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2010 KCS SEASON OPENS WITH A BANG
by Paul D. Bayne
KCS Public Relations Director

KANKAKEE, IL (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. 

In the night's first feature event, it was Nick Allen of Wheatfield, IN who picked up right where he left off in 2009 when he closed out the season by picking up the Fall Harvest Classic.  Allen, who started on the pole, survived an early race altercation that sent fellow front row starter Mike Porth hard into the turn one water barrels and ended Vince Copper's night as well.  Nonetheless, Allen wasted little time in showing his dominance as he stretched his lead to a straightaway over Jim Farris of Odell, and Kankakee's own Chad Osterhoff.  Loda's Matt Bachman and Jason Hastings, also of Kankakee, rounded out the top five.  Defending track champion Dave Porth finished sixth followed by Kevin Hastings, Jammie Wilson, Justin McCoy, and Phil Line.  Heat race wins belonged to Allen, Mike Porth, Bachman, and Farris, while Travis Kohler and Don Kiger scored consi wins. 

In I-Mod action, defending track champion Mike Kingma of Lowell, IN was able to sweep both the heat race and feature in a solid debut for his new Buzzard chassis modified.  With only 12 I-Mods in attendance, only one heat race was needed and all cars would transfer into the 15-lap feature.  Kingma jumped out to the lead but was hounded to the stripe by Adam Williams and Josh Cooley.  Manny Vallejo made an impressive debut in the I-Mod division with a fourth place showing followed by veteran driver Chris Fortner.  Rich Gynn, Jim Barkus, Ryen Johnson, Mike Heckenast, and rookie Brandon Williams rounded out the top ten. 

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. 

In the final event of the evening, Jay Hamilton of Bonfield captured the UMP Stock Car feature in perhaps the most thrilling race of the evening as he outclassed 2008 national champion Jerrad Krick, Ron Donaldson (or Mike Diggers), 2009 national champion Rick Thomas, and Don Hilleary.  At times you could have thrown a blanket over any four of those five previously mentioned drivers as they utilized the entire track looking for the fastest way around.  Hamilton was able to slither his way past Krick coming off of turn four up against the wall, with very little room for error, to get past Krick for the lead.  Andrew Funk, who has taken over the 23JR ride previously driven by brother Joel Funk, who has turned his Friday night focus to the asphalt late model world of Grundy Co. Speedway in Morris, turned in a respectable sixth place outing followed by Robert Turner, Lon Franks, Dustin Hubert, and Darrin Kohler.  Heat race triumphs were scored by Krick, Thomas, Joe Brown, and Funk, while Brian Wirtz and Jeff Riley scored consi wins. 

Next Friday night, May 21st, Indy Pic-A-Part presents the first leg of the Land of Lincoln Triple Crown Clash, a 40-lap, $3,000 to win, $300 to start, innovative idea that will bring three of the top regional series together under one banner three times this season at Kankakee.  The Monster Midwest Series, Northern All Stars Late Model Series, and the Sunoco American Late Model Series will feature their very best drivers in an all out battle for supremacy.  As an added bonus drivers will receive $150 in tow money if they fail to qualify for the feature and earn 20 KCS track points as well, which is double the normal amount for a non-qualifier.  

Some of the talented drivers expected to compete include Kevin Weaver, Ryan Unzicker, Joe Harlan, Steve Sheppard Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frank Heckenast Sr., Scott Schmitt, Brian Harris, Tim Lance, Steve Lance Jr., Charlie Hess, Bobby Pierce, Jeep Van Wormer, Brian Ruhlman, Eric Smith, Jon Henry, Casey Noonan, Rusty Schlenk, Daren Friedman, Scott Bull, Derek Chandler, Jimmy Dehm, Donny Walden, Doug Drown, John Provenzano, Mike Provenzano, Mike Mataragus. Ted Loomis, and Aaron Ricketts.

 
Also, race fans will want to arrive early not only to get a good seat, but to listen LIVE to the acclaimed "Tomano & Touhy Show" on The Kat 105.5FM - The Southland's Rock & Roll Animal.

Pit admission for this event is set at $30, while adult general admission is only $15.  No Driver Entry Fee

Payout will be as follows:
1) $3,000  2) $1,500  3) $1,100  4) $900  5) $750  6) $650  7) $550  8) $450  9) $400  10) $350
11) $300  12) $300  13) $300  14) $300  15) $300  16) $300  17) $300  18) $300  19) $300  20) $300

$150 tow money - All Late Models must run qualifying events

20 KCS track points for all non-qualifiers, twice the normal amount