2004pevely

Thanks to Jack Pugh for these results
***************
Sept 18, 2004
Pepsi Nationals....$15,000 to win
Congrats to Don O'Neal for the win
***************

          A.A.R.A.           
          POINT STANDINGS AT          
          I-55 RACEWAY          
          2004 FINAL POINTS          
  U.M.P.       U.M.P.       A.A.R.A.  
  LATE MODELS       MODIFIEDS       SPORTSMAN  
                     
50 ED DIXON(5) 841   89 BOB BITTLE(4) 1104   31 RICKY HORTON 983
11 KEVIN GUNDAKER 690 151 4j SCOTT WEBER(8) 936 168 46 PAUL BELKEN JR 948
47 DANNY HAYNES 666 24 45 ERIC MABERY 767 169   OO SCOTT STUPPY 898
112 TIM RATAJCZYK 654 12 7 MARK MINER(1) 766 1 24 PAUL BAUMAN 833
67 MARK OLLER 623 31 12 TOM RATAJCZYK 728 38 36 BOB SCHMIDT 728
95 JEFF JOHNS 596 27 9 DOUG WOOD 691 37 8 ED LOWRY 697
8 KYLE STEFFENS 587 9 166 BRIAN WORLEY 667 24 3 BOB PRINCE 662
77 CLAY BAUMANN(2) 538 49 21 DENNIS RICHARDS 633 34 12 TROY NEAGER 649
28 DON KLEIN 498 40 99 BRIAN WOLFMEIER(1) 619 14 30 MIKE NICHOLSON 627
30 MARK VOIGT 462 36 59 RICH WHALEY 541 78 18 BUDDY LOWRY 516
1a JUSTIN ALLGAIER(1) 445   1w RAY WALSH(1) 536   28 SAM WORLEY 481
51 STEVE SHIVE 427   17 JIM SHERECK(1) 493   71 DAVE BARDIN 471
3L MATT TAYLOR(2) 419   6 RAY WAGNER 464   69 MARK HUNTER 424
441 BRIAN WOLFMEIER 399   8x JAMES REED 439   66 DARREN HOLLAND 401
2j DAVE JUMPER 303   95 JERRY GRITHER 436   64 JIM SMITH 371
  OO RANDY KORTE(2) 246   41 BRENT MULLINS(1) 408   97 JOHN GOODSON 360
26 BILLY FAUST 242   56 KEVIN EPPERSON 391      O1 STEVE BORGETTI 344
76 BUTCH KRUCKEBERG 235   1d DEAN HOFFMAN 378   75 RON IMM JR 343
45 DENNY WOODWORTH 230   c4 CHRIS SOUTIEA 376   22 ERIC RUDD 305
3s BRIAN SHIRLEY(1) 225   41 LARRY HULL 376   105 MATT HANCOCK 303
10 RODNEY PENSE 218   10 TODD MCGRAW 338   411 MARTY HECK 280
59 RICH WHALEY 209   7z MATT ZIMMERLY 292   21 BRAD MCKINNON 218
13 BRENT KREKE 191   22x CLINT ECKENRODT 288   166 TONY WYATT 203
13 DWAYNE KIEFER 179   44 MARK STANFILL 288   27 NATHAN WALSH 195
44 DEAN MOTSINGER 173   87 GARY HAYNES 275   911 Christian DOGGENDORF 188
3d JIM DURBIN 159   88 JOE PURICELLI 274   99 ROBBIE HOFFMAN 178
42 JOHN LANSFORD 153   11g MATT GOULDEN 248   55 JASON KELLER 165
85 JIM MORRISON 151   29 JEFF LEBAUBE 244   86 DOUG KIM 160
23 BRIAN GARNER 150   46 DAVE WIBBENMEYER 229   100 D.J. GRIFFAW 139
71 DON ONEAL(2) 148   13d DAN WALTERS 225   92 JIM ABSHIER 136
87 KEN RUMBLE 140   57 RICK STEVENSON 223   62 TROY MEDLEY 116
22 DARRELL MOSER 123   3r LEON RAKERS 222   40 ED DEMILLE 110
8 RON MCQUERRY 122   51 JOHN HOFFMAN 222   59 JERRY FLEMING 107
a1 DUKE WHISEANT 109   15 DOUG BLAIR 221   73 MIKE HENDERSON 104
36 RON SENSEL 104   20 DAN ZANDER 207   281 TOM SMALLWOOD 101
68 TOM FITZGERALD 104   23 DYLAN SHARP 189   56 TONY SARKIS 95
14u BRUCE UNTERBRINK 100   12 MARK SCHAEFER 172   128 LEE CLARDY 88
99 KEN SCHRADER 99   14k LOREN KNOX 165   4 MARK SCHNURBUSCH 84
75 BERT CHEATHAM 98   16j DANNY HAYNES 133   55 CHRIS SMITH 70
20 MARK GANSMANN 93   X1 DAVE SANDAGE 129   87 JIM HARDESTY 68
82 ROGER BRICKLER 88   18 BRENT THOMPSON 125   11 TIM MEARA 61
27 KENNY HELMICK 76   19 CHRIS SIMMERMAN 123   11 DARRELL CRISMON 58
10 ANDY PRYOR 74   11d BRIAN DIVELEY 105   64 LEE BOWERS 56
55 JOHN PITTS 69   31p MITCH PARMELEY 93   350 ROBERT DILL 41
18 SHANNON BABB 65   44 KEN HUBER 91   48 CHUCK CROSSLAND 38
21 BILLY MOYER 62   14 BILLY SMITH 75   74 CHAD Frauenfelder 38
36 ROGER LONG 60   21 KARL ADAMS 70   311 BRIAN SHUBIRG 38
96 TERRY ENGLISH 60   48 BOBBY MARTINTONI 65   35 CHRIS SALE 36
12 KEVIN WEAVER 57   4 BOB GEASCHEL 52   877 GARY HAYNES 35
2k KENNY STEGALL 56   1 TIM HANCOCK 51   147 KYLE STOLZER 29
6 KEVIN SEAGO 56   8 CHAD NAYLOR 50   9 MIKE MCGINNITY 28
9 DAN SCHLIEPER 51   16 RUSTY GRIFFAW 49   43 MIKE HARRIS 28
99 MARK MINER 47   0 GABE REGOT 45   15 JIM TROUTMAN 28
81 CRAIG SMITH 46   21 DENNY SCHWARTZ 44   150 JIM BROWN 28
5s STEVE SHEPPARD 45   90 NICK TODTENHAUPT 42   53 DWIGHT SCOTT 28
25 BILL FRYE 45   22 MATT MEVERT 41   72 DAVE GRZYWACZ 28
66 JIM GIBSON 42   6 MATT NAEGER 39   26 GARY WILSON 20
4s STEVEN UNTERBRINK 40   2 TODD FERBER 38   5 JEREMY DIETZEL 11
28 DENNIS ERB JR 39   87 WES O'DELL 38   111 ZAC PARKS 10
360 JOHN SEETS 39   314 JEFF MASSON 38   153 ROB DENNY 10
7 RICHARD LAWSON 38   444 MATT SIMPSON 38        
48 BRIAN PARSON 38     OO STEVE PICOU 38     A.A.R.A. PRO 4 STOCKS  
70 MARC McCLINTOCK 38   7 MARK GANSMANN 35   8 PAT BREWER 913
82 BILLY LAYCOCK 38   16 KENNY KENNEDY 32   10 HOMER MOONEY 839
5 BRET SIEVERT 34   3L BILL LARUE 30   21 DAVE HEINRICHS 783
9 ERIC SMITH 31   18 JEREMY GREENWALT 30   57 DON HOFFMAN 580
0 RICHIE HEADRICK 30   41 BRAD QUINN 30   188 GARY PRICE 567
WF0 KYLE LOGUE 29   55 MARTY SMITH JR 30   77 RON LYONS 542
1 JOE GARSON 28   377 CASEY PEARSON 30   41 RODGER ERNST 520
6 TREY DAVENPORT 28   0 RICKY WAGGONER 29   28 SCOTT GEARY 501
13 CHARLIE SAVAGE 28   14 RICK CONOYER 29   23 LARRY KIRKPATRICK 494
25 LEN GARSON 28   69 SCOTT SUGG 29   7 CONRAD MINER 464
28 NICK BAUMAN 28   56 MIKE CRADER 29   19 STEVE IDE 387
31 BRENT HELMKAMP 28   b27 BOB BIZELLI 29   1 ROBERT DENNY 381
147 RICKY HORTON 28   1 MIKE FRANCIS 28   71 ALAN CONNER 358
12 JEFF GLISSON 28   10 TERRY BAKER 28   29 DAVE THOMPSON 356
4 SCOTT GEASCHEL 28   66 CHRIS HALL 28   22 DON ERNST 328
500 DAN DIXON 28   97 BRIAN HEIZER 28   343 BUTCH HARTMAN 313
25 JASON FEGER 14   20 BOBBY NEWBERRY 28   31 JIM McCUMMISKEY 311
5 ED BAUMAN 12   11 KELLY DEVALL 28   18 BOB PRICE 307
11 STEVE IHM 11   9 TOM SEETS 28   5 CHRIS FISHER 200
8 JEREMY WILLIAMS 10   62 LEO KEIFER 25   23 CHRIS ROARK 187
21 JUSTIN ANDERSON 10   8 JIM FISCHER 21   13 RYAN CONNER 182
23 RANDY ESTES 10   1 DOUG BEIER 20   4 JOEL POTTER 177
44t GUY TAYLOR 10   13 TRACY WAMPLER 14   88 SCOTT PRICE 175
        21 ADAM PARMELEY 13   49 NATHAN PORTELL 174
        66 BRAD LONG 13   20 KEN WILLIAMS 137
        41 STU SPRINGER 12   33 RANDY MARTIN 122
        117 DAN SCHLUP 11   0 TRAY HARRIS 95
        2 MIKE NULL 10   15 MIKE McMULLIN 87
        2 RYAN MORRIS 10   0 BRIAN ZIEGLER 66
        4 RICK WEEKLY 10   2 DAN SCHMIDT 66
        7 BRYAN HIGGERSON 10   76 EARL LOEFFEL 64
        11 JERRET JOHNSON 10   777 JASON ELY 64
        74 Chad Frauenfelder 10   31 JASON ELY 59
        777 HAL ALEXANDER 10   9 BRAD ALMOND 56
                13 TY DOHACK 53
                19 ROBBIE HOFFMAN 46
                83 JONATHAN SKAGGS 43
                48 CLARENCE DAVIS 38
                2 JOHN HONAKER 28
                31 DAVID MOLLAK 28
                31 TOM CRAY 28
                98 TIM PARKER 28
                99 MIKE BOYLAN 28
                100 ROB INMAN 28
                6 JOE GRUHALA 10
                31 CORY WILSON 10


***************
July 24, 2004
Rain
***************
July 17, 2004
 

  The racing continued at I-55 Raceway with Fan Appreciation night and the nickel race for the kids. There was a big crowd on hand with a pit full of car for the night’s activities. Also on hand was Nextel’s Kenny Schrader driving his dirt Late Model. The stands were full and the kids had a great time with the nickel race with some kids winning some very big prizes – bikes (19), GameBoys, gokarts, and a lot of other very good prizes that were donated my race teams and business. It was a good night for all and some good races as well.

    In the UMP Late Model pits, there were 23 cars on hand for the racing side of the night. In heat one, Ed Dixon got the win over Mark Oller, Clay Baumann, Brian Shirley, Mark Voigt, John Landford, Tim Ratajczyk, and Rodney Pense. The second heat saw the win go to Jeff Johns followed by Matt Taylor, Kenny Helmick, Dave Jumper, Don Klein, Kenny Rumble, Bruce Unterbrink, and Butch Kruckeberg. The third heat went to Kenny Schrader with Justin Allgaier, Danny Haynes, Kyle Steffens, Kevin Gundaker, Steve Shive and Rich Whaley trailing. The dash went to Johns over Dixon, Taylor, Schrader, Allgaier, Haynes, Bauman, Oller and Helmick.

  The feature started with Johns and Dixon on the front row. Taylor got the early jump on the start and never looked back. Dixon and Baumann were in pursuit until the first caution came out for Unterbrink’s spin in turn three.

  The running order on the restart was Taylor, Dixon, Baumann, Schrader, and Allgaier in the top five. Taylor continued his lead using the lower groove of the track.

  The next slow down came when Jumper spun in turn two a few laps later.

   A long period of green flag racing occurred next and several cars were on the move during this period of racing. 11th starting Shirley moved into the top five with his use of the lower groove on the track. 13th starting Voigt also moved forward to the top five.

  The next slow down came on lap 14 as Steffens spun in turn four. The top five now was Taylor, Dixon, Shirley, Schrader, and Voigt.

 The race was about to change from this point on as several events occurred to change the final results.

  Mark Voigt slow with steering problems and went high in turns one and two, but the racing was still going and Shirley spun low in turn four causing a chain reaction. There were seven or more car that got tangled up and almost totally blocked the track. Schrader left the track and was out and Helmick was towed out with front end problems. The other cars including Shirley were about to continue. The running order now was Taylor, Dixon, Baumann, Ratajczyk, and Allgaier.

  When the race continued, Taylor maintained the command, but other action was going on on the track. Baumann tangle with another car and broke something in the left front of the car as the wheel was not working for his steering. Baumann tried to continue racing, but was falling back.

  On lap 17, Unterbrink collected the inside turn four wall and was done for the night. Baumann tried to lead the track into the infield, but could not get by Unterbrink’s car.

  The running order was now, Taylor, Dixon, Ratajczyk, Allgaier and Oller in the top five. Ratajczyk moved from 19th starting spot using the low to middle groove to move forward and into the top five.

  Over the next five laps, Taylor would pull away from the rest of the field, but there were changes going on within the top five. Ratajczyk moved into second, Allgaier fell out of the top five and Shirley was using the low line to move back into the top five.

  With three laps to go, Landsford had a rear tire go flat and slowed on the back stretch, but instead of pulling down from the top of the track, he continued slowly on the top. As he approached turn four, he headed down the track to pull into the infield. As this was going on the leader was going into turn three. As Taylor was on the bottom and flying, Landsford was nearing the turn four exit. The two unfortunately made contact on the low side of turn four.

  Taylor was given back his spot, as it was determined that Landsford caused the caution. Taylor went on to win his second consecutive feature at I-55 Raceway after winning his first last week. Following Taylor to the line was 19th starting Ratajczyk, Oller, Dixon and Shirley o complete the top five.

   In the UMP Modified class, there were 31 cars racing. In the first heat, Ray Walsh took the victory over Dean Hoffman, Joe Puricelli, Clint Eckenrodt, Leon Raker, Dan Walters, Mitch Parmeley, and Chad Naylor. In the second heat, Mark Stanfill took his first checkered flag followed by Brent Mullins, Chris Simmerman, Tom Ratajczyk, Doug Wood, Karl Adams, Dave Wibbenmeyer, and Jeff Labaube. In the fourth heat, Scott Weber took the checkered flag over Rich Whaley, Kevin Epperson, Todd McGraw, Dan Sander and Matt Zimmerly. In the fourth heat, Eric Mabery won followed by Brian Worley, Boby Bittle, Dennis Richards, Mark Miner, Larry Hull, Jerry Grither and Ray Wagner. The dash went to Walsh over Weber, Mabery, Hoffman, Worley, Mullins, Whaley and Standfill.

  The feature started with Walsh and Weber on the front row. Weber took the early lead with Walsh and Hoffman in pursuit.

  The first slowdown of this race came on lap 2 as Hull spun in turn two. The running order was Weber, Walsh, Hoffman, Mabery and Mullins.

   The race got one lap in before being stopped again for Walsh’s stopping in turn four while running second. That moved Worley into the top five.

   Weber continued to hold the lead until the race was slowed on lap ten. During this run there was some place swapping going on behind Weber.  Mabery moved into second followed by Mullins, Hoffman and Worley.

   Two laps later, Worley lost it on the back straight and retired. Now the race was shaping up as Weber still had the lead but Mullins was now in second followed by Mabery, Hoffman and Bittle.

   The next several lap were the best of the night as Mullins challenged Weber for the lead on each lap. On lap 17 coming off turn four, Mullins looked under Weber and went into turn one with the lead.

   There was on move caution, but Mullins went on to get his first feature win of the 2004 season. He was followed by Weber, Hoffman, Mabery and Bittle to complete the top five.
***************
July 10, 2004
 

  It was Mid season championship night at I-55 Raceway on Saturday night and it was hot with hot action on the racetrack as well.

  In the UMP Late Model division, there were 24 cars in the pits. In the first heat, Danny Haynes took the victory over Tim Ratajczyk, Kenny Schrader, John Landsford, Dewayne Kiefer, Clay Baumann, and Kenny Rumble. In the second heat, Kevin Gundaker took the win followed by Matt Taylor, Denny Woodworth, Jeff Johns, Don Klein, Butch Kruckeburg and Rich Whaley. The third heat went to Ed Dixon over Kyle Steffens, Steve Shive, Mark Voigt, Mark Oller, Ron Sensel, Jim Durbin, and Dave Jumper. The dash saw Taylor token the win followed by Ratajczyk, Dixon, Schrader, Haynes, Steffens, Woodworth, Shive and Gundaker.

   The 25-lap mid season championship race started with Taylor and Ratajczyk on the front row. Taylor jumped into the early lead and never looked back no matter who was following him. Taylor used the middle of the track for much of his racing and stayed in front the entire 25 laps to earn his first ever feature win at I-55 Raceway.

   Taylor had leads of half a straight away over second place Nextel’s Schrader. Schrader did all he could to get to Taylor, but could never got close. The race went green from the start to the checkered flag. A feat that does not happen often at this facility.

   The best movement forward came from Voigt who started tenth and moved to fourth. He used the middle to higher line for his forward progress.

   After the checkered flag fell after 25 green flag laps, Taylor took the flag followed by Schrader, Dixon, Voigt and Ratajczyk.

  In the UMP Modified class, there were 36 cars on hand. In the first heat, Doug Wood took the win over Doug Blair, Rich Whaley, Scott Weber, Brian Worley and Mark Stanfill. In the second heat, Dennis Richards won followed by Mark Miner, James Reed, Rick Stevenson, Tom Ratajczyk, Gary Haynes, Larry Hull, Chris Soutiea and Brad Quinn. In the third heat, Ray Walsh took the checkered flag ahead of Jim Shereck, Matt Mevert, Eric Mabrey, Karl Adams, Clint Eckenrodt, Kerry Baker, and Dave Wibbenmeyer. In the fourth heat, Bobby Bittle won followed by Kevin Epperson, Dean Hoffman, Brian Wolfmeier, Jeff Labaube, Danny Haynes, Dan Zander, and Dan Walters. The dash went to Wood over Walsh, Richards, Shereck, Miner, Bittle, Epperson and Blair.

   The 20-lap feature started with Wood and Walsh on the front row. Wood jumped to the early lead, but this race was about whom was going to win and from which lane it would come from.

   The only caution came on lap 4 when Reed spun in turn four. The running order was Wood, Walsh, Bittle, Richard and Shereck in the top five.

   When the race continued, it was a three-way battle for the lead lap after lap after lap. Walsh ran the top, Bittle ran in the middle and Wood was on the bottom and they were in line doing this. Behind these three drivers were several more cars taking their run at the lead. Hoffman tried the high line, but could not get to the front. Miner tried a high run at the front as well for several laps.

  As this trio continued to trill the crowd with they’re three abreast racing, the cars running just behind were doing about the same type of racing. You could throw a blanket over the top ten and pick a car to win. Challenges were being made on any given lap to try and take a shot at the lead.

  When the checkered flag fell, it was for Walsh, who just out ran Bittle, Hoffman, Wood and Miner for the win.       


***************
July 3, 2004....

UMP Summernationals....RAIN
***************
June 19, 2004
The racing continued at I-55 Raceway after losing a Wednesday special to Mother Nature. The weather was cool for June day, but the racing was good with lots of cars in the pits.
  In the UMP Late Model class, there were 21cars on hand for the night of racing. In the first heat, Kevin Gundaker took the checkered flag over Mark Voigt, Steve Shive, Jim Morrison, Danny Haynes, Dwayne Kiefer, and Jeff Johns. In the second heat, Kyle Steffens got the victory over Tim Ratajczyk, Brent Kreke, Don Klein, Tom Fritzgerald and Brian Garner. In the third heat, Clay Bauman got the win with Mark Oller, Justin Allgaier, Ed Dixon, Jim Gibson, Darrell Moser and Rich Whaley following. The dash went to Gundaker over Bauman, Ratajczyk, Oller, Allgaier, Kreke, Voigt, Dixon and Shive.
  The 25-lap feature started with Gundaker and Baumann on the front row for the second week in a row. The first start was not too good as seven cars piled up in turn four.
  The next attempt to start the race was successful, but it did not last long. Gundaker jumped to the early lead, but after one lap was completed a caution came out for debris on the track. It was first thought that Kreke was the cause of the yellow, but that was not the case.
  Gundaker was the leader for much of the race as Baumann was on his rear end much of the race. Gundaker used the bottom to middle of the track for his racing. Baumann used mostly the bottom for his trek around the track.
 As the race continued under the green, it looked like Gundaker was working on his first win of the year. However, Baumann had other ideas as he was driving on seven cylinders due to broken rocker arm on a slick racetrack.
  Baumann over took Gundaker on the low side and went on to get his second feature win of his career and second consecutive feature win at I-55 Raceway. Last week, Baumann also won the feature for his first ever win. Over the last few last laps, Allgaier was was coming on strong and over took Gundaker for second.
  With two laps to go coming out of turn four, Baumann and Allgaier got together, but Baumann maintained control and went on for the victory.  Allgaier finished second with Gundaker, Oller and Ratajczyk rounding out the top five.

   In the UMP Modified class, there were 33 cars on hand. In the first heat, John Hoffman took the win over Tim Hancock, Brian Worley, Doug Blair, Dennis Richards, Matt Zimmerly, Jim Shereck, Dave Wibbenmeyer and Dan Zander. In the second heat, Mark Miner took the win followed by Joe Puricelli, Doug Wood, Eric Mabery, Larry Hull, James Reed, and Rick Stevenson. The third heat saw Bobby Bittle with the victory over Mark Schaefer, Danny Haynes, Matt Goulden, Tom Ratajczyk, Brent Thompson, Mitch Parmeley and Chris Souiea.  In the final heat, Scott Weber took the checkered flag with Brian Wolfmeier, Ray Walsh, Ray Wagner, Kevin Epperson, Gary Haynes, Clint Eckenrodt and Dan Walters trailing. The dash went to Miner over Bittle, Hancock, Puricelli, Wolfmeier, Scheafer, Worley and Weber.
     In the 20-lap feature, the front row consisted of Miner and Bittle. With the dropping of the green flag, Bittle jumped to the lead and he never looked back. The race went green for the first 11 laps with Bittle taking the high road to use as his line. On lap 11, Weber pulled up with problem and was out of the race while running in the top five.
   The top five was Bittle, Miner, twelfth starting Walsh, Wolfmeier, and Wood. On the restart, Bittle continued to keep command of the race on the top of the track. Walsh was the car to watch as he too was running on the top, but he was using the outside wall to keep him in control. He hit the wall on both ends of the track lap after lap and had the crowd wondering if he would hit the wall too hard and loose it, but he never did.
  As the last part of the race went green, Bittle went on to win the race with Walsh, Miner, Wolfmeier and Wood rounding out the top five. Bittle won his second feature of the year and retains his point lead.


***************
June 5, 2004
Tri-Track Challenge
Don O'Neal
Shannon Babb
Billy Moyer
The challenge goes now to Vermilion County Speedway,
with only Babb and O'Neal eligible for the $10,000 bonus
(see story below)
***************
direct from www.trackenterprises.com
---------------------------------
Tri-Track Challenge Gains National Attention
---------------------------------
Posted Tuesday, June 1, 2004 by Shawn:
The annual UMP Late Model Tri-Track Challenge racing weekend has garnered interest from fans and drivers alike.  This huge racing weekend will include three nights of racing at three different tracks with all three events paying $10,000 to the feature winner.
As an extra incentive and excitement the promoters have teamed together and offered a $10,000 bonus/challenge if one driver can win two out of three of the races.  Last years winner of the $10,000 bonus was Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL.  Speculation is running high on if any one driver can take the $10,000 challenge two years in a row and how the local hot shoes will do against the traveling super stars.
The events will take place at the Farmer City Raceway on Friday, June 4, I-55 Raceway in Pevely on Saturday, June 5 and at the Vermilion County Speedway in Danville on Sunday, June 6. 
Adult admission at all three tracks will be $20.00 at the front gate children 11 & under are free.  Farmer City Raceway gates will open at 5:00 with Late Model qualifying at 7:00, racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
For more information please call the individual tracks and make your
plans now.  Farmer City Raceway call Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 Vermilion County at 217-443-6588 and I-55 Speedway at
636-479-3219.  Camping is available at all three tracks.
***************
May 29, 2004

Late Model winner....Justin Allgaier
***************

May 8, 2004
  I-55 Raceway finally was able to get the second weekly race program in after two straight weeks of Mother Nature’s winning the features. It was a warm and nice night for racing to return to the fast high-banked track with plenty of cars in the pits to battle.

  In the UMP Late Model division, there were 23 cars on hand for the races. In the first heat, Kenny Helmick took the win over Ed Dixon, Kyle Steffens, Mark Voigt, Dave Jumper, Rich Whaley, Kevin Gundaker, and Brian Garner. In the second heat, Justin Allgaier game from last place to win followed by Matt Taylor, Don Klein, Brian Wolfmeier, Dean Mottsinger, Butch Kurckeburg, Ron McQuerry and John Pitts. In the third heat it was Tim Ratajczyk with the win over Steve Shieve, Jeff Johns, Mark Oller, Clay Bauman, and Billy Laycock. In the dash, Allgaier took the win followed by Helmick, Taylor, Dixon, Steffens, Ratajczyk, Voigt, and Klein.

  In the 25-lap feature, Allgaier and Helmick started on the front row. Allgaier took the early lead but that lasted only a few laps as Dixon was on a mission using the entire track to get to the front. By lap four, Dixon took command and never looked back. The racing up front was very entertaining as several cars were fighting for top positions and the lapped traffic made the drivers think as they tried to move forward.

  The first caution came out on lap 19 when a three-car tangle happened in turn two with Klein, Oller and Wolfmeier getting together. Wolfmeier was the only car capable of continuing. The running order was Dixon, Taylor, Allgaier, Voigt and Steffens in the top five at this point of the race.

  As the race tried to restart another tangle occur on the restart forcing yet another restart. The race continued with Dixon jumping to a comfortable lead. The battle for second was again heating up with Taylor, Allgaier and Steffens fighting for the position.

  The next caution occurred on lap 23 when Laycock spun on the back straight eliminating him. On the restart, Voigt had problems with his car and that results in a tangle of five cars nose to tail on the back straight. Voigt was out, but all other cars were able to continue.

  The running order was Dixon, Taylor, Allgaier, Steffens and Wolfmeier in the top five. As the race resume, there were only 12 cars left on the track and nine of those were on the lead lap.

  Dixon went on to take the win with Taylor, Allgaier, Wolfmeier and Steffens rounding out the top five.

 In the UMP Modified class, there were 33 cars on hand for the night of racing.  In the first heat race, Jerry Grither took the win followed by Brian Wolfmeier, Brent Mullins, Dave Wibbenmeyer, Dave Sandage, Steve Picou, Todd McGraw, and Brad Quinn. In the second heat, Bobby Bittle prevailed over Dennis Richards, Rich Whaley, John Hoffman, Chris Soutiea, Mark Miner and James Reed. In the three heat, Scott Weber got the win with Kevin Epperson, Brian Worley, Tom Ratajczyk, Mark Stanfill, Matt Zimmerly, Dylan Sharp and Larry Hull in tow. In the fourth heat, Doug Wood took the win over Ray Walsh, Jim Shereck, Jeff LeBaube, Dean Hoffman, Clint Eckenrodt, Dan Zander and Eric Mabery. The dash went to Bittle followed by Weber, Wolfmeier, Wood, Richards, Grither, Walsh and Epperson (who filpped his car on the back straight).

  The 20-lap feature started with Bittle and Weber on the front row. Weber took the early lead, but Bittle would make him earn the win. Wolfmeier, Richards and Wood were the other cars in the top five for much of the race.

  The first caution came out on lap 6 when three cars got tangle in turn one. Reed, Zimmerly and Purcelli were the three cars. The running order was Weber, Bittle, Wolfmeier, Wood and Richards in the top five.

  With the restart, Weber continued his lead, but Bittle was pressing him with good runs on the straight aways. The next stoppage came on lap nine for spinning Reed in turn one. There was no change in the top five cars.

  It took only one more lap before the caution was out again and still no change in the front running five cars.

  As the race restarted, the Weber and Bittle battle continued. Mullins had more up ninth starting spot to sixth at this point. On lap 14, Walsh stopped on the back for a problem.

  The restart came with the same running order of the front five cars. During the next two laps, Wolfmeier was putting pressure on Bittle for second place. As the two cars came out of turn four, Bittle was running the low side and Wolfmeier was running even lower. Wolfmeier ran out of room and collected the inside tire and spun. He was out for the night.

  Now the running order was Weber, Bittle, Wood, Richards and Mullins in the top five. Weber went on to win his second feature at I-55 Raceway and second for the weekend. The remaining cars in the top five were Bittle, Wood, Richards and Mullins.

  Racing continues next Saturday at the fast 1/3-mile high banked dirt track.

***************

Pevely, MO (March 30, 2004) I-55 Raceway will kick off another exciting racing season this Saturday night, April 3rd. I-55 Raceway will once again feature four exciting classes of stock cars in their weekly program on Saturday nights including, United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Super Late Models, UMP Open Wheel Modifieds, Allied Auto Racing Association (AARA) Sportsman and AARA Pro 4 Stocks.

The 2004 schedule also includes many special events. NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader will be on hand on Saturday, April 10th to compete in the UMP Super Late Model division. The following week, Saturday, April 17th, the World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series makes their first of two visits to I-55 Raceway.

The first UMP Super Late Model special event is set for Saturday, June 5th, as the Tri-Track Challenge will be at I-55 Raceway paying $10,000 to the winner. This unique event consists of three events, the first being at Farmer City Raceway on Friday, June 4th and the last being at Vermilion County Speedway on Sunday, June 6th. If any one driver wins two out of the three events, they will win an extra $10,000 bonus. Shannon Babb swept all three events last year and pocketed $40,000.

On Wednesday, June 16th, the UMP Challenge of Champions Series makes a visit to I-55 Raceway. This event will feature the UMP Super Late Model Series and Winged Sprint Cars. On Saturday, July 3rd, the UMP Summer Nationals tour will take on the high banks of I-55 Raceway with $10,000 going to the winner of this event.

On Saturday, July 17th, I-55 Raceway will feature a Fan Appreciation Day. All fans 13 and older will get in for only $5. Ken Schrader will also be on hand with his UMP Super Late Model on this day.

On Saturday, July 31st, a very special event returns for the second straight season to I-55 Raceway. Shop N' Save presents the 2nd Annual Race Night for Special Champions, a charity event to raise money for the Special Olympics.

The World of Outlaw Sprint Cars return on Saturday, August 7th. The 22nd Annual Pepsi Nationals will be on Saturday, September 18th, with $10,000 going to the late model winner.

The UMP Challenge of Champions Extravaganza will be held on Saturday, October 2nd. This is the Championship Event for the UMP Challenge of Champion Series.

The 2004 season concludes on Saturday, October 9th with the AARA Sportsman Nationals.

Of course you can see racing action every Saturday night at I-55 Raceway. The action begins at 7:00PM each week.

I-55 Raceway, a high-banked, one-third-mile clay oval, is located 30 minutes south of the St. Louis Gateway Arch on Interstate 55 at Pevely exit 180 & 178. For tickets or more information, call the track at (636) 479-3219 or visit www.i55raceway.com