Chasteen Takes Big Ten Super Late Model Opener At Lincoln Speedway

[May 18, 2019] 

A talented field of Midwest Big Ten Super Late Model drivers gathered at Lincoln Speedway, in Lincoln, IL this past Friday, May 17 for their opening race of the 2019 season. For Lincoln Speedway, it was the fourth race of the season and the first of two this year which will feature the high powered racecars.

2018 Summer Nationals champion, Brian Shirley, of Chatham, IL, was the favorite coming into the night. He didn’t disappoint in qualifying, setting quick time over local favorite Myles Moos, former Big Ten champion Brian Diveley, Ryan Unzicker, and Mike Chasteen, Jr. Heat race action saw Shirley and Unzicker claim the wins.

When it came time for the feature, Shirley and Unzicker led the field to green. Shirley raced out, while Unzicker tried to make a go of it in the outside lane. The car to watch, though, was one that pulled in on an open trailer earlier in the night. It was also one running pump gas for his steel headed engine. It was the #2 car of Mike Chasteen, Jr. The Peoria, IL driver was hooked up on the bottom lane of the dry-slick track and raced past Unzicker before putting Shirley behind him as well. The race went green until lap 19 before the first yellow waved, bunching the field. Back to racing for the final six laps, Chasteen again made easy work of the field to claim the impressive victory. Unzicker, Shirley, Jose Parga, and Diveley completed the top five.

In the DIRTcar Modified class, Mike Brooks and Steven Brooks brought the field to green. As always, the field was full of talented drivers and a win would be tough to come by. Steven Brooks took the early lead, while track regular, Austin Lynn, was working hard behind him. Lynn pulled alongside and took the top spot as drivers raced side-by-side on the low lanes of the track, looking for grip. The major challenge for Austin Lynn came from Donovan Lodge. The Andover, IL driver pulled into second from his fourth starting spot and gave it a valiant effort. In fact, Lodge made a pass relatively late in the race. Lynn would not be denied, however, as he pulled back alongside in the next turn and took the top spot back. From that point on it was Lynn holding the advantage. Coming to the checkered, Lodge got a great run off of turn four and pulled almost even with Lynn at the line. For Lynn, the key word was almost, as he hung on for the strong victory. Following the Mason City, IL driver were Lodge, Tommy Sheppard, Jr. who picked up six spots to take third, Steven Brooks, and Kenny Wallace

The DIRTcar Street Stocks were the first feature of the night and they didn’t disappoint with some really good racing. Rudy Zaragoza led for a good while at the front of the pack as Terry Reed and Robert Cottom were right behind. Unfortunately for Reed, on one of his pass attempts, some very slight contact ensued, which cut down his right front tire. Reed was forced to pit for a tire change and restart from the tail. Meanwhile, Cottom was able to take the lead in the middle portion of the race, making a run to the inside of Zaragoza. As the laps wound down, Cottom stayed out front but everyone watched as the #5 of Reed worked from the back to take second. Following Cottom and Reed were Zaragoza, Braden Bilger, and Nolan Kaufman.

Lincoln, IL driver Bret Tripplett led the early laps of the Nutech Seed DII Midget feature before Mason City, IL’s Andy Baugh drove to the inside. Baugh got traction on the exit of turn two and rocketed past going down the backstretch. For Baugh, it was pretty easy sailing from that point on, for his third feature win in four tries this year. Tripplett, Tyler Roth, Jeff Sparks, and Karter Sarff rounded out the top five. No one took the Nutech Seed Front Row Challenge so the bonus goes to $400 at the next race.

The final race of the night was the DIRTcar Hornet feature and it was another good one. The division has been very competitive this year with a number of driver threatening for a victory. This time it was Pekin, IL’s Danny Oates laying claim to the feature trophy. Oates held off a charging David Lauritson, Brady Reed, Dallas Strauch, and Eric Vanapeldoorn. The Hornets will be racing for $1,000 to win in the Ed Cain Trucking Hornet Challenge at the June 7 event. It’s part of a weekend doubleheader which will also see $1,000 on the line Saturday, June 8 at Macon Speedway.

Also on track Friday night were the Abe Lincoln Quarter Midget Association kids. Nearly 20 different youngsters brought their quarter midgets out to the track to show off their rides and take some laps at intermission.

For Lincoln Speedway, it will be a few weeks before the next race on Friday, June 7. In addition to the $1,000 to win Hornet race, the Pro Late Models will be back with Modifieds, Nutech Seed DII Midgets, and KidModz. It will be a busy month of June for the track as the POWRi Midgets invade for Speedweek on Sunday, June 16 followed by the Graue Chevrolet Showdown for the Summer Nationals on Sunday, June 30.

For more information and a full schedule, visit www.lincolnspeedwayil.com.

FEATURE RUNDOWNS (Top 10’s)

Midwest Big Ten Super Late Models

1. 2-Mike Chasteen Jr,, Peoria, IL; 2. 24-Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL; 3. 3S-Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL; 4. 6P-Jose Parga, New Berlin, IL; 5. 11D-Brian Diveley, Springfield, IL; 6. 84-Myles Moos, Lincoln, IL; 7. 15-Kolby Vandebergh, Ashland, IL; 8. 27-Greg Kimmons, Pleasant Plains, IL; 9. J12-Jason Wagner, Morton, IL; 10. 32M-Cody Maguire, Carlinville, IL

DIRTcar Modifieds

1. 72A-Austin Lynn, Mason City, IL; 2. 32-Donovan Lodge, Andover, IL; 3. T6-Tommy Sheppard Jr, New Berlin, IL; 4. 5-Steven Brooks, New Lenox, IL; 5. 36-Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, MO; 6. 14-Brian Lynn, Mason City, IL; 7. 3-Mike Brooks, Peoria, IL; 8. 57-Tim Hamburg, Dixon, IL; 9. 37-Derrick Carlson, Murrayville, IL; 10. 27-Brody Pompe, Philomath, OR

DIRTcar Street Stocks

1. 1-Robert Cottom, Galesburg, IL; 2. 5-Terry Reed, Cerro Gordo, IL; 3. 67-Rudy Zaragoza, Jacksonville, IL; 4. 17B-Braden Bilger, Jacksonville, IL; 5. 83K-Nolan Kaufman, Marquette Heights, IL; 6. 21-Jaret Duff, Maroa, IL; 7. 227-Justin Thomas, Streator, IL; 8. 2Z-Andy Zahnd, White Heath, IL; 9. 27-Bailey Aukland, Streator, IL; 10. (DNF) 29-Chris Osborne Jr, East Peoria, IL

Nutech Seed DII Midgets

1. 6B-Andy Baugh, Mason City, IL; 2. 7X-Bret Tripplett, Lincoln, IL; 3. 18-Tyler Roth, Unknown, IL; 4. 55-Jeff Sparks, Mason City, IL; 5. 51-Karter Sarff, Mason City, IL; 6. 23-Patrick Ryan, Springfield, IL; 7. 7B-Dave Baugh, Bloomington, IL; 8. 19E-Daltyn England, Springfield, IL; 9. 27-Bo Harrison, Chandlerville, IL; 10. 11-Brandon Smith, Mason City, IL

DIRTcar Hornets

1. 41-Danny Oates, Pekin, IL; 2. 15-David Lauritson, Normal, IL; 3. 32B-Brady Reed, Decatur, IL; 4. 24D-Dallas Strauch, East Peoria, IL; 5. E77-Eric Vanapeldoorn, Clinton, IL; 6. 26A-Michael McKay, Springfield, IL; 7. 21-Mike Eskew, Springfield, IL; 8. D7-Carter Dart, Springfield, IL; 9. 64CK-Cook Crawford, Lincoln, IL; 10. 28F-Mike Foster, Pekin, IL

[Adam Mackey]

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