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Sam Stoecklin
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (July 3) - Jake Williams, from Lockwood, Missouri, a small community located in south-west Missouri, became the newest driver to visit victory lane with the Advantage Metals Recycling United Late Model Association (ULMA). Each weekend Williams makes the long haul to both LA Raceway in LaMonte, Missouri and Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg, Missouri. Round trip to each facility for Williams and his unsponsored GRT late model is over 250 miles! He made the long-distance travelling pay off with his first victory last Friday night at the LA Raceway, where he raced his way to the front from his inside row two starting position. Williams raced nose-to-tail several laps for the lead with Jon Binning, Bryon Allison and James Rutledge in hot pursuit. Midway through the race, while Williams and Binning made it a two-man race. Behind the lead pair, Rutledge found his way into third from his sixth-starting spot while Javan Payne came to fourth after starting in eighth position in a great battle with Alison in fifth. Alison's great run looked to come to an end as his car went over the ledge in turns three and four relegating him to the rear of the field. In the end Williams fended off the challenge from Binning to earn his first win with Binning second, Rutledge third, Payne fourth, and Alison rebounding for a top-five finish. Kevin Kaiser, Tommy Cordray, Jamie Wineland, Bob Hiller, and Brett Wood rounded out the top ten. LA Raceway hosts another night of "fun in the country" this Friday, July 4th with their full race program and fireworks for KIX 105.7/92.3 BOB FM Radio night at the races. Gates open at 5 with race action taking to the track at 7:30. For more information on the one-third-mile speed plant visit them online at www.laraceway.com.
Action continued Saturday night at Warrensburg's Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) with fourteen racers signed in for competition. After taking a rare night off on Friday night to spend time with his family, Centerview, Missouri driver Jason 'Bodee' Bodenhamer once again headlined the CMS action with his fifth win at the track and eighth overall ULMA win of the year. Bodee clearly had the field covered throughout the night as the rest of the competition sorted things out from second on back. Steven Clancy of Odessa, Missouri raced his way to his best ULMA point's night of the year with a strong second-place effort. After some exciting heat-race action earlier in the evening, it was clear that the low side was the place to be for the feature event; however, one driver was brave enough to try the middle groove and made it work to his advantage. James Rutledge of California, Missouri started eighth and by midway through the race had advanced five positions to third. Track point's leader Jon Binning's night came to an early end with mechanical woes. Behind Rutledge, the previous night's feature winner, Jake Williams, used smart and patient driving prowess and made his way into fourth spot and took home the $30 Rod End Supply contingency award. Mike Ryan was fifth with Randy Ainsworth close behind in sixth. Several cars were involved in a turn three and four mishap, which realigned the field and forced an early end to the night for several drivers running inside the top ten. When all was said and done, Bodee was victorious with Clancy second, Rutledge third, Williams fourth, and Ryun in fifth. Ainsworth, Brett Wood, David Angell, long-distance traveler Jason Sivils, and Kevin Coyne rounded out the rest of the top ten. Racing resumes at CMS this weekend with a big night planned at the track, which will host a special event for its modified division. ULMA Late Models join in on the fun on Saturday, July 5th with another night of fierce competition. Things get underway a half hour earlier than normal at CMS this weekend with pit gates opening at 4, admission gates at 4:30, hot laps at 6:30, and racing at 7. For detailed information regarding the CMS race weekend, admission information, and general track info, visit the CMS Website at www.centralmissourispeedway.net.
After several weeks of special events and weather cancellations the Diamond of Dirt Tracks, Lucas Oil Speedway, returns to regular weekly race action this Saturday night July 5th. According to General Track Manager Kevin Greven, "We are ready to get back to racing," I know the racers and fans are as well. The math is easy; it has been more than a month since all three weekly classes took to the track," (June 30, 2008). Additional schedule changes have also taken place for the remainder of the year at Lucas Oil Speedway. To learn more about the facility, the remaining schedule and race-night start times visit the track on the Internet at www.lucasoilspeedway.com.
Jake Williams became the tenth different ULMA winner this year in a total of twenty-three race events contested at the affiliated tracks and special events held. Bodee continues his reign at the top of the standings heading into week fifteen of the Advantage Metals Recycling ULMA season. Binning and Rutledge each moved up one spot each as Wood slipped down to fourth after a tough weekend of competition. Williams continues his ascend to the top of the standings and now finds himself in fifth overall and leading the Rookie of the Year standings. Fellow Rookie of the Year competitor Mike Ryun is sixth with Alison seventh, Ainsworth eighth, David Angell ninth and David Barker in tenth position. All three ULMA-affiliated tracks return to race action this weekend, catch them if you can! To learn more about ULMA, go to www.ulmaracing.com, where you will find a complete schedule of events at all three affiliated tracks, special event info, full point standings, rules, and business information. E-mail ULMA at unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com. When visiting our great sponsors please thank them for supporting local dirt-track racing!
Title Sponsor: Advantage Metals Recycling LLC (Formerly Galamba Group), visit www.galambagroup.com, e-mail Advantage Metals Recycling at info@advantagerecycling.com or get the 'Advantage' by calling 1-866-527-4733. Official Sponsors: King's Small Engine Repair LLC, Imhoff Construction. Contingency Sponsors: IMPACT Racing, FastShafts, Wineland Enterprises, Mike Crump Racing & Supply, J&T Racing Supply, Monroe's Signs & Graphics, Bodee's Race Bodies, and Rod End Supply. Affiliate Sponsors: Graphics by Shelly Payne, Nevels Sign Graphics, and Ken Dake Attorney at Law.
ULMA Schedule at a Glance
July 4: Friday-LA Raceway (weekly race)
July 5: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
July 11: Friday-LA Raceway (weekly race)
July 12: Saturday- Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
July 18: Friday-LA Raceway (weekly race)
July 19: Saturday-Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
July 25: Friday-LA Raceway (weekly race)
July 26: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
August 1: Friday-LA Raceway (weekly race)
August 2: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
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