La Salle Summernationals Story and Results

[BettyG]

Babb’s slick track preference at La Salle leads to third victory in a row
By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – Mother Nature has robbed race enthusiasts of their need for speed on far too many occasions this season at La Salle Speedway. The Wednesday night make up of the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals was finally a reality with twenty nine competitors from seven states and two countries rolling into the Illinois Valley’s largest sports complex. One of the seventeen Illinoisans took home the biggest prize of all as he works to clinch the coveted, and profitable, tour title.

UMP DIRTcar Summernationals Late Model Tour:
Forty laps, twenty nine racers, five thousand dollars, a title on the line and perfect weather conditions set the stage for a perfect night of racing. Group qualifying, three heat races, a C Main, and four provisional positions decided the feature grid. Pole sitter Shannon Babb, dubbed the Moweaqua Missile, coasted into his spot next to Frank Heckanast Jr. on the front of the grid while Kevin Weaver and Bret Sievert were in row two. Ryan Unzicker and Donny Walden were in the third row over Mike Glynn and Jack Sullivan. The four wide salute of the entire field is an absolute welcome addition and seems to prep the crowd for full throttle horse power.

Once the green flag waved, it was Heckanast taking charge of the field as he drove into a good lead by the sixth lap out. Babb looked faster in the corners but Heckanast had a good run on the straights, enough to pull away. The two battled back and forth with Babb powering up to the leaders door in the turns but Heckanast was fast on the topside. Babb was heavy on the gas to force a side by side duel for the point. The two battled back and forth during the early laps trading places until the sixteenth circuit when Babb used a lower line to grab the lead.

“Me and Frankie had a heck of a great race going on early,” Babb told the crowd during an infield interview.

The battle early on was the only racing action Babb would be challenged with other than cruising behind lapped cars who were battling for position. The forty lap main event finished in just over eighteen minutes, ironically the same number as the winner’s car.

“I loved it,” Babb said when asked about the track surface. “It was slick and we had put ourselves in a position up front.”

Babb’s victory circle visit is the third in a row for the current Summernationals point’s leader. The chase is coming to a close and it looks as though the trifecta finish boosted Babb into a secure lead en route to the $25,000 top prize.

Gibson City’s Kevin Weaver ran a strong second place for much of the race finishing runner up to Babb over Matt Miller, Heckanast, Sullivan, Unzicker, Sievert, Walden, Ryan Dauber, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Mike Provenzano, Dillon White, Rich Bell, Jeep Van Wormer, and Brandon Sheppard.

Weaver won the first heat race over Sievert, Glynn, Provenzano, and Dauber. Babb claimed the second heat ahead of Unzicker, Sullivan, White and Dan Schlieper. Heckanast took the third heat contest over Walden, Miller, Sheppard, and Erb. Bell charged hard to win the C Main over transfer positions Van Wormer and Pete Parker. Provisional starters were Scott Schmitt, Nathan Balensiefen, Scott James, Mike Spatola, and Keith Piano.



UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:
Twenty two UMP Open Wheel Modified drivers showed up for the $1,000 special. Ray Bollinger outran Allen Weisser, Butch Weisser, Donovan Lodge and Jeff Larson for the first heat race win. Nick Allen won the second heat in front of Mike Harrison, Jeff Curl, Jay Ledford, Dave Porth and Ryan Thomas.

Bollinger and Harrison started side by side on the feature grid’s front row. Their crusade went on lap after lap until the sixteenth circuit when Harrison made one final move to the lead. Just like the Late Model main, Lap 16 was the last lead change. Harrison managed to distance himself leaving Bollinger in second until the final lap was scored. Butch Weisser took third over Curl, Ledford, Allen Weisser, Lodge, Porth, Steven Brooks, Gary Cook Jr., Jeff Larson, Nick Allen, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Gremminger, Derick Doerr, Justin McCoy, Mike Marden, Austin Hewitt, Tom Knippenberg, Jason Kolbe, Kevin Hughes, and McKay Wenger.

UMP Street Stock’s:
The UMP Street Stock drivers ran an impressive race with a caution free feature. Tim Provenzano won their main ahead of Joel Funk, Steve Lewis, Mike McKinney, Andrew Funk, Rick Thomas, Roger Rickels, Jake Miller, Jamie Balensiefen, Aaron Near, Randy Lucas, Keith Lucas, Ryan Weistart, Justin Hamm, Nick Sell and Steve Schwemlein.

Provenzano and Lewis won the heat races.


UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets:
Allen Provenzano’s domination of the Hornet division continued with another feature victory to add to his stellar season. Jeff Seitz gave it his all to steal the thunder but Allen managed to hold on for another victory. Seitz finished second in front of Phil Burdette, Matt Musgrave, JR Brown, Zach Bollinger, Jerry Legner, Rick Wagner, Freddie Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Mark Sutton, Aaron Sutton, Mike Gossett, Rick Zifko, Andrew Schwarko, and Jon Provenzano.


La Salle Speedway Results 7/13/11

UMP DIRTcar Summernational’s Late Models: 29 Cars
Qualifying: Donny Walden
Heat 1: Kevin Weaver, Bret Seivert, Mike Glynn, Mike Provenzano, Ryan Dauber, Rich Bell, Jason Jaggers, Lake Knutti, Scott James
Heat 2: Shannon Babb, Ryan Unzicker, Jack Sullivain, Dillon White, Dan Schlieper, Jeep VanWormer, Pete Parker, Keith Piano, Craig Vosbergen, Jeff Larson
Heat 3: Frank Heckanast Jr., Donny Walden, Matt Miller, Brandon Sheppard, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Nathan Balensiefen, Matt Furman, Scott Schmitt
C Main: Rich Bell, Jeep VanWormer, Pete Parker, Scott Schmitt, Nathan Balensiefen, Jason Jaggers, Matt Furman, Doug Drown, Craig Vosbergen, Lake Knutti, Jeff Larson, Keith Piano, Mike Spatola, Scott James
Feature: Shannon Babb, Kevin Weaver, Matt Miller, Frank Heckanast Jr., Jack Sullivan, Ryan Unzicker, Bret Sievert, Donny Walden, Ryan Dauber, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Mike Provenzano, Dillon White, Rich Bell, Jeep Van Wormer, Brandon Sheppard, Nathan Balensiefen, Scott Schmitt, Mike Glynn, Pete Parker, Dan Schlieper

UMP Modifieds: 22 Cars
Heat 1: Ray Bollinger, Allen Weisser, Butch Weisser, Donovan Lodge, Jeff Larson, Austin Hewitt, Derrick Doerr, Steven Brooks, Kevin Hughes, Jason Kolbe
Heat 2: Nick Allen, Mike Harrison, Jeff Curle, Jay Ledford, Dave Porth, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Gremminger, Tom Knippenberg, Mike Marden, Justin McCoy, McKay Wenger, Gary Cook Jr.
Feature: Mike Harrison, Ray Bolinger, Butch Weisser, Jeff Curl, Jay Ledford, Allen Weisser, Donovan Lodge, Dave Porth, Steven Brooks, Gary Cook Jr., Jeff Larson, Nick Allen, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Gremminger, Derick Doerr, Justin McCoy, Mike Marden, Austin Hewitt, Tom Knippenberg, Jason Kolbe, Kevin Hughes, McKay Wenger

UMP Street Stocks: 16 Cars
Heat 1: Tim Provenzano, Roger Rickels, Joel Funk, Jamie Balensiefen
Heat 2: Steve Lewis, Mike McKinney, Rick Thomas, Nick Sell
Feature: Tim Provenzano, Joel Funk, Steve Lewis, Mike McKinney, Andrew Funk, Rick Thomas, Roger Rickels, Jake Miller, Jamie Balensiefen, Aaron Near, Randy Lucas, Keith Lucas, Ryan Weistart, Justin Hamm, Nick Sell, Steve Schwemlein

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 16 Cars
Heat 1: Jeff Seitz, Rick Zifko, Allen Provenzano, Mike Gossett
Heat 2: Phil Burdette, JR Brown, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Rick Wagner
Feature: Allen Provenzano, Jeff Seitz, Phil Burdette, Matt Musgrave, JR Brown, Zach Bollinger, Jerry Legner, Rick Wagner, Freddie Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Mark Sutton, Mike Gossett, Rick Zifko, Andrew Schwarko, Jon Provenzano

[Nasty55]

Good Job Mike you are on a rail !!!! Keep it going buddy and make it 2 in a row on thay UMP Championship !!!

[hadmyfunbye]

thank you for the great articles and results
more tracks need this energy

Babb’s slick track preference at La Salle leads to third victory in a row
By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – Mother Nature has robbed race enthusiasts of their need for speed on far too many occasions this season at La Salle Speedway. The Wednesday night make up of the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals was finally a reality with twenty nine competitors from seven states and two countries rolling into the Illinois Valley’s largest sports complex. One of the seventeen Illinoisans took home the biggest prize of all as he works to clinch the coveted, and profitable, tour title.

UMP DIRTcar Summernationals Late Model Tour:
Forty laps, twenty nine racers, five thousand dollars, a title on the line and perfect weather conditions set the stage for a perfect night of racing. Group qualifying, three heat races, a C Main, and four provisional positions decided the feature grid. Pole sitter Shannon Babb, dubbed the Moweaqua Missile, coasted into his spot next to Frank Heckanast Jr. on the front of the grid while Kevin Weaver and Bret Sievert were in row two. Ryan Unzicker and Donny Walden were in the third row over Mike Glynn and Jack Sullivan. The four wide salute of the entire field is an absolute welcome addition and seems to prep the crowd for full throttle horse power.

Once the green flag waved, it was Heckanast taking charge of the field as he drove into a good lead by the sixth lap out. Babb looked faster in the corners but Heckanast had a good run on the straights, enough to pull away. The two battled back and forth with Babb powering up to the leaders door in the turns but Heckanast was fast on the topside. Babb was heavy on the gas to force a side by side duel for the point. The two battled back and forth during the early laps trading places until the sixteenth circuit when Babb used a lower line to grab the lead.

“Me and Frankie had a heck of a great race going on early,” Babb told the crowd during an infield interview.

The battle early on was the only racing action Babb would be challenged with other than cruising behind lapped cars who were battling for position. The forty lap main event finished in just over eighteen minutes, ironically the same number as the winner’s car.

“I loved it,” Babb said when asked about the track surface. “It was slick and we had put ourselves in a position up front.”

Babb’s victory circle visit is the third in a row for the current Summernationals point’s leader. The chase is coming to a close and it looks as though the trifecta finish boosted Babb into a secure lead en route to the $25,000 top prize.

Gibson City’s Kevin Weaver ran a strong second place for much of the race finishing runner up to Babb over Matt Miller, Heckanast, Sullivan, Unzicker, Sievert, Walden, Ryan Dauber, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Mike Provenzano, Dillon White, Rich Bell, Jeep Van Wormer, and Brandon Sheppard.

Weaver won the first heat race over Sievert, Glynn, Provenzano, and Dauber. Babb claimed the second heat ahead of Unzicker, Sullivan, White and Dan Schlieper. Heckanast took the third heat contest over Walden, Miller, Sheppard, and Erb. Bell charged hard to win the C Main over transfer positions Van Wormer and Pete Parker. Provisional starters were Scott Schmitt, Nathan Balensiefen, Scott James, Mike Spatola, and Keith Piano.



UMP Open Wheel Modified’s:
Twenty two UMP Open Wheel Modified drivers showed up for the $1,000 special. Ray Bollinger outran Allen Weisser, Butch Weisser, Donovan Lodge and Jeff Larson for the first heat race win. Nick Allen won the second heat in front of Mike Harrison, Jeff Curl, Jay Ledford, Dave Porth and Ryan Thomas.

Bollinger and Harrison started side by side on the feature grid’s front row. Their crusade went on lap after lap until the sixteenth circuit when Harrison made one final move to the lead. Just like the Late Model main, Lap 16 was the last lead change. Harrison managed to distance himself leaving Bollinger in second until the final lap was scored. Butch Weisser took third over Curl, Ledford, Allen Weisser, Lodge, Porth, Steven Brooks, Gary Cook Jr., Jeff Larson, Nick Allen, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Gremminger, Derick Doerr, Justin McCoy, Mike Marden, Austin Hewitt, Tom Knippenberg, Jason Kolbe, Kevin Hughes, and McKay Wenger.

UMP Street Stock’s:
The UMP Street Stock drivers ran an impressive race with a caution free feature. Tim Provenzano won their main ahead of Joel Funk, Steve Lewis, Mike McKinney, Andrew Funk, Rick Thomas, Roger Rickels, Jake Miller, Jamie Balensiefen, Aaron Near, Randy Lucas, Keith Lucas, Ryan Weistart, Justin Hamm, Nick Sell and Steve Schwemlein.

Provenzano and Lewis won the heat races.


UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets:
Allen Provenzano’s domination of the Hornet division continued with another feature victory to add to his stellar season. Jeff Seitz gave it his all to steal the thunder but Allen managed to hold on for another victory. Seitz finished second in front of Phil Burdette, Matt Musgrave, JR Brown, Zach Bollinger, Jerry Legner, Rick Wagner, Freddie Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Mark Sutton, Aaron Sutton, Mike Gossett, Rick Zifko, Andrew Schwarko, and Jon Provenzano.


La Salle Speedway Results 7/13/11

UMP DIRTcar Summernational’s Late Models: 29 Cars
Qualifying: Donny Walden
Heat 1: Kevin Weaver, Bret Seivert, Mike Glynn, Mike Provenzano, Ryan Dauber, Rich Bell, Jason Jaggers, Lake Knutti, Scott James
Heat 2: Shannon Babb, Ryan Unzicker, Jack Sullivain, Dillon White, Dan Schlieper, Jeep VanWormer, Pete Parker, Keith Piano, Craig Vosbergen, Jeff Larson
Heat 3: Frank Heckanast Jr., Donny Walden, Matt Miller, Brandon Sheppard, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Nathan Balensiefen, Matt Furman, Scott Schmitt
C Main: Rich Bell, Jeep VanWormer, Pete Parker, Scott Schmitt, Nathan Balensiefen, Jason Jaggers, Matt Furman, Doug Drown, Craig Vosbergen, Lake Knutti, Jeff Larson, Keith Piano, Mike Spatola, Scott James
Feature: Shannon Babb, Kevin Weaver, Matt Miller, Frank Heckanast Jr., Jack Sullivan, Ryan Unzicker, Bret Sievert, Donny Walden, Ryan Dauber, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Mike Provenzano, Dillon White, Rich Bell, Jeep Van Wormer, Brandon Sheppard, Nathan Balensiefen, Scott Schmitt, Mike Glynn, Pete Parker, Dan Schlieper

UMP Modifieds: 22 Cars
Heat 1: Ray Bollinger, Allen Weisser, Butch Weisser, Donovan Lodge, Jeff Larson, Austin Hewitt, Derrick Doerr, Steven Brooks, Kevin Hughes, Jason Kolbe
Heat 2: Nick Allen, Mike Harrison, Jeff Curle, Jay Ledford, Dave Porth, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Gremminger, Tom Knippenberg, Mike Marden, Justin McCoy, McKay Wenger, Gary Cook Jr.
Feature: Mike Harrison, Ray Bolinger, Butch Weisser, Jeff Curl, Jay Ledford, Allen Weisser, Donovan Lodge, Dave Porth, Steven Brooks, Gary Cook Jr., Jeff Larson, Nick Allen, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Gremminger, Derick Doerr, Justin McCoy, Mike Marden, Austin Hewitt, Tom Knippenberg, Jason Kolbe, Kevin Hughes, McKay Wenger

UMP Street Stocks: 16 Cars
Heat 1: Tim Provenzano, Roger Rickels, Joel Funk, Jamie Balensiefen
Heat 2: Steve Lewis, Mike McKinney, Rick Thomas, Nick Sell
Feature: Tim Provenzano, Joel Funk, Steve Lewis, Mike McKinney, Andrew Funk, Rick Thomas, Roger Rickels, Jake Miller, Jamie Balensiefen, Aaron Near, Randy Lucas, Keith Lucas, Ryan Weistart, Justin Hamm, Nick Sell, Steve Schwemlein

UMP 4 Cylinder Hornets: 16 Cars
Heat 1: Jeff Seitz, Rick Zifko, Allen Provenzano, Mike Gossett
Heat 2: Phil Burdette, JR Brown, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Rick Wagner
Feature: Allen Provenzano, Jeff Seitz, Phil Burdette, Matt Musgrave, JR Brown, Zach Bollinger, Jerry Legner, Rick Wagner, Freddie Thatcher, Crystal Provenzano Broyles, Mark Sutton, Mike Gossett, Rick Zifko, Andrew Schwarko, Jon Provenzano

[BettyG]

Thanks!

I usually have more of a play by play so felt bad that I didn't cover enough. Just time consuming and I had an early morning procedure at the hospital

[shoebox]

yes, thanks to betty for posting

[Nasty55]

Thanks!

I usually have more of a play by play so felt bad that I didn't cover enough. Just time consuming and I had an early morning procedure at the hospital

Betty no need to feel bad ..... You always do a wonderful job !!!!!