PEVELY, Mo. – March 3, 2011 – The 2011 racing season in St. Louis comes to life March 24-26 with the DIRTcar Roundup – better known as the “Party in Pevely” – at storied I-55 Raceway.

One of the largest events in short track racing features eight divisions of DIRTcar UMP Racing with drivers from the Midwest and beyond. The high-banked 1/3-mile track, owned by Ray Marler and NASCAR star Ken Schrader, will welcome the special event that is expected to draw hundreds of racecars during the three-day motorsports extravaganza at the facility just 20 miles south of St. Louis on Interstate 55.

Schrader is just one of the headliners scheduled to compete in the huge grassroots racing weekend.

Hundreds of laps of feature racing will be completed on both Friday and Saturday nights. In addition to DIRTcar Late Models, fans will see DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Pro Late Models, Sportsman, Limited Modifieds, Stock Cars, Factory Stocks and Sport Compacts all scheduled to compete it will be a huge festival of speed.

“The Party in Pevely is a special event for us, and we want to make sure that everything about it is done right for the racers and fans alike,” said World Racing Group President Tom Deery. “This event is all about the competitors who are coming from all over to be a part of this mega-weekend. With an event like this, it’s important that it is held at such a top-notch facility as I-55 Raceway. The phenomenal job that Ray Marler and his staff at I-55 Raceway do makes it possible for us to conduct such a huge schedule of events in one weekend. Every division of cars will race side-by-side throughout the entire event, and the competitors are some of the most approachable racers in the business.”

Competitors and fans from across the region will not only witness a slate of racing that offers tremendous value, but will also have added entertainment and nightly race parties following the on-track activities to highlight the weekend. Schrader and numerous other special guests from throughout the world of motorsports are scheduled to compete for the prized Belt Buckle Trophy and Silver Roundup Platter that have become synonymous with the DIRTcar Roundup.

Make sure to keep up-to-date on the DIRTcar Roundup by visiting http://www.PartyInPevely.com or http://www.I55Raceway.com for schedule, ticket and camping information. DIRTcar Roundup can also be found on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/DIRTcarRoundup.

The excitement of racing in St. Louis returns with the special three-day “Party in Pevely” followed April 2 and April 9 with Super Fast Saturday racing. On Saturday, April 16, “The Greatest Show on Dirt” returns to Pevely when legendary King of the Outlaws Steve Kinser leads the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars into I-55 Raceway for the Spring Classic. Reserved tickets for the April 16 special event are on sale now by calling I-55 Raceway for additional info at (636) 479-3219 or (573) 756-2593.

DIRTcar Roundup ‘Party in Pevely’ Schedule of Events (subject to change)

Thursday, March 24th

9:00 a.m.     Campground Opens

3:00 p.m.     Competitor Registration Opens

Competitor Technical Inspection Begins

5:00 p.m.     Open Practice Begins for All Competitor Divisions

10:00 p.m.   Pits Close

Round Up Tent Opens for Party

Friday, March 25th

10:00 a.m.   Round Up Tent Opens for Breakfast

2:00  p.m.    Competitor Registration Opens

3:00  p.m.    Competitor Technical Inspection Begins

7:00  p.m.    Racing Begins

Late Model Heat Races

UMP Modified Heat Races & D-Main / E-Main Qualifiers

Pro Late Model Heat Races

Sportsman Heat Races & D-Main Qualifier

Limited Modified Heat Races

4-Cylinder Heat Races

Stock Car Heat Races

Factory Stocks Heat Races

10:00 p.m.   Round Up Party Tent Opens with LIVE MUSIC

Saturday, March 26th

10:00 a.m.   Round Up Tent Opens for Breakfast

Noon           Competitor Registration Opens

1:00 p.m.    Competitor Technical Inspection Begins

3:00 p.m.    Charity Weenie Roast

6:00 p.m.    Racing Begins

Late Model C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

30 Lap Championship Feature

UMP Modified C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

25 Lap Championship Feature

Pro Late Model C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

20 Lap Championship Feature

Sportsman C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

20 Lap Championship Feature

Limited Modified C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

15 Lap Championship Feature

Stock Car C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

20 Lap Championship Feature

Factory Stocks C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

15 Lap Championship Feature

4-Cylinders C-Main / B-Main Qualifiers

15 Lap Championship Feature

10:00 p.m.   Round Up Tent Opens with LIVE MUSIC

Trophy Party & Payoff

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE DIRTcar BANQUET!

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Jan. 8, 2010 – Midwestern standouts Rusty Schlenk and Mike Harrison stood in the spotlight during Saturday night’s 27th annual DIRTcar Racing UMP ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet inside the Springfield Crowne Plaza Hotel’s ballroom.

Schlenk, 24, of Jackson, Mich., was honored for winning his first-ever DIRTcar UMP Late Model national championship in 2010. A hard-nosed owner-operator who despite his young age has been steering full-fender cars for a decade, Schlenk registered a circuit-leading 20 feature wins en route to unseating Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., for the coveted title.

Highland, Ill.’s Harrison, meanwhile, celebrated his second UMP Modified national crown. The 36-year-old veteran came out on top of a dramatic four-driver points battle to capture the open-wheel division’s championship for the first time since 2004.

Almost 750 attendees from more than a dozen states and Canada looked on from tables in the hotel’s ballroom as DIRT Racing officials distributed nearly $400,000 to the champions and top performers of a memorable 2010 season.

Schlenk earned $22,000 in points-funds checks for his work in 2010, including $20,000 for the national crown and a $2,000 prize for capturing the Ohio/Pennsylvania/Canada State points title. Collecting the big money put a big smile on the face of the rising star, who lists racing as his fulltime occupation.

“I don’t even know how to explain how I feel right now,” said Schlenk, whose laser-focus on chasing the national title in 2010 led him to a narrow 31-point championship margin over Feger. “This is a dream come true. It means so much to us. After the Friday-night race (on Oct. 1) at Kankakee (Ill.) when we clinched (the title), we had 12 grown men bawling their eyes out.

“I’m not here to congratulate myself,” he added. “We’re here to thank all the people and the sponsors who helped us. They’re the ones who brought this all together. I feel like I sat behind the wheel of a car that drove itself around the racetrack.”

Harrison also picked up $22,000 in points-fund checks at the banquet for his 2010 UMP Modified success, including a $20,000 national-title stipend and $2,000 for capturing the Illinois/Indiana State championship. He commented that winning the national crown for a second time might have felt even better than the first.

“When I won it for the first time in 2004 it was a dream come true,” said Harrison, who makes his living hauling grain, driving a tractor and doing other assorted jobs for a large farm near his home. “Winning it twice against the kind of competition we have these days – man, I never would have thought I’d have done that in my racing career.”

No driver left the awards banquet with more points-fund money than Feger, who fell short of a second consecutive Late Model national title but padded his bank account by collecting the night’s single-biggest check for his first career DIRTcar Summer Nationals championship. The $25,000 Summer Nationals booty pushed Feger’s points-fund take to $37,000, including $10,000 for finishing second in the national standings and $2,000 for capturing the Illinois State title.

Feger ended the three-year Summer Nationals championship run of Carpentersville, Ill.’s Dennis Erb Jr. – something he had set out to accomplish at the start of the 2010 season.

“It’s an awesome, unbelievable feeling to win the Summer Nationals championship,” said the 32-year-old Feger. “The Hell Tour is just insanity – a crazy month.”

The night’s third-largest national championship check was presented to Scott Weber of Festus, Mo., who pocketed $10,000 for copping the DIRTcar UMP Pro Late Model title. The 43-year-old driver added $500 to his evening’s take for claiming the Missouri/Kentucky/Tennessee/Illinois State points championship during the third season of the fledgling crate-engine Late Model division.

Weber also received a new crate engine (valued at $5,300) from GM Performance Parts as a reward for his title.

“I’m just glad that Joe Kehrer of Kehrer Brother Rooffing gave me the opportunity to do this,” said Weber, who plans to concentrate on UMP Modified racing in 2011. “Randy Korte (a former DIRTcar UMP Late Model national champion) got me into the deal and it’s worked out great for me.”

Jeff Herzog, 32, of Herculaneum, Mo., was feted for his first career DIRTcar UMP Sportsman national championship. He earned $3,200, including $200 for winning the Illinois/Missouri State points crown.

An employee of Fixture Contracting in St. Louis – a company that also sponsors his racing effort – Herzog has only been racing a Sportsman for four years but has won the track title every season of his career.

Christy Georges, 51, of El Paso, Texas, made history in 2010 with her Limited Modified national championship, becoming the first female driver in the history of DIRTcar’s UMP circuit to emerge as a national titlist in any division. A 15-time feature winner in Limited Modified action and champion of the Louisiana/Mississippi/Texas/New Mexico State points race, she earned a total of $1,775 in points-fund checks

Georges was one of the UMP’s busiest drivers in 2010, competing in three divisions. She won 11 Sportsman features en route to winning the division’s Louisiana/Mississippi/New Mexico/Florida State title and finishing 13th in the national standings and placed seventh in the UMP Modified New Mexico/West Texas State standings.

“I feel very honored to be here as a champion,” said Georges, whose husband, Sherman Barnett, competes alongside her and is a well-known sponsor of events in the Southwest through his Barnett’s Harley Davidson business. “There’s a lot of competition and to come out on top is a great accomplishment.”

Joel Funk, a 27-year-old from Dwight, Ill., who teaches seventh-grade math and eighth-grade history, accepted the DIRTcar UMP Stock Car national championship. His points-fund earnings totaled $3,350, including $200 for winning the Stock Car Illinois State title and $150 for placing second in the Sportsman division’s Ohio/Michigan/Illinois State standings.

Brad Venhaus, 21, of Aviston, Ill. (Factory Stocks) and Rob Shaw of Highland, Ill. (Sport Compacts) were honored as the national champions of UMP DIRTcar’s entry-level classes, which debuted in 2007. Both drivers earned $1,000 for their national titles; Shaw added a $200 check for winning the Sport Compact Missouri/Illinois State standings and Venhaus collected an extra $150 as champion of the Factory Stock Illinois State points.

State champions were named in all eight divisions:

* Late Model State titlists earning $2,000 each were Schlenk (Ohio/Pennsylvania/Canada), Feger (Illinois), Mark Carrell of Redmond, Ore. (West), Scott Lewis of Henderson, Colo. (Northwest), Alan Vochaska of South Haven, Mich. (Michigan/Wisconsin), Jeff Walston of Paducah, Ky. (Indiana/Kentucky/Tennessee/Florida) and Justin Wells of Aurora, Mo. (Southwest).

* Capturing UMP Modified regional crowns worth $2,000 apiece were Harrison (Illinois/Indiana), Dave Crawley Jr. of Decatur, Ill. (Northern Illinois), Clint DeMoss of Bloomington, Ind. (Indiana), Jim Farris of of Odell, Ill. (Southern Illinois), Rusty Griffaw of Festus, Mo. (Missouri), Braedon Hand of Cottage Grove, Ore. (California/Oregon), Jeff Matthews of Dover, Fla. (Louisiana/Mississipp/Florida/East Texas), David McWilliams of Union, Ky. (Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania), Rich Robinson Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Michigan), Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M. (New Mexico/West Texas) and Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky. (Kentucky/Tennessee).

* Weber (Tennessee/Kentucky/Illinois/Missouri), 14-year-old Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill. (Illinois) and Lee Gill of Lafargeville, N.Y. (New York/Canada/Pennsylvania) pocketed $500 each as Pro Late Model State champions.

* Sportsman State titles (worth $200) were won by Georges (Louisiana/Mississipp/New Mexico/Florida), Herzog (Illinois/Michigan), Dave Crawley Jr. (Ohio/Michigan/Illinois), Jeremy Hines of Seymour, Ind. (Indiana/Kentucky/Tennessee) and Joey Ladouceur of Alexandria, Ont. (New York/Canada/Pennsylvania).

* Limited Modified State crowns (worth $150) were claimed by Georges (Louisiana/Mississippi/Texas/New Mexico) and Jonathan Smith (Missouri/Kentucky).

* Stock Car State titles (worth $200) fell to Funk, Frank Burnell (New York), Dan Dykman (Michigan), Aaron Fields (Indiana/Illinois) and J.R. Mason (Louisiana/Mississippi/Florida/Kentucky).

* Entry-level division State championships (worth $150) were Venhaus (Michigan/Indiana/Florida/Ohio) and Jim Scout (Indiana/Ohio) in the Sport Compacts and Shaw (Missouri/Illinois), Kenny Butterfield (Illinois), Lucas Jackson (Ohio/Indiana/Michigan) and Michael Rittenberry (Louisiana/Mississippi/Kentucky/Tennessee/Florida) in the Factory Stocks.

Other DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned series titlists recognized during Saturday’s festivities were Feger (Northern All-Stars), Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill. (Monster Midwest Tour) and John DeMoss of Bloomington, Ind. (American Modified Series).

Dillon White of Crofton, Ky., meanwhile, was recognized as the 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model Rookie of the Year. He received a check for $1,000.

A number of special awards determined by a vote of the DIRTcar Racing UMP membership were handed out:

* Feger (Late Models) and Harrison (Modifieds) received Sportsman of the Year trophies.

* Terry Aaron, who turns the wrenches on Ryan Unzicker’s Late Models, and Terry Frazier, who serves as Harrison’s UMP Modified crew chief, were presented the Mechanic of the year awards.

* Highland (Ill.) Speedway was announced as the DIRTcar UMP Track of the Year.

* Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises was presented the DIRTcar UMP Promoter of the Year award. He operates the Macon (Ill.) Speedway and Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway.

Roger Friedman of Dyer’s Top Rods received the sixth annual Bob Memmer Achievement Award, which honors the memory of UMP DIRTcar Racing’s late founder.

The 2010 UMP DIRTcar Racing Chassis Builder of the Year awards went to Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, W.Va., in the Late Models and Bob Pierce Race Cars of Oakwood, Ill., in the Modifieds. Rocket cars won 104 UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned features and Pierce machines reached Victory Lane 141 times in Modified competition.

Claiming the 2010 Engine Builder of the Year awards were Pro Power Racing Engines (Late Models) and Mullins Racing Engines (Modifieds). Late Models using Pro Power motors scored 32 feature wins and Modifieds equipped with Mullins powerplants registered 110 triumphs.

Rayburn Race Cars (Late Models) and Larry Shaw Race Cars (Modifieds) were recognized as national champion chassis builders.

The affair began for the third consecutive year with an awards ceremony for the top-seven drivers in the new Kid Modz division, a four-cylinder version of a UMP DIRTcar Modified that car builder Bob Pierce launched to bring youngsters into the sport. Teenager Logan Moody of Catlin, Ill., was celebrated as the division’s 2010 champion.

Appreciation plaques were presented during the evening to promoters or representatives from the nearly two-dozen DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned tracks who were in attendance.

The 2011 UMP DIRTcar Racing season begins with a two-day meet for the UMP Modifieds on Jan. 28-29 at North Florida Speedway in Lake City, Fla. The organization will also sanction UMP Modified action on Feb. 3-5 at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla.

The UMP Modifieds and Late Models will then be part of the 40th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., with the Modifieds running nightly from Feb. 8-15 and the Super Late Models contesting sanctioned events on Feb. 14, 15, 16 and 18.

Other season-opening DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned events in the south are scheduled for Ocala (Fla.) Speedway, which hosts a Late Model special on Feb. 13 and UMP Modified racing on Feb. 17-19.

For more information on DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcar.com.

Ken Schrader - Jim Denhamer photo

ROSSBURG, OH – Oct. 9, 2010 – Brain Shirley of Chatham, Ill., continued his late-seasons surge on Saturday night, capturing the 40-lap DIRTcar UMP Nationals A-Main at Eldora Speedway.

NASCAR veteran Kenny Schrader of Concord, N.C., meanwhile, added another line to his long racing resume, winning the companion 25-lap DIRTcar UMP Modified event.

The doubleheader closed out the 2010 DIRTcar UMP points season. Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich., only managed a 13th-place finish but was crowned the DIRTcar Late Model national champion for the first time in his career, and Mike Harrison of Highland, Ill., who finished fourth in the UMP Modified feature, clinched the open-wheel division’s national title for the second time in his career.

Shirley’s night started fast as he captured the first heat race ahead of 2010 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., earning him the fourth starting spot in the night’s feature. Shirley moved to second when early leader Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, brushed the outside wall and then passed Ben Adkins of West Portsmouth, Ohio, for the lead.

Shirley spent the late stages holding off a furious charge by Pinconning, Mich.’s Jeep Van Wormer, who drove Ken Schrader’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Late Model after suffering motor trouble in his own machine during the previous night’s Race of Champions. Shirley pocketed $5,000 for his first-ever win at Eldora.

VanWormer settled for second. Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio, placed third to secure the 2010 Eldora Speedway track points title over VanWormer. Frank Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., finished fourth and Adkins rounded out the top five.

Schlenk advanced from the 25th starting spot to finish 13th. He had clinched the DIRT Late Model national crown the previous week, outlasting Feger, who finished seventh in Saturday’s A-Main, for the title.

Brian Shirley - Jim Denhamer photo

Schrader came from the eighth starting spot in the UMP Modified feature to overtake race-long leader – and double-duty competitor Brian Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich. – for the top spot with a dramatic last-lap pass. The finish was so close that Ruhlman requested to see a video replay of the finish – a tape that proved Schrader was indeed the winner of the $3,000 first-place prize.

Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., a former DIRTcar UMP Nationals winner at Eldora, finished third. Harrison was fourth and former UMP Modified national champ Denny Schwartz of Ashmore, Ill., took fifth.

Harrison, who started seventh, finished off his championship season when the only driver who could overtake him for the title, Nick Allen of Verona, Ky., failed to win the night’s A-Main. Allen finished seventh after starting 10th.

For more information on DIRTcar Racing log on to www.dirtcar.com.
UMP National Championships

October 8/9, 2010

Open Wheel Modifieds – 119 cars

Larry Shaw Fast Time winners: 1)Ken Schrader – 17.388, 2)Jared Landers – 17.741, 3)Brian Ruhlman – 17.839

Race of Champions:

1. Nick Allen[3]; 2. Mike Spatola[7]; 3. Rusty Griffaw[5]; 4. Todd Sherman[6]; 5. Jim Farris Sr[9]; 6. Jamie Lomax[13]; 7. David Mcwilliams[12]; 8. Rich Robinson Jr.[14]; 9. Devin Gilpin[2]; 10. Clint Demoss[4]; 11. Brent Mullins[10]; 12. Dave Crawley Jr[11]; 13. Mike Harrison[1]; 14. Randle Sweeney[8];

Heat 1:

1. Ken Schrader[4]; 2. Scott Orr[3]; 3. Mike Spatola[11]; 4. Dean Hoffman[2]; 5. Rusty Griffaw[6]; 6. Dennis Roberson[5]; 7. Greg Amick[9]; 8. Lance Dehm[7]; 9. Anthony Davis[13]; 10. Derek Groomer[14]; 11. Randle Sweeney[1]; 12. Brian Lynn[8]; 13. Justin Mccoy[12]; 14. Jessie Snyder[10]; 15. Matt Shadic[15];

Heat 2:

1. Clint Demoss[1]; 2. Nick Allen[3]; 3. Kevin Sather[2]; 4. Brent Hole[11]; 5. Jimmy Hayden[7]; 6. Mike Wilbern[9]; 7. Jacob Poel[5]; 8. Timi Dalman[12]; 9. Corey Bevard[14]; 10. Matt Bex[6]; 11. Michael Neighbors[13]; 12. Nick Katterhenry[4]; 13. Justin Matson[8]; 14. Casey Luedeke[10];

Heat 3:

1. Brian Ruhlman[4]; 2. Jeff Leka[3]; 3. Brian Hayden[1]; 4. Bobby Kitchen[5]; 5. Jesse Bitterling[6]; 6. Tim Richardson[2]; 7. Jamie Lomax[8]; 8. Todd Sherman[9]; 9. Jeff Sayles[14]; 10. Dave Crawley Jr[11]; 11. Andy Strait[12]; 12. Ryan Cripe[15]; 13. Jerrid Back[10]; 14. Jeep Van Wormer[7]; 15. Broc Burton[13];

Heat 4:

1. David Mcwilliams[2]; 2. Jeff Babcock[3]; 3. Kyle Strickler[1]; 4. Chris Puskas[8]; 5. Jacoby Hines[6]; 6. Corey Partin[11]; 7. John Allen[12]; 8. Aaron Jenkins[9]; 9. Scott Knepley[7]; 10. Jeremy Lewis[10]; 11. Bryant Dickinson[13]; 12. Ray Jackson[15]; 13. Mike Roediger[5]; 14. Cody Weisner[4]; 15. Steve Lach[14];

Heat 5:

1. Mike Harrison[4]; 2. Jerry Bowersock[3]; 3. Ed Roley[2]; 4. Levi Kissinger[5]; 5. George Catanzano[6]; 6. Tyler Deibert[7]; 7. Trent Green[9]; 8. Greg Socha[10]; 9. Chad Evans[15]; 10. John Brooks[13]; 11. Dave Baker[12]; 12. Joel Dick[8]; 13. Andy Galgoci[11]; 14. J D Lease[14]; 15. Rob Trent[1];

Heat 6:

1. Jared Landers[4]; 2. Doug Adkins[3]; 3. Brent Mullins[1]; 4. Brian Post[7]; 5. Bryce Jewell[8]; 6. Travis Stemler[5]; 7. Brian Przepiora[6]; 8. Eddie Reyes[9]; 9. David Mielke[10]; 10. Jim Bailey[13]; 11. Dave Sibberson[12]; 12. Rodney Morris[11]; 13. Mike Dirksen[2]; 14. Schuyler Nahre[14]; 15. Larry Passenier[15];

Heat 7:

1. Curtis Coulter[2]; 2. Dustin King[1]; 3. Jeff Harris[4]; 4. Justin Coulter[6]; 5. Kasey Schrock[5]; 6. John McCaul[3]; 7. Jimmy Westerfield[14]; 8. Jason Kinney[8]; 9. Chad Rosenbeck[7]; 10. David Daughtery[13]; 11. Nick Rosselit[10]; 12. Doug Hewitt[11]; 13. Zeke McKenzie[9]; 14. Pat Ehlert[12];

Heat 8:

1. Denny Schwartz[2]; 2. Devin Gilpin[3]; 3. Ed Shaner[7]; 4. Mark Kowarsch[1]; 5. David Smith[8]; 6. Shelby Miles[4]; 7. Mike Chrisman[6]; 8. Jim Farris Sr[5]; 9. Shane Unger[10]; 10. Aaron Taylor[11]; 11. Steve Grote[9]; 12. Chris Vandewiele[12]; 13. Danny Schwartz[13]; 14. Rich Robinson Jr.[14];

Open Wheel Modifieds

B Main 1:

1. Kevin Sather[2]; 2. Mike Spatola[1]; 3. Dean Hoffman[3]; 4. Brent Hole[4]; 5. Rusty Griffaw[5]; 6. Greg Amick[9]; 7. Jimmy Hayden[6]; 8. Dennis Roberson[7]; 9. Lance Dehm[11]; 10. Randle Sweeney[17]; 11. Justin Mccoy[21]; 12. Jacob Poel[10]; 13. Mike Wilbern[8]; 14. Mike Shadic[24]; 15. Michael Neighbors[18]; 16. Corey Bevard[14]; 17. Derek Groomer[15];

B Main 2:

1. Kyle Strickler[2]; 2. Bobby Kitchen[3]; 3. Chris Puskas[4]; 4. Jamie Lomax[9]; 5. Jesse Bitterling[5]; 6. Tim Richardson[7]; 7. Scott Knepley[14]; 8. Andy Strait[17]; 9. Cody Weisner[24]; 10. Bryant Dickinson[18]; 11. Jeremy Lewis[16]; 12. Dave Crawley Jr[15]; 13. Mike Roediger[22]; 14. Jerrid Back[21]; 15. Aaron Jenkins[12]; 16. Ray Jackson[20]; 17. Jeff Sayles[13]; 18. Ryan Cripe[19]; 19. John Allen[10]; 20. Todd Sherman[11]; 21. Brian Hayden[1]; 22. Corey Partin[8];

B Main 3:

1. Brent Mullins[2]; 2. Ed Roley[1]; 3. George Catanzano[5]; 4. Bryce Jewell[6]; 5. Trent Green[9]; 6. John Brooks[15]; 7. Greg Socha[11]; 8. Brian Post[4]; 9. Joel Dick[19]; 10. Travis Stemler[8]; 11. Rob Trent[25]; 12. Dave Baker[17]; 13. Rodney Morris[20]; 14. Dave Sibberson[18]; 15. David Mielke[14]; 16. J D Lease[23]; 17. Brian Przepiora[10]; 18. Tyler Deibert[7]; 19. Levi Kissinger[3]; 20. Eddie Reyes[12]; 21. Chad Evans[13];

B Main 4:

1. Jeff Harris[1]; 2. Ed Shaner[2]; 3. Justin Coulter[3]; 4. Jim Farris Sr[12]; 5. Kasey Schrock[5]; 6. Doug Hewitt[19]; 7. Nick Rosselit[17]; 8. Shane Unger[14]; 9. Mike Chrisman[10]; 10. David Smith[6]; 11. Aaron Taylor[16]; 12. Zeke McKenzie[21]; 13. Jimmy Westerfield[9]; 14. John McCaul[7]; 15. Jason Kinney[11]; 16. Pat Ehlert[23]; 17. Mark Kowarsch[4];

A Main :

1. Ken Schrader[8]; 2. Brian Ruhlman[1]; 3. Jared Landers[4]; 4. Mike Harrison[7]; 5. Denny Schwartz[2]; 6. David Mcwilliams[3]; 7. Nick Allen[10]; 8. Doug Adkins[14]; 9. Jeff Leka[11]; 10. Devin Gilpin[16]; 11. Mike Spatola[21]; 12. Jeff Harris[20]; 13. Jerry Bowersock[13]; 14. Kevin Sather[17]; 15. Brent Mullins[19]; 16. Rusty Griffaw[25]; 17. Tim Richardson[27]; 18. Jeff Babcock[12]; 19. Ed Roley[23]; 20. Curtis Coulter[5]; 21. Ed Shaner[24]; 22. Scott Orr[9]; 23. Cody Weisner[28]; 24. Clint Demoss[6]; 25. Dustin King[15]; 26. Kyle Strickler[18]; 27. Bobby Kitchen[22]; 28. Todd Sherman[26];

——————————————————————————————-

Late Models – 53 cars

Fast Time: Dennis Erb Jr – 15.909

Race of Champions:

1. Jason Feger[2]; 2. Dennis Erb Jr.[5]; 3. Brian Ruhlman[4]; 4. Rusty Schlenk[1]; 5. Frank Heckenast[7]; 6. Dillan White[8]; 7. Jeff Walston[9]; 8. Brian Shirley[6]; 9. Jeep Van Wormer[3];

Heat 1:

1. Brian Shirley[2]; 2. Jason Feger[4]; 3. Jeff Babcock[3]; 4. Hillard Miller[7]; 5. Steve Kester[8]; 6. Bill Lewis[9]; 7. Jerry Bowersock[1]; 8. Richie Hedrick[5]; 9. Alan Gendusa[6];

Heat 2:

1. Keith Berner[2]; 2. Andrew Reaume[3]; 3. Scott Schmitt[5]; 4. Dillan White[6]; 5. Brandon Thirlby[4]; 6. Pat Ehlert[7]; 7. Rusty Schlenk[1]; 8. Don Gordon[8];

Heat 3:

1. Jon Henry[1]; 2. JR Hotovy[4]; 3. Curt Spalding[3]; 4. Curtis Roberts[2]; 5. Dona Marcoullier[5]; 6. Scott Orr[6]; 7. Jeff Beyers[8]; 8. Derek Chandler[7]; 9. John Lawhorn[2];

Heat 4:

1. Ben Adkins[2]; 2. Matt Miller[3]; 3. Dennis Erb Jr.[4]; 4. Brian Ruhlman[1]; 5. Zack Olger[6]; 6. Kyle Borgman[7]; 7. Matt Irey[9]; 8. Doug Ausra[8]; 9. Brad Eitniear[5];

Heat 5:

1. Kenny Compton jr[3]; 2. Jeep Van Wormer[9]; 3. Jeff Watson[1]; 4. Brett Reaume[5]; 5. Phil Ausra[4]; 6. Carl Ries[6]; 7. Tom Treon[8]; 8. Brandon Sheppard[2]; 9. Scott Baker[7];

Heat 6:

1. Frank Heckenast[2]; 2. Ryan VanderVeen[1]; 3. Scott James[4]; 4. Rick DeLong[3]; 5. Kevin Mack[5]; 6. Dan Delong[6]; 7. Adam Thrush[7]; 8. Chuck Hummer[8];

B Main 1:

1. Dillan White[2]; 2. Brandon Thirlby[4]; 3. Steve Kester[3]; 4. Pat Ehlert[6]; 5. Alan Gendusa[11]; 6. Don Gordon[10]; 7. Richie Hedrick[9]; 8. Hillard Miller[1]; 9. Bill Lewis[-]; 10. Jerry Bowersock[-]; 11. Rusty Schlenk[-]; 12. Jeep Van Wormer[-];

B Main 2:

1. Brian Ruhlman[2]; 2. Curtis Roberts[1]; 3. Dona Marcoullier[3]; 4. Jeff Beyers[7]; 5. Derek Chandler[9]; 6. Zack Olger[4]; 7. Scott Orr[5]; 8. Doug Ausra[10]; 9. Matt Irey[8]; 10. Brad Eitniear[12]; 11. Kyle Borgman[6]; 12. John Lawhorn[-];

B Main 3:

1. Rick DeLong[2]; 2. Phil Ausra[3]; 3. Scott Baker[11]; 4. Brett Reaume[1]; 5. Kevin Mack[4]; 6. Carl Ries[5]; 7. Dan Delong[6]; 8. Adam Thrush[8]; 9. Tom Treon[7]; 10. Brandon Sheppard[-]; 11. Chuck Hummer[-];

A Main :

1. Brian Shirley[4]; 2. Jeep Van Wormer[11]; 3. Matt Miller[10]; 4. Frank Heckenast[3]; 5. Ben Adkins[1]; 6. Jeff Babcock[13]; 7. Jason Feger[7]; 8. Scott James[18]; 9. Brian Ruhlman[20]; 10. Keith Berner[6]; 11. Dennis Erb Jr.[16]; 12. Curt Spalding[15]; 13. Rusty Schlenk[25]; 14. Dillan White[19]; 15. Curtis Roberts[23]; 16. Rick DeLong[21]; 17. Phil Ausra[24]; 18. Brandon Thirlby[22]; 19. Dona Marcoullier[26]; 20. Richie Hedrick[28]; 21. Scott Orr[27]; 22. Andrew Reaume[8]; 23. Kenny Compton jr[5]; 24. Ryan VanderVeen[12]; 25. Jeff Walston[17]; 26. Jon Henry[2]; 27. JR Hotovy[9]; 28. Scott Schmitt[14];

Heat 1: Mark Dotson, Alan Sharpensteen, Philip Houston, Steve Holzkamper, Blake Jegtvig, Jimmy Ray, Richie Davis, Dennis Gates, Tristan Sikes, Dickie Gorham

Heat 2: Jeremy Payne, Curt Barnett, Jacob Gallardo, Tom Georges, Holly Jones, Grant Junghans, Terry Tipton, Bob Sikes, Steve Miller

Heat 3: Jon Tesch, Jake Boles, Eddie Martin, Jason Krohn, Lance Mari, Bobby Sikes Jr., Fito Gallardo, Nathan Bischel, Garrett Higgins, Melissa Gorham

Heat 4: Darrell Nelson, Derek Ramirez, Martin Robinson, Stormy Scott, Christy Georges, Sherman Barnett, Roy Don Mason, Joe Lackey, Morgan Bagley

Heat 5: Tim Culp, RC Whitwell, Paul Banghart, Nick O’Neal, Josh Cain, Jared Landers, Robbie Chiles, Dusty Riggs, Ronnie Salas

Heat 6: Bumper Jones, Corky Thomas, Peyton Taylor, Richie Tosh, Josh Majek, Levi DeMartino, Wesley Summers, Greg Jenkins, Travis Tipton

Heat 7: Tommy Weder Jr., Mike Hansen, Kellen Chadwick, Royal Jones, Bryan Rowland, Steve Sutton, Brian Poppa, Jack Kokot, Kelly Shryock, Patrick Carney

C-Main1: Chadwick, T. Georges, C. Georges, Cain, Landers, F. Gallardo, Junghans, Bischel, S. Barnett, Davis, Mari, Salas, T. Sikes, Carney, Kokot, M. Gorham, Riggs, Higgins, Poppa, H. Jones, Summers

C-Main 2: Tosh, Rowland, Ray, Terry Tipton, Shryock, Jegtvig, D. Gorham, DeMartino, Travis Tipton, Jenkins, Lackey, Sutton, O’Neal, Bobby Sikes Jr., Bagley, Miller, Majek, Bob Sikes, Chiles, Gates, Mason

B-Main: Hansen, S. Scott, C. Barnett, Whitwell, Holzkamper, R. Jones, Shryock, Cain, Ray, Krohn, Chadwick, Tosh, F. Gallardo, Rowland, Landers, D. Gorham, J. Gallardo, C. Georges, Robinson, Jegtvig, Terry Tipton, Boles, T. Georges, Martin, Houston

A-Main: (Top 5 to Sunday’s A-main): Payne, Weder Jr., Dotson, B. Jones, Banghart, Tesch, Hansen, Sharpensteen, Whitwell, S. Scott, Ramirez, C. Barnett, Tosh, Holzkamper, Ray, Thomas, Shryock, R. Jones, Cain, Chadwick, Krohn (NF), Nelson (NF), Culp (NF), Taylor (NF)

Heat 1: Jacob Gallardo, Johnny Scott, Grant Junghans, Royal Jones, Fito Gallardo, Jason Krohn, Garrett Higgins, Eddie Martin, Dusty Riggs, Morgan Bagley

Heat 2: Rodney Sanders, Bumper Jones, Peyton Taylor, Travis Tipton, Holly Jones, Mike Hansen, Lance Mari, Patrick Carney, Josh Cain, Joe Lackey

Heat 3: Jake Boles, Christy Georges, Terry Tipton, Tim Culp, RC Whitwell, Corky Thomas, Jared Landers, Roy Don Mason, Brian Poppa, Dennis Gates

Heat 4: Steve Holzkamper, Paul Banghart, Terry Phillips, Robbie Chiles, Curt Barnett, Greg Jenkins, Sherman Barnett, Jimmy Ray, Martin Robinson, Chris Sims

Heat 5: Steve Miller, Darrell Nelson, Stormy Scott, Dickie Gorham, Tommy Weder Jr., Richie Davis, Nick O’Neal, Steve Sutton, Derek Ramirez, Richie Tosh

Heat 6: Jason Hughes, Alan Sharpensteen, Blake Jegtvig, Jeremy Payne, Bryan Rowland, Philip Houston, Kellen Chadwick, Levi DeMartino, Wesley Summers

Heat 7: Nathan Bischel, Jon Tesch, Kelly Shryock, Mark Dotson, Bob Sikes, Tom Georges, Tristan Sikes, Josh Majek, Bobby Sikes, Ronnie Salas

C-Main1: Whitwell, Hansen, Gorham, Bob Sikes, H. Jones, Chiles, Ray, T. Tipton, T. Sikes, Mari, S. Barnett, T. Georges, Jenkins, Ramirez, Poppa, DeMartino, Carney, Higgins, Bobby Sikes, Lackey, Cain, Sutton

C-Main 2: F. Gallardo, C. Barnett, Payne, Landers, Thomas, Houston, Culp, Krohn, Rowland, O’Neal, Martin, Mason, Bagley, Tosh, Majek, Robinson, Riggs, Summers, Salas, Gates, Davis, Chadwick

B-Main 1: B. Jones, Taylor, T. Tipton, Dotson, S. Scott, Weder Jr., Sharpensteen, Shryock, Banghart, F. Gallardo, C. Barnett, Payne, Junghans, Whitwell, Jegtvig, Landers, Hansen, Thomas, Gorham, H. Jones, Bob Sikes, Houston, Rowland, R. Jones

A-Main: (Top 5 to Sunday’s A-main): Hughes, Phillips, Sanders, J. Scott, Nelson, B. Jones, Tesch, Dotson, Weder Jr., Taylor, S. Scott, Holzkamper, Shryock, Payne, Sharpensteen, Bischel, Banghart, C. Barnett, Tipton, Boles, Georges, J. Gallardo, (NF) F. Gallardo, (NF) Miller (NF)

**69 Modifieds**

15 States Represented (AZ, NM, IA, ND, OK, TX, LA, MO, CA, AR, KS, OR, MN, SD, CO)

Babb, 36, of Moweaqua, Ill., dominated the 30-lap DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main, rolling to a flag-to-flag victory in his first night of action during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio.

Driving his Sheltra Construction Rocket car, Babb grabbed the lead at the initial green flag from his pole starting position and never looked back. He easily withstood two caution flags to secure the $7,000 triumph by 2.163 seconds over fifth-starter Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., who inherited second place on lap 17 when Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., spun in turn four but wasn’t able to challenge Babb with his Bowyer Dirt Motorsports Warrior car.

“The track was just in my favor tonight,” said Babb, a two-time champion of the grueling DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals tour. “When that bottom lane is dominant, it’s really hard to pass. So I just sat there and cruised.

“My guys were sitting here (in the infield) communicating with me real good and I could understand them, and that put me in the driver’s seat where I could just relax, breathe and drive the car.”

Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., fought forward from the eighth starting spot to finish third. Defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., started and finished fourth and three-time DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals titlist Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., settled for fifth after taking the green flag from the outside pole.

Babb ended a long victory drought with his standout performance, winning for the first time since July 10, 2009, in a DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals event at Ohio’s Waynefield Motorsports Park.

In addition, Babb scored his first win at Volusia behind the wheel of a Rocket Chassis car. His last win at the half-mile oval, on Feb. 14, 2007, came in a Rayburn mount.

“We learned a lot here over the last couple of years in this Rocket Chassis,” said Babb. “It’s getting more to where I know what to do all the time (with a Rocket), more consistent. I’m real happy with the car.”

Babb sat out Monday night’s DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH opener for the UMP Late Models, opting to spend some extra time working on his equipment at his teammate Patrick Sheltra’s shop in Indiantown, Fla. Tuesday night’s rainout pushed his 2010 Volusia debut to Wednesday — and Sheltra, a young ARCA Racing Series stock car regular who enters selected dirt Late Model events, was on hand to join Babb in Victory Lane.

According to Babb, Sheltra plans to climb behind the wheel of a team car to compete in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series season opener on Thursday night (Feb. 11) at Volusia.

The race’s two caution flags were for minor incidents. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., was left sitting in turn two on lap one after a scrape with Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., and Bland suffered the heartbreak of the evening when he lost control of his fleet car on lap 17 and spun out of second place — a position he had held from the start — while chasing Babb.

Rick Eckert of York, Pa., finished sixth, followed by Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., opening-night winner Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who started 14th, Billy Moyers of Batesville, Ark., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.

A field of 68 cars entered the evening’s action.

Babb turned the best overall lap of the group time-trial session, flashing around the sweeping track in 16.523 seconds.

Other group fast-timers included Erb (16.689 seconds), Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky. (17.531), Richards (17.938), McDowell (17.952) and Eckert (17.759).

Heat winners were Babb, Erb, Bland, Richards, McDowell and Eckert. The B-Mains were captured by McCreadie, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark.

The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH continue on Thursday (Feb. 11) with the season-opening 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. A full program featuring the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds is also on the agenda.

For more information visit www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.

DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main Finish (30 laps):

1. Shannon Babb
2. Dale McDowell
3. Dan Schlieper
4. Josh Richards
5. Dennis Erb Jr.
6. Rick Eckert
7. Eddie Carrier Jr.
8. Darrell Lanigan
9. Billy Moyer
10. Tim Fuller
11. Eric Jacobsen
12. Eric Wells
13. Brad Neat
14. Brandon Sheppard
15. Jordan Bland
16. Mike Knight
17. Earl Pearson Jr.
18. Jack Sullivan
19. Wendell Wallace
20. Clint Smith
21. Jimmy Owens
22. Tim McCreadie
23. Austin Hubbard
24. Randy Korte

Lap Leaders: Babb (1-30)

Heat No. 1 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Shannon Babb, 2. Brandon Sheppard, 3. Brad Neat, 4. Steve Sheppard Jr., 5. Eric Jacobsen, 6. Tim McCreadie, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Russell King, 9. Chub Frank, 10. Ronnie DeHaven Jr., 11. Tyler Reddick (DNS) Dillan White

Heat No. 2 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dennis Erb Jr., 2 Dan Schlieper, 3. Darrell Lanigan, 4. Brady Smith, 5. Tim Dohm, 6. Kyle Berck, 7. Steve Francis, 8. Jason Feger, 9. Whitney McQueary, 10. Chuck Julien, 11. Roy Mitchell (DNS) Brian Birkhofer

Heat No. 3 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jordan Bland, 2. Eric Wells, 3. Clint Smith, 4. Earl Pearson Jr., 5. Tommy Kerr, 6. Greg Johnson, 7. Stacy Boles, 8. Jared Landers, 9. Brandon Kinzer, 10. Danny Mitchell (DNS) Mason Ziegler

Heat No. 4 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Josh Richards, 2. Tim Fuller, 3. Wendell Wallace, 4. Bub McCool, 5. Randy Korte, 6. Ricky Weiss, 7. Will Vaught, 8. Jonathan DeHaven, 9. Donald Beyers, 10. Ronnie Rihn, 11. Vic Coffey

Heat No. 5 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Dale McDowell, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Mike Knight, 4. Austin Hubbard, 5. Joe Callahan, 6. Jason McBride, 7. Tyler Ivey, 8. Rick Briggs, 9. Justin Rattliff, 10. Brian Nuttal Jr., 11. Kevin Colston

Heat No. 6 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Eddie Carrier Jr., 3. Billy Moyer, 4. Jack Sullivan, 5. Brent Robinson, 6. Jeff Beyers, 7. Tyler Bruneing, 8. Dave Zona, 9. John Blankenship, 10. Darren Peters, 11. Mike Hammerle

B-Main No. 1 (10 laps — Top 2 Transfer): McCreadie, Jacobsen, Berck, Frank, S. Sheppard, Feger, Stone, McQueary, Reddick, Julien, B. Smith, Dohm, R. DeHaven, King, Mitchell (DNS) White, Birkhofer, Francis

B-Main No. 2 (10 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Pearson, Korte, Kerr, Boles, Johnson, Weiss, McCool, Vaught, J. DeHaven, Mitchell, Kinzer, Lander, D. Beyers, Rihn (DNS) Ziegler, Coffey

B-Main No. 3 (10 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Sullivan, Hubbard, Robinson, J. Beyers, Callahan, Ivey, Bruening, Briggs, McBride, Nuttal, Blankenship, Zona, Hammerle, Colston, Peters (DNS) Ratliff

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BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 8, 2010 – Darrell Lanigan won’t be a bridesmaid during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio.

The standout racer from Union, Ky., made sure of that on Monday night, scoring a hard-fought victory in the 30-lap UMP Late Model A-Main that opened the meet’s full-fender action at Volusia Speedway Park.

Lanigan, 39, outdueled Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, to pocket a $7,000 top prize — almost exactly one year after finishing second in the first event of the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. He went on to record two more runner-up finishes in the remaining five nights of the 2009 series.

“It feels good to get a win right out of the box this year,” said Lanigan, the 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion. “But we didn’t do anything real different from last year. We just made some little tweaks and got some breaks.”

Driving a Rocket Chassis car he debuted late in the 2009 season, Lanigan used the inside lane to move forward from the fifth starting spot and grab the lead from Birkhofer on lap 14. Birkhofer regained command on lap 16, but Lanigan surged ahead on lap 19 and repelled late-race challenges in lapped traffic from Owens and Birkhofer to emerge victorious.

Owens settled for second place, 0.582 of a second behind Lanigan after his high-side bid rounding turns three and four on the final lap fell short. He started seventh in his Team Zero by Bloomquist machine.

Birkhofer finished third in his MB Customs car after leading laps 1, 3-13 and 16-18 in the wildly competitive affair, which included five lead changes among three drivers.

Completing the top five was 17th-starter Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., and eighth-starter Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis.

“The car was awesome and the track was perfect tonight,” said Lanigan, who made his first start of 2010 in preparation for his seventh consecutive season as a WoO LMS regular. “You could race all over it — so hat’s off to the Volusia Speedway track crew, and hat’s off to my crew too.”

Owens, a four-time DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion, wasn’t disappointed with his second-place finish.

“To race like that with Lanigan and Birkhofer — man, that was fun,” said Owens. “It was a great race.”

Birkhofer, meanwhile, came through his first appearance of the season with a good idea of what he should have done to his machine.

“We thought one thing and should’ve done the other,” said Birkhofer, who didn’t plan to enter the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH until less than two weeks ago. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the week. It’s an awesome racetrack, and you’re gonna have to get your car right if you want to win.”

Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., finished sixth after starting 20th, followed by Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., who started from the pole position and led lap two, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.

Two cautions flags slowed the feature — on lap five for a spin by Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and lap 10 for the slow car driven by Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn.

Sixty-seven cars entered the evening’s action.

Owens turned the best overall lap of the evening’s group time-trial session, blistering the sweeping track in 15.962 seconds.

Other group fast-timers included Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb. (16.360), Erb (16.268), McCreadie (16.347), Will Vaught of Crane, Mo. (16.328) and Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark. (16.704).

Heat winners were Sullivan, Birkhofer, Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., Lanigan and Ross Camponovo of Clarksdale, Miss., who pulled off an impressive prelim triumph in his first-ever start at Volusia. The B-Mains were captured by Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., Pearson and Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa.

The 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH continue on Tuesday (Feb. 9) with a DIRTcar UMP Late Model/Modified doubleheader. Race time is 7:30 p.m.

For more information visit www.dirtcar.com, www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com or www.dirtcarnationals.com.

DIRTcar UMP Late Model A-Main Finish (30 laps):

1. Darrell Lanigan
2. Jimmy Owens
3. Brian Birkhofer
4. Billy Moyer
5. Dan Schlieper
6. Earl Pearson Jr.
7. Tim McCreadie
8. Jack Sullivan
9. Dennis Erb Jr.
10. Tim Fuller
11. Dale McDowell
12. Josh Richards
13. Jason Feger
14. Vic Coffey
15. Rick Eckert
16. Rick Briggs
17. Brady Smith
18. Clint Smith
19. Steve Francis
20. Tommy Kerr
21. Jordan Bland
22. Tyler Ivey
23. Eric Jacobsen
24. Ross Camponovo

Lap Leaders: Birkhofer (1); Sullivan (2); Birkhofer (3-13); Lanigan (14-15); Birkhofer (16-18); Lanigan (19-30)

Heat No. 1 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jack Sullivan, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Rick Eckert, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Jason McBride, 6. John Blankenship, 7. Dan Stone, 8. Mike Knight, 9. Ronnie Rihn, 10. Chuck Julien, 11. Steve Sheppard Jr. (DNS) Brandon Kinzer

Heat No. 2 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Brian Birkhofer, 2. Dan Schlieper, 3. Tim Fuller, 4. Justin Rattliff, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Eric Wells, 7. Kyle Berck, 8. Dave Zona, 9. Dillan White, 10. Danny Mitchell (DNS) Brent Robinson

Heat No. 3 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Vic Coffey, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Josh Richards, 4. Brady Smith, 5. Ricky Weiss, 6. Bub McCool, 7. Russell King, 8. Chub Frank, 9. Tim Dohm, 10. Brandon Sheppard, 11. Mason Ziegler

Heat No. 4 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Jordan Bland, 2. Tim McCreadie, 3. Steve Francis, 4. Earl Pearson Jr., 5. Eddie Carrier Jr., 6. Brad Neat, 7. Austin Hubbard, 8. Dwight Falcon, 9. Jonathan DeHaven, 10. Darren Peters (DNS) Jeff Phipps

Heat No. 5 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Billy Moyer, 3. Tyler Ivey, 4. Clint Smith, 5. Ronnie DeHaven Jr., 6. Randy Korte, 7. Whitney McQueary, 8. Will Vaught, 9. Tyler Bruening, 10. Stacy Boles, 11. Wendell Wallace

Heat No. 6 (8 laps — Top 3 Transfer): 1. Ross Camponovo, 2. Eric Jacobsen, 3. Tommy Kerr, 4. Rick Briggs, 5. Jared Landers, 6. Jeff Beyers, 7. Joe Callahan, 8. Kevin Colston, 9. Donald Beyers, 10. Mike Hammerle (DNS) Tyler Reddick

B-Main No. 1 (10 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Feger, McDowell, Stone, Rattliff, Blankenship, Berck, Wells, Knight, Zona, S. Sheppard, McBride, Kinzer, White, Rihn, Julien, Mitchell (DNS) Robinson

B-Main No. 2 (10 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Pearson, B. Smith, Neat, Carrier, McCool, Dohm, Hubbard, Frank, B. Sheppard, Peters, Ziegler, J. DeHaven, Falcon, Weiss, King (DNS) Phipps

B-Main No. 3 (10 laps — Top 2 Transfer): Briggs, C. Smith, Korte, R. DeHaven, Wallace, J. Beyers, Bruening, Boles, Callahan, McQueary, D. Beyers, Colston, Reddick, Hammerle, Vaught (DNS) Landers

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BARBERVILLE, FL – February 8, 2010 – Jared Landers started dead last and charged all the way through the 28-car field to win the Gator Championship for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds on Monday night during the 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals By University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park.

“I’ve been off here the first three nights,” lamented Landers, who collected the $5,000 top prize. “I dont know what to say, I just have to thank all the guys in the pits who have stuck with me.”

Landers, of Batesville, Ark., had been quiet in this DIRTcar Nationals campaign after capturing 5 of 7 features in 2009, but he slowly crept forward after UMP Regional Director Sam Driggers relegated Landers to the tail of the field for being late to staging. By lap 25, Landers had caught leader Stormy Scott, of Las Cruces, N.M., and stormed past on the outside for the lead.

“I’m out of breath, but I want to thank Sam for making me go to the back and work my way back up here, because I knew I could do it,” Landers said. “He made me do what I had to do.”

Landers would go on to lead the final five laps unchallenged on his way to his second ‘The Gator Championship’ in as many years.

Scott, 20, settled for second, the second time he had been overtaken in the closing laps during the DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH to finish as a runner-up.

“The DIRTcar UMP tires, we don’t get to race on those but once a year and this car was pretty well new when we got down here,” Scott said. “Were still really happy with our performance.”

Scott outdistanced previous night winner Austin Dillon, of Welcome, N.C., who fought off challenges from fourth finishing Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va.

“It was a good run for us even though we weren’t as good as we wanted to be,” said Dillon, who is NASCAR car owner Richard Childress’ grandson. “It was a cool race.”

Hawkins and Ken Schrader rounded out the top five in a field that also included former UMP National Champion Denny Schwartz and NASCAR stars Kenny Wallace and Clint Bowyer.

Four last chance B-Mains preceded The Gator Championship in which only winners transferred into the main event. Jason Hughes, of Westville, Okla., would claim the first of four while Dale Mathison, of Clearwater, Minn., turned back Clint Bowyers last ditch effort to earn a spot in ‘The Gator’ during B-Main 2. Ty Dillon, of Welcome, N.C., along with Peyton Taylor, of Batesville, Ark., would go on to claim the final two spots of ‘The Gator’ field.

DIRTcar Nationals By University of Northwestern Ohio; DIRTcar UMP Modifieds; Volusia Speedway Park; Feb. 8, 2010

B-Main 1 – 1. Jason Hughes, 2. Scott Martin, 3. Jason Gross, 4. Jeremy Kerzman, 5. Jeremy Newberry, 6. Charlie Phillips, 7. Jim Ransom, 8. Devin Gilpin, 9. Jeff Babcock.

B-Main 2 – 1. Dale Mathison, 2. Clint Bowyer, 3. Denny Schwartz, 4. Dave Wietholder, 5. Matt Goulden, 6. Bob Gierke, 7. Joe Carr., 8. Scotty Kincaid, 9. Schuyler Nahre, 10. Scotty Owens.

B-Main 3 – 1. Ty Dillon, 2. Ben Adkins, 3. Scott Green, 4. Jason Wheatley, 5. Curt Myers, 6. Rob Penny, 7. Kent Corbin, 8. Darrell George, 9. Todd Sherman, 10. Randle Sweeney.

B-Main 4 – 1. Peyton Taylor, 2. Buzzie Reutimann, 3. Tommy Seets, 4. J.E. Stalder, 5. Tony Anderson, 6. Chad Evans, 7. Rob Underwood, 8. Jeff Thomas, 9. Todd Neiheiser.

A-Main – 1. Jared Landers, 2. Stormy Scott, 3. Austin Dillon, 4. Jared Hawkins, 5. Kenny Schrader, 6. Denny Schwartz, 7. Ty Dillon., 8. David McWilliams, 9. Dave Hess Jr, 10. Peyton Taylor, 11. Jacob Hawkins, 12. Jammie Wilson, 13. Tommy Seets, 14. Steven Pfeifer, 15. Jason Schill, 16. Mike Spatola, 17. Jason Hughes, 18. Devin Gilpin, 19. Dale Mathison, 20. Bob Broking, 21. Kenny Wallace, 22. Paul Miles, 23. Stephen Schnapf, 24. Jesse Stovall, 25. Jeff Leka, 26. Jeff Babcock, 27. Clint Bowyer, 28. Rob Underwood.

The 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals is brought to fans by the University of Northwestern Ohio. The University of Northwestern Ohio is the Official Education Provider of DIRTcar Racing. UNOH can deliver strong progressive academics, with flexible scheduling at an affordable price. The choice of a university at which to study is a major decision. Your future as a productive professional and a responsible citizen can be greatly enhanced by that decision. Students at UHOH will become critical thinkers, will become communicators, will have the most current technology and will experience small class sizes taught by knowledgeable faculty with real working experience. For more information visit UNOH at http://www.unoh.edu Tags: modifieds, U.M.P. DIRTcar, volusia
]]> http://www.txlmracing.com/2010/02/09/back-to-back-landers-starts-dead-last-wins-second-consecutive-gator-championship-at-volusia/feed/ 0 http://www.txlmracing.com/2010/02/08/austin-dillon-drives-away-from-star-studded-dirtcar-ump-modified-field-to-claim-night-2-of-the-gator-championship/ http://www.txlmracing.com/2010/02/08/austin-dillon-drives-away-from-star-studded-dirtcar-ump-modified-field-to-claim-night-2-of-the-gator-championship/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:44:41 +0000 admin http://www.txlmracing.com/?p=858
Austin Dillon

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BARBERVILLE, FL – February 7, 2010 – Austin Dillon has been one of the toughest DIRTcar UMP Modified competitors at Volusia Speedway Park during the past two years of the DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio events.

The teenager from Welcome, N.C., lived up to his reputation on Sunday night, capturing the division’s second 20-lap qualifying feature for Monday’s big ‘The Gator Championship’ event.

“It was awesome tonight,” Dillon said after steering his black No. 3 DIRTcar UMP Modified to a $700 triumph that was his first of the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. “Shane (McDowell, his crew chief) did a great job putting our final adjustments in the car. It drove so much better tonight than the other night.”

The grandson of legendary NASCAR owner Richard Childress, Dillon’s expertise on dirt guided him to the checkered flag over a field that also featured NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer, Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader, ageless veteran Buzzie Reutimann, former DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion Denny Schwartz and Dillon’s younger brother, Ty.

“I think we have a good as shot as anybody,” Dillon said of his chances of winning the $5,000 top prize up for grabs in Monday night’s ‘The Gator Championship’ event. “I think we want to win it just as much as anybody too.”

Dillon started outside the front row and quickly put distance between himself and Ashmore, Ill.’s Schwartz. Dillon withstood multiple restarts, including the final one in which he caught the field sleeping, putting nearly five car-lengths between himself and Schwartz entering turn one.

Schwartz finished second after withstanding early pressure from Dillon’s younger brother Ty, while Kenny Wallace of Arnold, Mo., placed third. Jason Schill of Centuria, Wis., wound up fourth and last-place starter Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., rallied to round out the top five.

Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., paced the 37-car field around the half-mile Volusia oval with a quick lap of 18.680 seconds, a lap that was the quickest qualifying effort in the first four nights of DIRTcar UMP Modified action.

The top 10 finishers in Sunday nights feature joined the top 10 drivers in Saturday nights preliminary A-Main in transferring directly to Monday’s ‘The Gator Championship’ event.

J.E. Stalder of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Austin Dillon, Schwartz and Bowyer all claimed heat races.

UNOH drivers Jeff Babcock of Wayne, Ohio, and Stephen Schnapf of Newburgh Ind., transferred out of B-Main 1, while Dave Wietholder of Liberty, Ill., and Jacob Hawkins claimed transfer spots in B-Main 2.

DIRTcar Nationals By University of Northwestern Ohio; DIRTcar UMP Modifieds; Volusia Speedway Park; Feb. 7, 2010

Qualifying: 1. Jason Hughes, 2. Ty Dillon, 3. Clint Bowyer, 4. Terry Hull, 5. Jacob Hawkins, 6. Jon Henry, 7. Kenny Schrader, 8. Bob Broking, 9. Schuyler Nahre, 10. Buzzie Reutimann, 11. Jason Schill, 12. Denny Schwartz, 13. Austin Dillon, 14. Shawn Holliday, 15. Tommy Seets, 16. Jesse Stovall, 17. Kenny Wallace, 18. Scotty Kincaid, 19. Duane Dale, 20. J.E. Stalder, 21. Todd Neiheiser, 22. Peyton Taylor, 23. Paul DeGoey, 24. Stephen Schnapf, 25. Dave Wietholder, 26. Jeff Babcock, 27. Michael Davis, 28. Garrett Stewart, 29. Rob Penny, 30. Jason Gross, 31. Tony Anderson, 32. Todd Sherman, 33. Bob Gierke, 34. Randle Sweeney, 35. Tom Hagberg, 36. Rick Cannata, 37. Ben Ledgerwood.

Heat 1: 1. J.E. Stalder, 2. Buzzie Reutimann, 3. Jason Schill, 4. Jesse Stovall, 5. Todd Neiheiser, 6. Jeff Babcock, 7. Rob Penny, 8. Garrett Stewart, 9. Stephen Schnapf, 10. Tony Anderson

Heat 2: 1. Austin Dillon, 2. Scotty Kincaid, 3. Kenny Wallace, 4. Peyton Taylor, 5. Randle Sweeney, 6. Todd Sherman, 7. Bob Gierke, 8. Tom Hagberg, 9. Ben Ledgerwood

Heat 3: 1. Denny Schwartz, 2. Bob Broking, 3. Jon Henry, 4. Tommy Seets, 5. Shawn Holliday, 6. Dave Wietholder, 7. Michael Davis, 8. Rick Cannata, 9. Paul DeGoey

Heat 4: 1. Clint Bowyer, 2. Ty Dillon, 3. Kenny Schrader, 4. Jason Hughes, 5. Schuyler Nahre, 6. Terry Hull, 7. Jason Gross, 8. Duane Dale, 9. Jacob Hawkins

B-main 1: 1. Jeff Babcock, 2. Stephen Schnapf, 3. Tony Anderson, 4. Todd Sherman, 5. Bob Gierke, 6. Garrett Stewart, 7. Tom Hagberg, 8. Ben Ledgerwood, 9. Rob Penny

B-main 2: 1. Dave Wietholder, 2. Jacob Hawkins, 3. Jason Gross, 4. Terry Hull, 5. Michael Davis, 6. Duane Dale, DNS. Rick Cannata, DNS. Paul DeGoey

A-main( 20 Laps Top 10 Lock Into Gator Championship): 1. Austin Dillon, 2. Denny Schwartz, 3. Kenny Wallace, 4. Jason Schill, 5. Jacob Hawkins, 6. Stephen Schnapf, 7. Bob Broking, 8. Kenny Schrader, 9. Jesse Stovall, 10. Jeff Babcock, 11. Clint Bowyer, 12. J.E. Stalder, 13. Dave Wietholder, 14. Buzzie Reutimann, 15. Scotty Kincaid, 16. Todd Neiheiser, 17. Jason Hughes, 18. Ty Dillon, 19. Tommy Seets, 20. Jon Henry, 21. Randle Sweeney, 22. Peyton Taylor, 23. Shawn Holliday, 24. Schuyler Nahre.

The 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals is brought to fans by the University of Northwestern Ohio. The University of Northwestern Ohio is the Official Education Provider of DIRTcar Racing. UNOH can deliver strong progressive academics, with flexible scheduling at an affordable price. The choice of a university at which to study is a major decision. Your future as a productive professional and a responsible citizen can be greatly enhanced by that decision. Students at UHOH will become critical thinkers, will become communicators, will have the most current technology and will experience small class sizes taught by knowledgeable faculty with real working experience. For more information visit UNOH at www.unoh.edu.

Click here for more photos from Volusia Speedway Park

BARBERVILLE, FL — February 6, 2010 — It didn’t take long for Dave Hess Jr. to find his way back to Victory Lane during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park.

The Waterford, Pa., driver battled early with friend and competitor Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., as the two broke away from the rest of the field. After many attempts using multiple grooves, Hess settled into the low lane behind Scott until finding an opening on lap 14 to grab the lead and march on to victory in Saturday night’s 20-lap DIRTcar UMP Modified The Gator Championship preliminary feature.

The triumph locked Hess and the remainder of Saturday’s top-10 finishers directly into the $5,000-to-win ‘Gator’ A-Main scheduled for Monday night (Feb. 8). Ten more drivers will transfer to the ‘Gator’ championship event through Sunday night’s second preliminary feature.

“Stormy is a real good kid. Ive gotten to hang out with him all week,” said Hess. “It kind of ****ed to have to get under him like that, but this is business.”

Business was good for Hess, a regular at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., where he competes in the DIRTcar Late Model ranks, and, occasionally, a DIRTcar UMP Modified.

“My car was really good and I knew I was going to have to make my move on the bottom,” commented Hess, who earned $700 for his second win of the 2010 DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. “He was missing it every once in awhile, plus my car is just really working well and my crew guys are doing a great job every night.”

Hess was followed to the line by Scott, 2008 DIRTcar UMP Modified national champion Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Ill., Jared Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., and Steven Pfeifer of Minot, N.D.

Pfeifer set fast time during the evenings qualifying session, pacing the field of 37 DIRTcar UMP Modified competitors around the half-mile oval.

Heat winners were Hess, Scott, Hawkins and Leka. Jim Ransom of Williamsport, Ind., captured the win in B-Main 1 after battling with Curt Myers of Cameron, Wis., during the opening laps, while Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., topped the second B-Main over 2009 DIRTcar UMP Modified national runner-up Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Ind.

The second half of the DIRTcar UMP Modified field will compete on Sunday night (Feb. 7) in another ‘Gator’ preliminary program, setting the stage for Mondays big event for the open-wheel division.

For more information on the DIRTcar Nationals and DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcarnationals.com and www.dirtcar.com.

Qualifying Results: 1. Steven Pfeifer, 2. Ben Adkins, 3. Wayne Hammond, 4. Jared Hawkins, 5. Jeremy Kerzman, 6. Larry Burkins, 7. Dale Mathison, 8. Justin Houston, 9. Mike Spatola, 10. Jammie Wilson, 11. Jeff Leka, 12. Dave Hess Jr, 13. Jared Landers, 14. Scott Green, 15. Stormy Scott, 16. Paul Miles, 17. Scott Martin, 18. Jamie Lomax, 19. Curt Myers, 20. David McWilliams, 21. Shane Sabraski, 22. Matt Goulden, 23. Devin Gilpin, 24. Rob Underwood, 25. Derek Groomer, 26. Jason Wheatley, 27. Nick Hoffman, 28. Jeff Thomas, 29. Jim Ransom, 30. Scotty Owens, 31. Jeremy Newberry, 32. Kent Corbin, 33. Joe Carr, 34. Darrell George, 35. Chad Evans, 36. Charlie Phillips, 37. Kyle Bronson.

Heat 1: 1. Dave Hess Jr, 2. Paul Miles, 3. Matt Goulden, 4. Mike Spatola, 5. Scott Green, 6. Curt Myers, 7. Jim Ransom, 8. Jason Wheatley, 9. Joe Carr, 10. Chad Evans.

Heat 2: 1. Stormy Scott, 2. Jamie Lomax, 3. Scott Martin, 4. Larry Burkins, 5. David McWilliams, 6. Jeremy Newberry, 7. Jeff Thomas, 8. Kent Corbin, 9. Charlie Phillips

Heat 3: 1. Jared Hawkins, 2. Justin Houston, 3. Steven Pfeifer, 4. Wayne Hammond, 5. Jammie Wilson, 6. Jared Landers, 7. Devin Gilpin, 8. Shane Sabraski, 9. Darrell George.

Heat 4: 1. Jeff Leka, 2. Dale Mathison, 3. Ben Adkins, 4. Jeremy Kerzman, 5. Kyle Bronson, 6. Nick Hoffman, 7. Derek Groomer, 8. Scotty Owens, 9. Rob Underwood.

B-Main 1: 1. Jim Ransom, 2. Curt Myers, 3. Jason Wheatley, 4. Joe Carr, 5. Jeff Thomas, 6. Kent Corbin, 7. Jeremy Newberry, 8. Charlie Phillips, DNS. Chad Evans.

B-Main 2: 1. Jared Landers, 2. Devin Gilpin, 3. Nick Hoffman, 4. Shane Sabraski, 5. Derek Groomer, 6. Rob Underwood, 7. Scotty Owens, 8. Darrell George

A-Main (20-Laps Top 10 Locked into Gator Championship): 1. Dave Hess Jr, 2. Stormy Scott, 3. Jeff Leka, 4. Jared Hawkins, 5. Steven Pfeifer, 6. Jared Landers, 7. David McWilliams, 8. Paul Miles, 9. Jammie Wilson, 10. Mike Spatola, 11. Scott Martin, 12. Curt Myers, 13. Jim Ransom, 14. Scott Green, 15. Jeremy Kerzman, 16. Ben Adkins, 17. Kyle Bronson, 18. Dale Mathison, 19. Jamie Lomax, 20. Larry Burkins, 21. Matt Goulden, 22. Justin Houston, 23. Wayne Hammond, 24. Devin Gilpin (DNS).

The 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals is brought to fans by the University of Northwestern Ohio. The University of Northwestern Ohio is the Official Education Provider of DIRTcar Racing. UNOH can deliver strong progressive academics, with flexible scheduling at an affordable price. The choice of a university at which to study is a major decision. Your future as a productive professional and a responsible citizen can be greatly enhanced by that decision. Students at UHOH will become critical thinkers, will become communicators, will have the most current technology and will experience small class sizes taught by knowledgeable faculty with real working experience. For more information visit UNOH at www.unoh.edu.