FARMER CITY, Ill. (July 31, 2001) - Jeff Leka Buffalo, IL made his first ever appearance to the USMTS tonight. Leka who has had a very tough season as he was hurt early in the year and missed half of the season had more bad luck strike last Friday night as Jeff’s mother passed away and will be buried on Wednesday. Leka did make it to race Tuesday night in the first night of Super Modified Week Darrell Vice Benefit race at Farmer City, IL.

In one of the best modified races ever at the speedway Leka and Tim Donlinger Rochester, MN battled side by side swapping the lead two times each lap. Mike Spaulding making the long tow from Bemidji, MN started the race from the pole position and jumped out into the lead going into turns 1-2. Spaulding lead was short lived as Donlinger took the top spot going into turn three. Donlinger looked as if he would start to pull away.

By lap fifteen Leka had reeled in Donlinger and passed him coming out of turn four. The next several laps Donlinger and Leka would race one of the cleanest races as they went side by side the rest of the race. The first yellow flag was displayed on lap 33 when the Tim Folkerts Albia, IA modified spun in turn three. Donlinger and Leka were in lap traffic by the first yellow. At the yellow the cars were lined up single file with Jimmy Owens Newport, TN right in line behind Leka and Donlinger.

When the race went back to green Donlinger and Leka would still race side by side not giving Owens the chance to get around and Owens would have to settle for a third place finish. In the tech area Owens would come up 50 lbs light at the scale and would be disqualified and would settle for twenty-fourth place. This would give Tommy Myer Blooming Prairie, MN a third place finish.

Another driver that was on the move was Mike Chasteen Peoria, IL and Bruce Hanford Davenport, IA. Hanford did win his B-main and Chasteen finished second in his B-main. The Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger of the race was Chasteen.

A very strong field of sixty-three cars were on hand for the first night of five nights. The Harris Auto Racing Heat Race were won by Mike Spaulding, Jeff Leka, Larry Allen, Ron Schreiner, Tommy Myer, Donlinger. The Midwest Motorsports B-mains were won by Gary Cook, Rodney Bowman, and Bruce Hanford. Racing will continue Wednesday night at the Knox County Fair in Knoxville, IL. Darrell Vice will be on hand at Knoxville, IL and Aledo, IL.

RESULTS

Heat 1 - Mike Spaulding, Kevin Peters, Jimmy Owens, Marty Hiser, Jason Lakey

Heat 2 - Jeff Leka, Mike Marler, Rodney Bowman, Bruce Hanford, Wes O’Dell

Heat 3 - Larry Allen, Gary Cook, Wes Steidinger, Marty Thompson, Jeff Maher

Heat 4 - Ron Schreiner, Kelly Shryock, Don Kiger, Mike Delozier, Steve Holzkamper

Heat 5 - Tommy Myer, Bill Gray, Mike Chasteen, Darin Thye, Larry Bunning

Heat 6 - Tim Donlinger, Jason Hughes, Tom Goble, Johnny Bone, Tim Weaver

B-main 1 - Gary Cook, Tim O’Donnell, Mike Marler, Willy Kraft, Mike Delozier

B-main 2 - Rodney Bowman, Mike Chasteen, Dennis Wilson, Aaron Elgin, Tim Weaver

B-main 3 - Bruce Hanford, Wes Steidinger, Larry Bunning, Steve Holzkamper, Jason Lakey

A-main - Jeff Leka Buffalo, IL, Tim Donlinger Rochester, MN, Tommy Myer Blooming Prairie, MN, Mike Chasteen Creve Coeur, IL, Ron Schreiner New Richmond, WI, Bruce Hanford Davenport, IA, Tim O’Donnell Champaign, IL, Wes Steidinger Fairbury, IL, Jason Hughes Colcord, OK, Gary Cook Deer Grove, IL, Bill Gray Germantown Hills, IL, Mike Marler Winfield, TN, Mike Delozier Carthage, IL, Kelly Shryock LeMars, IA, Kevin Peters Monmouth, IL, Larry Allen Washington, IL, Rodney Bowman Industry, IL, Mike Spaulding Bemidji, MN, Tim Folkerts Albia, IA, Larry Bunning Decatur, IL, Johnny Bone Pea Ridge, AR, Dennis Wilson Lexington, IL, Don Kiger Oakwood, IL, Jimmy Owens Newport, TN.