Close Repeats ULMS Woodhull Late Model Reunion Win
August 15, 2007
(Woodhull, NY)
The United Late Model Series ventured into southern central New York Saturday night for the 16th annual Woodhull Late Model Reunion presented by R&R Promotions. Twenty seven late models from New York, Pennsylvania and Quebec, Canada made the tow to Woodhull Raceway in Woodhull NY. This was the largest late model car count in the history of the Late Model Reunion. Bob Close, the 2006 ULMS champion picked up his first win of the season and repeated his 2006 Woodhull Reunion win.
Woodhull Raceway owner, Vern Wasson elected to start all twenty seven late models that came to support the annual event and the fans were treated with a four wide salute by the drivers before they took ULMS starter, Tony VanPelt’s green flag. Pair of first time Woodhull visitors, Dave Hess and Chad Hollenbeck screamed down the front chute and it was Hess leading out of turn two when Quebec driver, Pierre Manthas spun in turn one to bring out the first yellow and a complete restart. Hollenbeck got the jump on Hess on the restart but again as the field rolled into turn one it was Bud Phillips of Susquehanna, PA spinning collecting the cars of Chris Farrell, Roger Laughlin and Manthas again. The third restart, the field made it thru turn one and two and Hollenbeck scooted in front of Hess, Bob Close and John Lobb to lead lap one when Dan Stone uncharestically looped it in turn one collecting the cars of Phillips, Dave Zona and former reunion winner, Al Brewer. Brewer would be finished for the night.
ULMS officials elected to go single file restart and Hollenbeck used it for his advantage and he would lead lap two over the growling field of Hess, Close, Lobb and Dave Scott. Close would slip by Hess for second on lap three as the field Scott was using the high line to go to the front. The yellow came out again on lap four for Jason Dupont who got tagged by Jim Yoder in turn two and heat winner, Jeremy Randall would spin by himself in turn three. Hollenbeck was still your leader, but Close was chomping at the bit on the restart. Lap six would be the lap for Close to take his white #04 Close’s Lumber, GRT chassis to the front as Hess would follow into second and Slowride was now in fourth using the high line. Scott would use the high line and go from fourth to second on lap eight as threesome of Close, Scott and Hess were putting on a battle for the modified fans. As the front runners came roaring down the front stretch the car of Jeremy Randall was being chased down and was heading for the pit road as Scott tried to go around Randall as they came into turn one, Scott’s #3 Mastersbilt would get bounced into the retaining wall ending his night and a possible win on his first ever visit to Woodhull. Scott had a sizeable lead in the ULMS points but with a DNF for the night it has now tightened the point lead.
Close would refire the field in turn four with Hess trying to do all he could to get under the new Woodhull late model master. Hollenbeck was having a fine run in third with ULMS Hill Raceway winner, John Lobb sitting fourth and Billy Marvin also having a impressive run in fifth. The yellow came out again on lap eleven for spinning car of Bud Phillips and Manthas coming to a stop as well in turn four. Close was still your leader over Hess, Hollenbeck, Lobb and Marvin. A few more green flag laps were ran and one more yellow came out for Marvin who lose the handle and slammed one of the grader tires inside turn three. He would be finished for the night ending a good night that he had going. Close again would refire and Hess set sail again after the potent #04 machine. Making his presence known was Mike Knight who now was in fifth. A torrid battle between Knight, Boom Briggs, Greg Oakes and Jeff Hoffman was going on for fifth and on lap eighteen, the Knight Rider would move into fourth as John Lobb slipped to fifth and on lap twenty, Boom Briggs would put Lobb back another spot. Close had build a comfortable five car length lead over Hess and Hollenbeck was still having a fine run in third over Knight when Bud Phillips would bring out the final yellow of the event setting up a one lap shootout.
Hess had one lap to make the move he needed to get by Close and Hollenbeck was going to look for the opportunity to get both drivers, but Close just slammed the door shut and raced across the line first to repeat his 2006 Woodhull win and pick up his first win of the season and his sixth career ULMS win, putting him in sole possession of the most wins in the series. Hess came home second with Hollenbeck, Knight and Boom Briggs finishing fifth. The four cars behind Close at the line all made their maiden visit to Woodhull a successful visit. Rounding out the top ten were, Greg Oakes, Waylon Wagner, John Lobb, Dave Zona and Dan Stone who came back from the early lap one spin.
Close drives the white #04, Close Racing Supply, Close Lumber Company, Johnson Distributing, Integra Shocks, Cousins Designs, Insignor Fuels, Malcuit Racing Engines, American Racer Tire, GRT, Pontiac Grand Prix. Close complimented his crew for keep fine tuning his machine all night long and Woodhull modified drivers, Curt and Billy VanPelt for helping on tire choice. The hard work by the Close crew and the little help proved to be worth $2000 at the end of the night. With Close’s win, he now sits second in points behind David Scott as only six points separate the two drivers.
The Qualifying heat events were all thrilling. Jeremy Randall and John Lobb, who both made the first ever visits to Woodhull had the fans on the feet the last half of the race in a dealing battle with Randall winning. The second heat event was even more thrilling as the leaders ran three an four wide at times. Boom Briggs, Dave Hess, Jeff Hoffman and Mike Knight swapped positions all event long, before Briggs winning over the other three. Greg Oakes used the outside pole for his advantage and was able to hold off a very hard charging David Scott to capture the third heat event as the lead swapped hands twice in the final lap.
The annual Race of Champions was held with a little twist this year. With only three past winners on hand, the three heat winners were added to the field joining past winners, Bob Close, Jeff Hoffman and Al Brewer. Hoffman would use the outside lane for his liking and distance himself at the start, but it was Boom Briggs using a last lap, turn four slide job to bring the crowd to their feet to beat out Hoffman at the line. Close, Randall, Oakes and Brewer rounded out the field.
The annual modified / late model challenge saw three of Woodhull’s finest against the top 3 in ULMS points go head to head. David Scott used the outside groove on the start and went to the bottom as the B4 of Bryan Terwilliger followed Slowride. Bob Close and Chris Farrell sat third and fourth in their late models till Farrell nearly looped it ruining his chance. Billy VanPelt and Close started to real in the leaders but David Scott showed the Woodhull modified faithful why he is the ULMS point leader by capturing the annual Woodhull late model / modified dash.
The next event scheduled for the ULMS late models will be the 2nd Annual MCR Fall Classic at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, PA. The biggest paying event in the history of both ULMS and MCR. One driver could walk away with more than $20,000! Friday, September 28 it will be the Dave Lundgren Memorial paying $5000 to win and on Saturday the 29th the 2nd annual Priority Care RaceFAN 50 will pay $12,000 to win along with a $3000 bonus if the same driver can win both nights. It’s a event you do not want to miss and with the point chase being all jumbled up after Woodhull, the championship can be anybody’s still.
RESULTS:
Bernheisel Race Cars / Magnum Graf-x Heat #1
Jeremy Randall, John Lobb, Jason Dupont, Billy Marvin, Dan Stone, Dave Norton, Pierre Manthas, Vern Wasson, Roger Laughlin
Close Racing Supply / American Racer Tires Heat #2
Boom Briggs, Dave Hess, Jeff Hoffman, Mike Knight, Jim Yoder, Waylon Wagner, Bud Phillips, Al Brewer, Jeremy Ohl
Hoosier Tire – Mid Atlantic / Cousins Designs Heat #3
Greg Oakes, David Scott, Chad Hollenbeck, Bob Close, Dave Zona, Chris Farrell, Doug Ricotta, Harry Miller and Dylan Yoder
Race of Champions:
Boom Briggs, Jeff Hoffman, Bob Close, Jeremy Randall, Greg Oakes, Al Brewer
Modified / LM Dash
David Scott, Bryan Terwilliger, Bob Close, Billy VanPelt, Frank Dunning and Chris Farrell
16th Annual WOODHULL LATE MODEL REUNION:
BOB CLOSE, Dave Hess, Chad Hollenbeck, Mike Knight, Boom Briggs, Greg Oakes, Waylon Wagner, John Lobb, Dave zona, Dan Stone, Harry Miller, Dave Norton, Jeff Hoffman, Jeremy Ohl, Jason Dupont, Vern Wasson, Chris Farrell, Roger Laughlin, Doug Ricotta, Bud Phillips, Billy Marvin, Pierre Manthas, David Scott, Jeremy Randall, Dylan Yoder, Al Brewer and Jim Yoder.
16th Annual ULMS R&R Motorsports Late Model Reunion at Woodhull Raceway
August 6, 2007
For Directions To Woodhull, Click Here
The United Late Model Series will roll into Woodhull Raceway this coming Saturday, August 11. Woodhull Raceway will be home of some twenty plus ground pounding, sleek, low to the ground, three wheeling dirt late models for 16th Annual ULMS Late Model Reunion presented by R&R Motorsports. Some of the top regions dirt late model stars are expected to be on hand. The rain date for this event is Sunday. The winner will go home with $2000! Bob Close is the defending Woodhull winner and will be looking to repeat his performance of last year. Northeastern Pennsylvania driver, Dave Zona will be looking to finish one position better than his second place finish to Close last year. This will be the seventeenth year that Rod Biehler and Roger Morris of R&R Motorsports have brought the late models to Woodhull.
This event is always a big hit at Woodhull as the late models were a weekly division in the 70s and early 80s. Also, the fans get to see a past champions race for the past reunion winners and the 358 DIRT Modified fans get to see their weekly heroes go one on one with the ULMS stars in the annual modified / late model dash. Drivers that plan on attending this event include the ULMS point leader, David Scott, Bob McMillen, Chris Farrell, Dave Zona, Dan Stone, Greg Oakes, Jason Dupont, Boom Briggs, Mike Knight, Darrell Bossard along with past winners, Bob Close, Al Brewer, Jeff Hoffman and Mike Wonderling should be on hand as well. The event will be a DOUBLE POINTS event for the ULMS racers. Scott, Farrell and Bossard will represent the ULMS racers in the modified / late model challenge. Bob Close will be the first alternate if one of the three are unable to attend or participate.
David Scott will lead the ULMS contingent with two wins and a solid point lead over the rest of the field. Clearfield, Pennsylvania driver, Chris Farrell sits second in points after coming off two successful top ten place finishes at The HILL Raceway and McKean County Raceway. Darrell Bossard of Centerville, PA currently sits third in points with, defending champion, Bob Close three points back in fourth. Bob McMillen of St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania and John Lobb of Frewsburg, NY are tied for fifth three points behind Close.
Past winners of this event are Ron Davies, Al Brewer, Todd Andrews, Bob Baldwin, Bob Close, Tim Hoffman, Jeff Hoffman, Ed Carley, Mike Wonderling and Dick Barton. These drivers are invited to run in the Race of Champions event. Brewer and Close have won the Race of Champions the last two years. Close won last year with a last lap turn four pass on Brewer, while the year before the two drivers made contact in turn three on the final lap. They both will be favorites again in the Race of Champions.
Woodhull Raceway will also be featuring a full card of their regular racing program. Woodhull Raceway is located off Rte 417 in Woodhull, NY. You can visit Woodhull Raceway on the web at www.woodhullraceway.com.
After the Woodhull double point event, the points should be all be shuffled as the series gears up for the biggest weekend in its history. The MCR FALL CLASSIC at McKean County Raceway on September 28 and 29th will see a driver possibly walk away with more than $20,000! On Friday, September 28, the ULMS dirt late models will run the make up Dave Lundgren Memorial, which will pay $5000 to win and on the very next day, the ULMS stars will run the 2nd Annual Priority Care RaceFAN 50 that will see the winner go home with $12,000. There are bonuses also, if any driver can win both events they will get a $3000 bonus and if that same driver can win the FASTRAK Late Model race on Friday night they could walk away with $25,000! For more information check the websites out at mckeancountyraceway.com and unitedlatemodelseries.com.
Todd Andrews Captures Eckl Memorial for Second Time
August 3, 2007
(E. Smethport, PA)
Todd Andrews became the first two time winner of the Stephanie Eckl Memorial last night at McKean County Raceway. Andrews picked up the thirty lap Stephanie Eckl Memorial and also became a guaranteed starter for the ULMS Woodhull Late Model Reunion next Saturday at Woodhull Raceway. Andrews had to win the hard way, coming from twelfth in the field and using a few lucky yellows along the way. His win will no doubt make him one of the top contenders for the possible $20,000 that is up for grabs at the MCR Fall Classic in late September at MCR.
The roaring thunder of the United Late Model Series rolled onto the facility for the second time of the year. The super late models were gunning for $2000 in the Stephanie Eckl Memorial and outsider, Luke Hoffner and defending ULMS champion, Bob Close were the front row starters. Hoffner got the quick jump on Close at the start as the US Air Force machine of Dutch Davies put Close back to third as lap one was completed. As lap two was going into the books, Bob McMillen would get crossed up resulting in a two-car accident with Bump Hedman and Kirk Bradley. Bradley received the worse of it and was done for the night. Davies restarted the field and David Scott was already making his presence as he charged from seventh to third by lap three and the very next lap put Hoffner back to third. Boom Briggs and Close were in a battle for fifth as lap five clicked off the board. Entering the picture on lap eight was Todd Andrews who started twelfth and he was now in fifth as he battled Hoffner and Close for fourth. As lap ten clicked off the board, Davies was checking out and David Scott brought out the yellow when his right rear tire went apart and left debris in turn one. This put Boom Briggs on the outside of Dutch with Close, Andrews and Hoffner rounding out the top five. Again, Davies jetted away just like one of the US Air Force fighter planes as Briggs was tried to keep up. Close, Andrews and Hoffner waged in a torrid three way battle and at the halfway point, Andrews finally went around both Hoffner and Close to move into second. A pair of yellow on lap 16 and 17 kept the field tight. Davies again set sail and left the field in his wake as Briggs and Andrews duked it out for second and Close and Hoffner kept their battle for fourth alive. Andrews would take his black #42 to second on lap nineteen but only to see Briggs get it back on lap twenty. As the duo charged down the back stretch, Andrews had a car length on Briggs as they entered turn three and the hard charging, high groove running Briggs, jumped the cushion and spun to bring out the final yellow of event. That was the last thing Dutch Davies wanted to see as his huge lead disappeared again.
Davies refired the field in the middle of turn 3 and tried to distance himself from Andrews. Andrews kept Davies in his crosshairs. As Andrews looked low to get by Davies, David Scott was rim riding his way back to the front and with five to go, found himself in sixth position and coming to the front fast. Andrews went to the top of the track at the same time and on lap twenty-six would put his black #42 Andrews Auto Salvage, Rayburn chassis to the front for the first time of the event and put a car length over Dutch. Close was still third holding off Hoffner and Chad Valone was in fifth as the trio kept the bottom groove closed off, but that played into the hands of Scott who was running the top side and with three to go moved into fourth and with two to go moved around Close for third, but he ran out of time to catch the two leaders. As the double checkers flew for Andrews, Davies followed him to the line by a few car lengths, with Scott, Close and Luke Hoffner just edging Chad Valone at the line by a few feet for fifth. Heat winners were: Scott, Davies and Boom Briggs.
RESULTS:
Bernheisel Race Cars, Inc and Magnum Graf-x Heat #1:
David Scott, Todd Andrews, Bob Close, Bob McMillen, Kirk Bradley, Greg Oakes, John Lobb
Close Racing Supply and Lias Tire Heat #2:
Dutch Davies, Chad Valone, Luke Hoffner, Paul Briggs, Chris Farrell, Dick Barton, Ed Connor
Hoosier Tire – Mid Atlantic and Cousin Designs Heat #3:
Boom Briggs, Jeff Hoffman, Bump Hedman, Chad Ruhlman, Rick Isadore, Darrell Bossard, Jason Dupont.
Hoosier Tire – Mid Atlantic Contigency: Todd Andrews
Lias Tire – Contingency – Bob Close
United Late Model Series Stephanie Eckl Memorial: 1) TODD ANDREWS, 2) Dutch Davies, 3) David Scott, 4) Bob Close, 5) Luke Hoffner, 6) Chad Valone, 7) Chris Farrell, 8) John Lobb, 9) Bump Hedman, 10) Darrell Bossard, 11) Jeff Hoffman, 12) Boom Briggs, 13) Paul Briggs, 14) Bob McMillen, 15) Jason Dupont, 16) Ed Connor, 17) Rick Isadore, 18) Greg Oakes, 19) Chad Ruhlman, 20) Kirk Bradley, 21) Dick Barton (DNS)
