Welcome to Mike Spatola Racing

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MIKE SPATOLA TACKLES LUCAS OIL DOUBLE-DIP

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SPATOLA’S WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTED BY RUNNER-UP FINISH

(May 7, 2012)  Mike Spatola III and the Spatola Racing team ventured to the Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois and the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois on May 4-5 for a pair of weekly UMP Dirt Late Model events. On Friday night in the season opener at Kankakee, Mike won his heat race and later posted a solid runner-up finish in the $1,000 to win A-Main behind only winner Kevin Weaver. At LaSalle on Saturday evening, “Opie” ran second in heat race action, but later suffered problems in the $1,200 to win feature event and wound up eighteenth in the final rundown.

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NEW DIRTCAST INTERVIEW!

(May 1, 2012)  Second-year UMP late model rising star Mike Spatola III joined Dirt Cast to talk about his 2011 season, his surprise at how well he did, making the World 100 the first time out the event, what that means to him, the start to 2012, winning the Player Hater 50 for the second year in a row, not surprising anyone this year, working to get to the level in late models that he was at in modifieds, missing the modified division, concentrating on the Summer Nationals and his expectations for the season.  Spatola drives the #89 Speedway Auto Parts Bob Pierce.  Click here to listen to the interview with Dave Seay!

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OPIE POSTS SOLID FINISHES AT FARMER CITY & PEORIA

(April 30, 2012)  The Spatola Racing team entered two more Dirt Late Model programs over the April 27-28 weekend in the Land of Lincoln.  On Friday night, the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois played host to a $1,000 to win weekly show.  Mike Spatola III timed in ninth fastest during UMP qualifying, ran fourth in his heat race, and later climbed four spots in the main event to finish eighth in the final rundown.  At the Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Illinois on Saturday evening, Mike charged past twelve competitors in the $2,000 to win Budweiser Super Late Model Series tilt en route to a sterling fourth place performance behind only winner Brian Shirley, Kevin Weaver, and Dennis Erb, Jr.  Full results from each night can be viewed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.peoriaspeedway.com.

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SPATOLA REPEATS IN PLAYER HATER 50 AT WINSTON!

(April 23, 2012)  Mike Spatola III picked up his first win of the young 2012 racing season on Saturday night, April 21 at the Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan!  Mike won his heat race in preliminary action to earn a starting spot towards the front of the ‘Player Hater 50’ field.  During the course of the American Late Model Series (ALMS) feature event, “Opie” battled back and forth with Rusty Schlenk, but eventually came out on top to capture the $2,500 payday.  Mike beat Schlenk, Dona Marcoullier, Tom Sprague, Jr., and Curtis Roberts to the checkers to claim his second straight ‘Player Hater 50’ triumph!

Earlier in the weekend, the #89 team rolled into the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois on Friday for a $2,000 to win Northern Allstars Late Model Series (NALMS) battle.  Mike wound up eighth in the final rundown of the feature event on Friday at the 1/4-mile fairgrounds venue.  Complete results from both weekend shows can be accessed online at www.dirtondirt.com. 

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OPIE FINISHES 7TH AT FARMER CITY; 5TH AT LASALLE

(April 16, 2012)  A rainy weekend in the Land of Lincoln sent the #89 team searching for places to race from April 13-15.  On Friday night, the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois paid $1,000 to the winner of a weekly UMP program.  Mike Spatola timed in eleventh fastest at the 1/4-mile oval and later ran fifth in his loaded heat race.  The popular driver known as “Opie” then moved up two spots in the A-Main to finish in the seventh position.

The dirt-slinging action quickly turned to the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois on Saturday evening for a $1,200 to win UMP show.  Mike ran second in his heat race, which locked him into the inside of the second row for the main event.  The Manhattan, Illinois ace ran amongst the leaders throughout the feature before notching a fifth place performance behind only winner Ryan Unzicker, Tim Isenberg, Brett Sievert, and Shawn Toczek.  The team was then rained-out on Sunday at the Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Illinois.  Complete results from the rain-soaked weekend can be viewed online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.lasallespeedway.com. 

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SPATOLA RETURNS TO ACTION AT LASALLE...
(April 9, 2012)  The Spatola Racing team entered their second event of the 2012 racing season on Saturday, April 7 at the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois.  The UMP DIRTcar Series sanctioned the ‘Thaw Brawl’ at the 1/4-mile bullring and a $5,000 winner’s check was on the line.  Mike Spatola III did not advance out of his loaded heat race, but he did finish second in his B-Main to gain access into the 40-lap feature event.  At the conclusion of the ‘Thaw Brawl,’ Mike was credited with a seventeenth place performance.  Complete results from LaSalle Speedway can be viewed online at www.lasallespeedway.com.

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MIKE SPATOLA KICKS OFF SEASON WITH ILLINI 100

(April 1, 2012)  Mike Spatola III and the Spatola Racing team kicked off their version of the 2012 racing season on March 30-31 at the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series once again presided over the annual ‘Illini 100’ at the 1/4-mile fairgrounds venue and a stout field of 53 competitors were all eying the hefty $20,000 top prize. On Friday night, Mike timed in thirty-first fastest in WOOLMS qualifying and later ran seventh in his loaded heat race. “Opie” then finished eighth in his B-Main on Saturday evening and unfortunately could not advance into the night’s 100-lapper. Full results from the ‘Illini 100’ weekend can be viewed by clicking on www.worldofoutlaws.com.

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SPATOLA READY TO START 2012 SEASON!!!

(March 20, 2012)  Mike Spatola and the Spatola Racing team have been working feverishly all off-season and almost have their equipment ready to roll for the 2012 season opener.  Mike will open up his ’12 campaign next weekend (March 30-31) at the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois.  The ultra-competitive World of Outlaws Late Model Series will once again preside over the ‘Illini 100’ at the 1/4-mile bullring and a whopping $20,000 payday will be on the line.  Mike would love to meet and greet all of his fans next weekend in his season opener at Farmer City!