Rscroll down for the most recent results
the schedule is 'upside-down' so you don't have to scroll past old races for the most recent results
scroll down for preview....at bottom of page is the schedule with car count and winner....

For random 2007 UMP Summernational pictures click here

Thanks to all the reporters sending results....
Special thanks to Kevin Kovac, UMP DIRTcar Racing Public Relations for the daily official results....
this is quite an improvement over the past.

Congratulations to the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Champion Dennis Erb Jr!

July 21....Saturday.....Macon Speedway, Macon, IL 100 laps 6000 to win..217-764-3000(NO POINTS)
top 5.... ....more
July 14....Saturday....Oakshade Raceway, Wauseon, OH 60 laps 10000 to win..419-337-6850
top 5....Jeep VanWormer, Wes Steidinger, AJ Diemel, Casey Noonan, Brian Ruhlman ....more
July 13....Friday....Farmer City Raceway, Farmer City, IL 40 laps 10000 to win..309-928-9110(from June 22 Rainout)
top 5....Brady Smith, Brian Shirley, Wes Steidinger, Shannon Babb, Steve Sheppard Jr ....more
July 12....Thursday....LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..815-223-6900
top 5....Steve Sheppard Jr, Don O'Neal, Dennis Erb Jr, Randy Korte, Wes Steidinger ....more
July 11....Wednesday....Spoon River Speedway, Banner, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..309-668-2622
top 5....Shannon Babb, Jeep VanWormer, Dennis Erb Jr, Randy Korte, Don O'Neal ....more
July 10....Tuesday....Quincy Raceways, Quincy, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..217-224-4100 
top 5....Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr, Brady Smith, Steve Sheppard Jr, Eddie Kerchoff ....more
July 09....Monday....C.J. Raceway, Columbus Junction, IA (new track)40 laps 6000 to win..319-728-3043
top 5....Shannon Babb, Don O'Neal, Billy Moyer, Brady Smith, Brian Birkhofer ....more
July 08....Sunday....Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..608-644-1977
top 5....Shannon Babb, Don O'Neal, Jeep VanWormer, Rob Toland, Steve Sheppard Jr ....more
July 07....Saturday....Fairbury American Legion Speedway, Fairbury, IL 50  laps 10000 to win..815-692-3222
top 5....Mike Marlar, Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars, Billy Moyer Sr, Dennis Erb Jr ....more
July 06....Friday....Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, IL  (3/8 mile track) 40 laps 10000 to win..618-931-7386
top 5....Don O'Neal, Billy Moyer Sr, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr, Jimmy Mars....more
July 05....Thursday....Macon Speedway, Macon, IL 100 laps 6000 to win..217-764-3000
RAIN....rescheduled for July 21....finale of series
July 04....Wednesday....off
July 03....Tuesday....Lawrenceburg Speedway, Lawrenceburg, IN 40 laps 6000 to win..812-539-4700
top 5....Jeep VanWormer, Steve Sheppard Jr, Randy Korte, Dennis Erb Jr, Wes Steidinger ....more
July 02....Monday....Midway Speedway, Crooksville, OH (new track) 50 laps 10000 to win..740-982-2987
top 5.... Earl Pearson Jr, Jeep VanWormer, Rick Aukland, Mike Marlar, A.J.Diemel ....more
July 01....Sunday....Vermilion County Speedway, Danville, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..217-443-6588
top 5....Don O'Neal, Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr, Jason Feger, Mike Marlar ....more
Jun 30....Saturday....Clarksville Speedway, Clarksville, TN 40 laps 10000 to win..931-645-2523
top 5....Jeep Vanwormer, Wes Steidinger, Jeff Taylor, Jack Sullivan, Dennis Erb Jr ....more
Jun 29....Friday....Western Kentucky Speedway, Nebo, KY 40 laps 6000 to win ..270-249-3125
RAIN
Jun 28....Thursday....Paducah International Raceway, Paducah, KY 40 laps 6000 to win..270-898-7469
top 5....Billy Moyer Sr, Jeep VanWormer, Randy Korte, Don O'Neal, Jeff Taylor ....more
Jun 27....Wednesday....Lake Ozark Speedway, Lake of the Ozarks, MO (new track)40 laps 6000 to win..800-617-9077  
RAIN
Jun 26....Tuesday....Poplar Bluff Speedway, Poplar Bluff, MO 40 laps 6000 to win..573-785-8989
top 5....Billy Moyer Sr, Rodney Melvin, Mike Marlar, Dennis Erb Jr, Jeep VanWormer ....more
Jun 25....Monday....Peoria Speedway, Peoria, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..309-673-3342...(extra Peoria website)
top 5....Dennis Erb Jr, Wes Steidinger, Don O'Neal, Billy Moyer Sr, Jason Feger ....more
Jun 24....Sunday....Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..217-737-7134
top 5....Don O'Neal, Terry Casey, Steve Sheppard Jr, Mike Marlar, Matt Taylor ....more
Jun 23....Saturday....i55 Raceways, Pevely MO  40 laps 10000 to win..636-479-3219
top 5....Mike Marlar, Billy Moyer, Brady Smith, Terry Casey, Billy Faust ....more
Jun 22....Friday....Farmer City Raceway, Farmer City, IL 40 laps 10000 to win..309-928-9110
RAIN....rescheduled for July 13
Jun 21....Thursday....Morgan County Speedway, Jacksonville, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..217-243-5896
top 5....Kevin Weaver, Steve Sheppard Jr, Rodney Melvin, Dennis Erb Jr, Don O'Neal ....more
Jun 20....Wednesday....Highland Speedway, Highland, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..618-654-6656
top 5....Dennis Erb Jr, Don O'Neal, Rodney Melvin, Mike Marlar, Wes Steidinger ....more
Jun 19....Tuesday....Lebanon 1-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO (new track) 40 laps 6000 to win..417-532-2060
top 5....Mike Marlar, Terry Casey, Randy Korte, Jeep VanWormer, Don O'Neal ....more
Jun 18....Monday....Jefferson County Raceway, Mt. Vernon, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..
top 5....Randy Korte, Mike Marlar, Billy Faust, Rodney Melvin, Eddie Kirchoff ....more
Jun 17....Sunday....Tri-State Speedway, Haubstadt, IN 40 laps 6000 to win..812-768-5995
top 5....Randy Korte, Don O'Neal, Kevin Cole, Steve Sheppard Jr, Mike Marlar ....more
Jun 16....Saturday....Kamp Motor Speedway, Boswell, IN 40 laps 10000 to win..765-869-5212
top 5....Dennis Erb Jr, Mike Marlar, Don O'Neal, Steve Sheppard Jr, Jason Feger ....more
Jun 15....Friday....Kankakee Motor Speedway, Kankakee, IL 40 laps 10000 to win..815-929-9105
top 5....Dennis Erb Jr, Rodney Melvin, Mike Marlar, Don O'Neal, Wes Steidinger ....more
 

2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals News & Notes: Looking Back At The Grueling Month-Long Dirt Late Model Tour
EVANSVILLE, IN – July 19, 2007 – 

ANOTHER ‘HELL TOUR’ UNDER HIS BELT: UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals organizer Sam Driggers, who has been following the series as a UMP employee for more than a decade, rated this year’s version as one of the most competitive in recent memory. 

With a points battle that was close from start-to-finish and a group of eight hearty teams that entered all 25 points events, Driggers, 49, couldn’t have been more pleased with the ’07 Summernationals. 

“I think it was a great month,” said Driggers, who drove his UMP DIRTcar Racing-emblazoned Chevy Tahoe to every event. “We had four rainouts this year after having only one last year, but we had really strong fields (the series high: 60 cars on July 11 at Spoon River Speedway in Canton, Ill.) and some great races.” 

The series raced in seven states, including Illinois (14 events), Indiana (three), Missouri (three), Ohio (two) and single shows in Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee. With all those trips jammed into a 30-day span, the tour becomes something of a blur to Driggers by its end, but he did mention some especially memorable moments. 

“There were the two last-lap passes (for wins) in a row,” said Driggers, recalling the June 23 event at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. (Mike Marler over Billy Moyer) and the June 24 show at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (Don O’Neal over Terry Casey). 

And off the track, Driggers won’t soon forget the hair-raising drive from Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., on June 27. Not only was the haul long (roughly 240 miles), but it cut through some hilly terrain and was plagued by the rain that ultimately washed out the Lake Ozark show. 

“When it started to rain the roads got oily, so everybody started sliding around on those hills,” said Driggers. “After that trip, I told all the teams that they could kick me.” 

NEAR DISASTER: The biggest scare Dennis Erb Jr. experienced en route to his first career UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals championship came not on the racetrack, but in the pit area. 

As teams unloaded for the June 30 event at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway, bystanders looked on in astonishment when one of Erb’s cars rolled off the back of his trailer’s lift gate and landed atop his other Rayburn machine that was already sitting on the ground below. 

“We unstrapped both cars like always,” said Erb. “Somehow the car on the lift slid down on top of my other car. It was just kinda hanging there off the lift with its rearend on top of my other car.” 

Fortunately for Erb, the unusual incident left both of his cars none the worse for wear. 

“There wasn’t much damage to either car,” he said. “I raced the car that came out of the trailer that night (finishing fifth).” 

HAPPY TRAVELER: Don O’Neal was thrilled to be back as a Summernationals regular for the first time since he won the series title in 2004. 

“I enjoyed the hell out of the Summernationals,” gushed O’Neal as the tour wound down. “This is what racing is all about. I’ve had more fun racing in the past month than I’ve had in a while. 

“I just love this – I mean, this is racing. I only won three races, so we didn’t dominate like the last year I ran the series, but I had fun.” 

Of course, O’Neal did have to readjust himself to the grind of the Summernationals after a couple years away. 

“I told Sam (Driggers) I’d come back next year to redeem myself,” said O’Neal, who finished second in the points standings. “I’ve gotten soft in the last couple years. I’m telling you, I forgot what it was like to do this. You race hard every lap, every single night. 

“It’s tough, but I love it.” 

O’Neal hopes for a second Summernationals crown probably evaporated on July 10 at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway. He entered the event trailing Erb by only two points, but a 17^th-place finish as Erb finished second left him with a 36-point deficit he couldn’t recover from over the final four shows. 

“I broke an air cleaner stud and the air cleaner fell off not quite halfway through the race,” said O’Neal, who opted to pull out early. “I could’ve taken a chance and stayed out there, but I might’ve killed the motor and still not won the points.” 

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: A third-place finish in the Summernationals points standings? Wes Steidinger surprised himself with such a lofty performance in his first year as a tour fulltimer. 

“I never would have thought I’d be third place in the Summernationals,” said Steidinger, a rising 24-year-old from Fairbury, Ill. “That’s pretty cool for our first year doing the whole series. I didn’t think we’d have enough consistency going to so many new places.” 

Steidinger came oh-so-close to steering his family-owned No. J1 to his first career Summernationals A-Main win, finishing second at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway, Clarksville Speedway and the points finale at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio. He lost the lead to Jeep VanWormer in the Oakshade event coming down to the white flag when a victory would have tied him with O’Neal for second in the final standings. 

The non-stop month of racing was a great learning experience for Steidinger. But he noted, “I’m ready to get back to real life – race on weekends and work (as a trim carpenter at his father’s Steidinger Construction) during the week.” 

Steidinger will spend the remainder of the season focused on winning his first-ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model national points title. He led the standings entering the Summernationals and increased his odds of staying there by running the tour. 

“To win the national title, you gotta go to as many races as possible and go where the cars are so you get the maximum points as much as you can,” said Steidinger, who has 10 UMP-sanctioned feature wins this season. “That’s the big picture for us, and hopefully we can pull it out.” 

NOT WHAT HE WANTED: Finishing fourth in the Summernationals standings didn’t satisfy Pinconning, Mich.’s Jeep VanWormer, who was a favorite to win the 2007 title after placing second in last year’s tour. 

“We had some bad luck early in the series,” said VanWormer, who recorded just two top-10 finishes in the first 10 events. “It seemed like we were always in the middle of something and getting spun around.” 

But VanWormer closed strong, winning three times (June 30 at Clarksville, Tenn.; July 3 at Lawrenceburg, Ind.; July 14 at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio) to establish a personal single-season victory high on the Summernationals trail. He also vaulted from sixth to fourth in the points standings with his triumph in the finale. 

VanWormer, 32, was concerned after falling to sixth in the standings thanks to a frustrating night at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway on July 13. He was credited with last-place in the A-Main because he was still in the pits changing a broken shock when the green flag flew, but he made a timely recovery at Oakshade to advance two positions in the final rankings – a jump worth an extra $2,000 in points-fund cash. 

CATCHING ON: Steve Sheppard Jr. proved that being successful on the Summernationals takes plenty of resilience. 

After running every Summernationals show in 2004 and all but the finale in 2006, Sheppard finally got his first career tour win in the 23^rd event of this year’s series, on July 12 at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway. He let out a big sigh of relief after reaching Victory Lane. 

“I’ve been real frustrated about three or four times on this deal, almost to the point where I was just ready to say, ‘The heck with it,’” said Sheppard. “But everybody always tells me, ‘Just hang in there,’ and I have. 

“That’s the only way you get through it – you know your time’s gotta come someday. 

“I’m kinda a slow learner,” he added with a laugh after his milestone triumph. “It’s taken me the whole tour to get caught up with everybody. I kinda know what will make the car faster, but sometimes what will give it more traction and hook up harder isn’t the right thing.” 

Sheppard, 32, of New Berlin, Ill., has become a Summernationals stalwart thanks to the backing of his team owner/father, who allows his son to leave the family business, Sheppard Car Crushing, to go racing for a month. 

“My dad owns our business, so he takes over for a month while I’m gone,” said Sheppard. “I know that when I get done here, he’s gonna take a vacation. I’ll give him some time off.” 

There might be another Sheppard on the Summernationals tour in the not-to-distant future. Sheppard’s 14-year-old son, Brandon, has begun driving a family dirt Late Model this season and entered a handful of Summernationals shows, qualifying at Quincy and Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, Ill. 

IMPRESSIVE FIRST-TIMER: Winfield, Tenn.’s Mike Marlar has always wanted to follow the Summernationals, but the financial realities of fielding his own team have prevented him from hitting the road since going dirt Late Model racing in 2003. 

This year, however, Marlar, 29, got his chance to travel thanks to the resources of Flemingsburg, Ky.-based Stephens Motorsports, which he joined late last season. The team’s owner, Owen Stephens, passed away last fall just as he was discussing with Marlar the possibility of running a national tour like the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2007, but Stephens’s wife decided to keep the team operating and the Summernationals was put in its crosshairs. 

Marlar doesn’t know what’s in store for Stephens Motorsports in 2008, but his performance on this year’s Summernationals certainly proved that he’s capable of getting the job done against top-notch competition. He won three times (June 19 at Lebanon, Mo.; June 23 at Pevely, Mo.; July 7 at Fairbury, Ill.) and was in the thick of the championship battle until running into some problems during the tour’s second half. 

“We had a motor problem that took us a week to get through, and this week we had two rearends go bad,” said Marlar, who slipped to a tie for fifth in the final points standings. “We ran into some real tough breaks at the end here. We had to spend a lot of extra time getting stuff fixed and swapping motors. 

“But we won three races and made some money, so I’m happy. I knew the championship was a long shot anyway since probably 80 percent of the tracks I’ve been to for the first time. 

“We had some highs and lows (the lows included sitting on the highway in the rain with a broken-down truck after the Lake Ozark event was canceled), but overall the whole experience has been good,” added Marlar, who estimates he traveled 7,000 miles and spent over $3,500 of fuel during his month on the road. “I met a lot of good people, and I think this deal is gonna make me a better racer.” 

“We’ve run out equipment into the ground, but after we get home and get our stuff freshened up, I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.” 

GETTING SOME ATTENTION: Summernationals railbirds couldn’t help but notice Eddie Kirchoff of Gillette, Wyo., and A.J. Diemel of Navarino, Wis., two young drivers who made unexpected fulltime assaults on the tour. 

Kirchoff, 24, made the long haul from his Wyoming home – roughly 16 hours just to reach the heart of the series in central Illinois – to try his hand against tough competition on a nightly basis. The third-place finisher in the 2006 WISSOTA national points, he came to the Summernationals looking for full-blown Late Model experience. 

“The main reason I’m here is to see if I can eventually do this (race a Late Model for a living),” said Kirchoff, who drives a ‘MasterSbilt by Mars’ car owned by his father. “I’m not sure if I’m gonna get a job or go racing.” 

Kirchoff certainly flashed some talent, setting fast time on several occasions and finishing as high as fifth (twice) en route to a seventh-place finish in the points standings. He figures that his one month on the Summernationals trail was equivalent to almost a full season of action at one of the two tracks (Gillete, Wyo., and Rapid City, S.Dak.) that he frequents. 

Kirchoff’s racing will take a back seat come the fall, of course, when he returns to the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City to complete his industrial engineering degree. He is scheduled to graduate in December. 

Diemel, 25, is another driver from the WISSOTA ranks who entered the Summernationals looking to increase his learning curve. He’s run a dirt Late Model for five years, but this is his first season in the Super Late Model division. 

One of the many drivers from Wisconsin who steers a car owned by Seubert Calf Ranches proprietor Mike Seubert, Diemel ran into some trouble early in the series when he flipped his mount at Lebanon, Mo. But with the help of two crewmen he patched the machine back together and ran it in all the remaining events, finishing a tour-best third in the finale at Oakshade and placing 10^th in the points standings. 

TIRED: Benton, Ill.’s Rodney Melvin started the Summernationals strong with a second-place finish in the June 15 opener at Kankakee (Ill.) Motor Speedway and a fourth on June 18 at Mt. Vernon, Ill., but by the end of the tour he was worn out and rethinking the direction of his racing career. 

A three-time UMP Late Model national champion, the 33-year-old Melvin ran the first 13 events of this year’s Summernationals before dropping off as a regular. With not enough crew help (his father was often his only assistant at the track) and his thriving auto body business needing his attention, Melvin simply ran himself into the ground attempting to enter every show. 

“I hadn’t been feeling very well for a few days,” said Melvin. “I think trying to get the car ready and run the business caught up with me. I went to take a nap before the (July 1) show at Danville (Ill.), and when I got up I just didn’t feel like racing.” 

Melvin entered only two more shows, finishing 12^th in the standings. He’s now evaluating whether he wants to continue racing his own equipment, noting that he simply can’t put enough time in to compete at the high level that he is accustomed. 

NOTABLE… 

* Veteran Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., was a familiar face on the Summernationals once again, entering all but four of the points shows. Driving a Bill West Enterprises Chassis, the 2000 Summernationals champion was victorious on June 21 at Morgan County Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill. – his first tour win in five years – and finished eighth in the points standings. 

* Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., missed only four Saturday-night shows that were part of the Summernationals, opting to stay home those evenings to chase the championship at Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, Ind. 

Although still adjusting to a new Bob Pierce car that he debuted just two weeks before the start of the Summernationals, Feger had some strong outings en route to a ninth-place finish in the standings. He had several fast times, and his fourth-place finish at Danville, Ill., was his best ever on the tour. 

* One year after entering every Summernationals show and finishing fifth in the standings, Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., backed off a bit on his travels. He entered the first eight events, then ran just eight more of the next 17 nights. 

Korte did win twice on the series (back-to-back on June 17-18 at Haubstadt, Ind., and Mt. Vernon, Ill.) and finished 11^th in the standings. 

* Terry Casey of New London, Wis., took his first major stab at the Summernationals. He entered the first 13 shows, but was absent from the remainder of the tour. 

Casey, who nearly won his first career Summernationals A-Main on June 24 at Lincoln, Ill. (O’Neal passed him on the final lap), was in need of more crew help. His wife and young son were often his only assistants at the track. 

* Oakshade standout Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich., started the tour with high hopes of chasing the entire schedule for the first time in his young career, but he had to pull out after eight events because his engine supply had been depleted. 

Still retooling his own team, Schlenk drove Dusty Moore’s backup car in the Summernationals finale at Oakshade so he could compete at his hometrack. 

* There was a vintage feeling to the Summernationals thanks to the victories of O’Neal, Weaver, Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (two victories) and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill. (four in-a-row the last week of the series). The former champions rank as four of the seven most prolific winners in tour history. 

* The UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals officially comes to a close this Saturday night (July 21) with the ‘Herald & Review 100’ at the one-fifth-mile Macon (Ill.) Raceway. The event is a non-point show after it was rained out on July 5. 

For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit www.umpracing.com. 

2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Event Winners 

6/15: Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/16: Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/17: Tri-State Speedway/Haubstadt, IN (Randy Korte)
6/18: Jefferson County Raceway/Mt. Vernon, IL (Randy Korte)
6/19: Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/20: Highland Speedway/Highland, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/21: Morgan County Speedway/Jacksonville, IL (Kevin Weaver)
6/22: Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 13)
6/23: I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/24: Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL (Don O’Neal)
6/25: Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/26: Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO (Billy Moyer)
6/27: Lake Ozark Speedway/Eldon, MO (Rain)
6/28: Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY (Billy Moyer)
6/29: Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY (Rain)
6/30: Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN (Jeep VanWormer)
7/1: Vermilion County Speedway/Danville, IL (Don O’Neal)
7/2: Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH (Earl Pearson Jr.)
7/3: Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN (Jeep VanWormer)
7/4: Day Off
7/5: Macon Speedway/Macon, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 21)
7/6: Tri-City Speedway/Pontoon Beach, IL (Don O’Neal)
7/7: Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway (Mike Marlar)
7/8: Quad City Speedway/East Moline, IL (Shannon Babb)
7/9: C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA (Shannon Babb)
7/10: Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL (Shannon Babb)
7/11: Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL (Shannon Babb)
7/12: LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL (Steve Sheppard Jr.)
7/13: Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Brady Smith)
7/14: Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH (Jeep VanWormer)

7/21: Macon Speedway/Macon, IL (non-points)(Wes Steidinger)

Contact: DIRT MotorSports d/b/a World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing Public Relations
704-254-7929 • [email protected] 

Final 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings
EVANSVILLE, IN – July 17, 2007 –  

Final 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings (Rank/Driver/Hometown/Points/Points-Fund Earnings):

1. Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 1,639 ($25,000)

2. Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 1,607 ($10,000)

3. Wes Steidinger/Fairbury, IL 1,605 ($7,000)

4. Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 1,505 ($5,000)

5. (tie) Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 1,499 ($2,500)

5. (tie) Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berlin, IL 1,499 ($2,500)

7. Eddie Kirchoff/Gillette, WY 1,165 ($1,000)

8. Kevin Weaver/Gibson City, IL 1,065 ($800)

9. Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 1,047 ($700)

10. A.J. Diemel/Navarino, WI 995 ($600)

11. Randy Korte/Highland, IL 974 ($500)

12. Rodney Melvin/Benton, IL 921 ($400)

13. Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 810 ($300)

14. Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 770 ($200)

15. Terry Casey/New London, WI 686 ($100)

16. Greg Johnson/Bedford, IN 489

17. Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 467

18. Ryan Dauber/Tonica, IL 439

19. Scott Bull/Fairbury, IL 362

20. Rusty Schlenk/Jackson, MI 353 

Note to Editors: A total of 384 different drivers entered at least one of the 25 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals points races 

Dennis Erb Jr. Crowned Champion Of UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals For First Time 

WAUSEON, OH – July 16, 2007 – The title Dennis Erb Jr. has dearly wanted is now on his resume. 

Erb, 34, of Carpentersville, Ill., completed a relentless march to his first career UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals championship, clinching the $25,000 crown on Saturday night in the prestigious Midwest dirt Late Model tour’s 2007 points finale at Oakshade Raceway. 

“Early in the year I set my mind to go and win this Summernationals deal,” said Erb, whose initial championship came in his fourth consecutive season chasing the grueling month-long series. “I felt like after running it all these years, I knew what it would take to win it.” 

The driver known as the ‘One Man Band’ closed out his title drive in decidedly low-key, anticlimactic fashion, however. There was no post-race celebration in front of the crowd on Oakshade’s homestretch, because Erb was already on the highway headed home for the first time in a month when the 60-lap ‘Birthday Race’ ended. 

With a burst of rain that hit the speedway shortly after time trials were completed causing a nearly five-hour track-drying delay, Erb opted to forego racing into the wee hours on a heavy surface. Joining him in making an early exit from Oakshade were fellow Summernationals regulars Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who entered Saturday’s action as the only driver with an opportunity to overtake Erb for the championship, and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. 

Erb and O’Neal discussed the situation and both chose to load up their cars, mutually agreeing that they did not want to decide the points battle under difficult circumstances. 

“We talked about it, and we said, ‘It’s midnight, the track is still wet, so let’s go ahead and put our cars away – and if they (the rest of the field) wanna still race, they can race,’” Erb said of his conversation with O’Neal. “We’ve run 24 races and haven’t torn anything up, and we don’t want to do it tonight with the championship on the line. 

“We don’t want to do something like this, but it’s not the way we want to decide the championship. We pretty much came to terms on that.” 

O’Neal, who finished the tour 32 points behind Erb to earn a $10,000 runner-up points-fund check, was totally in agreement with Erb. Both drivers would have preferred for the race to be postponed to Sunday. 

“I have something to gain by racing tonight more than anybody,” said O’Neal, the 2004 Summernationals champ. “With these (heavy track) conditions, what a shot I’d have tonight. I need Dennis to have bad luck, and tonight would be the most likely night for him to have it. 

“But that ain’t fair. You do this (tour) all month, and then have odds stacked up on you the last night because of the tough conditions – it ain’t right. We’re here and I wanna race, but I don’t want to beat him (for the title) in these conditions, and I wouldn’t want him to do it to me, so I’m pulling out with him.” 

Saturday night’s ‘Did Not Start’ was the only major blemish on Erb’s ’07 Summernationals ledger, which featured the kind of numbers that win championships. He registered four wins, 14 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes in 25 events, with a 14^th-place finish on June 18 at Jefferson County Raceway in Mt. Vernon, Ill., being his worst outing of the tour. 

“I was fortunate to be able to have good runs for the whole month,” said the soft-spoken Erb, who campaigns self-owned Rayburn cars that are powered by Malcuit engines and carry sponsorship from Thomason Transportation, Petroff Towing and J&J Steel. “I won the most races I ever have in a (single) year on the Summernationals, and we finished every night.” 

Erb attributed his remarkable consistency to his laser-like focus on this year’s series.  

“We prepared ourselves a little bit more this year to make sure the cars held together,” said Erb, whose primary mechanical assistant at every event was his longtime friend Heather Lyne. “We had a good maintenance program, and it paid off. Our equipment held together – we didn’t have a mechanical problem.” 

Erb entered the Summernationals as one of the favorites to take over the championship trophy from Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who did not follow the entire tour to defend his 2005-06 titles. He enjoyed a red-hot spring that included a pair of victories on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, and he carried that mojo into the Summernationals. 

“It was a real good spring for us,” said Erb. “Our car was working real well, and the couple Outlaw wins we got built up a lot of confidence for us coming into this deal. 

“Then we won the first two (Summernationals) races (on June 15 at Illinois’s Kankakee Motor Speedway and June 16 at Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, Ind.) right out of the box. That was a really good feeling for me and gave us plenty of momentum.” 

Erb won twice more – on June 20 at Highland (Ill.) Speedway and June 25 at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway – and rolled up a succession of single-digit finishes. But he couldn’t shake O’Neal, who trailed Erb by only two points entering the July 10 event at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway. 

That’s when the critical moment of the ’07 Summernationals occurred. Erb recorded a second-place finish at Quincy while O’Neal was 17^th after dropping out midway through the race due to a broken air cleaner stud on his car, opening a 36-point edge for Erb. 

“I gained a bunch (of points) at Quincy, and then I just had to keep up the lead at Spoon River, La Salle and Farmer City,” said Erb. “I ran right with Don at La Salle (O’Neal was second, Erb third) and Farmer City (O’Neal was sixth, Erb seventh) and didn’t let him get any points on me. 

“We just went out and did what we needed to do.” 

After Summernationals points finishes of fourth (2004), third (2005) and fifth (2006), Erb proved this year that he had learned his lessons well. 

“I’ve run with (six-time Summernationals champ) Billy Moyer a lot of years and watched what he did,” said Erb, whose 2007 Summernationals earnings totaled $77,400 (including points-fund cash). “I followed O’Neal, and the last couple years I followed Shannon Babb. You pick up what those guys do and use it to make yourself better. 

“The first year I ran the whole deal, I had one car in the trailer and just went out there and raced. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I learned a lot about what it takes, how you work on your stuff when you’re out on the road. 

“I’m really proud of what I’ve done, to be able to accomplish this with what I’ve got to work with,” he added, putting his title in perspective. “As competitive as this year has been, to go out and run with these guys, night after night, and come out on top at the end means a lot.  

“It’s a big accomplishment for me.” 

For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals, visit www.umpracing.com. 

2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Event Winners 

6/15: Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/16: Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/17: Tri-State Speedway/Haubstadt, IN (Randy Korte)
6/18: Jefferson County Raceway/Mt. Vernon, IL (Randy Korte)
6/19: Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/20: Highland Speedway/Highland, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/21: Morgan County Speedway/Jacksonville, IL (Kevin Weaver)
6/22: Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 13)
6/23: I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/24: Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL (Don O’Neal)
6/25: Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/26: Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO (Billy Moyer)
6/27: Lake Ozark Speedway/Eldon, MO (Rain)
6/28: Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY (Billy Moyer)
6/29: Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY (Rain)
6/30: Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN (Jeep VanWormer)
7/1: Vermilion County Speedway/Danville, IL (Don O’Neal)
7/2: Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH (Earl Pearson Jr.)
7/3: Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN (Jeep VanWormer)
7/4: Day Off
7/5: Macon Speedway/Macon, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 21)
7/6: Tri-City Speedway/Pontoon Beach, IL (Don O’Neal)
7/7: Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway (Mike Marlar)
7/8: Quad City Speedway/East Moline, IL (Shannon Babb)
7/9: C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA (Shannon Babb)
7/10: Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL (Shannon Babb)
7/11: Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL (Shannon Babb)
7/12: LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL (Steve Sheppard Jr.)
7/13: Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Brady Smith)
7/14: Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH (Jeep VanWormer)

7/21: Macon Speedway/Macon, IL (non-points)(Wes Steidinger) 

Alltime UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Series Champions: 

2007: Dennis Erb Jr.

2006: Shannon Babb

2005: Shannon Babb

2004: Don O’Neal

2003: Billy Moyer

2002: Scott Bloomquist

2001: Billy Moyer

2000: Kevin Weaver

1999: Billy Moyer

1998: Rick Aukland

1997: Rick Aukland

1996: Billy Moyer

1995: Bob Pierce

1994: Billy Moyer

1993: Billy Moyer

1992: Unknown

1991: Scott Bloomquist

1990: Scott Bloomquist

1989: Rick Standridge

1988: Pete Parker

July 21....Saturday.....Macon Speedway, Macon, IL 100 laps 6000 to win..217-764-3000(no points)

Thanks to Illinois Amy

July 14....Saturday....Oakshade Raceway, Wauseon, OH 60 laps 10000 to win..419-337-6850

Congratulations to 2007 UMP DIRTcar Champion Dennis Erb Jr

UMP Summer Nationals (Final after 25 Races)
Drivers Points Wins Top 5's Top 10's Earnings
1 Dennis Erb Jr. 1639 4 14 23 $52,400.00
2 Don O'Neal 1607 3 15 20 $49,900.00
3 Wes Steidinger 1605 8 21 $30,200.00
4 Jeep VanWormer 1505 3 9 13 $45,600.00
5 Mike Marlar 1499 3 12 16 $49,650.00
6 Steve Sheppard Jr. 1499 1 9 14 $27,400.00
7 Eddie Kirchoff 1165 2 7 $12,700.00
8 Kevin Weaver 1065 1 1 8 $16,100.00
9 Jason Feger 1047 3 6 $12,350.00
10 A.J. Diemel 995 2 7 $12,300.00
11 Randy Korte 974 2 7 11 $23,900.00
12 Rodney Melvin 921.. 5 10 $17,800.00
13 Shannon Babb 810 4 7 10 $36,900.00
14 Billy Moyer 769 2 7 11 $29,000.00
15 Terry Casey 686 3 7 $11,800.00

Thanks to Speednetdirect

There was a four hour rain delay....Dennis Erb Jr and Don O'Neal loaded up and left

Thanks to Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing Public Relations

Night 25 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: VanWormer Scores Dramatic Victory, Erb Clinches Title In Tour Points Finale At Oakshade Raceway 

WAUSEON, OH – July 14, 2007 – Waiting out the storm paid off big-time for Jeep VanWormer. 

The Pinconning, Mich., standout brought a dramatic close to a program that was delayed nearly five hours by rain, passing Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., with the white flag flying to win Saturday night’s 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals points finale at Oakshade Raceway. 

VanWormer, 32, earned $10,000 for capturing the 60-lap ‘Birthday Race,’ an annual event that drew a near capacity crowd to the four-tenths-mile oval. 

Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., meanwhile, clinched his first career UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals championship despite leaving the track during the long delay to run in the surface that followed an early-evening storm. The 34-year-old star joined Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who was the only driver with a chance of overtaking him for the tour title, and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., as Summernationals regulars who chose not to stay until the wee hours of the morning to complete the program. 

After the short-but-heavy burst of rain hit the track following time trials for the field of 58 dirt Late Models, the first heat race finally hit the track a bit after midnight. The A-Main checkered flag fell around 3 a.m. 

The strong contingent of fans that stayed to watch the event was rewarded with one of the most stirring races of the ’07 Summernationals. 

VanWormer started from the pole position, but he had a battle on his hands for the entire distance. He led the first eight laps before ceding the top spot for two circuits to fellow Summernationals traveler Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill., then moved back in front to pace laps 11-43. 

Summernationals rookie A.J. Diemel of Navarino, Wis., grabbed the lead on lap 44 in a bid for his first tour victory, but he gave it up on lap 54 to Steidinger, who swept by both VanWormer and Diemel. 

Steidinger, a Summernationals fulltimer for the first time in 2007 and the current UMP DIRTcar Racing Late Model national points leader, appeared primed to score his first-ever triumph on the grueling tour. But heading to the white flag he lost some momentum behind a lapped car on the inside of the track, allowing VanWormer to drive by on the outside and lead the final two circuits for a memorable victory. 

VanWormer, who earlier this year won an American Late Model Series event at Oakshade, registered his third triumph of 2007 and sixth of his career on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals. 

Steidinger, who started 13^th after coming from the rear of the field to win the first B-Main, settled for a heartbreaking runner-up finish. The performance left him third in the final Summernationals points standings, just two points behind O’Neal. 

Diemel was third for his career-best Summernationals finish, while Casey Noonan of Sylvania, Ohio, and Brian Ruhlman of Clark Lake, Mich., completed the top five. 

VanWormer’s victory elevated him to fourth in the final Summernationals points standings. Sheppard, who finished seventh after being forced to pit for a flat tire while running in the top five, unofficially tied Marlar for fifth in the points standings. 

Heat winners were Ruhlman, VanWormer, Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich., Aaron Scott of Newark, Ohio, Rick Delong of Whitehouse, Ohio, and Matt Miller of Arlington, Ohio. The B-Mains were captured by Steidinger, Eddie Kirchoff of Gillette, Wyo., and Chris Keller of Adrian, Mich. 

One event remains on the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals schedule – the ‘Herald & Review 100’ on Sat., July 21, at Macon (Ill.) Speedway – but it will be a non-points race. 

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (60 laps): 

1. Jeep VanWormer

2. Wes Steidinger

3. A.J. Diemel

4. Casey Noonan

5. Brian Ruhlman

6. Aaron Scott

7. Steve Sheppard Jr.

8. Justin Paxton

9. Eddie Kirchoff

10. Hillard Miller

11. Curtis Roberts

12. Scott Fisk

13. Ronnie Perrine Jr.

14. Chris Keller

15. Kris Patterson

16. Dusty Moore

17. Ky Harper

18. Matt Miller

19. Duane Chamberlain

20. Rick Delong

21. Rusty Schlenk 

DNQ: Bill Hahn, Brad Eitnear, Brice Luttrell, Bill Toedter, Ryan Gorey, Kevin Mack, Ron Price, Jerry Bowersock, Chuck Hummer, Curtis Deisenroth, Ron Miller, Jon Horner, Brian Koebbe, Max Stough Jr., Rody Schroyer, Jack Calkins, Zac Davis, Ken Hahn, Mike McKnight, Devin Shiels, Dan Wallace, Josh Steinacker, Dan Wilkins, Allen Warner, Max Stough, Dean Anderson, Chris Ross, Joe Overmyer, Kevin Reeves, John Gamber, Shawn Reed, George Lindsay, Mike Montague, J.T. Wildermuth

July 13....Friday....Farmer City Raceway, Farmer City, IL 40 laps 10000 to win..309-928-9110(from June 22 rainout)

Thanks to Racenut

July 12....Thursday....LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..815-223-6900

Thanks to Betty Glynn

Steve Sheppard roars wide open to caution free Summernationals win
By: Betty Glynn
 
La Salle, IL – Steve Sheppard has been to the La Salle Speedway four or five
times through the years. None of them were as rewarding as Thursday night’s
UMP DIRTcar Summernationals with a hefty payday of $6,000.
 
Money is good but nothing could compare to the fact that he led some of the
biggest names in dirt in an incident free forty lapper. Not only did he lead
uncontested he put a whooping on drivers who don’t normally get lapped when
they are cruising in the front of the pack.
 
Forty two drivers signed in for the third to the last tour date. This
grueling 30 day marathon can take its toll on even the best of the best. But
Sheppard looked no worse for the wear as he laughed and recounted his
evening.
 
When asked about keeping up with such a difficult schedule Steve was quick
with a smile and shake of his head.
 
“I have been tired since the first half of the series,” Sheppard said.
 
Former track champ and current Summernationals points leader, Dennis Erb
Jr., has been gone from home since June 14th but he isn’t complaining. Erb
is on the home stretch with only two races left for the tour and increased
his lead with a strong third place feature finish.
 
“The Summernationals is a fun month,” Erb commented before the races. “It’s
a lot of work but its great to race almost every night and go to different
places – it is a challenge though.”
 
The title and points fund money will be a constant reminder of his
accomplishments.
 
To kick things off, Jason Feger of Bloomington scored the fastest qualifying
lap with a clocked time of 12.922. Sheppard also was in the twelve second
range after completing a lap of 12.957.
 
Russ Scheffler pulled away from Feger using his front row outside start to
capture the first heat race. Kevin Weaver ended his run on the low side over
Utica’s Tony Izzo Jr.
 
Sheppard’s flag to flag lead in the second heat was nearly stolen when Wes
Steidinger put on a show for the crowd in a final lap duel. Sheppard won it
at the line with Steidinger, Scott Bull and Mike Marlar behind him.
 
Don O’Neal was the third heat pole sitter and pulled out to an early lead
over Tonica’s Ryan Dauber. Brady Smith had a run on Dauber but finished
third in front of AJ Diemel.
 
The most exciting heat race was the fourth and final one. Randy Korte
started front row outside but had to hold back strong performances by
Shannon Babb, who has been on a hot streak, and Erb. Erb and Babb were side
by side much of the event but Babb took second, Erb third and Eddie Kerchoff
fourth.
 
Twenty two cars lined up for the starting grid with O’Neal and Sheppard at
the helm. Once the flagman dropped the green flag, it was nothing short of a
perfect race. Not one single yellow to slow up the momentum or pace.
 
Sheppard grabbed the lead at the start line and never looked back. By the
eighth lap out, he had distanced himself from O’Neal, Korte, Steidinger,
Russ Scheffler and Feger.
 
Sheppard was already lapping cars by the tenth lap in the books. The fact
that he lapped the back of the field did not seem too unusual but what was a
little uncommon was the way he flew through the high banks picking off one
car after another until he made his way to the front runners.
 
The man on the move was Erb he quietly passed his way up from twelfth into
fifth before the half way marker.
 
Starting on Lap 24, Sheppard was strategically stuck behind three cars vying
for their own spots. It looked like O’Neal was going to reel him in but it
was clearly Sheppard’s night to shine and make a mark all his own.
 
Forty laps, without caution, is incredible but to lead it flag to flag is
even a better memory.
 
“This is the biggest win I have ever had,” Sheppard declared after the race.
 
He’s been racing for about 15 years and is now watching his 14 year old son,
Brandon, strap on a helmet as a Late Model racer.
 
When the checkers dropped, O’Neal was protecting his second place run over
Erb, Korte, Steidinger, Smith, Babb, Feger, Jeep VanWormer, Russ Scheffler,
Dauber, Bull, Nascar driver Ken Schrader, Weaver, Eddie Kerchoff and George
Scheffler. Not finishing the race was Mike Marlar, Greg Johnson, AJ Diemel,
Tim Manville, Mike Glynn and Ralph Markham.
 
Bob Pohlman Jr. made his second trip in the UMP Open Wheel Modified class
and took home the top honors for their feature race. He started on the pole
next to weekly standout Ray Bollinger and grabbed the lead early.
 
Bollinger took his action to the highside grinding his back quarter panel
along the unforgiving wall on several laps.
 
Polhman pulled away to a generous lead leaving Bollinger to fend off Dave
Porth and Mike Spatola.
 
Pohlman went the distance solo with Porth collecting second in front of Gary
Cook Jr., Bollinger, Casey Lappin, Spatola, Jeff Curl, #12, Marty Thompson,
Jay Ledford, Lance Dehm, Jim Phelps, Mike Garland, Vince Cooper, Nathan
Balensiefen, Jason Hastings, Dan Deinel, Joe Adam, John McCaull and Bill
Gray.
 
Dehm, Spatola and Porth each won their heat events.
 
 
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 07/12/07
 
UMP Summernationals Late Model – 42 Cars
Qualifying: Jason Feger 12.922
Heat One: Russ Scheffler, Jason Feger, Kevin Weaver, Tony Izzo Jr.
Heat Two: Steve Sheppard, Wes Steidinger, Scott Bull, Mike Marlar
Heat Three: Don O’Neal, Ryan Dauber, Brady Smith, AJ Diemel
Heat Four: Randy Korte, Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr., Eddie Kerchoff
Semi Feature One: Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, George Scheffler, John
Provenzano, Jim Felker, Rich Bell, Jim Partipilo, Tony Izzo Jr., Jim Mineo,
Shawn Toczek, Scott Schmitt, Mike Provenzano, Mike Mataragas, Brian Moon,
Charles Hess
Semi Feature Two: Jeep VanWormer, Eddie Kerchoff, Ken Schrader, Jason
Jaggers, Ralph Markham, Ted Loomis, Steve Oeder, Jason McBride, Keith Piano,
Mike Glynn, Tim Manville, AJ Diemel, Jim Westaway
Feature: Steve Sheppard, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., Randy Korte, Wes
Steidinger, Brady Smith, Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, Jeep VanWormer, Russ
Scheffler, Ryan Dauber, Scott Bull, Ken Schrader, Kevin Weaver, Eddie
Kerchoff, George Scheffler, Mike Marlar DNF, Greg Johnson DNF, AJ Diemel
DNF, Tim Manville DNF, Mike Glynn DNF, Ralph Markham DNF
 
UMP Modifieds – 28 Cars
Heat One: Lance Dehm, Bob Pohlman Jr., Ray Cook Jr., #12
Heat Two: Mike Spatola, Joe Adam, Mike Garland, Vince Cooper
Heat Three: Dave Porth, Ray Bollinger, Jay Ledford, Jim Phelps
Feature: Bob Pohlman Jr., Dave Porth, Gary Cook Jr., Ray Bollinger, Casey
Lappin, Mike Spatola, Jeff Curl, #12, Marty Thompson, Jay Ledford, Lance
Dehm, Jim Phelps, Mike Garland, Vince Cooper, Nathan Balensiefen, Jason
Hastings, Dan Deimel, Joe Adam, John McCaull, Bill Gray

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 23 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: Steve Sheppard Jr. Captures First-Ever Tour Win At La Salle Speedway

LA SALLE, IL – July 12, 2007 – Steve Sheppard Jr. was on top of the world after winning Thursday night’s 40-lap UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main at La Salle Speedway.

“This is one of the greatest days of my life,” pronounced Sheppard, a smile dominating his face as he signed autographs and accepted congratulatory handshakes in the pit area. “I ain’t kidding. This was only a $6,000 (to win) show, but it’s the biggest one I’ve ever won.

It was the first career Summernationals triumph for the New Berlin, Ill., driver, who ran the complete tour in 2004 and every race but the finale last year.

Sheppard, 32, had come close to a Summernationals victory several times, including a late-race loss to Highland, Ill.’s Randy Korte in 2006 at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway and runner-up finishes on this year’s series at Morgan County Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill., and Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway.

“Hopefully they’re gonna start coming a little easier now,” quipped the relieved Sheppard.

Sheppard certainly made his milestone win look easy. The event’s outside polesitter, he drove his Pro Power-equipped Rayburn No. 5s into the lead at the initial green and was never headed in a caution-free A-Main.

No one was able to offer even token pressure to Sheppard, who beat 2004 Summernationals champion Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., to the finish line by nearly a full straightaway margin on the quarter-mile oval.

Current tour points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., finished a close third, followed by Korte and Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.

Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who entered the night riding a four-race Summernationals win streak, settled for a quiet seventh-place finish.

“I’ve always been good on these shorter tracks, but I ain’t never been that good,” said Sheppard, whose biggest previous victory came in an August 2006 MARS DIRTcar Series event at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., that paid $3,000 to win. “That thing was so good, I could just drive it anywhere I wanted. I was amazed.”

Lapped traffic was barely a problem for Sheppard, who kept his car perched on the outside lip of the high-banked track for most of the distance.

“When I got to lapped traffic, I just knew I had to stay patient,” he said. “I didn’t hear anybody under me, but I didn’t know I was that far ahead. I just figured if I stayed smooth, I’d be alright.”

Could Sheppard have envisioned his first Summernationals win coming at La Salle Speedway?

“Not in a million years,” said Sheppard, whose team is owned by his father. “I’ve run here probably five times in my life.

“I over-think myself sometimes and do too much to the car, but tonight Babb and the other guys said to me, ‘Don’t out-think yourself.’ So I just stepped back a second and said, ‘You know, they’re right,’ and we ended up with a perfect race car.”

O’Neal, who started from the pole position, ran a distant second to Sheppard for the entire distance in his Jerry Jones-owned Rayburn. He spent the last nine circuits holding off the furious challenges of Erb, who made a strong charge from the 12^th starting spot.

“The longer the race got, the faster the car was going,” Erb said of his Rayburn mount. “I could roll through the middle real good.

“I was thinking I could get up in there (to challenge Sheppard), but I couldn’t get by O’Neal. He got wide, protecting his position like I figured he would. There was no sense crashing to try getting by him.”

Especially not with the $25,000 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals title waiting for Erb to grab it. Finishing third kept Erb 34 points ahead of O’Neal in the standings with two points events left, on Friday at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway and Saturday at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio.

“It’s there,” Erb said of his first-ever Summernationals championship. “I just gotta run good the next two nights. We’ll be going for a win both nights, but we’re gonna make sure we don’t do anything stupid.”

Forty-two dirt Late Models were signed in for the program, which was promoted by Bob Sargent’s Track Enterprises Inc.

Heat winners were O’Neal, Korte, Russ Scheffler of Waukasha, Wis., and Sheppard, and the B-Mains were captured by Greg Johnson of Bedford, Ind., and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):

1. Steve Sheppard Jr.

2. Don O’Neal

3. Dennis Erb Jr.

4. Randy Korte

5. Wes Steidinger

6. Brady Smith

7. Shannon Babb

8. Jason Feger

9. Jeep VanWormer

10. Russ Scheffler

11. Ryan Dauber

12. Scott Bull

13. Ken Schrader

14. Kevin Weaver

15. Eddie Kirchoff

16. George Scheffler

17. Mike Marlar

18. Greg Johnson

19. A.J. Diemel

20. Tim Manville

21. Mike Glynn

22. Ralph Markham

DNQ: Brian Moon, Rich Bell, Mike Provenzano, John Provenzano, Charles Hess, Jim Partipilo, Tim Lance, Keith Piano, Bret Seivert, Jason McBride, Tony Izzo Jr., Jim Mineo, Scott Schmitt, Mike Mataragas, Shawn Toczek, Jim Felker, Jason Jaggers, Jimmy Westaway, Ted Loomis, Seve Oeder

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings (after 23 events):

1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,562

2. Don O’Neal 1,528

3. Wes Steidinger 1,452

4. Mike Marlar 1,430

5. Jeep VanWormer 1,386

6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 1,360

7. Eddie Kirchoff 1,050

8. Kevin Weaver 1,004

9. Jason Feger 984

10. Randy Korte 974

11. A.J. Diemel 874

12. Rodney Melvin 866

13. Billy Moyer 770

14. Shannon Babb 737

15. Terry Casey 686

16. Ryan Dauber 439

17. Greg Johnson 424

18. Brady Smith 388

19. Jordan Bland 342

20. Rusty Schlenk 313

July 11....Wednesday....Spoon River Speedway, Banner, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..309-668-2622

Thanks to Jeff Adams

BABB MAKES IT 4 IN A ROW AT SPOON RIVER by Jeff Adams
    (Banner, IL) Shannon Babb won his fourth consecutive UMP Summer
Nationals feature event in thrilling fashion Wednesday night at Spoon River
Speedway in Banner.
    Dennis Erb jumped to the lead from his outside front row starting spot
after pole-sitter Tim Lance stumbled as the green flew. Erb was hounded by
Jeep Van Wormer as he led the first 18 laps of the race, until Ed Dixon
checked up at the flag stand on lap 19, allowing Van Wormer to make the pass
for the lead.
   Lapped traffic would once again decide the race as Van Wormer and Erb
raced into turn one on lap 35, the duo split a lapped car. Coming out of
turn 2, Erb went high and Van Wormer low, but both had lost momentum
attempting to pass the lapped car. Babb saw an opportunity and made it 3
wide coming off turn two, and blasted between the duo taking the lead down
the backstretch.
   Babb was never challenged over the last 4 laps, and took home his 4th
consecutive Summer Nationals win worth $6,000.  Van Wormer ended up 2nd,
with Erb in 3rd. Randy Korte and Don O’Neal rounded out the top 5.
   Babb set fast time of 15.344 among the Suumer Nationals-high 60-car field
from 8 states and England. Heat winners were Kevin Cole, Van Wormer, Erb,
Babb, Lance and O’Neal. Semi features went to A. J. Diemel, Jason Feger and
Brady Smith. Jeff Leka won the UMP Modified race.
 
OFFICIAL FINISH
Round 22, UMP Summer Nationals, Spoon River Speedway, July 11, 2007
1. 18-Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL
2. 55-Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning, MI
3. 28-Dennis Erb, Carpentersville, IL
4. 00-Randy Korte, Highland, IL
5. 71-Don O’Neal, Martinsville, IN
6. J1-Wes Steidinger, Fairbury, IL
7. 75-Tim Lance, Dunlap, IL
8. 81C-Kevin Cole, Christopher, IL
9. 4J-Greg Johnson, Bedford, IN
10. 34-Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN
11. 58-A.J. Diemel, Navarino, WI
12. 33D-Scott Dedwylder, Vossburg, MS
13. 4M-Mike Mullvain, Bartonville, IL
14. 25F-Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL
15. 5K-Eddie Kirchoff, Gillette, WY
16. 77-Jason McBride, Carbondale, IL
17. 2s-Brady Smith, Solon Springs, WI
18. 5s-Steve Sheppard, New Berlin, IL
19. 3L-Matt Taylor, Springfield, IL
20. 16A-Ed Dixon, Washington, MO
21. 64-Ryan Dauber, Tonica, IL
22. c27-Scott May, Creve Coeur, IL
23. 1-Robbie Bauman, Fairview, IL
24. B12-Kevin Weaver, Gibson City, IL

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 22 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: Babb’s Hot Streak Continues With Fourth Straight Win At Spoon River Speedway 

CANTON, IL – July 11, 2007 – A breathtaking mid-race pass vaulted Shannon Babb into the lead and kept alive his UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals win streak Wednesday night at Spoon River Speedway. 

Babb, 33, of Moweaqua, Ill., was chasing pacesetter Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., and Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., just after the halfway point of the 40-lap A-Main when he pulled off one of the best moves of the 2007 tour. 

When VanWormer was momentarily slowed by a lapped car on the inside of the track and Erb lost his momentum on the high side, Babb surged through a gap in the middle to assume command. 

The remainder of the distance belonged to Babb, who earned $6,000 for his fourth consecutive Summernationals victory. It was his 55^th career win on the grueling series, and it tied him with Erb as the winningest driver of this year’s tour. 

VanWormer slipped by Erb on the final lap to finish second. Erb, who led the race’s first 14 laps, settled for third place, followed by Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind. 

Erb’s third-place finish helped him pad his Summernationals points lead, which now sits at 36 points over O’Neal. 

Sixty cars entered the event. 

Heat winners were Tim Lance of Mapleton, Ill., Erb, VanWormer, Babb, O’Neal and Kevin Cole of Buckner, Ill., and the B-Mains were captured by A.J. Diemel of Navarino, Wis., Jason Feger of Springfield, Ill., and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis. 

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps): 

1. Shannon Babb

2. Jeep VanWormer

3. Dennis Erb Jr.

4. Randy Korte

5. Don O’Neal

6. Wes Steidinger

7. Tim Lance

8. Kevin Cole

9. Greg Johnson

10. Mike Marlar

11. A.J. Diemel

12. Scott Dedwylder

13. Mike Mullvain

14. Jason Feger

15. Eddie Kirchoff

16. Jason McBride

17. Brady Smith

18. Steve Sheppard Jr.

19. Matt Taylor

20. Ed Dixon

21. Ryan Dauber

22. Scott May

23. Robbie Bauman

24. Kevin Weaver

DNQ: Scott May Jr., Don Hammer, Steve Nolan, Nathan Pribble, Lance Alcorn, Russ Adams, Dawn Mennel, Randy Booth, Joshua Kopp, Steve Lance, Jewell Lendale, Mike Mataragas, Tim Manville, Bill Kettering, Brad Denny, Gerry Reeder, Greg Longfellow, Shawn Toczek, Jeremy Conaway, Russ Schonoover, Brian Allen, Bob Freeburg, Chuck Mitchell, Scott Bull, Ryan Little, Rick O’Brien, Donny Walden, Charlie Hess, Dan O’Connor, Brandon Sheppard, Joe Harlan, Jay Sparks, Bryan Collins, Jim Felker, Brian Crebs, B.I. Nelson

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings (after 22 events):

1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,486

2. Don O’Neal 1,450

3. Mike Marlar 1,382

4. Wes Steidinger 1,380

5. Jeep VanWormer 1,322

6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 1,280

7. Eddie Kirchoff 998

8. Kevin Weaver 950

9. Jason Feger 918

10. Randy Korte 900

11. Rodney Melvin 866

12. A.J. Diemel 830

13. Billy Moyer 770

14. Terry Casey 686

15. Shannon Babb 669

16. Ryan Dauber 379

17. Greg Johnson 378

18. Jordan Bland 342

19. Brady Smith 318

20. Rusty Schlenk 313

July 10....Tuesday....Quincy Raceways, Quincy, IL  40 laps 6000 to win..217-224-4100 

Thanks to Jack Walbring

First race hit the track at 9:10pm and done at 11:40pm.

Fastenal 40 A-Main 01 -- 1. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua; 2. Dennis Erb, Carpentersville; 3. Brady Smith, Solon Springs, Wis; 4. Steve Sheppard Jr, New Berlin; 5. Eddie Kirchoff, Gillette, ; 6. Wes Steidinger, Fairbury; 7. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy; 8. AJ Diemel, Bonduel, Wis; 9. Kevin Weaver, Gibson City; 10. Jeep VanWormer, Pinconning, Mich.; 11. Ed Dixon, Washington, Mo.; 12. Jason Feger, Bloomington; 13. Jason McBride;; 14. Rusty Griffaw, Festus, Mo.; 15. Bryan Collins, Elsberry, Mo.; 16. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.; 17. Don Oneal, Martinsville, Ind.; 18. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin; 19. Keith Pratt, Mendon; 20. Rickey Frankel, Quincy; 21. Terry Gallaher, New London, Mo..
B-Main 1 -- 1. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy; 2. Keith Pratt, Mendon; 3. Jason Feger, Bloomington; 4. Jason McBride;; 5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin; 6. Russ Schoonover, Bolten, ; 7. Brian Kenning, Quincy; 8. Fred Remley, Blue Grass, Iowa; 9. Russ Adams, Princeville; 10. Scott Dedwylder, Vossburg, Miss.; 11. Terry Gallaher, New London, Mo.; 12. Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo.; 13. Rob Toland, Bettendorf, Iowa; 14. Chris Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.; 15. Justin Reed, Quincy, Il..
Heat 1 -- 1. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua; 2. Don Oneal, Martinsville, Ind.; 3. Kevin Weaver, Gibson City; 4. Wes Steidinger, Fairbury; 5. Rusty Griffaw, Festus, Mo.; 6. Terry Gallaher, New London, Mo.; 7. Keith Pratt, Mendon; 8. Fred Remley, Blue Grass, Iowa; 9. Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo.; 10. Chris Smyser, Lancaster, Mo..
Heat 2 -- 1. Steve Sheppard Jr, New Berlin; 2. Jeep VanWormer, Pinconning, Mich.; 3. Eddie Kirchoff, Gillette, ; 4. AJ Diemel, Bonduel, Wis; 5. Bryan Collins, Elsberry, Mo.; 6. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy; 7. Jason Feger, Bloomington; 8. Jason McBride;; 9. Rob Toland, Bettendorf, Iowa; 10. Scott Dedwylder, Vossburg, Miss..
Heat 3 -- 1. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.; 2. Brady Smith, Solon Springs, Wis; 3. Dennis Erbe, Carpentersville; 4. Ed Dixon, Washington, Mo.; 5. Rickey Frankel, Quincy; 6. Brian Kenning, Quincy; 7. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin; 8. Russ Adams, Princeville; 9. Russ Schoonover, Bolten, England ; 10. Justin Reed, Quincy, Il..

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 21 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: Shannon Babb Rolls To Third Straight Win At Quincy Raceway

QUINCY, IL – July 10, 2007 – Shannon Babb doesn’t want to see the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals come to an end.

Continuing his late surge on the tour, the Moweaqua, Ill., superstar rolled to a flag-to-flag victory in Tuesday night’s 40-lap A-Main at Quincy Raceway.

It was the third consecutive triumph for Babb, who opted not to defend his 2005-06 Summernationals titles this year but is hitting his stride in the tour’s final week.

Taking advantage of a pole position starting spot, Babb kept his Billy Moyer Sr.-owned Rayburn car in command for the entire distance. He outdistanced Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr., who started from the fifth row, for the $6,000 victory.

Babb, 33, registered his 54^th career UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals win. That ranks him second behind 62-time victor Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., the son of Babb’s team owner, on the alltime win list.

The victory also provided Babb some redemption from the 2006 Summernationals event at the quarter-mile Quincy Raceway. He appeared headed to a convincing win in that event when a suspension problem knocked him from the lead late in the distance.

Erb’s runner-up finish might go down as being crucial in his pursuit of a first career Summernationals title. He entered the event with just a two-point lead over Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., but extended his edge to 32 points (1,410-1,378) after the 2004 Summernationals champion retired with mechanical trouble on lap 19 while running in the top five.

Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., finished third, followed by Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill., and Eddie Kirchoff of Gilette, Wyo., who enjoyed one of his best outings in his first season as a Summernationals fulltimer.

Summernationals title contender Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., joined O’Neal as an early retiree, dropping out with two laps remaining. He was credited with a 16^th-place finish – one spot ahead of O’Neal – and fell 90 points behind Erb.

Thirty dirt Late Models entered the event, which had its start delayed by a late-afternoon shower.

Babb was the fastest in the group qualifying session with a lap of 13.381 seconds.

Heat winners were Babb, Sheppard and Marlar, and Mark Burgtorf of Quincy, Ill., captured the B-Main.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):

1. Shannon Babb

2. Dennis Erb Jr.

3. Brady Smith

4. Steve Sheppard Jr.

5. Eddie Kirchoff

6. Wes Steidinger

7. Mark Burgtorf

8. A.J. Diemel

9. Kevin Weaver

10. Jeep VanWormer

11. Ed Dixon

12. Jason Feger

13. Jason McBride

14. Rusty Griffaw

15. Bryan Collins

16. Mike Marlar

17. Don O’Neal

18. Brandon Sheppard

19. Keith Pratt

20. Rickey Frankel

21. Terry Gallaher

DNQ: Russ Schoonover, Brian Kenning, Fred Remley, Russ Adams, Scott Dedwylder, Kevin Tomlinson, Rob Toland, Chris Smyser, Justin Reed

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standins (after 21 events):

1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,410

2. Don O’Neal 1,378

3. Mike Marlar 1,320

4. Wes Steidinger 1,310

5. Jeep VanWormer 1,244

6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 1,234

7. Eddie Kirchoff 946

8. Kevin Weaver 916

9. Rodney Melvin 866

10. Jason Feger 864

11. Randy Korte 826

12. A.J. Diemel 770

12. Billy Moyer 770

14. Terry Casey 686

15. Shannon Babb 589

16. Jordan Bland 342

17. Ryan Dauber 339

18. Greg Johnson 314

19. Rusty Schlenk 313

20. Jeff Taylor 275

July 09....Monday....C.J. Raceway, Columbus Junction, IA (new track) 40 laps 6000 to win..319-728-3043

Thanks to Mike Sunken

Thanks to Jimmy Dearing @ STLracing.com
COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA – July 9, 2007 – The Shannon Babb Express is picking up steam as the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals winds down.

Moweaqua , Ill. ’s Babb rolled to his second consecutive tour triumph on Monday night, leading from flag-to-flag in the 30-lap A-Main at C.J. Raceway.

Babb, 33, is not defending his 2005-06 Summernationals titles this season, but he’s still looking to make his mark on the grueling tour. After winning for the first time in seven series starts on Sunday night at Quad City Raceway in East Moline , Ill. , he came right back with another vintage performance at the four-tenths-mile C.J. Raceway.

Taking advantage of a pole position starting spot, Babb steered his one-week-old Billy Moyer Sr.-owned Rayburn into the lead at the initial green flag and never looked back. He outran Don O’Neal of Martinsville , Ind. , in the closing laps to secure the $6,000 top prize.

The victory was the 53rd of Babb’s career on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals trail, and it gave him at least two tour wins for the sixth consecutive year.

O’Neal had to settle for runner-up money, but the finish drew him within two points of Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr., who placed eighth. O’Neal won the 2004 Summernationals title, while Erb is bidding for his first career tour crown.

Six-time Summernationals champ Billy Moyer of Batesville , Ark. , finished third, followed by Brady Smith of Solon Springs , Wis. , and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine , Iowa , who lost several spots when he slid high late in the distance.

Thirty dirt Late Models participated in the first-ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals event at C.J. Raceway. Rain caused a delay in the program but officials were able to beat the weather.

Heat winners were Babb, Chris Smyser of Lancaster , Mo. , and O’Neal, and Erb captured the B-Main.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (30 laps):
1. Shannon Babb
2. Don O’Neal
3. Billy Moyer
4. Brady Smith
5. Brian Birkhofer
6. Brian Harris
7. Wes Steidinger
8. Dennis Erb Jr.
9. Chad Simpson
10. Chris Smyser
11. Eddie Kirchoff
12. Mike Marlar
13. Steve Sheppard Jr.
14. Jeep VanWormer
15. Jay Johnson
16. A.J. Diemel
17. Kevin Weaver
18. Jason Utter
19. Kevin Kile
20. Billy Moyer Jr.
21. Jason Feger

DNQ: Kurt Kile, Jason McBride, Jerry Lauber, Fred Remley, Tom Darbyshire, Jay Chenowith, Tommy Elston, Johnny Johnson, Scott Dedwylder

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings (after 20 events):
1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,342
2. Don O’Neal 1,340
3. Mike Marlar 1,280
4. Wes Steidinger 1,250
5. Jeep VanWormer 1,192
6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 1,178
7. Eddie Kirchoff 884
8. Rodney Melvin 866
9. Kevin Weaver 862
10. Randy Korte 826
11. Jason Feger 816
12. Billy Moyer 770
13. A.J. Diemel 714
14. Terry Casey 686
15. Shannon Babb 519
16. Jordan Bland 342
17. Ryan Dauber 339
18. Greg Johnson 314
19. Rusty Schlenk 313
20. Jeff Taylor 275

July 08....Sunday....Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..608-644-1977

Thanks to Mike Sunken

heat race winners---  Jeep VanWormer,  Rob Toland,  Shannon Babb  
26 cars
Semi winner--   Ryan Dauber
 
Feature---Jeep Vanwormer lead first 25 laps or so,
with Rob Toland getting away second,  Babb passed
Toland about lap 15, then got by Jeep on lap 25 or so
and win on to the win, with Don O'neal making a late
run at him and winding about a car length back in
second, Jeep was third, Followed by local driver Rob
Toland 4th, and Steve Sheppard 5th.  Eddie Kirchoff
came 6th.  Track was racey and black slick.
 
1.   18 Shanon Babb
2.   71 Don O'neal
3.   55 Jeep VanWormer
4.   39 Rob Toland
5.   5s Steve Sheppard Jr
6.   5k Ed Kirchoff

July 07....Saturday....Fairbury American Legion Speedway, Fairbury, IL 50  laps 10000 to win..815-692-3222

Thanks to Dave & April

Thanks to BradNeatFan41, DotComGuy, from 4m

36 Late Models

Fast Time - Billy Moyer 12.98

Heat 1

21 Billy Moyer
18 Shannon Babb
1w Donny Walden

Heat 2

28 Jimmy Mars
Z Joe Harlan
B12 Kevin Weaver (3-wide for the lead)

Heat 3

5s Steve Sheppard
5K Eddie Kirkhoff
28 Dennis Erb Jr.

(O'Neal / Jeep / Shirley were all in this heat but did not make it)

Heat 4

83 Scott Bull
J1 Wes Steidinger
34 Mike Marlar

Consi 1

0 Richie Hedrick
64 Ryan Dauber
M27 Mike Provenzano

Consi 2

58 AJ Diemel
89 Daren Friedman
71 Don ONeal

(Jeep and O'Neal tangled on the white flag lap... Jeep not very happy)

Provisionals

55 Jeep Van Wormer
3S Brian Shirley
S10 Jr Shickel

Feature Results

Feature ($10,000 to win - 50 laps)
34 Mike Marlar (12)
18 Shannon Babb (5)
28 Jimmy Mars (4)
21 Billy Moyer (2)
28 Dennis Erb Jr. (11)
5S Steve Sheppard Jr. (1)
83 Scott Bull (3)
Z Joe Harlan (6)
3S Brian Shirley (20)
71 Don O'Neal (18)

Marlar wins by a door

July 06....Friday....Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, IL  (3/8 mile track) 40 laps 10000 to win..618-931-7386

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 17 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: O’Neal Holds Off Moyer & Shirley For Victory At Tri-City Speedway

PONTOON BEACH, IL – July 6, 2007 – Don O’Neal is ready for the stretch run of the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals.

After two days away from the tour grind – for a scheduled off day and a rainout – the Martinsville, Ind., came back recharged on Friday night and drove to a powerful victory in the 40-lap A-Main at Tri-City Speedway.

It was the third victory of this year’s Summernationals for O’Neal, whose 35 career tour checkered flags rank him third on the alltime win list behind Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (62) and Moweaqua, Ill.’s Babb (51). He had never before captured a series event at the Tri-City facility.

The $10,000 triumph brought O’Neal closer to UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., who charged to a fifth-place finish after qualifying through a B-Main.

It wasn’t an easy win for O’Neal, the 2004 Summernationals champion. He had to hold off the advances of Moyer and Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who finished second and third, respectively, to reach the checkered flag first.

Jimmy Mars of Menononie, Wis., placed fourth and Erb was fifth.

Summernationals frustration continued for Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., whose hopes for the tour title have been disintegrating over the past week. He was credited with a last-place finish (22^nd) after an early tangle with Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., prompted him to make contact with Korte’s car under caution, earning him a black flag from UMP officials.

Forty-six dirt Late Models entered the first-ever Summernationals event run on Tri-City’s new three-eighths-mile layout. The tour raced in previous years on the facility’s big half-mile track, which Tri-City owner Kevin Gundaker replaced with a smaller oval for the 2007 season.

Heat winners were Moyer, Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., O’Neal and Mars, and the B-Mains were captured by Jason Feger of Springfield, Ill., and Erb.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):

1. Don O’Neal

2. Billy Moyer

3. Brian Shirley

4. Jimmy Mars

5. Dennis Erb Jr.

6. Shannon Babb

7. Jason Feger

8. Jeep VanWormer

9. Terry Phillips

10. Wes Steidinger

11. Steve Sheppard Jr.

12. Randy Korte

13. Kevin Weaver

14. Rodney Melvin

15. Eddie Kirchoff

16. Bryan Collins

17. Billy Faust

18. Mark Faust

19. Michael Kloos

20. Mark Voigt

21. Josh Richards

22. Mike Marlar

DNQ: Billy Moyer Jr., Mark Burgtorf, Jack Sullivan, Jason McBride, Reid Millard, Dick Taylor, Marshall Austin Jr., Jayme Zidar, A.J. Diemel, Kyle Steffens, Brian Birkhofer, Bill Williamson, Billy James, Jeremy Payne, Billy Laycock, Rick Salter, Mark Oller, Steve Myers, Butch Kruckeberg, Craig Smith, Steve Rushin, Chris Smyser, Don Cisco III, Rylan Dagg

Thanks to Jimmy Dearing/STLRacing.com

46 ENTRIES
UMP Late Models : Heat 01
1 21 BILLY MOYER
2 j1 WES STEIDINGER
3 B12 KEVIN WEAVER
4 25f JASON FEGER
5 30 MARK VOIGT (*L)
6 75 TERRY PHILLIPS
7 5jr BILLY JAMES
8 00s CHRIS SMYSER
9 82 BILLY LAYCOCK
10 67 MARK OLLER (*C)
11 1s RICK SALTER (*L)
12 76 BUTCH KRUCKEBERG

UMP Late Models : Heat 02
1 55 JEEP VAN WORMER
2 18 SHANNON BABB
3 34 MIKE MARLER
4 6k MICHAEL KLOOS (*L)
5 11z BRYAN COLLINS (*L)
6 74 JEREMY PAYNE
7 81 CRAIG SMITH (*L)
8 21m STEVE MYERS (*L)
9 14JR STEVE RUSHIN
10 dc3 DON CISCO III
11 r52 RYLAN DAGG (*C)

UMP Late Models : Heat 03
1 71 DON O'NEAL
2 92b BILLY FAUST (*L)
3 0 RANDY KORTE
4 28 DENNIS ERB
5 27 RODNEY MELVIN
6 92m MARK FAUST (*L)
7 58 AJ DIEMEL
8 7 MARK BURGTORF
9 24 DICK TAYLOR
10 15B BRIAN BIRKHOFER
11 8 KYLE STEFFENS (*L)
12 18s JACK SULLIVAN

UMP Late Models : Heat 04
1 28M JIMMY MARS
2 3S BRIAN SHIRLEY
3 1 JOSH RICHARDS
4 9z JAYME ZIDAR
5 5k EDDIE KIRCHOFF
6 21JR BILLY MOYER JR
7 5s STEVE SHEPPARD JR
8 77 JASON MCBRIDE
9 42a MARSHALL AUSTIN JR
10 14m REID MILLARD (*L)
11 70 BILL WILLIAMSON (*L) DNS

UMP Late Models : B-Main 01
1 25f JASON FEGER
2 75 TERRY PHILLIPS
3 30 MARK VOIGT (*L)
4 5jr BILLY JAMES
5 74 JEREMY PAYNE
6 82 BILLY LAYCOCK
7 1s RICK SALTER (*L)
8 67 MARK OLLER (*C)
9 21m STEVE MYERS (*L)
10 76 BUTCH KRUCKEBERG
11 81 CRAIG SMITH (*L)
12 14JR STEVE RUSHIN
13 00s CHRIS SMYSER
14 6k MICHAEL KLOOS (*L)
15 11z BRYAN COLLINS (*L)
16 dc3 DON CISCO III DNS
17 r52 RYLAN DAGG (*C) DNS

UMP Late Models : B-Main 02
1 28 DENNIS ERB
2 27 RODNEY MELVIN
3 5s STEVE SHEPPARD JR
4 92m MARK FAUST (*L)
5 21JR BILLY MOYER JR
6 7 MARK BURGTORF
7 5k EDDIE KIRCHOFF
8 18s JACK SULLIVAN
9 77 JASON MCBRIDE
10 14m REID MILLARD (*L)
11 24 DICK TAYLOR
12 42a MARSHALL AUSTIN JR
13 9z JAYME ZIDAR
14 58 AJ DIEMEL
15 8 KYLE STEFFENS (*L)
16 15B BRIAN BIRKHOFER DNS
17 70 BILL WILLIAMSON (*L) DNS

UMP Late Models : A-Main

July 05....Thursday....Macon Speedway, Macon, IL 100 laps 6000 to win..217-764-3000

Rain

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Late-Afternoon Thunderstorm Forces Postponement Of UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals ‘Herald & Review 100’ At Macon Speedway 

MACON, IL – July 5, 2007 – A late-afternoon thunderstorm struck Macon Speedway on Thursday, forcing the postponement of the evening’s UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals ‘The Herald & Review 100.’ 

The prestigious extra-distance event at the one-fifth-mile, high-banked oval has been rescheduled for Sat., July 21. 

The Herald & Review 100 was scheduled to be the 17^th stop of the 26-event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals. It was the fourth program that was rained out on this year’s tour.

July 04....Wednesday....off

July 03....Tuesday....Lawrenceburg Speedway, Lawrenceburg, IN 40 laps 6000 to win..812-539-4700

Thanks to Sandy Lowe

QUALIFICATIONS

1-            55                Jeep VanWormer                12.370

2-            5s                Steve Sheppard, Jr.                12.403

3-            J1                Wes Steidinger                12.527

4-            5K                Eddie Kirchoff  12.598

5-            28                Dennis Erb, Jr.   12.634

6-            00                Randy Korte      12.644

7-            64                Ryan Dauber  12.753

8-            34                Mike Marlar    12.755

9-            20                Jimmy Owens   12.790

10-          4                Greg Johnson                12.898

11-          11                Jerry Rice       12.900

12-          12                Jordan Bland     12.935

13-          25                Jason Feger     12.943

14-          71                Don O’Neal   12.982

15-          1                Wayne Chinn     13.098

16-          9                Rick Corbin    13.166

17-          42                Marshall Austin     13.427

18-          58                AJ Diemel   13.556

19-          1X                Jason Jameson                13.556

20-          43                Ronnie Douglas 13.840

21-          ZERO                Denny Arcaro    13.907

22-          73                Jason Smith     14.111

23-          33                Jesse Lay          14.533

24-          16                Shawn Negangard                NT

25-          JJ2                James Doller     NT

HEAT 1

1-            00                Randy Korte

2-            64                Ryan Dauber

3-            25                Jason Feger

4-            11                Jerry Rice

5-            58                AJ Diemel

6-            1X                Jason Jameson

7-            1                Wayne Chinn

8-            71                Don O’Neal

9-            12                Jordan Bland

HEAT 2

1-            55                Jeep VanWormer

2-            28                Dennis Erb, Jr.

3-            5K                Eddie Kirchoff

4-            34                Mike Marlar

5-            42                Marshall Austin

6-            9                Rick Corbin

7-            ZERO                Denny Arcaro

8-            43                Ronnie Douglas

HEAT 3

1-            J1                Wes Steidinger

2-            5s                Steve Sheppard, Jr.

3-            4                Greg Johnson

4-            20                Jimmy Owens

5-            33                Jesse Lay

6-            16                Shawn Negangard

7-            73                Jason Smith

8-            JJ2                James Doller

B MAIN

1-            1                Wayne Chinn

2-            71                Don O’Neal

3-            16                Shawn Negangard

4-            1X                Jason Jameson

5-            73                Jason Smith

6-            JJ2                James Doller

7-            ZERO                Denny Arcaro

8-            9                Rick Corbin

9-            12                Jordan Bland

10-          43                Ronnie Douglas

FEATURE

1-            55                Jeep VanWormer

2-            5s                Steve Sheppard, Jr.

3-            00                Randy Korte

4-            28                Dennis Erb, Jr.

5-            J1                Wes Steidinger

6-            58                AJ Diemel

7-            1                Wayne Chinn

8-            16                Shawn Negangard

9-            71                Don O’Neal

10-          5K                Eddie Kirchoff

11-          73                Jason Smith

12-          4                Greg Johnson

13-          20                Jimmy Owens

14-          25                Jason Feger

15-          9                Rick Corbin

16-          12                Jordan Bland

17-          64                Ryan Dauber

18-          42                Marshall Austin

19-          11                Jerry Rice

20-          33                Jesse Lay

21-          34                Mike Marlar

Lap Leaders:

1-2          00                Randy Korte

3-40        55                Jeep VanWormer

click here for results from the other classes at Lawrenceburg

Thanks to DirtyBoy and Tracy Feger

Big Thanks to Tracy Feger for Calling in these Results Tonight

Heat Line Ups

Heat 1

Korte - Dauber
Rice - Bland
Feger - Diemel
Oneal - Chinn
Jameson

Heat 2

VanWormer - Kirchoff
Erb - Marlar
Corbin - Marshall Austin
Ronnie Dougles - Arcaro

Heat 3

Sheppard - Steidinger
Owens - Greg Johnson
Jason Smith - Jessee Lay
James Doller - Negangard

Heat Results (Taking 5 from the Heats)

Heat 1

1. Korte
2. Dauber
3. Feger
4.11
5. 58
6. 1
7. 10
8. Oneal

Heat 2

1. VanWormer
2. Erb
3.Kirchoff
4. Marlar
5. Austin
6. #9
7. #0
8. #43

Heat 3

1. Steidinger
2. Sheppard
3. Johnson
4. Owens
5. Lay
6. Negangard
7. #73
8. J22

Semi Results

1. Wayne Chinn
2. Oneal
3. J22
4. Negangard

Feature Results

1. Jeep Van Wormer
2. Steve Sheppard Jr- (was real fast last 10 laps)
3. Randy Korte
4. Dennis Erb Jr
5. Wes Steidinger
6. AJ Diemel
7. Wayne Chinn
8. Ed Kirchoff
9. Don O'Neal ( came from the back was 4th and got a flat)
10. Shawn Negangard
11. 73

Only 11 cars on the track at the end of the race.

12. Greg Johnson
13. Jimmy Owens
14. Jason Feger
15. Jordan Bland

Marlar was like 17th - had radiator problems right at the beginning of the Feature.

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 16 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: VanWormer Continues Surge With Victory At Lawrenceburg Speedway

LAWRENCEBURG, IN – July 3, 2007 – Jeep VanWormer continued his surge on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals series, winning Tuesday night’s 40-lap A-Main at Lawrenceburg Speedway.

The 32-year-old from Pinconning, Mich., outdueled fellow front-row starter Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., for the lead on lap three and never looked back. He controlled the action to earn $6,000 for his second victory of the 2007 Summernationals.

The runner-up in the 2006 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals point standings, VanWormer got off to a slow start on this year’s tour, registering just two top-10 finishes in the first 10 events. But he’s caught fire with five top-five and six top-10 finishes in the last six A-Mains, vaulting him to fifth in the point standings and keeping alive his hopes of winning the $25,000 championship.

VanWormer, who scored his fifth career Summernationals win, beat Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill., to the finish line.

Korte settled for third, followed by Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.

Title contenders Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., had tough nights.

O’Neal didn’t finish his heat, but came from the rear of the B-Main to place second. He worked his way forward from deep in the feature field to reach seventh place, then cracked the top five late in the distance only to be slowed by a deflating left-rear tire that left him with a ninth-place finish.

Marlar, meanwhile, experienced engine problems and was the first driver to drop out of the feature.

Twenty-five cars entered the event, which saw VanWormer set fast time during group qualifying with a lap of 12.370 seconds.

Heat winners were Korte, VanWormer and Steidinger, and Wayne Chinn of Tipp City, Ohio, captured the B-Main.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):

1. Jeep VanWormer

2. Steve Sheppard Jr.

3. Randy Korte

4. Dennis Erb Jr.

5. Wes Steidinger

6. A.J. Diemel

7. Wayne Chinn

8. Shawn Negangard

9. Don O’Neal

10. Eddie Kirchoff

11. Jason Smith

12. Greg Johnson

13. Jimmy Owens

14. Jason Feger

15. Rick Corbin

16. Jordan Bland

17. Ryan Dauber

18. Marshall Austin

19. Jerry Rice

20. Jesse Lay

21. Mike Marlar

DNQ: Jason Jameson, James Doller, Denny Arcaro, Ronnie Douglas

Unofficial UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Point Standings (after 16 of 26 events):

1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,093
2. Don O'Neal 1,067
3. Mike Marlar 1,055
4. Wes Steidinger 1,033
5. Jeep VanWormer 973
6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 891
7. Rodney Melvin 811
8. Randy Korte 767
9. Eddie Kirchoff 711
10. Jason Feger 679
11. Terry Casey 673
12. Kevin Weaver 665

July 02....Monday....Midway Speedway, Crooksville, OH (new track) 50 laps 10000 to win..740-982-2987

Thanks to Montana Magic

1) Earl Pearson Jr 2) Jeep VanWormer 3) Rick Aukland 4) Mike Marlar 5) A.J.Diemel 6) Steve Shaver 7) Bart Hartman 8) Dennis Erb Jr 9) Corey Conley 10) Wes Steidinger 11) Jeremy Miller 12) Don O'Neal 13) D.J.Cline 14) Mike Balzano 15) Steve Sheppard Jr 16) Scott Peltz 17) Jason Feger 18) Keith Berner 19) Ronnie Mayle 20) Billy Drake 21) Justin Rattliff

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 15 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: Earl Pearson Jr. Captures Jim Dunn Memorial At Midway Speedway

CROOKSVILLE, OH – July 2, 2007 – Earl Pearson Jr. came out on top of a titanic battle for the lead to win Monday night’s UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals ‘Jim Dunn Memorial 50’ at Midway Speedway.

Pearson, 35, of Jacksonville, Fla., wasn’t headed after passing Corey Conley of Wellsburg, W.Va., for the top spot on lap eight, but his march to the $10,000 top prize was anything but easy. He repelled the spirited advances of Pinconning, Mich.’s Jeep VanWormer while negotiating lapped traffic late in the distance, and Rick Aukland of Zanesville, Ohio, was lurking in the shadows as well.

VanWormer, the runner-up in last year’s Summernationals point standings, settled for a close second-place finish, with Aukland right on his tail in third at the checkered flag.

Completing the top five was Summernationals points leader Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., who qualified through a B-Main, and A.J. Diemel of Navarino, Wis., a newcomer to the Summernationals trail this season.

Pearson’s victory was the second of his career in UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals competition. His first win came on July 14, 2004, at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa.

Fifty dirt Late Models entered the first-ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals event at the Ohio track.

Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va., recorded the fastest lap in group qualifying, turning the oval in 13.61 seconds.

Heat winners were Pearson, Aukland, Diemel, VanWormer, Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., and Corey Conley. The B-Mains were captured by Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, Marlar and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (50 laps):

1. Earl Pearson Jr.

2. Jeep VanWormer

3. Rick Auckland

4. Mike Marlar

5. A.J. Diemel

6. Steve Shaver

7. Bart Hartman

8. Dennis Erb Jr.

9. Corey Conley

10. Wes Steidinger

11. Jeremy Miller

12. Don O'Neal

13. D.J. Cline

14. Mike Balzano

15. Steve Sheppard Jr.

16. Scott Peltz

17. Jason Feger

18. Keith Berner

19. Ronnie Mayle

20. Billy Drake

21. Justin Ratliff

DNQ: Jordan Bland, Jeff Burdett, Ben Adkins, Freddie Carpenter, Sam Lovejoy, Shane McGloughlin, Mark Banal, Rodney Gibson, Greg Oliver, Russ Frohnapfel, Rick Conley, Dave Wolfe, Scott Bull, Dusty Campbell, Kevin Cole, Norm Aronhalt, Josh McGuire, Larry Bond, Skip Watterman, Sean Cosgrove, Rick Armstrong, Dan Shrigley, Doug Winston, Terry Tucker, Brad Neat, Bobby Kitchen, Eddie Kirchoff, Damon Eller, Jason Riggs

July 01....Sunday....Vermilion County Speedway, Danville, IL 40 laps 6000 to win..217-443-6588

Thanks to Namgalf

UMP Summernationals results
June 1, 2007
Thanks to Namgalf

Heat 1: Babb, Marlar, Deimel, Van Wormer
Heat 2: Mataragas, Feger, Bull, D!ck
Heat 3: Kirchoff, Shepard, Bland, Steidinger
Heat 4: O'Neal, Erb, G. Johnson, Korte
Sorry don't have the consi's but these should be the transfers and provisionals in no certain order: Van Wormer, C. Dick, Korte, Zidar, Austin, Hedrick, B. Shepard, Weaver, Steidinger
Feature: 1. Don O'Neal 2. Shannon Babb 3. Dennis Erb Jr
4. Jason Feger 5. Mike Marlar 6. A.J. Deimel
7. Wes Steidinger 8. Jeep Van Wormer 9. Scott Bull
10. Jordan Bland 11. Jayme Zidar 12. Eric Kirchoff
13. Greg Johnson 14. Steve Shepard Jr. 15. Chris Dick
16. Marshall Austin 17. Brandon Shepard 18. Richie Hedrick
19. Kevin Weaver 20. Mike Mataragas 21. Randy Korte
33 cars entered

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 14 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: O’Neal Beats Babb To Finish Line At Vermilion County

DANVILLE, IL – July 1, 2007 – In a battle of the last two UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals champions, Don O’Neal held off Shannon Babb to capture Sunday night’s 40-lap tour A-Main at Vermilion County Speedway.

Martinsville, Ind.’s O’Neal, a Summernationals regular this season for the first time since his 2004 title run, scored his second victory of the 2007 trail. He earned $6,000 for his 34^th career Summernationals triumph, which ranks him third on the alltime win list behind Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (62) and Moweaqua, Ill.’s Babb (51).

Babb, who won the Summernationals championship in 2005 and 2006 but is not a regular on the tour this year, settled for second place. Sitting behind the wheel of a brand-new Rayburn car, the 33-year-old set fast time in group qualifying and registered his first top-five finish on the series in four 2007 starts.

Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., finished third, followed by Jason Feger of Springfield, Ill., and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn.

With 33 dirt Late Models on hand, heat winners were Babb, Mike Mataragas of Dekalb, Ill., Eddie Kirchoff of Gillette, Wyo., and O’Neal. The B-Mains were captured by Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., and Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):

1. Don O'Neal

2. Shannon Babb

3. Dennis Erb Jr.
4. Jason Feger

5. Mike Marlar

6. A.J. Diemel
7. Wes Steidinger

8. Jeep VanWormer

9. Scott Bull
10. Jordan Bland

11. Jayme Zidar

12. Eric Kirchoff
13. Greg Johnson

14. Steve Sheppard Jr.

15. Chris Dick
16. Marshall Austin

17. Brandon Shepard

18. Richie Hedrick
19. Kevin Weaver

20. Mike Mataragas

21. Randy Korte

Jun 30....Saturday....Clarksville Speedway, Clarksville, TN 40 laps 10000 to win..931-645-2523

Thanks to Ed Burr

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Night 13 of the 26-Event UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals: VanWormer Finds Winning Formula At Clarksville Speedway 

CLARKSVILLE, TN – June 30, 2007 – Jeep VanWormer is making up for a slow start on the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals series.

The 32-year-old from Pinconning, Mich., continued his surge as the tour reached its halfway point, winning Saturday night’s 40-lap A-Main at Clarksville Speedway.

Coming off a strong second-place finish in the June 28 event at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway, VanWormer took advantage of a pole starting spot to lead from flag-to-flag at the quarter-mile oval. He repelled periodic challenges from Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., to pocket $10,000 for his first victory of the 2007 Summernationals.

VanWormer, who entered the ’07 Summernationals as a favorite to win the $25,000 points title after finishing second in the ’06 tour standings, recorded just two top-10 finishes in the first 10 events of this year’s series. But Saturday’s triumph was his third consecutive top-five run, so it appears he’s finally hit his stride.

The win was the fourth of VanWormer’s career in UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals action. He won twice in 2006 and scored his initial victory in 2002.

Steidinger settled for second place as he continues to chase his first-ever Summernationals triumph. He started on the outside pole.

Jeff Taylor of Texarkana, Ark., finished third, followed by Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals points leader Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., experienced his second straight rough night. But after rallying to finish 11^th after a spin forced him to the rear of the field, he was able to remain atop the point standings by eight markers over Erb and 18 over Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who finished ninth.

Forty-seven cars entered the event.

Heat winners were VanWormer, Steidinger, Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., and Taylor, and the B-Mains were captured by Billy James of Sikeston, Mo., and Marlar.

UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):

1. Jeep VanWormer

2. Wes Steidinger

3. Jeff Taylor

4. Jack Sullivan

5. Dennis Erb Jr.

6. Rodney Melvin

7. Billy Moyer

8. Randy Korte

9. Don O’Neal

10. Garrett Durrett

11. Mike Marlar

12. Eddie Kirchoff

13. Gil Smith

14. Kevin Weaver

15. Billy James

16. Chuck Proctor

17. Wendell Wallace

18. Mike Chandler

19. Rusty Griffaw

20. Jarryd Holshouser

21. Tony Albright

DNQ: Steve Sheppard Jr., William Glisson, A.J. Diemel, Duane Hodges, Gary Johnson, Brian Ashby, Rand Richardson, Perry Delany, Eddie Sykes, Chris Shelton, Kevin Cole, Steven Ashby, Dylan Thompson, Michael Steele, Caleb Ashby, David Miller, Jordan Bland, Marshall Austin Jr., Darren Baxter, Jason Mcbride, Mutt Trotter, Wendell Bratton, Charles Zimmerman, David Gentry, Joseph Lingauer, Terry Casey  

Jun 29....Friday....Western Kentucky Speedway, Nebo, KY 40 laps 6000 to win ..270-249-3125

RAIN

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Western Kentucky Speedway’s UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Event Falls To Rain On Friday Night 

NEBO, KY – June 29, 2007 – Rain forced the cancellation of Friday night’s UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals event at Western Kentucky Speedway. 

The scheduled 40-lap, $6,000-to-win dirt Late Model program was the third of this year’s Summernationals to fall to wet weather. Previous rainouts occurred at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway on June 22 and Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., on June 27. 

Jun 28....Thursday....Paducah International Raceway, Paducah, KY 40 laps 6000 to win..270-898-7469
Thanks to Kimmik and Tracy Feger and Nick Ponton

Billy Moyer Sr
Jeep Van Wormer
Randy Korte
Don O'Neal
Jeff Taylor
Steve Sheppard Jr
Terry English
Dennis Erb Jr
Terry Casey
not sure about 10th
Wes Steidinger
Mike Marlar
Jason Feger
not sure about the rest
Jeep was a wild man, trying anything and everything to get around Moyer
Great Race!!

Jun 27....Wednesday....Lake Ozark Speedway, Lake of the Ozarks, MO (new track)40 laps 6000 to win..800-617-9077

RAIN  

Thanks to UMP DIRTcar

Heavy Rain Washes Out Wednesday Night’s First-Ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Event At Lake Ozark Speedway 

ELDON, MO – June 27, 2007 – UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals action at Lake Ozark Speedway will have to wait until next year. 

Heavy rain and the likelihood of more forced officials to cancel Wednesday night’s scheduled 40-lap event at the one-third-mile oval. 

The show was to be the first-ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals program at Lake Ozark Speedway. 

With the Summernationals schedule already jammed to its conclusion on July 14 and Lake Ozark’s geographic location making a return trip difficult, UMP officials announced that the race will not be rescheduled in 2007.

Jun 26....Tuesday....Poplar Bluff Speedway, Poplar Bluff, MO 40 laps 6000 to win..573-785-8989
Thanks to HikerDan and Tracy Feger