2012 News Articles

“Fast Frankie” Was Just That

Frankie Martin Picks Up First Win In 2012

 

HIGHLAND IL (May 5, 2012) “Fast” Frankie Martin lived up to his moniker this past Saturday night at the Highland Speedway as the driver from DuQuoin Il dominated the Becker Jewelers Super Late Model Division feature event. It was Truck Centers Inc. night at the Speedway.

 

Becker Jewelers Late Model Winner Fast Frankie Martin










BECKER JEWELERS LATE MODELS

   Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter, in the 1S was the pole sitter for the 25 lap main event. Chad Zobrist driving the familiar number 78 sat alongside in the front row. At the drop of the green flag Salter jumped to the point. After two short yellow flags for spins, the race settled in with Salter, Martin, following them was the 6K of Michael Kloos and Zobrist swapping lines on the raceway each trying to find the fastest way around the Speedway. Just past the half way point of the event Martin made his move around the 1S. On lap 20 A caution flag for the 21 of Kerry Gaultney’s rim ride around the wall on turn 4 slowed the pace and Martin’s lead over the field vanished. On the restart it was Martin, Salter, Kloos, and Zobrist. On the drop of the green flag Martin speed out ahead of the pack as Salter and Kloos were fighting for second.

 

 On lap 24 coming out of turn 4 Salter and Kloos were fighting for the same piece of real estate and the ending result had the 1S pointed the wrong way on the front stretch of the Speedway. On the green white checker restart Kloos had nothing for the 25 of “Fast Frankie” as Martin found his way to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane for the first time in this young racing season. Kloos, Zobrist, Matt Weidner, and Steve Leach made up the top five.

 STEVE SCHMITT MODIFIEDS:

The Steve Schmitt Modifieds lined up for their feature event, the first three rows are determined by heat finishes and then the finish of the Dash establishes the final starting positions. While the first three rows held drivers that regularly race at the Highland Speedway, noticeably absent were several past Feature Winners and Track Champions as they were scattered within the balance of the field, setting up for an exciting race.

Darrell Hewlett from Breese IL led the field to the green flag of the 20 lap main event. It was outside pole sitter Tyler Diebert that led the field for the first 8 laps, on lap 9 Brian Bielong driving the Number 70 took the lead but a caution reverted the running order back to the last lap and Diebert was put back up front.

Steve Schmitt Modified Winner, Brian Bielong

It didn’t take Bielong very long to overcome Diebert, as by the time the field returned to the starting line the number 70 was in the lead.On lap 14 the caution once again waved and Bielong’s lead was had vanished. The restart lineup had Bielong on point followed by Diebert, and by then Mike Harrison, Aaron Kleine and Brett Cygan made their way to the front.

For the last 5 laps the battle was between Diebert and Harrison as Bielong checked out, Diebert put up a fight but Harrison managed to get around him to take second place. Diebert finished third Kleine fourth and Cygan fifth.

 





Miller Lite Pro Late Models

Bobby Dauderman, Miller Lite Pro Late Model Winner
Past UMP Champion Bobby “The Undertaker” Dauderman from Alhambra IL led the 20 lap main event from Green to checker, Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter in the USA 1, Bobby “The Italian Stallion” Martintoni, Mark Oller, and Billy Knebel, Jr completed the top five.








Sport Mod

The newest division at the Speedway was the only one that went green to checker. Marty Smith JR returned to the Casey’s General Store Victory Lane for the second time this season. In the Victory lane interview Smith commented that he was only driving the 55 in the Sport Mod class until he gets his new Steve Schmitt

Sport Mod Winner Marty Smith JR
Modified finished, then he said he will turn the driving duties over to his Dad, long time Highland Speedway favorite Marty Smith SR. Brett Page, Rob Lee, Rick Johnson, and Tyler Diebert completes the top five.





Factory Stocks

Due to time restrictions the last time we raced at the Speedway, the Factory Stock

Jake Hewett, Factory Stock Winner
Division didn’t get to run their features event. Their makeup feature started the nights racing affairs. Jake Hewett in the number 6 was ready as he not only captured the makeup feature event but he went on to win his heat race and the feature event for the night, Shaun Hortsmann, Tim Haeffner, T J Eilers, and John Gili were the top five in the night caps main event.














Sport Compacts

Christian Lee found his way into the Casey’s General Store Victory Lane for the first time this season. Last week’s winner Kenny Elliot was second, Bobby

Christian Lee Sport Compact Winner
Funderburk, Rick Viviano, and Kate Smith rounded out the top five.

 

 


Coming Events

May 12, Oberbeck Grain Co Night with Hard Charger Awards given by Oberbeck Grain Co

May 19, Armed Forces Night sponsored by Scott Credit Union

May 26, Veterans Night sponsored by Miller Lite (Give a ways by the Miller Lite girls)

May 31, *Mars vs Northern All Stars Thursday

For more information about the Highland Speedway and the Madison County Fair Association visit their respective web sites: Highland Speedway .com, and Mad Co Fair .com. Also visit their respective Face Book pages.

 

(Photo’s by Photo Billy, used by permission)

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