The curtain fell on the 2011 United Emod Series tour last night at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania. The UEMS Emods made their first ever visit to Don Martin’s palace with a healthy 34 car field entering the season ending Steel City Stampede event.
Dave Hess of Waterford, PA continued his mastery in the UEMS events as he picked up his seventh win of the season, while Joel Watson of Conneaut, Ohio won his first ever UEMS championship dethroning three time UEMS champion, Randy Hall.
Hess and last years defending Steel City Stampede champion, Brian Ruhlman of Clark Lake, Michigan shared the front row. The two perennial UEMS and UMP Emod stars paced the field and it was Hess to the lead at the start on the very slick track. The first yellow would come out on lap two with Hess your leader over Ruhlman and Randy Hall quickly up to third from his sixth place starting spot when the first yellow came out for Jonathan Taylor who was spun by his brother Evan. Hess would choose the outside lane for the double file restart and it would be a wise decision. Ruhlman tried to nose ahead of Hess but could not do it. A series of cautions kept the field tight and close behind the two front leaders as Hall had challenges from Carl McKinney.
With the very slick track resulting from a mid day start, the racing from fifth on back was phenomenal as the UEMS stars were dicing and slicing three and four wide at times. Allen Dellinger, Deana Groves and Joel Watson were waged in a tight battle for several laps as was Larry Kugel, Al Brewer and Russ Dunn as they were all in the top ten throughout the event. Disaster struck for third place UEMS point car, Dan Davies as his car came to a stop in turn four to tighten the field one more time, but Ruhlman had nothing for Hess on the restart. Hess drove to his seventh UEMS Emod victory of the season and his first at Lernerville where he was the 2011 track late model champion. Ruhlman came home second with Hall, McKinney, Dellinger rounding out the top five. Joel Watson’s sixth place finish was more than what he needed to take home the 2011 UEMS title. Finishing behind Watson was consolation winner, John Boyd who started 21st, Larry Kugel, Jaik Halpainy was ninth after starting 25th and Al Brewer came home tenth in the final run down.
Watson becomes the second UEMS champion in the series history dethroning Randy Hall’s three year reign. Watson was the 2011 Raceway 7 champion and had two UEMS wins this year, but consistent finishes kept the Conneaut, Ohio driver on top of the point sheet most of the season. Hess victory was his seventh of the year with UEMS as he pocketed the lions share of the money in over $12,000 in his seven UEMS wins in 2011.
UEMS/UMP Modified Feature (20 Laps)
(44H) Dave Hess Jr., Waterford, PA
(49) Brian Ruhlman, Clark Lake, MI
(10) Randy Hall, Olean, NY
(6M) Carl McKinney, Cranberry Twp.
(24) Allen Dellinger, Hermitage
(92W) Joel Watson, Conneaut, OH
(1) John Boyd, Erie, PA
(27C) Larry Kugel, Baden, PA
(51) Jaik Halpainy, Jamestown, NY
(71B) Al Brewer, Belfast, NY
(68) Russ Dunn, Butler, PA
(5) Jonathan Taylor, Saltsburg, PA
(7E) Evan Taylor, Saltsburg, PA
(54S) Shawn Shingledecker, Titusville
(F10) Alex Froman, Ashville, NY
(92X) Kevin Buff, Latham, NY
(RD1) Brent Rhebergen, Clymer, NY
(1J) Wendell Pinkney, Albion, NY
(9) Clayton Kennedy, Mars,PA
(GRS2) Deana Groves, Morgantown, WV
(05) Greg Johnson, Ashville, NY
(44) Kyle Bedell, Little Valley, NY
(41) Bill Taylor, Cranesville, PA
(3) Mike Kinney, Ashtabula, OH
(71D) Dan Davies, Warren, PA
DNQ (32) Trevor Herr, (965) Andy Buckley, (01) Vic Vena, (65) Kevin Miller, (5T) Rich Prachstler, (4S) Chad Ruhlman, (17L) Vince Laboon, (38C) Josh Cramer (114) Carmen Perigo
UEMS/UMP Modified Heat 1
1. (54S) Shawn Shingledecker, Titusville
2. (6M) Carl McKinney, Cranberry Twp.
3. (27C) Larry Kugel, Baden
4. (71B) Al Brewer, Belfast NY.
5. (24) Alan Dellinger, Hermitage
6. (1) John Boyd, Erie
7. (32) Trevor Herr, Sarver
8. (965) Andy Buckley, Stoneboro
9. (01) Vic Vena, Olean, NY
UEMS/UMP Modified Heat 2
1. (44H) Dave Hess Jr., Waterford
2. (10) Randy Hall, Olean, NY
3. (GRS2) Deana Groves, Morgantown, WV
4. (68) Russ Dunn, Butler
5. (F10) Alex Froman, Ashville, NY
6. (65) Kevin Miller, Toronto, OH
7. (71D) Dan Davies, Warren
8. (114) Carmen Perigo
UEMS/UMP Modified Heat 3:
1. (41) Bill Taylor, Cranesville
2. (49) Brian Ruhlman, Clark Lake, MI
3. (44) Kyle Bedell, Little Valley, NY
4. (05) Greg Johnson, Ashville, NY
5. (9) Clayton Kennedy, Mars
6. (51) Jaik Halpainy, Jamestown, NY
7. (5T) Rich Prachstler, Albion, NY
DNS: (4S) Chad Ruhlman, Bemus Point, NY
UEMS/UMP Modified Heat 4:
1. (92W) Joel Watson, Conneaut, OH
2. (3) Mike Kikkey, Ashtabula, OH
3. (5) Jonathan Taylor, Saltsburg
4. (RD1) Brent Rhebergen, Clymer, NY
5. (1J) Wendell Rinkney, Albion, NY
6. (17L) Vince Laboon, Brentwood
7. (38C) Josh Cramer, Greensburg