2004NewsArchives

scroll down for the articles....they are in the same order as you see them here

*11-18-04- Midwest Speed Expo/U.M.P. Late Model banquet set to go Jan. 22, 2005
*10-21-04- Lap by Lap report of the DTWC by PAL-U
*10-19-04- Wisconsin Racers Swap Meet will be held January 29, 2005
*10-12-04- Earl Pearson Jr. And Lucas Oil To Participate in Xtreme Fan Festival & Trade Show at Knoxville
*10-09-04- EARL PEARSON CLINCHES 2004 STACKER2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
*10-08-04- U.M.P. NATIONALS AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY SET TO CLOSE 2004 SEASON
*10-07-04- HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS SIGNS CHASE AUSTIN
*09-15-04- World 100 pics by Shawn Crose
*09-14-04- 13th Fall Nationals at Springfield IL (press release)(updated9-14-04)
*08-27-04- DuQuoin Press Releases (updated 9-08-04)
*08-24-04- WDRL Press Release....Davenport, Kankakee, Crown Point (updated 09-04-04)
*08-20-04- Southeast Motorsports Debuts New Website
*08-19-04- 11th Wynn's Sportsman Race at Illinois State Fair (includes results)
*08-18-04- ARCA RE/MAX Series invades the Illinois State Fairgrounds (includes results)
*08-17-04- ILLINOIS STATE FAIR USAC SILVER CROWN BETTENHAUSEN 100*08-06-04- Hornets at Macon IL $1,000 to win
*07-16-04- CHASE AUSTIN TURNS IN STRONG PERFORMANCES
*07-09-04- UMP Founder Bob Memmer Passes Away
*06-17-04- New Racing Facility Opening In Pulaski County, Indiana
*06-17-04- Dirt Track Insider.Com Announces Summer Racing Series
*06-08-04- Top NASCAR Teams Show High Level of Interest in Austin
*06-01-04- MICHIANA VINTAGE RACERS TO HARTFORD
*05-21-04- MINORITY RACER CHASE AUSTIN READY FOR NASCAR’S DIVERSITY DRIVE
*05-14-04- New Management team to take over Barren County KY
*04-29-04- Illinois State Fair Celebrates 94th Anniversary of Auto Racing!
*04-24-04- 2004 Illinois State and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds schedules
*03-29-04- Curt Piercy, wife and four others perish in plane wreck
*03-11-04- A National Geographic Channel Racing Documentary
*02-14-04- UMP Banquet
*02-02-04- Kentucky Speed Weeks Late Model Series
*01-30-04- UMP Headlines Special Dirt Nation Show

10-21-04DTWC-PAL-U

For those visiting from 4m, thank you....
As requested, here is the DTWC Lap by Lap report from PAL-U
unedited by this website
10-21-04

10-19-04-Shoestring

10-12-04PearsonKnoxville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Earl Pearson Jr. And Lucas Oil To Participate in Xtreme Fan Festival & Trade Show at Knoxville, Iowa

Jacksonville, FL (October 11, 2004)- Earl Pearson Jr.will be participating in several events at the Stacker2 UMP Xtreme National Finals on October 14-16 at the legendary Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville Iowa. The three-day Fan Festival and Trade Show will feature many vendors and fan-interactive exhibits including the official Earl Pearson Jr. merchandise booth. Fans can visit with Earl and purchase his latest merchandise including his new "Hurricane Earl" T-shirts, Hats, and Diecast. Earl will also have his backup car on display at the booth for fans to get pictures and a close look at his racecar. 

Lucas Oil will also have a representative inside of Earl's booth to greet and talk to race fans and drivers about Lucas Oil products. Lucas Oil will have several of their products and apparel to purchase as well. "Lucas Oil has been a big part of our success in 2004, and we wanted to show our appreciation to them by participating in the Fan Festival and Trade Show and help promote their new products" states Earl.

Earl will also be participating in daily driver autograph sessions at the Dyer-Hudson Hall and he has agreed to be a "Celebrity Waiter" for the Celebrity Waiter Dinner and Auction on the second floor of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville. The museum-benefit charity event, will start at 12 Noon, Saturday with the live auction commencing at 1:30 p.m.

"By participating in many of the activities and having a booth at the Fan Festival I wanted to show my appreciation to all the race fans and give a little something back for all their support. I am very thankful for all the support and encouragement I have received from so many people this year, but I am very grateful to Carlton and Kemp Lamm to have the opportunity to drive for the Dunn-Benson Ford Motorsports Team. I couldn't ask for a better bunch of guys to work with than my crew" stated Earl.

Earl and Lucas Oil are looking forward to meeting everyone at the Knoxville Finals during the Fan Festival and Trade Show and invite everyone to stop by the Earl Pearson Jr. booth. Not only will Earl have new merchandise at the Knoxville event, the team will also have a new design on the car as well.

To learn more about Earl Pearson Jr. and the Dunn-Benson Ford Motorsports team, visit their official website at www.dunnbensonfordmotorsports.com.

###

Media Contact for Earl Pearson Jr.
Wayne Castleberry
WD Enterprises Inc

*09-15-04-World 100 pics by Shawn Crose

09-08-04
ARCA Wrap-Up From DuQuoin

The only thing that you could say about Frank Kimmel's performance during
the 52nd Federated Car Care-Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State
Fairgrounds is "WOW", or perhaps "dominating".  The Clarksville, Indiana
native looked as if he had a rocket in the trunk of the Advance Auto-Pork
Ford Taurus on Monday, leading sixty-six laps enroute to his third Southern
Illinois 100 win before a large crowd.  The win is Kimmel's seventh in the
last ten ARCA dirt track events dating back to 2000, and puts him just 1 shy
of the late Dean Roper's record nine ARCA dirt track wins.  Should the 2005
schedule hold true to form, Kimmel could tie Roper's record at Springfield
next August, and possibly break that record at DuQuoin next September.

Kimmel had quite a weekend over Labor Day, he won the Toledo race on Friday
night, then took the Southern Illinois 100 as well.  Statistically, Frank
becomes the third driver with at least three ARCA sanctioned victories at
DuQuoin, and the seventh driver with three or more Southern Illinois 100
trophies to his credit.  The victory was the fifth for car number 46 and the
fifth for owner Larry Clement.  Kimmel's victory was the ninth for a Ford
product in the 54 stock car races run at the DuQuoin "Magic Mile".

Kimmel now moves to third on the ARCA lap leader list at DuQuoin with 296,
and fifth overall in stock car events held at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
Billy Thomas is the all-time and ARCA lap leader at DuQuoin with 438 miles
in the front slot.

Sunday marked the first time in 54 years and 54 races that a 100-mile stock
car event at DuQuoin failed to go the 100-mile distance due to weather.  A
heavy downpour during a caution drew the red and the checkered flags from
Hank Wetzel Monday at the 93-mile mark, giving Kimmel the rain shortened
win.  Last year's event was stopped after the 100-mile distance had been
exceeded, in part due to rain but also in part due to Jerry Nemire's serious
guard rail impact entering turn one.

The downpour Monday was so heavy that the track resembled a muddy river and
it was amazing the cars were able to make it back to the pit area.  Even
more amazing is the fact that just north of DuQuoin, no rain had fallen and
it was dry just a few miles south of town as well!

Kentucky's Bill Baird really has shaken off the retirement rust in a big
way, winning Springfield and running second to Kimmel Monday.  Baird was
closing on the leader when the caution came out for Josh Allison's stall on
lap 88, and then the rains came 5 laps later.  Baird had his car hauled in
again on the back of a flatbed, with very little in the way of equipment.
Kimmel's crew assisted Baird once again in a great display of sportsmanship.

Poor Ken Schrader cannot break the DuQuoin "jinx", even though it's one of
his favorite places.  Kenny made his USAC Stock Car debut at DuQuoin in
1979, and while he has posted wins at Springfield and the Indiana State
Fairgrounds, he has yet to win at DuQuoin.  Winning the pole and the absence
of defending race winner Tony Stewart seemed to enhance Schrader's chances,
but he had virtually nothing for the Ford of Kimmel, and late in the race
contact with another car flattened one of the tires, forcing a pit stop.  He
was 8th when the rains came.

A great run for rookie T.J. Bell, who fell in love with the mile dirt tracks
at Springfield.  Bell could hardly wait for DuQuoin, started 6th, was
pressuring Schrader early and by lap 15 had the lead.  Bell was third when
the rain fell.  A good weekend, but not so great a day for fellow rookie
A.J. Fike, one of the Illinois drivers who had the attention of the partisan
crowd.  Fike qualified on the outside of the front row, and ran up front
until plagued by what appeared to be vehicle damage and overheating.  He ran
several laps without the front bumper and grille, and had a flat right front
toward the end.  Fike was busy all weekend, becoming the first driver since
Tom Bigelow in 1989 to run the USAC and ARCA races on Labor Day weekend at
DuQuoin, and the first driver since Larry Cannon in 1971 to run three
different events at DuQuoin Labor Day weekend.  Fike finished eleventh in
the USAC Silver Crown race Sunday night, ninth in the UMP Modified event
Monday and then seventeenth in the ARCA RE/MAX race Monday.

Fellow Illinois driver Justin Allgaier of Springfield had a better ARCA
weekend than Fike, Justin led part of the Toledo race and finished second to
Kimmel, then ran a fine fourth Monday.  However, his DuQuoin "double"
attempt went awry Sunday night when his Silver Crown car expired while
running in a transfer slot in the semi.  Centralia's Joe Cooksey, the
favorite son of the partisan Southern Illinois crowd was spectacular in
practice, running completely sideways much of the time.  However, he could
only muster 15th in qualifying and ended up 9th, a lap down.

Seventy one year old Red Farmer was also a crowd favorite, but didn't have
the success at DuQuoin that he had in 2002, or at Springfield for that
matter.  Red started 19th, and was 10th at the end.  His crew obviously had
lots of fun with the veteran, painting a handicapped symbol on his mud
screen!

Jason Jarrett, son of NASCAR champ Dale Jarrett and grandson of NASCAR champ
Ned Jarrett qualified a strong 7th, but struggled with overheating and ended
the day 2 laps in arrears.  Mark Gibson, despite a spin in turn two,
finished a strong fifth at his favorite venue.  Young Josh Allison qualified
24th, got into the top ten then smacked the wall not once, but twice coming
off of turn two, both of which seemed to contribute to his exit.  Brent
Sherman, second in the points started 4th and fell back to 18th, one lap in
arrears.

A tip of the hat to the ARCA drivers Monday, as much more emphasis seemed to
be placed in running the race under the green flag.  There were ten
cautions, but for only 39 circuits and there was extended green flag
running.  Many of the cautions were for harmless, single car spins and there
was really very little wall contact.  Christi Passmore did tag the turn two
wall after a spin during the 100-miler, and Mike Haggenbottom shortened an
Andy Belmont Ford in qualifications.  Belmont sported a new bright yellow
paint scheme on the number one Ford, but it overheated after 22 laps.

A nice debut for Springfield, Illinois' Kelly Kovski who made his first ARCA
start Monday.  The modified ace qualified 25th and used a lot of common
sense to end up 15th.  A great display of that sense was found just past
halfway, when several faster cars passed him in turns three and four.  While
it was three and sometimes four wide, Kovski held his line and let the
faster cars go through.

Returns to the dirt were only so-so for two other drivers, former
Springfield pole sitter Damon Lusk lost a rocker arm after 58 laps, while
former ARCA champ Bobby Bowsher, son of former DuQuoin winner Jack Bowsher,
started and finished 20th.

Norm Benning turned in another strong dirt performance, going from 13th to
7th and part-time driver Randy VanZant went from 12th to 6th.

The companion modified event was taken by Brian Shaw.

For the first time, the race teams were asked to move the big rigs to the
back pit area, outside the infield.  This action was met with many positive
comments during and after the race by the large crowd in attendance, as many
commented for the first time in several years, they could actually see the
entire race track.

One improvement was in place this year, a paved pit lane for the ARCA cars.
The new pavement seemed to make it much easier to get in and out of pit
road, and was much safer for the crews and teams.

Next up for the ARCA RE/MAX stock cars is a race just 250 miles from
DuQuoin, at the 1.5-mile oval at Chicagoland Speedway.  Kimmel has virtually
locked up his sixth ARCA crown with just three races remaining.
 

DuQuoin USAC Tidbits

Sixteen years ago on the morning of the Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin, Gary
Bettenhausen told Billy Vukovich the 3rd that by running a dirt car on one
of the miles, he was about to become a man.  Sunday night Tyler Walker
passed the manly test with flying colors when he shaved .8 off the track
record, lowering the standard to a world record 29.138, or 123.550 miles an
hour!   Walker then did an incredible A.J. Foyt impersonation, backing the
car in and riding the cushion to lead all 100-miles of the 54th Ted Horn 100
and take his first mile dirt track win.  Of course, Tyler ran on the dirt
miles before 2004, but when the historians open up the championship racing
records books 100 years from now, proudly displayed with DuQuoin winners
such as Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Al Unser
will be the name Tyler Walker.  No matter what happens the rest of Tyler
Walker's career, he will always have a victory on one of the historic
fairground dirt tracks.

Bob Sargent, DuQuoin State Fair manager John Rednour, assistant manager Norm
Hill and even Illinois Governor Rod Blagoevich get a lot of credit for the
success of Sunday's exciting event and large crowd.  Rednour, Hill and
Blagoevich have been responsible for continuing the infrastructure
improvements to the 58 year old facility to the point it is as state of the
art as any dirt track and many paved venues in the country.  This year a new
paved pit lane was added, and the teams asked to remove the large haulers
from the infield.  The latter met with significant approval from the crowd,
as many commented during and after the race they could actually see turns
three and four for the first time in several years.

Sargent, moving the race to Sunday night with cooperation from the fair, got
one of the largest crowds in recent memory for the Ted Horn 100.
Conservative estimates placed the crowd at anywhere between 8 and 10
thousand.  In fact, for the first time in a long time, the Silver Crown
crowd was pretty close to, if not bigger than Monday's ARCA crowd which was
large in it's own right.

Placing the race on Sunday night led to the track and world one lap record
for the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown dirt cars being broken three times.
Tracy Hines became just the third man in over 80 years of championship dirt
track racing history to run over 120 miles an hour in a championship machine
on one of the mile dirt tracks, posting a 29.952 as the second qualifier,
just .005 off Teddy Beach's 2003 record circuit.  Jerry Coons, going out
19th for Roger Johnson, posted a 29.655 on his second lap and that seemed
secure until Walker, out 28th ripped off a 1st lap of 29.448, then posted
his record on the second circuit.  Records fell on the "Magic Mile" all
week, with the horses posting several track and world records themselves.

The cool of the night, the humid air and the moisture from the nearby
infield lake made for one of the best DuQuoin tracks ever.  Drivers enjoyed
a nice cushion, that by the end of the night was less than 6 inches off the
wall in many places, and at the wall in others.  Speed was the feature of
the night, Dave Steele was clicking off 116 mile an hour laps in the last
chance race, while with a full load of fuel, Walker was running over 113
miles an hour in the first few laps of the Ted Horn 100.  In fact, Sunday
was the fastest top twenty in DuQuoin history, as it took a 30.920 just to
avoid the "hooligan".

Statistically speaking, Tyler Walker became the 33rd different winner of the
Ted Horn 100, and the 36th different winner of the 59 championship dirt
races held at DuQuoin.  He is the 13th driver to win from the pole position,
and the eighth to lead all 100 laps of a dirt track championship event at
the "Magic Mile"  Ironically, the last driver to start from the pole and
lead all 100 circuits was Walker's car owner, current NASCAR rookie Kasey
Kahne!.

Sixty year old Johnny Parsons, the 1992 and 1995 winner was back in the seat
of the Ricky Nix Beast Sunday night.  When "JP" made the show, it marked his
23rd dirt car start on the "Magic Mile" dating back to 1970.  That ties him
with Tom Bigelow for second behind George Snider's record 27 starts at
DuQuoin.  Parsons night ended quickly, the engine blew on the opening lap,
ending his night.  Bigelow, a three-time DuQuoin winner, was in attendance
helping young Aaron Pierce.

Speaking of Pierce, he wowed the crowd and chief announcer Jim Childers when
he "FLAT FOOTED" the Sam Pierce 26 into turn one on his first qualifying
lap, and did the same over in turn three.  Many people thought the throttle
had stuck open and it was an incredible display of bravery and car control.

Jerry Coons, Jr. may soon become "Front Row Jerry" at the two Illinois dirt
miles.  He made arrangements with Roger Johnson and Ron Hemelgarn to run as
a teammate to Boston Reid, put a car back together he had driven before, and
sat it on the pole at Springfield, and the outside front row at DuQuoin.  He
pressured Walker for a good portion of the race then ran out of fuel around
lap 90.  In fact, it appeared that several of the cars might have been light
on fuel at the end.

Brian Tyler put on another one of his patented charges for second, and was
gaining on the leader at the end.  Tyler, who says he doesn't qualify well,
started 10th and moved up methodically to the second slot toward the end.
He stated after the event that his car was light on fuel and sputtering the
last four laps.

Hines started third and ended the night there, while the "Pup" Kevin Huntley
started 6th and finished fourth after a spirited duel with Dave Darland, who
finished sixth and may himself been out of fuel at the end.  Former Horn 100
winner Paul White was fifth, the last car on the lead lap, while former
winner Russ Gamester finished 12th and former winner Tony Elliot ended the
night in 9th.

Bud Kaeding gained twenty points on Dave Steele with a solid 8th (from
18th).  Steele, who won the consi, moved up from 21st but ended the night in
17th, a lap down.  Tyler also moved to less than 100 points back of the
leader, just 93 behind Dave Steele with Tulsa and Eldora remaining on the
schedule.

Several Illinois drivers made up the healthy 41 car entry list Sunday night,
with three from Springfield alone.  Springfield's Donnie Beechler had
problems once again, transferring through the last chance race and having a
magneto go bad on lap 28.  Jim Moughan started 28th and had the engine let
go on lap 67, while eighteen year old Justin Allgaier missed his quest to
become the first driver to run a champ dirt car and stock car on the same
weekend at DuQuoin since Bigelow in 1989.  Allgaier's J&J chassis was
running in the 4th slot in the last chance race and gaining on the third
place machine when it appeared the engine let go.  Justin had finished
second at the Toledo ARCA race Friday, then placed 4h in the Monday ARCA
race at DuQuoin.

Murphysboro veteran Randy Bateman, coming off a promising 16th at
Springfield installed a new Mark Cummins powerplant for Sunday night and was
running well in a transfer slot in the semi when the car quit, ending his
night.  Marion's Alex Shanks, who had his car on display on the main route
in his hometown on Friday, made his first 100-miler and started 29th,
completing 28 laps before the engine quit.  Chris Urish, from Elkhart,
Illinois is a sprint car regular at the Jacksonville Speedway.  He had a
Galas chassis entered, finished the semi in 7th and ran until lap 74 when
the throttle broke.

One Illinois driver not only became the first driver since Bigelow to run
the dirt car and stock car race, he became the first since Larry "Boom Boom"
Cannon in 1971 to run three different cars in three different events on the
Labor Day weekend at DuQuoin.  Galesburg's A.J. Fike took over the family
Beast from brother Aaron for the weekend.  He was very fast in USAC
practice, qualified the car in 16th and finished 11th, a lap down.  He also
finished fifth in his modified heat race to qualify for the Oldani Memorial
the next day.  Monday, he qualified Andy Hillenburg's ARCA car on the front
row but got caught up in a spin, damage put him a lap down in 17th.  He ran
the 20 mile UMP Modified race and finished 9th.  His versatility did not go
unnoticed by the fans, nor by many members of the media.

Whatever defending Horn 100 winner Rich Tobias, Jr. did to his creation
Sunday, it did not like the set up.  The car never hooked up, relegating him
to the last chance race and while he finished 16th, he was never in
contention .  John "Hot Rod" Heydenreich, a top five at Springfield two
weeks earlier could manage no better than 15th.  Matt Westfall, also a top
five at Springfield qualified fourth in the beautiful Daugherty 14, but the
car quit on the second lap and he was a scratch for the night.  One of the
early favorites, Jay Drake, had the Snider-Stewart Mopar Eagle go out from
under him during practice and the team left early.  Also leaving early was
Gene Nolen, with new shoe Levi Jones and still trying to work out their new
Twister chassis.  The car apparently lurched an engine in hot laps.

One driver who may have been all smiles was sixty something Nelson Stewart.
Nelson made his first dirt mile start Sunday night in John Lawson's machine,
a car that certainly is pleasing to the eye for it's old style lines.
Nelson has a famous racing son, Tony is a former NASCAR champ who just
happens to be the 2003 winner of the ARCA stock car race at DuQuoin.

Tom Capie looked like the Tom Capie of old Sunday night, putting his white
and red flamed Beast in 5th during qualifying and running in the top ten
before sliding to 13th.

O'Fallon's Bob Galas brought out his familiar orange and white number 12
Magnum for MARA Midget driver Tim Siner, who looked pretty comfortable at
times in the car but spun three times in turn three, the last time during
the semi and damaging the front end.  Galas has a number of DuQuoin wins as
a chief wrench, five with Gary B. and one with Jeff Swindell.

No shows at the "Magic Mile" included Granite City's Tad Roach, the Gambler
of Ralph DePalma and driver Mike Brecht, Kyle Wissmiller in Red Petersen's
54, the Mataka 3n1, the Galas chassis of Danny Long and veteran Jerry Nemire
and his familiar 76.  Another no show on the dirt continues to be a mystery.
Bobby East, in the top 10 in the Weld Silver Crown title chase, entered the
Hoosier 100 but failed to enter the Springfield or DuQuoin events.

Next up for the series is the Tulsa 100 at the Tulsa Fairgrounds, Saturday
night September 18.  A USAC Sprint show is slated for Tulsa on the 17th.
 

09-07-04
Sunday night, Sept. 5 Tyler Walker of Los Angeles set a new world's record
for the United States Auto Club Silver Crown Championship dirt cars in
qualifying of over 123 miles an hour, then led from start to finish to win
the Ted Horn 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.  The event, run for the
first time during the fair at night, drew a large crowd that enjoyed old
style dirt track racing on the "Magic Mile".  Parma, Michigan's Brian Tyler
finished second, with Indiana's Tracy Hines in third.  Randy Bateman of
Murphysboro, Illinois and Alex Shanks of Marion, Illinois made the 100-mile
event, but both fell out with mechanical problems.

On Labor Day, NASCAR's Ken Schrader won the pole position for the ARCA
RE/MAX Federated Car Care Southern Illinois 100 stock car race, but in the
end it was Frank Kimmel taking his third DuQuoin trophy in a race shortened
by rain a few miles short of the scheduled distance.  Bill Bird of Sturgis,
Kentucky was second, with Nevada's T.J. Bell third.  Galesburg, Illinois
driver A.J. Fike became the first driver in 22 years to run three different
race cars in three different races at DuQuoin on the Labor Day weekend.

Robinson, Illinois Brian Shaw won the 20 mile Bill Oldani Memorial UMP
Modified event.


*For additional information contact TRACK ENTERPRISES at
www.trackenterprises.com, USAC at www.usacracing.com, or ARCA at
www.arcaracing.com.

09-01-04
The "Indy 500" of Modified racing returns to the DuQuoin State Fair with the
11th running of the Bill Oldani Memorial for the area short
track modified racers on Labor Day weekend.

Drivers from Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Iowa and event
Texas are expected to make the trip to the "Magic Mile".  Winners
over the 11 year history of the Oldani Memorial include Centralia, Illinois'
Joe Cooksey, Kevin Gundaker, Jim Shereck and Kyle Steffens, all of St.
Charles, Missouri, Brian Shaw of Robinson, Illinois and Mark Voight of
Alahambra, Illinois.

Qualifying events for the Modifieds will be run Sunday night, September 5 in
conjunction with the USAC Silver Crown Ted Horn 100, and the 20-mile
Oldani Memorial will take place before Monday's ARCA Federated-Southern
Illinois 100.

Entry information can be found at www.trackenterprises.com of by calling
217-764-3200.

09-01-04
NASCAR Invades ARCA RE/MAX Series at DuQuoin!

Nearly forty entrants are expected to compete for over $140,000 in prize
money and a coveted trophy from a victory on the historic DuQuoin State
Fairground mile on Labor Day as the Automobile Racing Club of America RE/MAX
Stock Car Series visits the nation's premier one mile dirt oval.  Only four
of the famous mile dirt tracks in the United States currently host forms of
automobile racing, so a victory in one of the 100-mile grinds is rare and
appreciated.  The entry list may include most of the top ten in the current
ARCA RE/MAX series point chase, several young and talented drivers, two
famous veterans coming out of semi-retirement for the ARCA dirt races and
several popular home state drivers.  The entry list includes one NASCAR
Nextel Cup pilots, and could include more in the coming days depending on
the NASCAR race in California.

One NASCAR pilot whose entry at DuQuoin is not in question is local favorite
Ken Schader of Concord, North Carolina, formerly of Fenton, Missouri.
Schrader is well known throughout the Midwest, not only for his racing
exploits but as the co-promoter of the I-55 Raceway in Peveley, Missouri.
Schrader, currently the driver of the BAM Schwan's Dodge in Nextel Cup
Competition, is sponsored on the ARCA circuit by race sponsor Federated Car
Care.  He considers DuQuoin his "home" mile dirt track having grown up just
90 miles from the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and making his big time stock
car debut in the Southern Illinois 100 in 1979 where he qualified third.
While he owns several victories on the miles at Springfield and
Indianapolis, DuQuoin remains the lone Midwestern fairground facility that
has not been conquered by Ken Schrader.  In an attempt to break that jinx,
Schrader again filed the first entry this year for the Federated 100.

Will he or won't he is the question once again regarding defending Federated
100 winner and 2002 NASCAR champ Tony Stewart.  The "Rushville Rocket" has
been a fixture in ARCA competition at the "Magic Mile" since 2001, finishing
second in 2001 and 2002 to five-time ARCA national champ Frank Kimmel.  Last
year Stewart did not make his intentions to compete at DuQuoin known until
just before race day.  The former USAC Triple Crown champion obtained a
Chevrolet from his NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs, and with sponsorship from his
NASCAR sponsor Home Depot, dominated the 100-mile event for a well received
win.  The triumph put Stewart in a rare class that includes boyhood hero
A.J. Foyt, a class of drivers who have won 100-mile races on one of the
fairground mile dirt tracks.

Whoever the ARCA "Invaders" are should present significant competition to
the ARCA regulars who are led by five time ARCA RE/MAX Series champ and
two-time Federated-Southern Illinois 100 winner Frank Kimmel of
Jeffersonville, Indiana.  Kimmel, the winner at DuQuoin in 2001 and 2002
comes into DuQuoin with a nearly insurmountable points lead in the 2004
standings.  Kimmel has won 6 of the last 9 ARCA races held on the dirt, a
surface he originally did not care for!

Other drivers currently in the top ten in the ARCA points expected to enter
the Federated 100 include top rookie T.J. Bell (5th), Jason Jarrett, (4th)
son of 1999 NASCAR champ Dale Jarrett, Winder, Georgia's Mark Gibson (8th)
who lists DuQuoin as one of his favorite tracks, improving Christi Passmore
(6th), Indiana's Darrell Basham (10th) and second generation driver Todd
Bowsher (9th).  DuQuoin fans should be familiar with the Bowsher name, Todd'
s dad Jack was a standout with ARCA and the now defunct USAC Stock Car
series and won the 1972 Southern llinois 100 in record time, the only
DuQuoin stock car event to be run without a yellow flag.

In addition to the top ten in points, ARCA regulars Andy Belmont and Norm
Benning of Pennsylvania, Mike Buckley and Brad Smith of Michigan, and rookie
Brandon Knupp of Ohio are expected to enter the Federated 100.

Labor Day weekend always draws a strong contingent of drivers from Illinois
and the surrounding area, and this year is no different as three Illinois
drivers currently sit in the top ten slots in the ARCA RE/MAX standings, one
of those near the top of the ARCA Rookie Point chase as well.

North Barrington's Brent Sherman continues to improve each year in the ARCA
stock cars, and is second in this year's title chase.  Right behind Sherman
is another second generation driver with a familiar name, Chicago's Billy
Venturini.  Young Bill is the son of Bill Venturini, a former ARCA national
champ and a frequent DuQuoin competitor with ARCA and USAC.  Seventh in the
points is another familiar face, rookie A.J. Fike of Galesburg.  A.J., who
ran last year's Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin in the USAC Silver Crown Series,
switched to the ARCA cars this season and has teamed with former ARCA champ
and USAC Silver Crown shoe Andy Hillenburg for a full season run.  A.J. will
be attempting something at DuQuoin no driver has accomplished in 33 years
Labor Day weekend.  He stunned many by announcing last week that he would
enter the USAC Silver Crown Ted Horn 100 on Sunday, as well as the ARCA
event and the UMP Modified race as well.  The list of drivers that have run
three different races at DuQuoin on labor Day weekend includes legendary
names Rodger Ward, Tony Bettenhausen and A.J. Foyt, but no driver has done
the DuQuoin "hat trick" since the late Larry Cannon in 1971. Ironically,
Cannon was also an Illinois native, hailing from Oakwood.

Sentimental favorite Joe Cooksey of Centralia was hired earlier this season
by the SERVPRO team after Ron Cox suddenly retired from competition.  Joe
became the first Southern Illinois driver to capture a Federated 100 pole
position when he qualified for the top slot in 2000.  Other Illinois drivers
expected at DuQuoin include Carlyle's Charlie Schafer and eighteen year old
Justin Allgaier of Springfield, in his third year of ARCA competition.
Justin will be trying to make history at DuQuoin, he has a ride for Sunday's
USAC Silver Crown Ted Horn 100 and if he can make both events he will become
the first driver to accomplish that feat in fifteen years, not to mention
the youngest driver ever to run both races.

An area driver who may have a ride at DuQuoin is Fredericktown, Missouri's
Perry Tripp.  Tripp is a veteran of stock car and sprint car competition in
Missouri and Illinois, and has run several ARCA races.

Two veterans come out of retirement to compete once again at DuQuoin, as
Sturgis, Kentucky ace Bill Baird returns to the ARCA series.  The 1999 ARCA
National Champion has a victory at Springfield and has promised to jump in
the infield lake should he win at DuQuoin.  The other veteran is ageless Red
Farmer, an original member of the famous "Alabama Gang" that included Bobby
and Donnie Allison, and the late Neil Bonnett.  Should he make the race,
Farmer would extend his record as the oldest driver ever to compete at
DuQuoin, as he turns 72 in October!

These men and several others will be continuing a tradition of one of the
most unique forms of auto racing in the country, full bodied stock cars
racing on a fairground dirt track.  Big stock cars on the dirt is unusual,
only twice a year do they take to the dirt surface requiring dirt screens,
grooved tires and at times windshield wipers!  Both of the dirt venues are
in Illinois, and one is the beautiful DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Set on several hundred acres in the town of DuQuoin Illinois, the former
strip mine was converted to Illinois second State Fair by the late Bill
Hayes in 1923.  Hayes thought that the trip to Springfield was too much to
make for the citizens of Southern Illinois and was determined to give them
the same entertainment as citizens near the state capitol.  A lifelong horse
enthusiast, Hayes quickly discovered the entertainment and profitability of
auto racing as a draw for the fair, the first fairs included auto racing
events on the half mile track on the west side of the grounds.

Shortly after World War II the present one mile track was complete along
with seating for nearly 18,000 spectators.  When the American Automobile
Association added stock cars to its racing schedule in 1950, DuQuoin was one
of the five events.  Jay Frank won before a large crowd on that Labor Day in
1950.  Stock cars returned in 1954, and have been a regular part of the fair
lineup ever since.

Many racing legends have won at DuQuoin, even more have been thrilled to
compete here.  Indy winner Jimmy Bryan won the 1957 Southern Illinois 100,
then future NASCAR legend Fred Lorenzen took the next two.  USAC Stock Car
greats Don White and Norm Nelson dominated the sixties at DuQuoin, with A.J.
Foyt slipping into victory lane in 1969.  The late Butch Hartman dominated
the seventies, a decade that ended with a young USAC rookie named Rusty
Wallace besting A.J. Foyt in a 1979 thriller.

The eighties saw the late Dean Roper establish himself as the master of the
dirt miles with six DuQuoin triumphs, the first DuQuoin stock car race under
ARCA sanction and the last USAC Stock Car race in history, while the
nineties saw a second generation winner in Bobby Bowsher, with NASCAR
veterans and future NASCAR drivers all trying their hand on the DuQuoin
dirt.  In fact, the list of NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers who have entered or
participated at DuQuoin is quite extensive and includes Jeremy Mayfield,
Gary Bradberry, Nelson Stacy, Dick Trickle, Curtis Turner, Joe Ruttman, Mike
Wallace and the late Alan Kulwicki.

The 2004 field for the Federated 100 carries on a DuQuoin stock car
tradition that goes back over fifty years when the cars are started  on
Labor Day.  Practice for the ARCA RE/MAX series begins at 9 a.m., with Old
Milwaukee qualifying at 10:30.  The 52nd Federated Southern Illinois 100 is
slated to begin at 1:30.

Tickets are going fast but are still available at the DuQuoin State Fair Box
Office, Ticketmaster or by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200.
Additional information can be found on the world wide web at
www.trackenterprises.com or at www.arcaracing.com.

08-30-04

DuQuoin ARCA Lincoln Welders 50 Rained Out Saturday

DuQuoin, IL-The scheduled 50-mile race for the Automobile Racing Club of
America Lincoln Welders Truck Series at the DuQuoin State Fair was canceled
due to weather Saturday night.  The event will not be rescheduled.  The
cancellation marked the first time since 1968 that a motorsports event
scheduled for the DuQuoin State Fair was canceled (and not rescheduled).

A torrential downpour that began at 3 p.m. (Central) led to several inches
of rain in the DuQuoin area and a flash flood warning.  At one point water
covered U.S. Route 51 South of DuQuoin.  A track that may be unraceable for
the next day or two plus a tight schedule for the ARCA Truck Series and the
DuQuoin State Fair led promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises to cancel
the event.

Also canceled was the companion Wynn's Southern Sportsman Nationals for
short track steel block late model stock cars.

Next up for the DuQuoin State Fair Motorsports program is the Sunday night,
September 5 Ted Horn 100 for the USAC Silver Crown cars.  This marks the
first time the upright dirt cars have competed at night during the DuQuoin
State Fair.

FOR MORE INFO ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT TRACK ENTERPRISES AT 217-764-3200

08-30-04

Illinois' A.J. Fike and Justin Allgaier Seeking History at DuQuoin

DuQuoin, IL-Twenty-three year old A.J. Fike of Galesburg and college
freshman Justin Allgaier of Springfield are looking to write their names in
the auto racing history books at the DuQuoin State Fair on Labor Day
weekend.  Each driver is hoping that their versatility helps them enter the
history ledger as well  as advancing each of their auto racing careers.

Fike ran in the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown series last year, finishing
12th in the Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin.  A.J. moved to the ARCA RE/MAX Stock
Car Series this year and is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the
Year, winning the pole and leading several laps at Springfield, Illinois on
August 22.  Fike drives in the ARCA series for former USAC driver Andy
Hillenburg.  Fike made a stunning announcement last week when he made his
intentions known to enter the Southern Illinois 100 ARCA event at DuQuoin,
as well as the USAC Ted Horn 100 and the UMP Modified Oldani Memorial!  If
Fike can make the finale for all three events, he would become the first
driver in 33 years to race three different types of cars in three different
races on Labor Day weekend at DuQuoin.  The list of drivers who have been
successful at the DuQuoin "triple" is short, but filled with legendary names
such as A.J. Foyt, Tony Bettenhausen, Rodger Ward and Bobby Marshman.  The
last driver to run three different races Labor Day weekend at DuQuoin is
ironically also from Illinois.  In 1971, the late Larry "Boob Boom" Cannon,
a barber and future politician from Oakwood, Illinois ran the USAC Midget,
Stock Car and Dirt Car events at DuQuoin.

Joining A.J. Fike in the quest for racing immortality is a young Springfield
resident who entered college this fall, Justin Allgaier.  Justin, a veteran
of ARCA and short track late model competition is the youngest man ever to
start the Southern Illinois 100 stock car race at DuQuoin.  His exploits in
stock cars and midgets caught the attention of his current mention, NASCAR
star and DuQuoin ARCA entrant Ken Schrader.  Allgaier received a call this
winter from Arcola's Ebby Bergfield who purchased a Silver Crown car run
last at DuQuoin by Eric Gordon a few years ago.  While the car was well
prepared for the Tony Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield, Justin missed by one
spot making the 100-mile event and thus becoming the first driver since Tom
Bigelow to run a championship dirt car and stock car on the same weekend at
Springfield.  Bigelow is also the last driver to perform that feat at
DuQuoin, running the USAC and ARCA events on labor Day weekend in 1989.

A.J. Fike and Justin Allgaier's quests begin when the annual DuQuoin State
Fair auto racing extravaganza takes place on Labor Day weekend.  For the
first time the festival of speed opens on a Sunday night, September 5 with
the 54th running of the Ted Horn 100 for the USAC Silver Crown cars and
qualifying events for the UMP Modifieds.  Practice begins at 5, with the
Horn 100 slated for 8:30 p.m.

Less than 12 hours later the gates of the "Magic Mile" swing open again,
this time for the ARCA RE/MAX Stock Car Series and the 52nd Federated Car
Care-Southern Illinois 100, plus the 20-mile Bill Oldani Memorial for the
UMP Modifieds.  Practice on Labor Day begins at 9 a.m., with the Oldani
Memorial at approximately 12:30 and the Federated-Southern Illinois 100 at
1:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children and on sale at Track
Enterprises at 217-764-3200, Ticketmaster or the DuQuoin State Fair Box
Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT TRACK ENTERPRISES AT
217-764-3200 OR JAY HARDIN AT [email protected].
 

08-27-04DuQuoin

Second DuQuoin 50 for ARCA Truckers Set for August 28 along with Wynn's
Southern Sportsman Race

DuQuoin, IL-August 23, 2004-The ARCA Lincoln Welders 50 at the beautiful
DuQuoin State Fairgrounds promises to be an exciting opener for the motor
sports lineup of the 2004 DuQuoin State Fair as the trucks of the Automobile
Racing Club of America Lincoln Welders Series make their second appearance
on the historic "Magic Mile".   The second running of the Lincoln Welders 50
is slated for Saturday August 28. 2004 and is scheduled once again to be run
under the lights, along with the second running of the Wynn's Southern
Sportsman Nationals.

The ARCA Truck Series, now in it's sixth season, has experienced steady
growth and increased interest as evidenced by the twenty seven trucks and
drivers listed on the 2004 active roster. A great majority of those drivers
and trucks are expected to be in DuQuoin on the 28th vying for one of the
starting positions in the Lincoln Welders 50.

Defending winner Brian Rowe of Barboursville, West Virginia is expected to
be among those competing at DuQuoin, Rowe currently sits third in the ARCA
truck points and has yet to post a win in 2004.  Last year, he led the last
26 laps to post a historic win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds as the first
truck race winner in DuQuoin State Fair history.

Current point leader and two time defending ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck champ
Chad Guinn of Erie, Michigan is also expected to be at DuQuoin.  Guinn has
three wins in the seven races held so far this year and came into this
season leading the ARCA trucks in all-time victories with 18.  Guinn has one
victory this season on dirt, that coming on the fast quarter mile at
Lawrenceburg, Indiana.  Second in the point chase in 2004 is Brett Rowe,
brother of Brian Rowe.  He too has three win this year, one coming on the
dirt at the historic Terre Haute Action Track in June.

Also expected is current DuQuoin track record holder Tully Esterline of
Pettisville, Ohio. Esterline led the first 24 circuits last season after
setting a track record in qualifying of 36.767 seconds, or 97.914 miles an
hour around the "Magic Mile".  Esterline finished second to Rowe in the
event, and owns one career truck win, that coming on the dirt at LaSalle,
Illinois.

Presently fourth in the ARCA Lincoln Welders chase, thirty-five year old
Kevin Reeb finished fifth in the DuQuoin 50 last year.  Reeb, from Columbus,
Ohio has sixteen top ten finishes in 22 Lincoln Welder starts including one
victory at Lake Erie in 2003.  Other drivers in the top ten in the Lincoln
Welders standings include Bill Withers of Columbus, Ohio, Mark Otting of
Plainwell, Michigan, John Kasmierski of Toledo, Ohio, Donnie Porter of
Columbus, Ohio, Craig Meyers of Belleville, Michigan and Rick Knowles of
Willis, Michigan.

The ARCA Truck Series was initiated as a series for smaller, mid sized
trucks such as the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet S-10, and the Toyota Tacoma.  Four
cylinder or six cylinder engines are used in the trucks, which maintain a
stock appearance while having a full bred racing chassis underneath the
sheet metal.

The second running of the Lincoln Welders 50 is slated to begin with
practice for the trucks at 5 p.m. on August 28, followed by Pork Pole
Qualifying at 7.  The Wynn's Southern Sportsman main event precedes the 50
mile Lincoln Welders race, which is scheduled to push off at approximately
9 p.m.  Several local drivers have expressed an interest in running the
Sportsman race, including Paducah track champ Jeff Walston and Kentucky Lake
regular Matt Liner.  Several drivers from area track such as Mt. Vernon,
Flora, Paducah and Kentucky Lake are expected to compete in the Sportsman
event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT TRACK ENTERPRISES AT
217-764-3200 OR JAY HARDIN at [email protected]
 

08-24-04WDRL
Thanks to Tom Lathen for the following stories (Davenport story is below Kankakee story)

August 20, 2004

Southeast Motorsports Debuts New Website

(CALLAHAN, FL)  Southeast Motorsports in association with WD Enterprises Inc have launched the new Internet home for Southeast Motorsports on the World Wide Web. The official website can be located at www.southeastmotorsports.net.

Located in Callahan Florida, Southeast Motorsports is an authorized GRT chassis dealer, and specializes in manufacturing UMP/IMCA modified chassises. The "SHARK" chassis is the newest design built by Southeast Motorsports and has recorded numerous feature wins and impressive performances in 2004. Southeast Motorsports is a full service chassis manufacturer and a distributor for most major name brand parts. From a bare chassis to a complete roller, Southeast Motorsports can meet your needs whether it's a Dirt Late Model, UMP/IMCA modified or Sportsman racecar.

Timmy Carter owner of Southeast Motorsports has put together a dedicated and committed staff with over 20 years of experience building winning racecars. Timmy Carter has established Southeast Motorsports as a leader in the Motorsports industry and has teamed up with WD Enterprises Inc. to provide the media services for Southeast Motorsports.

"With the growing interest and inquiries about our modified chassis, we felt we needed a presence on the Internet and a public relations team to handle our media services for Southeast Motorsports", stated Timmy Carter."We are excited about working with WD Enterprises and growing our business."

The latest news and information about Southeast Motorsports can be found at www.southeastmotorsports.net.

Media Contact/Public Relations for Southeast Motorsports:
Wayne Castleberry- [email protected]
www.wdenterprises.net

11th Wynn's Sportsman Race at Illinois State Fair on Sunday 

Winner....Steve Sheppard, Jr

Springfield, IL-August 18, 2004.Area short track drivers have the
opportunity to compete in their version of the "Daytona 500" when the gates
open Sunday, August 22 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the 11th
running of the popular Wynn's Sportsman Nationals, an event held in
conjunction with the ARCA RE?MAX Series Allen Crowe Memorial 100.

In 2001 NASCAR Weekly Racing champion Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Illinois gained
his first Wynn's crown, a win even more popular with the fans because of his
well known car owner, "Jungle" Jim Davidson.  Davidson, at the time the
owner of a local Springfield restaurant, is a former sportsman driver who
competed for many years at the now defunct Springfield Speedway.

Leka won again in 2002, and last year started 12th and took the lead on lap
12 from a hard driving Bub Smith of Godfrey, Illinois to pick up his third
Wynn's Sportsman crown.  Smith finished second, with Mansfield's Darrell
Dick third, Taylorville's Bill Wilhour fourth and Assumption driver Phil
Moreland, Sr. in fifth.

The Wynn's Sportsman event was the creation of current Illinois State Fair
promoter Bob Sargent as a way for local drivers to compete on the "World's
Fastest One Mile Dirt Track", and not only draws a number of local drivers
but their friends, families and fans as well.

A number of drivers have qualified for the main event through qualifying
races this summer.  One is Greg Kimmons of Pleasant Plains, the current
point leader in the Sportsman division at Macon Speedway.  Others who have
qualified are Springfield drivers Gary Fox and Jeff Moe, Stonington's Tom
and Jeff Graham, Taylorville's Bill Wilhour, current Farmer City point
leader Rod Sandage of Bloomington, Jim Felker, Jr. of Bloomington, Brian
Diulio and Mike Pickering of Decatur and Kent Collins of Morton.  The rest
of the qualified drivers are Rick Hayley, Terry Werth, Mike Zalaker, Loren
Haberkorn, Dan Sheppard, Jeb Friedman, Phil Moreland, Ernest Dodd, Jay
Smithson, Darrell Dick, Billy Nail, Brian Call and Tracy Peveler.

Sportsman cars have a history of racing on the Springfield Mile back into
the 1970's, when events were promoted by the late Joe Shaheen as part of a
fall extravaganza.  Sportsman type machines retuned in the 1980's, as part
of a short track late model stock car program held also in the fall.  Kenny
Wallace of NASCAR fame won a sportsman event at Springfield in 1983.


The sportsman cars made their first appearance during the 1994 Illinois
State Fair as part of a two-day program, with heat races being held during
the USAC Silver Crown Tony Bettenhausen 100 on Saturday, and the semi and
feature events held on Sunday in conjunction with the ARCA stock car race.
Springfield's own Wes O'Dell, a veteran of many years of sportsman
competition in Central Illinois, took the first title.


O'Dell repeated as the Sportsman champ in 1995 and again in 1996 as the
sportsman machines moved to a one-day affair in conjunction with the Sunday
Allen Crowe Memorial..  Dethroning O'Dell became the main focus for many
sportsman competitors in 1997, a race delayed two months by rain.  Local
hero Dennis Vandermeersch won a thrilling race, lengthened to 20 miles from
15 in 1997.

Vandermeersch repeated as Wynn's champ in 1998, before O'Dell regained his
crown in 1999 and again in 2000.

Twenty-four positions of the Wynn's Sportsman field were set through
qualifying races during the summer held at the Farmer City Raceway and Macon
Speedway.  The rest of the field to be set in semi feature races on Sunday.
Jeff Leka is expected to be back to try for a fourth title when the 20-lap
Wynn's Sportsman feature is pushed off approximately at noon.  No one lap
record has been established for the sportsman, nor has a 20-mile track
record been established.  The 8 lap track record is held by New Berlin's
Steve Sheppard, Jr. at 101.788 miles an hour, set August 19, 2001.

The Wynn's Sportsman event is held in conjunction with the ARCA RE/MAX Allen
Crowe 100.  Tickets are available at 217-764-3200, the Illinois State Fair
Box Office or Ticketmaster.  Additional information can be found at
www.trackenterprises.com.

FOR FURTHER INFO ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT TRACK ENTERPRISES AT 217-764-3200 

08-18-04Crowe

Kimmel Seeks History at Springfield in ARCA Crowe 100

Winner....Bill Baird
Wrap-up of the ARCA Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield

It doesn't sound likely that a race driver in his mid fifties, who moved
from Kentucky to Florida and sold much of his equipment, who had to have
help from a rival crew, and who retired at the end of 2001 ought to be able
to come to the Illinois State Fairgrounds and beat the best in the business
in a 100-mile dirt track race on a Sunday afternoon, but that's just what
Bill Baird did Sunday in the 42nd Allen Crowe Memorial 100.  Baird, the 1999
winner of the Crowe 100 and the 1999 ARCA RE/MAX champ scaled back his
operation at the end of the 2001 season.  Bill, who called Sturgis, Kentucky
home came out of retirement briefly in 2002 to run at DuQuoin, got punted
into the fence and wadded up the car.  He had moved to Florida two years ago
and got the itch to race the dirt tracks again last year, but by his own
admission failed to get the program together.  When summer rolled around the
itch returned, Baird put together the car he had remaining and a partial
crew made up of former crew members from Kentucky.  He qualified the
Saturn-Hayes Oil Monte Carlo 12th, made an early pit stop and got stronger
as the day went along.  Once he moved around Centralia's Joe Cooksey into
second, Baird hunted down leader Frank Kimmel and held off the four-time
Crowe 100 winner for an extremely popular win.

Winning the Allen Crowe 100 Sunday gave Baird a distinction he may
grudgingly accept, at 55 years and 27 days he is the oldest stock car race
winner in Illinois State Fair history, and according to the available
records in the 94 year history of auto racing at the Illinois State
Fairgrounds, the oldest man ever to visit victory lane in any type of racing
automobile at Springfield.  Baird was about six months shy of eclipsing the
late Dean Roper as the oldest dirt track race winner in ARCA history, and
behind the late Iggy Katona as the oldest race winner in ARCA history.
Katona won the Daytona ARCA 200 at age 56.

Baird's win broke a four race win streak at Springfield for Kimmel, one of
the nicest guys you could ever encounter at the race track.  Kidding around
with Kimmel before the drivers meeting he was told 300 pounds of sand had
been deposited in the trunk of the Advance Auto-Pork Ford.  Laughing and
looking at the freshly watered race track, Kimmel commented that with "that
surface now, I might need it".  When asked if he was being modest about not
being good on the dirt, having won six of the last 8 ARCA dirt events, he
stood by his earlier statement that "he wasn't that good on the dirt".
However, it was clear to see that Kimmel really liked racing the dirt tracks
and considered them a lot of fun, going so far as saying that he wished the
two dirt races were televised so fans across the country could witness the
spectacle of full bodied stock cars on the dirt.

Kimmel spoke Sunday morning of the fun that fellow drivers Ken Schrader and
Tony Stewart expressed running the dirt at DuQuoin the last few years.  He
noted that both Schrader and Stewart, dirt track veterans, were as likely to
throw the car around on the top of the track as to run on the bottom.
Kimmel said he preferred going to the bottom and staying there, though he
made numerous passes on the outside on Sunday.

Frank Kimmel remains tied with the late Dean Roper and Bob Keselowski as the
only four-time winners of the Crowe 100, but Sunday Kimmel broke a seventeen
year old record held by the great Dean Roper when he crossed the line in the
lead on lap 76, becoming the all-time lap leader in stock car races held at
the Springfield Mile.  When Kimmel led on lap 38, he broke a 25 year old
record held by Don White for the most career total laps led during the
running of the Allen Crowe 100.  Frank Kimmel has now led 345 laps in stock
car competition at Springfield, all in Allen Crowe 100 and all under ARCA
sanction.

Had Kimmel won on Sunday he would have passed the legendary Jack Bowsher for
second on the all-time ARCA victory win list, currently both are tied with
54.  Bowsher is a three-time ARCA National champ and a two-time (1971-73)
winner of the Crowe 100 at Springfield.

Statistically speaking, Baird became the 26th different winner of the Crowe
100 and the 30th different stock car winner at Springfield since 1950.  He
also became the 11th different man with more than one Allen Crowe 100
triumph to his credit.  His 20 laps in the lead move him to 9th on the Allen
Crowe 100 lap leader list with 153, and 4th on the ARCA lap leader list at
Springfield as well.  Baird's second Crowe 100 win is the 27th for a General
Motors product, and a record 8th for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo.  His win
also meant the second for his car number, 52.

A number of records were set on Sunday.  Galesburg, Illinois' A.J. Fike
became the first central Illinois driver ever to set on the pole position
for a stock car race at Springfield.  And, Fike's age of 23 meant he became
the youngest pole sitter in Allen Crowe 100 history at Springfield.
Combining Fike at 23 with the age of Indiana's Josh Allison, 16, the front
row was the youngest in Crowe Memorial history.  Ironically, starting behind
them were 71 year old Red Farmer and the 42 year old Kimmel!

By taking the pole,A.J. was able to give a GM product it's 31st Springfield
pole position in the 52 stock car races held on the Springfield Mile since
1950.

Fike's qualifying time of 34.168 (105.362 mph) was the second fastest pole
speed in Springfield history, and he covered the opening ten miles of the
100-mile grind in just over 6 minutes, averaging 94 miles an hour.  However,
ten cautions and the extra laps at the end made this the longest and slowest
stock car race in Springfield history, the average speed 66.724 miles an
hour and the running time over one hour and thirty six minutes.

Several drivers had very good days at Springfield, one of those was two-time
Crowe 100 winner Bobby Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio.  A son of legend Jack
Bowsher, Bobby returned in 2004 after an absence of several years to run a
limited ARCA schedule.  Bobby qualified 23rd, then ran in the top 5 before
pitting and ended up 7th on the day.  For his efforts, he earned the Hoosier
Tire Hard Charger award.  Another veteran with a good day was 71 year old
Red Farmer, back after competing here as a "rookie" in 2002.  Farmer
qualified third, and outran many men half his age to a fine 5th at the end.
His teammate Jason Jarrett had a good finish despite some overheating early
on, the car sounded at times as if it had a miss but the Gladiator-Benningan
's Chevy came home in the fourth slot.

Norm Benning had an excellent day, starting 8th and coming on strong at the
end for third.  Illinois driver Brent Sherman started 18th and ended the day
in 6th, while Chicago's Billy Venturini started 13th and finished 8th.
Wisconsin's Rick Tackman, once a competitor on the Springfield Mile in a
sportsman car, ran Bob Schact's number 75 and got a top ten.

Springfield's Justin Allgaier, the 18 year old who started college Monday,
unfortunately missed the "double" when he finished 11th in the Bettenhausen
100 Silver Crown semi-feature Saturday, one place out of the final transfer
slot.  He was attempting to become the first man since Tom Bigelow in 1989
to make both the dirt car and stock car race at Springfield on the same
weekend.  Justin made up for Sunday, qualifying a strong 7th and challenging
for a top 5 finish when he got caught by Andy Belmont's spin on lap 71 in
turn 4.  The car suffered extensive body damage and perhaps a little
suspension damage, but he soldiered on for tenth.  A lot of work lies ahead
of the Allgaier team, their Toledo car is nearly ready and they must fix the
dirt track machine for the Labor Day event at DuQuoin.  Once again Justin
will attempt the double, trying to become the first there since Bigelow in
1989.  He will have company though in the aforementioned A.J. Fike.
Immediately after the Crowe 100 Justin headed for the Bob Wente midget race
at Granite City, where he finished 3rd.

Heartbreak loomed for Joe Cooksey, who hauled out his Chevrolet for the
Servpro team and qualified fifth.  Looking very good early on, Cooksey ran
as high as second and was in the top three when he may have gotten together
with another car on the lap 100 restart.  The left rear tire went flat, and
Joe ended the day 12th.  Rookie Ryan Howard was fastest in practice and
looked very good during the race, but ended 13th one lap down.

In the movie Days of Thunder Robert Duvall (alias Harry Hogg) tells his
driver Cole Trickle (alias Tom Cruise) that "he didn't hit you, he rubbed
you."  "And rubbin' son is racin."  Well, there was plenty of rubbin' going
on Sunday as evidenced by the ten cautions for 51 laps.  In fact it appeared
some of the blocking and pushing on the race track could have led to some
pretty hot tempers in the cockpits and the pit area before the day ended.

Unfortunately A.J. Fike was a victim of the fence Sunday, he spun in turn 2
on lap 100 and tore up the Chevy of owner Andy Hillenburg.  It was hard to
tell from the stands if contact precipitated the spin.  Hillenburg is very
pleased with A.J.'s performance so far and said so in a pre-race interview.

A.J. Henriksen bought the car used by Bob Strait when he drove for Bill
Hendren, and both Strait and Hendren were on hand to help out. Also on hand
was former Hendren driver Ken Rowley, marking the 30th anniversary of his
1974 USAC Stock Car debut at Springfield.  Henriksen was also a victim of
the fence, and it appears he is questionable for DuQuoin.

Other victims of the "fence monster" included Charlie Schaefer, Mark Gibson
(who appeared to have help), Frog Hall, Andy Belmont and Josh Allison.

Sunday saw a large crowd turnout in beautiful August weather, it was warm
but comfortable and not overly humid.  Bob Sargent and crew had the mile in
excellent condition once again as evidenced by the speeds turned in
qualifications.

Steve Sheppard, Jr. of New Berlin won the companion race, the 11th Wynn's
Sportsman event.  Jeff Leka failed to defend his title as Sheppard was in
the car Leka won last year's race in.  Five time winner Wes O'Dell came from
the back of the pack toward the front but blew an engine in spectacular
fashion in front of the grandstand, just past halfway of the 20-mile event.

Several of the ARCA teams loaded up for a test at Chicago before heading
home to prepare for Toledo on September 3rd, then the big Labor Day race at
DuQuoin on September 6.  NASCAR's Ken Schrader has entered the DuQuoin race,
a rumors abound about the participation of other NASCAR drivers including
defending race winner Tony Stewart.

Pre-Race Press Release

Macon, IL  August 17, 2004-Frank Kimmel has a unique opportunity to make
motor sports history at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 22
in the 42nd running of the Allen Crowe 100 for the Automobile Club of
America RE/MAX stock car series.  Should Kimmel, a five time ARCA RE/MAX
national driving champion,  post a win in the unique 100-mile dirt track
grind he would become the first ever five-time winner of the Crowe 100.

Kimmel's task is complicated by the fact that an entry list of hungry
drivers, which numbers at present thirty-six cars, is planning to be a
significant obstacle to Kimmel's quest to become not only the first five
time winner of the Crowe 100, but the first man to win five consecutive
Crowe 100 races at the "World's Fastest One Mile Dirt Track".  When the ARCA
RE/MAX Series invades the Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 22, the field
of stock car drivers is expected to include most, if not all of the top ten
in the current ARCA RE/MAX title hunt, some talented rookies, three former
winners and one popular veteran coming out of retirement to play in the dirt
on a Sunday afternoon.  The entry list includes several Illinois drivers
looking to post their first win in the Crowe Memorial.

Kimmel leads the current ARCA point standings with 4 wins in 16 starts and
has a 590 point lead over second place.  Kimmel, who now calls Clarksville,
Indiana home, is the driver of Larry Clement's Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford
Taurus and has moved near the top of many statistical categories at
Springfield.  His performance last year moved him to third on the all-time
lap leader list at Springfield with 286, just nine behind Don White and 34
behind the legendary Dean Roper.  By capturing the pole last year, Kimmel is
tied for the most stock car pole positions at Springfield with three, and
gave Clement his fifth Springfield victory as a car owner.  Kimmel seems to
have found a home in the ARCA stock cars, though he has been able to dabble
in both the NASCAR truck series and has a few starts in the NASCAR Nextel
Cup Series as well.  He stated in an interview last year that he "wasn't
that good on dirt" but you would never know it from his performances,
between the Crowe 100 at Springfield and the Federated-Southern Illinois 100
at DuQuoin, Kimmel has won six of the last eight ARCA dirt track events held
in Illinois, dating back to 2000.

Seeking to end Kimmel's dirt track domination is the driver currently second
in the ARCA RE/MAX standings and one of several drivers from Illinois
looking for a win in the home state, Brent Sherman of North Barrington,
Illinois.  Sherman has ten top ten finishes in the series this year and is
still looking for his first win in his Serta Mattress Chevrolet.  Third in
points is another Illinois driver, second-generation competitor Billy
Venturini.  Billy, who hails from Chicago, also has ten top ten finishes and
is looking for his first ARCA win in his father's stable of General Motors
products.

Fourth in the points is top rookie T.J. Bell of Sparks, Nevada.  The
twenty-four year old Bell is a road-racing veteran who has experience in the
NASCAR Truck Series and plans to expand his horizons with a few USAC Ford
Focus Midget Series starts this year.  Sitting behind Bell is third
generation driver, Jason Jarrett of Hickory, North Carolina.  Driving the ML
Motorsports fleet of Chevrolets and Pontiacs, Jarrett has been a regular on
the ARCA tour since 2001, when he shocked everyone with a front row start
and a third place finish in the Crowe 100 in his first time ever on the
dirt.  Jarrett, with one career ARCA win to his credit, has finished second
twice in the ARCA title chase, both times to Frank Kimmel.  Jarrett is the
son of 1999 NASCAR champ Dale Jarrett, and the grandson of two-time NASCAR
champ Ned Jarrett.

Sixth in the standings is a Georgia driver who has found a second home on
the Illinois dirt, Winder's Mark Gibson.  Gibson drives Chevrolets and
Pontiacs sponsored by Williams Lumber and annually looks forward to the two
dirt races on the ARCA schedule.  A four time winner in the ARCA series, the
forty-seven year old Gibson has eight top ten finishes this season.  Seventh
in the current standings is one of three women drivers to contest the Crowe
100 in its 42-year history, dirt track veteran Christi Passmore of Pryor of
Pryor, Oklahoma.  Ninth is the improving Todd Bowsher, son of former ARCA
champ and two-time Crowe 100 winner Jack Bowsher.  Jack owns the Fords
driven by son Todd, who has four top ten finishes this season.  Tenth is
veteran Darrell Basham of Henry, Indiana.

Other ARCA regulars expected to join the Crowe 100 field are Norm Benning of
Pennsylvania, Tim Mitchell of Tennessee, Brad Smith of Michigan, and Andy
Belmont of Pennsylvania.  Benning is a veteran of the ARCA tour while
Belmont ran a few NASCAR Nextel Cup races earlier in the year and is an
apparent replacement for his regular driver, rookie Brandon Knupp.

Two popular veterans, including one former Crowe 100 winner, have come out
of semi-retirement for another crack at victory lane at the Illinois State
Fairgrounds.  1999 Allen Crowe 100 winner and former ARCA national champ
Bill Baird of Sturgis, Kentucky announced several weeks ago that he would
field a car for the ARCA dirt track events.  However, the fifty-five year
old Baird is a youngster compared to the legendary Red Farmer who is rumored
to turn seventy-two in October!  Farmer, who competed at Springfield and
DuQuoin in 2002, is a member of the famous "Alabama Gang" that included
NASCR greats Donnie and Bobby Allison and the late Neil Bonnett.

The third former winner of the Crowe 100 to join the field is two-time
winner Bobby Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio.  A former ARCA national champion,
Bowsher left the series a few years ago and just recently returned.  He is
one of former winner Jack Bowsher's sons and an older brother of Jack's
current driver, Todd Bowsher.

Including Sherman and Venturini, several Illinois drivers that generate a
significant amount of fan interest for the Allen Crowe 100 have a legitimate
shot at victory on Sunday.  No downstate Illinois driver has ever posted a
win in the Allen Crowe 100, however at least three will be on the entry list
including a rookie who is eighth in the ARCA RE/MAX points and an eighteen
year old from the city of Springfield who will be pulling double duty this
weekend.

Twenty-three year old A.J. Fike of Galesburg is in his first year of ARCA
competition and has parlayed seven top ten finishes, including a second at
Berlin, Michigan to 8th in the standings.  Fike ran in the USAC Silver Crown
Series last year and was in the top ten in the Bettenhausen 100 at
Springfield before being eliminated in an accident.  Fike could have pulled
double duty this year but has given the family USAC ride to brother Aaron.
Fike's car owner is former USAC Silver Crown driver and 1995 ARCA RE/MAX
champ Andy Hillenburg.

Young Justin Allgaier of Springfield may have received the loudest ovation
from the crowd prior to last year's Allen Crowe 100.  The son of Mike
Allgaier, owner of Hoosier Tire Midwest, Justin is a veteran of local late
model competition and has raced at the prestigious Chili Bowl midget event.
He has two ARCA starts at Springfield, qualifying ninth before mechanical
problems sidelined him last season.  This year brings a new twist for
Allgaier, he has secured a USAC Silver Crown ride and will attempt to make
the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield and the Horn 100 at DuQuoin.  Should
Justin make the USAC race on Saturday, he would become the first driver to
race in the champ car and stock car race at Springfield on the same weekend
since Tom Bigelow ran in both 100-milers in 1989.  If by chance he could win
both races, Justin would add his name with legends A.J. Foyt, Roger
McCluskey and Al Unser as the only drivers ever to win both the Bettenhausen
and Crowe 100.  Unser is the only driver ever to win both in the same
weekend in, that feat coming in 1972.

Centralia's Joe Cooksey was planning on a limited schedule in the ARCA
series this year, but the sudden retirement of Ron Cox gave him the seat in
the SERVPRO Pontiac.  Cooksey, a veteran of ARCA competition became the
first Southern Illinois resident to capture an ARCA pole position at DuQuoin
when he won the top slot there in 2000.  Another Southern Illinois resident,
Carlyle's Charlie Schaefer has been a regular on the ARCA dirt tracks for
the past several seasons and is a veteran of the short track late model
stock cars.

The ARCA RE/MAX drivers continue a 42-year-old Illinois State Fair stock car
auto racing tradition that remains a memorial to a Springfield race driver
whose burgeoning career was cut short by an accident.

Stock car racing was added to the motor sport lineup at the fairgrounds in
1950, with Jay Frank taking a September 100-mile race.  Stock cars returned
again under the American Automobile Association banner in 1953, but were
absent until coming back under USAC sanction in 1961, a race sponsored by
Springfield's Seratoma Club and won by champ car veteran Len Sutton.  Stock
cars returned (once again after the fair) in 1962, with Michigan's Paul
Goldsmith taking the checkered flag.  The next stock car event at the
Illinois State Fairgrounds would take on even more importance.

Springfield's Allen Crowe was an up and coming USAC race driver, running in
the midgets, sprint cars and getting his second championship start in 1961,
delighting the home town fans by making the first Tony Bettenhausen Memorial
100 at Springfield.  Crowe got much of his early training in stock cars and
midgets on the tracks in Central Illinois, including the late Joe Shaheen's
Springfield Speedway.  Crowe's dream was to follow fellow Springfield
residents Rex Easton and Chuck Weyant into championship cars with an eye on
the Indianapolis 500.

Crowe's dream became reality in May of 1962, when he qualified the S-R
Racing roadster in 22nd and finishing 31st when he was caught in an accident
involving Jack Turner, Chuck Rodee and Bob Christie.  He survived a nasty
spill in the Central Excavating dirt car at the 1962 Hoosier 100 to return
to the Indy 500 in 1963, and qualified a respectable 13th.  He finished the
race in 27th, the victim of an accident in the first turn, and his career
seemed on the verge of taking flight.

Unfortunately, a sprint car accident at New Bremen, Ohio cut his career and
his life short.  Springfield promoter Jim Kidd, along with many members of
the Springfield racing community looked for a way to pay homage to Allen.
They found a way with the fledgling stock car race at the fairgrounds,
renaming the event the "Allen Crowe Memorial".  NASCAR's Curtis Turner won
the first Allen Crowe Memorial 100, held after the close of the Illinois
State Fair.  The first Crowe Memorial to be included in the Illinois State
Fair entertainment lineup came in 1965 and was won by Bobby Isaac.

The last forty-two years have seen a number of famous racing drivers not
only enter, but also win the Allen Crowe 100.  NASCAR stars such as Benny
Parsons, Dick Trickle and Davey Allison all have appeared on an Allen Crowe
100 entry list, while NASCAR stars Turner, Bobby Isaac and Ken Schrader have
posted victories in the memorial event.  USAC stars such as Norm Nelson, Don
White, Butch Hartman and A.J. Foyt dominated the sixties and seventies.
When ARCA came on board to sanction the Crowe 100 in 1983, ARCA stars such
as Bob Keselowski (a four-time winner), Bobby Bowsher and Bob Hill posted
wins at Springfield.

One star driver transcended both sanctioning bodies and became the master of
the Springfield Mile, the late Dean Roper of Fair Grove, Missouri.  Roper
won seven of nine 100-mile stock car events at Springfield between 1981 and
1986, four of them Allen Crowe Memorial races.  He attempted a comeback of
sorts in the 1990's, and was running in the top ten in the 2001 Allen Crowe
Memorial 100 when he suffered a heart attack and sadly passed away a short
time later.  Fittingly, the pole position award at Springfield is named in
his honor.

Practice for the 42nd Allen Crowe 100 is slated to begin at approximately 9
in the morning on Sunday, August 22 with Pork-Dean Roper Pole qualifying at
11.  The Wynn's Sportsman feature is slated for around 12 noon, with the
Allen Crowe 100 field taking the green flag at approximately 1:00.

Good seats are still available by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200,
at Ticketmaster locations or at the Illinois State Fair Box Office.
Additional information can be found on the World Wide Web at
www.trackenterprises.com or www.arcaracing.com.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT TRACK ENTEPRRISES AT
217-764-3200 OR JAY HARDIN AT [email protected].
 

CHASE AUSTIN TURNS IN STRONG PERFORMANCES AT I-70 SPEEDWAY

…Mid-Summer Report Card Bodes Well for Young Racer / Student

(Eudora, KS – July 13, 2004)   After two separate appearances in 100 lap feature events on the grueling high-speed pavement of I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri during this month, much of the talk throughout the crowd has been focused on the impressive performance of 14 year old Chase Austin.  The young racer from the Kansas City area also continues to gain experience and seat time in his Open Wheel Modified car on the area's dirt ovals and in recent weeks has drawn substantial attention from a handful of NASCAR Nextel Cup team owners as a potential candidate for future efforts in his growing racing career.   

Austin's pair of successful outings in his late model stockcar proved to be learning experiences.  With a crate engine beneath the hood of his family-owned racecar, Austin held his ground with his competitors and during the latter stages of the events ran lap times close to the race leaders.  The teenager has consistently turned heads during the past two years with his outstanding performances in 750 horse powered Dirt Late models as well as Open Wheel Modified and Sprint Cars

On Saturday, June 26 the youngster from Eudora, Kansas ran with the Mid-American Racing Series (MARS).  Austin took his black and yellow Chevrolet Monte Carlo to an eleventh place finish.  The performance in the MARS sanctioned event was the first major asphalt event at a national level in the late model stock car faction of the sport for the fourteen year old Austin. 

With plenty of fireworks on and off the track at I-70 during the Fourth of July weekend, Chase Austin celebrated another strong run.  The 111 numbered machine showed its strength and the patient talent of its young driver as Austin battled his way up in to a fifth place spot.  A yellow on lap 93 placed the young gun in fourth, but when the leader spun on the restart, it left the young driver with no avenue of escape, collecting Chase in the incident and ending the night for the Austin Racing team.

"As a 14 year old, Chase has shown a lot of confidence and ability, but more importantly a lot of maturity on the racetrack, as well as his professional behavior off the track," points out John Bauer, veteran Midwest motorsports journalist and news representative for I-70 Speedway.  "This track is one of the most challenging tracks in the nation, even for proven veterans as we have seen during the past decades; and for a kid like Chase Austin to come in here and display the talent that he has shown - at the speeds and level of competition here, is something that is very impressive to a lot of us."

This past weekend rains dampened the schedule at I-70 Speedway so the Austin Racing efforts turned their attention to the family's Open Wheel Modified in a Saturday evening event.  Chase performed well during the heat races, making the A Main event in a field of thirty-nine competitors but the event ended prematurely due to problems with lighting at the track.

The team's efforts include Bob Morton Enterprises, C-Man Graphics, Conner Race Bodies and Graphics, Kirk Welding Supply, Bell Racing Products, Wilson Manifold, Comp-U-Sew and Misty Productions. The team would also like to thank Richard Childress Racing (RCR) for the recent provision of a new driver's suit.

Away from the racetrack Chase Austin has been recognized as a young leader and talented speaker in delivering the important message of focus on education and family values.  Chase has visited schools to speak to students on the importance of academic performance and staying in school.  Austin has also been honored as one of the leading minority youngsters in the sports world and has been the focus of national and regional media attention.  To learn more about the rising career of this exciting young stock car competitor, visit the official web site for Chase Austin found on the Internet at www.chaseaustin.net.

07-09-04Memmer 

I am the announcer, photographer, and pr for a vintage car group out of Northern Indiana called the Michiana Vintage Racers.
We are in our 4th year of operation. We have restored Sprints, Super Modifieds, Late Models, Midgets, Coupes, and Coaches.
We only have done pavement shows to this point. But, myself and another official from our car group will be doing an open vintage car show on July 2nd at the Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford Michigan. It will be open to any vintage car, and there is no association to join. Track time looks promising.
I, myself have a ton of photos from 1948 on. It totals 51 photo books. They will be on display, too. This is in conjunction with the 360 King of Michigan Nationals. Anybody interested, my number is {574} 234-2798 for info. This will be the first time vintage cars will have appeared at Hartford.
Thanks, Ron Verash. 

05-21-04MinorityChaseAustin

 Chase Austin Racing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MINORITY RACER CHASE AUSTIN READY FOR NASCAR’S DIVERSITY DRIVE

Teenage Stock Car Champ to be Recognized as 2004 AFDIM Horizon Award Winner During Coca Cola World 600 Weekend at Lowes Motor Speedway

(Eudora, KS – May 20, 2004)                Although his birth certificate shows Chase Austin may be only 14 years old, his character and professional performance on America's stock car circuits have been recognized as a maturing standing throughout the motorsports industry.  The youngster from the Kansas City area was named as the 2004 recipient of the Association for Diversity in Motorsports (AFDIM) Horizon Award winner.  The award is presented to the minority competitor showing the greatest promise in motorsports who displays tenacity and the fortitude necessary to become a motorsports great achiever.

The special presentation will take place prior to the running of the NASCAR Busch Grand National Division’s at Lowes Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 29^th in conjunction with other special ceremonies recognizing industry leaders spearheading initiatives involving diversity and minority programs for future racing stars and special accomplishments by leaders in the motorsports industry.

Austin, a talented minority teenage stock car professional, was recognized for his tremendous racing achievements at such a young age and for his performance in action on the 2003 Topless Outlaw Racing Association (TORA).  During his rookie season in 750-horsepowered dirt late models Chase Austin recorded 5 wins with 15 top-ten finishes while winning the TORA Most Improved Driver award.  The youngster was also honored as the Rookie of the Year at Thunder Valley Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas and finished second in a national poll of rookie late model drivers from across the nation.

Austin, who began his racing career at age eight in Go Karts, has progressed rapidly through the Sprint Car and Stock Car divisions on the national racing scene and is now prepared to take another step toward his future aspirations in the top ranks of American Stock Car Racing.  Last season's successes in the realm of Dirt Late Model competition saw Chase Austin race competitively against the likes of recognized champions Scott Bloomquist, Freddy Smith, Rick Eckert, Steve Francis, Dale McDowell, Larry McDaniels, Kenny Schrader and others.  Austin's growth plans involve competing on the American Speed Association (ASA) Late Model Series.  In addition, Austin will continue to hone his skills near home when not on the road and those laps of competition and learning will come at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri near his home of Eudora, Kansas.  I-70 Speedway is renown as a proving grounds for stock car champions of past and current eras.

Last October Chase Austin turned heads with impressive outings on the national Dirt Late Model scene including a strong performance at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Kentucky which resulted in his winning the "Future Dirt Track World Championship" as he went head-to-head against dozens of the country's top up and coming drivers.  Although the field was filled with many competitors with much more experience and age than Chase, the 14-year-old barnstormer sped ahead and scored the biggest win of his young career.

Austin has been touted by industry leaders as one of the future superstars of the sport and has impressed many of the sports top executives with his racing talents and demeanor.

            "Chase is one of the best African American drivers I have ever seen.  He has been very successful at a young age," points out H. A. Humpy Wheeler, President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway and long-time leader in the stock car racing industry.  "He is also mastering the techniques of driving a car on very slick race tracks (high powered stock cars on dirt tracks) which will prove most helpful as he advances his career into NASCAR," continues Wheeler who is known for his keen eye for talent in the auto racing world.  "If he continues to make progress, there is no doubt in my mind that we will see him in a major racing circuit within the next few years."

A handful of other powerbrokers in the sport have also witnessed the potential of Austin's young career and future potential, both on and off the racetrack, including Publisher-Emeritus Chris Economaki of the National SPEEDSPORT NEWS and NASCAR Chief Operating Officer George Pyne.  During the off-season following his 2003 successes, Austin continued his educational pursuit as well as involving his time and energy toward worthwhile causes and public appearances, including visits to schools and other youth initiatives.

Away from the racetrack Chase Austin has been recognized as a young leader and talented speaker in delivering the important message of focus on education and family values.  Austin has also been honored as one of the leading minority youngsters in the sports world and has been the focus of national and regional media attention based on his positive influence on children and talents on the racetrack.

The plans for Chase Austin's growth in motorsports reach beyond this season's action on the newly created ASA Late Model Series and experience gained at I-70 Speedway.  As progress continues and the talented stock car driver gains added track time, the plans call for Austin to move toward the national ASA Racing series in 2005 while continuing limited action in the sanctioning body's Late Model Series as well.

Other young drivers on the rise have taken note of Chase Austin's growing career.  Clint Bowyer, a fellow Kansan, moved into the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) owned Reese's sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 2004 sharing the driving duties with NASCAR Nextel Cup regular Kevin Harvick.  Bowyer, like many other talents in the business feels that Chase Austin has the winning makeup for future success in the sport.

"I've had the chance to race with Chase and am impressed with his abilities," noted Clint Bowyer who has recently showcased his own talents at the wheel of the RCR Reese's Chevrolet in NASCAR's Busch Grand National Division.  "Chase is talented and has the support of his family and friends in the business which can enable him to move forward to the next level of racing.  That's the kind of support that has helped me and with continued experience Chase Austin should make a very good racer during his own career."

Bowyer's former Late Model team will assist in the crew duties for Chase Austin throughout the season and have turned over some of the organization's former equipment to the team including a racecar that Austin will use on the ASA Late Model Series.

ASA Racing's history has proven to be one of the most successful racing circuits in stock car racing during its rich 35-year existence.  Former champions of ASA Racing include many legends and champions of the sport's highest level.  Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Johnny Benson, Darrell Waltrip, Johnny Sauter, Tim Raines and the late Alan Kulwicki are among the many champions to come out of the ASA Ranks.  In addition, past and present short track kingpins such as Mike Eddy, Bob Seneker, Gary St. Amant, Butch Miller, Mike Garvey and others have led the stock car world's growth through their successes on the ASA Racing tour.

This season’s expansion of ASA Racing to include the newly formed Late Model Series provides further future growth opportunities for young racers.  ASA Racing has continued to expand his reach now only through the ranks of Stock Cars, but also involving Open Wheel Modified and Truck classes to its sanctioned ranks.  In fact, as part of the new path taken by ASA Racing events on the national circuit this season include stops at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowes Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway.  Founded by stock car innovator and promoter Rex Robbins, ASA Racing has been recognized as a leader in the motorsports industry through its national and global television audience and appeal.  As part of ASA Racing's continued influence and success many national and international corporate leaders have successfully participated as major sponsors of the organization and its competing teams due to the affordability and delivery of results attained from marketing partnerships with ASA Racing.

The career accomplishments and future plans of Chase Austin are no longer a secret within the racing industry.  Experiences gained on the testy, high-speed dirt ovals across the nation are now being applied to the new agenda for the young talent as he prepares to move forward with more seat time in action on paved ovals and eventually super speedways.

"Midway through the summer word began to filter from the west to the east that there was some kid out in Kansas who was racing.  No big deal I thought as there are lots of teenagers getting into racecars, but this one was different," notes veteran motorsports writer and publicist Doc Lehman of DirtAmerica Online and Dirt Late Model magazine.  "This kid wasn't in a Champ Kart or a Mini Sprint, this 13-year old was racing a full-blown Late Model and, get this, he was winning.  It became readily apparent that this kid was for real."

Chase Austin is currently being considered by several leading stock car racing organizations as a potential candidate for long-term involvement in both youth and minority diversity programs.  At present, the team is meeting with industry leaders in order to finalize plans for the next three to five seasons.

Whether racing on the track or at home with family and friends, Chase Austin manages to accomplish one of his most important goals with increasingly impressive results, as indicated by his grades and performance reports from school.  Austin attends middle school in Eudora, Kansas and when on the road receives assignments from his teachers via e-mail and fax.  Steve Austin, the father of the young driver, has served as team crew chief while mentoring his teen-age son on the road.  Chase's mother, Marianne stays busy structuring and planning appearances and business affairs for the team when not on the road racing with her son and husband.

In addition to the continuing guidance that Chase receives from his parents, team member Marci McDaniels plays a vital role in the future endeavors of Chase and the team.  Marci is the daughter of multi-time Late Model Champion Larry McDaniels of Wichita, Kansas and will lead merchandising and promotional opportunities involving the popular teenage racecar driver.  Currently Ms. McDaniels is putting together all details for the Official Chase Austin Fan Club.

Former crewmembers of Clint Bowyer's late model program, Bob Morton, Jeff Stacy and Jennifer Collins will provide support to Chase Austin's efforts with the ASA Late Model Series competition and at I-70 Speedway.  Tony Mlynarski and Greg Watkins have been key factors in Chase's past efforts in dirt racing and will continue to provide input and crew efforts as Chase makes the move to asphalt. To learn more about the rising career of this exciting young stock car competitor visit the official web site for Chase Austin found on the Internet at www.chaseaustin.net.

For Media Interviews, Business Opportunities or Promotional Appearances please use the following contacts:

 Victory Lane Communications, Inc.

[email protected]  /  (678) 978 – 5377

www.chaseaustin.net   -    (785) 393-0136

05-14-04BarrenCounty
 

New Management Team to Take Over Barren County Speedway in Glasgow, KY 

 GLASGOW, KY--A new management team will be in charge of the race program at the McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow, KY starting on Friday Night, May 21 as the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will make their first appearance of the season at the track. 

 The promotional team of NARA President Spencer Wilson, Tony & Debbie Rose and Josh King has announced that they will be taking over the track reigns immediately.  An agreement was reached with track owner, Billy McCoy of Glasgow last week to take over the operation of the 32 year old 3/8 mile track.  The track which first opened in 1972 will return back to its original name, the Barren County Speedway.   

The May 21st O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event will be the first program the new management team will promote.  It has also been announced that the longest, continuously ran dirt late model race in the state of Kentucky, the "Kentucky Klassic" will be held on Friday Night, August 27 and be sanctioned by the North American Racing Association (NARA) DirtCar Series.  The race was first run in 1982, which is one year before the second longest race in the Bluegrass State began, the North/South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, KY. 

The new management has been busy since taking over the track with several improvements to the facility planned. The new management hopes to have several more updates to the track and facility by the May 21st race.  Another press release in the coming days will highlight more of the work that has and will be done along with more information regarding the May 21st race.

 Information on Barren County Speedway can be found at www.barrencountyspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 270-678-1100. The website is currently under construction and will be updated as more information becomes available.

04-29-04IllinoisStateFair

03-29-04
This article was in the Bloomington Pantagraph and is a pretty good read to tell what kind of person he and his wife were. Also, there is Memorial Fund set up for his children and one set up for the Maurer children at the Heartland Bank, PO Box 166, Carlock, IL 61725 if you would like to help. From the sounds of this article, the Piercy helped out a lot of people in need.


Church remembers members lost...........

By Sharon K. Wolfe
[email protected]

NORMAL -- There now is an empty space at Calvary Baptist Church.
Physically, that space is in the center-right section, third row from the back, where Curt and Linda Piercy always sat on Sundays. Emotionally, it is the sense of loss left by the death of the Piercys, devoted church members who were among six people aboard a plane that crashed in Kentucky.

The church usually worships on Wednesday night, but this week was different. Hours after word came that the wreckage was found, about 300 people gathered at the church to pray, sing, listen to Scripture and worship in honor of the victims' memories.

Organizers of the service chose music to reflect the mood of a crowd that had hoped in vain that the plane, which was reported missing on Monday, and its passengers would be OK.

"Jesus is a rock in a weary land," they sang. "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone."

The service focused on the Piercys. Curt Piercy grew up in the church and his wife joined later. Their two children, who are fourth- and seventh-grade girls, attend Calvary Baptist Academy.

"We pray this, Lord, this night be a time of real healing," said the Rev. Ken Barth, assistant pastor. "We have a lot of questions. We pray for our church family as we suffer this tragedy."

"It's easy to have faith when everything is going fine.... But when things are tough, it's hard," said the Rev. Ralph Wingate, senior pastor.

After the service, Wingate expanded on comments made during the service about the Piercys.

"They were very quiet," he said, but they did good works. "A lot of people wouldn't know them very well."

Wingate said Piercy would give him some money from time to time to give to people in the church who were having a hard time. He always wanted to be anonymous.

"If they gave the money, they never wanted (people) to know where it came from," he said.

Piercy also donated to special ministries in addition to regularly giving to the church.

"Whenever he would win or place high in the (stock car) race, he'd bring in some of the winnings to help," Wingate said.

"We had a missionary who had an auto accident," Wingate said. Curt Piercy repaired the car at his business for no charge.

"Prayer is always a great help at any time, but especially at a time of grief," said Becky Norton of Bloomington, a church member, after the service.

****************************
BLOOMINGTON -- IL
Kentucky state troopers
found the wreckage of a missing plane from Bloomington late Wednesday afternoon after a three-day search that stretched over six states.
The six people aboard, all from McLean County, died in the crash on Little Black Mountain near the Kentucky-Virginia border.
In Carlock, where all six either lived or worked, yellow ribbons fluttered from trees as a community grieved after spending previous days in prayer.
In Normal, an evening vigil drew hundreds to a church where one of the couples worshipped.
The plane, which was returning to Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington from Darlington, S.C., carried pilot Curt Piercy and his wife Linda, both of Normal; Don Maurer Jr. and his wife, Amy, both of Carlock; and Brad Webb and Erica Edgington, both of Carlock.
Webb is Amy Maurer's brother. The trip was part of a birthday present she had given her husband.
About 50 volunteers, many who worked 14- and 15-hour shifts helping police search the mountains, were both relieved and saddened the search was over, said Joe Grieshop, Harlan County's top official.
"Even though they don't know (the victims), they have a spot for them in their hearts because they died on our mountain," said Grieshop.
Kentucky State Trooper Walt Meachum said the Piper Saratoga crashed into the side of Little Black Mountain.
"If they had gone 20 to 30 yards higher, they would have cleared the top," Meachum told the Associated Press.
Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi told the Associated Press the impact happened at about 3,000 feet and the plane hit trees, rock and earth. The plane was not intact but was not scattered over a large area, he said.
Debris from the wreckage was in a very small area on the mountainside. It was partially burned, said Meachum, who was at the scene Wednesday night. He and Bianchi said they believe all the victims died on impact.
Everett Jones, the emergency management director for Harlan County, said the plane was found on a mountain ledge of Little Black Mountain near Highsplint. He said a snowstorm blanketed the area Sunday.
"He might have lost vision and flown too low," he said, talking about Piercy.
Jones said a coal company night watchman reported a flash of light about the time the plane disappeared from radar.
The crash site, near Kentucky's highest peak, is not accessible by roads, officials said.
"Men rode their (all-terrain vehicles) all over the side of the mountain where they could, and we had others on foot scanning with binoculars," said Jones.
The Kentucky Civil Air Patrol had a hard time finding the crash site because of its location. Logging and coal industries left hundreds of stumps in their wake, making the terrain inaccessible even by Humvee.
The coroner's father, Lewis Bianchi,a funeral director in the area for 55 years, said despite that distinction, the area has had "very few plane crashes. This is the first one with more than one or two people," he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident with help from the Federal Aviation Administration.
After the plane was discovered, NTSB investigators headed to the scene, said FAA spokeswoman Katherine Bergan.
Piercy, a member of the Crosswinds Flying Club of Bloomington, had checked out the six-seat, single-engine plane for the trip on Saturday. A spokeswoman for the FAA confirmed the tail number of the plane found on Black Mountain matched that of the missing Crosswinds plane.
The couples were at a NASCAR race at Darlington, S.C.
Piercy, reportedly flying under visual flight rules, was not required to file a flight plan.
U.S. Air Force auxiliary civil air patrols from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina coordinated aerial searches.
Most friends and family members declined comment Wednesday afternoon and evening. Designated family spokesman Gavin Pitcher told the AP that the family had learned through a broadcast news report the plane was found.
Carmen Webb of Carlock, the mother of Amy Maurer and Brad Webb, asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a memorial fund that will be set up at a local bank.
The Piercys owned an auto body and a powder-coat finishing business in Carlock.
Don Maurer Jr. helped his father run a wrecker business in Carlock. Amy Maurer worked for the McLean County state's attorney's office.
Webb was an electrician, while his girlfriend, Erica Edgington, was an underwriter at Country Insurance and Financial Services.
The Maurers had three children; the Piercys had two.
Reporter Mary Ann Ford contributed to this report.

Porches shine with town's support, pain
By M.K. Guetersloh
[email protected]



CARLOCK -- Many porch lights remained on Wednesday night in Carlock as a show of support to the families of six area residents killed in a plane crash, but the mood in town was far from bright.
"It's just heartbreaking to think about what the families must be going through," Yoder's BP gas station clerk Joan Royer said as tears ran down her face. She quietly went about her job ringing up gas sales and soda purchases.
"It's very sad to have it all end like this," she said.
For Royer, the six victims were customers she routinely saw during her workday. One victim, Don Maurer Jr., towed cars in need of service to Yoder's.
"We would see Donnie nearly every day," she said.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed early Wednesday evening that six bodies were recovered from wreckage on a Kentucky mountainside.
The plane, which disappeared Sunday evening, was piloted by Curt Piercy and carried his wife, Linda Piercy; Maurer; his wife, Amy Maurer; Amy Maurer's brother, Brad Webb; and his girlfriend, Erica Edgington.
Next to the gas station, at the Countryside Restaurant, a sign informed patrons to turn on their porch lights at the request of one of the families. A restaurant employee there described the mood in the community as somber.
Maurer operated Don Maurer Wrecker Service with his father, Don Maurer Sr. The Piercys owned and operated Piercy's Auto and Truck Body. The businesses are located on opposite ends of town.
"There is not one part of this town not affected by this," Maurer Wrecker employee Brad Stephens said earlier Wednesday, before the community heard of the crash.
As the community started another day of waiting for word on the plane's fate, many residents spent time tying yellow ribbons around trees, light poles and fences through out the town.
Annetta Strawn, who helped tie ribbons Wednesday, said she just wanted to do something that would show the families the community's support.
"The yellow ribbons mean hope for a safe return," Strawn said.
Frank Turner and Matt Kyrouac also spent part of the afternoon tying yellow ribbons to trees in town.
"I feel really bad for everyone that these people are missing," Turner said. "It affects the whole town."
While the community grapples with the tragedy, the Rev. Gloria Hernandez of the Carlock Christian Church said the outpouring of support had been remarkable.
"You don't have to know people to pray for them," she said.
After news of the missing plane spread throughout Central Illinois, Hernandez said about 25 church leaders from other communities told her the six crash victims were on church prayer chains.
Ultimately, Hernandez said, faith will get those touched by the tragedy through these difficult times.
"When we don't know where else to go, we look to God for the answers," Hernandez said.
After word of the crash came, the families' spokesman, Gavin Pitcher, said the families likely would not release any statements and any further information about the victims for several days.
Pitcher said the families had been waiting together for the news.
The three couples were returning to Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington after attending a NASCAR race Sunday in Darlington, S.C. Racing was an interest that they shared.
Curt Piercy previously was a driver in dirt track and Automobile Racing Club of America racing. Pitcher said Brad Webb, an electrician, participated in the Hornet racing circuit.
Amy Maurer, an employee of the McLean County state's attorney's office, gave her husband tickets to Sunday's race as a birthday present.
The Piercys lived in Normal with their two daughters.
Don and Amy Maurer, who had three children, lived in Carlock, as did Webb and Edgington.
Edgington, a native of LeRoy, worked at Country Insurance & Financial Services since 2001 as an underwriter in the property and casualty underwriting area.
Six missing connected by community, cars, racing
Pantagraph staff
A prosecutor's assistant, a body shop owner, a worker at a wrecker service and three others were drawn together by way of a small town, family and a love of car races.
The six were aboard a small plane that disappeared sometime Sunday night. Don and Amy Maurer live in Carlock, where Don helps his dad with a wrecker service; Amy works at the McLean County state's attorney's office. Curt and Linda Piercy of Normal own auto-body and metal-finishing businesses in Carlock.
Brad Webb, an electrician from Carlock, is Amy Maurer's brother. His girlfriend, identified by WEEK-TV as Erica Edgington of Carlock, also was aboard the plane.
Here's a look at their lives:
Amy and Don Maurer
Amy Maurer, 38, joined the McLean County state's attorney's office in July 1985, before her 20th birthday.
Her duties include assisting prosecutors in the felony division. She was integral in the development of the E-Justice System, a computer program used to track criminal suspects from their arrests to their dispositions.
"She's an old-timer," said Eric Ruud, McLean County first assistant state's attorney. "She's been a valued member of the state's attorney family for nearly 20 years. ... She's one of those people who gets it done."
"I can't imagine her not being here," added Kim Campbell, a prosecutor on the major crime unit in State's Attorney Bill Yoder's office.
Yoder's assistants said he was on a Caribbean cruise after winning the Republican nomination to retain his office. It's unlikely he's aware Maurer is missing.
"We're all devastated, but we have a lot of hope," Campbell said.
Ruud described the mood of the office Tuesday as "very, very somber."
"Everybody is just shaken," he said. "We're saying a lot of prayers, not only for the missing but for the families of the missing. We continue to hope for the best."
Don Maurer and his father, Don Maurer Sr., run Don Maurer Wrecker Service in Carlock, righting overturned semitrailer rigs and hauling cars and trucks after accidents.
Brad Stephens, who works at the wrecking service, said, "Little Donnie was the closest thing I had to a best friend."
Stephens described Maurer as a good businessman who would do anything to help out his customers.
According to Pantagraph archives, Don and Amy Maurer are the parents of Shelby, Gabrielle and Webb.
Curt and Linda Piercy
Curt Piercy retired in 2000 from the Automobile Racing Club of America driving series.
His best season was in 1998, when he finished in seventh place in the overall points race. The series' Web site, arcaracing.com, shows his career stats beginning in 1992.
He won the street stock points championship at Farmer City Raceway and Fairbury Legion Speedway in 1992.
He once tested a car at Daytona International Speedway, site of the Daytona 500. "It was something a million people would like to do," Piercy told The Pantagraph in 1993. "I'm thrilled I got the opportunity."
In addition to being business associates, Curt Piercy and Don Maurer shared a deep interest in NASCAR racing.
Linda Piercy and her husband own Piercy Auto Body and Piercy Powder Coating, both in Carlock. According to Pantagraph archives, they are the parents of Jamie Lee and Kelly Jo.
Brad Webb, Erica Edgington
Webb, who is Amy Maurer's brother, is an electrician. A spokeswoman for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union declined comment. Both he and his girlfriend, Erica Edgington, live in Carlock.
Additional information was not available Tuesday.
Compiled by reporters Scott Richardson, Mary Ann Ford and M.K. Guetersloh and City Editor Julie Gerke with assistance from Pantagraph librarian Robin Helenthal.

03-11-04National Geographic 

U.M.P. Caps Another Successful Season with Dirt Late Model Championship Banquet

Press Release

February 13, 2004

EVANSVILLE, IN (February 13, 2004) – United Midwestern Promoters is honored to conclude another successful racing season by celebrating the accomplishments and talents of our dirt late model champions.  We encourage everyone to join us in recognizing the successes of all participating 2003 U.M.P. dirt late model teams and especially our three champions – Kevin Weaver, Billy Moyer and Rodney Melvin.
 
Kevin Weaver, veteran racer and master of midwestern dirt tracks, will be recognized as the champion of the inaugural 2003 U.M.P. Challenge of Champions.  Weaver’s championship worthy performance relied on consistency rather than shear wins alone.  The 2003 Challenge of Champions title complements the other U.M.P. titles that the Gibson City native has previously earned including the 2001 “Hoosier Series” and “All Star Series” championships, the 2000 Summernationals championship and his national championship title from 1992. Kevin Weaver – a true champion for over a decade!
 
U.M.P. loyalists, regional hotshoes and national touring mega-racers vied for the 2003 U.M.P. Summernationals crown and the $30,000 loot that accompanied the crown but it was the most seasoned Summernationals star, Billy Moyer, that would again rise to the top.  Moyer, like any true champion, collected his 6th Summernationals title by his relentless drives to the front and consistent performances.   In fact, Moyer had one win, 17 top-5 finishes and 5 top-10 finishes and never finished lower than 9th place. Previously, Mr. Smooth earned a $100,000 bonus with his 1999 Summernationals domination known as the “Billynationals” with over a dozen wins.  Mr. Smooth – 6 titles and counting.
 
Rodney Melvin is no stranger to success!  The Illinois native won the U.M.P. dirt late model championship in 2001 and repeats with the same honor in 2003.  Consistency and 28 feature wins earned Rodney and his #27 team the U.M.P. national championship title as well as the Illinois state championship and Mt. Vernon Speedway championship!  The team also finished second in the Challenge of Champions points to Kevin Weaver.  Rodney Melvin --- proof positive that winning never gets old.
 
Please join us in honoring these three outstanding representatives of United Midwestern Promoters and dirt late model racing as well as their fellow competitors at the 2003 U.M.P. Dirt Late Model Championship Banquet on Saturday, March 6, 2003 at the Brickyard Crossing Inn at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner being served at 7 p.m. and the awards presentations soon following. Tickets are available for $19/ea ($37/couple) before February 28th, $22/ea between February 29th and March 5th and at the door for $25/each.  For more information or ticket requests please contact us at (812) 479-8760.  We look forward to having you join us as we celebrate 2003 and look forward to the current season’s rewards.
 


Contact:
Craig Cowan
United Midwestern Promoters
4500 Crestview Drive
Evansville, IN 47711
Main Office: 812.479.8760
Web: www.umpracing.com
E-Mail: [email protected]
 

02/02/04KentuckySpeed

 There is a new Dirt Late Model Racing Series in Kentucky, and here is the
information on the new series.  Thank you very much.

Kentucky Speed Weeks Late Model Series
presented by Kinser Custom Printing

Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
47 Haynes Knob Road
Somerset, Kentucky 42501

Office Phone: (606) 219-1723
Office Fax: (606) 382-5985
Series/Race Director: Chris Tilley
PR Director/Announcer: Brian Abner (606) 875-9049
Technical Director: Tom Stiverson
Series E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

The 2004 Race Schedule and logo will be sent really soon, there will be
approzimately 10-12 races for the 2004 race season with the Premiere event
on April 16-17, 2004 at McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow, Kentucky paying
$10,000 to win/$300.00 to start-23rd Annual Kentucky Klassic.  This is a new
sanctioning body for Late Model racing in Kentucky, and a few events in
Northern Tennessee with points at every event and a Points Fund (that pays
money) at the end of the season.

Thank You very much,

Chris Tilley (KSW Series Director)

U.M.P. HEADLINES SPECIAL DIRT NATION SHOW

Press Release

EVANSVILLE, IN (January 30, 2004) - Tune in as three members of the U.M.P.
management team headline a special U.M.P. Dirt Nation show on Monday,
February 2nd.  The show will feature series representatives Craig Cowan, Bob
Sargent and Robert Lawton as well as National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame
inductee and 3-time U.M.P. late model national champion Ed Dixon.

In late 2003, Craig Cowan, a long-time Hoosier Tire employee, joined the
organization as director of operations.  Both Sargent and Lawton are
successful super-promoters and part of a managing partnership (along with
NASCAR veteran and I-55 Raceway co-owner Ken Schrader and New York promoting
powerhouse Howie Commander) that was welcomed in 2002 by series founder and
president Bob Memmer.

Dirt Nation, a popular internet racing talk show, airs every Monday night
from 8-10 p.m. EST via www.racetalklive.com.  Listeners can submit questions
or comments for the four guests by calling 877-899-7223 or by instant
messaging dirtnation2003 on AIM, MSN or Yahoo. You can also e-mail Dirt
Nation at [email protected].  Dirt Nation can also be heard on its
host radio station, ³The Outlaw² 1490 AM.


--
United Midwestern Promoters
4500 Crestview Drive
Evansville, IN 47711
Phone: 812-479-8760
E-Mail: [email protected]
On the Web: www.umpracing.com