Date: 01-11-08 & 01-12-08

Track:  Tulsa Expo Center

Division:  "Open" Midget

Car:  2007 Zero / Esslinger

After getting to know the personality that is Johnny Murdock this fall, I stayed in contact after the Chili Bowl entry lists came out.  Ex-NASCAR driver and journeyman openwheel racer Tyler Walker was entered in one of his unique Zero Motorsports chassis and there was talk on the midget racing forums about him actually having a third

My work did not authorize my vacation time until a heated conversation on Tuesday morning (they had actually decided on Monday…but of coarse, no one could call me so I could make any plans).  It was not until Tuesday night that I was able to start packing and getting ready to leave for Tulsa myself.

Johnny and I ended up talking again Wednesday morning.  Turned out he had sold a couple of his other older cars this fall and had to build new frames from scratch.  He was hard at work attempting to finish them and told me to give him a call when we got close to his new home in St. Louis.  I asked about the car that Tyler was supposed to drive.  He said that one (with a Mopar engine) was not ready either, but HE also said Tyler was not going to be able to make it due to complications from the surgery he was having after injuries in a sprint car wreck this fall.  Of coarse, I mentioned that I had brought my helmet and suit along (a last minute decision I made after realizing I had some room left in the car after loading up a bunch of parts I hoped to sell) and would be interested in helping out anyway that I could-as I intended to set up all my old parts that I had for sale in Johnny’s pit area, anyway.

Once we closed in on St. Louis, I got directions and decided to stop by.  Parts for the engine had just been dropped off and Johnny had his motor builders over to complete their final efforts.  I quickly realized though, that with just the help of his 14 year old son Cole, and-due to the fact that he had just moved up from Texas-the cars were a lot far off from being finished.  If either of them were mine, I would have gave up on getting them completed in time.  Johnny seemed confident that we could get them done.  The one car, with an Esslinger engine, was entered for Johnny on Thursday and the Mopar was for Friday.  He had a few things for me to do while I was there.  I ended up staying about an hour and half, but wanted to get to the track in time for the features.  He said Cole would be available to help him load up after school, so I headed to Tulsa (we got there JUST in time for the B-mains!).

Thursday morning, I met Johnny and Cole outside the Expo center.  I threw some parts in their rig, while we waited for someone to open the frickin door so we can unload.  I helped them get everything out of the trailer and half-way set-up.  We then began the ardouros process of completing both cars AT THE TRACK.  It would have been ok, if we had ALL the parts, but I did get frusturated having to walk around and look for stuff.  I consider myself half-way good at finding what is needed at the track (at least I do not give up easily), but it got tiring after a while.  Anyway, after he fired it off (without bolts in his seat and a leaky fuel line), we-including some last minute help from a couple of younger drivers who ran on Tuesday-finished putting the brakes on the car and waited for the drill battery to charge so we could mount the seat right before his first race.  We did complete the miracle of completing the car in time for Johnny to hot lap!  (Although his results were nothing too spectacular, we pulled off what to me was almost a miracle).

After Johnny’s events OUR (much to my surprise, but appreciation) focus turned towards the Mopar powered car that I was to drive the next day.  We “put a big dent” in the project Thursday night, before they turned the lights out.  We headed back towards the hotel, washed our clothes (did not bring a “work” outfit, as I was not planning on this type of effort), and tried to get to sleep at a half-way decent hour.

Friday morning began much the same.  I HAD to re-arrange the pit area on Thursday and set things up half-way decent.  We went after it ALL day, but as the heat race closed in, Johnny had the idea to “put the number #13 on the…car” (if this leaves you with any questions, please email me for details).  Anyway, I did get to make it out for my first laps around the 1/5 mile track and debut in a Zero chassis.  Unfortunately, it was the heat race. 

The draw put me in first heat with an inside row two starting spot.  The front row, of Austin Mero and Joe Boyles, had trouble getting a clean start on a couple of attempts.  My ride did not want to take off either, but the #25 of Mero struggled on one of the starts, so I stayed in my position.  When we finally did get the green, it again took me sometime to get going.  I quickly realized that the power steering was not working well and that the chassis was set-up too tight (in the haste, we never really checked the ride height blocks and/or changed the stagger from the night before).  The engine was loading up and not really running that well either.  I struggled trying to drive the car and fell to the back of the field.  I did not get lapped though, and due to attrition, we ended up 6th (even though the rear-end cover bolts-that Cole had "tightened" and we failed to check...I do have an excuse for this put will not post here-had all backed out and the car jumped out of gear).

My heat race finish put me on the outside front row of a last chance race.  I double checked some things on the car and Wednesday night’s second place feature finisher, Aaron Fiscus actually came over and helped set some of the fuel settings.  The car ran much better in this race then the heat.  I attempted to ignore the fact that Cup development driver Kevin Swindell was starting directly behind me in his state-of-the-art Mopar powered ride.  The inside front row starter and even second row inside driver Doug McCune, did get the jump on me (the engine was still stumbling slightly but, the front-row grid position did benefit out effort), but I was able to hook the old Esslinger engine up and powered into the first corner.  Although I gained ground, I went in there a lot a faster than I had when the thing was not running so well in the heat, and slipped up and over the virtually non-exsistent cushion.  I was not able to get back on the throttle in time, and the car stumbled and died.  I had to restart in the rear.  We were much better set-up then the heat race (the drier track kind of “came” to the tight set-up on the car).  Actually had a run going on a couple cars that restarted in front of me.  I was trying to run the car towards the high line of the track.  The Zero chassis was getting around the coarse pretty well.  Two time ARDC champ Andy Martin (who was one of the "transfer stars" from 2007) had bobbled in front of me at one point, and I had hope that I could have passed him and the car between us.  About the time I got a rythm going, after making a mistake or two along the way, the car started to run poorly again (we later determined that one of the throttle links had backed out and the car was just running around at idle...thankfully it was not stuck open-again something I had failed to double check).  Martin and another car were involved in a nasty turn two flip, so I was not too dissapointed that we were not close enough to be involved.  I attempted to idle around and hope for more incidents that might have allowed for a transfer, but the car was just running too poorly, so I pulled off.  We ranked 4th.  Swindell had run away with the race.  He and hte second place car transfered.   

Our effort to correctly complete both cars continued in the pit area Friday night and Saturday morning.  Reality and fatigue were setting in.  A crew of three to four more guys would have been very much appreciated.  We did get SOME more help from a few of Johnny's friends that stopped by, but for the most part, many of the pit side visitors were more of a distraction.  So, it was just really Johnny, Cole, Felisha, and I.  Things stayed pretty interesting Saturday.

Johnny was slated for the First I main.  The car he ran, did not allow him to take off from his pole starting spot.  He ended up getting the LR wheel bent on the second attempt (figures, the first start was not that bad for the #0).  

G Main 2:  ...14-year-old Coleman Gulick battled past tee shirt clad veteran Kevin Olson on the eighth lap...2. #4KO Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 3. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #75H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH...7. #1W Paul White, Temple, TX...10. #87 Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA...14. #13 Jason Dull, Mattoon, IL

Date: 01-19-08

Track:  Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, Illionis

Division:  POWRi

Car:  2003 Stealth / Chevy II Fontana

When I first noticed that POWRi scheduled the indoor Winter Series at the DuQouin “mini-magic” mile, my initial concern was that they would get cancelled, like the events that had a couple of years ago.  I also worried that with these races spread out once a month-after the first of the year-that there will not be any time to over-haul the car!  (Like someone holds a gun to my head making me go…).  Anyway, after making it through Ft. Wayne before the New Year, and then getting back from Tulsa in time to finish the trophies I was involved in assembling for the Rockford Speedway’s banquet, I consulted with my mom (who celebrated her 52^nd Birthday today) and got the ok to go. 

My girlfriend Felisha and Eddie Sauer of Fast Eddie’s Lawn Care, were willing to help out (the former foregoing a fun night of "birthday partying" at my sister’s place of employment-the Brehaus in Loves Park, IL-which was a last minute plan).  Felisha and Andy Jones of JJ Precision Grinding, assisted with some maintenance after Ft. Wayne.  After some persuasions, I also was able to acquire some last minute help Friday night from Eddie, buddy Mike Cassatta, Marty Utech, Tom Dull, and my Dad.  After un-sticking the trailer door in the freezing temps, we got everything loaded up by 10:30 p.m. Friday night.

Although Eddie, Felisha, and I did complete the long drive about 1 hour before the end of the pre-race draw, we were too late to get a good pit spot inside the building (although some spots were saved for an elite team) and had to set-up in the “heated” quonset hut-which would have been all right, but instead of doors on each end, there was just tarps hanging in front.  It may have been all of a balming 40 degrees inside!  Since I did not have a full propane tank, Eddie’s heater only last about ½ the night.  Otherwise, all that we had was the electric oil heater for the tank on the side of the car.  The three of us had everything unloaded and ready with plenty of time for the night’s events though.

Hot Laps:  Eddie, who had-thankfully-volunteered his four-wheeler for event, pushed me out onto the neat little track.  It did take some time for the car to fire off in the cold air, after the regular push truck got behind me.  Once it cleared out, everything came up to temps fine.  For my first time on the track, the session went well.  I got stuck behind the #11 of Tyler Reddick, but we felt that we were faster than him.  Although I may have bumped his rear push bar, and we had some close calls, I did not do anything too crazy to try to get around him.  I tried out some different lines on the track.  The car felt really good and very racey (It was even fun puttering around on the bottom!).  The gear ratio in the car felt real good, as the car seemed to take off well and ran around the track pretty good.  I also thought we had the stagger (about 8 inches) good for that practice.   Of coarse, though, I wanted to make some changes after the session, as the track was going to dry up after 75 mini-sprints ran their heat races.

Heat #3:  Much to my surprise, Eddie was willing to participate in the mentioned changes to the car.  I had went in with a “baseline” set-up, but wanted to try some lighter springs in the front end.  We took the 225 lbs spring off the RF and put a 200 on.  Put a 185 on the LF corner.  We also raised the front end.  Then we took about 1 inch of stagger out of the car, bringing it down to about 7 inches.  We managed to draw the third starting spot for the third heat.  The two cars in front of me were none other than Bobby East and Danny Stratton.  I must have got somewhat of a jump on fourth starting Derek King, but he did drive around me once the race got going.  As I tried to figure out how to drive the track, the trio stayed with-in my range.  I drove back underneath King, but the car slipped out from underneath me (unlike some of the other Southern IL tracks I ran last fall, that would hold SOME moisture in the middle of the groove), and I got it side-ways.  At the same time, Stratton looped it up top.  I will say maybe I would have done more to try to recover if it were not for what was going on up there, but I re-lined in the back of the pack (on a previous caution, I argued the pass from King…before a full-lap was complete…to no avail…so I just obliged this time).  After the restart, I was able to power around the outside of J.C. Bland-although it was a pretty fierce battle.  That was as far as I progressed. 1. Bobby East 2. Derek King 3. Danny Stratton 4. Zach Daum 5. Tyler Reddick 6. Jason Dull 7. J.C. Bland

Semi:  With assistance from Felisha, Eddie and I took another inch of stagger out-even though they did actually re-do the track during the lengthly event.  We also tried putting a softer spring on the RF too.  I adjusted the shocks to more of a dry slick track as well (as I had forgot to do-to the fronts anyway-before the heat).  We were slated to start 7^th in this race.  Only the top four cars transferred to the feature.  Although there were only 27 cars, this still meant that there was an 11 car B-main!  The track was still pretty racey and I think we had the set-up better for the B, then in the heat.  In what Eddie deemed the best race he has watched me run, we engaged in fierce battles through-out the event.  I started off again getting stuck behind the #11 of Reddick.  Although I was bombing it around the top pretty good (telling myself that this was nothing compared to Sun Prairie), Reddick was using that line as well, so I went to the bottom.  I managed to tippy-toe it underneath him after a couple of laps, and would have took the position had the caution not come out.  Although Eddie and Felisha were motioning me to go back up top, I did not see them.  When the green came back out, I went back up there and eventually got around Reddick.  After one of the races multiple cautions I (with less then 4 gallons in the tank before the start…we forgot to add any until push off time) I found myself behind fellow BMARA counter-part Buddy Luebke.  On a restart, I dove it under Buddy, and although the track was just as slick-if not more-as in the heat, this time I “just” slid up into his groove.  We banged nerf bars, but I slid up in front of him and had the pass complete.  Unfortunately, the pass was for naught, as the caution again came out, and we were forced back behind him-still short of the transfer spot.  Buddy showed his displeasure under the yellow, but he ended up hitting the re-start cone and had to go to the back.  After that, my battle to “get-in” still continued.  At one point during the race, I may have received assistance from a Johnny Murdock caused caution (His Mopar, the one that I was supposed to race last weekend, was not running well.  He pulled off on the front streach).  While Tony Roney did have a comfortable lead, the white #11 of Garrett Hood, Jeff Davis in an Orange #33, and maybe a couple others, raced pretty hard for most of the race.  At one point in turns three and four, Davis stumbled in front of me.  I did not react quickly enough and I thought for sure that the car was going to stall.  Somehow (must have been geared right), the engine picked up and the car drove away!  I secured the third spot and towards the end of the race, I may have closed in on Hood and Roney.  It was only a 12 lap race though.  I had contemplated going back to the bottom, to shut the door on the cars that I had passed (as it did not seem like the “boys” were hanging it out up top like other drivers I normally race with), but I pretty much stayed toward the top-although I may have cut the middle some…in an effort to slow other progression. 

1. Tony Roney 2. Garrett Hood 3. Jason Dull 4. Tyler Reddick 5. Jeff Davis 6. J.C. Bland 7. Buddy Luebke 8. Steven Weber 9. Johnny Murdock 10. Tyler Robbins 11. Mike Hess

 
From POWRi:  Defending O’Reilly POWRi National Midget Series champion Brad Loyet picked up where he left off Saturday in the first O’Reilly POWRi race of 2008, leading all 30 laps of the first “DuQuoin Winter Series” presented by Broken Bow Records. Loyet led 19 other starters into Turn 1 and never looked back despite a photo finish with Tim Siner to end the evening’s POWRi doubleheader. Siner caught Loyet during the final four laps and tried desperately to perform a slide job on the 20-year-old, but came up .067 seconds short on the temporary sixth-mile indoor facility. Loyet was unchallenged during the opening half of the race, and distanced himself from Siner and Tracy Hines when on Lap 11 he began lapping the tail of the field. While fighting for second, Siner and Hines snaked through the field in attempt to catch Loyet. The first of four caution periods occurred on Lap 19 and three subsequent yellows prior to the checkered flag kept the battle up front close. Siner fought past more lapped traffic on Lap 25 and pulled away from Hines and closer to Loyet. Over the final four laps of the 30-lapper, Siner finally caught Loyet. However, he couldn’t complete a firm pass attempt, and fell just shy of taking the checkered flag first. Hines came home third – only 1.081 seconds behind Loyet – and ahead of Brent Beauchamp and reigning Micro-Sprint champ Dereck King. Beauchamp, Hines, Bobby East and Hud Cone won heat races. Twenty-seven cars made the call to the track. The next “DuQuoin Winter Series” presented by Broken Bow Records race is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16.

April 2008 Blog
 
...Although Jerry Lemke from JAMR got the V-8 engine fired back to life (after it had sat for about a year and a half) and we are only about a good day's worth of work away, Late Model 'car owner' Jim Melvin continues to put off our debut in the local Rockford Speedway headliner class.  With the goal of challenging for Rookie of the Year, I was really looking forward to racing close to home (at a track that I think it only makes sense to compete at-not to mention that our effort would help the car count out).  So, without enough early season interest from Jim, I guess I will be filling up the 'Dully' truck gas tank and hitting the road with 'real' race cars in tow ($4/gallon, 6 mpg...I think this may be worse than drugs)...my focus will then turn to the possible debut of the 'newer' (12+ year old technology) Gearte powered car...It is going to take a lot of effort to put that car back together (Thanks to Joe LaMarca of North State Motors and some help from my uncle, the car is currently in pieces).  After some inspection, we have decided to run the supposedly 'fresh' engine, about as it is.

...As far as the local Late Model program, at this point, I will just plan on trying to run 3-4 Weekly races at Rockford this summer.  I guess that will keep me eligible for RoY in 2009.  We could also run a couple races at some other area tracks, or one of the 'specials' at Rockford.  Although the only thing I really have in it is time, I have not invested much money into it.  We will see how the program works out...I have tried a couple different angles and have done about all that I could do to get the car out this week.  It is not mine though, and Jim has it in his head to not run it the first couple of weeks...My 2008 focus will now all but officially be on the IRS sportsman midget championship.  With that 12 race restricted-midget schedule on both dirt and pavement, any experience I can get back on the harder surface should be beneficial.  Thanks to the help of all those that assist me, we won a heat and feature when the club visited Sun Prairie, WI last summer.  With two return trips up there and an opening weekend event at Rockford upcoming, I am very much looking forward to more success (I just hope the club is headed in the right direction, it should be a pivotal year for them).

...Although Wednesday's Late Model practice session went all right (I was more than a second off of where we need to be, and all of a half second off of where I thought I should be after the day), it only looks like I can get the FIRST part of Saturday's second shift schedule off work...Thanks to the help of my girlfriend Felisha, Joe LaMarca of North State Motors, Bruce Zittleman, and, my Uncle Tom (in the order that they arrived at the shop that day) we did practice Jim Melvin's Late Model last week.  It looks as though the schedules (mental and employment) will work out so that this Saturday I will make my debut in that V-8 stock car class at Rockford Speedway.  Our intentions are to basically just get our feet wet, so I do not expect anything spectacular (it is here that I will post that I really never saw that car do anything 'spectacular', not to mention anything about my driving skill level).  I am optimistic that we could make it through the 'slow' heat (unlike the BMARA, they still have that) though and try to have a respectable run in the feature.  I believe that all Ladies are welcome to the track FREE Saturday night.  With the price of gas and everything else lately, I hope no one passes that up.  Hopefully it will be a nice Spring evening. 
 
...After, and around that effort, my focus will 100% turn to the IRS Sportsman midget opening weekend events at Slinger and Rockford on May 17th and 18th.  I have the Rockford track rented THIS Thursday afternoon.  With some assistance from Tom, preparations on the old JJ Precision Grinding Stealth with the JAMR freshened Chevy II, are continuing.  My list of possible changes to test and tune, grows everyday.  The only thing restricting those opportunities is the normal lack of available parts and the class specific pavement/dirt tires (I find ordering items about the worst thing in racing).
 
...Meanwhile, the 'sissy bars' have been welded to the 'new' Gearte powered frame.  Thanks to brief assistance on car that from Bruce, Joe, my dad, Felisha, my sister, and Andy Jones of JJ Precision Grinding, we have been able to SLOWLY bolt items back onto that car.  My intentions ARE to have that car ready to fire off the morning of Sunday May 18th (I HAVE to have that car ready to run that morning, in case there are any issues the night before-even though I do not plan on 'setting the world on fire' at Slinger...but you never know).
 
...Of coarse, there is always the opening event at Sun Prairie the evening of the 18th!  Although I did pay for the BMARA membership, and have some small interested sponsorship opportunities in that area, I do not believe that the time schedule would allow for my participation in the full night of racing at the prestigious 1/3 mile dirt track.  Now, if any issues arrive during the day at Rockford, there is really no other place that I would want to be other than at that track.  It is most likely my only 'Double Duty' opportunity that weekend.  The 'National' headlining USAC midget class is priced so high it may not at all be worth trying to make the feature with that club or anything.  WITHOUT the cost of pit passes included, which we will already have anyway, it would be more than $100 just to get a car out onto the track.  If all else is going well, I will check into their pay-out though.  I do already have tires mounted for that.  Time will tell.
  
...USE AT WILL
Thanks to the graciousness of Gregg McKarns and the Rockford Speedway Staff, Machesney Park's Jason Dull intends to "hot lap" his Chevy II powered JJ Precision Grinding/JAMR Racing Engines/ Midwest Motorsports Racer's Auction/North State Motors #56 midget race car tonight on the 1/4 mile high banked quarter mile. Jason's efforts will be in attempt to expose the regular Saturday night Rockford Speedway crowd to the excitement of the traditional open wheel racing cars, who will be competing at the long running track next Sunday, May 18th. The National USAC midget series will headline the afternoon card. Jason's focus will be in the supporting Illini Racing Series restricted Sportsman midget club. Last year, Jason claimed preliminary and feature event wins during the series' inaugural visits to the prestigious Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI. Through-out the last four to five seasons, Jason has primarily campaigned in the "national" BMARA division at the dirt track, north east of Madison, WI. Jason has reached victory lane and recorded top three finishes in preliminary "national" midget races.  Previous of that effort, Jason won numerous heats and feature events in the entry level classes at the Rockford Speedway. In addition to the scheduled "hot laps" in the midget tonight, Jason will be making his debut in the Stanley Steemer NASCAR Late Model division. This will be Jason's first start in any of the "premier" classes at the track... 
 

Date: 05-10-08
Track:  Rockford Speedway

Division:  NASCAR Late Model
Car:  Pathfinder/JAMR

Date: 05-17-08

Track: Slinger Super Speedway

Division:  IRS

Car: 2003 Stealth Chevy II

Hot laps:  Even though we were about the last car to show up Dwight Steffan, Joe LaMarca, and I had time to go over the chassis.  The USAC “national” cars practiced multiple times and it rained on and off some.  Dwight and I moved some of the rear spacing around and re-scaled the car.  Meanwhile, my dad got into the car next to us owned by Dan George (who I had raced real hard with last fall at Grundy).  Dan had put together a new car over the winter and had the second one available.  I ran around behind Dan most of the first part of the session.  The car felt like it handled fine, other than a vibration down the straight.  I will mention that mid-session we did get around my dad in the back-up car (I have to also mention that I did not get any satisfaction at all out of that pass).  Anyways, I closed up on Dan towards the end of the practice, but never dived bombed under him to make the pass.  I think this all kind of screwed me up, as I got in the bad habit of running that groove lower then him and less concerned about running a fast line.  Turned 13.6s.  (Another side note, longtime IRS member Doug Orsenske wrecked his #0 in the hot laps and, after some conversation, took over the #82 from my dad.)

Heat:  We changed the front tires and wheels around some.  Also added a little air to the LR tire.  Started on the pole of the “slow” heat (it was lined up inverted points from last year and we only ran a couple of IRS races in 2007).  I got kind of screwed up on the two start attempts.  Beloit’s David Budress was on the outside and it seemed to me like he was trying to wind the car up down the backstretch.  I tried to slow it some but I got taped from behind.  The car pushed real bad after I drove it into the corner wrong and I let David get the jump on me both attempts.  Once we finally got going I settled in behind Budress.  Ran a 12.9 or so, lap.  I did notice that his line was much different then mine, but I saw a lot of tire smoke from him and it seemed like I would gain on him at some points.  The car was kind of pushing because the way I was driving it and I could never get up right behind him.  On the last lap I threw it into turn three harder, but too low, and the thing slid up the track crazy bad.  I had to lock the wheels all the way to the left and lost a bunch of ground.  That opened the door for Loren Crichet to sneak underneath and take second place from me.  Fortunately the track is so wide and banked I was able to drive away from my bonsai move and finished third.

Feature:  I was again slated to start on the pole!  Due to the way that I was driving the car and that it felt tight, we made an air pressure and coil spring adjustment to the RF & LR corners.  I again got off to a poor start and let Joe Knippel (who runs part of the club) and veteran driver Freddie Teer by.  The two experienced IRS/pavement drivers battled hard in front of me while I attempted to figure out how to get around the track.  Joe and Dwight had pointed out some marks for me to watch for.  I worked on my line and got a whole different feeling on the car.  It was a pretty awesome experience to run around the “World’s Fastest Quarter Mile”.  When the two leaders starting lapping cars and battling amoungst eachother, I did close in some a couple of times.  I really had nothing for them though, but do think that I figured out how to get around the track.  The car still had a little vibration and then the notorious “missing” condition picked up.  We believe this is a fuel related issue.  The car just cannot run right all night.  So even though I believe my line was improving, the car was stumbling and I gave up some at the end.  2007 IRS champion Lamont Crichett made a run around me after ½ way.  I gave it all that I really had and hung close at first.  He maintained the “show” position and I settled for a comfortable 4^th.

My goal was to get through the night and be ready for Rockford Sunday Sunday.  I was hoping for a “podium” finish though, but can not be to upset with a top five finish.  We will go over the car, make some more fuel system and chassis changes.  Hopefully we can do better tomarrow.

From IRS:  The Illini Racing Series opened their 17th season by taking part in two out three of the Midget MAYnia races this weekend. The club’s first visit to Slinger Super Speedway got things started quickly - sort of.  The problems weren’t as much with the cars as it was the haulers. Mark Morey lost a water pump on his way up, and the Critchetts’ dually scattered a transmission just 15 miles from home. Luckily the family towing service was able to get both their cars to the track ahead of many teams.  Hot laps almost got by without incident, until the drop of the checkered flag. Doug Orseske bounced of the outside wall heading into turn one, damaging both axles. Ken Dull had hot lapped Dan George’s #82, but gave up the ride to keep Orseske in the points battle. With no spare rear ends available, the Orseske crew chief Brian Dobis, loaded up the damaged car and made the three and a half hour ride home to make repairs. Thanks to Glenn Ohlendorf’s help with parts, Brian and his brother worked through the night and had the car at Rockford the next morning...The night’s activity was twice delayed by rain, but the steep banking and high winds got things back under way with little delay. In fact, the entire program was done by 10 pm.
 
Heat #2 (10 laps): 1. David Budres (#31), 2. Loran Critchett, Jr. (#17), 3. Jason Dull (#56), 4. Dan George (#81), 5. Doug Orseske (#82), 6. Scott Dunning (R)(31) DNF

Feature Race (25 laps): 1. Freddie Teer (#54), 2. Joe Knippel (#33), 3. Lamont Critchett (#44), 4. Jason Dull (#56), 5. Loran Critchett, Jr. (#17), 6. Dan George (#81), 7. Doug Orseske (#82), 8. Scott Dunning (R)(#1) DNF, 9. Mark Morey (#3) DNF, 10. Bob Shreffler (#21S)DNF, 11. Allen Gillis (#39) DNS - fuel management problem.

llini Racing Series presented by Spencer's Jewelry E-Update-Wacky, Wet, Windy, Wild Weekend:  The Illini Racing Series opened their 17th season by taking part in two out three of the Midget MAYnia races this weekend. The club’s first visit to Slinger Super Speedway got things started quickly - sort of.  The problems weren’t as much with the cars as it was the haulers. Mark Morey lost a water pump on his way up, and the Critchetts’ dually scattered a transmission just 15 miles from home. Luckily the family towing service was able to get both their cars to the track ahead of many teams.  Hot laps almost got by without incident, until the drop of the checkered flag. Doug Orseske bounced of the outside wall heading into turn one, damaging both axles. Ken Dull had hot lapped Dan George’s #82, but gave up the ride to keep Orseske in the points battle. With no spare rear ends available, the Orseske crew chief Brian Dobis, loaded up the damaged car and made the three and a half hour ride home to make repairs. Thanks to Glenn Ohlendorf’s help with parts, Brian and his brother worked through the night and had the car at Rockford the next morning...The night’s activity was twice delayed by rain, but the steep banking and high winds got things back under way with little delay. In fact, the entire program was done by 10 pm.
 
Heat #2 (10 laps): 1. David Budres (#31), 2. Loran Critchett, Jr. (#17), 3. Jason Dull (#56), 4. Dan George (#81), 5. Doug Orseske (#82), 6. Scott Dunning (R)(31) DNF

Feature Race (25 laps): 1. Freddie Teer (#54), 2. Joe Knippel (#33), 3. Lamont Critchett (#44), 4. Jason Dull (#56), 5. Loran Critchett, Jr. (#17), 6. Dan George (#81), 7. Doug Orseske (#82), 8. Scott Dunning (R)(#1) DNF, 9. Mark Morey (#3) DNF, 10. Bob Shreffler (#21S)DNF, 11. Allen Gillis (#39) DNS - fuel management problem.

Date: 05-18-08

Track: Rockford Speedway

Division:  IRS

Car: 2003 Stealth Chevy II

Overcast skies, with a stiff breeze must have made Midget Maynia promoter Dan Thiel very nervous about getting people out of the house on Sunday for race three of his series at Rockford. Dan and the STM Promotions crew are to be commended for putting such a great series together, and the Illini group is very grateful to have been a part of it. We had learned late last week that we would have a flagman we all knew and trusted in Dan Carter. When we arrived we learned that the promoter knew how tough a job flagging a long program is, and we would have our own flagman for the support divisions. Any concerns we might have had were unfounded when we learned veteran Bill Shipman would be sharing the flagstand. Two top flight flagmen and both of them put on a great show! An embarrassment of riches. As the pits filled at Rockford Speedway, the Illini Racing Series welcomed another new car and three more new drivers...(Former BMARA driver and 1992 RoY, I think-JD) Dick Kaiser hung a rookie flag on the Dan George #82 for the night, and Eric Nitz climbed into the #31 so David Budres would be sure to make it to Sun Prairie. Scott Koerner had begun to sort out his “new” SESCO 2 x 4 in hot laps when he lost the oil filter heading into turn one, oiling his own tires. Scotty’s stock car experience (and a maybe a little luck) kept the car form driving head on into the boiler plate (?-JD). Koerner was able to get the car repaired in time for the feature. Lamont Critchett and Allen Gillis had another strong night with each winning their heat race. Freddie Teer and Joe Knippel both ran 2nd in their heats. Other points contenders Loran Critchett, Jr. and Jason Dull both took thirds in their heats. Doug Orseske was still sorting out the #0 and ran 5th in the first heat. These seven drivers would seem to be off to a pretty good start in 2008. Then the green flag dropped on the feature event. Turn one on lap one took out five cars and caused two others to retire early. The cars immediately went three and four wide, then it was all tire smoke as drivers locked up their brakes to try to avoid what was going to end up being “the big one”. Allen Gillis’ #39 seemed to get the worst of it, ending up on his lid. Thankfully, no drivers were injured. Joe Knippel would win the shortened feature, with Doug Orseske bringing home his repaired #0 2nd. Loarn Critchett, Jr., Mike Adams, Jr. and Dan George rounded out the top 5. The Wisconsin State Police must have wondered why there was so much traffic between Beloit and north of Madison, with so many teams, fans and officials heading to Angell Park after the show was done at Rockford. A look at the Prairie results will show a bunch of people who were in the pits at Rockford. Another great move by Dan Thiel and STM Promotions to move the times up on Sunday, so people had a chance to make it to another track. What a concept. Take care of the fans, take care of the teams, even take care of the officials. Now if they could just control the weather, they would be the perfect promoters! Next up for the Illini Racing Series is another new track for us, Bureau County Speedway in Princeton, IL next Saturday night (May 24th) on the 1/4 mile dirt track. On Sunday May 25th, the “Flyin’ Illini” will make the trip to our old home, the Grundy County Speedway to share the pits with the American Speed Association.
 
Feature Race (20 laps): Joe Knippel (#33), 2. Doug Orseske (#0), 3. Loran Critchett, Jr. (#17), 4. Mike Adams, Jr. (#21A), 5. Dan George (#81), 6. Dick Kaiser (R)(#82), 7. Scott Dunning, 8. Scott Koerner (4K), 9. Lamont Critchett (#44), 10. Freddie Teer (#54) DNF - flat tire, 11. Jason Dull (#56) DNF - crash, 12. Allen Gillis (#39) DNF - crash, 13. Eddie Sauer (#74) DNF - crash, 14. Eric Nitz (R)(#31) DNF - crash, 15. Charlie Holt (R)(#4H) DNF - crash

Unofficial Drivers Points after 2 races:  1. Joe Knippel, 571; 2. Loran Critchett, Jr., 533; 3. Lamont Critchett,503; 4. Doug Orseske, 474: 7. Dan George, 458; 6. FreddieTeer, 450; 7. Jason Dull, 448; 8. Scott Dunning, 421; 9. David Budres, 263; 10. Mike Adams, Jr., 256; 11. Allen Gillis, 240; Dick Kaiser, 226; 12. Scott Koerner, 203; 13. Mark Morey, 175; 14. Bob Shreffler, 163; 15. Eric Nitz, 155; Charlie Holt, 128; 16. Ken Dull 5.

Date: 05-24-08

Track:  Princeton, IL

Division:  IRS

Car: 2003 Stealth Chevy II

Had to change on the way there.  Bruce & Mindy didn’t get to draw, figured it was the IRS way of paying me back.  I kept calling Bruce on the way down.  He informed me of that and of the fact we were going to miss hot laps.  At the first stop light as we went through the town of Princeton, I asked Joe to jump in the drivers seat so I could start getting changed because “I was not going to go down with out a fight”.  That light turned green so I coasted in to the next one and jumped out.  Joe jumped behind the wheel as soon as that light changed.  With out time to get in the trailer, I just left the top of the truck bed open (thankfully I had bought new shocks to hold that up over the winter).  Joe noticed the sign to the track and took the correct turn, while I changed in the back going down the road at 40 mph.  We made it to the track in time to get our pit passes and unloaded before the first hot lap session was done.  While Bruce, Mindy, and Felisha set the air pressures and helped me strap in the car, Joe dumped oil in the tank.  The track workers actually gave us an extra second to dump one more quart of oil in and set the panard-bar. 

Hot Laps:  Having not been on a dirt track since the end of March, it took me a few laps to figure out how to get around the place-which was oddly D shaped.  I got stuck behind a slower car or two and was apprehensive of going around him on the top.  Once I finally figured it out, I went up to the high side and was able to keep the throttle down somewhat through the corner.  After the events of last Sunday, it felt good.  When we came in, Bruce and I checked the toe.  I had changed the axle after last weekend's debacle and never set that.  It was way toed-in.  I also had not set the front shocks.  We finished setting the pits up and checked the car over before the heat.

Heat:  We only made a few changes to the car and had to start in the back-on the outside.  Because there was not a cushion, I tried to drive the car in through the middle of the track on BOTH starts, to hold off Dick Kaiser on the inside.  I tried to get a run going on the outside, but the field pulled farther away from me then I had expected.  Mid-race Kaiser and another car got together in the middle of one and two.  I had just moved to the bottom, as it seemed that was where the line was at.  Kaiser ended up getting me after the restart.  I spent the remainder of the race chasing down Mike Adams in the red #21.  I tried to get underneath him,  but could not get it done.  Finally I powered back to the top and was able to battle around him at the finish line. 

Heat race #2 (8 laps): 1. Scott Koerner #4K, Joliet, IL, Task Management Chevy Sesco/Bishop; 2. Allen Gillis #39, Westmont, IL, Task Management Illini Focus/White; 3. Dick Kaiser #82, Milwaukee, WI, George Racing Enterprises Scream Focus/Buzzard; 4. Jason Dull #56, Machesney Park, IL, Fontana/Stealth; 5. Mike Adams, Jr. #21A, Rockdale, WI, Albert Racing Enterprises Chevy II/Mislich; 6. Mark Morey #3, Sugar Grove, IL, Knippel/Spencer Illini Focus/White; 7. Scott Dunning #1, Bolingbrook, IL, Knippel/Spencer Illini Focus/Hawk; 8. Dan George #81 DNS

Feature race (20 laps):1. Gillis, 2. Kaiser, 3. Knippel, 4. Orseske, 5. Adams, Jr., 6. Dull, 7. Lamont Critchett, 8. Loran Critchett, Jr., 9. Nitz, 10. Morey, 11. Holt, 12, Koerner, 13. Shilkuski, 14. Krysiak DNS, 15. Dunning DNS, 16. George 

Date: 05-25-08

Track:  Grundy County Speedway  Morris, IL

Division:  IRS

Car: 2003 Stealth Chevy II

Illini Racing Series Race #4, May 25, 2008, Grundy County Speedway, Morris, IL

Heat race #1 (10 laps): 1. Lamont Critchett #44, Chicago Heights, IL, Critchett VW/Stapp, 2. Loran Critchett, Jr. #17, Alsip, IL, Dave Gass VW/Challenger; 3. Joe Knippel #33, Mokena, IL, Knippel/Spencer Quad 4/Buzzard; 4. Doug Orseske #0, Frankfort, IL, Diana Orseske Quad 4/Buzzard; 5. Jason Dull #56, Machesney Park, IL, Fontana/Stealth; 6. Dan George #81, Milwaukee, WI., Scream Focus/Stealth; 7. Mike Adams, Jr. #21A, Rockdale, WI, Albert Racing Enterprises Chevy II/Stealth; 8. Eric Nitz #31, Beloit, WI, Knippel/Spencer Quad 4/Ellis; 9. Scott Koerner #4K, Joliet, IL, Task Management Chevy Sesco/Bishop DNF; 10. Joline Deheve-Slomka, Addison, IL, Deheve Racing Ford 2300/Genenten DNS; 11. Dick Kaiser #82 DNS

Feature race (20 laps): 1. Lamont Critchett, 2. Knippel, 3. Orseske, 4. Dull, 5. Adams, Jr., 6. Loran Critchett, Jr., 7. Nitz, 8. Koerner DNF, 9. George DNF, Slomka DNS, Kaiser DNS.

Illini Racing Series Sportsman Midget Points after 4 races:
1. Joe Knippel #33, 1134; 2. Loran Critchett #17, 1022; 3. Doug Orseske #0, 1015; 4. Lamont Critchett #44, 1006; 5. Jason Dull #56, 970; 6. Mike Adams Jr. #21, 721; 7. Allen Gillis #39, 714; 8. Dan George #81, 661; 9. Scott Koerner #4, 609; 10. Eric Nitz #31, 579; 11. Scott Dunning # 1, 526; 12. Freddy Teer #54, 518; 13. Dick Kaiser #82, 504; 14. Mark Morey #3, 399; 15. Charlie Holt #4, 323; 16. David Budres #31, 263; 17. Eddie Sauer #74, 188; 18. Bob Shreffler #21S,181; 19. Tom Shilkuski #23, 128; 20. Mike Krysiak #7, 120; 21. Ken Dull #82, 5 ; 22. Joline Slomka #95, 5

Date: 06-07-08

Track:  Princeton, IL

Division:  IRS

Car: 2003 Stealth Chevy II

Spencer’s Jewelry Heat #2: Allen Gillis, Westmont, IL #39 Task Management Illini Focus/White; 2. Sean Murphy, Evanston, IL #5 Quad 4/Hawk; 3. Jason Dull, Machesney Park, IL #56 (JJ Precision Grinding Racing) Chevy II/Stealth; 4. Mark Morey, Sugar Grove, IL #3 Morey Enterprises Illini Focus/White; 5. Charlie Holt, Lemont, IL #4H Thompson/Engstrom EcoTech/Stewart; 6. Dick Kaiser, Milwaukee, WI #82 George Racing Enterprises Scream Focus/Buzzard; 7. Tom Shilkuski, Spring Valley, IL #23 Ray Shilkuski Illini Focus/Jack Rich; 8. David Budres, Beloit, WI #31 Knippel/Spencer Quad 4/Ellis.

...Started fourth, alongside Allen Gillis (who won the last IRS feature at the track), and behind Beloit's David Budruss.  The pole car of Mark Morey  held up Gillis and I was able to run with Budress down the straight.  I went into the first corner and thought I turned in too soon.  As Budress stayed on the top, I quickly decided to take advantage of my decision and bomb it into the turn.  I went through the middle of the track and did a slide job.  Budress got in the loose stuff above the "cushion" and wrecked.  Restart, Morey got the jump, I didn't get all the way on his side.  Got into wall.  I thought for sure I was going to flip.  Managed to get it going straight though.      

ADM Real Estate Feature Event (25 laps): 1. Doug Orseske, 2. Joe Knippel, 3. Allen Gillis, 4. Dick Kaiser, 5. Lamont Critchett, 6. Loran Critchett, Jr., 7. Charlie Holt, 8. Mark Morey, 9. Jason Dull, 10. Sean Murphy, 11. Scott Dunning, 12. Scott Koerner, 13. Tom Shilkuski, 14. David Budres

Illini Sportsman Midget Points after 6/7/08: 1. Joe Knippel 1420, 2. Doug Orseske 1300, 3. Lamont Critchett 1276, 4. Loran Critchett 1263, 5. Jason Dull 1195, 6. Allen Gillis 999, 7. Scott Koerner 790, 8. Dick Kaiser 745, 9 Mike Adams Jr. 721,10. Scott Dunning 721, 11. Dan George 661, 12. Mark Morey 625, 13. Eric Nitz 579, 14. Charlie Holt, 548, 15. Freddie Teer 518, 16. David Budres 361, 17. Tom Shilkuski 233, 18. Sean Murphy 226, 19. Eddie Sauer 188, 20. Bob Shreffler 181, 21. Mike Krysiak 120, 22. Ken Dull 5, 23. Jolene Slomka 5.

Date: 06-15-08

Track:  Angell Park

Division:  BMARA

Car:  1999 Stealth/Gearte

Date: 06-23-08

While many of the Sun Prairie regulars got to compete at Knoxville last weekend (I was at work), we had another off-week from racing-due Sunday's rainout at Sun Prairie.  There may still be some bugs to work out of the 'new' car, and I am still tempted to run it around Rockford for a couple laps Saturday.  Thanks to recent help from my dad, uncle Tom, Andy Jones, Bruce Zittleman, and my girlfriend Felisha though, we have attempted to prepare the car as best as possible and also worked to improve some of the appearance.  Hopefully this Sunday night at Sun Prairie, will be a better representation for our primary sponsor JJ Precision Grinding and all the other parties that assist this effort.  If it means anything to anyone, there will be Fireworks after the racing events Sunday night...I have discovered some items that may improve the handling conditions.  On this particular car, chassis builder John Callahan suggests (due to the alignment of the mounting locations) only to run the RF shock in the inner most mounting hole-contrary to it's location in the 'debut' race.  I have also discovered that the Steering gear on the car is KSE's most 'stiffest' valved unit.  My 'old' car with the brand new 'GEN-2' enclosed-low-resistant-reservoir, Steering Gear, was not so physically demanding (at least when I DID get the car to turn).  This 'new' car did take all that I had, at least by feature time, to get around the track.  Now, early in the night, in the few laps that we ran, I did like the way the car felt.  With the way the track was in the feature that night though, I am sending this out so that no one will be surprised if the old, spare steering gear finds it's way into the car soon.  I have attempted to increase my arm work-out program, but I only have so much to start with...Part of the 'off-week' included a stop at the Late Model shop (speaking of cars that are hard to steer).  While that trip was primarily to bend one of the new body panels for the 'new' midget, we did take a moment to start the 8-cylinder engine.  While I am one who doesn't believe in just starting the car to hear it run, we figured that since it has sat since MAY 12TH (!) without turning over, it may not have been a bad idea.  With my Saturday night work schedule possibly opening up, the midget effort officially down to just one engine again, and the Sportsman restricted club's schedule in limbo (of which we still stand 5th in points); maybe I will put more time into that endeavor again.  I will have to say it was pretty cool to just walk in there and hit the starting button and have the thing (a car that is just sitting there, that I could drive whenever it works out) fire right off.  It did not even need a battery charge-or a push truck! 

Date: 06-29-08