2005 official schedule
scroll down to the track/date for story/results
 

there are pictures from several tracks posted at
http://jeffreybayless.photosite.com

 
photo by Shawn Crose

2005 official schedule
 July 23....Oakshade, Wauseon, OH....60 laps....$10,000
top 5....Brian Shirley, Aaron Scott, Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb Jr, Shannon Babb
for more click here
July 22....i96, Lake Odessa, MI....$10,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr, Mike Marlar
for more click here
July 21....travel
top 5....BP, Citgo, Clark, Speedway, Shell
July 20....34 Raceway, W. Burlington, IA....$10,000
top 5 ....Jimmy Mars, Don O'Neal, Shannon Babb, Darren Miller, Dennis Erb Jr
for more click here
July 19....Farley, IA....$10,000
top 5....Steve Francis, Brian Birkhofer, Don O'Neal, Brady Smith, Shannon Babb
for more click here
July 18....Freeport, IL....$10,000
top 5....Brian Birkhofer, Brian Shirley, Shannon Babb, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars
for more click here
July 17....TriCity Speedway, Pontoon Beach, IL....$10,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Steve Francis, Jeep VanWormer, Brian Birkhofer, Brian Shirley
for more click here
July 16....American Legion, Fairbury, IL....$10,000
top 5....Jimmy Mars, Richie Hedrick, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr, Billy Moyer
for more click here
July 15....Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL....$10,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr, Brian Shirley, Terry English, Randy Korte
for more click here
July 14....Macon, IL....100 laps....$6,000
top 5....Joe Ross Jr, Steve Sheppard Jr, Don Hammer, Kyle Logue, Chris Dick
for more click here
July 13....Spoon River, Banner, IL....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Rodney Melvin, Jimmy Mars, Brian Shirley, Billy Drake
for more click here
July 12....LaSalle, IL....$6,000
RAIN
July 11....Peoria, IL....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars, Billy Drake, Dennis Erb Jr, Brian Shirley
for more click here
July 10....Hartford, MI....$6,000
top 5....Don O'Neal, Jeep VanWormer, Jimmy Mars, Matt Miller, Brian Shirley
for more click here
July 9....Kokomo, IN ....$10,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Brian Birkhofer, Dennis Erb Jr, Jason Feger, Ted Loomis
for more click here
July 8....KLMS, KY....$10,000
top 5....Jimmy Owens, Terry English, Steve Hillard, Shannon Babb, Brian Birkhofer
for more click here
July 7....Lawrenceburg, IN....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr, Steve Hillard, Randy Korte, Terry English
for more click here
July 6....Twin Cities, North Vernon, IN....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Don O'Neal, Rodney Melvin, Dennis Erb, Mike Jewell
for more click here
July 5....Highland, IL....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Rodney Melvin, Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb Jr, Randy Korte
for more click here
July 4....Fayette Co, Brownstown, IL....$6,000
RAIN
July 3....Vermilion County, Danville, IL....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Randy Korte, Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb Jr, Richie Hedrick
for more click here
July 2....I-55 Pevely, MO....$10,000
top 5....Randy Korte, Rodney Melvin, Shannon Babb, Jeep VanWormer, Brian Birkhofer
for more click here
July 1....Farmer City, IL....$10,000
top 5....Don O'Neal, Dennis Erb Jr, Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars, Rodney Melvin
for more click here
June 30....Mt. Vernon, IL....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Billy Faust, Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb Jr, Randy Korte
for more click here
June 29....Clarksville, TN....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb, Jr, Billy Drake, Rodney Melvin, Jimmy Mars
for more click here
June 28....Paducah, KY....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Rodney Melvin, Randy Sellars, Dennis Erb Jr, Billy Drake
for more click here
June 27....Godfrey, IL....$6,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr, Billy Faust, Darren Miller, Terry English
for more click here
June 26....Tri-State, Haubstadt, IN ....$6,000
top 5....Rodney Melvin, Billy Drake, Darren Miller, Don O'Neal, Chad Zobrist
for more click here
June 25....KAMP, Boswell, IN....$10,000
top 5....Dennis Erb Jr, Shannon Babb, Billy Moyer, Terry English, Kevin Weaver
for more click here
June 24....Crown Point, IN....$10,000
top 5....Shannon Babb, Kevin Weaver, Ryan Dauber, Darren Miller, Wes Steidinger
for more click here
 

payout:
$6000 to win     $10,000
2500          5000
1500          3500
1200          1500
1100          1200
1000          1100
700           1000
600           700
500           500
400            400
11-20th - 300

email me at: [email protected]

Please note that not all tracks update their own websites regularly, but some have update info on things such as prices, some even have area motels listed.....most have local maps and/or directions to the track.......each one is different.....a few will update on race days in the event of possible bad weather.

IF YOU CAN HELP KEEP THIS PAGE UPDATED, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO:
[email protected]

Thank You in advance to all the selfless people who are helping keep this page updated!!
 

Here They Come, The 2005 UMP Summer Nationals

Jeffrey A. Bayless....June 13

     The 2005 racing season is in full swing, the days are becoming increasingly warmer and that means that one of the most anticipated series of dirt late model fans is just around the bend, the UMP Summer Nationals.  The 2005 version of this grueling test of both man and machine will take the competitors to 29 different racing facilities in a span of 30 days and through 8 different states (Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Ohio).  All contests are scheduled for 40 laps unless otherwise noted.

     The tour kicks off on Friday June 24th at Crown Point Speedway in Crown Point, IN with a $10,000 to win show.  CPS is a 1/4 mile semi banked oval that has received some much needed overhauls in the last year since being taken over by KMS Promotions, Inc and will serve as an excellent facility to start the 2005 Summer Nationals.  From CPS the tour heads to Kamp Motor Speedway outside of Boswell, IN on Saturday the 25th for another $10,000 to win show.  Kamp Motor Speedway is a 3/8ths mile high banked speed plant operated by Bob and Gayle Kamp that is known for it's wide open 2 and 3 wide racing.  The tour then continues south to Haubstadt, IN and Tri-State Speedway for a $6000 to win show on Sunday the 26th.  Tri-State Speedway is a 1/4 mile high banked facility operated by the Helfrich Family and is known for it's meticulously prepared surface and side by side racing.  Monday the 27th will find the tour in Godfrey, IL at Godfrey Speedway.  The 55 year old facility is a 1/4 mile semi-banked facility and will pay the winner $6000.  Onto the Bluegrass State and Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY on the 28th for a $6000 to win show.  PIR is a 3/8ths mile high banked oval operated by area racer John Tindale.  Then onto the red clay of Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, TN.  This Wil-Tam Enterprises operated facility is a 1/4 mile paper-clip style of track that produces some exciting racing and will host a $6000 to win event for round 6 of the 2005 Summer Nationals on June 29th.  The tour will end the month of June at Mt. Vernon, IL and Mt Vernon Raceway for a $6000 to win event.  Mt Vernon Raceway is a 1/4 mile high banked facility that is owned and operated by Jim Scott, Dave Clark, and Rick Heck. 

     The second week of the Summer National tour kicks off at Farmer City Raceway on July 1st with a $10,000 prize on the line.  Farmer City Raceway located in Farmer City, IL is a 1/4 mile high banked facility under the control of  TruSpeed, Inc who are having a successful go of it in their rookie campaign as track promoters.   Saturday July 2nd will find the tour at I-55 Speedway in Pevely, MO.  I-55 Speedway is a 1/3 mile high banked oval operated by Ray Marler and Kenny Schrader and hosts some of the best late model talent in the area on a weekly basis.   From I-55 the tour will head across the state of Illinois to Vermilion County Speedway, a 1/4 mile high banked facility outside of Danville, IL, for a $6000 to win event on July 3rd.  Promoter Bill Marietta has done some work to this race track and it has become more inclined to provide multi groove racing than it has in the past for Super Late Model action.   Independence Day will find the series at Fayette County Speedway competing for a $6000 top prize.  Fayette County Speedway is located near Brownstown, IL and is a large 1/4 mile high banked facility promoted by Charlie Depew.  July 5th will find the series at another Charlie Depew managed facility in Highland, IL for another $6000 top prize event.  Highland Speedway is a semi banked 1/4 mile facility with tight racing quarters.  From Highland Speedway the series treks to Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, IN for a $6000 to win event on July 6th.  This Tory and Trent Collins managed facility is a 3/8ths mile high banked oval.  Onto the "Legendary" Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN on Thursday July 7th for a $6000 to win event.  Lawrenceburg Speedway is a 1/4 mile high banked facility managed by TWA Productions. 

     The third week of the touring series kicks off at the uxorious Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway outside of Calvert City, KY on Friday July 8th with a $10,000 to win event.  This 3/8ths mile high banked oval is owned and operated by Northern Illinois based racer Sherri Heckenast.  Saturday July 9th will find the series at the newly renovated Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, IN.  Kokomo Speedway is another KMS Promotions facility and is a 1/4 mile semi banked facility.  The winner will earn $10,000.  Sunday the 10th will find the series at Hartford Speedway Park in Hartford, MI for a $6000 to win event.  Hartford Speedway Park is a 1/2 mile high banked facility operated by Fred and Gale Knight.  Monday July 11th will take the series to Peoria Speedway in Peoria, IL where the competitors will try their hand at another $6000 to win event.  Peoria Speedway is a 1/4 mile high banked facility managed by Sherrie Hamilton.  Tuesday July 12th will find the series at the classy LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, IL.  This Izzo family operated 1/4 mile high banked facility will play host to a $6000 to win event.  Wednesday the 13th will take the Summer National series to "the best kept secret in Illinois" Spoon River Speedway in Canton, IL.  This Denney family owned and operated facility is a 3/8ths mile high banked oval and will pay the winner $6000.  Then onto the "Mighty" Macon Speedway in Macon, IL managed by Rich and Terry Webb on the 14th.  Macon Speedway, the smallest track on the circuit at 1/5th miles will play host to the Herald and Review 100, a 100 lap event paying $6000 to the winner.

     The final week of the 2005 UMP Summer Nationals will consist of 8 separate events each paying the winner $10,000.  Friday July 15th the series will visit Lincoln Speedway in Lincoln, IL.  Lincoln Speedway is a 1/4 mile race track managed by B&H Promotions.  Saturday the 16th the series heads to another 1/4 mile track in Fairbury, IL.  Fairbury American Legion Speedway is managed by Rusty Allen.  Sunday the 17th the tour heads to Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL.  Tri-City Speedway, managed by Kevin and Tammy Gundaker,  has two tracks and this event will be contested on the 1/2 mile semi-banked oval.  Monday the 18th will take the series to another 1/2 mile track at Freeport Raceway Park in Freeport, IL.  This Gill family operated facility is the largest stock car track in Northern Illinois.  Tuesday the 19th will find the series at the 1/2 mile high banked Simmons Promotions, Inc run Farley Speedway in Farley, IA.  Wednesday the 20th will take the competitors to the Terry Hoenig promoted 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA.  34 Raceway is a 3/8ths mile high banked oval.  After a day off for travel the series will head into Lake Odessa, MI for the next to last event on Friday, July 22nd.  I-96 Speedway is a 1/2 mile semi-banked facility operated by Mike Mouch.  The finale will take the competitors to Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, OH on the 23rd of July.  Pam Henricks promotes this 3/8ths mile semi-banked oval which will have the competitors competing in a 60 lap event.  This is the only event on the tour that will have a rain date and that will be the 24th.

     Now that we know where the 2005 Summer Nationals will be headed let's take a look at who is anticipated to follow this series.  2004 Champion "The Real Deal" Don O'Neal is expected to drop off of the Lucas Oil Dirt Car Series despite leading the points to defend his title on the Summer National circuit.  Don has posted 29 career Summer National wins, second on the all time list to Billy Moyer.  2004 runner-up and 2004 NARA Champion (now known as the Lucas Oil Dirt Car Late Model Series) "The Moweaqua Missile" Shannon Babb will make a strong run for his first Summer National title in '05.  Babb comes into this season with 20 career Summer National wins, 5th on the all-time list.  Long time Xtreme Dirt Car Series competitor and 2004 Xtreme runner-up "The Iceman" Jimmy Mars is expected to make his first full time run at the Summer Nationals now that the Xtreme Series has folded.  Mars has 2 career Summer National wins.  Dennis Erb Jr. who placed 4th in the 2004 Summer National campaign has the 2005 Summer Nationals on his schedule although he is toying with the idea of continuing to follow the Lucas Oil Series as he is running in the 7th position in that series posting several strong runs.  Erb has been a regular competitor in the Summer Nationals but has yet to post a victory despite many strong showings.  Billy Drake has been a regular on the series in the past but followed the Xtreme Series in 2004.  Drake is expected to follow the Summer Nationals again this year in search of his first title in the series.  Drake has 9 career Summer National victories.  As with Drake, Jeep VanWormer followed the Xtreme Series in '04 but is expected to make his return to full time Summer National competition this season.  VanWormer has 1 career Summer National victory.  The 2000 series champ, "The Flatland Flash" Kevin Weaver is expected to make another run at the Summer Nationals in '05.  Weaver has posted 13 career Summer National victories.  1997 UMP National Champion Randy "King Kong" Korte is expected to follow the series again this season.  Korte has posted 3 career Summer National wins.  Two time defending and 3 time overall UMP National Champion Rodney Melvin is planning on running the complete 2005 UMP Summer National schedule.  Melvin has 1 career Summer National victory.  2004 Northern Allstar Late Model Series Champion, Brian Shirley, has stepped up his program in 2005 and is expected to tackle the full Summer National series for the first time.  Shirley posted his 1st Summer National win in limited action during the '04 campaign.  Florida native "Mr. Showtime" Patrick Sheltra spends his summers traveling the Midwest and is expected to run the Summer National tour full time in '05.   Three other drivers have the entire schedule listed on their itinerary to make their first full time runs on the series as well;  "The Fairbury Flyer" Wes Steidinger, "Insane" Duane Chamberlain, and Rohn Moon.  In addition to these drivers who are planning on a full run at the Summer Nationals several others are expected to run selected portions or limited schedules including Brian Birkhofer, Scott James, Darren Miller, Brady Smith, and Rick Aukland.  You can also expect serious competition from local hot shoes when the series rolls through their area as well as an occasional appearance from other nationally known drivers.  Although the listed drivers are expected to compete in portions or all of the '05 Summer Nationals the series takes it's toll on both man and machine and the list of drivers that start off running the series is usually greater than that who finish the series.  Good luck to all the expected competitors in the '05 Summer National tour. 

Congrats to 2005 UMP Summernationals Champion Shannon Babb

July 23....Oakshade, Wauseon, OH....60 laps....$10,000
thanks to DirtRacingWorld
And thanks to Brenda Leonard
Qualifying 57 late models
Babb 15.844
Jeep 16.144
Shirley 16.172
Aaron Scott 16.226

Dash Finish
Finish-Name-Starting spot
1.Jeep(1)
2.Shirley(6)
3.Scott(5)
4.Mars(3)
5.#OJ(2)
6.Patterson(8)
7.Schlenk(9)
8.Erb(7)
9.Babb(4)

feature
1st-Brian Shirley
2nd-Aaron Scott
3rd-Jimmy Mars
4th-Dennis Erb Jr (from last!)
5th-Shannon Babb
6th-Casey Noonan
7th-Rick Delong
8th-Kris Patterson
9th-Patrick Sheltra

And on Tuesday evening, thanks to Jimmy Dearing
 

July 22....i96, Lake Odessa, MI....$10,000
thanks to Jeffrey Bayless and Richard Bila
 

thanks to DirtRacingWorld

37 cars

Shirley - quick time
Babb - 2nd

Dash:
Babb (Drew #1)
Mars
Shirley (Drew #6)
 

Heres the feature lineup
Babb-Mars
Shirley-Ruhlman
Erb-Jeep
Noonan-Patterson
5m (maybe Marlar?)-21
Sheltra-43
1-Olger
02-60
5-12 Scott Smith
12-61
55 Roger Wing

feature finish

Babb
Mars
Shirley
Erb
Marlar
Jeep
Noonon
Roodvoets
Patterson
Ruhlman

July 21....travel

July 20....34 Raceway, W. Burlington, IA....$10,000

28 cars present...that's all I know....
sorry, no one has sent in results....
see the note above, this is WHY this page may disappear....
maybe this will be the end of www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com and Summernationals reports????forever????
thanks to Jack Walbring

thanks to Jake Croxton....
1 28m Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI
2 71 Don O' Neal Martinsville, IN
3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
4 32d Darren Miller Chadwick, IL
5 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
6 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI
7 9 Billy Drake Bloomington, IL
8 15 Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
9 23 Patrick Sheltra Indiantown, FL
10 27 Rodney Melvin Logan, IL
11 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI
12 42 Tom Darbyshire Morning Sun, IA
13 45L Jeff Laue Burlington, IA
14 12 Jordan Bland Campbellsville, KY
15 99 Johnny Johnson West Burlington, Ia
16 39 Rob Toland Hillsdale, Il
17 11 Jamie Wilson Quincy, Il
18 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
19 33 Keith Pratt Quincy, Il
20 45DW Dennis Woodworth Mendon, Il
21 14 Boone McLaughlin Mediapolis, IA
22 7 Mark Burgtorf Quincy, Il
23 1ST Justin Reid Quincy, IL
24 19 Greg Johnson Bedford, IN
25 5 Jay Johnson W. Burlington, Ia

July 19....Farley, IA....$10,000
thanks to DirtRacingWorld

22 cars
Qualifying
Oneal
Mars
Birky
Babb
Francis
Sheltra
Melvin
Boley
B.Smith
Bland

Dash Finish
Birky
Francis
Oneal
Mars
Babb
Erb
Boley
Melvin
Sheltra

Heat 1
26 Boley
10 Parker
12 Bland
19 Johnson
23 Sheltra
37B Barker
27 Shelliam-lost a motor
9 Zanker-pulled off

Heat 2
27 Melvin
2 Smith
37B-not sure who it is-driving Ron Barkers back up car
3s-Shirley
55 VanWormer
21 Bobby Moyer
#76-blue and yellow car
 

July 18....Freeport, IL....$10,000
thanks to Marcus for the pictures....click here
thanks to SMASH....Shannon Babb has won the points championship
thanks to DirtRacingWorld

Dash:
15Francis
18Babb
3sShirley
15bBirky
32dMiller
28mMars

27 cars

Heat 1:
55Jeep
28eErb
50sMorgan
2B.Smith
27
48x
48

Heat 2:
B1Jeff Bone Larson
21jJacobs
5mFreir
10pParker
72
99
21b

Heat 3:
9zZanker
27mMelvin
23sSheltra
19jGregJohnson
12b
31j
111

July 17....TriCity Speedway, Pontoon Beach, IL....$10,000
thanks to SMASH
 

July 16....American Legion, Fairbury, IL....$10,000
thanks to Torri Godsey

thanks to Jeffrey A. Bayless
 

Jeffrey A. Bayless

  Fairbury, IL (July 16) Round 23 of DIRT Motorsports UMP Summer Nationals rolled into Fairbury American Legion Speedway Saturday night with 46 of the areas best in attendance to try their hand at the $10,000 top prize that was on the line for the night's winner.  When the checkers flew it was Menomonie, Wisconsin native "The Iceman" Jimmy Mars riding his Deppe Enterprises, T. I. Sinz Plumbing Inc., Heeg Well Drilling, Keyes Chevytown, Jimmy's Pub sponsored Pro Power driven Mastersbilt horse to a hard fought victory.

      The 9 car dash that would transfer 6 contestants to the 50 lap main event saw Shannon Babb jump to the early lead with Mars right on his bumper.  The duo would stay this way for the duration of the event pulling away from the field with fast qualifier Dennis Erb Jr., Billy Moyer, Kevin Weaver, and Rodney Melvin grabbing the other transfer spots.  Four heats would transfer three each to the main event with 2 last chance races bringing 1 each and 1 provisional to make a 21 car starting grid for the feature.  In the first heat Terry English would lead the way coming home ahead of Steve Hillard, Patrick Sheltra, and Ryan Unzicker who battled for 2nd most of the latter stages of the race.  In the second heat Randy Korte would claim the early lead but would find himself sitting in the wrong direction in turn 3 on the 4th lap after contact from second running Eric Smith.  Smith would inherit the lead but would come up 2 laps short of victory as Brian Shirley would slide by for the win with 2 laps to go.  Smith, Billy Drake, and Jr. Shickel would come home behind him.  In the 3rd heat Daren Freidman would lead the first 2 laps before pole sitter Mike Mullvain grabbed the point and went on to victory leading Richie Hedrick, Mark Voight, and Freidman to the stripe.  In the last heat Jeep VanWormer led the entire distance taking the checkers ahead of Mike Marlar, Roger Long, and Wes Steidinger.  In the 1st conci Freidman would lead the way as local favorite Joe Harlan came up short in a late race charge to take the win.  Jim Felker Jr., and Jay Sparks would round out the top 4.  In the second conci Wes Steidinger grabbed the point and sped away from the field with Randy Korte, Jr. Shickel, and Donnie Walden coming home behind him.  Korte would then be added to the field as the provisional and the field was set for some tooth and nail action.

     Babb would lead the pack into turn 1 with a 3 way contest for second right behind him with Mars on the outside, Moyer in the middle, and Erb on the bottom.  Mars would find some excellent grip on the rim and blast by Babb down the back stretch like a rocket sled on rails to lead the pack at the completion of the first lap and immediately began putting real estate between himself and the competition.  By the 5th lap, the rim riding Mars was well in command with a 10 car length lead over Babb who in turn was leading Erb, Moyer and Melvin by a considerable distance.  However, the field would be slowed on the 6th circuit when Long would find the turn 4 wall brining out the races first caution.  When the action resumed, Mars would return to the rim and once again take command of the field as 13th starting Hedrick was moving forward in a hurry joining the battle for 3rd between Moyer and Erb on the 10th circuit.  Hedrick would blow past this battle into 3rd and would chase down and bypass Babb just a few laps later.  With Mars tied up in traffic on the 20th lap, Hedrick was leading Babb, Erb, Shirley, and Moyer as this group was quickly erasing the cushion that Mars had built.  Mars' lead was down to just a few car lengths on the 23rd circuit and it appeared a battle would soon emerge for the point when the caution flew for a second time as Drake slowed on the front stretch.  When the green flew again Mars, sensing his preferred line was going away, would not return to the high side but chose to run on the hub as Hedrick, Babb, Shirley, Erb, and Moyer did likewise forming a single file line on the hub.  The field would stay this way for several laps until Babb would make his move to reclaim second on the 34th circuit diving under Hedrick into turn 3 and making the pass.  When a caution with 11 ago slowed the field, Babb decided it was all or nothing on the restart breaking from the trend and charging to the rim into 1 and 2 challenging Mars for the lead and bringing the capacity crowd to it's feet.  Mars would maintain the lead down the backstretch and Babb would try to cut across the track and dive under him into 3 only to see his efforts thwarted again by the determined veteran.  Babb would continue this trend to no avail until the 42nd circuit when he switched up and let it all hang out as he rode the rim in a wild fashion all the way around the track in a desperate attempt to wrestle the lead from Mars.  Babb who seemingly could do no wrong in his record setting Summer National performance to this point finally saw his fortunes turn sour as he got a little two high out of 4 on the 47th circuit climbing the front stretch wall near the flag stand and riding it to turn 1 ending his run.  With this incident a 3 lap dash to the finish would be in store.  On the restart, Mars and Hedrick would pull away from the competition but Hedrick could not find a path to the front as Mars would take the checkers with Hedrick glued to his bumper.  Shirley, Erb, Moyer, Melvin, Hillard, VanWormer, Voight, and Steidinger would round out the to 10.  Mars commenting on his first full time Summer National run said with a chuckle "It's been a long deal."  He then continued "This Summer National is probably the toughest deal I've ever done.  I ran the Hav-A-Tampa series (known as the now defunct Xtreme Dirt Car Series the last several years) but I'm seeing a lot of new tracks and a lot of smaller tracks on this deal.  I would like to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us to make it all possible."

     Round 24 of the 29 event series will be Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway near Granite City, IL on the 1/2 mile track at the facility.

RACE NOTES

UMP LATE MODELS

Fast Time:  28 Dennis Erb Jr. 13.125

Dash (9 laps 6 transfer)

2. 28 Jimmy Mars (1)

4. 21 Billy Moyer (4)

6. 27 Rodney Melvin (7)

8. 00 Randy Korte (9)

1. 96 Terry English (1)

3. 23 Patrick Sheltra (3)

5. 43 Jim Felker Jr. (7)

7. 05 Gary Schalmo (9)

9. K9 Mike Glynn (4) DNF

11. T33 Tim O'Donnell (8)

Heat 2

2. 9 Eric Smith (2)

4. S10 Jr Shickel (7)

6. 00 Randy Korte (1)

8. 27G RJ Gall (8)

10. 4 Cody Bauman (10)

Heat 3

2. 0 Richie Hedrick (2)

4. 89 Daren Freidman (2)

6. 7 Jay Sparks (4)

8. 19 Chad Smith (10)

10. 99 Johnny Johnson (7)DNF

Heat 4

2. 5M Mike Marlar (2)

4. 1S Wes Steidinger (4)

6. 1W Donnie Walden (5)

8. 10S George Scheffler (8)

1. 89 Freidman (2)

3. 43 Felker (3)

5. 22 Dick (4)

7. 05 Schalmo (7)

9. CJ1 Rayburn (8)

11. 15 Shickel (9) DNF

13. 24 Unzicker (1)

1. 1S Steidinger (1)

3. S10 Shickel (1)

5. 45 May (8)

7. 6 Anderson (3)

9. T33 O'Donnell (14)

11. 35 Chandler (7)

13. 4 Bauman (13)

1. 28 Mars (2)

3. 3S Shirley (8)

5. 21 Moyer (4)

7. 34 Hillard (11)

9. 30 Voight (17)

11. 9 Smith (12)

13. 23 Sheltra (15)

15. 5M Marlar (14)

17. 00 Korte (21)

19. 9 Drake (16)

21. 36 Long (18)

1-40 28 Mars

July 15....Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL....$10,000
thanks to SMASH

Heat 1 Top 3 go
1. 3s Shirley
2. 96 English
3. 5 Marlar
4. 48 Lance
Drake broke in this heat
Heat 2
1. 7 Korte
2. 34 Hillard
3. 30 Voigt
4. 23 Sheltra
74nz of Richards finished 6th in this heat
Heat 3
1. 4 Mullvain
2. B12 Weaver
3. 99 Johnson
4. 24Unzicker
One consi I'm sure top 2 go

1. 15 Ross
2. 5 Jay Johnson

July 14....Macon, IL....100 laps....$6,000
from various sources....

There was an early rain delay, the track got worked in. The promoter had the drivers vote, whether to race or go home. Erb, Babb, Shirley, Mars, VanWormer, English, Weaver, Voigt, Drake and a few others voted to load up. Twenty-three drivers started the feature. A total of 39 drivers had shown up. Steve Sheppard Jr stayed and turned in fast time. Rodney Melvin and Frankie Martin were both running near the front and both retired with engine problems. Congratulations to the drivers who stuck around and raced for the fans. Special congrats to the hard working teams like Jason Feger, who flipped his car at Spoon River and got the car fixed in time to race at Macon. All that hard work was done to put on a show for the fans! Thank You!
thanks to SMASH

July 13....Spoon River, Banner, IL....$6,000
thanks to SMASH
 

thanks to http://dirtracingworld.no-ip.org
45 cars
Top 6 in qualifying

1. Babb
2. Steidinger
3. Weaver
4. Shirley
5. 74nz Richards
6. Drake

July 12....LaSalle, IL....$6,000....Rain

July 11....Peoria, IL....$6,000
two sets of results, please scroll down for both
thanks to Jeff Adams
 

BABB WINS PEORIA SUMMERNATIONALS RACE by Jeff Adams

   (PEORIA, IL) Shannon Babb of Moweaqua continued his dominance of the UMP Summernationals at Peoria Speedway Monday night, winning the 40 lap feature flag-to-flag to capture the $6,000 pay day.

    Babb started on the pole after winning the dash, and held off a charging Jimmy Mars in winning his 11^th feature on the 2005 “Summernationals” tour. Babb now pulls within one win of tying the all-time “Summernationals” single-season win record of 12, held by Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR. Billy Drake, Dennis Erb and Brian Shirley rounded out the top 5.

    Babb won over the most diverse field of cars so far on the 2005 SN tour, with drivers from 11 states (including Delaware and California) and New Zealand.  39 UMP Late Models timed in at Peoria, with Jeep Van Wormer setting fast time of 12.576. Babb won the dash, with heats going to Rodney Melvin, Ray Guss, Jr., Mike Mullvain, and Duke Whiseant.  Semi-features were won by John Provenzano and Brent Kreke.

    Geno Kalb won the Hornet feature, with Guss Jr. capturing the Modified feature.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

UMP Summernationals, Monday, July 11, Peoria Speedway, Peoria, IL

Finish (starting position) number, name, hometown

1. (1) 18-Shannon Babb, Mowequa, IL
2. (5) 28-Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, WI
3. (11) 9-Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL
4. (2) 28x-Dennis Erb, Carpentersville, IL
5. (4) 3S-Brian Shirley, Springfield, IL
6. (7) 27-Rodney Melvin, Logan, IL
7. (3) 55-Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning, MI
8. (15) 1-Wes Steidinger, Fairbury, IL
9. (10) A1-Duke Whiseant, Texarkana, AR
10.  (12) 25x-Justin Fegers, Bloomington, IL
11.  (6) 5E-Michael England, Glasgow, KY
12.  (9) 4-Mike Mullvain, Bartonville, IL
13.  (18) 25-Steve Lance, Jr., Cuba, IL
14.  (16) 7x-Jay Sparks, Metamora, IL
15.  (8) 75-Ray Guss, Jr., Milan, IL
16.  (14) 30-Mark Voigt, Marine, IL
17.  (19) 7-John Provenzano, Marseilles, IL
18.  (13) 16A-Ed Dixon, Washington, MO
19.  (21) B12- Kevin Weaver, Gibson City, IL\
20.  (20) 13-Brent Kreke, O’Fallon, IL
21.  (17) 2-Eric Bruce, Mackinaw, IL

  Lap Leaders (1): Babb 1-40

 Car count: 39

 RACE NOTES:

   The field at Peoria included Ron Bartels from Marina Del Ray, CA, who was piloting the Peoria-based late model normally driver by Andrew Schooley. Craig Richards from Whitianga, New Zealand was driving a car normally driven by Springfield ARCA driver Justin Allgaier. Matt Hubbard of Seaford, Delaware, Jordan Bland of Campblesville, KY, Johnny Johnson of West Burlington, IA, and Chris Carlson of Greenfield, WI were also in the field at Peoria. Steve Hillard suffered mechanical problems in qualifying and loaded up without running a heat race.
 

Thanks to Smash the Loud Pedal for results..

As Hurricane Dennis tortures the Southern seaboard, the Midwest has seen the likes of a tsunami as Shannon Babb has tormented the UMP Summer Nationals winning an amazing 11 of the first 17 events contested.

Babb pocketed win #11 of the series at Peoria Speedway tonight after leading the entire 40 laps and celebrated in victory lane as rain started to pelt the speedway.

Babb would jump to the lead on the start from his pole starting position as Dennis Erb, Jeep Van Wormer, Jimmy Mars, Michael England and Brian Shirley followed in pursuit.

Erb and Mars battled behind Babb for the runner up position as Babb continued to build on his lead in a race that was slowed several times by caution. One which was shown for Van Wormer who spun, but went to the tail and waged a hard fought battle to record a top 10 finish.

Also turning up the wick and battling through the field was Billy Drake from his eleventh place starting position to finish third.

When the checkers flew over the track it was Babb followed by Mars, Drake, Erb and Shirley rounding out the top five finishers.

The evening began with Jeep van Wormer recording the fast time honors with a time of 12.576.

The trophy dash was won by Babb followed by Dennis Erb, Van Wormer, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Mars, Michael England, Rodney Melvin, Ray Guss, Jr and Ed Dixon.

The heat races were won by Melvin over Billy Drake, Wes Steidinger, John Provenzano, Chris Carlson, Rick Haley, Reeder and Russ Adams, Guss, Jr. over Jason Feger, Jay Sparks, Tim Lance, Cody Bauman, Brent Nelson, Dawn Mennell and Kevin Weaver, Mike Mullvain over Dixon, Elliott Bruce, Brent Kreke, Craig Richards and Mark Anderson and Duke Whiseant over Mark Voigt, Steve Lance, Jr., Matt Hubbard, Ron Bartels, Jordan Bland and Greg Longfellow.

The consi races were captured by Lil' John Provenzano over Cody Bauman, Tim Lance and Haley and Brent Kreke over Anderson, Hubbard and Adams.

Kevin Weaver was added to the A-Main as the UMP provisional.

Babb was once again behind the wheel of his favorite car that bears the moniker of "Full Pull" and sports a Jay Dickens Engine with sponsorship from CAR CITY, G&C Enterprises, PRC, Watters Autoland, J&J Steel, KARL Chevrolet, Outlawd Motorsports, Platinum Motors & RV, ALLSTAR Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Triple B Outfitters, Outlawd Motorsports, Mike Mudd Tractor and Combine Repair, Wick Racing, Hoosier by Smash, Indy Screen Print, Petersen Systems, Weld Wheels, IMPACT Safety Equipment, Dyers Rods, Bert Transmission, Sweet Manufacturing and Petroff Towing to victory lane

A-Main 40 Lap Feature Finish:

1. Shannon Babb
2. Jimmy Mars
3. Billy Drake
4. Dennis Erb
5. Brian Shirley
6. Rodney Melvin
7. Jeep Van Wormer
8. Wes Steidinger
9. Duke Whiseant
10. Jason Feger
11. Michael England
12. Steve Lance, Jr.
13. Mike Mullvain

Updated Points after Completion of Peoria Speedway Event #17

1. Shannon Babb 985 11 Wins 17 Events -0- Provisionals
2. Dennis Erb 756 1 Win 17 Events 1 Provisional
3. Jimmy Mars 684 17 Events 1 Provisional
4. Rodney Melvin 622 1 Win 17 Events 1 Provisional
5. Jeep Van Wormer 501 1 Provisional
6. Brian Shirley 481 17 Events -0- Provisionals
7. Randy Korte 451 1 Win 13 Events 1 Provisional
8. Kevin Weaver 409 15 Events 1 Provisional
9. Billy Drake 403 12 Events -0- Provisionals
10. Darren Miller 398 13 Events -0- Provisionals
11. Terry English 374 12 Events 1 Provisional
12. Mark Voigt 333 17 Events 2 Provisionals
13. Don O'Neal 328 2 Wins 7 Events
14. Steve Hillard 274 8 Events -0- Provisionals
15. Jordan Bland 219 17 Events 3 Provisionals
16. Billy Faust 215 6 Events -0- Provisionals
17. Patrick Sheltra 212 13 Events 3 Provisionals
18. Brian Birkhofer 194 5 Events -0- Provisionals
19. Michael England 173 9 Events -0- Provisionals
20. Jason Feger 167 7 Events -0- Provisionals
 

July 10....Hartford, MI....$6,000
additional info from Todd Turner
dan:

I know Hartford results were hard to come by. just talked to Sam 
Driggers and at least got the basics. sounded like van wormer led a 
few laps early from the front row and O'Neal took over and led the 
rest of the way.


Feature: 1. Don O'Neal, 2. Jeep Van Wormer, 3. Jimmy Mars, 4. Matt 
Miller, 5. Brian Shirley, 6. Shannon Babb, 7. Brian Birkhofer, 8. 
Dennis Erb Jr., 9. Steve Hillard, 10. Brian Ruhlman, 11. Ryan Dauber, 
12. Eric Spangler, 13. Rusty Schlenk, 14. Casey Noonan, 15. Alan 
Vochaska, 16. Zach Hanson, 17. Darren Miller, 18. Mark Voigt, 19. 
Rusty Seaver, 20. Ted Loomis, 21. Rodney Melvin. Fast qualifier 
(among 38 cars): Van Wormer. Dash winner: Shirley. Heat race winners: 
Dauber, M. Miller, Birkhofer. Consolation winners: Vochaska, Spangler.

Todd Turner
National Dirt Digest
(502) 426-0544

thanks to http://dirtracingworld.no-ip.org

Jeep Set Fast Time
Dash:
Shirley
Jeep
O'Neal
Babb
Mars
Miller

Heat 1-Top 4 go
Dauber
Ruhlman
Schlenk
Loomis

Heat 2
Matt Miller
Dennis Erb
Noonan
Seaver

Heat 3
Birky
Voigt
Hillard
Hanson

Consi-Winner Only
Consi 1
Vochaska

Consi 2
Spangler

Feature Line Up
Row 1 3S Shirley & 55 VanWormer
Row 2 71 O'Neal & 18 Babb
Row 3 28 Mars & 32D Miller
Row 4 64 Dauber & 7 M. Miller
Row 5 15B Birky & 49 Ruhlman
Row 6 28 Erb & 30 Voight
Row 7 91 Schlenk & 1 Noonan
Row 8 34 Hillard & 23 Loomis
Row 9 18 Seaver & 64 Hanson
Row 10 34 Vochaska & 27 Spangler
Row 11 27M Rodney Melvin
 

feature finish:
Don O'Neal
Jeep VanWormer
Jimmy Mars
Matt Miller
Brian Shirley
Shannon Babb
Brian Birkhofer
Dennis Erb Jr

July 9....Kokomo, IN ....$10,000
thanks to Jeffrey A. Bayless

Jeffrey A. Bayless

     The 9 car 9 lap dash began the evening's festivities as Brian Birkhofer powered to the early lead.  However, Birkhofer bobbled coming out of 4 on the second lap as he jumped the cushion allowing Shannon Babb to pull along side and commence a side by side waltz that would last until the 5th lap when Babb would secure the lead and go on to victory with Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, fast qualifier Billy Drake, Steve Hillard, and Dennis Erb Jr. crossing the stripe in the other 5 transfer positions.  Two heats would transfer 6 each to the main event with 1 conciliation race sending 2 more to the feature to complete the 20 car field.  In the first heat Frank Heckenast Jr., driving his sister Sherri's car, powered to the early lead but was over come by the wily veteran Kevin Weaver on the second lap who would lead the rest of the way.  Heckenast, Ted Loomis, Shane Cottle, Brian Shirley, and Guy Volk would claim the other transfer spots.  The second heat was a wild affair as Brett Seivert took the early lead as Jeep VanWormer, Jordan Bland, and Darren Miller went three wide for second right behind him.  VanWormer would break free of this battle down the back stretch and pulled even with Seivert going through three and four and crossed the stripe to complete the first lap side by side.  This shootout would continue door to door for 7 laps before VanWormer would slide into the uncontested top position and go on to victory with Seivert, and Miller coming home behind him.  The rest of the field was in for a wild ride on the last lap as Dan Walden would try a slide job on 4th running Mark Voight coming out of the last turn only to fail and take both vehicles into the front stretch retaining barrier allowing Bland to claim 4th with Jason Feger squeaking out 5th before Voight skidded across the line in 6th.  The conciliation race would see Walden, 3rd row starting Glenn Bradley, and Randy Woodling slug it out for the point on the first lap with Walden eventually settling into the  lead to take the victory with Bradley, Woodling, and Elvin Herschberger coming across behind him.  The field was now set for the 40 lap main event.

     The next stop for the traveling speed showcase will be Hartford MI, at the 1/2 mile Hartford Speedway Park as the Summer Nationals are in it's third week of competition.

     Shannon Babb's 2005 Summer National conquests will likely earn him a spot in the record books.  With his 10th win in 15 contested events he sits 2 behind the all time mark of 12 wins in a season set by Billy Moyer in the 1999 season.  If Babb continues to win at his current rate he would rack up 9 more wins obliterating that mark.

     A couple of Kokomo regulars stepped into a Late Model for this event, both making the feature.  Shane Cottle, the reigning non winged sprint car champion at the track, placed 12th in the feature as street stock stalwart Glenn Bradley placed an impressive 7th in Late Model action in the event.

     The Summer National tour is noted for taking it's toll on both man and machine.  With 13 events left on the schedule only 9 drivers of the multitude that set out to run the entire series are still active with making an appearance at every show.

RESULTS

25 Cars

1. 18 Shannon Babb (3)

3. 28 Jimmy Mars (1)

5. 34 Steve Hillard (5)

7. 27 Rodney Melvin (9)

9. 5 Brett Seivert (8)

Heat 1 (10 laps 6 transfer)

2. 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. (3)

4. 8 Shane Cottle (7)

6. V77 Guy Volk (9)

8. 7H Elvin Herschberger (6)

10. 27 Rodney Melvin (1) DNS

Heat 2

2. 5 Brett Seivert (1)

4. 12 Jordan Bland (2)

6. 30 Mark Voight (6)

8. 74NZ Craig Richards (8)

1. 25W Walden (2)

3. 3W Woodling (1)

5. 74NZ Richards (4)

7. 27 Melvin (7) DNS

Feature (40 laps $10,000 to win)

2. 15B Birkhofer (2)

4. 25 Feger (16)

6. 34 Hillard (5)

8. 5 Seivert (10)

10. 99 Heckenast Jr. (9)

12. 8 Cottle (13) -3 laps

14. 3S Shirley (15) DNF

16. 28 Mars (3) DNF

18. 9 Drake (4)

20. 32D Miller (12)

1-40 18 Babb

July 8....KLMS, KY....$10,000
thanks to SMASH
Jimmy Owens pulled into the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway and immediately took over the role as the new sherriff in town on Friday night. After Shannon Babb had dominated the recent Summer National events, winning the previous four consecutive events contested, Owens would assume the role of spoiler and put a stop to Babb's domination, and etch his name into the record books with his first ever UMP Summer Nationals win.

Owens would take his mount from the pole position and jump to the lead at the drop of the green and never look back, leading the entire 40  laps on a track surface that put passing at a premium. Terry English would challenge Owens in the early laps but had to settle for a second place finish as he follwed Owens at the stripe with the remaining cars in tow in a single file line. Steve Hillard, Shannon Babb, Brian Birkhofer, Darren Miller, Kevin Cole, Don O'Neal, Rodney Melvin and Brian Shirley rounded out the top 10 at the checkers.

Owens started the evening off by touring the facility with a lap of 14.322 to set fast time among the 36 cars on hand for the $10,000.00 to win event.

The dash was won by local fan favorite Terry English as he took the win over Owens, Steve Hillard, Shannon Babb, Kevin Cole, Brian Birkhofer, Randy Korte, Rodney Melvin and Randy Sellars.

The heats were won by Darren Miller over Greg Johnson, Joe Morris, Michael England, Brad Neat, Dennis Erb, Phil Walker, Kerry Hansen and Randy Korte, Rodney Melvin over Duke Whiseant, Brian Shirley, Jeep Van Wormer, Tait Davenport, Bill Millikan, Jeff Glisson, James Burrell, Lee Thomasson and Jimmy Mars and Don O'Neal over Randy Sellars, Mike Jewell, Michael Steele, Billy Faust, Tim Brown, Rod Reed, Mark Voigt and Jordan Bland.

Consi races were topped by Billy Faust over Jimmy Mars, Brad Neat and Phil Walker and Tait Davenport over Dennis Erb, Tim Brown and Jordan Bland.

40 Lap A-Main Feature Finish:

1. Jimmy Owens
2. Terry English
3. Steve Hillard
4. Shannon Babb
5. Brian Birkhofer
6. Darren Miller
7. Kevin Cole
8. Don O'Neal
9. Rodney Melvin
10. Brian Shirley
11. Greg Johnson
12. Randy Sellars
13. Michael England
14. Mike Jewell
15. Dennis Erb
16. Rod Reed
17. Michael Steele
18. Tait Davenport
19. Jeep Van Wormer
20. Duke Whiseant
21. John Tindall
22. Joe Morris
23. Jimmy Mars
24. Billy Faust

2005 UMP Summer Nationals Champion ???????????
2004 UMP Summer Nationals Champion : DON O'NEAL

ALL TIME WIN LIST 1988 TO PRESENT (1989, 1992 Results Incomplete)
1. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark. (60)
2. Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind. (30)
3. Shannon Babb, Mowequa, Ill. (29)
4. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn. (27)
5. Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D. (23)
6t. Kevin Weaver, Gibson City, Ill. (13)
6t. Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill. (13)
8. Billy Drake, Bloomington, Ill. (9)
9. Bill Frye, Greenbrier, Ark. (8)
10t. Jim Curry, Norman, Ind. (6)
10t. John Gill, Mitchell, Ind. (6)
12. Ed Dixon, Washington, Mo. (5)
13t. Roger Long, Fithian, Ill. (4)
13t. Terry English, Benton, Ky. (4)
13t. Randy Korte, Highland, Ill (4)
16t. Tony Izzo Jr., Bridgeview, Ill. (3)
16t. Tom Rients, Streator, Ill. (3)
16t. Kevin Claycomb, Vincennes, Ind. (3)
16t. Donnie Barnhart, N. Little Rock, Ark. (3)
16t. Randy Korte, Highland, Ill. (3)
16t. Jim Leka, Buffalo, IL (3)
22t. Dick Taylor, Springfield, Illinois (2)
22t. Bob Hill, Story City, Iowa (2)
22t. Steve Barnett, Franklin, Ind. (2)
22t. Randy Sellars, Mayfield, Ky. (2)
22t. Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, Wis. (2)
22t. Wendell Wallace, Batesville, Ark. (2)
22t. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa (2)
22t. Rodney Melvin, Benton, Ill. (2)

Drivers with one victory: Tom Helfrich, Steve Kosiski, Paul Shafer, Jack Boggs, Rick Egersdorf, Doug McCammon, Joey Izzo, Willy Kraft, Joe Ross Jr., Pete Parker, Ray Cook, Donnie Moran, Tony Stewart, Darrell Lanigan, Ed Bauman, Bart Hartman, Jay Johnson, Matt Taylor, Dan Schlieper, Jeep VanWormer, Matt Miller, Billy Faust, Brian Shirley, Earl Pearson Jr., Dennis Erb, Jimmy Owens
 
Updated UMP Summer Nationals Points after Completion of Round 14 = Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway

1. Shannon Babb 818 9 Wins
2. Dennis Erb 629 1 Win
3. Jimmy Mars 555
    Rodney Melvin 555 1 Win
5. Randy Korte 451 1 Win
6. Jeep Van Wormer 381
7. Brian Shirley 377
8. Terry English 374
9. Kevin Weaver 369
10. Darren Miller 360
11. Billy Drake 329
12. Mark Voigt 273
13. Don O'Neal 264  1 Win
14. Billy Faust 215
15. Patrick Sheltra 212
16. Steve Hillard 198
17. Jordan Bland 178
18. Michael England 155
19. John Gill 131
20. Wes Steidinger 127
Mark Faust 
thanks to the folks at  http://dirtracingworld.no-ip.org
There was 36 cars at KLMS

Qualifying
Owens
Cole
English
Korte
Hillard
Birky
 

Dash Finish
English
Owens
Hillard
Babb
Birky
Cole
Korte
Melvin
Sellars

Heat 1
Darren Miller
Greg Johnson
Joe Morris
Michael England

Heat 2
Rodney Melvin
Duke Whiseant
Brian Shirley
Jeep VanWormer

Heat 3
Don Oneal
Randy Sellters
Mike Jewell
Steal

July 7....Lawrenceburg, IN....$6,000
thanks to the folks at

July 6....Twin Cities, North Vernon, IN....$6,000
thanks to the folks at http://dirtracingworld.no-ip.org

Dash finish
name-starting spot
Shannon Babb(4)
Don Oneal(5)
Jimmy Mars(3)
Terry English(2)
Dennis Erb(7)
Brady Smith(6)
Rodney Melvin(9)
Patrick Sheltra(1)
Randy Korte(8)

Heat 1
Melvin
Jewell
Gill
Combs
Heckenast
Wilson
Bland
Sowders
Bechelli

Top 4 go

Heat 2
Weaver
Sheltra
Hillard
Barnett
Prince
Loomis
Londeree
Nobbe
CJ Rayburn

Heat 3
Shirley
Korte
Voigt
Jeep
Negangard
England
Barber
Christian Rayburn
Vaughn

Feature Line-Up
Row 1 18 Babb 71 O'Neal
Row 2 28 Mars 96 English
Row 3 28 Erb 2 Smith
Row 4 27 Melvin B12 Weaver
Row 5 3S Shirley 9 Jewell
Row 6 23 Sheltra 00 Korte
Row 7 75 Gill 34 Hillard
Row 8 30 Voight 47 Combs
Row 9 89 Barnett 55 VanWormer
Row 10 Conci transfers
Row 11 Provisional(s)
Consi 1
Negangard
Loomis

Consi 2
Vaugn
Loneree

Feature finish:
1 Shannon Babb
2 Don O'Neal
3 Rodney Melvin
4 Dennis Erb
5 Mike Jewell
6 Kevin Weaver
7 Jimmy Mars
8 Steve Hillard
9 Randy Korte
10 Brain Shirley

July 5....Highland, IL....$6,000

thanks to Jack Pugh
 

   The UMP Summernationals came to Highland Speedway after having Mother Nature take the event the night before at Brownstown Speedway.  This was the 12^th event on the 2005 schedule and drew 36 cars to the event.

  The time trails had Brady Smith set fast time at 13.662 seconds over the ¼ mile. The other drivers that went to the dash were Kevin Weaver, Jimmy Mars, Shannon Babb, Rodney Melvin and Jeep Van Wormer. Added to the dash was Dennis Erb from the tour points, Mark Faust, from the UMP points from last year and Mark Faust, from the track.

   The dash was won by Melvin over Smith, Mars, Weaver, Van Wormer and Babb. Erb, Mark and Faust went to the  pole of the heat races.

   Heat one went to Erb with Steve Hillard, and Matt Taylor going to the feature.

   The second heat was won by Billy Faust with Martin and Brian Shirley moving on.

   The third heat saw Chad Zobrist win and take M. Faust and Kevin Gundaker to the feature.

   The fourth heat race went to Randy Korte with Michael England and Rick Salter going forward.

   The first semi sent only the winner to the rear of the feature and that was Michael Kloos. The second semi sent Mike Schulte on to the feature.

   Added to the feature as provisionals were Tom Carson and Mark Voigt.

  The field was set for the 40 lap feature with Melvin and Smith on the front row. On the dropping of the green flag, Melvin jumped to the early lead, but Smith was right there pressing Melvin for the lead. Smith would take the lead on lap two and was looking strong early.

   At the lap 10 mark it was Smith, Melvin, Mars, Babb and Erb in the top five as the race went green.

   By lap 14, Babb was on the move and passing cars on the outside as he moved to third place behind Melvin.

   At the halfway mark, it was Smith, Melvin, Babb, Mars and Van Wormer in the top five. On the next lap, it was Babb around Melvin to second. Babb had the momentum and was heading to the front. On the next go around, Babb took the lead and never looked back.

   The only caution came out on lap 29 for debris on the track. The running order was Babb, Melvin, Mars, Erb and Smith in the top five.

   As the green flag reappeared, Babb was off to the win as he pulled away from the field. Melvin held second comfortably as Smith was slipping back. On lap 34, Korte moved into the top five after starting tenth.

   At the checkered flag, it was again Babb taking the win with Melvin, Mars, Erb and Korte rounding out the top five.  Sixteen of the starting drivers were still on the track at the end of the race.

thanks again to SMASH
 

July 4....Fayette Co, Brownstown, IL....$6,000
Rain

July 3....Vermilion County, Danville, IL....$6,000
updated points....thanks to Smash
Updated UMP Summer Nationals Points after Completion of Round 10 = Vermilion County Speedway

1. Shannon Babb 580 6 Wins
2. Dennis Erb 465 1 Win
3. Jimmy Mars 420
4. Rodney Melvin 377 1 Win
5. Billy Drake 329
6. Randy Korte 320     1 Win
7. Darren Miller 317
8. Jeep Van Wormer 287
9. Kevin Weaver 280
10. Brian Shirley 275
11. Terry English 249
12. Mark Voigt 205
13. Billy Faust 166
14. Patrick Sheltra 162
15. Don O'Neal 133 1 Win
16. Wes Steidinger 127
     Jason Bland 127
18. Rohn Moon 101
19. Ryan Dauber 96
20. Frank Heckenast, Jr. 86
Mark Faust 86
thanks to Smash
by: Terry Young

Shannon Babb, once again claimed the UMP Summer National 40 lap A-Main event at the Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, Illinois, this one a deja vu repeat of his performance last month in the $10,000 to win Tri-Track Challenge event.By winning the event in commanding fashion, Babb fulfilled a birthday wish for JackTaylor who turned 70 years young tonight and has long been a Babb fan! Taylor is the founding father of www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com and operated the sight before turning it over to Dan Stewart in recent years due to health issues. Taylor joined Babb in victory lane and had his picture taken to commemorate his 70th birthday!

Babb has now won 6 of the 10 events, being joined by Dennis Erb, Rodney Melvin, Don O'Neal and Randy Korte as the other 2005 Summer Nationals victors.

35 cars were on hand for Event #10 of 29 in the 2005 Summer Nationals.

Babb recorded the fastest qualifying time with a lap of 13.523.

The dash was topped by Jimmy Mars followed by Babb, Jeep Van Wormer, Randy Korte, Rodney Melvin, Billy Drake, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb and Eric Smith.

The heat races were won by Brian Shirley over Darren Miller, Duane Chamberlain, Kevin Weaver, Mark Voigt, Jason Feger, Butch Smith and Jim Letizia, Dennis Erb over Steve Hillard, John Gill, Dan Walden, Jordan Bland, Joe Harlan, Kyle Logue, Clint Bex and John Sizemore and Eric Smith over Richie Hedrick, Terry English, Corey Rolfe, Josh Ferguson, Denny Schwartz, Patrick Sheltra, Brian Clendenen and Turk Letizia.

The consi races were claimed by Mark Voigt over Schwartz and Clendenen over Feger.

40 Lap A-Main Feature Finish:

1. Babb
2. Korte
3. Mars
4. Erb
5. Hedrick
6. Melvin
7. Hillard
8. Van Wormer
9. Drake
10. Shirley
11. Gill
12. Voigt
13. Smith
14. Chamberlain
15. Feger
16. Sheltra
17. Walden
18. Rolfe
19. Miller
20. Weaver
21. Clendenen
22. English
Thanks to Jeffrey Bayless
 

The Moweaqua Missile Continues to Blast Through The Competition With His 6th Summer National Win in 10 Events

     National UMP Modified point leader, Denny Schwartz, jumped behind the wheel of Roger Long's Pierce Chassis to try his hand at late model racing for the evening.  Schwartz would fail to make the show finishing 1 spot out of a transfer spot in both his heat and conci.  On the other hand, he did when his 8th consecutive modified feature at Vermillion County Speedway in other racing action.

     Shannon Babb's 2005 Summer National hot streak may put him in the record books.  With 19 scheduled races remaining he has all ready reached the half way mark of 12 wins in one campaign set by Billy Moyer in 1999. Babb's current winning percentage sits 3rd all time at .600 with only Billy Moyer's 94 campaign (.692) and Scott Bloomquist's (.692) better than his current batting average.

RESULTS

35 Cars

1. 28 Jimmy Mars (2)

3. 55 Jeep VanWormer (1)

5. 27 Rodney Melvin (5)

7. 3S Brian Shirley (9)

9. 9 Eric Smith (6)

Heat 1 (10 laps 4 transfer)

2. 32D Darren Miller (6)

4. B12 Kevin Weaver (2)

6. 25 Jason Feger (7)

8. 7 Jim Letizia (5)

10. 13 Terry Starks (10) DNF

Heat 2

2. 34 Steve Hillard (3)

4. 25W Dan Walden (6)

6. Z Joe Harlan (2)

8. 24B Kellen Conover (8)

10. 56 Rohn Moon (9) DNF

Heat 3

2. 0 Richie Hedrick (3)

4. 22R Cory Rolfe (7)

6. 2F Josh Ferguson (8)

8. 53 Brian Clendenen (9)

1. 30 Voigt (1)

3. Z Harlan (3)

5. 56 Moon (9)

7. 5* Sizemore (8)

9. 72 Woodard (7)

Conci 2

2. 25 Feger (2)

4. 7 Smith (3)

6. 24B Conover (5)

1. 18 Babb (2)

3. 28 Mars (1)

5. 0 Hedrick (12)

7. 34 Hillard (11)

9. 9 Drake (6)

11. 75 Gill (14)

13. 9 Smith (9)

15. 25 Feger (21) -2 laps

17. 25W Walden (17) -3 laps

19. 32D Miller (10)

21. 53 Clendenen (20)

Lap Leaders:

Cautions:  1

July 2....I-55 Pevely, MO....$10,000
four stories below....please scroll down.....
thanks to Jack Pugh
 

  The ninth event on the 2005 UMP Summernationals schedule rolled into I-55 Raceway on Saturday night July 2 and put on a good show. There were 37 Late Models in the pits with seven states being represented.

   The qualifying results in fast time being set by  Randy Korte from Highland, IL with a time of 13.418 seconds around the 1/3 mile high banked track. Rounding out the top six drivers to go to the dash were Jeep Van Wormer, Brian Birkhofer, Clay Bauman, Dennis Erb and Rodney Melvin.

   The dash started with the six drivers and Shannon Babb, current point person from Summernationals, E Dixon, I-55 Raceway former track champion and Chad Zobrist, last year’s highest point finisher. Korte and Melvin started on the front row for the nine lap race. Korte jumped to the lead and never looked back to take the win. Melvin finished second with Birkhofer, Van Wormer, Dixon and Babb completing the top six that moved to the feature. Bauman, Erb and Zobrist went to the pole of the first three heat race.

   In the first heat race, John Gill got the win over Billy Faust, and Billy Drake to move to the feature.

  The second heat race sent Jimmy Mars, Kevin Weaver and Dennis Erb to the feature.

  The third heat produced Brian Shirley, Terry English and Mark Voigt as movers on.

  The final heat race sent Don O’Neal, Matt Taylor and Mark Gannsman forward.

  The first semi had ten cars in it with  the first three going to the back of the feature. Darren Miller, Brady Smith and Mark Oller would race to the feature.

  In the second semi, Patrick Sheltra, Chad Zobrist and Jim Shereck were the final ingredients to the show.

  The 40 lap race started with Korte and Melvin on the front row. With the dropping of the first green flag, things just did not go well as the pole setter had problems in turn two and the whole field wadded up in turns one and two. Fortunately all but one car was able to continue. The first car out was Matt Taylor with front end damage. The remaining car relined up for another start to the race.

   On the second restart things went better as the field went racing. Korte jumped to the early lead and never looked back. Melvin jumped into second and tried to catch Korte. Joining in the chase but several car lengths behind were Birkhofer, Van Wormer and Babb.

   As the race continued, Korte would put out by several car lengths and Melvin was several car lengths ahead of the rest of the pack.

  The first caution came out on lap 12 as provisional Jordan Bland hit the outside wall in turn two. That put Bland in the pits for the night. The running order was Korte, Melvin, Babb, Van Wormer, and Birkhofer in the top five.

  On the restart, Korte and Melvin continued the two car break away and left the rest to battle for position. Babb got into the mix during this period of racing as he gained enough track position to give the front two a little run for their money.

   At the half way point, it was Korte, Melvin, Babb, Van Wormer and Birkhofer that were the top five.

  As the race continued, the track got slick and most of the racing was being done on the bottom to middle of the track.

   The next and final caution came out on lap 25 as both Shirley and Voigt had flat tires and slowed on the track. Both cars left the race. The top five was still the same, Korte, Melvin, Babb, Van Wormer and Birkhofer.

  With 15 laps to go the race continued.  Korte again pulled out to a sizable lead with Melvin in tow. Babb and the rest of the field continued to catch up.

  As the race wound down, the race turned into a single line of cars running on the bottom to middle of the track. Korte had a lead of several car lengths over Melvin, who was ahead of the third place car of Babb by half a straight away.

   Korte went on to become the fifth different winner on the series and picked up the $10,000 winner’s prize. Melvin finished second with Babb, Van Wormer and Birkhofer completing the top five.

thanks to Jimmy Dearing
Pevely, MO (July 2, 2005) Randy Korte of Highland, IL put on a dominating performance as he claimed the $10,000 first place prize by winning the UMP Summer Nationals at I-55 Raceway. Korte set fast time during qualifying and then won the dash to earn the pole position for the main event. Korte took the lead at the drop of the green flag and set the pace for all forty laps. Rodney Melvin challenged Korte for the lead early but had his hands full with Shannon Babb for most of the event. Babb, who started in the sixth position, quickly moved into the third spot but couldn't find his way past Melvin and rode to a third place finish behind Korte and Melvin. Jeep VanWormer took the fourth spot with Brian Birkhofer finishing fifth.
 
 Bobby Bittle of Belleville, IL roared to victory in the UMP Modified division. Bittle battled with St. Louis, MO's Ray Walsh for the first half of the event before Bittle pulled away in lapped traffic to earn the win. Bittle found the fast line to be right down the middle of the track while Walsh used the very top line around the track. Jerry Grither came home in the third position with Brian Wolfmeier finishing fourth and Tom Ratajczyk fifth. Scott Weber took the sixth spot and starting twenty-third as he debut his brand new racecar.
 
 Troy Naeger drove his Dodge Charger to victory in the AARA Sportsman division. Naeger fought off the challenges of Jeff LeBaube in the closing laps as he went on to victory. Doug Kim took the third position with Troy Medley taking fourth and Jim Smith fifth.
 
 Dustin Korte was awarded the AARA Pro 4 Stock victory after the original winner Conrad Miner was disqualified when he refused to sell his car during a post race "CLAIM" as the class rules specify. Chris Fisher was second and Brad Almost came home third. Andrew Nausley took a wild ride early on in the event as he flipped several times down the front straight away after contact with another car. Nausley was uninjured in the incident.
 
 UMP Late Models - 38 Entries
 
 Qualifying
 Randy Korte 13.418
 Jeep VanWormer 13.532
 Brian Birkhofer 13.563
 Clay Baumann 13.623
 Dennis Erb 13.64
 Rodney Melvin 13.644
 Mark Gansmann 13.699
 Brady Smith 13.746
 Jimmy Mars 13.847
 Brian Shirley 13.852
 Jim Shereck 13.859
 Billy Faust 13.878
 Mark Oller 13.89
 Terry English 13.92
 Don O'Neal 13.933
 John Gill 14.01
 Danny Haynes 14.013
 Shannon Babb 14.015
 Steve Karnes 14.017
 Dave Jumper 14.05
 Tim Ratajczyk 14.058
 Kevin Weaver 14.197
 Mark Voigt 14.21
 Chad Zobrist 14.223
 Billy Drake 14.225
 Jordan Bland 14.254
 Brian Wolfmeier 14.355
 Kyle Steffens 14.362
 Matt Taylor 14.382
 Butch Kruckeburg 14.465
 Darrin Miller 14.502
 Denny Woodworth 14.617
 Ed Dixon 14.677
 Patrick Sheltra 14.763
 Patrick Tretter 14.878
 Kevin Epperson 15.034
 Shane Allen 15.218
 Steve Shive No Time
 
 Dash
 1. 00 Randy Korte
 2. 27 Rodney Melvin
 3. 15 Brian Birkhofer
 4. 55 Jeep VanWormer
 5. 16a Ed Dixon
 6. 18 Shannon Babb
 7. 77 Clay Baumann
 8. 28 Dennis Erb
 9. 78 Chad Zobrist
 
 Heat 1 Top 3 Advance to Feature
 1. 75 John Gill
 2. 26 Billy Faust
 3. 9 Billy Drake
 4. 2 Brady Smith
 5. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
 6. 76 Butch Kruckeburg
 7. 21t Patrick Tretter
 8. 77 Clay Baumann
 
 Heat 2
 1. 28 Jimmy Mars
 2. b12 Kevin Weaver
 3. 28 Dennis Erb
 4. 32 Darrin Miller
 5. 67 Mark Oller
 6. 441 Brian Wolfmeier
 7. 47 Danny Haynes
 8. 56 Kevin Epperson
 
 Heat 3
 1. 3s Brian Shirley
 2. 96 Terry English
 3. 30 Mark Voigt
 4. 78 Chad Zobrist
 5. 8 Kyle Steffens
 6. 5 Denny Woodworth
 7. 11 Steve Karnes
 8. 16 Shane Allen
 
 Heat 4
 1. 71 Don O’Neal
 2. 7 Jim Shereck DQ’D wrong tire
 3. 3L Matt Taylor
 4. 20 Mark Gansmann
 5. 23 Patrick Sheltra
 6. 2j Dave Jumper
 7. 12 Jordan Bland
 
 Semi 1 Top 3 advance
 1. 32 Darrin Miller
 2. 2 Brady Smith
 3. 67 Mark Oller
 4. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
 5. 47 Danny Haynes
 6. 76 Butch Kruckeberg
 7. 441 Brian Wolfmeier
 8. 77 Clay Baumann
 9. 21T Patrick Tretter
 10. 56 Kevin Epperson
 
 Semi 2
 1. 23 Patrick Sheltra
 2. 78 Chad Zobrist
 3. 7 Jim Shereck
 4. 8 Kyle Steffens
 5. 5 Denny Woodworth
 6. 2J Dave Jumper
 7. 11 Steve Karnes
 8. 12 Jordan Bland
 9. 16 Shane Allen
 DNS. 51 Steve Shive
 
 Feature
 1. 00 Randy Korte
 2. 27 Rodney Melvin
 3. 18 Shannon Babb
 4. 55 Jeep VanWormer
 5. 15b Brian Birkhofer
 6. 28 Jimmy Mars
 7. 16a Ed Dixon
 8. 26 Billy Faust
 9. 28 Dennis Erb
 10. b12 Kevin Weaver
 11. 71 Don O’Neal
 12. 75 John Gill
 13. 20 Mark Gansmann
 14. 96 Terry English
 15. 32 Darrin Miller
 16. 2 Brady Smith
 17. 23 Patrick Sheltra
 18. 30 Mark Voigt
 19. 67 Mark Oller
 20. 3S Brian Shirley
 21. 7 Jim Shereck
 22. 9 Billy Drake
 23. 78 Chad Zobrist
 24. 12 Jordan Bland
 25. 3L Matt Taylor
 
 thanks to SMASH
Randy "King Kong" Korte of Highland, Illinois visited the romping grounds where he cut many laps in his years and showed that his laps there lead to his perfection of the slick high banked oval! Rolling into Ken Schrader and Ray Marlar's I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO., Korte would leave with an additional $10,000 in his bank account!

Korte would make a sweep of the Missouri speedplant and capitalize on the states motto of being the "Show Me" state, doing just that, Korte would go on to win the dash and lead every lap of the A-Main 40 lap event. As the race took the green for the start, Korte spun in turns 1 and 2, but made up for ther blunder in quick fashion as the field took to the retsrat as Korte took the lead and never looked back. With passing at a premium on the slick surface, Korte was followed at the checkers by Rodney Melvin, Shannon Babb, Jeep Van Wormer, Brian Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars, Ed Dixon, Billy Faust, Dennis Erb and Kevin Weaver rounding out the top 10.

Driving a Terry Eagliln Rocket Chassis with power from RaceTek and sponsorship from Mid-Continental Fuels, TMCI, Rick's Towing, Banshee Graphics, Korte had everyone asking him "Who the heck is Bruce?"

Korte toured the track with a time of 13.418 to set fast time of the 38 entires on hand.

Winning the dash, Korte crossed the line ahead of Rodney Melvin, Brian Birkhofer, Jeep Van Wormer, Ed Dixon, Shannon Babb, Clay Baumann, Dennis Erb and Chad Zobrist.

The heat races were won by John Gill over Billy Faust, Billy Drake, Brady Smith, Tim Ratajczyk, Butch Kruckenberg, Patrick Tretter and Baumann, Jimmy Mars over Kevin Weaver, Erb, Darren Miller, Marc Oller, Brian Wolfmeier, Danny Haynes and Kevin Epperson, Brian Shirley over Terry English, Mark Voigt, Zobrist, Kyle Steffens, Dennis Woodworth, Steve Karnes and Shane Allen and Don O'Neal over Jim Shereck, Matt Taylor, Mark Gansman, Patrick Sheltra, Dave Jumper and Jordan Bland.

The consi races were won by Darren Miller and Patrick Sheltra.
 

A-Main Finish: 40 Lap Feature

1. Korte
2. Melvin
3. Babb
4. Van Wormer
5. Birkhofer
6. Mars
7. Dixon
8. Faust
9. Erb
10. Weaver
11. O'Neal
12. Gill
13. Gansman
14. English
15. Miller
16. Smith
17. Sheltra
Updated UMP Summer Nationals Points after Completion of Round 9 = I-55 Raceway
1. Shannon Babb 513     5 Wins
2. Dennis Erb 418      1 Win
3. Jimmy Mars 365
4. Rodney Melvin 342     1 Win
5. Billy Drake 303
6. Darren Miller 296
7. Randy Korte 266     1 Win
8. Kevin Weaver 261
9. Jeep Van Wormer 255
10. Brian Shirley 248
11. Terry English 229
12. Mark Voigt 183
13. Billy Faust 166
14. Patrick Sheltra 144
15. Don O'Neal 133     1 Win
16. Wes Steidinger 127
17. Jason Bland 116
18. Ryan Dauber 96
19. Rohn Moon 91
20. Frank Heckenast, Jr. 86
      Mark Faust 86

thanks to Jeffrey Bayless for below

July 1....Farmer City, IL....$10,000
thanks to Jeffrey A. Bayless
 

Jeffrey A. Bayless

  Farmer City, IL (July 1) The second week of DIRT Motorsports UMP Summer Nationals kicked off at Farmer City Raceway with a $10,000 top prize on the line in front of a standing room only crowd.  Farmer City Raceway has one of the largest weekly Late Model car counts in the area normally drawing 30 plus contestants each week and tonight was no exception as 51 contestants signed in, the largest car count of the 2005 Summer Nationals to date, to try their hand at topping the stellar field.  Martinsville, IN native "The Real Deal" Don O'Neal proved to be the best on this night piloting his Jay Dickens owned and powered Mastersbilt to victory.  O'Neal's sponsors include A-1 Auto Salvage, The Living Room Center, Allstar Performance, O'Neal Wood Products, and Well Pict Berries.

     The 9 car 9 lap dash began the festivities as Shannon Babb held off a determined effort by Don O'Neal to grab the victory and the feature pole position.  Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Mars, fast qualifier Billy Drake, and Rodney Melvin also transferred to the feature through the dash.  Next up would be the four heat races, each transferring 3 to the main event.  In the first heat, Randy Korte jumped to the early lead as the field would go three and four wide behind him battling for position.  Korte would go on to score an impressive win with Brian Shirley, 7th starting Wes Steidinger, and Darren Miller coming home behind him.  Roger Long would grab the early lead in the second heat, but things would get dicey toward the end as things heated up at the front of the pack.  On the last lap Joe Ross Jr. would make the pass and score the win over Long, as Richie Hedrick would also make a last lap pass to secure the final transfer spot over Mark Voigt.  The third heat was a three car battle from the drop of the green as Ryan Dauber, Brian Birkhofer, and Kevin Weaver would flash across the stripe 3 wide to complete the first lap.  At the checkers it would be Dauber followed by Birkhofer, Weaver, and a distant Gary May.  The final heat was arguably the best race of the night as 8th starting John Gill made a late race charge storming to the front to secure the win ahead of Joe Harlan who edged past race long leader Jr. Shickel at the line to grab second.  The track point leader Eric Smith would score 4th in the heat.  Two conciliation races would transfer 1 each to the main event and 1 provisional would be added to complete the field.  In the first conci it would be Darren Miller over Jason Feger, Chris Dick, and Gary May.  The second would see Mark Voigt beat Brady Smith, Jeep VanWormer, and Daren Friedman.  Jeep VanWormer would be awarded the provisional.

     O'Neal and Babb would charge into the first set of turns door to door at the onset of the main event with O'Neal grabbing the point at the other end of the speed plant with Erb following him past Babb to make the top 5 O'Neal, Erb, Babb, Mars, and Melvin.  O'Neal and Erb would power away from the field and with 5 laps scored O'Neal with Erb glued to his bumper would have a 5 car length lead over the trailing trio of Babb, Mars, and Melvin.  O'Neal would slowly creep away from Erb over the next several laps until the leader reached the back markers on the 13th circuit allowing Erb to close back in quickly.  Erb would stay with O'Neal for several laps looking for a way to get past the winningest Late Model driver in the nation over the last 3 seasons, but would not find the needed path on the increasingly tough to pass racing surface.  Erb would eventually get tied up behind the battle of Miller and Weaver after O'Neal cleared the veteran racers allowing O'Neal to gain some breathing room as Babb, the winner of the last 4 events, would quickly close in.  Erb and Babb would eventually clear this traffic and storm back towards O'Neal who was trying to find away around another group of slower vehicles.  With 5 laps to go O'Neal, Erb, and Babb would all be in contact with each other, but O'Neal would clear the traffic and come home 5 car lengths ahead of his adversaries.  Erb, Babb, Mars, Melvin, Korte, 16th starting Hedrick, Drake, Gill, and Shirley would round out the top 10.  With this victory O'Neal would become the second driver in the history of the Summer National touring series to score 30 career wins.  The first to do it was Billy Moyer, who stands atop the list with a whopping 60 Summer National feature wins.  In victory lane Don O'Neal gave some insight on his strategy for the event of getting out front quickly by saying "I figured the race would be won in the first few laps as it sort of got one lane towards the end.  Lapped traffic figured in there a bit towards the end, but it all worked out." 

     Round 9 of the DIRT Motorsports UMP Summer Nationals takes the touring series west to Kenny Schrader's I-55 Speedway in Pevely, MO for another $10,000 to win event on July 2nd.

Race Notes

UMP LATE MODELS

Fast Time:  9 Billy Drake 13.297

Dash (9 laps 6 transfer)

2. 71 Don O'Neal (4)

4. 28 Jimmy Mars (7)

6. 27 Rodney Melvin (5)

8. 36 Roger Long (8)

1.  00 Randy Korte (1)

3. 1S Wes Steidinger (7)

5. 25 Jason Feger (8)

7. 4 Cody Bauman (4)

9. 99 Johnny Johnson (6)

11. 5S Steve Sheppard Jr (5) DNF

1. 15 Joe Ross Jr. (3)

3. 0 Richie Hedrick (6)

5. 55 Jeep VanWormer (7)

7. 89 Daren Freidman (2)

9. 23 Patrick Sheltra (9)

11. 15 Lisa Shickel (11)

Heat 3

2. 15B Brian Birkhofer (1)

4. 45 Gary May (5)

6. 7 Jay Sparks (3)

8. F15 Jeremy Conaway (8)

10. 7 Butch Smith (9)

1. 75 John Gill (8)

3. S10 Jr Shickel (1)

5. 4 Mike Mullvain (3)

7. 21E Caley Emerson (7)

9. 007 Jason Cecil (11)

11. 5D Rick Haley (10)

Conci 1 (12 laps 1 transfer)

2. 25 Feger (3)

4. 45 May (2)

6. 99 Johnson (11)

8. T33 O'Donnell (12)

10. 12 Bland (8)

12. 61JR White (13)

14. 20 Barth (5)

16. 7 Smith (14)

1. 30 Voight (1)

3. 55 VanWormer (3)

5. 1W Walden (9)

7. 4 Mullvain (4)

9. 5D Haley (16)

11. 15 Shickel (15) -1 lap

13. 35 Rossio (10) DNF

15. 21E Emerson (8)

1. 71 O'Neal (2)

3. 18 Babb (1)

5. 27 Melvin (6)

7. 0 Hedrick (16)

9. 75 John Gill (10)

11. 15B Birkhofer (13)

13. 15 Ross (8) -1 lap

15. B12 Weaver (17)

17. 64 Dauber (9)

19. Z Harlan (14) DNF

21. 30 Voight (20)

1-40 71 O'Neal

1. Shannon Babb 465
2. Dennis Erb 390
3. Jimmy Mars 326
4. Rodney Melvin 288
5. Billy Drake 283
6. Darren Miller 277
7. Kevin Weaver 235
8. Brian Shirley 226
9t. Terry English 208
9t. Jeep Van Wormer 208
11. Randy Korte 198
12. Mark Voigt 181
13. Billy Faust 133
14. Wes Steidinger 127
15. Patrick Sheltra 122
16. Don O'Neal 111
17. Jordan Bland 98
18. Ryan Dauber 96
19t. Frank Heckenast, Jr. 86
19t. Mark Faust 86

thanks to Racenut (oh yeh, that's me)
 

thanks to SMASH

June 30....Mt. Vernon, IL....$6,000
thanks to Jack Pugh
 

  The UMP Summernationals came to Mt. Vernon Raceway in Mt. Vernon, IL for the running of the seventh event of the schedule. There were 32 cars in the pits for the night of racing.

  The racing would start with time trails in order to determine who would go to the dash. Fast time went to Jeep Van Wormer at 13.593 over the ¼ mile banked track. The other fast timers to go to the dash were Brian Shirley, Rodney Melvin, Billy Faust, Kevin Cole and Rick Salter. Added to the dash were Shannon Babb, current high point person in the series, Kyle Monroe, track high point person from last year and Mark Faust, last year’s high point person.

  The dash started with Salter and B. Faust on the front row after the drawing for starting spots. B. Faust would take the early lead. Seven starting Babb had the run of the night going as he moved to the outside of the track and started picking off car after car to move to second.  Babb missed getting in the top six qualifiers by 2 tenths of a second. The dash went to Faust followed by Babb, Salter, Cole, Shirley and M. Faust. Van Wormer, Melvin and Monroe were to the pole of the heat races.

  In the first heat race, Dennis Erb won followed by Randy Korte and Frankie Martin to the feature.

    Before the second heat could be completed, Mother Nature decided to help with the drought in the area and dumped a ten minute or so drop pour over the track. This caused a two hour delay in the program as the track crews went to work trying to get the track back in racing shape. The down pour happened about 8:00 P.M.

   As the track was being worked, several of the drivers loaded up their cars thinking the night was over. But the track was being worked to try to get the program in despite a track curfew of 11:00 P.M. As it was the track was run in and racing resumed at 10:00 P.M. The second heat was on the track with two laps on the board when racing was stopped. 

  When racing continued, the second heat was restarted and Jimmy Mars, Rodney Melvin, Billy Drake and Patrick Sheltra advance to the feature.

  The third heat had Bobby Melvin, Terry English, Kyle Monroe and Chad Burks move on to the feature.

  The semi had ten of the scheduled 13 cars start the race. Two of the cars elected to not unload their cars and race. The top two cars were to move to the back of the feature and they were Darren Miller and Kevin Weaver. The race was stopped as four cars got into to tangle in turn four on the start. The car of Jeff Sloan got knocked onto it’s side, but Sloan was OK, but his car was not. Also eliminated was pole setter, Brent Kreke and Darrell Bex.

  The start of the 40 lap feature saw B. Faust and Babb on the front row. With the dropping of the green flag on the very fast race track after the free moisture, Faust jumped to the early lead with Babb in tow.

   The race was slowed after one lap was completed with a running order of Faust, Babb, Salter, Erb and Shirley.

  When the race resume, Faust was continuing his lead with Babb in pursuit. At the 10 lap mark, the running order was B. Faust, Babb, Erb, Shirley and Mars.

  As the racing continued, the front runners started to get into the back markers and this was when Babb was able to make some forward headway. At lap 10, the lapping started and Faust and Babb were using different lines to get by the lapped cars.

   On lap 15, Babb was able to used lapped traffic to his advantage and got by Faust for the lead.

 At lap 20 the half way mark the running order was Babb, B. Faust, Erb, Shirley and Mars.

  The track was fast and the bite made the racing good for the fans that stayed. It looked and sound as if the racing let the drivers almost not lift on the tacky surface.

   The next stoppage occurred on lap 21 as Weaver encounter a flat tire and exited the track. The running order was Babb, B. Faust, Erb, Shirley and Mars.

  With the green back out, Babb continue to lead with Faust trying to get his lead back to no avail. At the 30 lap mark it was Babb, B. Faust, Erb, Mars and Korte in the top five.

  With no more cautions, the race went to the checkered flag in a fast pace. Babb went on to win with Faust, Erb, Mars and Korte in the top five.

thanks to SMASH
Shannon Babb, undeniably the hottest driver in the nation right now extended his domination and winning streak tonight at the Mt. Vernon Raceway claiming his 5th UMP Summer National win and his fourth consecutive 40 lap event!

The Moweaqua Missile was lined up in the wrong spot for qualifying by track personnel and took to the track as one of the last few to tour the track. The track had slowed considerably from the first qualifier at 13.593 to the mid 14 second range in the last few cars. Babb qualified at 13.817 to just miss the dash earning the 7th fast qualifying time. This would put him in the dash in the 7th starting position. Jeep Van Wormer, the first car out earned the fast time honors.

Billy Faust topped the dash while giving fans a sign of what was to come, Babb moved to second in the dash on the high side to earn an outside front row feature starting berth. Following them were Rick Salter, Kevin Cole, Brian Shirley, Mark Faust, Jeep Van Wormer, Rodney Melvin and Kyle Monroe.

Heat races were won by Erb over Randy Korte, Van Wormer, Frankie Martin, Brent Kreke, Tony Boyles, Jordan Bland, Frank Heckenast, Jr. and Jeff Sloan, Jimmy Mars over Melvin, Billy Drake, Patrick Sheltra, Kevin Weaver, Rohn Moon, Darrell Bex and Darren Miller and Bobby Melvin over Terry English, Monroe, Chad Burkes, Bill Workman, Joe Cooksey and Ray Emling.

The consi was won by Miller over Weaver, with Bland added as a UMP Summer Nationals provisional.

After a delay when rainshowers pelted the track after the first heat, many fans took cover in their cars and left thinking there would be no races resumed. It was to their loss for leaving, as the track crew worked to repair the surface so races could be resumed. What their efforts provided was a blistering fast track that was multi-grooved.

Billy Faust would jump to the point from his pole starting position and lead the opening 15 laps of the 40 lap affair. With Babb on his tail, as the duo approached lapped traffic Babb would take over the top spot on Lap 16 after working both the low and high grooves. Once Babb took the lead he never looked back as he set pace and began lapping traffic. At the drop of the checkers Babb was followed to the stripe by Faust, Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb, Randy Korte, Rodney Melvin, Brian Shirley, Kevin Cole, Frankie Martin and Jeep Van Wormer

Babb was again driving his favorite car that bears the moniker of "Full Pull" and sports a Jay Dickens Engine with sponsorship from CAR CITY, G&C Enterprises, PRC, Watters Autoland, J&J Steel, Platinum Motors & RV, ALLSTAR Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Triple B Outfitters, Outlaw Motorsports, Mike Mudd Tractor and Combine Repair, Wick Racing, Hoosier by Smash, Indy Screen Print, Petersen Systems, Weld Wheels, IMPACT Safety Equipment, Dyers Rods, Bert Transmission, Sweet Manufacturing and Petroff Towing.

Feature Finish: 40 Lap A-Main
1. Babb
2. Billy Faust
3. Mars
4. Erb
5. Korte
6. Melvin
7. Shirley
8. Cole
9. Martin
10. Van Wormer
11. Salter
12. Miller
13. Bland
14. Burkes
15. Sheltra
16. M. Faust
 

June 29....Clarksville, TN....$6,000
thanks to SMASH
Shannon Babb of Mowequa, IL. once again visited victory lane, a piece of real estate he has become very familiar with during this years running of the UMP Summer Nationals. Babb who claimed his third Summer National win in a row and fourth in the first six nights wa sonce again the class of the field as the UMP group visited the Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Babb would dedicate this win to sponsor Ed Petroff in honor of Ed celebrating his birthday, the number which was undisclosed!

Adding another $6,000.00 to his account, bringing his winnings to just over $33,000 in less than a week. Babb took his car from his second row starting point to the front and brought with him to the line Dennis Erb, Billy Drake, Rodney Melvin, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Mars, Wendell Wallace, Darren Miller, Mark Voigt and Jay Brinkley.

Billy Drake recorded the fast time among the 40 entries with a time of 12.951 to begin the evening. Drake was also credited with the dash win followed by Erb, Babb and English.

Heat races were won by Tony Morris over Wendell Wallace, Darren Miller and Jordan Bland, Brian Shirley over Kevin Weaver, Gary Frost, Mark Faust and Jeep Van Wormer over Jimmy Mars, Richard Frost and Rohn Moon.

Consi races were topped by England over Steven Ashby, Troy Gay and John Tindal and Jay Brinkley over Voigt, Wes Steidinger and Carnell Parker.

Babb was driving a C.J. Rayburn chassis powered by JAY DICKENS with sponsorship from CAR CITY, G&C Enterprises, PRC, Watters Autoland, J&J Steel, Platinum Motors & RV, ALLSTAR Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Triple B Outfitters, Wick Racing, Hoosier by Smash, Indy Screen Print, Petersen Systems, Weld Wheels, IMPACT Safety Equipment, Dyers Rods, Bert Transmission, Sweet Manufacturing and Petroff Towing.

Feature Finish: 40 Lap A-Main
1. Babb
2. Erb
3. Drake
4. Melvin
5. Shirley
6. Mars
7. Wallace
8. Miller
9. Voigt
10. Brinkley
11. English
12. Albright
13. Weaver
14. Moon
15. Gary Frost
16. Bland
17. Richard Frost
18. Mark Faust
19. Van Wormer
20. England
21. Morris

UMP Summer Nationals Points After Completion of Round 6 - Clarksville
1. Shannon Babb 348
2. Dennis Erb 287
3. Darren Miller 232
4. Jimmy Mars 230
    Billy Drake 230
6. Rodney Melvin 208
7. Kevin Weaver 194
8. Terry English 187
9. Brian Shirley 165
10. Jeep Van Wormer 159
11. Mark Voigt 130
12. Randy Korte 116
13. Wes Steidinger 107
14. Patrick Sheltra 93
15. Billy Moyer 80
16. Rohn Moon 79
17. Frank Heckenast, Jr. 76
     Michael England 76
19. Billy Faust 75
20. Ryan Dauber 74
21. Jordan Bland 69
22. Mark Faust 68
23. Chad Zobrist 63
24. Duane Chamberlain 62
25. Wendell Wallace 62


thanks to 4m member dirt guy
 

June 28....Paducah, KY....$6,000

thanks to SMASH

As the summer temperatures continued to soar, so did Shannon Babb, The Mowequa Missile! Babb who appears to have been on a mission in the opening rounds thus far of UMP Summer Nationals action continued his romp through the Midwest with yet another night of domination.

Starting off the evening, Babb recorded fast time of the 36 entries on hand at John and Dawn Tindal's PADUCAH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY.

Shannon would go on to claim the trophy dash over Dennis Erb, Terry English and Jeep Van Wormer.

The heat races were won by Kevin Cole over Jimmy Mars, Mark Voigt and Michael Steele, Wendell Wallace over Wes Steidinger, Brian Shirley and Phil Walker, Billy Drake over Kevin Weaver, Tait Davenport and Bart Richardson.

Consi action was topped by Billy James over Scott James, Joe Morris and Jim Shereck and Darren Miller over Todd Hull, Randy Korte and Joe Ramey.

Randy Korte took the UMP provisional to start the 40 lap A-main event.

Feature action was a fast pace as Babb jumped to the front and never looked back bringing Rodney Melvin, Randy Sellars, Erb, Drake, Mars, Van Wormer, Wes Steidinger, Mark Voigt and Wendell Wallace to the stripe behind him at the checkers.

Babb was driving a C.J. Rayburn chassis powered by JAY DICKENS with sponsorship from CAR CITY, G&C Enterprises, PRC, Watters Autoland, J&J Steel, Platinum Motors & RV, ALLSTAR Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Triple B Outfitters, Wick Racing, Hoosier by Smash, Indy Screen Print, Petersen Systems, Weld Wheels, IMPACT Safety Equipment, Dyers Rods, Bert Transmission, Sweet Manufacturing and Petroff Towing.

Feature Finish: 40 Lap A-Main
1. Babb
2. Melvin
3. Sellars
4. Erb
5. Drake
6. Mars
7. Van Wormer
8. Steidinger
9. Voigt
10. Wallace
11. Richardson
12. Weaver
13. Steele
14. English
15. Miller
16. Korte
17. Cole
18. Shirley
19. Davenport
20. Billy James
21. Morris
22. Walker

Tonight the UMP contingent will travel to William and Tammy Scogin's CLARKSVILLE SPEEDWAY for another grueiling grind of 40 laps of A-Main action on the ultra fast clay oval.

Current UMP 2005 UMP Summer Nationals Points
After completion of Paducah
  1. Shannon Babb 284 3 Wins
  2. Dennis Erb 231 1 Win
  3. Darren Miller 201
  4. Jimmy Mars 192
  5. Billy Drake 190
  6. Kevin Weaver 173
  7. Terry English 165
      Rodney Melvin 165
  9. Jeep Van Wormer 137
10. Brian Shirley 120
11. Randy Korte 116
12. Mark Voigt 101
13. Wes Steidinger 95
14. Patrick Sheltra 83
15. Billy Moyer 80
16. Billy Faust 75
17. Ryan Dauber 74
18. Frank Heckenast, Jr. 66
19. Chad Zobrist 63
20. Duane Chamberlain 62

thanks to racingcorner.com
UMP Late Model Time Trials
# Name  Time Time
 55 Jeep Van Wormer 16.132     15.714
33S Michael Steele 17.552     16.760
81C Kevin Cole 16.055 16.125
3S Brian Shirley 16.328 16.252
32D Darren Miller 16.253    
18 Shannon Babb 15.383 15.287
99 Frank Heckenast 16.385 16.594
6 Tait Davenport 16.132 16.960
3 Randy Sellars 17.161 16.405
1 Wes Steidinger 16.332 16.115
10 Jay Brinkley 16.797 16.960
12 Jordan Bland 16.786 16.852
5E Michael England 17.108 16.815
83 Scott James 16.049 16.013
9 Billy Drake 16.054 15.777
28M Jimmy Mars 16.334 16.324
30 Mark Voigt 16.329 16.146
23 Patrick Sheltra 16.772 16.837
12 Jeff Glisson 17.096  
7 Jim Shereck 17.330 16.927
56 Rohn Moon 17.723 16.997
B12 Kevin Weaver 16.072 16.019
99 Todd Hall   16.652 16.697
96 Terry English 16.115 15.945
88 Wendall Wallace 16.087 15.910
27 Rodney Melvin 16.229 15.990
00 Randy Korte 17.127 16.552
8 Phil Walker 16.764 16.694
81 Joe Morris       16.956 16.871
99 Dylan Thompson 17.076 17.754
10 James Burrell 17.510 17.625
5JR Billy James 16.621 16.484
1 Bart Richardson 16.732 17.458
28 Dennis Erb 16.769 16.574
33 Randall Sweeney 15.995 16.077
2 Joe Ramey 17.180 16.840

sorry, looks like some track PR folks don't want results to get out....two days in a row

June 27....Godfrey, IL....$6,000

thanks to Jeffrey Bayless
 

June 26....Tri-State, Haubstadt, IN ....$6,000

thanks to SMASH

Rodney Melvin became the third winner in just the first three nights of UMP Summer National action at Tom and Loris Helfrich's class track TRI-STATE Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana.

How fitting that the reigning UMP National Champion lay claim to victory lane at the track located just miles away from where UMP founder Bob Memmer was laid to rest last year during the Summer Nationals.

Melvin would run in the runner up position in the early stages of the event behind early leader Terry English. On lap 18, Shannon Babb worked past both Melvin and English to take over the point and Melvin followed suit relegating English to third place. Melvin would stay on Babb's back bumper until lap 29 when Babb put 3 cars a lap in arrears and Mevin was trapped behind the lapped traffic.

On lap 31 the caution flew as Babb rolled to a stop off of turn 2 with a broken driveshaft. This turned the lead over to Melvin who led the remaining 9 circuits unchallenged.

Melvin drives a Runion Engine powered C.J. Rayburn Chassis under the watchful eye of Bob Melvin the Crew Chief and car owners Rick and Beverly Heck. The car is sponsored by Soapy Joe's, Exit 83 CB Shop, Rick's Towing, www.STLRACING.com, Melvin Collision and Repair, Cingular of Mt. Vernon and Banshee Graphics.

Darren Miller began the evening by recording fast time with a lap of 13.462 of the 37 cars on hand.

The trophy dash was topped by Billy Drake over English, Miller, Melvin, Dennis Erb, Babb, Chad Zobrist, Kevin Weaver and Clay Baumann.

The first heat was won by Zobrist over Brian Shirley, Don O'Neal, Jay Brinkley, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Rohn Moon, Michael English and Patrick Sheltra.

Second heat honors went to Weaver over Jimmy Mars, Mark Faust, Duane Chamberlain and Jeff Sloan.

The third and final heat was captured by Billy Faust over Randy Korte, Steve Karnes, Jeep Van Wormer, Mark Voigt, Tim Prince, Ron Sensel and Darrel Bex.

The consi races were won by Voigt and Prince. Patrick Sheltra was added to the field as the UMP provisional to complete the A-Main roster.

Feature Finish: 40 Lap A-Main
1. Rodney Melvin
2. Billy Drake
3. Darren Miller
4. Don O'Neal
5. Chad Zobrist
6. Jimmy Mars
7. Terry English
8. Dennis Erb, Jr.
9. Mark Faust
10. Jeep Van Wormer
11. Mark Voigt
12. Kevin Weaver
13. Jay Brinkley
14. Tim Prince
15. Randy Korte
16. Shannon Babb
17. Billy Faust
18. Steve Karnes
19. Patrick Sheltra
20. Brian Shirley
21. Duane Chamberlain

June 25....KAMP, Boswell, IN....$10,000

thanks to SMASH

Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Illinois showed his muscle tonight as 44 cars invaded the ultra-fast oval of Bob and Gayle Kamp as the UMP Summer Nationals rolled into the KAMP Motor Speedway for Round #2 of the 2005 marathon tour.

Erb took the lead at the green from the outside front row and was followed by Babb, Moyer, English, Drake, Mars and Weaver in the early laps. While Erb took to the high side and built momentum, Babb would make several challenges to Erb over the 40 laps and closed in on the last few laps to mount a serious threat. With the momentum Erb had on the high side, Babb's attempts in the closing laps were thwarted and Erb would take the checkers ahead of Babb, Moyer, English, Weaver, Mars, Drake, Miller, Van Wormer and Feger at the stripe.

Erb earned $10,000.00 for his efforts behind the wheel of the Petroff Towing, BK Sportswear, Hoosier Racing Tire, Reaber Transport. Malcuit powered C.J. Rayburn chassis #28.

Shannon Babb, last nights winner at the Crown Point Speedway began the evening by posting the fastest lap with a time of 13.162 of the entries on hand.

Babb would go on to claim the dash ahead of Erb, Terry English, Billy Moyer, Roger Long, Billy Drake, Kevin Weaver, Michael Bradley and Rodney Melvin who lost a powerplant in the event and was a DNF.

The first heat was won by Weaver over Jeep Van Wormer, Ryan Dauber, Duane Chamberlain, Ted Loomis, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Mark Weisnicht, Elvin Hershberger, Corey Rolfe and Turk Letizia.

Second heat honors fell upon Jimmy Mars over Michael Bradley, Patrick Sheltra, Randy Korte, Chuck Haga, Dick Potts, John Mason, Kyle Roderick, Brian Shirley and Bill Workmas, Sr.

The third heat was topped by Jason Feger over Darren Miller, Bret Sievert, Rob Starkey, Mark Voigt, Rohn Moon, Tim Prince and Bill Workman, Jr.

The fourth and final heat was won by Dan Welden over Sean Negangard, Zach Carney, Jim Laws, Wes Steidinger, Jordan Bland, Josh Ferguson, Robert Pohlman and Jim Letizia.

The consis were won by Duane Chamberlain and Randy Korte. Wes Steidinger was added to the field as the UMP Summer Nationals provisional and Loomis and Haga were added as track provisionals.

Feature Finish: 40 Laps

1. Dennis Erb
2. Shannon Babb
3. Billy Moyer
4. Terry English
5. Kevin Weaver
6. Jimmy Mars
7. Billy Drake
8. Darren Miller
9. Jeep Van Wormer
10. Jason Feger
11. Randy Korte
12. Shawn Negangard
13. Wes Steidinger
14. Ryan Dauber
15. Duane Chamberlain
16. Dan Walden
17. Patrick Sheltra
18. Roger Long DNF
19. Michael Bradley DNF
20. Zach Carney DNF
21. Chuck Haga DNF
22. Bret Sievert DNF
23. Ted Loomis DNF

thanks to Jeffrey Bayless

Jeffrey A. Bayless

  Boswell, IN (June 25)  The second round of DIRT Motorsports' UMP Summer Nationals rolled into the 3/8ths mile red clay covered speed plant known as Kamp Motor Speedway Saturday night with 44 of the Midwest's finest on hand to compete for the $10,000 top prize.  A late afternoon shower delayed the start of the program, but once under way the packed house was treated to a top notch program.  When the checkers had flown it was Carpentersville, IL native, Dennis Erb Jr. driving his Malcuit powered CJ Rayburn Chassis Petroff Towing, BK Sportswear, Hoosier Racing Tire, and Reaber Transport sponsored race car to victory lane.

     The dash for the pole saw Shannon Babb take the checkers ahead of Dennis Erb Jr., Terry English, Billy Moyer, Roger Long, and Billy Drake.  Those 6 drivers would make up the first three rows of the main event.  Four heats then would transfer 3 each to the feature with everyone else going to 1 of two concis which would transfer 1 each.  In the first heat Kevin Weaver powered away to the victory ahead of Jeep VanWormer, Ryan Dauber, and Duane Chamberlain.  The second heat saw Jimmy Mars take an impressive win over Michael Bradley, Patrick Sheltra, and Randy Korte.  In the third heat Jason Feger would hold Darren Miller at bay to claim the checkers with Brett Seivert and Rob Starkey coming home behind them.  The fourth and final heat saw local hot shoe, Dan Walden, claim the victory ahead of Shawn Negengard, Zach Carney, and Jim Laws.  The first conci would see pole sitter Duane Chamberlain storm away to the victory followed by Frank Heckenast Jr., and Ted Loomis.  In the second conci Jim Laws would hold Randy Korte at bay for 11 laps only to see the wily veteran slip by on the final circuit to claim the victory.  Brian Shirley came home 3rd after starting 11th in this conci.  Ted Loomis and Chuck Haga were added to the field as the track provisionals with Wes Steidinger getting the Series provisional to complete the 23 car field.

     The fireworks lighting up the sky in the third turn before the start of the main event served as a precursor to what the fans had in store for them.  Erb would edge out Babb down the back stretch to lead the first lap with Moyer, English, and Drake in tow.  Erb, riding the rim, powered away to an 8 car length lead and was approaching the back markers on the 8th circuit when his lead evaporated with Ted Loomis finding the turn three wall to bring out the races first caution.  On the restart Babb would dive under Erb to challenge for the lead, but Erb would have none of it as he powered away down the back stretch as Weaver used the restart to bound from his 8th position to challenge Drake for 5th.  Erb would once again cruise to a comfortable lead, having a 10 car length lead at the half way point as Babb and Moyer were falling further behind entangled in slower traffic.  This slower traffic would result in the next caution as Babb, being harassed by Moyer and seeing Erb's bumper growing smaller in the distance, would grow impatient and nudge his way through the pack of slower cars sending Haga spinning in turn 1 on the 21st circuit collecting the machines of  Carney and Bradley in the process.  When the action resumed Erb would not return to his comfortable lead as Babb would remain a thorn in his side the remainder of the way.  Babb would constantly dive under Erb through the turns but Erb would use the momentum of the high side to power back to the front down the straights.  The battle began to escalate with 10 laps to go as Moyer was now in contact with the lead duo who were dicing it up in lapped traffic putting on a supreme show for the fans.  Erb would clear the lapped traffic first and would establish a 2 car length lead but had it all erased when Long stalled in turn three 5 laps from the finish setting up a 5 lap dash paying 10 grand to the winner.  Moyer would challenge Babb on the restart allowing Erb some breathing room.  But that room for error quickly dissipated as Babb quickly shook off the challenge from Moyer and reeled in Erb again.  As the leaders took the white flag the crowd came to their feet as Babb would take one last shot at overtaking the race long leader.  Babb dove under Erb heading into the first set of turns and the duo would drag race down the back stretch entering turn three neck and neck.  Exiting turn 4, Erb would edge ahead and cross the stripe one half of a car ahead of Babb to claim his first career Summer National win.  Moyer, English, Weaver, Mars, Drake, Miller, VanWormer, and Feger would comprise the rest of the top 10 finishers.  Exiting his car in victory raising his hands in the air in celebration a jubilant Erb proclaimed "I had one of the best following me there.  I was just trying to hold my own.  I just tried to stay smooth and hoped everything worked out."  Work out it did, as Erb would leave the facility $10,000 to the better than when he had entered.

     The series now heads south down Highway 41 for round three of the traveling marathon as Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN will host the Sunday night event paying $6000 to the winner.

Notes

UMP LATE MODELS

Fast Time:  18 Shannon Babb 13.162

Dash (9 laps 6 Transfer)

3. 96 Terry English (3)
4. 21 Billy Moyer (5)
5. 36 Roger Long (4)
6. 9 Billy Drake (6)
7. B12 Kevin Weaver (7)
8. 7M Michael Bradley (8)
9. 27 Rodney Melvin (9) DNF

June 24....Crown Point, IN....$10,000

thanks to Marcus Mackey....click here for pictures

thanks to Jeffrey Bayless
 

Jeffrey A. Bayless

  Crown Point, IN (June 24)  The 2005 version of the UMP Summer Nationals presented by DIRT Motorsports got under way at Crown Point Speedway in Crown Point, IN with a very healthy contingent of 49 competitors signed in to try their hand at the $10,000 top prize with several of the competitors also thinking big picture and the $30,000 top prize for who ever can come out on top in the grueling 29 races in 30 days trek across the Midwest.  Moweaqua, IL native, The Moweaqua Missile, Shannon Babb, got a head start on the competition by bagging the first 40 lap event of the campaign in his Rayburn Chassis with Jay Dickens power sponsored by J&J Steel, Car City, G&C Enterprises, Platinum Motors, Watters Autoland, and Petroff Towing.

     The UMP Summer National format starts with a 9 car 9 lap dash comprised of the top 6 qualifiers starting in random order 1 through 6 and an UMP National points provisional, track provisional, and Summer National provisional making up the spots 7 through 9.  The top 6 finishers start in the first 6 positions in the feature the way they finish the dash.  On this evening, Ryan Dauber utilized his pole position in the dash to win the pole for the feature as Jimmy Mars held off the fast qualifier Shannon Babb for the runner up spot.  Billy Moyer, Rodney Melvin, and John Gill also found their way to the feature through the dash.  In the first heat Randy Korte stormed to the early lead and held off several determined challenges from Dennis Erb to earn the victory with the track point leader, Brett Seivert, beating Ted Loomis for the 3rd and final transfer spot to the feature.  Kevin Weaver embarrassed the field in the second heat, winning by a straight-away with Jeep VanWormer coming from his 5th starting spot to grab the runner-up position.  Duane Chamberlain transferred through the heat as well as Guy Volk finished one spot out of the feature.  Wes Steidinger won the third heat coming home ahead of 7th starting Mark Voight, 9th starting Joe McGrath, and John Mason.  Brian Shirley beat Darren Miller to the stripe in the 4th and final heat with Billy Drake and Jason Feger coming home behind them.  Two concis would transfer 1 each to the feature and the first one would see some high attrition as pole sitter Ted Loomis spun exiting turn 2 on the initial start collecting up over half the field and taking out 4 of the top 5 starters.  When it was all said and done Eddie Leviner would transfer to the feature over Ken Widdes and John Mason who came from the rear after being involved in the first lap pile-up.  In the second conic, Jason Feger barely held off local racer, Randy Woodling, to earn the final transfer spot with young gun Frank Heckenast Jr. coming home third.     Terry English would earn the sole Summer National provisional to complete the 21 car field.

     Babb would join the front row tandem of Dauber and Mars to make it a three car battle for the lead into the first set of turns with Mars taking the point by a nose at the stripe over Babb as Dauber began to fade back into the pack.  The first quarter of the race would see Babb trying to wrestle the lead away from Mars as Mars would use the momentum of the high side to edge ahead by his nose piece at the stripe.  But as the lead battle began to approach traffic, Babb took the point on the 11th circuit and held off several counter attacks from Mars before beginning to put real estate between himself and the pack as Mars began slipping backwards.  At the half way point Babb was enjoying a comfortable lead with Melvin,  hard charging Korte, Mars, Weaver, and Moyer all entangled in a free for all behind him.  However, Melvin's good run came to an end one lap later as he spun to a stop in turn 3 brining out the races first caution.  Anticipation began to mount in the stands with the caution erasing Babb's sizeable lead and putting Korte on his tail.  Korte who had been coming forward at a rapid clip was now staged to test the where-with-all of Babb as he would restart on his bumper and have a shot at the leader.  But Moyer used the restart to catapult forward as he stormed up into contention for the runner-up spot at the drop of the green flag, only to see the restart negated when Korte's masterful run would end when he found himself entertaining the turn three wall after getting into the marbles at the top of the track heading into the turn.  The next restart went much better as Weaver pounced on Mars to take the runner-up position and to start an assault on the leader as Dauber, Moyer, and Mars went three wide to attempt to settle the dispute for third.  Weaver using the extreme low groove would pull ahead of Babb through the turns for several laps but could not complete the pass as Babb and the momentum of the high side would maintain the lead.  As the race roared into the final stretch, Babb had worked himself back into a solid lead as Weaver and Dauber were in  heated exchange for the bride's maid position.  As the race roared to a close Babb would win his 21st Summer National event with Weaver holding of Dauber for second.  Miller, Steidinger, Erb, Mars, Shirley, Moyer, and VanWormer would round out the top 10. 

     DIRT Motorsports' UMP Summer Nationals heads to Kamp Motor Speedway, a 3/8ths mile high banked speedplant outside of Boswell, IN for another $10,000 to win event in night two of the month long series.

NOTES

UMP LATE MODELS

Fast Time:  18 Shannon Babb 12.77

Dash (9 laps top 6 to A Main)

2. 28 Jimmy Mars (3)

4. 21 Billy Moyer (6)

6. 75 John Gill (5)

8. V77 Guy Volk (8)

1. 00 Randy Korte (2)

3. 5 Brett Seivert (3)

5. 56 Rohn Moon (4)

7. 37 Ken Widdes (9)

9. D7 Jim Letizia (11)

11. 51J Jason Beier (7)

Heat 2

2. 55 Jeep VanWormer (5)

4. V77 Guy Volk (1)

6. 3W Randy Woodling (6)

8. 55 Jim Loomis Jr. (9)

10. 5 Jason Widdes (8)

1. 1S Wes Steidinger (2)

3. 74 Joe McGrath (9)

5. 25 Kyle Roderick (8)

7. 17 Jerry Wald (10)

9. 23 Patrick Sheltra (4) DNF

11. 26 Dan Sturgeon (6)

Heat 4

2. 32D Darrin Miller (2)

4. 25 Jason Feger (4)

6. 19 Garret Slager (5)

8. 91 Bill Workman (9)

10. P1 Tim Prince (7) DNF

Conci 1 (12 laps Winner transfer)

2. 37 Widdes (7)

4. D1 Letizia (13)

6. 53 Anderson (9)

8. 88 Snyder (10)

10. 56 Moon (3)

12. 99 Heckenast (5)

1. 25 Feger (2)

3. 99Jr Heckenast (4)

5. P1 Prince (13)

7. 18W Weisnicht (7)

9. 55 Loomis (14)

11. 5 Widdes (10)

13. 13 Starks (12)

1. 18 Babb (3)

3. 64 Dauber (1)

5. 1S Steidinger (9)

7. 28 Mars (2)

9. 21 Moyer (4)

11. 74 McGrath (17) -2 laps

13. 1 Chamberlain (16)

15. 00 Korte (7)

17. 30 Voight (13)

19. 21 Leviner (19)

21. 75 Gill (6)

1-10:  28 Mars

Cautions:  2

Unofficial Point Standings After 1 Event

2. Kevin Weaver 57
3. Ryan Dauber 54
4. Darren Miller 46
5. Wes Steidinger 44
6t. Dennis Erb 38
6t. Jimmy Mars 38
8. Brian Shirley 33
9. Billy Moyer 28
10. Jeep Van Wormer 26
11t. Randy Korte 22
11t. Eddie Leviner 22
13. Mark Voigt 21
14t. Joe McGragh 20
14t. Bret Sievert 20
14t. Duane Chamberlain 20
14t. Billy Drake 20
18t. Jason Feger 18
18t. Rodney Melvin 18
18t. Terry English 18
18t. John Gill 18

thanks to SMASH

With blazing hot temperatures nearing the 100 degree mark, the racing was just as hot for the opener of the 2005 edition of the UMP Summer Nationals presented by DIRT Motorsports. 49 cars visited the O'Connor families CROWN POINT SPEEDWAY in Crown Point, Indiana.

Shannon Babb of Mowequa, Illinois led the pack in qualifying with a lap of 12.77, just short of his track record that he holds at the northwestern Indiana speedplant.

Dash action would see the qualifying field shuffled a bit after the redraw for starting positions. Ryan Dauber of Tonica, Illinois showed immense strength as he took the field to the checkers being followed by Jimmy Mars, Babb, Billy Moyer, Rodney Melvin, John Gill, Dennis Erb, Jr., Guy Volk and Terry English who lost a powerplant in the event.

The first heat was won by Randy Korte over Erb, Jr. , Brett Sievert, Ted Loomis, Rohn Moon and Frank Heckenast, Sr.

Second heat honors went to Kevin Weaver ahead of Jeep Van Wormer, Duane Chamberlain and George Sheffler.

The third heat was won by Wes Steidinger over Mark Voigt, Joe McGragh, John Mason, Kyle Roderick and Eddie Leviner.

The final heat was topped by Brian Shirley over Darren Miller, Billy Drake, Jason Feger, Frank Heckenast, Jr. and Garret Slager.

The consi races were action packed as the drivers were vying for the final transfer spots to the 40 lap A-Main event with only the winner of each consi transferring to the finale. Winners were Eddie Leviner and Jason Feger.

Terry English was added to the A-Main as a Summer Nationals provisional, a new feature that has been added for this years running of the Summer Nationals events and will be enacted each night of the grueling marathon.

When the green flag felll over the field in the 40 lap A-Main it was Jimmy Mars jumping to the point with Babb, Melvin, Moyer and Dauber in hot persuit. As Mars utillized the top of the race track, Babb chose to stay on the hub and work to within inches of Mars, but being unable to pass Mars as the Iceman used his momentum on the top to lead the first 10 markers.

On lap 11 Babb worked past Mars and never looked back as he led the remaining circuits. Behind Babb, there was plenty of action as second through sixth swapped positions back and forth.

On lap 21 Melvin would suffer a DNF as his throttle pedal fell off and he came to a stop in turns 3 and 4.

On the restart with Korte taking over the runner up position, as the field worked the backstretch, Korte jumped the cushion on the high side and ended his night as he nearly rolled his car.

The restart would see Weaver in the runner up position with Dauber, Miller, Mars, Moyer, Steidinger, Erb and Shirley in persuit.

When the checker was displayed it was Babb, Weaver, Dauber, Miller, Steidinger, Erb, Mars, Shirley and Moyer followed by Van Wormer who was 1 lap down and McGragh who was 2 laps in arrears.

Babb was driving one of his favorite cars dubbed "FULL PULL" which is a Rayburn Chassis with Jay Dickens power and is sponsored by CAR CITY, Watters Autoland, J&J Steel, Hoosier by Smash, Petroff Towing, ALLSTAR Performance, Petersen Systems, Weld Wheels, Triple B Outfitters, Outlawd Motorsports, Wick Performance and PRC.


Feature Finish: 40 Laps
 
  1. Shannon Babb $10,000.00
  2. Kevin Weaver
  3. Ryan Dauber
  4. Darren Miller
  5. Wes Steidinger
  6. Dennis Erb, Jr.
  7. Jimmy Mars
  8. Brian Shirley
  9. Billy Moyer
10. Jeep Van Wormer 1 Lap Down
11. Joe McGragh 2 Laps Down
12. Bret Sievert DNF
13. Duane Chamberlain
14. Jason Feger
15. Randy Korte
16. Rodney Melvin
17. Mark Voigt
18. Billy Drake
19. Eddie LeViner
20. Terry English
21. John Gill

After completion of the first round of the 2005 UMP Summer Nationals the current points (UNOFFICIAL) are as follows:

1. Shannon Babb 66 Points
2. Kevin Weaver 57
3. Ryan Dauber 54
4. Darren Miller 46
5. Wes Steidinger 44
6. Dennis Erb 38
     Jimmy Mars 38
8. Brian Shirley 33
9. Billy Moyer 28
10. Jeep Van Wormer 26
11. Randy Korte 22
      Eddie Leviner 22
13. Mark Voigt 21
14. Joe McGragh 20
     Bret Sievert 20
     Duane Chamberlain 20
     Billy Drake 20
18. Jason Feger 18
     Rodney Melvin 18
     Terry English 18
     John Gill 18