ERB AND SCHWARTZ VCS WINNERS
By Jack Taylor

(8/19/01) Danville, IL. The wind switched to a northerly direction Sunday night at Vermilion County Speedway, bringing in cooler temps near the 55 degree mark, but the drivers camped in the pits brought out heat for all of the preliminary races and the features. A total of 135 cars in four divisions filled the pits, including 30 UMP Late Models and a 45 car count for the UMP Modified. 30 Super Streets and 30 Bombers were also on hand. A swift moving program allowed the LM drivers to head for home around 9:45 and the Mod feature ended at 10:15. All racing was over shortly after 11:00.

Late Model action saw rookie driver Jammie Wilson come within a hair of breaking Steve Barnett's track record in qualifying. Wilson's time was a fast 13.819 and very close to Barnett's 2000 time of 13.6. The track stayed multi-groove and tacky most of the night, only beginning to harden in the features.

Heats were won by Dennis Erb over Rich Hedrick, Steve Barnett over Marvin Burton, and Joey Izzo topping Dick Potts. Wilson, who encountered problems in his heat charged to the front in the Semi-feature to ensure a spot in the main. Jason Beier followed Wilson across the line in the semi.

The feature line-up with Erb and Barnett in front witnessed 5 cautions, but Erb was never headed as first Barnett and then Izzo made challenges which fell short. Steve Hillard, from a mid-pack starting position battled with Barnett and Hedrick for several laps before shooting past both drivers for the third spot. Erb and Izzo worked through traffic brilliantly and as the checkered flag dropped, Erb was about two car lengths ahead of Izzo, with Hillard trailing by six to eight. Barnett and Hedrick  were four and five.

The strong field of UMP Modifieds saw Terry Duncan set fast time before they squared off for four heats and two semi's. Heat winners were Dan Hamstra over Tommy Burnside, Roger Cary over Chuck Haga, Don Kiger topping Rick Hufford, and Denny Schwartz beating J. R. Coyner. Semi winners were Arby Burton and Tim O'Donnell.

As the cars rolled out for the feature with Hamstra and Cary leading the field, Cary developed problems and was unable to start the race, moving Schwartz up to the front row for the start. And after racing with Hamstra for about two laps, the hottest shoe at VCS was gone. About midway in the race, Tommy Burnside zeroed in on the top groove and began to pick off positions progressively, until with four laps remaining he was up with the second running, Hamstra.

Schwartz watched this battle from his leading half-straight advantage, and probably breathed a sigh of relief as the race was completed and he took the flag with Burnside taking sight on him. Hamstra held  third and Don Kiger finished fourth ahead of Rob Fuqua. Kiger and Schwartz are now tied for the VCS point lead with two nights remaining.

In Super street action, heats were won by point leader Marcus Phelps, Ed Lahey, and Randy Shuman. Tim McEwen won the Semi. Lahey battled with Phelps for half the feature before Phelps started going backwards with a low tire and Lahey drove on to the checkered, winning over Shuman and Mike Roundtree.

Point leader, Jeff Barker, won the Bomber feature over Larry White and Troy Campbell.

SUMMARY

UMP LATE MODEL
Fast time-Jammie Wilson
Heat 1-Dennis Erb, Rich Hedrick, Eddie Leviner, Shannon Reed
Heat 2-Steve Barnett, Marvin Burton, Tim Prince, John Kresser
Heat 3-Joey Izzo, Dick Potts, Steve Hillard, Don Hammer
Semi-Jammie Wilson, Jason Beier, Tom Thoennes, Jihn Yearsley
Feature-Erb, Izzo, Hillard, Barnett, Hedrick, Burton, Kresser, Wilson, Reed, Hammer,
Dan Walden, Mark Stetler, Jim Laws, Corey Daugherty, Thoennes, Overstreet, Potts,
Scott Duvall, Brian Rickey, Leviner, Prince, Yearsley

UMP MODIFIED
Fast time- Terry Duncan
Heat 1-Dan Hamstra, Tommy Burnside, Terry Duncan, Phil Line
Heat 2-Roger Cary, Chuck Haga, Kyle Logue, Jason Lakey
Heat 3-Don Kiger, Rick Hufford, Rob Fuqua, Larry Raines
Heat 4-Denny Schwartz, J.R.Coyner, Tim Reynolds, Bryan Bowman
Semi 1-Arby Burton, Randy Hoffman, Jesse Simmons, Phil VanSant
Semi 2-Tim O'Donnell, Sean Seavers, Jerry Danford, Jim Moore
Feature-Schwartz, Burnside, Hamstra, Kiger, Fuqua, Haga, Seavers, Bowman, Burton, Danford, Hoffman, Logue, O'Donnell, Simmons, Lakey, Line

SUPER STREET
Heat 1-Marcus Phelps, Mike Roundtree, Kyle Vogel
Heat 2-Ed Lahey, Gene Bowling, Chris Dick
Heat 3-Randy Shuman, Butch Meeker, Ed Roley
Semi-Tim McEwen, Matt Davis, Bob Webb  
Feature-Lahey, Shuman, Roundtree, Meeker, Dick

BOMBER
Heat 1-Chris Wilkenson, Troy Campbell, Jason Turner
Heat 2-Brandon Roundtree, John VanPelt, Chad Johnson
Heat 3-Jeff Barker, Jerrad Krick, Larry White
Semi-Larry Pruitt, Joe Buyno, Gorden Parsons
Feature-Barker, White, Wilkenson, Buyno, Johnson