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Henja claims USMTS Frostbuster with Rain at Checkers By: Betty Glynn LA SALLE, IL (May 31) - The O’Reilly United States Modified Touring Series topped the venue with a forty lap feature at LaSalle Speedway Saturday night. Dubbed the Frostbuster seemed ironic since the temperatures were warm enough to be considered a summer day and lightning filled the sky in many directions throughout the evening. Twenty one drivers registered for the special paying $2,000 to the victor. There were three heat races lined up based on a draw from sign in. The top twelve drivers in passing points, accumulated in the heat races, were locked into the Holley “A” Main, with the top eight re-drawing for the first through eighth starting positions. The “B” Main set the remaining starting grid positions as all drivers made the big show. Jason Hughes of Westville, Oklahoma stole the first ten lap heat race during the final lap when Minnesota’s Alan Mondus slowed off the final turn. Former LaSalle regular, Bob Pohlman Jr. crossed the line third ahead of last seasons track champ Milo Veloz of Colona. Henja traveled from fourth to first for the second heat race win over Newton’s Chad Kinder. Rich Bell of Sheffield finished third over Ryan Gustin of Iowa and Ray Bollinger of Kewanee. The third and final heat race winner was local racer Vince Cooper of Morris. Kelly Shryock of Iowa and Ron VerBeek battled for second with Shryock stealing second during the last lap. Dereck Ramirez of Oklahoma took the “B” Main checkers over Bollinger, Sheffeld’s Nathan Balensiefen, Donovan Lodge of Moline, Mineral’s Marty Thompson and Colt Mather of Iowa. After an impressive four wide salute with the American Flag proudly flying from each of the Modified’s, Kinder and Hejna took their positions at the front of the Holley “A” Main grid. The second row held VerBeek and Cooper ahead of Shryock and Pohlman. With merely one lap in the books, a caution slowed up the pace. But before that lap was scored, it was Henja quickly taking control of the impressively powerful machines. Henja was on fire and led without contest for much of the race leaving Kinder and Hughes to battle for the runner up position. By Lap 18, Gustin had powered his way up from ninth to the second place running position but a flat tire four laps later sent his challenge pit side. During the twenty fourth circuit, a lapped car and the leader made contact off of the turn four corner opening the door for Hughes. Henja hit the gas hard and narrowly stayed the front man. During Lap 31, Kinder tried a lower line to run but couldn’t get the rhythm he needed to pass Hughes for second. The field was brought back together after a caution but catching Henja was out of the reach for any of the talented Modified stars. With five laps remaining, Mother Nature ended any hopes of one last dance for the lead. Her fury brought a down pour closing out any chance for a showdown at the end of the race. Henja’s victory was the first for the 2008 season. According to the USMTS website the official finish behind Henja was Hughes, Kinder, VanderBeek, Ramirez, Lodge, Shryock, Cooper, Bollinger, Joe Adam of Peru, Veloz, VerBeek, Colt Mather, Doug Curless, and Mark Novorolsky as the only finishers. The Midwestern Late Models competed as well. It took at least four complete restarts and numerous multi car pile ups to end the Midwestern mayhem of twenty five laps. Maple Park’s Ralph Markham out powered the field to claim the win from the pole. Unofficially, Keith Piano crossed the line second from a fifth place start. He and Billy Weistart Jr. put on a great show when the light actually stayed green. The event was a struggle to get in as it had at least as many wrecks as cars. Out of the twenty starters, it was hard to keep track of how many left the track on a hook or with severe damage. Piano and Markham each won the heat races for the class. The official UMP Street Stock feature finish was unavailable at press time. Rick Koltveit won the feature race. La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results USMTS Modified Results (Courtesy of www.USMTS.com) Finish, Car Number, Driver, Hometown, Starting Position ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps): 1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3) 2. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (2) 3. 27p - Bob Pohlman -- Oak Lawn, IL (7) 4. 43 - Milo Veloz -- Colona, IL (1) 5. 83 - Nathan Balensiefen -- Sheffield, IL (4) 6. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (8) 7. 99 - Doug Curless -- Silvis, IL (6) 8. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (5) DNF NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps): 1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (4) 2. 22s - Chad Kinder -- Newton, IL (5) 3. 21b - Rich Bell -- Sheffield, IL (1) 4. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (7) 5. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (3) 6. 4m - Michael Marden -- Monee, IL (6) DNF 7. 75 - Joe Adam -- Peru, IL (2) DNF HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps): 1. 70 - Vince Cooper -- Morris, IL (2) 2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3) 3. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (6) 4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (5) 5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7) 6. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (4) 7. 91 - Mark Novorolsky -- Bolingbrook, IL (1) REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN (15 laps, all advance): 1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1) 2. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (3) 3. 83 - Nathan Balensiefen -- Sheffield, IL (2) 4. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (10) 5. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (4) 6. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (6) 7. 99 - Doug Curless -- Silvis, IL (7) DNF 8. 91 - Mark Novorolsky -- Bolingbrook, IL (9) DNF 9. 75 - Joe Adam -- Peru, IL (8) DNF 10. 4m - Michael Marden -- Monee, IL (5) DNS HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps): 1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2) 2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (8) 3. 22s - Chad Kinder -- Newton, IL (1) 4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (11) 5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (13) 6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (16) 7. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5) 8. 70 - Vince Cooper -- Morris, IL (4) 9. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (14) 10. 75 - Joe Adam -- Peru, IL (21) 11. 43 - Milo Veloz -- Colona, IL (12) 12. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (3) 13. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (18) 14. 99 - Doug Curless -- Silvis, IL (19) 15. 91 - Mark Novorolsky -- Bolingbrook, IL (20) 16. 83 - Nathan Balensiefen -- Sheffield, IL (15) DNF 17. 21b - Rich Bell -- Sheffield, IL (10) DNF 18. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (7) DNF 19. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (17) DNF 20. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (9) DNF 21. 27p - Bob Pohlman -- Oak Lawn, IL (6) DNF 22. 4m - Michael Marden -- Monee, IL (22) DNS (NOTE: Holley “A” Main shortened from 40 to 35 laps due to rain) Midwestern Late Models: Unavailable UMP Street Stocks: Unavailable UMP 4 Cylinders: Unavailable |