Posted by Kankakee Speedway on 5/16/2005, 11:25 am
Board Administrator

KANKAKEE -- They call him Teddy "Tornado" Loomis these days, and the defending track champion easily destroyed the Late Model competition here Friday (May 13) at the Kankakee Valley Motor Speedway. Loomis noted that "I have really struggled here this season, but this could turn things around." All he did was win his heat, then start from the front row of the feature and leave the field in his dust – as any self-respecting tornado would. Richie "The Hitman" Hedrick comes with his own nickname and he brought along a two-week feature winning streak. But he could do more than catch a glimpse of Loomis now and then as they darted through traffic. Hedrick settled for second and John Provanzano scored a third, just ahead of the track's teenage sensation Frank Heckenast Jr. After failing to turn a competitive qualifying lap on a rain-slickened track, Heckenast started from the back of his heat and wound up second – just as his engine blew. Before the feature, he changed over his sister Sherri's car, jumped in it and started from the back of the field again. He roared through the field, including a pass on fifth-place RJ Gall, the man who electrified this crowd two weeks ago when he ran a three-wide battle with Provanzano and Hedrick. In the Open-Wheel Modifieds, it was a welcome back night for some veteran drivers who hadn't been in the winner's circle lately. Tommy Kroll won his heat and the feature. Phil Line won his heat and finished fourth in the main event, behind runnerup Matt Bachman and third-place Jim Ferris. Ferris, who will be taking time off to recover from upcoming elbow surgery, won the other heat. In the Street Stock Division, Mike Cavanaugh scored his second feature win of the season, holding off a determined charge from Kevin Lenzen. The track also hosted INEX-sanctioned Bandolero and Legend car racing for the first time. Jimmy Uteg Jr. swept the lightweight division, and Keith Moline came all the way from Iowa to claim both of the Legend car events. Summaries: Late Model Division Fast Time: John Provanzano – 14.390 First Heat: 1. Kary Matthew; 2. Frank Heckenast Jr.; 3. Rich Hedrick Second Heat: 1. Ted Loomis; 2. Sherri Heckenast; 3. RJ Gall Feature: 1. Loomis; 2. Hedrick; 3. Provanzano; 4. F. Heckenast; 5. Gall Open-Wheel Modifieds Fast Time: Dave Porth – 16.001 First Heat: 1. Phil Line; 2. Kevin Hastings; 3. Porth Second Heat: 1. Tommy Kroll; 2. William Harrison; 3. Jason Hastings Third Heat: Jim Ferris; 2. Matt Bachman; 3. Bob Pohlman Feature: 1. Kroll; 2. Bachman; 3. Ferris; 4. Line; 5. Pohlman Street Stock Division First Heat: 1. Kevin Lenzen; 2. Darrin Kohler; 3. Tony Hemp Second Heat: 1. Mike Cavanaugh; 2. Billy Wicker; 3. Jay Morris Third Heat: 1. Steve Dimmick; 2. Bill Stevenson; 3. John Geary Semi-Feature: 1. James Sain; 2. Vern Gaus; 3. John Hennessey Feature: 1. Cavanaugh; 2. Lenzen; 3. Dimmick; 4. Kohler; 5. Wicker