Lincoln Speedway:  Friday night racing at its best

[May 29, 2012]  Friday night races at Lincoln Speedway had fans on the edge of their seat from the time the first green flag was waved in the heat races until the very last checkered flag was raised at the end of the night. Although temperatures were warm, Lincoln Speedway had a great showing of racecars and fans at the track.

The Modified Class fielded over 30 racers from around the central Illinois area. Competition was at its best in this class. In the B-Main, Bryan Zulauf in the 16Z couldn't hold on to the lead, after starting on the pole. Running the high side around the track, Gary Cook Jr. in the 64 had his car hooked up and was able to secure a starting position in the A-Main. The black and silver 10K driven by Kelly Kovski just needed a few more laps to see if he could have passed Cook and taken the checkered flag from the B-Main. Kovski as well was running the high side of the track, gaining on the leader with each lap.

Jeff Leka in the 3L started on the pole of the A-Main, with Brian Divley in the 29 on the outside. Divley took the early lead and held Leka off for most of the race. Both cars were running the same line around the track, and Leka on Divley's tail pulled a slide job on the 29 in turn 4 and was able to secure the lead. Divley then fell back to finish sixth. In the 32, T.D. Burger took advantage of this battle as well as the 14 Cashless car driven by Brian Lynn. Leka took home the checkered flag and the feature win in what was a great race in the Modifieds. Burger secured the second-place position and Lynn the third-place position, passing Guy Taylor in the 77T, who claimed fourth. Cook Jr. finished eighth and Kovski seventh.

Street Stock fans saw one fantastic race as well. In another heated battle for the lead, Travis
Johnson in the 18 and John Farris in the 90 exchanged the first and second position for several laps. Race fans weren't expecting Todd Smith in the 16 to come from the 10th position up to the front of the pack and put the pressure on the 18 and 90 cars. Smith wheeled his 16 around the high side and found his way to victory lane at Lincoln Speedway for the first time this season. Fans saw another move in turn 4, between Smith and Johnson, that was the deciding factor in the race. Johnson in the 18 finished second, followed by Farris in the 90 and Kevin Crowder in the 15C finishing fourth.

Zach Bollinger in his yellow 77 Hornet made his way to victory lane. Bollinger was able to secure a
sizable lead over the rest of the field. Tyler Benson in the B5 finished second and Bob Sanders third. Bollinger is no stranger to victory lane at Lincoln Speedway. On May 4 he was able to defeat Sanders in the Hornet feature. Hungry for that checkered flag each week, fans can be looking for the 77 Hornet to be fighting for his spot in the winner's circle.

The Crate Late Model feature was no less exciting than the features before it. Guy Taylor in the 4T ran in first place, holding off Evan Fink in the 1F and the B1 driven by Nick Bauman. Taylor, preferring the high side, had his car wheeling around with that cushion. Bauman decided to take the inside lane around the track, and within a few laps, fans saw the 4T and the B1 battling it out for the lead position. Taylor ended up being towed off the track, and Bauman pulled off the track after the two incurred contact with one another in turn 4. Evan Fink in the 1F took over the lead position. Fink once again found his way to victory lane.

Lincoln Speedway will be back in action Friday, with the PCRA Pro Late Models coming to the track. Be sure to check their website, www.lincolnspeedwayil.com, for more details and information about the upcoming races, results and point standings.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Speedway]