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KANKAKEE, IL (May 7, 2011) - Spring storms have finally given way to acceptable racing weather here in the Illiana area, and Friday night at Kankakee County Speedway was the proof in the pudding during the Opening Night Run For The Roses. A crowd of just more than 1,000 hungry race fans were eager to see not only the stars and cars return to action, but also the new track surface and the repositioned lighting system , both of which made notable debuts. Fans were treated to sometimes three and even four wide racing at times as drivers jockeyed for position particularly in the heat races early on. Promoter Tom Smith wants to thank the 100 drivers for supporting the track despite setbacks with these Spring storms that have kept crews at bay for weeks, while local farmers find themselves playing the sit and wait game as well. Smith was ecstatic with the large crowd that has become the norm more often than not at Kankakee. RaceCeivers have been mandated at Kankakee for both Late Models and Modifieds this year, which helped speed up the show as fans made their way home at 10:24pm. RaceCeivers are a one-way communication device that allows the tower to communicate with the drivers for lineup purposes as well as alert drivers to safety issues on the track or when a caution is waved. Fans can also get in on the action if they like by purchasing a RaceCeiver of their very own. See track for details. Smith wanted to also thank the track crew and driver volunteers who pitched in with many long days to get the track surface in race shape, as well as reposition the track's lights so that the entire track is now fully lit making it safer for the drivers and easier for the fans and scorers to see the cars around the entire track. In the season's first feature event, defending champion Adam Williams of Wheatfield, IN, doing double duty with a UMP Modified, picked up right where he left off last season as he led every lap from the pole to capture the glory. Williams was presented with a fantastic looking plaque from Fastlane Graphix along with a bouquet of roses to be presented to his mother, courtesy of track Sue Faber and the KCS staff, as were all the victorious drivers. Mike Kingma of Lowell, IN, didn't let Williams get too far away however, as he ran down the leader after starting sixth on the grid. Josh Cooley grabbed the third spot while substitute driver Nick Montalta and Neil Martin earned fourth and fifth, respectively. In street stock action, the youthful Bill Stevenson of Kankakee served a little notice of his own. Stevenson, one of the finest people you could ever hope to meet, was all business as usual as he hustled his way around the 1/3-mile in impressive fashion, never relinquishing the lead. Wilmington's Joe Brown Jr. stayed glued to the driver's door side of Stevenson's machine throughout, as the duo were door to door for much of the race. Travis Wolford, out of Indiana, displayed impressive strength as he kept pace with the duo and secured the third spot. Defending UMP National Champion Joel Funk of Dwight claimed fourth, while defending Track Champion Don Hilleary of Papineau rounded out the top five. Hilleary, Stevenson, and Brown all captured heat race wins, while Kankakee's Dustin Hubert scored the consolation win. Nick Allen of Wheatfield, IN picked up another win for the Indiana visitors as he set sail from the third spot on the grid and quickly moved past Jim Farris of Odell and pole-sitter Bob Pohlman Jr. of Oak Lawn. Allen really stole the show earlier with his impressive last to first run during his preliminary heat race. Only a handful of drivers have been able to pull off that feat in the last few years and Allen made it look relatively easy. The victory was the first of the year fro Allen to go along with five runner-up finishes so far this season. Allen is well on his way to another UMP National Championship title bid. Pohlman was able to hold down the second spot over Farris, while Justin McCoy of Streator, IL and Mike Porth of Gardner, IL rounded out the top five. Pohlman, Allen, and Farris captured heat race triumphs, while Mike Sullivan garnered the consolation win. In UMP Late Model action, rookie late model driver Mike Spatola of Manhattan, IL scored his first career Kankakee checkered flag and second victory of the season, as he continues to raise eyebrows in the Midwest with his quick adaptation to the full fendered cars. The 20-year-old Spatola, who has been an ace in the UMP Modified division for several years, will drive double duty this year chasing Northern All Stars Late Model Series events and other bigger paying late model and modified shows. Spatola, who started on the pole, wasted no time in adapting to a changing track surface which made life difficult for a few drivers throughout the night, finding the smooth way around the high-banked clay oval. Meanwhile, a fierce battle was heating up behind him as two-time track champion Mike Provenzano and Aaron Ricketts worked for position. Ricketts of Fairbury, IL, or "Jumbo" as he's known, started back in the pack after a sub-par qualifying effort kept him out of the Fast 8. Ricketts, who won the first heat race, started ninth on the grid and applied the pressure to Provenzano, while the duo gave chase to a distant Spatola. Rich Bell of Sheffield, IL claimed fourth and Jay Morris of Watseka, IL rounded out the top five. Ricketts and Spatola triumphed in preliminary heat race action. In the night's final event, 103 pound Skylar Antonelli of Monticello, IN gave the Hoosier state it's third win of the night as he motored his way to victory lane going uncontested during the 15-lap affair. Peotone's Joe Tsilis picked up second, while Chicago's Jesse Gaylord, Jason Kemp, and Scott Cupples rounded out the top five. Kemp and Antonelli scored heat race wins. Racing is scheduled to resume next Friday night, May 13th, with Autograph Night featuring a full prgram of racing in all five divisions. Gates open at 5pm (Pits at 4pm), with Hotlaps set to begin at 6pm, Qualifying at 630pm, and racing at 730pm. Adult admission is $12, Kids 11-16 $6, 10 and Under FREE. Pit admission is $25. Kankakee County Speedway - Summary of Results, May 6, 2011 Smith Realty I-Mods (15 cars) Heat 1 (All
transfer) Heat 2 (All
transfer) (7) Feature
(15-laps, $250 to win) Hard Charger - 88 Neil Martin +5
Heat 1 (Top
6 transfer) 10 Heat 2 (Top
6 transfer) 9 Heat 3 (Top
6 transfer) 9 Consi (Top 2
transfer) Feature
(15-laps, $300 to win) Hard Charger - 23A Andrew Funk +11
Chicago Heights U-Pull-It UMP Modifieds (28 cars) Heat 1 (Top
6 transfer) 10 Heat 2 (Top
6 transfer) 9 Heat 3 (Top
6 transfer) 9 Consi (Top 2
transfer) Feature
(20-laps, $600 to win) Hard Charger - 24F Chris Arihood (+8)
Court Street Ford UMP Late Models (14 cars) Heat 1 (All
Cars transfer) 6 Heat 2 (All 8 transfer) 8 1. 89 Mike
Spatola III Feature
(25-laps, $1000 to win) Hard Charger - 95 Aaron Ricketts +6 Late Model Qualifying (1-lap) 1. 11 Steve
Dimmick - 15.316
Heat 1 (Top
6 transfer) 7 Heat 2 (Top
6 transfer) 6 Feature
(15-laps, $100 to win) Hard Charger
- 36 Bill Wasnea +4
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