• The 2008 Winter Meeting for all interested parties is set!

  When: Sunday, January 27th
  Time: 1:00 pm
  Location: Best Western Conference Room
  430 Enterprise
  Joliet (Shorewood), IL
  Directions: I-55 to Rt. 52 (Jefferson St.), south on frontage road
  Purposes: 2008 schedule release
  Technical updates
  Sponsorships
  Question and answer session
   

  Critchetts Crowned Illini Champions
  
  Morris, IL (11/17/07)  The Jennifer’s Garden, Chicagoland’s premier banquet
  facility, was the setting for the 16th Annual Illini Racing Series Awards
  Banquet, which saw the Critchett brothers collect the lion’s share of the post
  season awards for the Illini Midget Division. 
  
  Loran Critchett, Jr., the 2001 driving champion, was honored as the championship
  car owner and for his 8th place finish as a driver of the Dave Gass owned #17. 
  Lamont Critchett was crowned the 2007 driving champion, beating Doug Orseske by
  just 28 points.  Lamont also picked up the “Quinn McCabe Full Throttle Award”
  for his hard charging driving style and dedication to the club.  The entire Critchett team was presented the “Bob Lockard Mechanic Excellence Award” for their work keeping the #44 car at the front all season, on pavement and dirt.
  
  Wisconsin driver Dan George was named the “Bob Higman Rookie of the Year”, took
  home the 4th place hardware, and his 82nd Airborne tribute car was honored as
  “Best Appearing Car”.
  
  Jason Dull received the “Determination Award” for his efforts running the same
  car in two classes, at two tracks, winning a heat and a feature at Angell Park.
  
  The “Bob Meyers Perseverance Award” would have been presented to late model
  stock car driver Scott Koerner, but he had to leave after collecting his 5th
  place open wheel awards, so he could attend the stock car banquet down the road.
  
  The “Most Improved Driver Award” was presented to 7th place driver and car owner
  Mark Morey, who just finished his second season in a midget.
  
  Doug and Diana Orseske were awarded the “Brett Lovellette Sportsmanship Award”
  for their many contributions to the club.
  
  Nearly $6000 in cash and prizes was distributed at the banquet, bringing the
  total for the year to over $30,000.
   

  Illini Racing Series Banquet

  Banquet checks please mail to the following address:
  Illini Racing Series
  1608 Taylor St.
  Joliet IL 60435
  
  You are cordially invited to the 20^th Annual Illini Racing Series Awards Banquet on November 17^th at Jennifer's Garden, 555 West Gore Road, Morris, Illinois.  We hope you can join us to celebrate our champions, top finishers, and special award winners, and all they accomplished in the 2007 season. 

  Tickets are again $35 per person (children under 12 half price), and as usual, there will be a cash bar.  Cocktails will be available during the social hour from 6 - 7 p.m., with the family style dinner served starting at 7 p.m.  The presentation of awards will begin at approximately 8 p.m.  The room will be set up with tables of 10, with only a few reserved for the champions, the rest of the seating is on a first come first served basis, so come early, grab a good table, exchange a few stories and enjoy looking over the championship cars on display in the hall! 

  Please mail your checks, payable to Illini Racing Series, along with a complete list of those attending, to the address above, not later than November 5^th.  We must have a name for each ticket.  Attendees names will be checked off the master list at the reception area upon your arrival.  Because we need to guarantee a definite number of attendees to Jennifer's Garden a week in advance, again this year, we are unable to sell any tickets at the door. 

  The club owners would like to thank everyone for their participation and efforts in making the 2007 season a success.  Plans are already underway on the 2008 season, but first we need to finish off the 2007 campaign with a party!  We hope to see you on the 17^th of November. 

  Your 2007 Banquet Committee, LaVerne & Johanna Spencer, Jerry and Marlene Murphy, Doug and Diana Orseske and Tom Arthur and Sue Douvan (and any others with some ideas and a little time).

   

  Critchetts Capture Coveted Illini Midget Crown
  
  Mokena, IL (9/22/07)  Lamont Critchett drove the #44 Volkswagon powered Stapp chassis owned by his brother Loran Critchett, Jr. to the top of the 2007 points in the Illini Racing Series sportsman midget division.  The driver and owner will be honored at Jennifer's Garden in Morris, IL, on November 17th when the IRS holds their annual Night of Champions.
  
  There was no guarantee going into the night of the Corson Memorial with a 73 point advantage over runner-up Orseske Racing's #0.  With 5 points per position available for qualifying, their heat and the feature, it would only take 15 positions difference throughout the night to change the top spot.  20 cars were on hand, so the title was in play and there was no question we would have a first time champion, but who?
  
  Fast Freddie Teer took the top qualifying position, but Lamont was 2nd, and Doug Orseske 4th.  Now Orseske would need to push hard for the rest of the night.  The trophy dash paid no points, but both drivers competed all out, and it was clear, both drivers were going give their best this night.
  
  Lamont would win his heat, with Doug in 3rd, and yet if all 20 cars started the feature, it was still not over.  A crash in the early laps caused everyone to quickly calculate the points as the #44 was being brought back to the pits on a tow truck, scored in 18th.  It would be close, but the crunched Critchett car would be the champion!  Doug went on to finish 5th and 28 points, or six positions, from his first championship.  Six positions tonight, or throughout the season.  Just one spot per race would have been more than enough.
  
  Winning a championship with a group as competitive as the Illini Midgets doesn't come from just on track performance, it takes many nights busting knuckles in the garage.  Keeping the VW together and compeitive was challenging enough, but a bent frame early in the season could have brought this championship drive to an end.  However, the Critchett family is in the business of heavy truck repair and towing.  Turns out tow trucks in the hands of the right operator can be used to straighten a tube chassis and keep the championship desire burning.
  
  Information on tickets for the Illini Racing Series 2007 Night of Champions Banquet will be available soon.  All drivers from all divisions attending the banquet will be awarded a prize.
  
  2007 Illini Sportsman Midget Driving Championship.  Place, driver, points:  1.  Lamont Critchett, 1806;  2.  Doug Orseske, 1778;  3.  Joe Knippel, 1523;  4.  Dan George, 1514;  5.  Scott Koerner, 1326;  6.  Basil Hicks, 1288;  7.  Mark Morey, 1280;  8.  Loran Critchett Jr., 1276;  9.  Sean Murphy, 1261;  10.  Eddie Sauer, 1141;  11.  Mike Adams, 1024;  12.  Mike Smith, 1013;  13.  Allen Gillis, 904;  14.  Jason Dull, 858;  15.  Freddy Teer, 670;  16.  Dale Rowe, 625;  17.  David Budres, 503;  18.  Rich Corson, 450;  19.  Frank Reiss, 335;  20.  Patrick Wilda, 235;  21.  Bill Griffith, 205;  22.  Tom Schnabel, 200;  23.  Billy Hulbert, 175;  24.  Dave DeHeve, 160;  25.  Scott Shilkuski, 145;  26.  Black Bart, 115;  27.  Jon Ruff, 105;  28.  Joe Pantely, 98;  29.  Ben Gillis, 0
  
  2007 Illini Sportsman Midget Car Owner Championship.  Place, Owner, Car #, Points:  1.  Loran Critchett, Jr.,  #44, 1806;  2.  Diana Orseske, #0, 1778;  3.  Joe Knippel, #33,1523;  4.  Dan George, #82, 1514;  5.  Scott Koerner, #4, 1326;  6.  Basil Hicks, #22, 1288;  7.  Mark Morey, #3, 1280;  8.  Dave Gass, #17, 1276;  9.  Joe Knippel, #33x, 1261;  10.  Eddie Sauer, #74, 1141;  11.  Joe Albert, #21A, 1024;  12.  Mike Smith, #88, 1013;  13.  Laverne Spencer, #1, 938;  14.  Allen Gillis, #39, 904;  15.  Jason Dull, #56, 858;  16.  Freddy Teer, #56D, 670;  17.  Dale Rowe, #21A, 625;  18.  Rich Corson, #15, 450;  19.  Laverne Spencer, #31, 335;  20.  Bill Griffith, #O4, 205;  21.  Klaus Wever, #4H, 175;  22.  Dave DeHeve, #95, 160;  23t.  Glen Ohleendorf, #86, 145;  23t.  Hank Jeffries, #51, 145;  24.  Black Bart, #91, 115;  25.  Jon Ruff, #81, 105;  26.  Tom Peterson, #2, 98

  ---------------------------------------------

  Sept.18th 2007 - Anderson, Knippel, Findley, Schneider, Brown & Trusky All Win
  
  Morris, IL (9/16/07)  The Fifth Annual Bob Corson Memorial was destined to be a great night of racing with all the work the Corson family put into the effort.  What it ended up being was one of those exceptional nights of great racing, mixed with a fund raiser for an injured driver, a salute to an 82nd Airborne trooper home on leave, many drivers doing double duty, a serious thrash on an out of town driver’s car to get him back on the track, and some of the best racing of the year.
  
  Jim Anderson qualified the #36 Guess/Anderson national midget car 5th quick behind Reid Ceponis, Tom Schnabel, Brandon Hartsell, and fast qualifier David Bryne.  When the feature rolled around, nobody had anything for him from the drop of the green.  Anderson led all 30 laps for his third win of the season.  Reid Ceponis won the trophy dash and a heat, with Tom Schnabel winning the other heat.
  
  The Illini Sportsman Midget 25 lap feature went to Joe Knippel, with fast qualifier Freddie Teer challenging hard in the final circuits.  Knippel also won the trophy dash with the heats going to Billy Hulbert and newly crowned champ Lamont Critchett.
  
  Mark Findley set fast time on his way to the feature win in the Rascal Outlaw mini-sprints.  Jim Theil won the heat after qualifying 2nd, and finished 2nd in the feature.
  
  Luke Schneider won his first BIDCA Classic Modified feature, after playing second fiddle to Mike Anderson in qualifying and their heat race.  Darren Ihrke won the other heat and finished 3rd in the feature behind Tom Schnabel.
  
  Vern Brown swept the Formula Indy Racing Association competition, setting fast time, winning the heat and feature.  Wally Reitz set 2nd quickest time and was second in the main, and Tim Roach was 2nd in the heat and 3rd in the feature.
  
  Nick Petska was the fast timer in the Luisa’s Mini-Mods and looked to be on his way to continue his winning streak that had gone back to the last two races of last season.  Bill Trusky had other ideas though and won the heat an feature, bring the streak to an end.
  
  Results from the 5th Annual Bob Corson Memorial at Grundy County Speedway:
  
  National Midgets:
  Qualifying:  1.  #20b, David Bryne, 14.82;  2. #11, Brandon Hartsell, 14.992;  3.  #20s, Tom Schnabel, 15.005;  4.  #79, Reid Ceponis, 15.115;  5.  #36, Jim Anderson, 15.12;  6.  #32, Rich Corson    15.285;  7.  #0, Doug Dietsch, 15.372;  8.  #97, Phil Rutledge, 15.592;  8.  #56,  Jason Dull    15.769;  9.  #4t, Terry Ahern, 15.788;  10.  #38, Billy Hulbert, 16.525;  11. #21, Dan VanderMolen,    16.801;  12.  #69, Jon Ruff, 17.951
  
  4 lap Trophy Dash
  
  10 lap heat #1:  1.  Tom Schnabel, 2.  David Bryne, 3.  Jim Anderson, 4.  Doug Dietsch, 5.  Jason Dull, 6.  Dan VanderMolen, 7.  Jon Ruff  DNF
  
  10 lap heat #2:  1.  Reid Ceponis, 2.  Rich Corson, 3. Terry Ahern, 4.  Phil Rutledge, 5.  Brandon Hartsell, 6.  Billy Hulbert DNF
  
  30 lap feature:  1.  Jim Anderson, 2.  Brandon Hartsell, 3.  Tom Schnabel, 4.  David Bryne, 5.  Doug Dietsch, 6.  Phil Rutledge, 7.  Jason Dull, 8.  Rich Corson, 9.  Reid Ceponis, 10.  Billy Hulbert DNF, 11.  Jon Ruff  DNF. 12.  Dan VanderMolen DNF, 13.  Terry Ahern DNS
  
  Illini Sportsman Midgets:
  Qualifying:  1. #54, Freddie Teer, 16.184;  2.  #44C, Lamont Critchett, 16.244;  3.  #33, Joe Knippel, 16.27;  4.  #0, Doug Orseske, 16.39;  5.  #82, Dan George, 16.449;  6.  #O4, Eddie Griffith, 16.47;  7.  #17, Loran Critchett,Jr, 16.486;  8.  #33X, Sean Murphy, 16.558;  9.  #56, Jason Dull, 16.742;  10.  #4V, Scott Koerner, 16.821;  11.  #74, Eddie Sauer, 16.936;  12.  #88, Mike Smith, 16.986;  13.  #4h, Billy Hulbert, 16.992;  14.  #86, Scott Shilkuski, 17.038;  15.  #3, Mark Morey, 17.129;  16.  #81, Jon Ruff, 17.264;  17.  #22, Basil Hicks, 17.437;  18.  #21A, Mike Adams, Jr., 18.202;  19.  #51, Frank Reiss, 18.457;  20.  #91, Black Bart, 19.923
  
  4 lap trophy dash:  1.  Joe Knippel, 2.  Freddie Teer, 3.  Doug Orseske, 4.  Lamont Critchett
  
  10 lap heat #1:  1.  Lamont Critchett, 2.  Freddie Teer, 3.  Doug Orseske, 4.  Joe Knippel, 5.  Sean Murphy, 6.  Loran Critchett,Jr, 7.  Scott Koerner, 8.  Dan George, 9.  Jason Dull, 10.  Eddie Griffith DNF
  
  10 lap heat #2:  1.  Billy Hulbert, 2.  Mike Adams, Jr., 3.  Mark Morey, 4.  Eddie Sauer, 5.  Mike Smith, 6.  Frank Reiss, 7.  Black Bart, 8.  Jon Ruff  DNF, 9.  Scott Shilkuski DNF, 10.  Basil Hicks DNF
  
  25 lap feature:  1.  Joe Knippel, 2.  Freddie Teer, 3.  Loran Critchett, Jr., 4.  Sean Murphy, 5.  Doug Orseske, 6.  Eddie Griffith, 7.  Jason Dull, 8.  Dan George, 9.  Eddie Sauer, 10.  Frank Reiss, 11.  Scott Shilkuski DNF, 12.  Mike Smith DNF, 13.  Mark Morey DNF, 14.  Billy Hulbert DNF, 15.  Black Bart DNF,
  16.  Mike Adams, Jr. DNF, 17.  Scott Koerner DNF, 18.  Lamont Critchett DNF, 19.  Basil Hicks DNS, 20.  Jon Ruff  DNS
  
  Rascal Outlaw Mini-Sprints:
  Qualifying:  1.  #43, Mark Findley, 15.367;  2.  #33, Jim Thiel, 15.403;  4.  3.  #7, John DeMay, 15.565;  5.  #30, Jason Mahoney, 15.584;  6.  #15, John Benkert, 15.985;  7.  #91, Jacques  Terrault, 16.173;  8.  #27, Rob Pollak, 16.194;  9.  #12, Steve Kreft, 16.858;  10.  #4, Kyle Lynn, 17.188;  11.  #82, Dan Chapman, 18.877
  
  Heat race:  1.  Jim Thiel, 2.  John DeMay, 3.   Rob Pollak, 4.  Jason Mahoney, 5.  Mark Findley, 6.  John Benkert, 7.  Jacques  Terrault, 8.  Steve Kreft, 9.  Kyle Lynn, 10.  Dan Chapman
  
  15 lap feature:  1.  Mark Findley, 2.  Jim Thiel, 3.  Jason Mahoney, 4.  John DeMay, 5.  John Benkert, 6.  Rob Pollak, 7.  Kyle Lynn, 8.  Dan Chapman, 9.  Jacques  Terrault DNF, 10.  Steve Kreft DNF
  
  BIDCA Classic Modifieds:
  Qualifying:  1.  # 51    Mike Anderson    16.814;  2.  #21, Luke Schneider, 16.981;  3.  #64, Freddie Teer, 17.202;  4.  #32, Eric Pershey, 17.252;  5.  #3, Charlie Holt, 17.411;  6.  #20, Vicki Schnabel    17.516;  7.  #38, Tom Schnabel, 17.538;  8.  #25, Darren Ihrke, 17.823;  9.  #9, Matt O'Hagan, 18.404;  10.  #13, Scott Struthers, 19.269
  
  Heat race 1:  1.  Darren Ihrke, 2.  Vicki Schnabel, 3.  Scott Struthers, 4.  Matt O'Hagan, 5. Freddie Teer
  
  Heat race 2:  1.  Mike Anderson,  2.  Luke Schneider,  3.  Eric Pershey, 4.  Charlie Holt, 5.  Tom Schnabel DNF
  
  15 lap feature:  1.  Luke Schneider, 2.  Tom Schnabel, 3.  Darren Ihrke, 4.  Eric Pershey, 5.  Vicki Schnabel, 6.  Mike Anderson, 7.  Scott Struthers, 8.  Freddie Teer, 9.  Charlie Holt DNF, 10.  Matt O'Hagan DNF
  
  F.I.R.A. Mini-Indy:
  Qualifying:  1.  Vern Brown, 16.257;  2.  8., Wally Reitz, 17.064;  3.  17, Tim Roach, 17.754;  4.  35, Lyle Philips, 17.619;  5.  43, Rich Breske, 19.303;  6.  44, Gary Cooper, 18.149;  7.  57, Rich Kossak, 17.225;  8.  58, Neal Gillentin, 15.305
  
  Heat race:  1.  Vern Brown, 2.  Tim Roach, 3.  Lyle Philips, 4.  Rich Kossak, 5.  Gary Cooper, 6.  Rich Breske, 7.  Wally Reitz DNF, 8.  Neal Gillentine DNF
  
  15 lap feature:  1.  Vern Brown, 2.  Wally Reitz, 3.  Tim Roach, 4.  Lyle Philips, 5.  Gary Cooper, 6.  Rich Breske, 7.  Rich Kossak DNF, 8.  Neal Gillentine DNF
  
  Luisa’s Mini-Mods:
  Qualifying:  1.  #20, Nick Petska, 17.551;  2.  #18, Rick Corso, 17.734;  3.  #7, John DeMay, 18.206;  4.  #72, Bill Trusky,18.533;  5.  #97, Joe McGinnis, 18.535;  6.  #57, Joe Marinello, 18.893
  
  Heat race:  1.  Bill Trusky, 2.  Rick Corso, 3.  Nick Petska, 4.  Joe McGinnis, 5.  John DeMay, 6. Joe Marinello
  
  15 lap feature:  1.  Bill Trusky, 2.  Joe McGinnis, 3.  Rick Corso, 4.  Joe Marinello, 5.  Nick Petska DNF, 6.  John DeMay DNF
   

  Photos Courtesy of Phil Rider

  

  

  September 5th 2007
  Although the details are still coming in, we thought we would share this grim news as soon as possible. Illini Racing Series Competition Board member Richard (Rich) Spohnholtz has been killed in a traffic accident.
  
  Rich had recently been working as an account representative, but was also known as the owner of the Block Shop in Newark, IL. This shop has been responsible for many motors making their way to a variety of race tracks.
  
  Rich also competed with the Illini Midgets dating back to 1999, as did his son, Rick.
  
  We will post further details as soon as they become available.
  
  -----------------------------

  Next event : Discount Tires
  5th Annual Bob Corson Memorial
  Sunday September 16th 2007
  Starting times to follow

  -----------------------------

  5th Annual Bob Corson Memorial start times 

  Pit Gates 10:30AM
  Hot Laps / Front Gates 12:30PM
  Qualifying 1:45PM (or when hot Laps are completed)
  1st Race 3:00PM SHARP!! 

  Pit Passes $25.00
  Non Member Midget Drivers $30.00 T.P.
  Grand Stand $10.00

  ----------------------------------

  Angell Park for the second time in the clubs history and put on some great side by side racing. The A-Main featured some classic duels, first with pole sitter Doug Orseske and outside front row starter Lamont Critchett going at it for several laps. One of the other great battles was set up by heat race #1 winner Joe Knippels suspension failure, which brought out the caution, and the tow truck.
  
  Jason Dull work his way around Orseske and Critchett, but had to contend with David Budres and Allen Gillis, the winner of the second heat. Budres night came to a grinding halt against the turn one wall on lap 14 after the right front suspension collapsed. He was uninjured.
  
  This set up great match-up between Gillis and Dull. Gillis non-SCREAM Ford Focus had plenty of power to swap the lead several times with Double Duty Jason Dull, who was running his car in both the Illini Division, then changing over to compete with the Badger Midgets. Gillis slowed and pulled into the pits on lap 18 as Dull went on to take the checkers.
  
  Illini Racing Series, Illini Midget Division Results from Angell Park August 12, 2007:
  
  Heat #1 (10 laps): 1. Joe Knippel, Mokena, IL #33, Knippel Quad-4/Buzzard; 2. David Budres, Beloit, WI #1, Spencer Quad-4/Eliis; 3. Lamont Critchett, Chicago Heights, IL #44, Loran Critchett VW/Stapp; 4. Dan George, Milwaukee, WI #82, George SCREAM Focus/Buzzard; 5. Mark Morey, Sugar Grove, IL #3, Morey Focus/White; 6. Sean Murphy, Evanston, IL #33x Knippel Quad-4/Ellis (DNF); 7. Scott Koerner, Joliet, IL #4, Task Management Focus/Bishop (DNF)
  
  Heat #2 (10 laps): 1. Allen Gillis, Wetmont, IL #39, Gillis Focus/White; 2. Jason Dull, Machesney Park #56, Dull Fontana/Stealth; 3. Doug Orseske, Frankfort, IL #0, Orseske Quad-4/Buzzard; 4. Mike Adams, Jr., Rockdale, WI #21A, Albert Chevy II/Mislich; 5. Eddie Sauer, Davis, IL #74, Sauer Ford/Edmunds; 6. Loran Critchett, Jr., Alsip, IL #17, Gass VW/Challenger; 7. Mike Smith, Shorewood, IL #88, Smith Ford/Hawk (DNF); 8. Joe Pantley, Beaver Dam, WI #2, Peterson Chevy II/Outhouse (DNF); 9. Frank Reiss, Genoa
  
  A-Main (20 laps): 1. Dull, 2. Lamont Critchett, 3. Orseske, 4. Koerner, 5. Sauer, 6. Adams, 7. George, 8. Loran Critchett, Jr., 9. Morey, 10. Gillis (DNF), 11. Budres (DNF), 12. Knippel (DNF), 13. Smith (DNF), Murphy (DNS), Pantley (DNS), Reiss (DNS).
  
  Top Ten in Points: 1. Lamont Critchett-1596, 2. Doug Orseske-1523, 3. Dan George- 1304, 4. Joe Knippel-1248, 5. Basil Hicks-1198, 6. Scott Koerner-1176, 7. Mark Morey-1120
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------

  Angell Park Speedway: August 12th 2007

  1) No Shorts or opened toed shoes allowed in the pits
  2) No one under the age of 14 allowed in the pits
  3) 4 wheelers are not allowed in the pits (insurance regulations)
  4) Mufflers are mandatory
  5) Smoking allowed in designated areas only
  6) No pets allowed in the pits 

  Illini Racing Series

• --------------------------------------------------------------------

• Effective Immediately

  Illini Racing Series has gathered enough information from the past 2 weeks with the variances given to several cars that did not meet the rules that Illini set forth. Effective Immediately all cars must be Illini Racing Series legal to complete, for all the remainder races for 2007. Any questions please email us at www.Illiniracing.com 

  Illini Racing Series

• -----------------------------------------------------------------------

• PETSKA, GILLENTINE, LESAGE AND KNIPPEL WIN AT ILLINI MEYERS MEMORIAL
  Morris, IL (7/15/07)  It could have been the huge number of ASA stock cars on Friday night.  Or the return of the Illinois Vintage Stock Cars on Saturday night for the first time since they ran with the Illini Midgets on the Night of Features in 2006 (won by Frank Slabenak), but whatever the reason, the track conditions made for a fast night of racing for the 11th Annual Illini Racing Series Bob Meyers Memorial, presented by D’Arcy GMC.  Bob Meyers was the 1989 UMARA champion and this event is designed to continue to honor his memory, and to increase awareness of leukemia, the dreaded disease that claimed the life of this champion.
  
  Qualifying for all four classes soon showed this was going to be a night of fast racing, with over half the cars setting their fastest qualifying time of the year, and two classes coming away with new track records.
  
  Nick Petska rewrote the record book by posting a new track record of 17.009 for the Luisa’s Pizzaria Mimi-Mods.  He would finish second in the trophy dash to Bill Trusky before winning the heat and the feature.  Petska’s car proved again one of those old racing trusims, that “they always run real good...just before they blow upâ€�.  In reviewing my notes to prepare this report. I started to write by the #20 of Petska “L-19 smokingâ€�, to remind myself that the car began to smoke on lap 19, but I only got s--m--o written down before it became questionable if he would ever make it to the checkers.  He made it, claiming his third straight feature win before demonstrating a whole new meaning to internal combustion.
  
  The F.I.R.A. Mini-Indy cars rejoined us after a couple of races at 151 and a couple more at Rockford, since they last raced with the IRS.  At the last visit to Rockford, Jim Bass sufered injuries that will have him laid up for awhile.  We wish him a speedy recovery.
  
  Neal Gilentine had the same race results as Petska did in the Mini-Mods, nearly sweeping the class.  He set fast time for the third time at Grundy by lowering his own track record down to 15.274, winning the heat for the third time this season, and the feature, for his second win of the year.  He did not win the trophy dash, as Lyle Phillips scored his first career trip to victory lane.  Oh, and he didn’t blow the motor either.
  
  The Rascal Outlaw mini-sprints found Mark Findley on top of the timing chart for the second time this year, but from there on it was all John LeSage.  The Elgin driver won the trophy dash, his heat and the feature.  It was the second straight week LeSage won a heat and the feature, but this time in the #3 car out of the LeSage racing stable.
  
  Todd Booker climbed into the #30 usually driven by Jason Mahoney and timed third quick, was the runner-up in the dash, and finished third in the heat and the feature.  Although he won the July 4th Enduro at Grundy, it was his first time in the winged mini-sprinter. Nice job by one of the IRS’s newest members.
  
  Bob Meyer’s family worked their way down to trackside to help with the trophy presentations all night long.  and although the other classes ran two and three wide with some of the best racing we have seen all season, as it turned out Jackie, Christine and Bobby would have a hard time guessing who might end up taking home the hardware in the Illini Midgets.
  
  Lamont Critchett set fast time for the 2nd time of the season, and repeating as the top qualifier in the Meyers Memorial.  Rich Corson won his second straight  trophy dash.  Nobody would be surprised if either of these guys went on to sweep the evening, with Corson winning a week ago in his first IRS race, and this Critchett brother sitting on top of the points, but it wasn’t to be.
  
  The first heat race was won by Patrick Wilda in the Knippel/Spencer Racing #1 car.  It was Wilda’s first Illini start in several years, but his fifth race in the last two weeks.  Lamont Critchett’s night looked like it was coming to an end, after heavy contact with the turn two boiler plate.  Corson was 2nd, the only two time Meyers winner Doug Orseske took 3rd, followed by Allen Gillis, Loran Critchett, Jr. and Joe Knippel.
  
  Basil Hicks took his new B&B Automotive/Lucas Oil to the heat 2 win, with Scott Koerner in hot pursuit, and Mark Morey in third.  Morey was one of the drivers who really lowered their personal best qualifying time this night,  Koerner had to replace his Focus motor during the week.  Rookie of the Year candidate Dan George was 4th, in fifth, Mike Adams, Jr. was forced back to his old car after a fuel leak developed in the new 21A,  and Eddie Sauer once again suffered night ending mechanical problems and did not finish the heat.
  
  Before this night began, Joe Knippel said he would be happy if he could just finish this event and roll the #33 INR Beatty Lumber car back on the trailer without facing a week of major work.  Knippel had won the season opener, but crashed in race two, overheated in race three, and blew up in race four.  But those nights spent in the shop paid off.  Second quick in qualifying, second in the dash, and sixth in his heat. 
  
  “Smokin’ Joeâ€� would use his usual high line, tire smoking way to the front in short order, and never looked back.  Last week’s winner, Corson, suffered a broken hub and was unable to start the feature.  Visiting driver Wilda, found his ride faltering with a fuel supply problem which ended his on lap 23.
  
  The next Illini Racing Series sanctioned event is August 5th at Grundy County Speedway, followed by a return to Angell Park a week later on August 12th.
  
  11th Annual Bob Meyers Memorial, Grundy County Speedway, July 15, 2007, Results:
  
  MINI - MODS Qualifying       
  1.  #20, Nick Petska, Spring Grove, IL, 17.009 (NTR);  2.  #18, Jerry Giuliano, Schaumburg, IL, 17.090;  3.  #72, Bill Trusky, Antioch, IL, 17.204;  4.  #97, Joe McGinnis, Spring Grove, IL, 17.434;  5.  #5, Barry Trusky, antioch, IL, 17.752;  6.  #23, Jonathon Gagne, Deerfield, IL, 18.438;  7.  #57, Joe Marinello, Silver Lake, WI, 18.601;  8.  #7, John Demay, Lake Villa, IL, 18.744
             
  MINI - MODS TROPHY DASH (4 Laps)           
  1.  Bill Trusky, 2.  Petska, 3.  McGinnis, 4.  Giuliano   
             
  MINI - MODS HEAT RACE (10 Laps)       
  1.  Giuliano, 2.  McGinnis, 3.  Bill Trusky, 4.  Barry Trusky, 5.  Marinello, 6.  Demay, 7.  Petska, 8.  Gagne   
             
  MINI - MODS FEATURE RACE (20 Laps)           
  1.  Nick Petska, 2.  Giuliano, 3.  Barry Trusky, 4.  Marinello, 5.  McGinnis, 6.  Gagne, 7.  Demay, 8.  Bill Trusky, DNS
  
  FIRA MINI-INDY QUALIFYING           
  1.  #58, Neal Gillentine, Sugar Grove, IL, 15.274 (NTR);  2.  #17, Tim Roach, Janesville, WI, 16.959;  3.  #44, Gary Cooper, Lake Zurich, IL, 16.972; 4.  #35, Lyle Phillips, Edgerton, WI, 17.878;  5.  #57, Richard Kossak, Somonauk, IL 18.434;  6.  #43, Rich Breske, Brookfield, WI, 20.504; 7.  #1, Vern Brown, Waunakee, WI, 20.701
             
  FIRA TROPHY DASH (4 Laps)       
  1.  Phillips, 2.  Gillentine, 3.  Roach, 4.  Cooper   
  
  FIRA HEAT RACE (10 Laps)       
  1.  Gillentine, 2.  Roach, 3.  Phillips, 4.  Cooper, 5.   Kossak, 6.  Brown, 7.  Breske
  
  FIRA FEATURE RACE (20 Laps)       
  1.  Gillentine, 2.  Roach, 3.  Phillips, 4.  Cooper, 5.  Kossak, 6.  Breske, 7.  Brown
  
  RASCAL OUTLAWS QUALIFYING   
  1.  #43, Mark Findley. Ingleside, IL, 15.416;  2.  #3, John LeSage, Elgin, IL, 15.524;  3.  #30, Todd Booker, Lake Geneva, WI, 16.006;  4.  #27, Rob Pollak, Lake Geneva, WI, 16.032;  5.  #15, John Benkert, McHenry, IL, 16.369;  6.  #12, Steve Kreft, Cary, IL, 16.847;  7.  #91, Jacques Terraalt,,  Ingleside, IL, 16.967;  8.  #33, Jim Theil, McHenry, IL, 19.196
             
  RO TROPHY DASH (4 LAPS)           
  1.  LeSage, 2.  Booker, 3.   Kreft, 4.  Pollak   
             
  RO HEAT RACE 2 (10 LAPS)           
  1.  LeSage, 2.  Findley, 3.  Booker, 4.  Theil, 5.  Kreft, 6.  Benkert, 7.  Terraalt, 8.   Pollak   
             
  RO FEATURE RACE (20 LAPS)           
  1.  LeSage, 2.  Findley, 3.  Booker, 4.  Theil, 5.  Kreft,    6.  Terraalt, 7.  Benkert, 8.  Pollak, DNS
  
  ILLINI MIDGETS QUALIFYING
  1.  #44, Lamont Critchett, Chicago Heights, IL, 16.039;  2.  #33, Joe Knippel, Mokena, IL, 16.157;  3.  #0, Doug Orseske, Frankfort, IL, 16.265;  4.  #15, Rich Corson, Markham, IL, 16.361;  5.  #39, Allen Gillis, Wetmont, IL, 16.408;  6.. #1, Patrick Wilda, Minooka, IL, 16.571;  7.  #17, Loran Critchett, Alsip, IL, 16.584;  8.  #4, Scott Koerner, Joliet, IL, 16.684;  9.  #22, Basil Hicks, Joliet, IL, 16.694;  
  10.  #82, Dan George, Milwaukee, WI, 16.752;  11.  #3,  Mark MoreySugar Grove, IL, 16.846;
  12.  #74, Eddie Sauer, Davis, IL, 17.090;  13.  #21A, Mike Adams, Jr., Rockdale, IL, 17.229
             
  ILLINI MIDGETS  TROPHY DASH (4 LAPS)           
  1.  Corson, 2.  Knippel,    3.  Lor. Critchett, 4.  Orseske   
             
  ILLINI MIDGETS  HEAT RACE 1 (10 LAPS)           
  1.  Wilda, 2.  Corson, 3.  Orseske, 4.  Gillis, 5.  Lor. Critchett, 6.  Knippel, 7.  Lam. Critchett, DNF
             
  ILLINI MIDGETS  HEAT RACE 2 (10 LAPS)           
  1.  Hicks, 2.  Koerner, 3.  Morey, 4.  George, 5.  Adams, Jr., 6.  Sauer, DNF
  
  ILLINI MIDGETS FEATURE RACE (25 LAPS)           
  1.  Knippel, 2.   Hicks, 3.  Orseske, 4.  Lam. Critchett, 5.  Koerner, 6.  George, 7.  Morey, 8.  Lor. Critchett, 9.  Wilda, DNF, 10.  Adams, Jr., DNF, 11.  Gillis, DNF, 12.  Sauer, DNS, 13.  Corson, DNS
   

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• Sunday July 15th 2007

• To expand on our theories about equalizing cars, the IRS permitted, for one race only last Sunday (the Mike Adams Memorial Race), cars conforming to “National” widths and induction intakes without restrictors to race with our Sportsman Midgets. Essentially, all that was required was the use of our regular Mickey Thompson tires with the right rear inflated to a minimum of 35 psi.

  While we had some concern about this experiment’s fairness to our regulars, we elected to try it out under fire to test our theory of equalizing with tires and tire pressure. It is our belief that by limiting the grip of the tires, we can take away a great deal of the advantage of horsepower, thereby greatly limiting the budget requirements to run competitively. We tried this experiment to prove a point, and to make it even easier for “National” cars to run with us in order to increase car count. We also permitted our regulars the option of removing their restrictors as long as they ran the 35psi in the right rear.

  The result was very encouraging. We were fortunate to have several well-driven, nicely prepared “National” cars participate. Driven hard and well, it appeared to us, and was demonstrated by the results for 29æ laps, that the cars held no great advantage over our regular specification cars. Importantly, each of the “National” cars was passed by our regular cars in very thrilling races for position by some of our talented regulars.

  Had the race ended at 29æ laps, the “National” cars would have finished no higher than 3^{rd. Due to a mechanical failure by the lead car between turns 3 and 4 on the final lap, and the inability of the 2nd place car to get around his spin, it turned out that a “National” car won.}

  Notwithstanding the good results, we are not in a position to make our experimental rules permanent. We feel that with a bit more experience with the tires, an unrestricted car with “National” widths may enjoy some advantage over cars conforming to our regular rules. For the next race (Sunday), we intend to again permit “National” cars to run unrestricted, but expect to add another 2 psi pressure to the right rear unless they conform to the regular width rules. This can usually be achieved with different offset wheels on the front, and of course is easily accommodated by different spacers on the rear.

  Depending upon what experience teaches us, we may finalize similar rules after another race or two, or we may find that we need to do more trial and error with tire pressures and possibly gear ratios. In any case, we will make no changes within 4 days prior to an event, posting any such changes on this website so that competitors have reasonable notice.

  Beyond all things, we very much appreciate the cooperation and good attitudes of our regulars through this period of experimentation. We fully realize that what we are doing is a little “gamey” from the perspective of the people to whom we owe all our success. We trust that they realize that more competitors, more fans, and more pit gate are all highly desirable in our quest to keep midget racing vibrant. To work towards that end, we will take risks and ask for understanding. Please don’t be bashful if you think if our thinking is wrong. You will be cordially listened to, and will be thoughtfully responded to, even if we’re unconvinced.

  IRS Board

• 
  
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Illini Racing Series start times for Grundy Count fairgrounds Sunday night races.