ULMA Honors Champion Brett Rollert and Top Finishers at Season-Ending Banquet as Drivers Prepare for Saturday Afternoon Race at the I-70 Speedway Dirt Track!  

Sam Stoecklin

October 25, 2007 

            The United Late Model Association (ULMA) ended its Cinderella story season last weekend by honoring its first-ever point’s champion.  The association board of Director Members, President Kevin Coyne, Vice President Kevin Kaiser, Secretary Danny Lorton, Technical Advisors Tony Wineland and Russell Kueffer and Advisors Walt Imhoff and Jerry Lee Henson, Jr., were all present at the banquet.  Also in attendance was special guest emcee, Alan Miller of Central Missouri Speedway, track representatives from LA Raceway as well as ULMA sponsor partners including title sponsor W-K Chevrolet, Jason Bodenhamer of Bodee’s Race Bodies, Imhoff Construction and of course the drivers, owners, crewmen and family of the teams being honored.  Alan Miller kicked off the evening by thanking all of the ULMA tracks for their affiliation.  ULMA drivers earned points from four affiliated tracks this past season by keeping their 15 best feature finishes of the year at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO; Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) in Warrensburg, MO; Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, MO; and Callaway Raceway in Fulton, MO.  After 15 races were completed drivers began discarding their worst finishes and replaced them with improved performances.    

Throughout the night the association honored its driver members by handing out over $4,000 in contingency prizes and prize fund money from the association’s sponsors and prize fund.  The banquet crowd packed the Ramada Inn ballroom in Sedalia, Missouri for the event in which Brett Rollert of Smithville, Missouri, was officially crowned the association’s first-ever champion.  Rollert was nothing short of dominant in his championship bid for the title.  All total he posted eight wins throughout the year, more than any other competitor.  Of Rollert’s 35 starts during the points-earning season, which ran from late April until mid September, he finished with 19 top three finishes, 22 top five finishes and 26 top ten finishes, leading all of the aforementioned categories.  Rollert’s next throwaway finish would have been a third-place run, which validates just how successful his 2007 campaign truly was.  For his efforts, Rollert accepted the championship trophy and a special offer from INCE Race Cars as well as points-fund money from the association.  Under the watchful eye of Team #93r owner and manager, Al Rollert, who just happens to be Brett’s father, the team’s hard work and commitment held strong throughout the year and ultimately led to their banner year.  Another highlight of Rollert’s season included being the only ULMA driver to post feature wins at two different tracks on the same weekend, something he did on the last weekend of competition.   

Down the home-stretch of the season California, Missouri-based driver Jeff Schlup rallied from just outside of the top ten in the standings all the way to second place in the final standings.  Schlup ended his season with 7 victories, which were recorded at Lucas Oil Speedway and Callaway Raceway during the season.  He finished with 12 top three finishes, 15 top finishes and 17 top ten runs in 24 total starts.  Schlup’s biggest win of the year came in one of the association’s special non-points races of the year at the inaugural LA Raceway ULMA Missouri State Championships, which were held at LA Raceway in LaMonte, MO, on Saturday, September 15th.  Schlup held off a determined Kevin Kaiser for the win.  LA Raceway owners and promoters Mike and Carolyn White were on hand at the banquet and voiced their pleasure at having the ULMA compete at their track and hinted at more special races at the fast, wide and smooth racing facility for the 2008 season, where once again the ULMA drivers will compete in the Second-Annual LA Raceway ULMA Missouri State Championships in September of next year.  Schlup also was crowned the Firecracker Double Duel Showdown winner in July as a result of his finishes at Callaway Raceway and Lucas Oil Speedway. 

Jason Estes of Winston, Missouri, grabbed four feature race victories on his way to a third-place finish in the final standings.  Estes raced his way to victory lane three times at his “home track” Valley Speedway and once at CMS and led the points through much of the middle part of the summer in a torrid battle with Rollert.  Estes garnered 15 top three finishes, 19 top five finishes and 24 top ten finishes in 33 starts.  Estes was one of a very few drivers who competed at all four affiliated tracks throughout the year.  Kevin Kaiser of Cole Camp, Missouri used consistent finishes to end the season in fourth place in the final standings with three victories, 11 top three finishes, 15 top five finishes and 20 top ten runs in 23 starts, the highest top ten finish percentage of any driver for the year.  Finishing fifth in the final rundown was Warrensburg, Missouri driver Jon Binning.  Binning, who suffered a near season-ending non-racing related hand injury raced his way to five top three finishes, 12 top five finishes and 21 top ten finishes in 29 starts. 

The rest of the evenings honored drivers included Moberly, Missouri driver Danny “the Missile” Lorton in sixth place.  Lorton’s consistency and 19 top ten finishes led to his solid point’s placement in the end of year tally.  Early-season point’s leader James Rutledge of California, Missouri finished seventh.  Rutledge won the first-ever ULMA special race event back in May at Valley Speedway by capturing the Mike Brockert Memorial, which was part of the ULMA Memorial Day Weekend Duel Showdown at Valley Speedway and CMS.  Rutledge also won later in the season at CMS and ended the year with 36 starts, more than any other driver.  Kevin “the Kid” Coyne of Kingsville, Missouri fought through many mechanical gremlins to finish the year with one win and an eighth-place spot in the final points.  Chad Frewalt of Kansas City scored one victory to finish ninth in the standings.  Brett Wood of Warrensburg had a great rookie season and was honored as ULMA Rookie of the Year for his efforts.  Wood started a total of 33 events in which he finished in the top ten an amazing 23 times.  Wood earned a race body kit from Bodee’s Race Bodies for his efforts.  Several contingency prizes and door prizes were handed out courtesy of the following ULMA sponsors:  Fast Shafts, T&J Racing, K&N, Mike Crump Racing Supply, Randy’s Race Mart and Photography by Shelly Payne. 

ULMA drivers had several post-season opportunities to strut their stuff at some Greater Kansas City-area tracks, which included Nevada Speedway in Nevada, Missouri as well as LA Raceway, Lucas Oil Speedway as well as a non-sanctioned appearance at Butler Motor Speedway in Butler, Missouri.  With a recent 6-page feature article in a leading racing newspaper and an upcoming feature article in a widely distributed dirt late model racing magazine the buzz around the association continues to gain steam heading into what is sure to be a spectacular 2008 season.  At press time, ULMA has secured 100 percent ULMA rules implementation at both Lucas Oil Speedway and CMS, both of which are Saturday night tracks.  Currently ULMA is seeking Friday night tracks for its contingent of talented and competitive drivers to compete at in order to balance out the nights of the week its drivers have for points-earning options.  The hopes of the association are to once again be affiliated with four tracks spread out over a vast range of territory throughout West-Central Missouri.  The association is hard at work on next year’s racing action and already has secured special events at Lucas Oil Speedway, CMS and LA Raceway.  In 2007 ULMA drivers competed in over 60 feature events in front of thousands of fans at seven different tracks.  Potential sponsors are asked to contact the ULMA by e-mailing [email protected] or by checking out the association’s official Website at www.ulmaracing.com.  

The I-70 Speedway Dirt Track will be holding races this Saturday, October 27th.  The speedway will host late models competing solely under the ULMA late model rules.  This is the first appearance of the ULMA at I-70 and is a great opportunity for the association to add yet another area racing facility to its growing resume of tracks that have hosted “after season” special events.  Saturday’s ULMA winner will go home with $500.  “Pit Gates will open at 2 in the afternoon with admission gates swinging open at 4.  Drivers must be registered by 4:30, when hot laps are set to begin.  The racing action is set to begin at 5:15.  Admission prices for adults is $8 with kids ages 6 to 12 just $5; children 5 and under will be admitted free.  Pit Passes are $20; there is no entry fee to compete.  For more detailed information, including the payout visit I-70 Speedway online by going to www.i70speedway.net.  

ULMA wishes to thank all of its sponsors; when you visit our great sponsors tell them you heard about them through the ULMA and thank them for their support of dirt-track racing! TITLE SPONSOR: WK Chevrolet, Sedalia, Missouri. OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Foster’s Transmission & Repair, Imhoff Construction Inc., Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company. CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: INCE Race Cars, Bodee’s Race Bodies, Fast Shafts, Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company, J & T Racing, Mike Crump Racing Supply, Randy’s Race Mart, Photography by Shelly Payne, and Ken Dake Attorney at Law.

Rollert Crowned Inaugural ULMA Champion as Association Preps for LA Raceway Special Event!

Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Media Relations
September 12, 2007

            The United Late Model Association (ULMA) closed out it’s inaugural season last Saturday night at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) and crowned its first-ever champion, Brett Rollert, of Smithville, Missouri in the process.  Rollert held a slim lead heading into the final weekend over his closest competitors, Jeff Schlup of California, Missouri, and Jason Estes of Cameron, Missouri.  Schlup did not compete during the weekend during race action while Estes could not gain enough points on the leader as Rollert won the final two ULMA point-earning races of the year at Valley Speedway and CMS.  Rollert also became the first driver to win two ULMA feature events on the same weekend as a result of his Friday and Saturday night victories.  For the year, Rollert garnered eight total feature wins while Schlup finished the year with seven and Estes with four.  Rollert will officially be crowned the ULMA champion on October 20th when the ULMA holds its official end-of-year banquet celebration at the Ramada Inn in Sedalia, Missouri.  Those wishing to attend the banquet need to contact Danny Lorton, the association secretary at [email protected] for further details and reservations.

            Last Friday night at Valley Speedway there were strong runs posted by ULMA members including Jim Adkins with another runner-up finish to Rollert at the line as the two battled for the win off of turn four and down to the checkered flag.  Brett Wood, who will be crowned ULMA Rookie of the Year, ran one of his strongest races this season and came home in fourth position.  Estes garnered a fifth-place run, with Jon Binning finishing sixth, Kevin Coyne eighth, James Rutledge ninth and Jamie Wineland in tenth spot.  All total there were 11 member drivers of 16 present at Valley Speedway.  Over at CMS on Saturday night Binning had a solid and exciting second-place finish with Rollert at the line as the fans were on their feet cheering the two to the line.  David Angell continued his late-season surge with an outstanding run to third.  Rutledge, Wood, Estes, Kevin Kaiser and Wineland also finished inside the top ten.  There were 13 member drivers present of the 18 competitors on hand. 

            Now that the points-earning season has concluded, ULMA drivers will now shift their attention towards two upcoming specials.  The First Annual LA Raceway ULMA Missouri State Championships are set to roll off this coming weekend at LA Raceway in LaMonte, Missouri, Saturday, September 15th.  There are several reasons to be excited about this race as LA Raceway promoters Mike and Carolyn White in conjunction with the ULMA board of directors have set out to make this an extremely fan-friendly event for the whole family to enjoy!  Those attending the LA race can expect a driver's "Meet & Greet" and autograph session from 5:30 to 6:30 where the race fans can meet their favorite ULMA drivers and take pictures by their cars, which will be on display.  Be sure to bring the kids early and your cameras too!  A live radio broadcast from the track will also take place during the Meet & Greet session.  The LA Raceway event will feature member drivers competing in a 25-lap feature race with 24 cars starting!  ULMA rules will be strictly enforced.  All participating cars will be "pre-teched" by ULMA-designated technical inspectors and must pass technical inspection prior to the events getting underway.  ULMA rules will be strictly enforced; visit www.ulmaracing.com for rules clarification and more information.  Pre-tech inspections will start at 4:30.  Admission and pit gates will open at 5:00; hot laps will begin at 7:00 with racing action getting underway at 7:30.  There will also be a special Classic Jewelers “Dash for Cash" ran for the heat race winners to determine the first few starting rows of the feature event.  Only ULMA member drivers may compete in this special non-ULMA points-earning race.  ULMA membership forms are available by requesting them from [email protected].  Prospective members may join the association anytime between now and the day of the event.  Membership forms will be available on the day of the event for drivers wishing to join the association, the 2007 ULMA membership fee is just $50.  The entry fee will be $25 for all participants in the ULMA Late Model division.  Pit passes for everyone entering the pits will be $25.  General admission will be adults $10, kids ages 6 to 11 $5, children 5 and under free!  The B-modifieds will also be competing at LA Raceway for $460 to win!  View the complete purse at www.laraceway.com.  Race sponsors for the LA race include John Rector Motors, BOB FM, Donco Fabrication and Machine, KIX FM, Jim's Tire Service, KSIS FM, Classic Jewelry, and K and C Precision Engine.  If you are interested in sponsoring the upcoming events, please contact ULMA at the above-mentioned e-mail address.

            After the LA event on the following weekend, Saturday night September 22nd, the ULMA contingent will head south and compete at Nevada Speedway in Nevada Missouri.  Both of the special events mark the first time that either LA Raceway or Nevada Speedway have played host to the ULMA.  The association is looking forward to building a solid reputation with the tracks.  Stay tuned to future ULMA press releases for further information regarding the Nevada race.  ULMA wishes to thank all of its sponsors; when you visit our great sponsors tell them you heard about them through the ULMA and thank them for their support of dirt-track racing!  TITLE SPONSOR: WK Chevrolet, Sedalia, Missouri.  OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Foster’s Transmission & Repair, Imhoff Construction Inc., Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company.  CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: INCE Race Cars, Bodee’s Race Bodies, Fast Shafts, Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company, J & T Racing, Mike Crump Racing Supply, Randy’s Race Mart, Photography by Shelly Payne, and Ken Dake Attorney at Law.

Final 2007 ULMA Point Standings

(Note:  tiebreakers decided by most feature wins, then on down with highest finishes).