United Late Model Series

ULMS LATE MODELS PREPARE FOR BUSY MONTH OF AUGUST

The month of August normally means the end of summer is coming, but for the Northern Tier Inc ULMS Late Model Series it means the final two months of action will be hot with special money events! It all starts with a mini three day ULMS Speed week tour visiting three of the old Tri State Series tracks. ULMS will visit McKean County, Raceway 7 and Stateline Speedway Thursday, August 5th thru Saturday, August 7th with over $12,000 on the line.

Thursday, August 5th, the Northern Tier Inc. ULMS Late Models headed by current point leader, Dennis Lunger will roll into McKean County Raceway in E. Smethport, PA for the 6th annual Stephanie Eckl Memorial. This event will pay a $3000 to the winner with tenth and last place getting a minimum of $300 and $200 respectively to start. Greg Eckl has raised money over the years for this race in memory of his late daughter and has stated that all extra money he receives from donors will be added to the purse beginning in the rear of the payout. Past winners of this event have been Todd Andrews (three times), Rob Blair and Mike Knight won this event last year after the first and second place running cars of Chad Valone and Gregg Satterlee tangled on the final lap. This year’s event should be just as exciting.

The very next night, Friday, August 6th, the Northern Tier Inc. ULMS Late Models head west on I-86 and I-90 to Conneaut, Ohio for Raceway 7. The July 9th 40th Anniversary event was washed out by mother nature. On this night, the “Fallen Heroes of Raceway 7 Memorial” in part of the tracks 40th Anniversary season will be celebrated with the ULMS Late Models on hand. Dennis Lunger may have an upper hand on the competition as he is a weekly visitor to the track in the crate late model division. Other contenders will be three time defending ULMS champion, Bob Close, Bump Hedman, Boom Briggs, Dereck Frank, Brent Rhebergen and the “The Captain” Jason Dupont will be some of many drivers on hand for the $2000 to win, 30 lap event. David Scott picked up the win last year at Raceway 7; he no doubt will be on hand with the #3 Valona Ford.

The very next night the, biggest event of the year to date will take place at Stateline Speedway in Busty, NY. The Lynn Seaman’s – Donna Roberts Memorial will pay $7000 to the winner. This event will once again be an American Racer Tire only event, per agreement with Stateline Speedway management. So far the two ULMS shows at Stateline this year have been barn burners with very good field of entries on hand. David Scott and Mike Knight have picked up ULMS wins at the Busty oval. The weekly Stateline regulars will be tough to beat on their home track as John Lob, Doug Eck, Dick Barton, Chris Hackett, Dutch Davies in the George Lebaberra #26g, Scott Johnson, Chad Valone will all be tough to beat on their home track. The ULMS faithful of Lunger, Briggs, Hedman, Close, Frank will have their hands full with the toughest weekly competitors in the northeast. Rain date for this event is Saturday, August 21 if needed. The entry fee for this event will be $40.

The ULMS Late Models will then take seven days off before heading east on I-86 and Rte 417 into Steuben County in New York state for the 19th annual Late Model Reunion at Woodhull Raceway in wonderful, Woodhull, New York on Saturday, August 14. The 358 dirt modified fans get their annual taste of the 2200# lightning on dirt super late models on the high bank 3/8 mile oval. The 30 lap event will pay $2000 to the winner and is expected to bring cars from central and eastern Pennsylvania along with the ULMS travelers. Bob Close has dominated this event over the years and with 2010 looking to be his last year of full-time competition; this may be one of his best opportunities to grab that first win of 2010. Boom Briggs has finished second to Close two of the past three years; he will no doubt be looking to improve on the high banks. It appears that two of the past winners of this event, Jeff Hoffman and Al Brewer will not be participating as Hoffman reportedly lost a motor at Little Valley earlier in the month and Brewer sold his late model over the winter and no ride seems apparent for this event at a track he raced at in the 70s and early 80s before the late model division was dropped.

The Northern Tier Inc ULMS Late Models will end the month of August at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway as they return to the MONSTER HALF MILE oval on Saturday, August 28. The night will begin with the second Twin 28 event of PENNational that was washed out on July 24. Mike Knight and Dennis Lunger find themselves on the front row for this $2000 event with Boom Briggs starting 4th. The rest of the program will be the Red Miley Rumble with a minimum of $4053 going to the winner of the race named after the Miley family patriarch. The PPMS regulars have been very tough at PPMS when the UFo and ULMS series meet up. The UFo stars of Chad McClelland, Johnny Mollick and Keith Barbara will no doubt be tough to beat along with the PPMS stars of Jared Miley, John Flinner, Mike Johnson, Lynn Geisler and Steve Baker. Maybe this night will be different with the ULMS stars being near the front of the conclusion of the PENNational.

For more information on all these events check http://www.unitedlatemodelseries.com/ out or visit each tracks website out at http://www.mckeancountyraceway.com/, http://www.raceway7.com/, http://www.stateline-speedway.com/, http://www.woodhullraceway.com/ and http://www.ppms.com/. All ULMS events mandate that Raceivers are needed and events at Raceway 7 and PPMS, transponders are mandatory by the track (can be rented at the track).

REMAINING 2010 SCHEDULE:

Thur. Aug 5 – McKean Co. Raceway $3000 to win – Stephanie Eckl Memorial
Fri Aug 6 – Raceway 7 $2000 to win – 40th Anniversary Event
Sat. Aug 7 – Stateline Speedway $7000 to win Lynn Seamans Memorial
Sat Aug 14 Woodhull Raceway $2000 to win 19th Annual Woodhull LM Reunion
Sat Aug 28 PPMS – Race#2 of PENNational Twin 28 ($2000 to win) plus Red Miley Rumble $4053
Fri Sept 10 Stateline Speedway $5000 to win
Sat. Sept 11 Stateline Speedway $5000 to win
Fri – Sat Sept 17-18 PPMS – Pittsburgher
Thur Sept 23 – McKean Co Raceway KOH (Fall Classic)
Fri Sept 24 – MCR – $2500 to win
Sat. Sept 25 MCR Priority Care RaceFAN 50 $12,000 to win
OCTOBER — TBA

Dave Hess Jr. Wins Applebee Motorsports UEMS E-Mod Invasion at Stateline Speedway

By Glenn Slocum

Saturday July 31st, 2010 Busti, NY: Applebee Motorsports sponsored the UEMS E-Mod Invasion at Stateline Speedway. Sixty-one E-Mods tried to qualify for one of the 26 starting spots in the main event through 6 heat races and 2 consolation races. A light rain started at 9:00 pm during the 2nd E-Mod Consolation race then stopped shortly after the race was complete. Dave Hess Jr. won the front row starting spot and held Rich Michael Jr. at bay for the entire 40 lap main event pocketing the $5,000 winner’s check.
Nathan Hill led from lap two of the E-Mod Non-Qualifiers Feature for his first win a Stateline.

By the luck of the draw Dave Hess Jr. and Ron Davies were on the front row of for the 40 lap $5,000 to win Applebee Motorsports E-Mod Invasion main event. Hess led the first circuit then Rich Michaels Jr. moved up alongside on lap two. Hess was up against the cushion and Michael was in the low groove. The first yellow appeared with five laps complete for Ron Seeley and Tim Peterson. The lap six restart saw the first four in single file with the remainder doubled up. Hess and Michael resumed their battle for the lead and Hall dropped into third. The yellow flew for the second time with nine down as Peterson had problems in turn one. The restart was just like the last with Hess high and in the lead followed by Michael, Hall, Kevin Morehouse and Chad Ruhlman. Ruhlman beat Morehouse out of turn two on lap fifteen for the top spot and two laps later was alongside Hess for third. Hess and Michael were nearly a quarter lap ahead. Just as the leaders entered lap traffic the third yellow happened, Justin Carlson had stopped in turn one. Carlson left the speedway as the track crew lined up the cars for the restart. Scott Gurdak retired during the lap 21 yellow. Ruhlman was solidly in third on the restart sending Hall back to fourth as Hess continued to dominate the race. Ron Davies moved into fifth with 14 laps remaining just before the fourth yellow as Kyle Bedell spun. Hess had a harder time staying in the lead after this restart as Michael stayed alongside for several laps. Peterson and Chris Couchenour tangled with 31 laps complete for yellow number five. Davies lost fifth to David Scott right after the restart. As the laps wound down Hess stayed up on top and Michael continued to press from the bottom. Bedell spun coming out of two immediately after the leaders took the two to go signal for yellow six setting the stage for a two lap dash for the win. Hess, Michael, Ruhlman, Scott and Hall were the leaders. Scott beat Ruhlman to the line finishing third as Hess won with Michael second.
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John Flinner tops first half of PENNational, rain wins second half at PPMS

Imperial, PA (July 24) Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway had scheduled the PENNational on Saturday night, with twin 28-lap feature races. John Flinner from Zelienople, PA won the first race, but weather moved in and the second race was canceled by rain. The second race for the co-sanctioned show between the UFo Race Championship and ULMS Racing Series will be made up as an added bonus to the Red Miley Rumble on Saturday, August 28.

29 cars were on hand for the event, divided into three qualifying heats. Keith Barbara took the first heat win, from the pole position. John Flinner topped heat 2, from second starting position. John Mollick won heat three from second spot. Lynn Geisler won the B-Main to set the 24 qualifiers for the first of the Pennational 28’s.

In the redraw for the top 12 starting positions, front row berths were earned by Jim Stephans and Jared Miley, and they led the field to the green flag with lightning flashing to the north of the Monster Half Mile. Miley took off in the lead at the drop of the green over Stephans, Mark Banal, UFo point leader Chad McClellan, and Steve Baker. Baker shot to third on lap 2 ahead of Banal and eighth starting John Flinner, as McClellan slowed to a stop with a flat tire for the event’s first caution period. After another incident on the attempted restart, Miley continued to lead over Baker, Flinner, Stephans, and Keith Barbara. Miley quickly built an advantage over the field, but entering turn one on lap 5 his mount shot up the track and pounded the outside wall, ending his evening.

Baker inherited the lead on the restart, and he controlled the race over Flinner, Barbara, Stephans, and PPMS point leader Mike Johnson. Baker and Flinner pulled away from the field as they raced for the lead, with Flinner making a strong challenge at lap 10. Entering turn three, Flinner dove to the bottom of the track and cleared Baker, becoming the new race leader with 11 laps complete. Third was being hotly contested between Barbara, Stephans, and Johnson, with Johnson taking fourth on lap 12.

Past halfway, Flinner continued to extend his lead. Baker gave chase in second, with Barbara and Johnson continuing to swap third place. Laps continued to tick by, and Flinner took the white flag as the eighth place car of Lynn Geisler slowed in turn two to add some drama to the end of the race. Gone was Flinner’s huge lead, and Baker would line up alongside in what would be a two-lap race to the finish per Series rules.

Flinner chose the outside lane for the restart, with Baker now on his inside. Flinner got out ahead at the drop of the green, and at the white flag Baker was trying the inside for a chance to pass. Johnson and Barbara were third and fourth, with Alex Ferree getting a great restart on the high side to gain several spots to get to fifth.

At the checkered flag it was John Flinner earning the win from eighth starting position. Third starting Steve Baker was a close second. Mike Johnson won the battle for third, from 11th starting spot. Alex Ferree earned fourth spot, from 21st starting spot and after being involved in the second lap 2 tangle. Jim Stephans was fifth, in a good run after missing some time with engine problems. Keith Barbara was sixth, with Mark Banal, Ben Miley, Boom Briggs, and Brandon Wearing rounding out the top ten. Ferree earned the Pass-Maximum award winner, presented by Bernheisel Race Components and Lazer Chassis, for advancing 17 positions in the main event.

Flinner drew a 12 for the invert for the second race, which will be made up on Saturday, August 28 before the Red Miley Rumble. That will put Mike Knight and Dennis Lunger on the front row for that 28-lap event. The 24 cars that ran this race will earn starting spots, the five non-qualifiers will be alternates for the makeup race.

The Northern T ier Inc. ULMS Late Model Series points have shaken up some with Dennis Lunger now the new point leader (159) over David Scott (148). Bump Hedman now is third just one point behind Slowride, with Boom Briggs sitting fourth (139) and defending ULMS champion, Bob Close in fifth (134).

The Northern Tier Inc ULMS Late Models will be back in action for a triple header weekend beginning Thursday, August 5 at McKean County Raceway for the 6th annual Stephanie Eckl Memorial that will pay a minimum of $2500 to win. The next night the ULMS stars head to Raceway 7 for the July 9th makeup of the Fallen Heroes of Raceway 7 Memorial in part of the tracks 40th Anniversary event and it will pay $2000 to win. The very next night (August 7), ULMS will roll into Stateline Speedway for a $7000 to win (American Racer tire only) event. Three shows with almost $12,000 on the line! ULMS will then head to Woodhull Raceway (NY) for the 29th annual Late Model Reunion on Saturday, August 14.

ULMS – UFo Race Championship race results for Saturday, July 24, 2010, Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Imperial, PA

Car Count – 29.

Lap leaders:

1-5 Jared Miley.

6-10 Steve Baker

11-29 John Flinner

Finish, Start, Car, Driver, Hometown

1, 8, 48, John Flinner, Zelienople, PA

2, 3, 0, Steve Baker, Morgantown, WV

3, 11, 2J, Mike Johnson, Imperial, PA

4, 21, 4, Alex Ferree, Saxonburg, PA

5, 1, 38, Jim Stephans, Baldwin, PA

6, 6, 17, Keith Barbara, South Park, PA

7, 5, T8, Mark Banal, St. Clairsville, OH

8, 14, 99, Ben Miley, Venetia, PA

9, 12, 99B, Boom Briggs, Bear Lake

10, 10, B1, Brandon Wearing, Callery, PA

11, 7, 17L, Dennis Lunger, Albion, PA

12, 13, 9K, Mike Knight, Ripley, NY

13, 20, 27C, Daryl Charlier, Midway, PA

14, 19, 1C, Lynn Geisler, Cranberry Twp., PA

15, 4, 119, Chad McClellan, Stoystown, PA

16, 22, B22, Bump Hedman, Sugar Grove, PA

17, 18, 6, Jim Lepro, Midway, PA

18, 16, 91, Tommy Beck, Murrysville, PA

19, 15, 76R, Jason Rider, Clinton, PA

20, 17, 16*, Dereck Frank, Jamestown, NY

21, 24, 18D, Danny Mitchell, Clarksburg, WV

22, 9, 4J, John Mollick, Toronto, OH

23, 2, H1, Jared Miley, South Park, PA

24, 23, 76, Dave Wade, Clinton, PA

Heat 1 – 1, 17, Keith Barbara. 2, 2J, Mike Johnson. 3, H1, Jared Miley. 4, 38, Jim Stephans. 5, 9K, Mike Knight. 6, 91, Tommy Beck. 7, 1C, Lynn Geisler. 8, 72, Mike Norris. 9, 2M, Chuck Medved. 10, 18D, Danny Mitchell.

Heat 2 – 1, 48, John Flinner. 2, 0, Steve Baker. 3, B1, Brandon Wearing. 4, 17L, Dennis Lunger. 5, 99, Ben Miley. 6, 16*, Dereck Frank. 7, 27C, Daryl Charlier. 8, 4, Alex Ferree. 9, 07R, Brent Rhebergen. 10, B22, Bump Hedman.

Heat 3 – 1, 4J, John Mollick. 2, T8, Mark Banal. 3, 119, Chad McClellan. 4, 99B, Boom Briggs. 5, 76R, Jason Rider. 6, 6, Jim Lepro. 7, 25, Bob Hershman. 8, 76, Dave Wade. 9, 17B, Brandon Burgoon.

B-Main finish – 1, 1C, Lynn Geisler. 2, 27C, Daryl Charlier. 3, 4, Alex Ferree. 4, 17B, Brandon Burgoon. 5, 72, Mike Norris. 6, B22, Bump Hedman. 7, 25, Bob Hershman. 8, 76, Dave Wade. 9, 2M, Chuck Medved. 10, 18D, Danny Mitchell. 11, 07R, Brent Rhebergen.

Did not qualify – 2M, Chuck Medved, Imperial, PA. 07R, Brent Rhebergen, Clymer, NY. 17B, Brandon Burgoon, McDonald, PA. 25, Bob Hershman, Swanton, MD. 72, Mike Norris, Sarver, PA.

UEMS EMODS PREPARE TO INVADE STATELINE FOR THE $5000 EMOD INVASION

July 31st will mark the biggest event in the Kinzua Water Service United Emod Series history. The KWS UEMS Emods will be part of Stateline Speedway’s $5000 to win Emod Invasion with a $1000 to win non qualifier event.

Last year’s Emod Invasion winner, Randy Hall of Olean, NY will lead the KWS UEMS Emods into Francis Seaman’s, Stateline Speedway. Hall has two wins on the season with the UEMS series but consistent finishes has kept him on top of the point chart. His worse finish of the year was at Stateline, where he got caught up in a crash early in the event. Joining Hall will be Carl McKinney who sits second in points and the hottest Emod driver in the northeast, Rich Michael Jr. Michael’s has fifteen wins to date and has five wins this year alone on the UEMS circuit and is coming off three consecutive UEMS wins. Kari Gasser along with 2008 Invasion winner, Brent Rhebergen will also be on hand along with UEMS travelers, Kyle Bedell, Vic Vena, Tim Peterson, Mike Eschrich, Darren Tarabori and Dan Davies.

Those drivers will have to contend with the very tough weekly Stateline Speedway regulars led by Scott Gurdak of Corry, PA along with Greg Johnson, Alex Froman, Dave Shagla, Ron Seeley, John Boyd, Troy Carr, Brian Fardink and the rest of the Stateline weekly faithful. Fans will see additional drivers such as John Woodward Jr., Bryan Douglas, Jack Young, Rich Gardner, Mike Knight, Russ Dunn, Dave Hess Jr., Joel Watson, Chuck Steinle, Shawn Shingledecker, Howard Fraley, Scott Stiffler, Kevin Morehouse, Jesse Wisecarver along with West Virginia drivers, Andre Layfield and Nolan Dalton.

Even if you are not one of the lucky qualifiers, the racers still have a shot at a $1000 to win non qualifier event. Not bad money for not qualifying for the main event for Emod racers. This event will go with the United Emod Series rules and will feature an OPEN TIRE rule (American Racer, Hoosier and Goodyear are allowed). There will be a $20 entry fee upon driver registration and pill draw for this event.

So who will go home with the cool five grand! Will it be the hottest Emod driver in the north, Rich Michael Jr? Will either one of the past two Emod Invasion winners of Hall and Rhebegen go home richer? How about Dave Hess, or the Ohio outsiders of Morehouse, Stiffler, Douglas, Watson or Young? Will one of the Stateline weekly warriors go home with their biggest career win? Will it be Gurdak, Johsnon, Eck, Seeley, Froman or one of those West Virginia travelers? Come out to Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York on Saturday July 31 to find out. Racing begins at 730PM with a driver meeting at 6:15PM.