BY: WFO_ICE
LASALLE, ILL (September 30, 2012) - 37 of the best dirt late model drivers in the country competed in the VLR series this week at the LaSalle Speedway to see who would come out on top of the Illini 60 at the famed 1/4 mile. After qualifying it was Spartanburg, South Carolina driver VLR_McGee earning his first VLR pole since May 2011 with a blisterning 11.98 lap time. VLR_JW, Doit 10, VLR_Gage, and BLS_18 rounded out the top five qualifiers.
Heat 1 would see McGee prove that his qualifying effort was no fluke as he moved from his 4th starting spot to win heat one ahead of seven-time VLR champion, BLS_18 . JFR*Faschek would start on the pole in heat 2 and never look back. VLR_Shock kept 2nd place and would advance to the Illini 60 A-Main. In heat 3 Ice would move from 3rd to 1st in the opening laps and pull away for the win. JFR*69 was able to stay up front and make it to the A-Main. Heat 4 would see teammates VLR_JJ and Gage both advance giving VLR 4 qualifiers from the heat races.
C-Main #1 would see JFR_97 and XCR_1 advance to the B-Main, while in C-Main #2 Doit 5 and Bullet would make their way into the A-main. Doit 10 was able to stay ahead of JW after 15 laps in the B-Main as those two locked up the final two transfer positions into the prestigious A Main.
The front row for the 60 lap A Main would consist of Spartanburg, South Carolina legend VLR McGee, who looked to win his second Illini 60 at VLR, and newcomer from Lawrenceburg, Indiana VLR_Gage looking for his first ever VLR A-Main win after getting second last week at his home track, Lawrenceburg Speedway.
Gage would show no nerves on the start as he would quickly get around McGee and they would start a battle for the lead that would last for much of the race before the Indiana driver began to put a gap on veteran VLR_McGee. Shock would get knocked around early and have to work his way back into contention but McGee and Gage continued to put on a show up front.
The cagey veteran VLR_McGee would throw everything but the kitchen sink at Gage but the rookie still held his ground over the much more experienced driver. Shock would use this constant battling to close the distance on McGee and on lap 45 would work his way around the 53 car, but this would allow Gage to build a comfortable lead.
With just eleven laps to go VLR_JJ would blow a right rear tire after running over a plastic Mello Yello bottle that came out of Shock's car and would bunch the field up for an eleven lap shootout. JJ commplained to an official on the front straightaway that Shock was looking for a cheap debris caution, but the official made JJ pull his car to the garage after JJ threatened bodily harm on him.
Gage had the front row to himself for the restart as the nerves began to settle in for the young driver. On the restart VLR_Shock was able to pull along side Gage and it appeared the rookie driver might have to wait for another race to get his first VLR victory. All hell broke loose with six to go as VLR_Gage got loose out of turn two. The #15 machine would slide down into VLR_Shock who ran second, which sent Shock careening down into third place VLR_McGee as all three cars were under a blanket.
Miraculously, all three drivers managed to make incredible saves and escape the melee still running 1-2-3. VLR_Gage got his Amsoil sponsored car straightened out and would go on to hold off a hard charging VLR_Shock by just two car lengths for his first ever VLR win. VLR_McGee held on for a hard earned third place finish, just four car lengths from his first victory at the VLR series in two years.
Ice would use some late race contact to move up to 4th with BLS_18 rounding out the top 5. Faschek would cross the line in 6th with teammate Waidler in 7th and Doit 10 was able to finish in 8th. JW would be credited with 9th and JJ was not able to return after the Mello Yello bottle incident and loaded up early.
We caught up to a visibly shaking VLR_Gage after the race and he was clearly excited. "Man after the caution with 11 to go I really thought I was a sitting duck, I knew Shock was strong and McGee just needed a small opening to get by so I knew I had to be perfect for 11 laps. I have never been so nervous for a race in my life. It feels great to get a win over this caliber of drivers and I hope this leads to more wins here at VLR."
Results:
Heat 1: VLR_53, BLS_18, D45, DS5, JFR_97, Eric, C46, DLMR_27
Heat 2: JFR_16, VLR_0, VLR_JW, B43, X58, VLR_21, IFRT_14, JFR_17
Heat 3: ICE, JFR*69, Doit 10, XCR*1, ERL_68, cheeks, Kev, Turbo
Heat 4: VLR_JJ, VLR_15, BLS_3, IFRT_RB, Doit 5, Doit 42, imabeast39
C1: JFR_97, XCR*1, BLS_Kevin, cheeks, Turbo, Carter46, Eric, DLMR_27
C2: Doit 5, x58, D42, IFRT_14, VLR_21, XCR*13, JFR_17, B39
B 1:
participants: 9
1,Do!t10,G5 Warrior,242.506897,11.992126,20,816
2,V70,G5 Rocket,242.717285,11.979805,20,902
3,BLS_3,G5 MB Custom,245.925705,11.974594,20,701
4,B43,G5 Bloomquist,245.978302,12.062256,20,501
5,DS5,G5 Mastersbilt,246.101028,12.079788,20,601
6,D45,G5 Rocket,246.258820,12.044724,20,1004
7,J97,G5 Barry Wright,247.205566,12.044724,20,200
8,D5,G5 Rocket,248.467896,12.044724,20,100
9,ERL 68,G5 Rocket,248.923737,12.184982,20,401
A Main:
1 | V15 (15) | VLR_Gage G5 | 11.97 | 2:13.36 | 11
2 | VLR_0 (0) | VLR_Shock 2012 G5 | 11.99 | 2:13.61 | 11
3 | V53 (53) | VLR_53 g5 | 11.99 | 2:13.98 | 11
4 | Ice (97) | BLS_97 Blue | 12.01 | 2:14.33 | 11
5 | 18 (18) | BLS_18 G5 2012 | 12.03 | 2:14.61 | 11
6 | JFR16 (16) | JFR_4H G5 | 12.01 | 2:15.08 | 11
7 | jfr*69 (69) | JFR_Waidler Gen5 | 12.05 | 2:19.64 | 11
8 | D10 (11) | G5 Warrior 1 | 12.01 | 2:19.97 | 11