Sycamore Speedway June 5; Stan Kalwasinski Photos/Recap

Gary Gasper June 6, 2021

Sycamore Speedway

Maple Park, Illinois

Cantrell and Neuman winners at Sycamore

By Stan Kalwasinski

June 5, 2021

Maple Park, Ill., June 5—Stock car racing and midget auto racing were on tap at the Sycamore Speedway Saturday evening with Greg Cantrell Jr. (stock cars) and Jake Neuman (midgets) among the night’s winners.

Cantrell of DeKalb, Ill., won the 25-lap super late model main event and is now two for two in division feature action. Cantrell, champion at the third-mile, clay oval, the past two years, wheeled John Newbolds’ No. 401 late model to the win. After battling Jeremy Spoonmore for the top spot, Cantrell raced to the checkered flag ahead of fastest qualifier Joe Monk, Spoonmore, Glen Toppel, Matt Ramer and Tony Provenzano.

Neuman, 23-year-old racer from New Berlin, Ill., came home the winner of the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) 25-lap headliner. Starting inside row two in the 21-car field, Neuman used the high groove to get the job done and drove the Bill Ecker-owned, Mazda-powered, Howard Law/Advanced Fastening Supply-sponsored No. 57 to the win – his first of the year in BMARA competition and only his second series career win.

Trailing Neuman at the finish were two-time and defending Badger champion Chase McDermand, Adam Taylor, Jeff Zelinski, fastest qualifier Nick Baran and Kyle Stark. Baran’s lap of 16.406 seconds was the fastest among the 28 entries on hand.

“The track was really slick,” said Neuman. “You had to use the top groove to keep up your momentum and be here (for the win). There was a little bit of moisture up there and you got a little bite. It was real slick but it brings the driver out in you.”

Neuman, McDermand and Taylor were eight-lap heat race winners with Zelinski capturing the eight-lap non-qualifiers race. Andy Baugh claimed top honors in the 12-lap “B” feature, defeating Zelinski, Kyle Koch and Denny Smith.

Joining Cantrell in the undefeated stock car feature winners’ ranks were Zach Zuberbier and Tim Provenzano. With the evening’s races only the second night of action at the Sycamore speed plant, Zuberbier of Kingston, Ill., won the 16-car/20-lap street stock feature race ahead of Dave Dulceak, Chad Puffer, John Hintzsche, Joel Hernandez and Tim Loomis.

Provenzano, from Streator, Ill., the son of longtime area late model driver and champion, John Provenzano, scored his second win of the year, taking the 15-lap pure stock feature ahead of John Dietrich III, Stacy Doris, Mike Nelms and Michael Lofgren.

Smoke bellows out of Danny Deutsch’s No. 23 as he races to a super late model heat race win.

Adrian Roscelli’s No. 117x is a neat-looking car. Roscelli had mechanical problems during the night.

Two-time and defending Badger midget champion Chase McDermand finished second in the 25-lap midget main event.

Greg Cantrell Jr. in victory lane after his super late model feature victory at Illinois’ Sycamore Speedway Saturday night.

Greg Cantrell Jr. and his No. 401 on their way to victory.

Greg Cantrell Jr. peers down at the left rear wheel after breaking a wheel hub during qualifying.

Jake Neuman celebrates his win in Badger midget competition.

Jake Neuman in victory lane after winning the Badger midget feature race at Sycamore Speedway Saturday night.

Jake Neuman and his No. 57 on their way to victory.

Tim Provenzano in victory lane after his pure stock feature win.

Tim Provenzano (#17) works inside of Mikey Huber II (#88) during the pure stock feature.

Zach Zuberbier poses in victory lane after winning the street stock 20 lapper.

Zach Zuberbier and his No. 4 on their way to victory in the street stock feature.

Jeremy Spoonmore (#22) and eventual winner Greg Cantrell Jr. (#401) battled side-by-side for many laps during the super late model feature.

Joe Rasmussen (#01) and Joel Fernandez (#57) race in pretty tight quarters during a street stock heat race.

Another sharp-looking car at Sycamore was the No. 32 street stock of Matt Olson.

Mikey Huber II (#88) battles Mike Nelms (#714) during the pure stock division feature.

Nick Baran and his No. 11 were the fast qualifier among 28 Badger midgets.

RJ Corson (#15) tries to stay ahead of Kyle Stark (#2) during the Badger midget feature.

Sean Murphy (#5), Kurt Mayhew (#21) and Dan Kleven (#92) mix it up during a Badger heat race.

Jeremy Spoonmore (#22) works the bottom groove with Kyle Monk (#15) on the outside during the super late model main event.

They go three-wide during the street stock feature race.

Tim Loomis and his No. 93 are a sharp-looking combo in the street stock class.

Glen Toppel (#82) battles Tony Provenzano (#0) during a super late model heat race.