Unzicker Steals the Show, Spatola Doubles Up, Funk,
Maier, Williams, and Kingma Also Score Wins
By: Paul D. Bayne
Kankakee, IL (August 27, 2010) - With
a season high 149 cars pit side, and Mother Nature no where
in site, racing resumed
Friday night before a healthy crowd of race hungry fans at
the Kankakee County Speedway. The night featured the completion
of
not one, but two rain post-poned features from several weeks
ago. Race fans saw perhaps the most competitive night of racing
this season in all divisions from top to bottom, with several
finishes being decided in the last twenty feet.
In the make- up features, Adam Williams held off defending track
champion Mike Kingma to officially claim victory for the August
13th show. Kingma who started mid-pack, chased down Williams
as the race wore on but ran out of time. Rich Gynn, Chris Arihood,
and Ryen Johnson rounded out the top five. For Johnson, it was
a personal best finish for the first year I-Mod driver.
Don Stone and Williams scored heat race wins.
Manhattan's Mike Spatola has been hotter than a firecracker as
of late, and Friday night was no different as the speedster captured
both UMP Modified features. Spatola has staked his claim atop
victory lane four of the last five weeks racing has been contested
at KCS. Justin McCoy, who celebrated his 25th birthday at the
track Friday night, came home second in the make-up feature ahead
of Nick Allen, Jim Farris, and Jamie Lomax.
In the nightcap, Spatola used the high side of the dry slick
surface to hold off the hard charge of three-time track champion
Dave Porth, who resurrected his season with a season best outing
hustling around the hub while reeling in the elusive Spatola.
Pole-sitter Kevin Hastings finished third just ahead of Phil
Line and Nick Allen. Point leader Jim Farris suffered his first
hiccup in his quest for a track title when he pulled to the infield
with suspension problems while running in the top five. Farris
has been the model of consistency so far this year at KCS but
his setback should tighten up the points battle as we head into
the final month of points at Kankakee.
Heat race action heated up with Kevin Hastings, Line, Spatola,
and Farris taking wins. Lomax and Shawn Scripter captured consolation
triumphs.
Thirty-three entrants were on hand to do battle in a $250 to
win UMP Sport Compact special presented by RC Phillips 66 of
Peotone and Matt Maier became the first repeat winner of the
season in the UMP Sport Compact division as he fought off Ryan
Brooks for the win. Point leader Matt McCarty used a solid third
place finish to pad his point lead while Casey Gernentz and Bobby
Brooks rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included Nathan Lyday, Ryan Brooks, Bill "Bubba" Lawson,
while Don McCarty claimed the consolation race.
In perhaps the best performance of the night, Ryan Unzicker of
El Paso snookered race long leader Richie Hedrick with a last
lap slide job pass heading into turn one to take the point away
from Hedrick, only to see Hedrick come right back and and overtake
Unzicker as the duo headed into turn three. As Hedrick exited
turn four with a slim lead, Unzicker powered around the high
side to edge past Hedrick as the checkers waved. It was definitely
one of those finishes race fans will talk about for some time.
Hedrick, who was the night's fast qualifier, displayed a beautiful
new color scheme and took those colors to the outside pole position
alongside Ted Loomis for the start of the 25-lap feature event.
The initial start of the race was called back when Hedrick was
called for jumping the start, or perhaps it was Loomis sitting
back to see what Hedrick would do. Either way, it was Hedrick
winning the race to turn one on each occasion. But along come
Unzicker, who sit back in the ninth starting spot like a snake
in the grass, who motored his way around the short side to rally
himself and the crowd into a frenzy.
Loomis held on for a third place showing in front of Steve Dimmick,
and Australian Jimmie McHugh, who will soon be wrapping up his
five week visit to the United States as he piloted cars for the
Milwaukee, WI based Al Atkinson team.
Heat races were scored by Unzicker and Loomis.
In street stock action, it was pole-sitter Andrew Funk besting
a field of 36 UMP Stock Cars, leading the way for all 15 laps
to capture his second win of the season over newcomer Nate Zimmer
of Southern Illinois. National point leader Joel Funk, who suffered
a flat tire while leading his heat race, had to race his way
into the feature lineup by winning the first of two consolation
races, finished third after starting 17th. Don Hilleary and Darrin
Kohler rounded out the top five. Hilleary's command atop the
points lead was strengthened by Jerrad Krick's subpar 12th place
finish.
In a rare show of true sportsmanship, Joe Brown tapped out under
the flag stand taking responsibility for a Robert Turner spin
that would have placed both of them at the rear of the field.
Brown retired to the pits while Turner was given his spot back
and went on to record a respectable eighth place finish.
Preliminary heat races were won by Andrew Funk, Zimmer, Hilleary,
and Brian Wirtz, while Joel Funk and step-father Rick Thomas
took consolation checkers.
Next Friday night, September 3rd, Miller Hydraulic will present
a $1,000 to win UMP Stock Car special that should draw close
to 40 of the finest stock car drivers from Indiana and Illinois
at the "Street Stock Capitol of Illinois". The following
night at the Shady Hill Speedway in Medaryville, IN drivers will
have another opportunity to cash in with another $1,000 to win
on tap in what should be an all out "Border Wars" affair
on the dirt.
UMP Modifieds
(37 cars)
Completion of August 13th program
Heat 3 (top 6 transfer)
1. 36L Jamie Lomax
2. 22 Allen Line
3. 35 Jason Hastings
4. 48 Adam Pockrus
5. 93 Tim Loomis
6. H28 David Henderson
7. 7K Jason Klopp
8. 25 Dave Porth
9. 5T Mike Todd
Feature (20-laps, $600 to win)
1. 89 Mike Spatola (2)
2. 21Jr Justin McCoy (4)
3. 21A Nick Allen (1)
4. 69 Jim Farris (7)
5. 36L Jamie Lomax (3)
6. 78C Clint Demoss (5)
7. 70 Vince Cooper (11)
8. 0 Travis Kohler (8)
9. 36 Kevin Hastings (10)
10. 35 Jason Hastings (9)
11. 66 Phile Line (16)
12. 25 Dave Porth (24)
13. 130 Chad Osterhoff (13)
14. 93 Tim Loomis (15)
15. 48 Adam Pockrus (12)
16. 05 Steven Brooks (23)
17. 41 Derek Line (17)
18. 08 DJ Werkmeister (21)
19. 12x Tom Pasek (19)
20. 5T Mike Todd (22)
21. 22 Allen Line (6)
22. H28 David Henderson (18)
23. 7 Jason Klopp (20)
24. 20 AJ Dixon (14)
Hard Charger - 25 Dave Porth +12
August 27th Program
Heat 1 (top 4 transfer)
1. 36 Kevin Hastings
2. 42 Justin Gregory
3. 41 Derek Line
4. H28 David Henderson
Heat 2 (top 4 transfer)
1. 66 Phil Line
2. 93 Tim Loomis
3. 130 Chad Osterhoff
4. 35R Rick Roedel
Heat 3 (top 4 transfer)
1. 89 Mike Spatola
2. 25 Dave Porth
3. 21A Nick Allen
4. 20 AJ Dixon
Heat 4 (top 4 transfer)
1. 69 Jim Farris
2. 35 Jason Hastings
3. 70 Vince Cooper
4. 21Jr Justin McCoy
Consi 1 (top 2 transfer)
1. 36L Jamie Lomax
2. 5J Jeremie Johnson
3. 88D Jordan Danford
4. 0 Travis Kohler
5. 48 Adam Pockrus
6. 08 DJ Werkmeister
7. 1K Jamie Kuntz
8. 7 Jason Klopp
9. B97 Marvin Burton
Consi 2 (top 2 transfer)
1. 10 Shawn Scripter
2. 78C Clint Demoss
3. 14 Tom Knippenburg
4. 57 Mark Grosvenor
5. 53 Joe Underwood
6. 4M Mike Marden
7. 06 Ryan Kortge
8. G57 Loren Grosvenor
9. 12x Tom Pasek
10. 5T Mike Todd
Feature (20-laps, $600 to win)
1. 89 Mike Spatola (3)
2. 25 Dave Porth (7)
3. 36 Kevin Hastings (1)
4. 66 Phil Line (2)
5. 21A Nick Allen (11)
6. 70 Vince Cooper (12)
7. 35 Jason Hastings (8)
8. 78C Clint Demoss (20)
9. 130 Chad Osterhoff (10)
10. 42 Justin Gregory (5)
11. 93 Tim Loomis (6)
12. 5J Jeremie Johnson (19)
13. 20 AJ Dixon (15)
14. 35R Rick Roedel (14)
15. 36L Jamie Lomax (17)
16. 69 Jim Farris (4)
17. 41 Derek Line (9)
18. 21JR Justin McCoy (16)
19. 10 Shawn Scripter (18)
20. H28 David Henderson (13)
Hard Charger - 78C Clint Demoss +12
I-Mods (23 cars)
Completion of August 13th Program
Feature (15-laps, $250 to win)
1. 14 Adam Williams
2. 77 Mike Kingma
3. 89 Rich Gynn
4. 1 Chris Arihood
5. 18 Ryen Johnson
6. 3 Jim Barkus
7. 98 Mike Heckenast
8. 55 Jon Robbins
9. 77S Don Stone
10. 9 Josh Cooley
11. 6 Tom Jarrette
12. 16 Jeff Barger
13. V17 Izzy Vallejo
14. 15 Brandon Williams
15. 00 Paige Harrison
16. 88 Neil Martin
August 27th Program
Heat 1
1. 77S Don Stone
2. 77 Mike Kingma
3. 55 Jon Robbins
4. 1 Chris Arihood
5. 99 Tim Sullivan Jr.
6. 18 Ryen Johnson
7. 15 Brandon Williams
8. 44 Ryan Brooks
9. V17 Izzy Vallejo
10. N33 Robert Shidler
11. 98 Mike Heckenast - DNS
12. 1 - DNS
Heat 2
1. 14 Adam Williams
2. 16 Jeff Barger
3. 89 Rich Gynn
4. 9 Josh Cooley
5. 6 Tom Jarrette
6. 00 Paige Harrison
7. 88 Neil Martin
8. 70 Dale Vanderaa
9. 3 Jim Barkus
10. 80 - DNS
11. 98x - DNS
Feature (15-laps, $500 to win)
1. 77 Mike Kingma
2. 14 Adam Williams
3. 77S Don Stone
4. 1 Chris Arihood
5. 55 Jon Robbins
6. 89 Rich Gynn
7. 16 Jeff Barger
8. N33 Robert Shidler
9. 99 Tim Sullivan Jr.
10. 6 Tom Jarrette
11. 18 Ryen Johnson
12. V17 Izzy Vallejo
13. 70 Dale Venderaa
14. 9 Josh Cooley
15. 44 Ryan Brooks
16. 3 Jim Barkus
17. 98 Mike Heckenast
18. 00 Paige Harrison
UMP Late Models (20 cars)
Fast Qualifier - 0 Richie Hedrick 14.507
Heat 1 (all cars transfer)
1. 24 Ryan Unzicker
2. 95 Aaron Ricketts
3. 99SH Sherri Heckenast
4. 10H Don Hilleary
5. 10 Scott Schmitt
6. 24 John Quill
7. 79 Keaton Laffoon
8. 11 Nathan Disney
9. 05 Gary Schalmo
10. 50/50 Steve Pastva
11. 16 Del Morales
12. 54 Clay Watters
Heat 2 (Fast 8)
1. 23 Ted Loomis
2. 0 Richie Hedrick
3. 1 Jimmie McHugh
4. 7T Steve Thorsten
5. 99J Jimmy Dehm
6. 11 Steve Dimmick
7. 99Sr Frank Heckenast Sr.
8. 77M Jay Morris
Feature (20-laps)
1. 24 Ryan Unzicker (9)
2. 0 Richie Hedrick (2)
3. 23 Ted Loomis (1)
4. 11 Steve Dimmick (6)
5. 1 Jimmie McHugh (3)
6. 99J Jimmy Dehm (5)
7. 10 Scott Schmitt (13)
8. 95 Aaron Ricketts (10)
9. 7T Steve Thorsten (4)
10. 99Sr Frank Heckenast Sr. (7)
11. 10H Don Hilleary (12)
12. 77M Jay Morris (8)
13. 50/50 Steve Pastva (18)
14. 24 John Quill (14)
15. 79 Keaton Laffoon (15)
16. 05 Gary Schalmo (17)
17. 99SH Sherri Heckenast (11)
18. 54 Clay Watters (20)
19. 11 Nathan Disney (16)
20. 16 Del Morales (19)
Hard Charger - 24 Ryan Unzicker +8
UMP Stock Cars (36 cars)
Heat 1 (top 4 transfer)
1. 23A Andrew Funk
2. 16 Robert Turner
3. 43 Dustin Hubert
4. 6 Jay Hamilton
Heat 2 (top 4 transfer)
1. 32Z Nate Zimmer
2. 21 Darrin Kohler
3. 18 David Billingsley
4. 96 Joe Malone
Heat 3 (top 4 transfer)
1. V27 Don Hilleary
2. B9 Joe Brown
3. 99K Jerrad Krick
4. 10 Lon Franks
Heat 4 (top 4 transfer)
1. 1W Brian Wirtz
2. 55 Billy Wicker
3. 21C Cody Gibson
4. 68 J Thompson
Consi 1 (top 2 transfer)
1. 23JR Joel Funk
2. 92 Jeff Riley
3. J01 Joe Hillman
4. 23 Tony Hemp
5. V1 Mitch Steinquist
6. 420 Richard Woodruff
7. 33G Katie Gaus
8. 56 Pat Parsons
9. 7 Joe Steurer
10. 2 Brandon Roundtree
Consi 2 (top 2 transfer)
1. 23T Rick Thomas
2. 118 Axle Wicker
3. 52 Nate Kroll
4. 13 Donnie Lutz
5. 21N Justin Nelson
6. 00C Bruce Young
7. V77 Alan Boudreau
8. B70 Ken Bushey
9. 64 Chris Richardson
10. H44 Donnie Denton
Feature (15-laps, $300 to win)
1. 23A Andrew Funk (1)
2. 32Z Nate Zimmer (2)
3. 23JR Joel Funk (17)
4. V27 Don Hilleary (3)
5. 21 Darrin Kohler (6)
6. 1W Brian Wirtz (4)
7. 55 Billy Wicker (8)
8. 16 Robert Turner (5)
9. 18 David Billingsley (10)
10. 21C Cody Gibson (12)
11. 6 Jay Hamilton (13)
12. 99K Jerrad Krick (11)
13. 23T Rick Thomas (18)
14. 92 Jeff Riley (19)
15. 10 Lon Franks (15)
16. 118 Axle Wicker (20)
17. 43 Dustin Hubert (9)
18. 96 Joe Malone (14)
19. 68 J Thompson (16)
20. B9 Joe Brown (7)
Hard Charger - 23JR Joel Funk +14
UMP Sport Compacts (33 cars)
Heat 1 (top 6 transfer)
1. 7N Nathan Lyday
2. 99 Jason Maier
3. K-2 Casey Germentz
4. 15 TJ Larson
5. 66 Shannon Mudro
6. 46 Eric Wilson
Heat 2 (top 6 transfer)
1. 44 Ryan Brooks
2. 25 Matt McCarty
3. 98 Jerry Legner
4. 58 Ben Germentz
5. 00 Skylar Antonelli
6. 42JR Jessica Summar
Heat 3 (top 6 transfer)
1. 88 Bill "Bubba" Lawson
2. 7X Matt Maier
3. 44X Bobby Brooks
4. 01 Owen Elberts
5. 91 Tyler Griswold
6. J4P Ron Ogborn
Consi (top 4 transfer)
1. 25X Don McCarty
2. 86 Nick Clubb
3.
4. 36 Bill Wasnea
5. 63 Tammy Wasnea
6. 4B Nick Boring
7. 2 Joe Tsilis
8. T4 Tyler Condon
9. 95 Dave Polak
10. 1 Robert Naese
11. 7 Sam Landis
12. 9 Chris Schmink - DNS
13. 11 Jessica Maglione - DNS
14.
15. 07 Brian Bennett - DQ
Feature (15-laps, $250 to win)
1. 7X Matt Maier
2. 44 Ryan Brooks
3. 25 Matt McCarty
4. K-2 Casey Germentz
5. 44X Bobby Brooks
6. 88 Bill "Bubba" Lawson
7. 98 Jerry Legner
8. 86 Nick Clubb
9. 91 Tyler Griswold
10. 01 Owen Elberts
11. 7N Nathan Lyday
12. 00 Skylar Antonelli
13. 15 TJ Larson
14. 42JR Jessica Summar
15. J4P Ron Ogborn
16. 66 Shannon Mudro
17. 36 Bill Wasnea
18. 25X Don McCarty
19. 58 Ben Germentz
20. 99 Jason Maier
Hard Charger - 86 Nick Clubb +10
|