Jacksonville, Ill. (July 20) – Twenty-two Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders returned to the Morgan County Speedway to complete the

May 18 event and start from scratch for rounds 11 and 12 on the 2007 trail. At the end of the night, one of Jacksonville’s favorite

sons and the new series points leader each had $1,000 pay stubs.

Kaley Gharst led the opening lap of the make-up main before Morgan County Speedway veteran Jerrod Hull assumed command and

looked to be well on his way to victory. Four cautions slowed the pace and on each restart, four-time track champion Robbie

Standridge slowly began to make his presence known at the front. With traffic looming, Standridge moved to the heavy berm and

beat Hull to the white flag. The partisan crowd showed their approval as Standridge crossed first and earned his first career Ideal

Ready Mix Sprint Invaders victory.

“Jerrod was a lot faster than I was,” said the driver of the Stewart’s Auto Body / Carpenter’s Local 16 / Ley Metals / O’Donley /

Maxim. “ I started sticking my nose underneath him and he thought I was getting a hold of something down there. He came down

and it slowed him down. I got him in lapped traffic. He ran up on that lapped car on the bottom and I went around him in the middle.”

“That was a good race,” said the runner-up Hull of his battle with Standridge. “ It was rough...wow…hard to hang on. We really didn’t

have any control over it. We got in lapped traffic and he [Standridge] got around us.”

“We had the car a little too tight for the first one,” said third-place finisher Gharst. “We misjudged the track. We got out front early and

jumped the cushion. The first lap it was pretty good and then…we about stuck it in the wall but got to finish third.” Josh

Schneiderman, Korey Weyant, Bobby Mincer, Joey Moughan, Matt Harms, Matt Rogerson, and Jordan Goldesberry rounded out the

top ten.

In the nightcap, Standridge made a run at the clean sweep as he battled Joey Moughan throughout the middle stages of the 25-

lapper. Moughan, another former Jacksonville regular, traded the lead with Ryan Jamison before encountering Standridge. As the

duo battled side-by-side on lap 18, it was Gharst who stole the show and blasted around both Moughan and Standridge on the back

straightaway.

Helmets / Wesmar / Maxim. “ We were patiently running the bottom while everyone else was slamming the top. I guess they got wore

out there or something and they moved down to about the middle of the track. Then we went to the top and it worked out perfect for

us.” Moughan earned his best career Invaders finish with the runner-up spot ahead of Standridge.

“Joey [Moughan] got to running the middle there,” said Standridge of the waning laps. “We stayed pretty steady there for about four

or five laps and that gave Gharst the outside. He shot by us like we were sitting still. He [Gharst] did a hell of a job.” Chris Urish

wound up fourth ahead of Matt Sutton. Weyant, Hull, Schulz, Jamison, and Goldesberry completed the top ten.

Next up for the Invaders is the non-points Brodix Tournament of Champions before heading back to Donnellson for a Saturday,

August 18 event at Lee County Speedway.

Results: Car Count – 29 (May 18); Cautions – 4 – L5, 8, 14, 16; Leaders – Gharst 1, Hull 2-23, Standridge 24-25; Laps Led – Hull 22,

Standridge 2, Gharst 1; Highest Finishing Rookie – Jordan Goldesberry (10th)

Contingency: KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Matt Sutton (Started 20th, Finished 12th); Rod End Supply – Josh

Schneiderman; Rod End Supply – John Schulz; Saldana Racing Product – Matt Sutton; Ultra Shield – Bart Andrews; Diversified

Machine – Brian Stansberry; MPD – Matt Harms; The Brake Man – Bobby Mincer; M&W Aluminum Products – Matt Rogerson

(From May 18): Staats Awards Heat Race #1 -- 1. 12 Jerrod Hull, Sikeston, MO; 2. 49 Josh Schneiderman, W. Burlington, IA; 3. 22X

Robbie Standridge, Springfield; 4. 2M Joey Moughan, Springfield; 5. 29 Matt Rogerson, Burlington, IA; 6. 53H Matt Harms,

Chillicothe; 7. 14P Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA; 8. 99 Jimmy Davies, Oquawka; 9. 86 Josh Fisher, Smithton, MO; 10. 65 Jordan

Goldesberry, Springfield

Budweiser Heat Race #2 -- 1. 3* Kaley Gharst, Decatur; 2. 41 Tiffany Wyzard, Williamsville; 3. 2 John Schulz, W. Burlington, IA; 4.

15 Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA; 5. 83 Chris Urish, Elkhart; 6. 9X Bart Andrews, Muscatine, IA; 7. 35 Brian Hetrick, Stronghurst, IL; 8.

0 Nick Guernsey, Burlington, IA; 9. 3 Matt Sutton, Macomb; 10. 35X Jimmy Hurley, Springfield

Storm Steel / Abrasive Jet Technologies Heat Race #3 -- 1. 99W Korey Weyant, Springfield; 2. 36 Justin Newberry, Burlington, IA; 3.

51J Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis; 4. 22 Bret Tripplett, Middletown, IL; 5. 4M Mark Tischer, Hannibal, MO; 6. 3G Lance Gullo,

Springfield; 7. 38 Seth Wilke, Burlington, IA; 8. 70 Brian Stansberry, Moulton, IA; 9. 18A Dan Avery, Burlington, IA

Shake-up Dash – 1. Gharst; 2. Hull; 3. Wyzard; 4. Schneiderman; 5. Weyant; 6. Newberry

B-Main: All cars that returned started the A-main – Did not return: Wyzard, Newberry, Hetrick, Guernsey, Fisher, Hurley, Wilke

Morgan County Speedway 25 -- 1. Standridge (5); 2. Hull (2); 3. Gharst (1); 4. Schneiderman (3); 5. Weyant (4); 6. Mincer (9); 7.

Moughan (8); 8. Harms (14); 9. Rogerson (11); 10. Goldesberry (21); 11. Schulz (6); 12. Sutton (20); 13. Tripplett (10); 14.

Urish (12); 15. Gullo (16); 16. Davies (18); 17. Andrews (15); 18. Stansberry (19); 19. Jamison (7); 20. Phillips (17); 21. Tischer (13);

22. Avery (22)

RACE 2: Car Count – 22; Cautions – 3 – L0, 0, 2; Leaders – Jamison 1-2, Moughan 3, Jamison 4-9, Moughan 10-18, Gharst 19-25;

Laps Led – Moughan 10, Gharst 7, Jamison 8 Highest Finishing Rookie – Jordan Goldesberry (10th)

Contingency: KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Matt Sutton; (Started 13th, Finished 5th); Rod End Supply – Ryan Jamison;

Rod End Supply – Bret Tripplett; Saldana Racing Product – Jordan Goldesberry; Ultra Shield – Jimmy Davies; Diversified Machine –

Bart Andrews; MPD – Jerrod Hull; The Brake Man – Brian Stansberry; M&W Aluminum Products – Dan Avery

Staats Awards Heat Race #1 – 1. Goldesberry; 2. Moughan; 3. Urish; 4. Rogerson; 5. Hull; 6. Harms; 7. Stansberry; 8. Gullo

Budweiser Heat Race #2 – 1. Jamison; 2. Standridge; 3. Mincer; 4. Schulz; 5. Sutton; 6. Tripplett; 7. Avery

Storm Steel / Abrasive Jet Technologies Heat Race #3 – 1. Weyant; 2. Gharst; 3. Schneiderman; 4. Davies; 5. Andrews; 6. Phillips;

7. Tischer DNS

Quality Service Company Shake-up Dash – 1. Jamison; 2. Moughan; 3. Weyant; 4. Gharst; 5. Standridge; 6. Goldesberry

Morgan County Speedway 25 – 1. Gharst (4); 2. Moughan (2); 3. Standridge (5); 4. Urish (7); 5. Sutton (13); 6. Weyant (3); 7. Hull

(12); 8. Schulz (10); 9. Jamison (1); 10. Goldesberry (6); 11. Schneiderman (8); 12. Rogerson (9); 13. Tripplett (16); 14. Davies (11);

15. Harms (15); 16. Andrews (14); 17. Stansberry (18); 18. Avery (19); 19. Phillips (17); 20. Gullo (20); DNS – Tischer, Mincer

Morgan County Speedway
Jacksonville, IL
June 21, 2007
By: Racenut

Forty three drivers rode in to the Morgan County Speedway Thursday night for stop number seven on the 2007 UMP Summernationals tour. Steve Sheppard Jr took overall fast time. The first heat went to Ed Kirchoff over Sheppard Jr and Ron Bartels. The second heat had Wes Steidinger taking the win over Terry Casey and AJ Diemel. The third heat was an exciting one, as Kevin Weaver held off a determined Mark Burgtorf and Roger Brickler for the win. The fourth and final heat was a snoozer, as Jeep VanWormer won with a big margin over Joe Harlan, who also had a big margin over Mark Voigt. The first semi features went to Rodney Melvin in a close race over Dennis Erb Jr and Ryan Dauber. The second semi went to Ted Loomis in a rout over Chad Zobrist and Kelly Kovski.

The feature started with Vanwormer and Weaver on the front row. VanWormer had a three car lead by the time the green flag flew to start the race. He survived an early caution as Randy Korte took his front end to the wall. Another mid race caution was due to a Terry Casey spin. By the time they got to the 35th lap of the 40 lapper, Weaver had started showing his front end to VanWormer, but to no avail. With only three laps remaining, VanWormer broke, handing the lead over to Weaver, with Sheppard Jr challenging him the final three laps. Weaver held on for the win, with Sheppard coming home second at his home track. Rodney Melvin, Dennis Erb Jr and Don O'Neal rounded out the top five.

heat 1 three transfer
5K Ed Kirchoff
5s Steve Sheppard Jr
12B Ron Bartels
27 Rodney Melvin
28 Dennis Erb Jr
25 Jason Feger
40 Charlie Hess

00 Korte booted Feger sideways on the second lap
00 Korte got the #4 wall about halfway

heat 2
J1 Wes Steidinger
42 Terry Casey
58 AJ Diemel
64 Ryan Dauber
C4 Jason Cleaver
5B Brandon Sheppard

71 Don O'Neal left the track lap 1

heat 3
B12 Kevin Weaver
7B Mark Burgtorf
82 Roger Brickler
23 Ted Loomis
78 Chad Zobrist

This was a great race between Weaver, Burgtorf and Zobrist
91 Rusty Schenk spun about lap 4 and 12B Jordan Bland blasted him head-on

heat 4
55 Jeep Van Wormer
Z Joe Harlan
30 Mark Voigt
117 Kelly Kovski
B1 Nick Bauman

Snoozer...55 Jeep left Z Harlan behind, Harlan left 30 Voigt behind.

semi 1 three transfer
27 Rodney Melvin
28 Dennis Erb Jr
64 Ryan Dauber
11D Brian Diveley
C4 Jason Cleaver
4T Guy Taylor

about half-way, 71 O'Neal pulled off track
25 Feger was in third (transfer) with 2 to go, punted by 64 Dauber

semi 2
23 Ted Loomis
78 Chad Zobrist
117 Kelly Kovski
B1 Nick Bauman
7 Jay Sparks
14 Brent Nelson

Feature finish: (start)

B12 Kevin Weaver(2)led 3 laps
5s Steve Sheppard Jr(5)
27 Rodney Melvin(13)
28 Dennis Erb Jr.(15)
71 Don O'Neal(22) UMP prov
34 Mike Marlar(20) Summernat's prov
J1 Wes Steidinger(3)
3L Matt Taylor(21) Track prov
7B Mark Burgtorf(7)
Z Joe Harlan(8)
23 Ted Loomis(14)
64 Ryan Dauber(17)
11D Brian Diveley(23) track prov
82 Roger Brickler(11)
all finishers were on lead lap
dnf....
12 Ron Bartels(9)
55 Jeep Van Wormer(1) led 37 laps
117 Kelly Kovski(18)
58 AJ Diemel(10)
42 Terry Casey(6)
30 Mark Voigt(12)
78 Chad Zobrist(16)
5K Ed Kirchoff(4)
00 Randy Korte(19) UMP prov

The feature finished at 10:07 and the rain started at 10:12
Tommie Seets Jr won the yellow flag fever modified feature

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar
 

Night 7 of the 27-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: Kevin Weaver Registers First Tour Victory Since 2002 At Morgan County Speedway

JACKSONVILLE, IL – June 21, 2007 – Kevin Weaver ended a five-year victory drought on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals trail, winning Thursday night’s 40-lap A-Main at Morgan County Speedway.

Weaver, 43, of Gibson City, Ill., parlayed a strong Jimmy John’s-sponsored car and a good dose of racing luck into the $6,000 top prize. He inherited the lead on lap 37 when race-long pacesetter Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., was forced from action and held off Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill., over the remaining circuits.

The veteran driver known as the ‘Flatland Flash’ was in a tight three-car battle for the lead with VanWormer and Sheppard when VanWormer ran into trouble. Sheppard actually got by Weaver, who started second, as VanWormer fell off the pace, but a caution flag put scoring back to the last completed lap and installed Weaver as the leader.

Weaver took advantage of the break, making no mistakes following the restart to register his first UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals triumph since June 14, 2002, at Western Kentucky Speedway. It was Weaver’s 15^th career Summernationals win, giving him sole possession of sixth place on the tour’s alltime victory list (he had been tied with Bob Pierce).

Weaver, whose first Summernationals win came on July 16, 1991, at St. Francois Speedway in Farmington, Mo., won the series championship in 2000. He was also the overall UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model national champion in 1992.

Sheppard, 32, settled for second place, falling just short of bagging his first career Summernationals win.

Rodney Melvin of Benton, Ill., came from 13^th to finish third, followed by 15^th-starter Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who started 22^nd after getting into the race thanks to a UMP provisional.

Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., failed to finish among the top five for the first time in seven Summernationals events, but his sixth-place finish (from the 20^th starting spot after he used a Summernationals provisional to get in the A-Man) kept him in the tour points lead.

Forty-three cars entered the event, which was completed just minutes before rain began to fall.

Heat winners were Ed Kirchoff of Gillette, Wyo., Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., Weaver and VanWormer, and the B-Mains went to Melvin and Ted Loomis of Kingston, Ill.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Feature Finish (40 laps):

1. Kevin Weaver

2. Steve Sheppard Jr.

3. Rodney Melvin

4. Dennis Erb Jr.

5. Don O’Neal

6. Mike Marlar

7. Wes Steidinger

8. Matt Taylor

9. Mark Burgtorf

10. Joe Harlan

11. Ted Loomis

12. Ryan Dauber

13. Brian Dively

14. Roger Brickler

15. Ron Bartels

16. Jeep VanWormer

17. Kelly Kovski

18. A.J. Diemel

19. Terry Casey

20. Mark Voigt

21. Chad Zobrist

22. Ed Kirchoff

23. Randy Korte