ANDREWS CAPTURES ULMS ECKL MEMORIAL FOR THIRD TIME
(E. Smethport, PA) The Northern Tier Inc. United Late Model Series returned to McKean County Raceway for the first time since last years season ending Fall Classic for the 4th Annual Stephanie Eckl Memorial. ULMS point leader, Todd Andrews of Eldred, PA took the $3000 top prize back home for his third Eckl Memorial win.
The Northern Tier Inc. ULMS late models rolled onto the facility for the 30 lap Stephanie Eckl Memorial with 2007 ULMS Rookie of Year driver,Mike Knight and David Scott on the front row by virtue of their Andrews Auto Salvage Dash wins. As the twenty-six car field roared out of turn four to take Tony Van Pelt’s green flag, Knight shot into the lead over Scott. Fourth place starter Darrell Bossard slid high in turn two to lose a few positions on the opening lap as Brent Rhebergan, Andrews and seventh place starter, Bump Hedman were your top five after the first lap.
The first yellow of the event came out for Chris Farrell’s spin on lap 5. Knight shot back in front on the restart, as Andrews would swoop from fourth to second as Dick Barton entered the top five. Knight and Andrews would pull away from the field, as the two cars seemed evenly matched. As the leaders ran nose to tail at the halfway mark they entered lap traffic, as the top five was still Knight, Andrews, Scott, Rhebergan, Barton and Bob Close in sixth. Heavy lap traffic was now a factor as the crowd was on their feet as Knight and Andrews would swap lanes weaving thru traffic and on lap twenty-one, Andrews would stick his black #42 Rayburn in the middle of a three wide traffic jam in turn three to sweep by Knight to take the lead. Knight came charging back as he looked for the high side in turn one to try to grab the lead back, but Andrews would use the low line to his advantage. The second yellow came out on lap twenty-three as third place running David Scott sat sideways in turn one. Seventh place running, Luke Hoffner would come to a stop as well under the yellow as he would need a push into the pits and Scott would park the Slowride #3 as well. With seven laps remaining the crowd rose to their feet knowing they were going to see the top two duo give them a sprint for the win. Andrews would charge down the front chute on the restart and took the low line, Knight would go to the top and pulled beside Andrews momentarily as the crowd cheered, but Andrews would use the forward bite off the bottom to pull ahead down the backstretch.
Knight wasn’t going to give up and went to the top again in turns three and four. Greg Oakes would move into third pass Rhebergan as Bob Close came out of nowhere to find himself in fifth with five to go. Barton would get by Close with four to go for fourth as Rhebergan slipped to sixth. Andrews had now gotten a three car length lead over Knight as Knight would move to the bottom of the track and on the final lap would charge deep into turn three to close in within a car length as the crowd rose to their feet but Andrew would charge out of four with Knight behind him at the finish. Greg Oakes came home with a fantastic third, Dick Barton was fourth followed by Close, Rhebergan, Bossard,Dave Hess, Bump Hedman and Jeff Hoffman rounded out the top ten.
With the win, Andrews increased his point lead over Bump Hedman and Brent Rhebergan going into the Craig Norton Woodhull Late Model Reunion. Andrews win was his third Eckl Memorial win as last year he came from twelfth to win. This was Andrews fourth career Northern Tier Incorporated ULMS win, all coming at MCR. Thirty Northern Tier Inc. ULMS late models were on hand from,Pennsylvania, New York and Quebec, Canada.
The Northern Tier Incorporated ULMS Late Models will be off till the end of September when they return to MCR for the 3rd annual MCR Fall Classic highlighted by the $12,000 to win Priority Care RaceFAN50. The final ULMS event is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th at Mercer Raceway Park.
STEPHANIE ECKL MEMORIAL RESULTS: TODD ANDREWS, Mike Knight, Greg Oakes, Dick Barton, Bob Close, Brent Rhebergan, Darrell Bossard, Dave Hess, Bump Hedman, Jeff Hoffman,John Lobb, Al Brewer, Andy Kania, Ed Connor, Kirk Bradley, Chris Farrell, Jason Dupont, Ryan Scott, Doug Ricotta, David Scott, Luke Hoffner, Greg Johnson, Andy Boozel, Boom Briggs, John Volpe and Ron Davies.
DNQ: Pete Alspaugh, Bob McMillen, Rich Gardner, Peter Mantha
Northern Tier Inc.Heat Race #1:
Doug Ricotta, Bob Close, Darrell Bossard, Jeff Hoffman, John Lobb, Al Brewer, Bob McMillen, Pete Alspaugh
Close Racing Supply –GRT Race Cars Heat #2:
Brent Rhebergan, Greg Oakes, David Scott, Andy Kania, Ron Davies, Chris Farrell, Jason Dupont, Peter Mantha (DNS)
AMERICAN RACER - LIAS TIRE Heat #3:
Dick Barton, Dave Hess, Luke Hoffner, Greg Johnson, John Volpe, Rich Gardner, Andy Boozel
HOOSIER TIRE of MID ATLANTIC Heat #4:
Todd Andrews, Mike Knight, Bump Hedman, Boom Briggs, Ryan Scott, Ed Connor, Kirk Bradley
BERNHEISEL RACE CARS – GENESIS SHOCKS B MAIN#1:
John Lobb, Al Brewer, Chris Farrell, Jason Dupont, Pete Alspaugh, Bob McMillen, Ron Davies
Raceway Magazine B main #2:
John Volpe, Andy Boozel, Ed Connor, Ryan Scott, Kirk Bradley, Rich Gardner
ANDREWS AUTO SALVAGE DASH #1:
Mike Knight, Brent Rhebergan, Todd Andrews, Greg Oakes, Dick Barton, Bump Hedman
ANDREWS AUTO SALVAGE DASH #2:
David Scott, Darrell Bossard, Luke Hoffner, Dave Hess, Bob Close, Doug Ricotta
Hoosier Tire – Mid Atlantic Award: Dave Hess
American Racer Tire – Lias Tire Award: Todd Andrews
Genesis Shocks Award: Todd Andrews