Steve Lance, Jr. made two appearances in Victory Lane at Peoria Speedway. (Rocky Ragusa)

UMP: Lance Doubles Up in Peoria "Spring Fling"

Jeff Adams

PEORIA, Ill. - May 30. Steve Lance, Jr. had twice the fun at Peoria Speedway Monday, charging to victories in both the Crate and UMP Super Late Model divisions. Lance pocketed $3,000 for the two wins in the Chuck Barnes-promoted “Spring Fling”, which had been rained out Sunday.

Lance dominated the Crate Late Model race, leading flag-to-flag in a two-race old C.J. Rayburn car. Lance used the race as a test session for the Super Late Model feature, trying out the high side while leading eventual Crate runner-up Evan Fink. Lance tested the top of the track on a night where the bottom was the preferred line, and the move paid off.

Kevin Weaver and #94 Wes Steidinger race door to door before finishing fourth and sixth, respectively, at Peoria. (Rich Edwards Jr)

14 year-old Bobby Pierce, who picked up his first career win at Peoria on May 7th, out-gunned Jason Feger at the start of the 40 lap UMP Super Late Model feature. Feger tried several different lines, and challenged Pierce in lapped traffic on lap 11. On lap 13, the duo split a lapped car coming out of turn two, and tried the same manuver on John Gardner in turn three. Pierce went to the top and Feger dove under Gardner out of turn four, but Feger drove over the rear wheel of Gardner and his car rode on two wheels on top of Gardner as they crossed the start-finish line. Feger got unhooked in turn two, and was scored in first as the caution flew for Jason Weyeneth.

Steve Lance, Jr. swept both the Super Late Model and Crate Late Model portions of Monday's "Spring Fling" at Peoria Speedway. (Darrel Unzel)

On the lap 13 restart, Lance made use of the double-file re-starts and drove to the outside of Feger in turns three and four to take the lead going down the backstretch. Two more cautions could not slow Lance, who held off Feger, Pierce, Kevin Weaver and Tim Lance for the $2,000 win.

“It's nice to have two good cars”, said Lance in victory lane. “Any time you can beat Jason, that's pretty good. He won a big race last night at Granite City, so we are happy to get two wins tonight.”

May 30 - Peoria Speedway UMP 1) Steve Lance, Jr., 2) Jason Feger, 3) Bobby Pierce, 4) Kevin Weaver, 5) Tim Lance, 6) Wes Steidinger, 7) Scott Schmitt, 8) Billy Drake, 9) Todd Bennett, 10) Jason Jaggers, 11) Roger Rebholtz, 12) Steve Thorsten, 13) John Gardner, 14) Torrin Mettille, 15) Jim Carmody, 16) Mike Mullvain, 17) Richie Bell, 18) Joseph Hughes, 19) Nathan Balenseifen, 20) Charley Hess, 21) Jay Sparks, 22) Gary Cook, Sr., 23) Carl Feger, 24) Scott Schoener. Fast Time (29 entries): Pierce (12.805); Heat Winners: Pierce, Mullvain, Feger
Rich Edwards photo