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Paul Bayne
KANKAKEE, Ill. (May 14) - To describe what took place at Kankakee County Speedway Friday night in just one word would be difficult at best, but the word on most fans mind following the 60th season opener at the 1/3-mile fairgrounds oval was INCREDIBLE. A stuffed grandstand of fans turned out in full force for Autograph Night, as promoter Tom Smith and his entire staff picked up right where they left off last year. "We're definitely riding a bit of a high right now with everything that has taken place here since the final checkered flag of 2009," said Smith. "It's all about bringing a community back together and offering them affordable entertainment that the whole family can enjoy", he added.
Better than 100 cars in four divisions filed into the pits as fans were treated to a race program that the KCS staff kept moving at a swift pace and provided some nail biting side by side action in nearly every division.
Picking up feature wins on the night were Nick Allen and Jay Hamilton in UMP Modifieds and UMP Stock Cars respectively. Both drivers picked up right where they left off in 2009, having scored big wins during the Fall Harvest Classic last October. Meanwhile, defending I-Mod champion Mike Kingma served notice that he doesn't intend to vacate the top spot anytime soon as he held off Adam Williams to record the win. Two-time UMP Late Model Teddy Loomis of Kingston won a controversial battle after he and two-time defending champion Mike Provenzano tangled in turn one with just 11 laps to go. Provenzano had led every lap up to that point, but contact made between the two coming off of turn four, led to the mishap in turn one. Provenzano, who was sent to the rear and obviously upset, retaliated on Loomis by taking a shot at Loomis under caution as the crowd roared the vindication. This warrants a watchful eye by race fans over the next several weeks as the duo will surely be battling for the top spot throughout the season.
The 25-lap UMP Late Model feature was packed full of action and in a few instances some fireworks as well. Outside pole sitter and two-time defending track champion Mike Provenzano was able to hustle to the point at the drop of the green flag, pursued by Rich Bell, Jay Morris, Ted Loomis and Aaron Ricketts. With 11 laps remaining, and Loomis charging alongside Provenzano, the duo made slight contact coming off of turn four heading down the front stretch. However, entering turn one, it appeared that Provenzano may have gotten loose as he entered turn one and Loomis made slight contact but enough to send Provenzano on around bringing out the rarely seen yellow flag during the night. Provenzano was not particularly happen with what transpired, nor the decision to send him to the tail of the field for the restart, so Provenzano pulled alongside Loomis in turn three and left a message loud and clear for Loomis as he slammed into the side of Loomis' car. The near capacity crowd roared, for who is unknown, but you can be sure this rivalry in the making is far from over. Loomis would go on to score the win and climb the hill of the new Lane Automotive / Allstar Performance victory lane to the delight of the fans, but just behind him was a terrific battle by Brian Rickey and Frank Heckenast Sr.. Heckenast would edge Rickey for the second spot, while Bell and Jim Moon rounded out the top five. Moon was equally impressive in piloting his crate car to a top five finish. With the top five finishes, these drivers will be locked into May 28th's feature. Gary Schalmo, Kyle Madison, fast qualifier Jay Morris, Mike Fryer, and John Quill completed the top ten rundown.
Heat race wins went to Rickey, Fryer, and Bell, while Mitchell Lankford captured the consi win.
Official Summary of Results, May 14th
UMP Late Models (25 cars)
Heat 1
1. 27 Brian Rickey 2. 14 Kerry Mathew 3. 92 Dick Potts 4. 7T Steve Thorsten 5. 39x Mitchell Lankford 6. 23M Kyle Madison 7. 02 Joe Fratt 8. 60th John Nutley 9. 111 Bill Reiniche
Heat 2
1. 5M Mike Fryer 2. 99SR Frank Heckenast Sr. 3. 1M Jim Moon 4. 39 Kenny Carmichael 5. 14 Glen Thompson 6. J7 Jeff Miller 7. 79 Keaton Lafoon 8. 10 Scott Schmitt
Heat 3 (Lock 8)
1. 21B Rich Bell 2. M27 Mike Provenzano 3. 77M Jay Morris 4. 23 Ted Loomis 5. 24 John Quill 6. 05 Gary Schalmo 7. 45 Zack Busch 8. 95 Aaron Ricketts
Late Model Consi
1. 39x Mitchell Lankford 2. 10 Scott Schmitt 3. 23M Kyle Madison 4. 14 Glen Thompson 5. J7 Jeff Miller 6. 02 Joe Fratt 7. 60th John Nutley 8. 79 Keaton Lafoon 9. 111 Bill Reiniche
Feature (25-laps)
1. 23 Ted Loomis
2. 99SR Frank Heckenast Sr.
3. 27 Brian Rickey
4. 21B Rich Bell
5. 1M Jim Moon
6. 05 Gary Schalmo
7. 23M Kyle Madison
8. 77M Jay Morris
9. 5M Mike Fryer
10. 24 John Quill
11. 39x Mitchell Lankford
12. 60th John Nutley
13. 7T Steve Thorsten
14. 39 Kenny Carmichael
15. M27 Mike Provenzano
16. 10 Scott Schmitt
17. 14 Glen Thompson
18. 95 Aaron Ricketts
19. 92 Dick Potts
20. 14 Kerry Mathew
21. 45 Zack Busch
UMP Modifieds (32 cars)
Heat 1 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 21A Nick Allen 2. 35 Jason Hastings 3. 36 Kevin Hastings 4. 10 Shawn Scripter 5. 24R Jim Ransom 6. 66 Phil Line 7. 57 Mark Grosvenor 8. 28T Dane Tilstra
Heat 2 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 52 Mike Porth 2. 22N Lake Nichoalds 3. 70 Vince Cooper 4. 36 Jamie Lomax 5. 01 Don Kiger 6. 06 Ryan Kortge 7. 98 Rich King 8. 5J Jeremy Johnson
Heat 3 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 68 Matt Bachman 2. 25 Dave Porth 3. 61 Jammie Wilson 4. 67 Chris Gaither 5. 0 Travis Kohler 6. 7 Jason Klopp 7. 22 Allen Line 8. 12x Tom Pasek
Heat 4 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 69 Jim Farris 2. 130 Chad Osterhoff 3. 20 AJ Dixon 4. 21JR Justin McCoy 5. 4M Mike Marden 6. 05 Steven Brooks 7. 4 Kevin Davis 8. 14 Tom Knippenberg
Mod Consi 1 (top 2 to A Main)
1. 0 Travis Kohler 2. 66 Phil Line 3. 24R Jim Ransom 4. 57 Mark Grosvenor 5. 7 Jason Klopp 6. 22 Allen Line 7. 12x Tom Pasek 8. 28T Dane Tilstra Mod Consi 2 (top 2 to A Main)
1. 01 Don Kiger 2. 4M Mike Marden 3. 5J Jeremy Johnson 4. 14 Tom Knippenberg 5. 05 Steven Brooks 6. 98 Rich King 7. 06 Ryan Kortge 8. 4 Kevin Davis
Feature (20-laps)
1. 21A Nick Allen
2. 69 Jim Farris
3. 130 Chad Osterhoff
4. 68 Matt Bachman
5. 35 Jason Hastings
6. 25 Dave Porth
7. 36 Kevin Hastings
8. 61 Jammie Wilson
9. 21JR Justin McCoy
10. 66 Phil Line
11. 01 Don Kiger
12. 36L Jamie Lomax
13. 0 Travis Kohler
14. 20 AJ Dixon
15. 10 Shawn Scripter
16. 67 Chris Gaither
17. 4M Mike Marden
18. 22N Lake Nichoalds
19. 70 Vince Cooper
20. 52 Mike Porth
I-Mods (12 cars)
Heat 1
1. 77 Mike Kingma 2. 9 Josh Cooley 3. 14 Adam Williams 4. 88 Neil Martin 5. V17 Manny Vallejo 6. 444 Chris Fortner 7. 18 Ryen Johnson 8. 98 Mike Heckenast 9. 3 James Barkus 10. 15 Brandon Williams 11. 89 Rich Gynn
12. 70 Dale Vanderoa
Feature (15-laps)
1. 77 Mike Kingma 2. 14 Adam Williams 3. 9 Josh Cooley 4. V17 Manny Vallejo 5. 444 Chris Fortner 6. 89 Rich Gynn 7. 3 James Barkus 8. 18 Ryen Johnson 9. 98 Mike Heckenast 10. 15 Brandon Williams 11. 70 Dale Vanderoa 12. 88 Neil Martin
UMP Stock Cars (35 Cars)
Heat 1 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 99K Jerrad Krick
2. 6 Jay Hamilton
3. J01 Joe Hillman
4. 12 Bill Stevenson
5. 64 Chris Richardson
6.70 Wayne Huffman
7. 00 Justin Witthoft
8. 68 J Thompson
9.96 Joe Malone
Heat 2 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 23T Rick Thomas
2. 16 Robert Turner
3. 5D Ron Donaldson
4. 43 Dustin Hubert
5. 92 Jeff Riley
6. 118 Axle Wicker
7. 36 Brian Keen
8. 28 ??? - No Start
Heat 3 (top 4 to A Main)
1. B9 Joe Brown
2. V37 Nick Montalta
3. V27 Don Hilleary
4. 77 Jesse Gaylord
5. 1W Brian Wirtz
6. 67 Shaun Wiltjer
7. 2T Joe Tolliver
8. 33G Katie Gaus
9. 22 Jinger Bennett
Heat 4 (top 4 to A Main)
1. 23JR Andrew Funk
2. 10 Lon Franks
3. 21M Ben Maxson
4. 21K Darrin Kohler
5. 18 David Billingsley
6. 23 Tony Hemp
7. 70 Ken Bushey
8. 55 Billy Wicker - No Start
Consi 1 (top 2 to A Main)
1. 1W Brian Wirtz
2. 70 Wayne Huffman
3. 68 J Thompson
4. 64 Chris Richardson
5. 2T Joe Tolliver
6. 33G Katie Gaus
7. 67 Shaun Wiltjer
8. 00 Justin Witthoft
9. 96 Joe Malone
Consi 2 (top 2 to A Main)
1. 92 Jeff Riley
2. 118 Axle Wicker
3. 23 Tony Hemp
4. 22 Jinger Bennett
5. 36 Brian Keen
6. 18 David Billingsley
7. 70 Ken Bushey
8. 28 ??? - No Start
9. 55 Billy Wicker - No Start
Feature (15-laps)
1. 6 Jay Hamilton
2. 99K Jerrad Krick
3. 5D Ron Donaldson
4. 23T Rick Thomas
5. V27 Don Hilleary
6. 23JR Andrew Funk
7. 16 Robert Turner
8. 10 lon Franks
9. 43 Dustin Hubert
10. 21K Darrin Kohler
11. J01 Joe Hillman
12. 1W Brian Wirtz
13. 92 Jeff Riley
14. 118 Axle Wicker
15. 77 Jesse Gaylord
16. V37 Nick Montalta
17. B9 Joe Brown
18. 21M Ben Maxson
19. 12 Bill Stevenson
20. 70 Wayne Huffman
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