UMP: Feger's Trouble Gives
Unzicker The Double
By: Eric Huenefeld,
Jeff Adams, Rocky Ragusa (Mike Ruefer photo)
PEORIA, Ill. - April 3. Just when you thought you had it all figured out Sunday night at Peoria Speedway, the
whole script changed. Quickly.
Ask Jason Feger. Or Ryan Unzicker.
After setting fast time, then struggling in his heat, Feger made quick moves to the front and looked to be in
position to capture his second straight "Don Bohlander Tribute" race . All night long, El Paso, Ill.'s
Unzicker, who had been having a great weekend on the bullrings of South-Central Illinois, seemed to be close -
but not close enough - to accomplishing something he had been trying to do for the last few
years, beat Jason Feger in a big race at Peoria Speedway.
Ryan Unzicker battled hard for Sunday's UMP win at Peoria, but it took a little luck
in the form of Jason Feger's broken axle to help the El Paso, Ill. ace to finish the
job. (Mike Ruefer)
Brian Diveley, who raced as a high second early on, gives way to an advancing #11 of
Ryan Unzicker, who went on to win the event when leader Jason Feger broke an axle. (Mike Ruefer)
But a broken axle on Lap 38 of the 50-lap main dashed Feger's hopes for victory and suddenly placed Unzicker in
the driver's seat for a payday, his second of the weekend after taking top honors the previous night at Macon
Speedway. This all following his fourth place finish Friday at Belle-Clair Speedway.
“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”
Jason Feger moves under #89 Mike Spatola, who would ultimately back into second for his best career Late Model finish. (Mike Ruefer)
When the 20-car starting field took the green flag, they were led by Fairbury's Wes Steidinger. Steidinger,
driving the red number 94 for Reikert Racing, pounced to the early lead and rode the highline to a straightaway
advantage over Springfield's Brian Diveley. Behind the two leaders, it was Unzicker and Feger working the field
seemingly hand-in-hand. Unzicker moved forward on the high line as Feger made moved to the bottom side. By
lap six, the duo had moved from their fourth row starting spots into to a hotly-contested battle for third with
each other. Feger took the spot and jump to his patented high groove and begin to pressure Diveley.
Steidinger looked strong and led until a lap nine caution for a spin involving Scott Schmitt and Frank
Heckenast, Jr. slowed the field. The seventh starting Feger had driven in to the second spot, and
immediately challenged Steidinger on the high side of the track on the double-file restart. Steidinger
held the lead down the backstretch, but his car pushed in turn three and allowed Feger to breeze into
the lead and walk away from the field in the races middle stages as Steidinger fell off the pace
with brake problems and soon retired his car to turn second place over to Unzicker. At that point,
Feger held a straightaway lead.
Rodney Melvin races by #40 Charley Hess and #5 Brandon Sheppard on his way to fourth
place at Peoria. (Mike
Ruefer)
As the front two powered ahead, the battle for third on back was wide open and intense. First year Late
Model driver Mike Spatola, who had dropped from his fourth place starting post, jumped back into
contention and found himself in third by lap 21. Behind him, Rodney Melvin was riding the high groove and
making his case for the top five. Melvin overtook Diveley for fourth on lap 24, at the same time leaders Feger
and Unzicker would approach lapped traffic. Unzicker erased Feger's large lead to merely a corner difference
before Feger jumped out of the crowd and pulled away with 15 to go. Just as it seemed the race's final chapter
was written, the yellow flag flew with 12 to go for Donny Walden's spun racer. A race that seemingly was ending
was only beginning.
On the restart, Feger jumped to the lead over Unzicker and Spatola, but only a lap later, a broken axle
crippled the 25 car and Fegers chance at victory. This brought out the yellow and handed the lead to Unzicker.
A final caution on lap 42 gave first year late model driver, Spatola, a chance to take the lead,
but Unzicker pulled away after the caution. Spatola managed to close up at the end, but Unzicker held him
off for the $4,000 victory.
Billy Drake returned to action in a Neltner Racing #75 to capture fifth, while #3
Brian Shirley entered through a B-Main and advanance to third. Early leader Wes Steidinger (#94) led nine laps
of the affair before retiring his mount to handling problems. (Mike Ruefer)
A spirited battle for third had broken out over the final 12 laps, as Chatham's Brian Shirley overcame a rough
start to the evening and found himself in the top five. Shirley, who started 15th after advancing through the B
Main, would top the tussle for third, followed by Melvin. Bloomington's Billy Drake, driving the famed #75 car
for the Neltner Family, also made a hard charge, moving from 14th to fifth.
Unzicker had bolted four hard tires on his Mastersbilt 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. “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.”
Don Bohlander is a 6 time Peoria Speedway track champion and winner of 6 Illinois State
championship races. He will be inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame this fall in
Florence, Kentucky.
Tim Lance, #5 Brandon Sheppard, and #T2 Todd Bennett mix it up at Peoria
Speedway. (Mike Ruefer)
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Big Gains for Hubbard, Pearson, Ogle - The A-Team Has Been Updated 05-15-12
Scott James battles #13 Barry Doss in heat race action at Florence (Ky.) Speedway, but in the $2,000-to-win feature, the only thing anyone saw was the tail end of James' #81 car. (Roy Walker)
After plenty of trash-talking via the electronic media between Jeff Matthews and Ivedent Lloyd last week, it was #21 Lloyd who got the final word as he reeled in #33 Matthews to win Friday's LM feature at Oclala, Fla.'s Bubba Raceway Park. (R.E. Wing)
Fans at Markleysburg, Pa.'s Roaring Knob Motorsports Comlex were treated to dual LM features Saturday - one a makeup from a May 5th rainout. (Above) Tim Senic challenges eventual regular feature winner Chuck Harper, while Jared Hawkins (below) claimed the makeup race. (Tommy Micheals)
Henley, Missouri's Jason Russell leads the way to Victory Lane in the ULMS Late Model feature at Lucas Oil Speedway Saturday. (Chris Bork)
Some fierce racing action at Lucas Oil speedway. (Chris Bork)
Dalton, Ga.'s Craig Reece returned to Dixie Speedway Saturday and led all the way to win the Crate LM victory. (Steve Hixson)
Ray Guss Jr. races last week's Quad City Speedway winner, Mike Murphy, Jr. This time, it was advantage Guss. (Chris Damitz)
With a strong motor back into his mount, Veteran Lamar Scoggins claimed last Friday's Crate LM victory at Boyd's Speedway. (Steve Hixson)
Veteran racer Lance Matthees navigates Spring Lake, Minnesota's Deer Creek Speedway before taking Saturday's WISSOTA Late Model checkers. (Jason Durst)
Racing hard at mid-pack, it's the dueling 55s of Cory Mahder (inside) and Greg Nippoldt at Deer Creek. (Jason Durst)
Ryan King (above and below) swept both the Ltd. Late Model and Crate Late Model features Saturday at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. (Chad Wells)
Still riding his wave in Iowa, Mike Murphy, Jr. in early action before taking the main event win at Davenport last Friday. (Chris Damitz)
Jason Jameson ran a gauntlet to finally capture another win Friday night at Moler
Raceway Park (see main page). (Roy
Walker)
After holding back a charge from Alex Ferree, Chub Frank drove home with a Friday night win at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (John Stivason)
Bobby Pierce, Brett Sievert, and Mike Glynn race in a tight pack in Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway's "Crosstown Cup", but (below) it was ultimately Shawn Toczek (42) here racing the high side of Mike Provenzano, who sailed to the win. (Dan Simpson)
NALMS Suspends Remaining Season
In a statement released to the racing media Monday, Northern All All Stars Late Model Series (NALMS) owners Shawn Hall and Bob Mooney relased the following statement:
To all NALMS drivers and fans,
Northern Allstars Late Model Series regrets to inform all of our drivers and fans that as of today (May 14, 2012) we will suspend all series races for the remaining 2012 season. The primary reason for the decision to discontinue the series was mainly economics. Tracks, teams and fans are having a hard time these days with the cost of living in general. With the cost of fuel, parts, tires, tickets and lodging, many people just cannot afford to travel to our shows, so we feel it's best to stop for now and try to regroup for the 2013 season.
Our series needs to be able to have at least 18 to 20 shows to cover our cost of putting on these shows and our drivers point funds. With many tracks cutting back on their special events and other tracks just choosing not to have specials at all, it's has really cut our options for race tracks down to a very few unless you are willing to travel several hours away from the Central Illinois area, and that is not cost effective for the racing teams or fans.
In closing we would like to thank all of the drivers and fans whom have supported the series over the years and we hope to be able to come back with a bigger and better season for everyone in 2013.
A-Team Leaders from 1997-2011 (Click on link for complete rundown)
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