000 to win, 40 laps
May 28 LaSalle Speedway - LaSalle, IL - $2,000 to win, 40 laps
May 29 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL - $2,000 to win, 40 laps
May 30 Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL - $2,000 to win, 40 laps

After 2 events of the 2009 season, Jason Feger is currently the series point’s leader followed by Eric Smith, Ryan Unzicker, Steve Sheppard Jr., and Richie Hedrick. Feger was the winner opening night at the Kamp Motor Speedway with Sheppard Jr. picking up the win at the Lincoln Speedway in April.

For more information visit www.monstermidwestseries.com.

Lincoln Speedway Sunday April 26

28 Late Models in Attendance
Fast Qualifier: 25 Jason Feger

Heat Winners: 25 Jason Feger, 5S Steve Sheppard Jr., 28 Dennis Erb Jr.
Semi Feature Winner: T2 Todd Bennett

Feature ($2,000 to win, 40 laps)
1 5S Steve Sheppard Jr. (1)
2 25 Jason Feger (4)
3 B12 Kevin Weaver (3)
4 24 Ryan Unzicker (6)
5 9 Eric Smith (2)
6 0 Richie Hedrick (10)
7 6K Michael Kloos (7)
8 83 Scott Bull (11)
9 Z Joe Harlan (14)
10 96 Cory Daugherty (17)


17 Modifieds in Attendance
Heat Winners: 64 Gary Cook Jr., 11 Blake Buchholz

Feature
1 64 Gary Cook Jr. (1)
2 38L Ryan Little (5)
3 3L Jeff Leka (6)
4 32N Nick Neville (10)
5 89 Mike Spatola (7)
6 83 Nathan Balensiefen (8)
7 20 Jeffrey Leka (9)
8 17Z Wendell Zulauf Jr. (3)
9 83 Austin Charron (11)
10 23P Bobby Pearson (15)


20 Wild Things in Attendance
Heat Winners: 30 Eric Wisher, 33B Jerry Benninger

Feature
1 14K Shane Kelley (5)
2 11B Bo O'donoghue (8)
3 24 Kenny Butterfield (20)
4 46 Eric Wilson (6)
5 33B Jerry Benninger (2)
6 9W Corey Well (7)
7 47 Jim Wilson (11)
8 5J Josh Osborne (15)
9 64C Cook Crawford (14)
10 24W Waylon Grant (17)

Kamp Motor Speedway Saturday April 25
Late Model Feature Monster Midwest Series $2000 to win
1. Jason Feger 25....started 16th
2. Eric Smith9
3. Frank Heckenast Jr. 99
4. Richie Hedrick 0
5. Ryan Unzicker 24
6. Mike Mataragas 1M
7. Cory Daugherty 96
8. Brandon Sheppard 5B
9. Kerry Mathew 14
10. Dick Potts 92
11. Mike Petersak JP7
12. Dan Walden 25
13. Gary Schalmo 05
14. Steve Sheppard JR. 5S
15. Roy Mitchell 93
16. Michael Kettnich 19K
17. Cory Rolfe 22R
18. Steve Thorsten 7T
19. Ted Loomis 23
20. Aaron Zellers 29
21. Rusty Schlenk 91

Modified Feature
1. Nick Allen 21A
2. Derek Losh 21
3. Craig Conyer 31C
4. Jesse Bitterling 225
5. Jim Ransom 24
6. Jamie Lomax 36L
7. Justin Gregory 42
8. Tom Bell 31
9. Dave Baldwin 6B
10. Gary Lawson 27L
11. Mark Grosvenor 27
12. Mike Spatola 89
13. Matt Laffoon 27
14. Tom Staggs 28
15. Dog Jones 6
16. Charley Walden 78
17. Adam Pockrus 48
18. Chad Osterhoff 130
19. Ed Overdorf 55

Sportsman Feature
1. Scott Hufford 4
2. Dylan Campbell 5
3. Brad Hancock 27
4. Davey Price 91
5. Rick Segvich
6. Jim Moore K4
7. Curtis Hart 53
8. Steve Raney 13R
9. Randy Newport 22N
10. Jim Bailey 66B
11. Bubba James 72
12. Guy Morales 19
13. Rick Hufford 27
14. Dean Hancock 57
15. Jaret Leuck 00

Street Stock Feature
1. Jeff Houchens 1
2. Jerrad Krick 99
3. Nathan Alexander 85
4. Josh Foxworthy 38
5. David Hurst 8
6. Brad Battering 66
7. Lee Hall 90
8. Kevin Lenzen 44
9. Jesse Peters 13P
10. Brent Gregory 43
11. Scott Tidwell 7D
12. Joe Hillman J01
13. Josh Warren 62
14. Brandon Roundtree 2
15. Jinger Bennett 22
16. Bill Hoaks 172
17. Andy Hall 15
18. Dennis Freeland 71
19. Michael Daugherty 7
20. Billie Martin 31
21. Alex Henry 34

Kankakee Friday April 24....cancelled due to weather

Monster Midwest Series Kicks Off with Tripleheader April 24-26
 
The Monster Midwest Series kicks off their 2009 season with a tripleheader. On Friday, April 24th the series will be at the Kankakee County Speedway (Kankakee, IL) for a $5,000 to win event. The series then moves on to the Kamp Motor Speedway (Boswell, IN) on Saturday, April 25th, and concludes the weekend at the Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, IL) on Sunday, April 26th. Saturday and Sunday's races will pay $2,000 to win. The series has 26 events currently scheduled with a few more to be added.

The series website has been updated with the year-end points fund payout (plus sponsor product awards), along with rookie of the year awards, race payouts, show-up money, and the race format.

Please visit the Monster Midwest Series website at www.monstermidwestseries.com for all the details.

Special Thanks to Farmer City Raceway on Friday not running late models AND to Shepp's Speedway on Sunday also not running late models.... that is what UMP was supposed to be all about!!!
 

The Monster Midwest Series has over a $50,000 points fund with cash & products.

$100 goes to each of the top 10 in points each night they show up. A new Rayburn chassis goes to the Rookie of the Year. A set of Dyer's Rods goes to the Champion.

Other products include:
-10 sheets of aluminum from Petersen Aluminum
-2 leather Monster Midwest Series jackets (1 to the Champion and 1 to the Rookie of the Year) from ASi
-4 barrels of fuel from Bazzell Race Fuels
-Products from Out-Pace Racing Products, Advanced Shocks, Bob Pierce Race Cars, Bell

To be eligible for points fund & products a driver must compete in 80% of races run.

2009 Schedule....updated 04-18-09