UMLA Late Models
October 4, 2011
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Crawdad’s Classics Gourmet Hot Sauce ULMA Title goes down to the Wire with Rylan Long Taking the Crown

by Sam Stoecklin
There’s nothing like a classic battle to the finish between drivers gunning for a season-long championship and that is exactly what happened to close out the 2011 Crawdad’s Classics Gourmet Hot Sauce 2011 standings.  Heading into the final weekend, there were three drivers still alive for the overall title but in the end it was Greenfield, Missouri’s Rylan Long who came out on top.  Along the way, Long raced his way to 11 wins in 18 starts.  The ULMA championship is based on a driver’s 15 best finishes of the season.  All total, there were 21 drivers of 53 total member drivers that competed in 15 or more ULMA-sanctioned races this year.  There were 18 different drivers who claimed ULMA victories this season.  The final two points-earning events of the season were held at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) in Warrensburg, on Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd at 24 Raceway in Moberly.

The championship weekend began on Saturday at CMS with 22 cars on hand for an $800-to-win event with 18 member drivers on hand.   Three heat races sorted out the feature event lineup with non-member Lane Ehlert taking heat one, Bob Test heat two, and Bodenhamer heat three.  Twelve-year old Jake Griffin of Quincy, Illinois, made his first-ever appearance at CMS in hopes of maintaining his overall ULMA points leads.  The three drivers still alive in the ULMA title chase were all on hand (Griffin, Long, Bodenhamer) in what could have been a classic duel down to the wire.  Ehlert sat on the pole alongside Test at the drop of the green flag for the 20-lap main event but spun early ending his chances for his first-ever win at CMS.  Alan Westling became the race leader in the race of his young life as he led Test, Griffin, Bodenhamer and thirteenth starting Todd McCoin.  Test spun at the exit of turn four and with Griffin collected in the process, ultimately ending Griffin’s shot at a victory with his car receiving right-side damage.  R.D. Peterson spun to draw another yellow flag with seven laps complete as new leader Bodenhamer showed the way over Westling, McCoin, Watts, Kevin Coyne, and Long.  

Griffin pulled off the track by lap nine as Long began climbing the standing order in an aggressive battle with Kevin Coyne.  Long made his way to second by lap 15 with Westling and Coyne close behind just as Test and Ehlert were involved in their second caution incidents of the night, ending their race.  With four laps to go, Alan Westling’s run of a lifetime ended as he spun off of turn four with Coyne’s night also ending with damage to his car.  At the end of the race, Bodenhamer took the victory with Long second, Wood third, non-member McCoin fourth, Trace Westling fifth, Father and Son duo Ron and Jon Binning in sixth and seventh, Harlen Kennedy eighth, Alan Westling ninth, and non-member Sterling Perkins rounding out the top ten.  Although Bodenhamer won the race, Long finished strong enough in the final rundown to shutout Bodenhamer for the title heading into the final race of the year.  Photos from the CMS event may be viewed at www.highfly-nphotos.com.  Full results may be found at www.centralmissourispeedway.net.

It all came down to Sunday night for the championship at 24 Raceway in Moberly between Long and Griffin for the title.  Griffin was in a must-win situation with Long having to improve upon a 4th-place finish to claim the title.  Three heat races were contested to sort out the line-up by passing points.  The heats were claimed by Bodenhamer, Vance Wilson, and Jason Perry with Perry earning the pole position for the event after advancing to the win from his fourth-place starting spot.  Unfortunately heavy attrition and aggressive driving was again the name of the game as several drivers ended their season on the hook or in the pits.  Nonetheless, the feature event proved to be competitive with Perry setting sail from the drop of the green flag.

It didn’t take too long for 2010 ULMA champion Vance Wilson to advance to the front as he led lap two; however the Hartford, Missouri driver experienced problems while leading in turn two as the first caution flag flew over the field.  For the lap three restart, Perry once again assumed command.  Kevin Coyne took a hard hit to the wall on the back stretch with his night ending with a heavily damaged car and a very sore hand.  With Perry leading on lap six, Gary Wilson spun in turn one with Bob Test collected in the process.  The Test car was virtually wiped out with extensive damage from hitting the wall but Test luckily walked away okay after slamming the wall.   Father and son duo Trace and Alan Westling had solid runs going but there night ended early with mechanical problems.  Long and Bodenhamer had a lane-swapping and exciting race going on for the second spot with long taking second on lap nine.  On lap ten, Long moved up one more spot and took command of the 20-lap race, never to look back.  Perry and Bodenhamer were left to settle it out for second with Bodenhamer taking over second on lap 15.  Kelly Smith ran a solid race in the fourth position with 2011 Rookie of the Year, Jake Griffin inside the top five.  As the final checkered flag flew, Long won going away with Bodenhamer second and Perry third.  Kelly came home in fourth position ahead of Griffin in fifth, Tommy Cordray sixth, and Klint Kirkham in seventh.  In victory lane Long thanked his crew and parents for making possible his championship season.

For the top five in the final ULMA standings, Rylan Long’s season was made possible by GRT by Phillips and Hatfield Race Engines along with RL Motorsports, Pump 'n Pantry, Kwik Skins, and Town and Country Tire.  Jake Griffin thanks AMP Energy Drink, Crawdad’s Classics Gourmet Hot Sauce, Pepsi Refreshment Services, Triple R Machine Shop, Microtel Inns & Suites, Simmetry Communications, Bob Pierce Race Cars, Kelly’s Restaurant, Powder Coat Plus, Wilco Fast Breaks, Green Smart Builders, and Outdoor Power Inc.  Jason Bodenhamer and car owner Derek Nevels wish to thank Subway Eat Fresh and power by Maurice’s Engines as well as Gregg Smith Ford of Clinton, Nevels Sign Graphics, MLS Race Engines, Bodee’s Race Bodies, and GRT racecars.  Steve Clancy’s season was made possible by Nee Cee Motors, Phillip Tee Garden, Bob and Jill King, Steve’s Mom and Dad, Farm Bureaulies.com Rayburn race cars, and Yancy's.  Brett Wood thanks L&L Termite and Pest Control, Bodee's Race Bodies, Midland Printing, B&D Transmission, and GRT race cars.  

The Moberly Fall Nationals will take place on Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th with late models competing using the ULMA rules (no ULMA points).  Additional classes include UMP Modifieds, Stock Cars, Outlaw B-Mods, IMCA-type Sport mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, and 4 Cylinder Hornets.  Registration for late models is $40 (includes Friday and Saturday), or $65 for Saturday racing only.  Pit Admission is $ 25 on Friday for adults, kids 10 and under are $10.  Saturday Pit Admission is $ 30 for adults and $10 for kids 10 and under.  Grandstand prices are for Friday Adults, $12 Teens 13-17 and Seniors 65 up, $10 Kids 6-12 $8, Kids 5 and under are free.  Saturday Adults $ 12, Teens 13-17 and Seniors 65 up $10, Kids 6-12 $8, Kids 5 and under free.  Friday late model purse is (9 cars and under $ 400 to win, 10 -15 cars $500 to win, 16 cars or more $600 to win).  Saturday late model purse is 9 cars and under $400 to win, 10 -15 cars $500 to win, 16 or more cars $600 to win.   Pit gates open at 4 pm, hot laps start at 6:30, racing at 7.  Grandstands open at 5 pm.  For additional details visit www.24racewayinmoberly.com.

ULMA was recently contacted by Jerry Hoffman at Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Missouri regarding a non-ULMA point’s race on Saturday, October 29th.  Hoffman graciously extended ULMA drivers an invitation to compete in this event, which is a Show-Me race series-sanctioned race for their points.  If there are enough drivers from ULMA on hand for the competition, both ULMA cars and Show-Me cars will run their own heats.  For a b-main event and the main event, both Show-Me cars and ULMA cars will run together.  The proposed feature event lineup will be determined by most passing points accumulated by each respective organization with one car from each making up row one, and so on back through the field.  Again, this is only if enough ULMA cars are on hand to make this happen, the race will go on with or without ULMA participation.  ULMA is extremely grateful to Mr. Hoffman and the Springfield Raceway staff for extending this invitation.  ULMA hopes that many drivers will choose to fire up the engine one more time to compete in this unprecedented challenge event.   The race features an outstanding purse of $800 to win and a whopping $250-to-start, the most money ever offered to ULMA competitors for start money.  B-main start money alone is a very impressive $100.  As soon as details are finalized by Hoffman, the information will be made available at www.ulmaracing.com and www.springfieldraceway.com.  Hoffman may be reached at 417-673-7426.  The race-day phone number is 417-863-0097.  

Stay tuned to www.ulmaracing.com for off-season news and develops regarding the 2012 ULMA race season; it will be the association’s sixth year in operation.  ULMA would like to sincerely thank its 2011 business partners for their involvement, without them the year would not have been possible!  This year’s team consists of title sponsor Crawdad’s Classics Gourmet Hot Sauce, TCI® Automotive, Fast Shafts, Rod End Supply, SafeRacer.com, Kenny’s Tile,  Racingjunk.com, Imhoff Construction, Kenny Johnson’s Race Replicas, D&L Motorsports, Photographics by Shelly Payne, and InsuranceSpecialists.com.  ULMA is a proud supporter of Homes for Our Troops.  To join the team, contact ULMA at unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com.  Special thanks to Callaway Raceway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Central Missouri Speedway, 24 Raceway in Moberly, Scotland County Speedway, and Double XX Speedway for hosting ULMA races! Thank you also to the many drivers for participating in the season and to the fans for continuing to build a fan base for ULMA, you are appreciated!

Final 2011 Crawdad’s Classics Gourmet Hot Sauce ULMA Point Standings
1st 18L Rylan Long 1492 17
2nd O8 Jake Griffin (R) 1486 31
3rd 88B Jason Bodenhamer 1484 33
4th 12c Steve Clancy 1470 31
5th 7 Brett Wood 1466 36
6th 5 Tommy Cordray 1464 24
7th 22 Kevin Coyne 1438 31
8th 1 Bob Test 1412 40
9th 65 Jon Binning 1396 29
10th 27 Danny Lorton 1378 21
11th 79 Robby Warner 1364 15
12th 7W Trace Westling 1362 39
13th 60 Chris Hawkins (R) 1352 23
14th 1T Chris Cox  1342 30
15th 0X Justin Russell (R) 1340 16
16th O4 Chad Clancy (R) 1328 20
17th 23Z Zeke Langley 1306 30
18th 20 Alan Westling (R) 1306 33
19th 98 James Stafford 1294 30
20th 12 Gage Wineland (R) 1236 21