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Peoria Speedway
PEORIA, Ill. (April 3) - El Paso driver Ryan Unzicker accomplished something Sunday night he had been trying to do for the last few years- beat Jason Feger in a big race at Peoria Speedway by winning the UMP Late Model "Don Bohlander Tribute" 50.
Fairbury driver Wes Steidinger, piloting a Larry Reikert-owned Rayburn, took the lead from his pole starting spot as the gren flag flew over the 20 car field. Steidinger looked strong and led until a lap 9 caution for a spin involving Scott Schmitt and Frank Heckenast, Jr. slowed the field. The 7th-starting Feger had driven in to the 2nd spot, and immediately challenged Steidinger on the high-side of the track on the double-file restart. Feger got a run off turn 2 and dove under Steidinger on lap 11 in turn 3 for the lead. Feger then dominated the middle of the race, driving through lapped traffic for a 4 second lead until a caution flew on lap 38 for Donny Walden re-set the field.
The 8th-starting Unzicker had moved into the runner-up spot utilizing the high line, and was actually closing in on Feger when the caution flew. On the lap 38 restart, Feger broke an axle going into turn 3, handing the lead to Unzicker. Unzicker survived a lap 42 caution and held off Mike Spatola for the $4,000 victory. 15th-starting Brian Shirley finished 3rd, with 10th-starting Rodney Melvin and Billy Drake, who started 12th, completing the top 5.
"I hate that something happened to Jason, I was a little worried when he got in front", said Unzicker in victory lane. "But something happened to him, and we got the lead. He is so tough to beat here, but we will take it"
Unzicker, who won the night before at Macon, had bolted 4 hard tires on his Mastersbuilt Race Car for the 50 lap feature, but had to adjust when the Peoria track crew watered the top side prior to the UMP Modified feature. "We had 4 hard tires on, but when they put that water on top, we put soft tires on all but the right rear and that might have won us the race", said Unzicker. "It's just such an honor to win a race named after one of the greatest drivers off all time in Don Bohlander. This is a special win for us."
Butch Weisser led flag-to-flag in the UMP Modified feature event, holding off Donovan Lodge, Mike Chasteen, Jr. and Brian Lynn for the win. "The track was really slick up top, so we wanted to get a good jump and protect the lead on the bottom and it worked out", said Weisser. Decatur driver Joe Reed drove a 9-year old car to the win in the Hornet division.
Next Saturday night, April 9, will be the first regular UMP program at Peoria Speedway. UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Limited Late Models, UMP Street Stocks and UMP Hornets will be in action.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
UMP LATE MODEL "DON BOHLANDER TRIBUTE 50"
SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011
PEORIA SPEEDWAY, PEORIA, IL
Finish (starting position), car number, driver, hometown
1. (8) 24-Ryan Unzicker, El Paso
2. (4) 89-Mike Spatola, Manhattan
3. (15) 3s- Brian Shirley, Chatham
4. (10) 27-Rodney Melvin, Logan
5. (14) 75-Billy Drake, Bloomington
6. (2) 11d-Brian Diveley, Springfield
7. (13) 48- Tim Lance, Brimfield
8. (9) B5- Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin
9. (11) 1w-Donny Walden, Towanda
10. (16) 99JR-Frank Heckenast, Jr., Orland Park
11. (19) T2- Todd Bennett, Peoria
12. (12) B12-Kevin Weaver, Gibson City
13. (17) 21b- Richie Bell, Sheffield
14. (18) 35-Derek Chandler, Pontiac
15. (7) 25-Jason Feger, Bloomington
16. (6) 32-Bobby Pierce, Oakwood
17. (20) 83x-Nathan Balensiefen, Sheffield.
18. (1) 94-Wes Steidinger, Fairbury
19. (5) 40-Charley Hess, Bartonville
20. (3) 10-Scott Schmitt, Tonica
FAST TIME (31 cars): 25- Jason Feger 12.414
HEAT 1: 1. Spatola 2. Hess 3. Sheppard 4. T Lance 5. Bell 6. Jaggers 7. CJ Van Beveran
HEAT 2: 1. Schmitt 2. Pierce 3. Melvin 4. Shirley 5. Bennett 6. Steve Gardner, Jr. 7.Geno Markham 8. Brandon Thirlby
HEAT 3: 1. Steidinger 2. Feger 3. Walden 4. Heckenast, Jr. 5. Russ Adams 6. Chandler 7. Bob Gardner 8. Gerry Reeder, Jr. (DNS)
HEAT 4: 1. Diveley 2. Unzicker 3.Weaver 4. Drake 5. Jerry Carmody 6. Nathan Balenseifen
SEMI 1: 1. T Lance. 2. Shirley 3. Bell 4.Bennett 5. Markham 6. Thirlby 7. S. Gardner 8. Dick Taylor 9. Jason Jaggers 10. Van Beveran
SEMI 2: 1. Drake 2. Heckenast, Jr. 3. Chandler 4. Balenseifen 5. Carmody 6. B. Gardner 7. Adams
UMP MODIFIED FEATURE
1. 25-Butch Weisser, Bartonville
2. 32x-Donovan Lodge, Moline
3. 40JR- Mike Chasteen, Jr, East Peoria
4. 72- Brian Lynn, Mason City
5. 42-McKay Wenger, Fairbury
6. 2-Eric Bruce, Norwood
7. 32d-Tommy Duncan, Metamora
8. 25w-Allen Weisser, Bartonville
9. C4-Chris Morefield, Edwards
10. 77-Ray Bollinger, Kewanee
11. 59-Johnny Parlier, Peoria
12. 6- Robbie Bauman, Fairview
13. Z1-Zac Odewaldt, Hanna City
14. 89-Noah Faw, Creve Couer
15. 7k- Kenny Egan, Peroria
16. 98-Shawn Vaughn, Loami
17. 555-Chad Goff, Galesburg
18. A9-Austin May, Creve Couer
19. M1-Dale Munson, Fairview
20. 99- Bill Gray, Germantown Hills
HEAT WINNERS: Weisser, Lynn, Gray
SEMI WINNERS: Bruce, Bauman
HORNET FEATURE:
1. 64c-Joe Reed, Decatur.
2. 24-Kenny Butterfield, Peoria
3.k2-Jeremy Kingsley, Peoria
4. 11-Derrick DeFord, Canton
5. 39-UNKNOWN
6. 68m-UNKNOWN
7. 79-Dustin Forbes, Creve Couer
8. C7-Mike Cusack,Sr., Edwards
9. 13-Matt Musgrave, Peoria
10. 18z-Zach Nimmick, Pekin
11. 24b-Craig Boue, Canton
12. D30- Cody Wisher
13. 21-UNKNOWN
14.33k-Jeremy Reed, Decatur
HEAT WINNERS: Reed, Wisher
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