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Auto Racing: At Illiana Speedway

Weltmeyer waits, then wins

As reported Sunday, May 1, 2005 In the Daily Southtown
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/012sd8.htm

By Tony Baranek
Staff writer

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SCHERERVILLE, Ind. — Slowly but surely.

That was the modus operandi of Dave Weltmeyer during his late-model feature victory Saturday night at Illiana Speedway.

The Dyer, Ind., native didn't really have much choice but to bide his time and stay in his lane as part of three side-by-side battles during much of the race.

All by himself up front, meanwhile, was veteran Bobby Gash, who had taken the early lead from Jamie Artelt and maintained a comfortable margin over the tangle of cars behind him.

"Racing tonight took a little bit of patience," Weltmeyer said. "For a while it looked like the high groove was going to move."

Weltmeyer, however, stayed on the bottom the entire way and was finally able to break from the logjam when he took second place away from Keith Sterkowitz on lap 19. Then it was a matter of catching Gash.

Weltmeyer did that on lap 21, taking the lead via the low side coming out of Turn 2. Coming along with him, however, was Pat Kelly.

The two former track champions were able to ease away from the field. As the final laps wound down, it appeared Kelly was gaining on Weltmeyer.

"Bobby gave me a little room down there and I was able to make the pass," Weltmeyer said. "And Pat, he raced me clean all night. It was a good race."

Kelly got within a car-length, but was never able to make a bid for a pass. He finished two car-lengths behind Weltmeyer at the finish.

"I just need a couple of more changes on the car," Kelly said. "I didn't think I was going to get him there (at the end). I mean, anything can happen, but you can't take nothing for granted. David's been around for a while, and he's running good now. I'm happy with second."

The third former track champ in the field, Mike White, made good strides via the high side early in the race but got caught up in traffic and had to drop back. He recovered to work his way back up to third. Fourth place went to Gash, who was followed by Joe O'Connor and Sterkowitz.

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