PIERCE EXTENDS BANNER SEASON
By Jack Taylor

(8/5/01)Danville, IL. Late Model fans filled the grandstand at Vermilion County Speedway for the final night of the NALMS Illinois Speedweek on Sunday and were treated to lesson number ten by the "Tall Cool One" of Oakwood, Illinois. Bob Pierce, from his second row position in the feature field, trailed Steve Hillard and Kevin Weaver for six laps before erupting around first Hillard and then Weaver to gain the spot he has commanded in many previous NALMS features this year.

The victory was his tenth of the year in NALMS competition in sixteen appearances and his sixteenth win in the four years of NALMS history, making him the winningest driver in the series. Coming off a $7,500 win at Bluegrass Speedway in Kentucky on Saturday night and a $2,000 win at Farmer City on Friday night, Pierce made it three for three on the weekend.

The 49 year old veteran admitted that this has been one his best years in racing. "I've had some really good years when I was driving for someone, but this is nice to be able to drive for myself and not have to split the winnings," he said. In a racing career spanning four decades, and a lot of victories, his many loyal fans are still hoping to see him in victory lane at Earl's place in September for the running of the World 100, a prize that has eluded him for many years.

34 late models took qualifying on the VCS high-banks and Steve Casebolt took top honors with a 14.055 time. In heat action, Weaver topped Jim Curry and Casebolt in the first heat. The  second was won by Pierce over Doug McCammon and Dennis Erb. The third heat went to NALMS point leader Steve Hillard over Shane Cottle and Junior Shickel. Winner of the fourth heat was Steve Barnett over Bryan Clendenen and Marvin Burton. In the 17-car semi, it was Frank Reaber topping Roger Long and Flip Shickel.

The feature remained caution-free until the 24 th lap of the 30 lap affair. After Pierce got around Hillard and Weaver early on, most of the racing for position was from third on back, as Barnett and Jim Curry also edged by Hillard in the late stages. Duke Whiseant, Clendenen, Scott James, Long, and McCammon rounded out the top ten. The track remained tacky and multi-grooved for good racing all night.

A point fund of $5,000 for the four nights of Illinois Speedweek netted Steve Hillard and Roger Long an extra $1,750 each as they tied for first place money. Doug McCammon received $1,000 and Shane Cottle $500 for third and fourth.

The Ump Modified feature was won by Denny Schwartz over Jason Lakey, Dan Hamstra, Roger Cary, and Tim Reynolds. Track point leader, Don Kiger, failed to make the feature from the semi, leaving a very tight bunch at the top of the point chart at VCS. Jeff Watts won the Super Street feature and Larry Pruitt took the Bomber win. 118 cars were in the pits at VCS Sunday night and the fans enjoyed the racing and the fireworks display prior to the NALMS feature.

Promoter Bill Marietta announced that VCS would have UMP Late Models on the card for the month of August and this met with a great response from the fans. The LM Features will be $1,000 to win.

RACE SUMMARY
NALMS LATE MODELS
Fast qualifier-Casebolt
Heat 1-Weaver, Curry, Casebolt, James, Reaber
Heat 2-Pierce, D. McCammon, Erb, Ted Loomis, J. Shickel
Heat 3-Hillard, Cottle, F. Shickel, Doug Ault, John Kresser
Heat 4-Barnett, Clendenen, Burton, Whiseant, B.J. McCammon
Semi-Reaber, Long, J. Shickel, Kresser
Feature-Pierce, Weaver, Barnett, Curry, Hillard, Whiseant, Clendenen, James, Long, D. McCammon

UMP MODIFIED
Fast qualifier-Denny Schwartz
Heat 1-Denny Schwartz, Tim Reynolds, Dan Hamstra, Terry Duncan
Heat 2-Roger Cary, Jason Lakey, Arby Burton, Jerry Hathaway
Heat 3-Blaine Farr, Rick Hufford, Kyle Logue, Bobby Allen
Semi- Tim O'Donnell, Chuck Haga, Sean Seavers, Mike Elliott
Feature- Schwartz, Lakey, Hamstra, Cary, Reynolds, Hathaway, Duncan, Mark Moore, Burton, O'Donnell

SUPER STREET
Heat 1-Randy Shuman, Marcus Phelps, Butch Meeker, Kyle Vogel
Heat 2-Jeff Link, Ed Lahey, Jeff Watts, Johnny Gibbs
Feature-Watts, Lahey, Shuman, Link, Meeker

BOMBER
Heat 1- Jeff Barker, Larry White, Brandon Roundtree
Heat 2-Randy Johnson, Josh Troxtell, Tony Phelps