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Auto Racing: At Illiana
Kalwasinski wins one for Trgovich
As reported Sunday, May 28, 2006 In the Daily Southtown
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/183sd1.htm
By Tony Baranek
Staff writer
SCHERERVILLE, Ind. — The doctors did their part last week to help fix what was ailing limited late-model car owner Nick Trgovich by installing a pacemaker. Trgovich's driver, Jack Kalwasinski, did a whale of a job completing the cure Saturday night by capturing the 25-lap feature at Illiana Speedway.
"We've been praying for him — everybody's been praying for him," Kalwasinski said of Trgovich, who could not attend Saturday's event. "I was driving for him tonight."
The victory was Kalwasinski's third of the season, and it came in dramatic fashion.
The leader for much of the race, Andy Marchiniak, survived side-by-side battles with both Michael Marden and Dan Lensing. When Kalwasinski took second away from Lensing on lap 20, though, the stakes got higher.
By then, the leaders had worked their way up to the lapped cars. Twice, Marchiniak and Kalwasinski were side by side as they worked past the situation. The second time, it appeared iffy that they would make it.
Kalwasinski, however, was able to squeeze between the lapped car on the bottom and Marchiniak on the top, and he secured the lead on the back straightaway with just three laps remaining. He went on to score the win.
Later, Kalwasinski seemed less concerned with the close call than he was that Marchiniak started up front because of a slower qualifying time.
"He's doesn't qualify that well and he starts up front all the time," Kalwasinski said. "He's gonna have to learn to qualify a little better and race with us guys (who start farther back) instead of trying to run us into lapped cars. He'll learn."
Marchiniak was concerned about the pass.
"He (Kalwasinski) made it three wide coming into the corner," Marchiniak said. "The rules say that if you make it three wide, you have to make it by the entrance of the corner. He made it three wide coming into the corner and hit me.
"He booted me out of the way for no reason. He should have hung on and waited until we were clear of the last car."
Marchiniak, who faded to fourth at the finish, was more amused by Kalwasinski's statement about his qualifying ability than angry.
"I struggle qualifying in my late-model (which he races at Grundy County Speedway) and the limited late-model," he said. "It's embarrassing starting on the front, and I'm missing out on qualifying points.
"On purpose? No," he said with a chuckle. "I just stink in qualifying."
Kalwasinski beat Richard Dawson to the finish line by 0.315 seconds. Anthony Danta was third, followed by Marchiniak, Bill Neering and Joe Fadke.
Dave Weltmeyer made it four wins on the season in the late-model division with a wire-to-wire performance. Although he benefited from a slow qualifying time as far as a starting position was concerned, Weltmeyer had the fast cars on his tail quickly because of early yellow flags.
It didn't matter. Weltmeyer was able to maintain a comfortable edge over second-running Jeff Cannon. Spaced out evenly behind the top two were Pat Kelly and Mike White. The only real battle was for fifth, with John Nutley edging Eddie Hoffman.
"I knew they were all there," Weltmeyer said. "I would rather have started further back, but because of the yellows, I believe if they had anything for me they would have shown it. I was waiting, wondering what was going on. But I guess tonight was my night."
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Last updated:
08/18/06.