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I-55 Raceway
PEVELY, Mo. (March 29) - One hundred and ten racecars and their crews didn't let a damp, chili night keep them away from opening night of the 2008 racing season at I-55 Raceway.
Twenty-two UMP DIRTcar Late Models were on hand and provided the fans with a typical great feature event that fans are accustom to at I-55 Raceway. Craig Smith jumped out to early lead from the pole position, but had Bryan Collins, Rusty Griffaw and Billy Faust keeping the pressure on him early on in the main event. Smith's run at the top would only last nine laps before mechanical failure would slow his ride and end his night. Collins would take the lead on the restart after the caution for Smith, but the caution flew immediately again on the restart as fourth place running Darren Forrest got into the back of third place running Griffaw sending Griffaw spinning in turn two and causing several other cars to spin to miss the melee. Griffaw's great run would end there and Forrest was disqualified for rough driving. The rest of the feature event turned into a two car battle as Collins and Faust battled for the lead lap after lap, but Collins would hang on at the finish to pick up the win. Faust took the second spot. Danny Haynes made a great run through the field to pick up the third position. Tim Manville also worked his way through the pack and finished fourth. Dylan Sharp, making his debut in a late model after several years in the modified division, had an impressive run as he completed the top five and ran near the front all night.
In the UMP DIRTcar Modified division, the man referred to as the "SHOW STOPPER", Ray Walsh, was in fine form to start the 2008 racing season as he powered his way into the lead on lap ten and never looked back as he pulled away to a dominating win. Larry Hull and Bobby Martintoni started on the front row of the main event and battled relentlessly for the lead, but a flat tire would end Hull's night early. Martintoni led the first nine laps before being overtaken by Walsh. Martintoni brought his car home with a second place finish. Doug Wood continued his great runs from the end of last year as he came home in the third position. Brian Worley took the fourth spot with Mark Miner completing the top five.
Two-time and defending UMP DIRTcar Sportsman Champion Troy Naeger started his bid for a third straight championship by claiming victory on opening night at I-55 Raceway. However, it didn't come without a little contraversy. Kent Nations led the first thirteen laps of the main event, but as he and Naeger raced through lapped traffic, Naeger got under Nations down the backstretch and the two made contact, sending Nations up out of the preferred line. Nations would settle for the second spot. Gary Haynes claimed the third position with Tom Smallwood finishing fourth and Tim Hollerbach rounded out the top five.
Homer Mooney and Brandon Hedgecoth put on a great race in the UMP DIRTcar Pro 4 Cylinder division. The two battled side-by-side and nose-to-tail all ten laps of the main event. Mooney would just edge Hedgecock at the line to earn the win. Jacob Buechting would take the third spot with Jason Crump finishing fourth and Gary Range fifth.
UMP DIRTcar Late Models - 22 Entries
Heat 1
1. 00 Billy Faust
2. 11Z Bryan Collins
3. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
4. 47 Danny Haynes
5. 33 Tim Manville
6. 50 Ed Dixon
7. 28 Don Klein
8. 7 Rich Lawson
Heat 2
1. 81 Craig Smith
2. 78 Chad Zobrist
3. 67 Dylan Sharp
4. 11D Brian Diveley
5. 6K Michael Kloos
6. 87 Ken Rumble
7. 23 Paul Roider
Heat 3
1. 16 Rusty Griffaw
2. 20 Darren Forrest
3. 13 Dewayne Keifer
4. 82 Billy Laycock
5. 2J David Jumper
6. 95 Jeff Johns
7. 1HR Ron McQuerry
Dash
1. 11Z Bryan Collins
2. 81 Craig Smith
3. 00 Billy Faust
4. 16 Rusty Griffaw
5. 78 Chad Zobrist
6. 67 Dylan Sharp
7. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
8. 20 Darren Forrest
9. 13 Dewayne Keifer
Feature
1. 11Z Bryan Collins
2. 00 Billy Faust
3. 47 Danny Haynes
4. 33 Tim Manville
5. 67 Dylan Sharp
6. 50 Ed Dixon
7. 82 Billy Laycock
8. 6K Michael Kloos
9. 13 Dewayne Keifer
10. 95 Jeff Johns
11. 87 Ken Rumble
12. 2J Dave Jumper
13. 7 Rich Lawson
14. 28 Don Klein
15. 1HR Ron McQuerry
16. 23 Paul Roider
17. 11D Brian Diveley
18. 78 Chad Zobrist
19. 16 Rusty Griffaw
20. 81 Craig Smith
21. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
22. 20 Darren Forrest
G&M Steel Dash $100 Bonus Winner: Bryan Collins
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds - 37 Entries
Heat 1
1. 78 Larry Hull
2. 15G Jerry Grither
3. 14 Billy Smith
4. 59 Rich Whaley
5. 10F Todd Ferber
Heat 2
1. 48 Bobby Martintoni
2. 78C Alan Conner
3. 1W Ray Walsh
4. 14C Rick Conoyer
5. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
Heat 3
1. 9W Doug Wood
2. 8X James Reed
3. 89 Bobby Bittle
4. 24 Paul Bauman
5. 31 Ricky Horton
Heat 4
1. 166 Brian Worley
2. 17 Brad Thurston
3. 7M Mark Miner
4. 14 Leroy Haney
5. F5 Chris Fisher
Dash
1. 48 Bobby Martintoni
2. 78 Larry Hull
3. 166 Brian Worley
4. 9W Doug Wood
5. 1W Ray Walsh
6. 7M Mark Miner
7. 17 Brad Thurston
8. 14 Billy Smith
9. 15 Jerry Grither
Semi #1
1. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
2. 6 Ray Wagner
3. 18 Randy Myers
4. 62 Leo Keifer
5. 21J Jeff Vernier
6. 20M Brad McKinnon
7. 43 Milo Veloz
8. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
9. 10X Rob Pendergrass
10. 67 Todd McGraw
Semi #2
1. 51 Timmy Hill
2. 22C Brandon Lennox
3. 99 Robbie Helms
4. 10F Todd Ferber
5. 72X Jason Sinn
6. 11B Brett Bennett
7. C4 Chris Soutia
8. 15R Danny Reisinger
9. 36 Kenny Wallace
Feature
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 48 Bobby Martintoni
3. 9W Doug Wood
4. 166 Brian Worley
5. 7 Mark Miner
6. 15 Jerry Grither
7. 51 Timmy Hill
8. 89 Bobby Bittle
9. 14 Leroy Haney
10. 6 Ray Wagner
11. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
12. 18 Randy Myers
13. 22C Brandon Lennox
14. 99 Robby Helms
15. F5 Chris Fisher
16. 8X James Reed
17. 14C Rick Conoyer
18. 31 Ricky Horton
19. 59 Rich Whaley
20. 78 Larry Hull
21. 78C Alan Conner
22. 14 Billy Smith
23. 17 Brad Thurston
24. 24 Paul Bauman
Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Hard Charger Winner ($200 Bonus): Timmy Hill
UMP DIRTcar/AARA Sportsman - 29 Entries
Dash
1. 19 Jimmy Cummins
2. 50 Kent Nations
3. 12 Troy Naeger
4. 87 Gary Haynes
5. 28 Tommy Smallwood
6. 96 Tim Hollerbach
7. 36 Danny Ems
8. 57 Trey Harris
9. 16 Joe McCain
Semi #1
1. 147 Kyle Stolzer
2. 92 Jim Abshire
3. 32 Jerry Fleming
4. 17 Michael Jones
5. 20 Shane Capps
6. 42 Mike Reed
7. 82 Pat Chalmers
8. 911 Tim Hoffman
9. 128 Tyson Gegg
10. 444 Marc Roberson
11. 18 Daryl Dodge
Feature
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 50 Kent Nations
3. 87 Gary Haynes
4. 28 Tom Smallwood
5. 96 Tim Hollerbach
6. 36 Danny Ems
7. 62 Troy Medley
8. 67 Ronnie Bader
9. 19 Jimmy Cummins
10. 55K Jason Keller
11. 8 Steve Edgecombe
12. 147 Kyle Stolzer
13. M16 Joe McCain
14. 11 Jeff Herzog
15. 3 Scott Hensler
16. 32 Jerry Fleming
17. 17 Michael Jones
18. 92 Jim Abshier
19. 20 Shane Capps
20. 9 Mike McGinnity
21. 42 Mike Reed
22. 23 Kevin Mosier
23. 57 Trey Harris
24. 69 Derek Bryant
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