(5/28/00 Danville, IL) Modified drivers from seven different states braved the elements and provided Vermilion County Speedway with a classic event in the running of the Seventh Annual David Richardson Memorial Race on Sunday night. In what was booked as a weekend of top-notch modified racing, beginning at Danville on Friday night for $1000 to win, moving to Charleston Speedway on Saturday for $2500 to win, and back to Danville on Sunday for $5000, Mother Nature won two of three for the weekend.

The Friday Danville show was postponed and will be rescheduled and the Charleston show, after getting in the heats and semi’s, was also lost to rain. That feature will be made up in two weeks after the Bristol race next weekend.

With 106 Modifieds in the pits for the Sunday race and an infield full of water, the Vermilion County officials were determined to complete at least one show for the fans and drivers. The track, which normally allows three-wide racing on a dry-slick surface, reared its head and stayed tacky the whole night allowing just two grooves and fast conditions.

Eight heat races of 20 laps were run, advancing two from each heat to the 50-lap feature. Four semi-features of 20 laps advanced another two from each race to make up the 24-car field. An additional car was added to the field for a 25-car starting field.

National champions, track champions, Bristol qualifiers, veterans, and rookies made up the feature grid with Peoria’s Mike Chastain and Covington, IN native Dick Phelps on the front row. The second row was filled by NASCAR National champion, Jeff Leka of Springfield and Lance Dehm of Chatsworth, IL. On back from the first two rows were prominent drivers such as the 1998 UMP National Champion and winner of the race in 98, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN. The 1999 National UMP champion and 99 race winner, Jeff Martin failed by one spot in the semi and missed the show.

Some others making the feature field with championship driving credentials were Chad Kinder of IL, Denny Schwartz of IL, Ted Nobbe of KY, Kelly Shyrock of IA, Bryan Clendenen of IL, Jason Connoyer of IL, Randle Sweeney of KY, John Seets of IL, and Darrell Herbert of IN.

Drivers loading up before the main event would have made a Modified Who’ s Who list. Notables such as Dusty Moore, Toby Massie, Dan Hamstra, Jim Shereck, Jeff Cone, Mike Marlar, Jeff Martin, Tom Seets, Josh Lucas, Gary Cook, Jr, and 72 others failed to make the final show.

The first caution of the feature was brought out by local track points leader, Bryan Clendenen, as he spun in the fourth turn and was forced to retire for the night. Mike Chastain, from his pole position, took the early lead, but gave way to Jeff Leka after two laps. Leka set a fast pace as he and Chastain moved out to as much as a half straightaway lead in the early running. By the end of ten laps and another caution, Denny Schwartz and Tommy Burnside had made it a four-car race with Randle Sweeney and Jimmy Owens waiting in the wings. On lap 20, Owens went too high in turn one, catching the berm, and losing valuable track position. Five laps later, as Leka still set the pace, Owens tangled with Jammie Wilson and Lance Dehm causing another caution.

Leka remained up front on the restart, but now it was Burnside giving chase. Starting from the 22 nd spot, Burnside was driving on a mission for the big bucks. Lap 39 brought another caution and it was for the leader. Leka clipped the wall on the front straight and put his car over the berm in turn one.

Burnside inherited the lead on the restart and despite another caution on lap 45, went on to take the checkered flag and the $5000 prize for his biggest win in his career. Following him across the line were Schwartz, Chastain, Kyle Logue, and Darrell Herbert.

Although 1999 winner, Jeff Martin failed to make the field, his neighbor and friend in tiny Kansas, Illinois, claimed the 2000 Richardson Memorial crown and became the seventh different winner in the seventh running of what has become one of the most prestigious Modified races in the Midwest.

Burnside, Schwartz, Chastain, Logue, Herbert, Connoyer, Kinder, Sweeney, Lakey, Wilson, Cates, Nobbe, Jim Werner, Dehm, King, Bachman, Seets, Kiger, Leka, Owens, Norris, Burton, Phelps, Shyrock, Clendenen

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MODIFIED MARATHON TIME IN ILLINOIS

By Jack Taylor

May 26, 27, and 28 are the dates set for the UMP Modifieds to roll into Illinois for three nights of top-flight racing featuring drivers from throughout the Midwest. The weekend begins with a $1000.00 to win program at Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, IL on Friday night and continues on Saturday night at Charleston Speedway in Charleston, IL where the top prize will be $2500.00 to win.

On Sunday, Vermilion County Speedway will host the Seventh Annual David Richardson Memorial with a $5000.00 prize for first and a total of over $14,000.00 in purse money for the feature race contestants. Monday, Memorial Day, will be the rain date for the Richardson Memorial.

This year, the promoters at Vermilion County and Charleston Speedways have added an extra incentive for the drivers by guaranteeing the Friday and Saturday feature winners a starting spot in the Memorial feature on Sunday. The Friday winner is also locked in for the Saturday night feature. These winners will start in the last row on Sunday, unless they better that position in heat races on Sunday.

Six consecutive years have seen the car count for the Richardson Memorial surpass the 90 mark and 1997 passed the 100 count. This year, promoters Bill Marietta and Bob Marshall, of Vermilion County Speedway are expecting another 100 plus turnout for the Sunday race. Drivers from eleven different states were on hand at last year’s event won by Jeff Martin of Kansas, Illinois. Martin was also the 1999 UMP National Modified Champion. The 1998 UMP National Modified Champion, Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tennessee, won the 1998 Richardson Memorial. No driver has repeated a win in the six events thus far with Butch Shay of Louisville, Kentucky winning the inaugural race in 1994, Scottie Dehm of Chatsworth, Illinois in 1995, Scott Patman of Valonia, Indiana in 1996, and Dean Hoffman of Belleville, Illinois in 1997.

Many local and area drivers with experience and track time such as Denny Schwartz, Brian Clendenen, Rick Hufford, Jammie Wilson, Wes Steidinger, Sean Seavers, Tim O’Donnell, Michael Bradley, Jerry Danford, Jim Ferris, Kyle Logue, Toby Massie, Dave Porth, Don Kiger, and others will strive to make the field on Sunday for the 50-lap finale and a sizable number of Midwestern drivers from neighboring states will add to the contenders for the 2000 crown.

Traveling drivers who have participated in previous Memorial races and will probably return for another try at the prestigious title have been Randy Zimmerman of Kansas, Jeff Leka and Lance Dehm of Illinois, Dusty Moore of Ohio, Jim Shereck and Ray Walsh of Missouri, Dan Hamstra of Indiana, Bo Rawden and George White of Texas, Mark Noble and Tim Donlinger of Minnesota, Jeep VanWormer of Michigan, Darrell Herbert, Dave Bice, and Gary Burton of Indiana, Randle Sweeney of Kentucky, Kelly Shyrock of Iowa, John Burdette of West Virginia, and many more will flood the Vermilion County Speedway pits to overflowing and offer the fans the best in Modified racing.

More information may be obtained by calling Bill Marietta at 217-443-6923 or 217-443-6588. Overnight camping is available at Vermilion County Speedway.