The reigning and defending UMP Late Model National Champion started off the Illinois racing season with a big splash. Oakwood, Illinois', "Smooth Operator" Bobby Pierce swept the weekend's ALMS/UMP Late Model features at the 4th Annual Thaw Brawl at the Izzo family owned LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois.
Friday night featured a 50 lap, $5,000 to win ALMS/UMP, main event with some of the best in the Midwest. Pierce held off all early challenges and dominated the race. Tim McCreadie took second followed by Dennis Erb, Brandon Sheppard, and Brian Shirley.
Saturday night Pierce was at it again. There was a lot of slicing and dicing for the top five positions for the first 20 laps but on a lap 21 restart Pierce jumped out to the very top side of the track in turns one and two and made the move of the night going from third to first. Pierce would go untouched the rest of the way and take the checkered flags on lap 75 and the $15,000 top prize. Oxford, Iowa's, Chris Simpson had an impressive second place finish followed Canada's Ricky Weiss, Brian Shirley, Jared Landers, Scott Bloomquist, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dennis Erb, Steve Casebolt, and Billy Moyer.
The UMP Modifieds show had a pair of dominating performances Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, New Lenox, Illinois, Steven Brooks led wire to wire holding off Mark Anderson, Jamie Lomax, Ray Bollinger, and Kenny Wallace. Then on Saturday night, Valparaiso, Indiana's, Frank Marshall turned in his dominating performance leading the whole way. Bollinger finished second followed by Lomax and Jeff Curl.
Friday and Saturday night it was the Eddie Wolf and Luke Gash show in the UMP Street Stock division. Friday night Wolf and Gash stole the show running side by side most of the race with Wolf coming out victorious with Gash taking second. Saturday night the tables were turned Wolf and Gash would battle early on but Gash would eventually build a sizeable lead to take home the win. Wolf would finish second with Jake Miller third.
I would like to thank Tony Izzo Jr. and the entire Izzo family and LaSalle Speedway staff for being gracious host for both nights and I look forward to returning later this season.
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