Posted by Kankakee Speedway on 8/1/2005, 3:47 pm
Board Administrator

KANKAKEE, IL � A week of practice was all Kevin Weaver needed to come in and claim the $2,500 first-prize money Friday at the Kankakee Valley Motor Speedway. That � a little luck... and a car that would handle the low-groove. The "Flatland Flash" made it two feature wins in a row, when he reeled in race leader Ted Loomis and took advantage of Dennis Erb's early departure in the 40-lapper. Meanwhile, Bob Pohlman appeared to be on the same lowside route to success in the Open-Wheel Modified feature, but a mechanical failure knocked him out of the race just seconds after he grabbed first. Kyle Cooper took over then with five laps to go and won his first UMP Modified feature, using the high groove. The track's defending point champ, Loomis, held the feature lead for the first 18 laps, before giving way to Weaver. He was on the upper edge of the high groove and brushed the wall on lap 37. That seemed to set him back and he dropped two more spots before the checkered flag came out, giving second to this summer's point leader, John Provanzano and third to Richie Hedrick. In other Late Model action, Frank Heckenast Jr. won his heat with ease, but his dad and Tony Izzo Jr., gave fans quite a side-by-side show in their heat (won by Izzo). Provanzano had a tough field of cars in his heat and had to come through the semi-feature to make into the feature. And, for the second time this month, he charged from the back to second place. The runnerup spot in the Modified feature went to Dan Hamstra � Cooper's uncle. Jim Farris, who lead for first 15 laps, had to settle for third and Dave Porth, who turned the division's quick time, was fourth. Porth, Cooper, Hamstra and Farris were each heat winners, so the stage was set, except for the Pohlman surprise. Starting six rows off the pole, He moved to fourth on lap 10; third on 12; second on 14 and first one lap later. "Then a spool broke," he said. "And when that happens, it's over. You're done." In the Street Stocks, Randy Akers lead from wire to wire, while defending track champ Don McCarty challenged the Hoosier again and again on the inside. Unfortunately for McCarty, he never found the traction to pass. In the end, Steve Dimmick used the outside line to grab second, and McCarty settled for third. Mike Cavanaugh wound up fourth and Darren Kohler fifth. Summaries: Late Model Division Fast Time: Rich Hedrick � 14.341 Trophy Dash: 1. Wes Steidinger; 2. Rich Hedrick; 3. Joe Harlan First Heat: 1. Frank Heckenast Jr.; 2. Hedrick; 3. Dan Waldon Second Heat: 1. Ted Loomis; 2. Kevin Weaver; 3. Steidinger Third Heat: 1. Dennis Erb; 2. George Scheffler; 3, Bob Pohlman Fourth Heat: 1. Tony Izzo, Jr.; 2. Frank Heckenast Sr.; 3. Dick Potts Semi-Feature: 1. John Provanzano; 2. RJ Gall; 3. Kyle Roderick 40-lap Feature: 1. Weaver; 2. Provanzano; 3. Hedrick; 4. Loomis; 5. Russ Sheffler Open-Wheel Modifieds Fast Time: Dave Porth � 15.944 First Heat: 1. Porthl 2. Matt Bachman; 3. Tony Roland Second Heat: 1. Jim Farris; 2. Georg Aimone; 3/ Bob Pohlman Third Heat: 1. Dan Hamstra; 2. Jay Ledford; 3. Vince Cooper Fourth Heat: 1. Kyle Cooper; 2. AJ Dixon; 3. Rick Thomas Semi-Feature: 1. Phil Line; 2. Joel Funk; 3. Bobby Keller Feature: 1. K. Cooper; 2. Hamstra; 3. Farris; 4. Porth; 5. Bachman Street Stock Division (No Qualifying Session) First Heat: 1. Don McCarty; 2. Jay Morris; 3. Mike Cavanaugh Second Heat: 1. Randy Akers; 2. Steve Dimmick; 3. Brett Peters Third Heat: 1. Darren Kohler; 2. Tony Hemp; 3. Justin Withoff Feature: 1. Akers; 2. Dimmick; 3. McCarty; 4. Cavanaugh; 5. Kohler