Posted by Illiana Speedway on 7/25/2005, 12:52 pm
Board Administrator

Leicht captures ASA event at Illiana By Tony Baranek SCHERERVILLE, Ind. - Wrestling a race car around a half-mile paved oval 100 times on a hot summer night can never truly be called a walk in the park. Then again, maybe it can. It certainly looked like Stephen Leicht was in cruise control as he absolutely waxed the field in Saturday's ASA Racing Series Gibson Chevrolet 100 at Illiana Speedway. The Asheville, N.C., native and current ASA Racing Series points leader took the lead from Jack Smith on lap 30, and spent much of the remainder of the race nearly a half-lap ahead of the pack. Even after a yellow flag just five laps from the finish gave fast qualifier and current points runnerup Brian Campbell a chance to restart fresh on his bumper, Leicht simply pulled away and re-established a healthy lead before the checkered flag fell. "I'll tell you what. The whole team did an unbelievable job," Leicht said. "Ever since we unloaded the car, from the middle of the corner all the way off the corner it was unbelievable. "Wide open, the car never moved, never bobbled. It was like that all night long. I can't say any more about the car than what the car said on the race track." It was Leicht's second victory of the season on the ASA traveling circuit, and his first since the season opener. He came into the night with an 840-822 points lead over Campbell. Third place in Saturday's race went to the third-ranking driver in the series standings, Chad Wood. Fourth place went to veteran Bobby Stremme, with Ryan Tedesco fifth and Doug Mahlik sixth. Tony D'Ambrose, Bob Johnson and Dave Duckworth were the only local drivers on hand for the event. D'Ambrose was the only one to make the show. He had third-quickest qualifying time, but spun out early in the race and finished 22nd, seven laps down. A special 30-lap turbo stox feature race went to veteran Tom Gasik. Gasik was the last of five different leaders in the competitive event. Tony Meier, who recently returned after an absence from racing for more than a decade, led for 12 laps after taking the early lead from Jeff Ogden. Brian Kucaba had two turns at the point, taking it once from Meier, and then again after losing the top spot to Eddie Wolf. Gasik passed Kucaba for good on lap 22. Kucaba held on for a solid second, followed by Bill Serviss, Tommy Prim, Wolf and Roger Rubino. Joel Kozlowski survived a stern challenge from Donnie Richardson to prevail in the 20-lap pure stocks main. Shane Hildreth was third. SUMMARY ASA Racing Series Consolation Event: 1. Dusty Woodie, 2. Greg Niehouse, 3. Mark Hartline. 100-lap feature: 1. Stephen Leicht, 2. Brian Campbell, 3. Chad Wood, 4. Bobby Stremme, 5. Ryan Tedesco, 6. Doug Mahlik, 7. Landon Cassill, 8. Chase Austin, 9. Peter Cozzolino, 10. Jason Dietch. Turbo stox 1st heat: 1. Billy Jarrells, 2. Chris Woodall, 3. Tom Gasik. 2nd heat: 1. Steve Prim, 2. Pat O'Rourke, 3. Steve Whitehead. 30-lap feature: 1. Gasik, 2. Brian Kucaba, 3. Bill Serviss, 4. Tommy Prim, 5. Eddie Wolf, 6. Roger Rubino. Pure stocks 1st heat: 1. Bryan Kuc, 2. Michael Moore, 3. Mike Young Jr. 2nd heat: 1. Donnie Richardson, 2. Chris Sandberg, 3. Michael Lindemulder. 20-lap feature: 1. Joel Kozlowski, 2. Richardson, 3. Shane Hildreth.