Belle Clair Speedway started on Friday with a good crowd and cars in the pits
by Jack Pugh

BELLE CLAIR, Il. (May 5, 2006) - The second month of racing at Belle Clair Speedway started on Friday with a good crowd and cars in the pits. However, the weather was a bit on the cool side. The action on the track was hot as several races were very tight.

In the UMP Late Model division, there were 17 cars on hand for the night of racing. In the first heat race, Frankie Martin won on his first night at the track this year. He was followed by Kenny Rumble, Mark Voigt, Rick Standridge, Bob Geaschel, Dan Dondero, Brent Kreke, John Paule, and Aaron Kleine. In the second heat, Ed Dixon took the win over Jim Gibson, Don Klein, Mike Hammerle, Dan Jacober, Mike Schulte, Dave Eaves, and Scott Geaschel. The dash went to Dixon followed by Martin, Rumble, Gibson, Klein and Voigt.

The feature started with Rumble and Gibson on the front row. Rumble jumped to the early lead on the dropping of the green flag. Dixon, Gibson and Klein gave chase during the early laps.

The first caution came on the third lap as Eaves, B. Geaschel, S.Geaschel and Jacober got tangled up in turn three. The running order was Rumble, Dixon, Klein, Martin and Gibson in the top five.

With the race back under green, Rumble continued to lead and taking all challenges from Dixon. As the racing continued, the top four cars remained the same. Fifth place would change a few time.

Caution came on lap six as Eaves and B. Geaschel got together in turn two to slow the pace for the final time. The running order was Rumble, Dixon, Klein, Martin and Voigt.

With the race restarting, Rumble continued to lead with Dixon using the middle to try and pass. The bottom was working well for Rumble, but Dixon was a little faster in the middle. As the two front runners put on a show, it was looking like Rumble could get his first win of the year as he would power off turn four to lead each lap.

As the race continued green, Rumble and Dixon fought for the win hard. However on lap 12, Dixon finally get the move he needed as a lapped car was going to make the difference. Dixon used the slower car to finally take the lead. The slower car of B. Geaschel was using the same line as Rumble and Dixon running the middle got to the lead as Rumble was unable to get by the slower car first.

Dixon went on to win his third consecutive feature and four out of five feature win this year and a sweep for the night. Rumble took second with his best finish ever at Belle Clair Speedway. Rounding out the top five were Martin, Voigt and Gibson.

In the UMP Modified class, there were 14 cars ready for action. The first heat went to Paul Reinneck over Bobby Bittle, Marty Smith Jr., Jason Pritz, Randy Ridge, Dave Thornton, and Brian Bielong. The second heat saw the win go to Marty Smith Sr. followed by Wayne Downing, Chris Smith, Jesse Carson, Tom Ratajczyk, Chris Gray and Brett Korves. The dash went to Smith Sr. over Downing, Smith Jr., Reinneck, Bittle and C. Smith.

The 20 lap feature started with Bittle and Smith Jr. on the front row after the drawing for position. With the green flag out, Smith Jr. took the lead with Bittle, Downing and Reinneck in chase. The leaders went to the top of the track for their racing.
Smith Jr. looked good and held off challenge after challenge from Bittle for the lead. The front battle was were to watch as Smith babbled a few times, but not enough to lose the lead.

The first caution appeared on lap 10 as Gray stopped on the track and was done for the night. The running order was Smith Jr, Bittle, Downing, Carson and C. Smith. Carson started eighth while the rest of the cars started in the front six.

With the green out, Smith Jr. continued to lead, but the race slowed again one lap later as Ridge spun in turn two. There was not change in the top five.

The green flag reappeared and the race started to get interesting at this point. With Smith Jr. leading and Bittle giving chase, Smith started to show smoke coming from his left rear tire. As the laps clicked off and the smoke getting worse in the turns, it was evident that Smith Jr. may be about to end the run.

Bittle continued to challenge Smith Jr. for the lead, but Smith Jr. held off the challenge despite the tire problem. However on lap 16, Smith slowed going into turn three and stopped with a flat left rear tire. This gave Bittle the lead that he had challenge for for15 laps. The top five now was Bittle, C. Smith, Downing, Carson and Ratajczyk.

Bittle went on to win his third straight feature with Downing, Carson, C. Smith and Ratajczyk completing the top five. Bittle also had his broom out and sweep the night.

The UMP Sportsmen had 15 car ready to race. In the first heat, Brian Shubirg to the win over Joe Volluz, Shawn Seymour, Mike Kurtz, David Grzywacz, Ron Weidler, Mike Seymour and Mike Harris in tow. In the second heat, Mike Jones took the checkered flag followed by Ted Zobrist, Jason Davinroy, Tom Smallwood, Dustin Homan, Denny Tribout Jr. and Jim Clark. The dash went to Jones followed by Shubirg, Zobrist, S. Seymour, Volluz and Davinroy.

The 15 lap feature was comprised of Shubirg and Davinroy. Shubirg took the early lead with the dropping of the green flag. Volluz, Davinroy, S. Seymour gave chase.

The caution came out on lap 3 for Homan and Grzywacz getting together on lap 3. The running order was Shubirg, Volluz, Davinroy, S. Seymour and Jones in the top five. Davinroy dropped out at this point while Homan changed a flat tire.

With the green back out Shubirg took command again, but Volluz was charging on the top. On lap 5, Volluz took the lead away for Shubirg on the top. Seymour was on the move moving into second place and trying to take the lead on the bottom from the top running Volluz.

With the two lead drivers using different grooves, the race looked interest as to who had the momentum to lead the race. On lap 13, Seymour completed the pass on the bottom of the track to take the lead.

Seymour took his first checkered flag as was followed by Volluz, Shubirg, Jones and Grzywacz to complete the top five.