ULMS Late Model Teams Tune Up For Duffy Memorial
With the nice warm weather in the area this past weekend, many of the Northern Tier ULMS dirt late model teams hit the local race tracks to get track time for this Saturday’s series opener at McKean County Raceway. The Jim Duffy Memorial will pay $2000 to win plus lap money for the 30 lap main event at the East Smethport, PA oval. The winner will also be a guranteed starter for the $5000 to win IRS sanctioned Dave Lundgren Memorial in May.
MCR held their open practice on Saturday and three Northern Tier ULMS late model teams were on hand shaking down their new rides for the upcoming season. Two-time defending ULMS champion, Bob Close was on hand with his Close Lumber, Close Racing Supply, Malcuit Racing Engines number 04 GRT machine. Close Racing Team stayed right till dusk fine tuning their machine in their quest to become the first three-time ULMS champion.
Todd Andrews was also on hand with two cars. Andrews Racing had the Andrews Auto Salvage, Malcuit Engines GRT chassis that he raced at Challenger last fall and a new CJ Rayburn chassis. Both cars were very quick on the slick daytime surface. Andrews has won the past two Jim Duffy Memorials and he will be looking to three-peat in the Duffy Memorial and take home the $2000 back to Eldred.
Al Brewer was shaking down his new Gary Henry Racing Engines power plant in his Jerge’s Buyers of Scrap Metal, Amsoil, Cousins Designs #71 Rocket Chassis. Brewer turned in a lot of track time preparing for an assault at the ULMS title.
It was a great Saturday night for Boom Briggs of Bear Lake, PA. Briggs who has finished third in the final ULMS points that past two years won the opening night feature at Stateline Speedway over former two-time ULMS champion, Dick Barton.
Also at Stateline kicking off their 2008 late model season was Chad Valone who finished fourth. Greg Oakes who was seventh last year in the ULMS title chase came home ninth. Darrell Bossard was eleventh, one position ahead of 2008 ULMS RoY candidate, Dennis Lunger. 2007 ULMS RoY Champion, Mike Knight was at Stateline and finished off the pace in twenty-fourth. Knight was at Hilltop Speedway the night before in Ohio and was running third in the main event until his night ended with a flip. Hopefully next weekend will be much better for the 9K racing team.
Dutch Davies had a fine weekend with a eighth place finish at Lernerville and a fine second place finish at Challenger on Saturday night.
Dave Hess Jr. who finished fifth in the 07 final points had a pair of top fives this past weekend. Dave was led early in the IRS event at Hilltop before Rob Blair passed him. Little Hess came home fifth and backed that up with a third at Challenger. Dave also finished thirteenth at the World of Outlaw event at Lernerville on Tuesday. He also picked up the $12,000 check from Alltel for the ‘Alltel DIRTcar All-Star’ contest.
Rob Blair has three ULMS wins to his career and he kicked off his 08 campaign with a win at Hilltop by capturing the $6000 IRS sanctioned event. Blair was fourth at Challenger also.
David Scott was able to make the World of Outlaw starting field on Tuesday as well. He came home twenty-third after pulling off early in the event. David was also at the IRS event at Hilltop Speedway and was unable to qualify for the main event. Slowride and the Dan Moore Racing #3 team will be at MCR for the season opening Jim Duffy Memorial.
Cyclone, Pennsylvania’s, Jason Dupont ventured down south to Charlotte for the Colossal 100. Dupont’s, Northern Tier Inc. #7 Rocket Chassis failed to qualify for the $50,000 to win event. Dupont has made two trips to Hagerstown Speedway earlier in the month and had impressive finishes. Look for the Keane Oil Drilling, Northern Tier Inc #7 team at MCR as well this Saturday.
Several United Emod racers were in action as well this past weekend at Stateline. UEMS current point leader, Randy Hall won the opening night action at Stateline. This was Hall’s third win of the year at three different tracks in three different states! Rich Michael was also at Stateline; he captured a heat win and finished fourth. Jack Young who was the early leader at the UEMS opener at Mercer had a solid second place finish at Stateline while Justin Carlson was eighth. Steve Dixon was also on hand for the season opener at Stateline.
The NORTHERN TIER INC. ULMS late models will kick off their 2008 season this Saturday at McKean County Raceway. Fans can expect to see Close, Andrews, Barton, Briggs, Hess, Scott, Dupont, Brewer, Oakes, Bossard, Lunger, Luke Hoffner, Jeff Hoffman, Chris Farrell, Ed Connor, Peter Mantha, Doug Ricotta and many others for the season opening event. Race teams are reminded there is a $20 entry fee for the ULMS event and the 2008 point title is worth $2000.
Grandstand ticket prices for the Jim Duffy Memorial are: $13 for adults (age 17-61), $11 for Sr. Citizen (62 & over), $6 for Youth (age 11-16) and children under 10 (Free). MCR has developed a “family pack admission deal”. The family pack consists of 2 adults and up to 4 children (ages 1-16) will be $25.00 -a $36.00 savings price off of 2007 admission prices!
On a sad note, the entire ULMS family would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the Rick Isadore family. Rick was the 2004 ULMS champion and suffered a severe heart attack on Friday and is currently in critical condition at an Erie, Pennsylvania hospital.
United Late Model Series sponsors are: Northern Tier Inc., Bernheisel Race Cars Inc., Hoosier Tire of Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer, R&M Home and Auto / AMSOIL, Close Racing Supply, GRT Race Cars, Big Shot Performance, The Shock SAVER, WZKZ Radio, Cousins Designs, Bills Dirt Late Models.com, Genesis Shocks, Raceway Magazine.com, Andrews Auto Salvage, Wheeler Racing Videos and Justified by Grace Web Services.