THE FAMILIAR JJ1 OF KYLE LOGUE
KYLE
LOGUE JOINS CHAMPIONS ROW
By Jack Taylor
(8/25/02) Danville, IL. Over a span of 13 years, Vermilion County Speedway fans
have witnessed a strong invasion of UMP Modified drivers who have week after
week and year after year challenged the 1/4 mile high-banked oval sitting amid
the county fairgrounds near Danville, Illinois. VCS has become a geographical
map-site for UMP jockeys to load up from as far away as Texas and West Virginia
and try their luck at the usually tough track against the many local and area
drivers who call VCS home. Those home boys are the reason local fans turn out
each week to watch the exciting side-by-side racing from the entrance classes to
the top of the menu on the weekly card. Add in some great attractions of
visiting late model sanctions on given nights and fans receive the best of lot
in dirt track racing.
When VCS joined ranks with UMP in 1990 and parted with IMCA, a long list of
strong contenders began paying visits to the racy oval to see what UMP was all
about. Many things have changed since the early days, but as more and more
curious fans and drivers stopped in, the track prestige gained and it became
recognized as a weekend happening.
The UMP Modified
track championship at Danville was now an important notch in the belts of area
drivers and a Sunday night offering of extra weekend racing has added to that
interest. Probably, if you polled every fan and driver, they would tell you
Friday and Saturday are the best nights and Sunday is a hassle in returning home
and getting to work on Monday. Friday has been tried several times over the
years, but Sunday still fits into most schedules the best. And UMP drivers
seeking that last shot at a weekly feature win for UMP points recognize this the
most.
Kyle Logue, of
Oreana, Illinois, is a good indicator of the time and travel that drivers are
willing to extend by pulling to Danville on a Sunday evening. He could easily
concentrate on his local tracks at Farmer City and Macon and sit back and watch
NASCAR on TV Sunday at home. But he wants to compete and an extra win on Sunday
really adds to that UMP point total at years end. On Saturday night, Kyle won
the Macon Speedway title and on Sunday joined an illustrious group of VCS UMP
track champions of past years. This young driver now adds his name to a list
that includes a UMP National champion in 1997 and several who were strong
contenders for that title during previous years. Other past champions have won
their UMP State titles during their VCS title years.
This list
includes Larry Dines of Bismarck, IL (Deceased) in 1990, 91, and 92; Rick
Hufford of Danville, IL in 1993, 94, and 95: Bryon Clendenen of Oakwood, IL in
1996: Steve Hillard of Sadorus, IL. in 1997 (National UMP Champion); Tim
O’Donnell of Champaign, IL in 1998; Dan Hamstra of Fair Oaks, IN
in 1999; Shane Cottle of Kokomo, IN in 2000; Denny Schwartz of Ashmore,
IL in 2001; and now Kyle Logue of
Oreana, IL in 2002.
Hundreds have
competed over the years for this illusive title, but only a handful of fortunate
drivers have ever claimed it. Ask any UMP Modified driver about the fierce
competition between the area locals and the traveling guests.
A driver needs to be there often and bring some skill and luck along with
him to make the challenge on the VCS track.
1999 UMP National
Champion, Jeff Martin of Kansas, IL was one who was unable to capture the track
championship, although he was the hottest thing on wheels that year. Perennial
local challenger, Don Kiger, of Oakwood, IL, with more total laps on the track
than anyone any year, has been close twice, but no cigar.
At Sunday’s
finale, 37 Modifieds signed in for qualifying, including the normal tally of
regulars and a few newcomers. UMP Late Model veteran, Kevin Weaver of Gibson
City, IL was there to drive the Aaron Ricketts car, which he will also drive in
the Labor Day classic. The UMP Late Model ranks were not alone as Veteran
drivers Bob Pierce and Steve Hillard were also there to watch the competition.
Pierce drops in as often as possible to help in the pits with drivers who pilot
his Pierce cars on the tracks throughout the Midwest. For Hillard, it was a
night at the races to watch several of his protégés, including Michael Bradley
of Paris, IL, who was tied for the final night of points with Logue going in.
Another note of interest was the fans waiting for the arrival of Denny Schwartz
at the track as it was announced that he had won the $8,000.00 UMP Modified race
in Louisiana on Saturday night and was on his way back to race at Danville.
Needless to say, that was an impossible task, even for the speed Schwartz can
travel at.
The evening
unfolded with Logue setting fast time in qualifying, placing second to 16 year
old Josh Ferguson of Covington, IN in his heat, while Bradley won his heat over
Jeff Leka of Buffalo, IL to go ahead in the point battle. Winner if the third
heat was Dan Hamstra over Roger Cary of Catlin, IL (another local contender in
points). Jason Lakey of Urbana, IL won the Semi.
As Bradley
watched from his 7M machine in the feature on the start, Hamstra sprinted around
the youngster, Ferguson, for the lead and Logue immediately moved in to
challenge Hamstra. As Logue got by Hamstra, the duel lasted only a lap and the
two switched positions. That was all, as Logue again took over and went for the
title. Bradley moved up enough to keep Hamstra and Logue in striking distance,
but had to settle for third with Leka taking fourth and Cary coming in fifth.
Another crown was awarded on Sunday night to a deserving young driver, who was willing to face the veterans and locals at the VCS speedplant. Congratulations to Kyle Logue and all of the UMP drivers who gave the fans plenty of action on the track this season.
Summary
Fast Qualifier- Kyle Logue
First Heat- Josh Ferguson, Logue, Al Crawley, Jr., Mark Grosvenor, Kevin Weaver
Second
Heat-Dan Hamstra, Roger Cary, Rob Fuqua, Jim Moore, Jerry Hathaway
Third Heat-Bradley, Leka, Don Kiger, Arby Burton, Chuck Haga
Semi-Jason Lakey, Dave Rudisell, Matt Bex, George Aimone, Rich Isaacson
Feature-Logue, Hamstra, Bradley, Leka,
Cary, Hathaway, Ferguson, Kiger, Lakey, Fuqua, Burton, Crawley, Brian McDaniel,
Moore, Haga, George Aimone, Rudisell, Weaver, Kevin Davis, J.R. Coyner, Bex,
Grovesner