ERB AND SCHWARTZ VCS WINNERS(8/19/01)
By Jack Taylor

LAYIN THE SMACK DOWN AT VCS(8/14/01)
By Jack Taylor

WEAVER AND BRADLEY RULE KID'S NIGHT(8/21/01)
By Jack Taylor

(8/12/01)Danville, IL. Sunday night at Vermilion County Speedway was a night designed for quoting numbers, when as many as 300 plus kids were in attendance for VCS Kids night. Promoter Bill Marietta and a large group of contributors made sure there were a lot of smiling faces during the evening events.

Each youngster coming thru the grandstand gate was given a VCS program containing a lucky number. This program normally sells for $2.00 and the numbers are used for adult prizes during the season. Not last night, as over 80 bicycles, scooters, skateboards, sleeping bags, etc. were given to kids with winning numbers. Announcer Mike Graves called winning numbers all evening as the kids marched down to the concession stand to pick up their loot.

After time trials and 14 preliminary races, a 20-minute intermission was called to allow the kids onto the track to ride around with the drivers. For a new visitor, this would seem like utter chaos, but Marietta has offered this each year he has promoted the track. Over 60 drivers came out of the pits and chauffeured the young riders on a lap around the oval. At 9:20, the officials cleared the track, checked the surface, and fans were ready to watch the remaining five feature races. None of the above needed to be said in a racing story, except that it thrills me that the kids were the benefactors of a night at the races and the grumpy adults played second fiddle. Congratulations to the VCS staff for an evening for the kids and there was a minimum of lost time in doing it.

At 9:30 the UMP Modifieds rolled out for their feature with Terry Duncan and Don Kiger leading 20 others to the green. It took three tries to get the show under way as the dry slick track produced two grooves and the drivers were attempting to make a third with spinning results. Why do drivers feel the race must be won on the first lap? Point leader, Denny Schwartz, from his 12th starting position developed problems and needed the hook during the second restart. When things finally settled in, Michael Bradley went to the top groove from his 10th starting spot and proceeded to pick off cars ahead of him. Duncan, and then Jason Lakey, led the early part of the feature, but on lap 17 Bradley took over for the remainder of the race. Behind Bradley at the checkered were Lakey, Don Kiger, Duncan, and Roger Cary.

The VCS trial balloon to host UMP Late Models each Sunday in August produced 22 LM's and a few surprises. No big surprise that Kevin Weaver stopped by. Local fans have seen him enough that he is considered one of the gang. Two drivers not normally in the area were Joe Izzo and Rodney Melvin, so the fans were treated to some royalty (in UMP terms).  Izzo stopped by from a race at Florence, KY in UDTRA and Melvin, the UMP National points leader was looking for a few more weekly points.

Weaver and Izzo led the Lates onto the track at 10:05 and Weaver took the checkered at 10:20. Leading from start to finish, Weaver held off challenges by Izzo and Melvin throughout, but as lapped traffic became a problem from midway in the race until the finish, Weaver threaded through the field much better than his pursuers. At the finish, it was Weaver, Melvin, Izzo, Rich Hedrick, and Ryan Dauber.

In Super Street action, Jeff Link won the feature over Mike Roundtree and Marcus Phelps. The Bomber feature was won by Jerrad Krick over Jeff Barker and Allan Shepherd took honors in the Hornet class.

131 cars, 5 classes, kid's night, and racing completed by 11:15. Long night, but well-organized by the VCS staff.

Summary
UMP LATE MODELS
Fast time-Ryan Dauber
Heat 1-Kevin Weaver, Rodney Melvin, Dauber, Marvin Burton
Heat 2-Joe Izzo, Rich Hedrick, Dick Potts, Jammie Wilson
Feature-Weaver, Melvin, Izzo, Hedrick, Dauber, Wilson, Don Hammer, Dan Walden, Rick Hufford, Chuck Haga

UMP MODIFIED
Fast time- Elvin Herscberger
Heat 1-Terry Duncan, Jason Lakey, Roger Cary, Herschberger
Heat 2-Don Kiger, Jerry Hathaway, Chuck Haga, Phil Line
Semi-Brad Wright, Jesse Simmons, Tony Roland, Tim Reynolds
Feature-Michael Bradley, Lakey, Kiger, Duncan, Cary, Rob Fuqua, Ryan Bowman, Line

SUPER STREET
Heat 1-Marcus Phelps, Jeff Link, Randy Shuman, Mike Roundtree
Heat 2-Ed Lahey, Matt Reitz, Kyle Vogel, Tim McEwen
Semi-Gene Bowling, Joe Weathers, Jason Townsend, Shawn Robinson
Feature-Link, Roundtree, Phelps, Shuman, Vogel

BOMBERS
Heat 1-Jeff Barker, Tony White, Dave Mackey, Joe Buyno
Heat 2-Larry Pruitt, Brandon Roundtree, Brad Nicholson, John Shue
Heat 3-Jason Turner, Larry White, Jerrad Krick, Josh Troxtell
Semi-Steve Nolan, Bob Cox, Brock Evans, Scott Miller
Feature-Krick, Barker, Buyno, White, Roundtree

HORNETS
Heat 1-Curt Saunders, Danny Bergthold, Mike Aper, Michael Heap
Heat 2-Allan Shepherd, Monte Reed, Ryan Ritter, Steve Cates
Feature-Shepherd, Ritter, Cates, Saunders, Reed