2007danville.htm

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Thanks to Richard Fitzgerald for the press releases
thanks to Chris Nunn for the occasional results

Illinois is gearing up for a big weekend of Ump Modified Racing In Illinois.

This weekend will draw some of the hottest race teams in the country for Memorial Day weekend specials at Kankakee, Charleston and Vermilion County Speedway.

The weekend kicks off May 25^th with $5000.00 to win and Kankakee Motor Speedway, The Dan Hamstra 50. On September 21^st 2006 was seriously injured in a car accident. Although Dan was unable to compete the rest of the season, Dan’s 20 feature wins allowed him to be crowned 2006 UMP National Champion. The Dan Hamstra 50 recognizes one of the nicest guys in racing and his dedication to the sport.

Saturday May 26^th Charleston Speedway will pay $1000.00 to win for UMP Modifieds as well as a bonus of $100.00 for entry into Sundays David Richardson Memorial.

Sunday May 26^th will find the best UMP Modified Teams competing for $5000.00 to win in the 14^th annual David Richardson Memorial. This race recognizes former VCS Promoter Phil Richardson’s nephew David and his battle with cancer.

For more information

Kankakee Motor Speedway

Promoter: Sherri Hechenast
815-929-9105 track hotline

www.kankakeemotorspeedway.net

Email [email protected]

Charleston Speedway

Promoter Darrell Phipps 217-348-0432

Email [email protected]

Vermilion County Speedway

Promoters BILL & JEAN NELSON

217-446-5002 or 217- 443-6588

www.vermilioncountyspeedway.org

Over the years the following states have been represented: IL, IN, OH, KY, WI, TN, MN, PN, AR, TX, SC, NE, MO

A Feature Payout

1. $5000.00 2. $2000.00 3. $1500.00 4. $1000.00 5. $750.00

6. $700.00 7. $650.00 8. $600.00 9. $550.00 10-24 $500.00 

B Feature Payout

1. $750.00 2. $400.00 3. $300.00 4. $250.00 5. $225.00

6. $200.00 7. $175.00 8. $150.00 9. $125 10-20 $100.00 

C feature Payout

1. $500.00 2. $300.00 3. $200.00 4. $180.00 5. $160.00

6. $140.00 7. $120.00 8. $100.00 9. $80 10-20 $75.00

 Ticket Information:

Grandstand, Adult $15.00

Grandstand, Children under 12 $5.00

Pit Passes $30.00 

VETERANS GET IN FREE!

Any veteran with his DD214 or any active Servicemen or Women with military ID

Will get in free! It’s our way of saying thank you for protecting our country!

Directions

VCS is located five miles west of Danville Illinois just of state Rt. 150 Interstate 1-

74 exit 210 (Martin Luther King Drive) then west on Rt. 150.Look for signs on the

Right approximately .5 miles from the I-74 interchange. 

Camping Available

No reservations needed: Free to camp (no power) Electric hookups available

$15.00 dollar per night charge.

VERMILION COUNTY SPEEDWAY READIES FOR 14th DAVID RICHARDSON MEMORIAL
 
Danville, IL – Officials at the Vermilion County Speedway are gearing up for
the biggest day of racing of the 2007 season. The 14th Annual “David
Richardson Memorial” will be held on Sunday night, May 27th. The David
Richardson Memorial event is a long standing tribute to the nephew of former
VCS promoter Phil Richardson. David lost a hard fought battle with cancer,
leading to the race bearing his namesake. UMP Modified drivers from around
the Midwest would flock to the Vermilion County Speedway to compete for the
title of “David Richarson Memorial” Champion. In 2001 an amazing 143 UMP
Modifieds signed in to battle for the crown.
 
Reading through the past results of the David Richardson Memorial, you
notice a trend, only ONE repeat winner in 13 runnings of the event. Denny
Schwartz of Ashmore, IL accomplished that feat by winning first in 2001, and
then backing it up in 2005 with another victory in the event. Looking at the
history of past winners of the event, it is a venerable who’s who of UMP
Modified racing.
 
The inagural event in 1994 would see Louisville, KY native Butch Shay best a
field of 52 UMP Modifieds en route to claiming the first ever David
Richardson Memorial. In 1995, Scotty Dehm of Chatsworth, IL became the first
Illinois native to visit victory lane in the event. “Slim Fast” Scott Patman
of Vallonia, IN took the hardware back to the Hoosier state in 1996, besting
a field of 47 Modifieds from 5 states. The entries ballooned to 72 in 1997,
and Belleville, IL driver Dean Hoffman prevailed in a rather late ending DRM
event, taking the checkers at nearly 3:30AM on Monday morning over Jeff
Leka. The “Newport Nightmare” Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN claimed the 1998
running of the Richardson Memorial, toppling a field of 96 UMP Modifieds.
Randy Petro of Columbus, IN followed Owens to the checkers. The entries
dropped to 84 in 1999, but the quality of drivers sure didn’t. Kansas, IL
driver Jeff Martin claimed his first Richardson Memorial victory over the
previous winner Owens. The first Richardson Memorial of the new Millennium
would stay in the city of Kansas, IL, as “Topside” Tommy Burnside would beat
Denny Schwartz to the line to pick up the victory. For the first time in the
history of the event, the car count would break the century mark. 106 UMP
Modifieds signed in for the 2000 running. In 2001, Schwartz would move up
one spot from his second place finish of 2000, and claim victory in the
Richardson Memorial. A record car count of 143 UMP Modifieds would enter the
event; the record still stands to this day. Jimmy Owens would finish second
for the second time.  2002 saw the “Clifty Comet” Randle Sweeney of Clifty,
KY visit victory lane for the first time after the top three cars spun while
battling for the lead. 108 UMP Modifieds signed in for the event. 121
entries found their way to VCS in 2003, with Springfield, IL veteran Jim
Leka coming out on top over Denny Schwartz. Jeff Leka of Buffalo, IL
survived an absolute war in the 2004 edition of the DRM. After being rained
out after all preliminary events were completed, the feature event would be
ran before a regular show, on a tacky race track. Eight out of the original
22 starters were running at the finish, six of them on the lead lap. Scott
Bull finished second, coming from 19th. For the first time in the history of
the event, a repeat winner was found in 2005. Denny Schwartz claimed his
second DRM victory over the red hot Chad Kinder. Kinder then improved his
runner up finish in 2006 to a dominating victory in the DRM, besting a
stellar field of 79 UMP Modifieds. Defending UMP National Champion, Dan
Hamstra finished in the runner up spot.
 
The 14th Annual David Richardson Memorial is sure to bring in the best of
the best of UMP Modified racers, as the event will pay a whopping $5,000 to
win, and $500 to start. Didn’t make the main event? Don’t worry, a B-Main
will be held for the top 20 cars that did not make the A feature. The B will
pay $750 to win, and $100 to start. For the first time, a C Feature will be
ran for the next 20 Non qualifiers that did not transfer to the B. The C
feature will pay $500 to win and $75 to start.
 
General Admission to this historic event is ONLY $15 at the front gate. An
additional $15 will be needed for Pit admission. If you are a Veteran with
your DD214, or if you are an active Serviceman, or Servicewoman with a valid
Military ID, you will be admitted FREE. It is our way of showing our
gratitude to everything you do to protect this great country of ours.
 
Gates will open at 3:00PM CST, with the drivers meeting at 5:30 CST. Racing
is scheduled to start at 7:00PM CST.
 
VCS is located five miles west of Danville Illinois just of state Rt. 150
Interstate 1-
74 exit 210 (Martin Luther King Drive) then west on Rt. 150.Look for signs
on the
Right approximately .5 miles from the I-74 interchange.
 
Camping is free at the Vermilion County Speedway, if you wish to have an
electric hookup, there will be a $15 charge per night.
 
For more information, call 217-446-5002 or 217-443-6588 or log on to the
Vermilion County Speedway website at http://www.vermilioncountyspeedway.org.
 
Chris Nunn
Vermilion County Speedway PR

Vermilion County Speedway
Danville, Illinois
Regular Show
May 4, 2007
 
Cloudy skies and impending rain could not stop race drivers and fans alike
from attending Vermilion County Speedway on Friday night. A light drizzle
fell during the Hornet heats, and then subsided a couple of minutes later. A
full program of UMP Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Hornets, Street Stocks, and U.S.
Mod Lites were on the bill.
 
The UMP Street Stock feature would start with Lee J. Hall and Mike Hope Jr.
on the front row. Hall would lead the field into turn number one, with Hope
battling back to the outside going into turn three. Hope would lead the
first lap, followed by Hall, and Jim Ransom. Ransom would move around Hall
for the second spot as they completed lap two. Behind them, Jesse Simmons
moved around Ian Keller for the fourth position, as the top five were
grouped together. On lap seven, Ransom tried a move to the inside on Hope,
but was not able to make the pass as the field took the halfway signal. On
lap ten, Hope made contact with the lapped car of Kyle Taylor, and almost
lost the lead to Ransom. Right after that, Hall blew up on the frontstraight
right in front of Simmons. Simmons then spun on the frontstretch, while Hall
pulled off. This chain of events would put Keller up to the third spot and
Bill Sollers up to the fourth position. On the restart, Hope led the field
to the green flag, only to have the start brought back due to the spun car
of Keller in turn four. With Keller moving to the back, this put Daniel
Foxworthy up to fourth. Hope once again led the field to the restart on lap
12, with Ransom right on his bumper. As the field took the white flag, Hope
would have no challenges in taking the win over Ransom, Sollers, Foxworthy,
and Jay Schleuter rounded out the top five.
 
The 20 lap UMP Modified feature started with Rob Fuqua and Arby Burton on
the front row. Fuqua would dart out to the lead and lead lap number one with
Burton, Chuck Haga, Don Kiger, and Kenny Carmichael in tow. The top five
would spread out as the field completed the third lap. Carmichael would pull
off the speedway on lap five, as Seth Parker moved into the fifth position.
The caution would fly on lap six, as Jeff Leka would pull to a stop on the
outside of turn four. Fuqua would lead the field to the green flag, pulling
out to about a five car advantage ove r the second place car of Burton. As
the field took the halfway signal it was Fuqua, Burton, Haga, Kiger, and
Parker making up the top five. Parker would nab the fourth spot away from
Kiger on lap 13, leaving Kiger to contend with Jammie Wilson. The caution
would fly again on lap 17 as Wilson looped his mount around in turn four.
Danny Schwartz then spun to miss Wilson. As the field took the green on the
restart, Fuqua stretched his lead out to about three car lengths going down
the backstretch over Burton. Fuqua then cruised onto the victory over
Burton, Haga, Parker, and Schwartz rounded out the top five.
 
The Pure Stock feature event saw Tony Tidwell Jr, and Josh Troxtell lead the
field to the green flag. Troxtell would lead the first lap and then had to
contend with Tidwell, as they battled door to door for the lead on lap two.
The caution would fly before the field completed lap two, as Bobby Johnson
and Lance Evans made contact, resulting in Evans looping his mount in turn
one. Troxtell would lead the field to the green on the restart with Tidwell
about three car lengths behind. Behind the lead cars, Evans moved to the
third position, getting around Eric Roberts. Back up front, Troxtell and
Tidwell battled for the lead until Tidwell broke and pulled off the
racetrack. Behind Troxtell, Roberts moved back around Evans for what was now
the second position. After having to go to the back of the field, Johnson
was up to the fifth position with one lap to go. When the checkers flew, it
was Troxtell followed by Evans, Johnson, Tony Mitchell, and Walter Parsons
rounded out the top five after Roberts and Buyno spun coming to the checkers
 
Chris Burton and Joe Reed would lead the Hornet main event to the green
flag, with Burton leading lap one. After two laps, Burton had about a six
car length advantage over Reed and Mike Pollitt. The field began to stretch
out single file as they completed lap four. Behind the leaders, a three way
battle for the fifth spot was raging between Kevin Grant, Kenny Tidwell, and
Jake Honaker. With two laps to go, Honaker took over the fifth position. Up
front, it was all Burton taking the checkers about a half straight ahead of
Reed, Pollitt, Newell, and Honaker rounded out the top five.
 
Larry Drake of Terre Haute, IN made a last lap pass on Hal Orndorff to pick
up the U.S. Mod Lite Feature event.
 
SUMMARY
 
UMP MODIFIEDS (19 ENTRIES)
 
HEAT ONE: Arby Burton, Don Kiger, Jeff Leka, Ryan Cary, Jamey Henson, Tommy
Burnside, Gabe Menser
 
HEAT TWO: Rob Fuqua, Kenny Carmichael, Seth Parker, Rick Hufford, Matt Bex,
Jeff Wellum
 
HEAT THREE: Chuck Haga, Roger Cary, Danny Schwartz, Jammie Wilson, Randy
Shuman, Phil Vansant
 
FEATURE: Rob Fuqua, Arby Burton, Chuck Haga, Seth Parker, Danny Schwartz,
Roger Cary, Don Kiger, Matt Bex, Randy Shuman, Ryan Cary, Gabe Menser, Jeff
Wellum, Jammie Wilson, Jamey Henson, Tommy Burnside, Phil Vansant, Jeff
Leka, Rick Hufford, Kenny Carmichael
 
UMP STREET STOCKS (15 ENTRIES)
 
HEAT ONE: Mike Hope Jr, Jim Ransom, Ian Keller, Bill Sollers, Jason Turner,
Jay Schleuter, Joe Buyno, Tim Heath
 
HEAT TWO: Lee J. Hall, Jesse Simmons, Neil Rollins, Chris Thomas, Daniel
Foxworthy, Scott Tidwell, Ryan Taylor
 
FEATURE: Mike Hope Jr, Jim Ransom, Bill Sollers, Daniel Foxworthy, Jay
Schleuter, Joe Buyno, Ian Keller, Lee J Hall, Jesse Simmons, Ryan Taylor,
Chris Thomas, Jason Turner, Tim Heath,
 
UMP PURE STOCKS (14 ENTRIES)
 
HEAT ONE: Tony Tidwell Jr, Cody Roberts, Bobby Johnson, Lance Evans, Tony
Mitchell, Gordon Parsons Jr, Nick Kuzian
 
HEAT TWO: Josh Troxtell, James Buyno, Bryan Lawson, Danny Cope, Jacob
Johnson, Walter Parsons, Frank Parson
 
FEATURE: Josh Troxtell, Lance Evans, Bobby Johnson, Tony Mitchell, Walter
Parsons, Cody Roberts, Bryan Lawson, Nick Kuzian, James Buyno, Frank Parson,
Jacob Johnson, Tony Tidwell Jr, Danny Cope, Gordon Parsons Jr
 
UMP HORNETS (15 ENTRIES)
 
HEAT ONE: Chris Burton, Kenny Tidwell, Danny Cope, Kevin Grant Sr, Jake
Honaker, Clint Sommer, Monte Reed, Trisha Hafner
 
HEAT TWO: Joe Reed, Mike Pollitt, Mike Cadle, Chris Newell, Blair
Schnitzler, Matthew Morrow, Mike Garland
 
FEATURE: Chris Burton, Joe Reed, Mike Pollitt, Chris Newell, Jake Honaker,
Kenny Tidwell, Kevin Grant Sr, Blair Schnitzler, Matthew Marrow, Trisha
Hafner, Mike Cadle, Danny Cope, Monte Reed

Nascar Stars to race with WolfPack Challenge Series
By:  T. J. Layne

CLAY CITY, IN-The WolfPack Challenge UMP Modified Series has always produced star filled fields with the top UMP Modified racers around, but the quality of the field will be even higher for the third race of the season Sunday, April 22nd at the Vermillion County Speedway in Danville, Illinois as Nascar stars Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader are slated to compete.  Wallace will be in his St. Louis Cardinals sponsored UMP Modified with Schrader in his Red Baron sponsored machine.  

Both Wallace and Schrader have competed with the series before.  The last time Schrader raced with the series at Vermillion County he made the feature event via a last lap pass off of turn four in the second B-Main.  Wallace has raced with the series before at the Terre Haute Action Track, a track where WolfPack Challenge Series director Tim Wolfe has currently taken over as Race Director.

The WolfPack Challenge Series 2007 season will get underway on Friday night, April 20th as the series opens at the Kankakee Speedway in Kankakee, Illinois.  The following night on April 21st the series moves on to the Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, Indiana.  The tripleheader opening weekend will conclude with the “Nascar Night” at Vermillion County Speedway when the best UMP Modified racers take on some of the best from Nascar.  For more information visit the series official website at www.wolfpackracingseries.com.  For more information on the “Nascar Night” races visit www.vermillioncountyspeedway.com.

2007 WolfPack Challenge Series sponsors include UMP DirtCars, Hoosier Tire Midwest, VP Racing Fuels, Durabuilt Racing, C&S,  Springhill Wholesale, Johnson’s Carburetor, Indiana Stone Works, and Chris Pederson Photography.

-Prepared by T. J. Layne Motorsports Marketing, www.laynemarketing.net

By: Richard Fitzgerald 

Sunday April 22, 2007 Vermilion County Speedway honors Sue Voges: Sue has been an Illinois State Trooper for 22 years that has been battling breast cancer for the past eight years. Please help us “Paint  the Stands Pink” for Illinois State Trooper Sue Voges and help support Cancer Research. State Troopers and Sheriff’s deputies, along with VCS Staff and volunteers will be accepting cash donations and selling the Hope-Theme pink T-shirts to benefit the Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Champaign Illinois. The Proceeds will be donated on behalf of Sue Voges.  

Race day activities and television filming begin at 12:00 noon, including live music by “John Truscelli Band” The drivers meeting starts at 5:45 pm and racing begins at 6:00 pm.  

For the upcoming event,  NASCAR’s Ken Schrader will be driving his “Red Baron Pizza UMP Modified” and Kenny Wallace will compete in the ”St. Louis Cardinals” UMP Modified. Filming the action will be the camera crew of “One Good Turn, with Joey T” which will be shooting the footage documenting Sue’s moving story. 

Joey T stated “Racers and racing fans are some of the most giving people in the world and they all come together in times of need, “says Joey T. “Our racing friends know that there is another race on the schedule to attend, the race to find a cure for breast cancer. For Sue Voges, and the thousands of women battling breast cancer, hope is their focus” “We need to find a cure for breast cancer,” He declares. “There will also be a big surprise waiting for their new friend Sue on race day.”

One Good Turn, with Joey T is a new feel good television reality series about the giving side of racing. These Moving Stories show racers and communities joining together to help one of their own. Joey is a former IndyCar Series team owner. The show is produced by Conrad Rickets (Co-Executive Producer of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), Rick Bieber former President of HBO Films, and Host Joey T.

For a preview visit http://www.aimpages.com/ogt/profile.html 

Bill Nelson track promoter for Vermilion County Speedway stated, “I am so proud that VCS was chosen to host this event. You cannot imagine the interest this has generated not just in the local area, but all over the country. So many folks have contacted me to be involved and offer assistance. Even though Wallace and Schrader are very busy this time a year, they didn’t hesitate to be with us when I called them. I am thankful to Joey T and everyone involved for making this happen. I hope to make this an annual event at the racetrack, which helps bring our community together to help others. Nelson also said, People will be impressed with the response from the racing community these are great folks that are always willing to help out. Based on the response, our biggest concern right now is where we will seat all the fans, and find parking in the pits for the race teams that plan to attend. Even if you cannot make the show, please buy a shirt or make a donation to help find a cure for breast cancer.” 

Ticket Information for Sunday April 22:

General admission tickets are $20 and $5 for children 12 and under. 

DIRECTIONS

VCS is located five miles west of Danville Illinois just of state Rt. 150 Interstate 1-74 exit 210 (Martin Luther King Drive) then west on Rt. 150.Look for signs on the right approximately .5 miles from the I-74 interchange.

Camping available

No reservations needed: Free to camp (no power) Electric hookups available $15.00 dollar per night charge. 

For more information call: 217-446-5002 or 217- 443-6588 

Promoters BILL & JEAN NELSON                                www.vermilioncountyspeedway.org

Friday night racing
Gates open at 5:00pm and racing starts at 7:00p.m.

DIRECTIONS

VCS is located five miles west of Danville Illinois just of state Rt. 150 Interstate 1-74 exit 210 (Martin Luther King Drive) then west on Rt. 150

Look for signs on the right approximately .5 miles from the I-74 interchange.

Camping available

No reservations needed: Free to camp (no power) Electric hookups available $15.00 dollar per night charge. 

Promoters BILL & JEAN NELSON            217-446-5002 or 217- 443-6588    www.vermilioncountyspeedway.org

April 13....cancelled due to rain

2007 TENATIVE SCHEDULE      
DATES  ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

"VERMILION COUNTY SPEEDWAY READIES FOR 2007 SEASON"
By: Chris Nunn (Announcer/PR)
 
The Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, IL is getting ready for what is shaping up to be one of, if not the most exciting seasons in track history. Track promoters Bill and Jean Nelson worked diligently over the winter to prepare a blockbuster schedule to entertain the fans of VCS.
 
The 2007 season will start off with a pair of "Test 'N' Tune" sessions on Saturday March 31st, and Sunday April 1st from 1:00PM to 5:00PM both days. This gives race teams a great chance to shake down their cars, whether brand new or the dependable old chassis. VCS will be down the following weekend, but will roar back to life on Friday night, April 13th with the season opener. On tap will be UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Hornets.
 
Vermilion County Speedway will also offer numerous special events throughout the 2007 campaign, with the first being on Sunday night, April 22nd. The Sunoco American Late Model Series will make their first appearance ever at the Vermilion County Speedway, as they take on the Northern AllStar Late Model Series in the Mike Steinwald Memorial. On tap that evening as well will be the ultra-competitive UMP Modified WolfPack Series.
 
The WolfPack series event will also kick off the 2007 "Bell Helmet Shootout" for UMP Modifieds. The "Bell Helmet Shootout" consists of five UMP Modified events throughout the season. Four races will pay $1,000 to win and $125 to start, with the big one being the "David Richardson Memorial" on Sunday May 27th, paying $5,000 to win and $500 to start. The "Bell Helmet Shootout" will have a separate points structure and will award prizes as follows:
 
1st Place- $1,000 and a choice of a new Bell Helmet or racing suit.
 
2nd Place- $500
 
3rd Place- $300
 
4th Place- $250
 
The four $1,000 to win shows are scheduled for April 22nd, July 29th, September 2nd, and a date TBA in September.
 
Coming back for the second year in a row will be the "Bell Helmet Shootout" for Non Winged Sprint Cars, with events scheduled on May 11th, June 15th, July 13th, August 17th, and a date TBA in September. Payouts for races and points will be released at a later date.
 
More notes of interest on the 2007 schedule include the Tri Track Challenge on Sunday June 3rd paying $5,000 to win for UMP Late Models. The UMP Summernationals on Sunday July 1st. The Marcus Phelps Memorial for UMP Street Stocks on Friday July 6th, A UMP Late Model and Modified "Bell Helmet Shootout" event on Sunday July 29th, The "Dave Evans Memorial" Pure Stock Special on Friday August 3rd. The "Larry Cannon Memorial" Non Winged Sprint Car Bell Helmet Shootout Championship Event on Friday August 17th, and the "Larry Dines Memorial" featuring the Northern AllStar Late Models and UMP Modified WolfPack Series.
 
Something new for the 2007 Season will be the addition of the UMP Street Stock, UMP Pure Stock, and UMP Hornet FALL NATIONALS in September. It will be a gathering of all three of the UMP divisions along with a "Race Feast" that will also include Sprint Cars, UMP Modifieds, and much more. Details on this event will be forthcoming.
 
So there you have it, a look at the 2007 season at Vermilion County Speedway. It is shaping up to be a monumental season, and you need to be there to witness it happen live.
 
Vermilion County Speedway is located 5 miles west of Danville, IL just off of State Route 150. Interstate 74 Exit #210 (Martin Luther King Drive) then west on Rt. 150. Look for the signs on the right, approxamately .5 miles at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds.
 
You can contact track promoter Bill Nelson one of three ways.
Track Office: (217) 443-6588
Promoter's Phone: (217) 446-5002
Promoter's Cell: (217) 202-5918
 
Or Vermilion County Speedway Announcer/PR Director Chris Nunn at [email protected]