DANVILLE, Ill. (May 25, 2001)  If Friday night’s UMP modified racing action is in any way an indication of what is yet to come  this Sunday at Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, well race fans had better plan on an early arrival to get a good seat, if a seat at all.  Friday night, promoter Bill Marietta and his Vermilion County Speedway staff, hosted the National Kidney Foundation series for what would essentially be a tune-up for the 8^th Annual David Richardson Memorial race, to be held this Sunday at the 3/8-mile clay oval facility located in east central Illinois.  Over 60 modifieds turned up to try and find their ways into the 30-lap main event. 

Newport, Tennessee’s Jimmy Owens, the 2000 UMP National Champion, made his way to the high banks of Danville, and showed people why he is just that, a champion.  Driving a Lightning Chassis, sponsored by Southwest Speed/H-1 Auto Parts/Redline Oils/Bilstein Shocks, Owens started on the outside of pole sitter Chuck Haga, and struck early by vaulting himself into the lead as the field took the green flag and headed for turn one.  As the remainder of the twenty-four car field tip-toed their way through the first two turns, Owens was able to stretch out to a several car length lead over Haga, who was being hounded by Dan Hamstra of Fair Oaks, IN.  

On lap number two, consolation race winners Don Kiger and Dean Vickers got together in turn three bringing out an early race caution flag from starter Rick Isaacson.  By lap five, Hamstra was able to slide by Haga for second, while Fairbury’s (IL) Wes Steidinger moved around Matt Boknecht for the sixth position.  One lap later, Steidinger got by Dale Hayes for fifth.  On lap seven, Boknecht went into turn one a little hot and spun, then parked his car on the inside apron bringing out the second yellow flag. 

With the order now of Owens, Hamstra, Haga, Arby Burton, and Steidinger, the field rushed towards turn one where Hamstra tried valiantly to get alongside Owens in the corners.  The two began to pull away from the rest of the pack, stretching out to a ten car advantage.  Steidinger was able to get by Burton for fourth on lap 12 and was quickly closing in on Haga for third.  Meanwhile,Oakwood’s (IL) Brian Clendenen, the NALMS modified points champion a year ago, began the race sixteenth on the grid and was by now already up to the eighth position.  At the midway mark, Elvin Herschberger of Peru, IN dazzled the crowd with a three-wheel dance that lasted for two laps, although for all the wrong reasons.  Herschberger’s car had encountered a rear suspension problem that forced him to retire early to the pits, while bringing out the caution.  “I thought the track would be a lot slicker than it was, so we went with a short bar suspension, and when the car rolls in the corners, it rolled right over top of the bird cage and locked us up,” said a disappointed Herschberger.  “We’ll get it fixed and be back Sunday for the big show.  Sometimes you just have nights like this,” he added.

On the restart, Owens pulled away from Hamstra and Haga again as the field roared down the backstretch.  The 18-year-old Steidinger was able to get under Haga for the third spot on lap 18, and one lap later successfully navigated his way by Hamstra for the runner-up spot.  Steidinger, who made his way to Vermilion County after Farmer City Raceway (IL) was forced to cancel their show due to rain, arrived minutes before qualifying, then unloaded and went out and set fast time on the night.  Current UMP points leader, Chad Kinder who started fifteenth, made his way up to the eighth spot on lap 23, while eight cars were dicing for position at the rear of the field.  Late model driver Richie Hedrick worked his way up to seventh on lap 26 using much the same line he would if in the late model.  Hedrick, was one of those drivers who traveled from Farmer City and arrived just in time.  “We got here just in time to get the car unloaded and get in and go, no air pressure adjustments or chassis changes at all.  Just get in in and race.” 

In the closing laps, Steidinger was able to close in on Owens, but could never mount a serious charge for the top spot.  “I thought I was closing in on him, and thought that maybe I could show him a nose, but it wasn’t meant to be.  We just ran out of laps.  He (Owens) is tough to beat, but I still think I might have had something there for him if we had more time.  We needed a caution there at the end,” said Steidinger. 

When the race was concluded Owens had taken the checkered flag first, while Steidinger, Hamstra, Burton, and Clendenen followed in tow.  Rounding out the top ten were Haga, Kinder, Hedrick, Darrin Thye, and Lee Hobbs. 

Heat races were won by Haga, Owens, Hamstra, Hayes, Burton, and Boknecht, while consolation wins went to Don Kiger, Kyle Logue, and Missouri’s Dean Vickers.  Steidinger set fast time with a lap of 15.406. 

Sunday afternoon, Vermilion County Speedway will host the 8^th Annual David Richardson Memorial race, with $5,000 awaiting the winner.  Over 120 cars from eight states are expected to fill the pits.  For more information on this event call (217) 443-6588. 

UMP modified results 

Heat races (top 3 advanced)

Heat 1- Chuck Haga, Wes Steidinger, Tony Roland, Jason Lakey

Heat 2-Jimmy Owens, Lee Hobbs, Elvin Herschberger, Terry Duncan

Heat 3-Dan Hamstra, Bruce Hanford, Bryan Clendenen, Clint DeMoss

Heat 4-Dale Hayes, Tim Reynolds, Sean Seavers, Darrell Herbert

Heat 5-Arby Burton, Denny Schwartz,Chad Kinder, Kyle Logue

Heat 6-Matt Boknecht, Darrin Thye, Richie Hedrick, Danny Schwatz

Consolation races (top 2 advanced)

!st Consy- Don Kiger, Jason Lakey, Darrell Herbert, J.R.Coyner, Scott Weber

2nd Consy-Kyle Logue, Roger Cary, Jeff Leka, John DeMoss, Terry Duncan

3rd Consy-Dean Vickers, Danny Schwartz, Tim O'Donnell, Ed Shamhart,Clint DeMoss