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Piano Orchestrates Perfect Win By: Betty Glynn La SALLE, IL (May 10) - Keith Piano charged around the highbanks of the Late Model feature as if he had something to prove. Last week he was leading when a mishap with another driver cost him his first win of the season and it was not ending the same way Saturday night. Twenty drivers filled the starting grid with John Piccatto and Jim Loomis heading the pack. Rolling into their places on the second row was Darin Furar and Piano. Just after the green was signaled, Loomis shot out to a quick lead leaving Piccatto trailing. By the third lap out, sixth place starter Billy Weistart Jr. was putting the pressure on for second with Piano behind him. One lap later, Weistart darted into second in his hunt for the lead. Coming off turn one, in the seventh circuit, Furar hit the infield tires that took up the bottom groove ending his run with the front of the pack. Weistart stayed on the tail of Loomis until he found his opening during Lap 14 when he powered into the lead. Just after taking over, Piano and Loomis started a door to door battle until caution stalled their fight. For the single file restart, Weistart was head of the pack over Loomis, Piano, reigning champ Ralph Markham, Mike Glynn, John Piccatto, Roger Markham and Ed Williams Jr. Quickly after the new start Glynn saw his opening and took the action with Ralph Markham and Loomis into a three wide struggle. Contact between the trio left sheet metal crinkled like sardine cans. Glynn moved into third but only temporarily as Markham charged back with a fury to take over third. After the contact Glynn faded back. With seven laps still un-scored, Piano took command and distanced himself from the pack. “I just wanted the win so bad after what happened the last race,” Piano said with a smile following his victory. “We work so hard and I wanted the win for my entire crew.” Weistart finished an impressive second for the second feature in a row. Ralph Markham stayed in third over Roger Markham, Loomis, Piccatto, Glynn, Ed Williams Sr., Mark Larson, Eric Dauber, Aaron Schmitt, Brian Lock, Ed Williams Jr., Joe Fratt and Dale Markham. Ralph and Loomis each won their heat contests. The UMP Modified show was a strange one for the books. Before a lap could be scored a multi-car pile up brought out the red flag which kept the action halted for quite some time. Once the field re-lined up six cars were missing. Marty Thompson took off from the outside of the front row while the pole sitter Milo Veloz found his groove behind him. Veloz is not a competitor who likes second but he soon learned it was an unpleasant position for reasons he was about to discover. At the end of the first lap, Thompson found himself high in the marbles of turn four and two wheeling giving Veloz the lead briefly. Thompson quickly regained his pace. Five laps later, a plume of thick poignant smoke billowed from the rear of Thompson’s machine. At times it was hard for fans to keep track of the field but for those who trailed it the view must have been skewed while breathing it must have been a struggle. For several laps the flag man waved the black flag at Thompson but he stayed heavy on the gas keeping his position on the track. At one point, he was removed from the leader board showing Veloz as the leader. Just after the change appeared on the scoreboard, the smoke trail may have caused the biggest change of pace. On the ninth circuit, Veloz and a lapped car tangled and stopped off turn four bringing out a caution. Unfortunately for Veloz, he was sent to the tail while Thompson was not told to leave the track but put back on the board as the top runner. He led the single file restart over AJ Dixon, Vince Cooper, Nathan Balensiefen and Donovan Lodge. Again after the signal to start, Thompson hit the gas hard sending smoke fast and furious at his competition. By Lap 18, Thompson was out on his own but the real race was between Cooper, Balensiefen and Lodge as they raced nose to tail for third until the finish. With only one remaining lap, caution stopped the action. Before the field of 8 relined up, Thompson pulled into the infield and out of contention. Dixon claimed the victory. His well deserved visit to victory lane has been a long time in the making and well deserved. Cooper took second in front of Balensiefen, Lodge, Mark Vervynck, Doug Curless, Veloz and Ray Bollinger Cooper and Dixon each claimed the heat race wins. Steve Lewis had a big night in his UMP Street Stock. He led the field of seventeen flag to flag en route to victory lane. Sixth place starter Jimmy Partipilo’s agenda was clearly to move up which the young driver did. By the fourth lap he had positioned himself behind second place runner Mike Stewart. Lewis showcased his talents when he rolled up behind two lapped cars vying for position. With Partipilo hot on his bumper, he charged into a three wide battle while Partipilo joined the dance. Officials spotted sheet metal debris on the track leading to a green-white-checkered showdown. Lewis led the twelve car restart in front of Partipilo, Stewart, Mesarchick and Roger Rickels. The pack finished in the same order but not without a battle for the lead. Lewis and Partipilo even made contact on the final lap but Lewis held strong for the win. Rick Koltveit and Stewart each won their heat races. JR Brown is off to a great start in the UMP Hornets. At the completion of the second feature race of the season, JR Brown holds a perfect score taking his second checkered flag. Ryan Webster captured second in front of Chad Williams, Phil Burdette, Mark Sutton, Asa Robart, Loren Westerhold, Josh Larson, Margus Hoorer, Harold Reiter, Dawn Spellious, Kyle Mitchell, Tony Harlacher, and Don Sims. Next Saturday night, the Lucas Oil Dirt Car Series Spring Shootout paying $10,000 to the victor will top the venue. The UMP Modifieds and Street Stock division will join the Late Model special event. La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 05/10/08 Late Models – 20 Cars Heat One: Ralph Markham, Keith Piano, Roger Markham, Darin Furar Heat Two: Jim Loomis, John Piccatto, Billy Weistart Jr, Mike Glynn Feature: 1. Keith Piano, 2. Billy Weistart Jr., 3. Ralph Markham, 4. Roger Markham, 5. Jim Loomis 6. John Piccatto, 7. Mike Glynn, 8. Ed Williams, 9. Mark Larson, 10. Eric Dauber, 11. Aaron Schmitt, 12. Brian Lock, 13. Ed Williams Jr., 14. Joe Fratt, 15. Dale Markham, 16. Darin Furar, 17. Joe Jelinek, 18. Jeff Small, 19. Jon Small, 20. Timmy Loomis UMP Modifieds 19 Cars Heat One: Vince Cooper, Mio Veloz, Mark Vervynck, Marty Thompson Heat Two: AJ Dixon, Nathan Balensiefen, Bill Theodorf, Bryan Lucas Feature: 1. AJ Dixon, 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Nathan Balensiefen, 4. Donovan Lodge, 5. Mark Vervynck, 6. Doug Curless, 7. Milo Veloz, 8. Ray Bollinger, 9. Marty Thompson, 10. Mike Marden, 11. Bill Theodorf, 12. Ken Fischer, 13. #89, 14. Bryan Lucas, 15. Mark Novorolsky, 16. #17, 17. Don Cole, 18. Scott Hauge UMP Street Stocks 17 Cars Heat One: Rick Koltveit, Jay Mesarchick, Roger Rickels, David McKinney Heat Two: Mike Stewart, Steve Lewis, Justin Rutledge, Jimmy Partipilo Feature: 1. Steve Lewis, 2. Jimmy Partipilo, 3. Mike Stewart, 4. Jay Mesarchick, 5. Roger Rickels, 6. Randy Lucas, 7. Justin Rutledge, 8. G4, 9. Alex Clubb, 10. Mike Hughes, 11. Gabe Koncor, 12. Brian Fenoglo, 13. David McKinney, 14. Kyle Prokup, 15. Phil Briddick, 16. Rick Koltveit, 17. Rob Bond Hornets 15 Cars Heat One: Chad Williams, JR Brown, Asa Robart, Don Simms Heat Two: Mark Sutton, Ryan Webster, Phil Burdette, Harold Reiter Feature: 1. JR Brown, 2. Ryan Webster, 3. Chad Williams, 4. Phil Burdette, 5. Mark Sutton, 6. Asa Robart, 7. Loren Westerhold, 8. Josh Larson, 9. Margus Hoorer, 10. Harold Reiter, 11. Dawn Spellious, 12. Kyle Mitchell, 13. Tony Harlacher, 14. Don Sims |