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Sam Stoecklin
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (July 9) - To say it has been a whirlwind week for the Advantage Metals Recycling United Late Model Association (ULMA), would be an understatement. The association learned early this week that it would no longer be part of the racing action at LA Raceway in LaMonte, Missouri. According to promoter Mike White, "We simply had to make some business decisions to ensure that we would be around for the 2009 season and beyond." The entire ULMA Board of Directors is respectful of Mike's decision and is grateful for having the chance to be affiliated with him and his wife Carolyn and their entire LA Raceway staff this year. The ULMA Board of Directors is truly thankful for the opportunities that the White's provided to ULMA drivers to earn association points at their track up to this point in the season and wishes them nothing but the best for the remainder of their race season, which continues on this Friday night. The White's truly are a great team to work with and the association appreciates their involvement and all they have done to help promote ULMA and for their efforts in helping to keep late models racing on a weekly basis in the Greater Kansas City area in 2008.
In any type of business adventure, when things don't go as planned, the hope is to continue on and look for the brighter side of new possibilities and that is exactly what ULMA has been able to do this week. Once the association learned the news of losing its lone Friday night track, its board members diligently went to work in hopes of securing a place for its drivers to earn Friday night association points. Late Wednesday evening, the hard work paid off as Dennis Shrout, the new owner and promoter of Valley Speedway, welcomed back the ULMA to Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri, for the remainder of the race season. Last year, the association was affiliated with the track but could not come to an agreement with the former owners on a rules issue at the beginning of the year, at which time it sought out other opportunities. The news was warmly welcomed by the board of directors, association drivers, and fans, who are already talking about the late models at Valley once again providing exciting race action at the track. From this point forward, all ULMA rules are in effect at the track for its weekly late model racing. ULMA is looking forward to building a strong and positive relationship with Mr. Shrout and the entire Valley Speedway crew and is anxious to get started, this Friday night, July 11th! For more information on Valley Speedway be sure to check them out online at www.valleyspeedway.com.
Last Saturday night, Bryon Alison of Marshall, Missouri, finally broke through the ULMA winner's circle as he drove to a hard-fought victory at Lucas Oil Speedway, which roared back into action with sixteen drivers on hand for the action. It was Alison's first win of the year after a number of strong runs posted this so far in the season. Running second to Alison was three-time ULMA feature winner Rylan Long of Greenfield, Missouri. Cole Camp, Missouri driver Kevin Kaiser scored another strong run as he continued to improve in the new INCE chassis house car. Kaiser was able to hold back the challenges of Jeff Schlup and Brett Rollert, both of whom ran inside the top five. James Rutledge, Jake Williams, Harlen Kennedy, Andy Kennedy, and new member Bob Test rounded out the top ten. Action resumes this Saturday, July 12th with another exciting weekend of racing at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks. For more information on Lucas Oil Speedway be sure to visit them at www.lucasoilspeedway.com.
At Central Missouri Speedway, seventeen drivers were on hand for the racing action. Another first-time winner roared into victory lane for his first-ever ULMA-sanctioned win. Steve Clancy of Odessa, Missouri, inherited the lead from Jon Binning who exited the race with mechanical troubles while in the lead. Clancy was pressured throughout the remainder of the race by Brett Wood of Warrensburg, Missouri, but he held strong and ran a superb race on his way to the victory. Clancy is last year's defending track champion at Valley Speedway. Wood came home in second with Kevin 'the Kid' Coyne of Kingsville, Missouri running strong in third all the way up from his eleventh-starting position. Mike Ryun crossed the line in fourth with Walter Imhoff recording his best run of the year in fifth, just ahead of David Angell in sixth. Allen Perryman, Randy Ainsworth, and Gary Billings, Jr. finished seventh through ninth. Derek Nevels recorded his first top ten run of the year with a solid tenth-place finish. Action once again takes to the CMS high banks this Saturday, July 12th. For more information visit CMS online at www.centralmissourispeedeay.net.
With their wins, Alison and Clancy became the eleventh and twelfth different winners so far in the 2008 Advantage Metals Recycling ULMA campaign. So far this season, twenty-five events have been held for drivers to earn their points from at the affiliated tracks. In the overall standings, Jason Bodenhamer continues to lead just ahead of James Rutledge, who overtook Binning for the runner-up position as the two drivers swapped second and third this week. Brett Wood holds strong in fourth with Jake Williams in fifth. Mike Ryun, Bryon Alison, Randy Ainsworth, and David Angell are sixth thru ninth as Clancy breaks into the top ten thanks to his recent string of strong runs. All three ULMA-affiliated tracks return to 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.
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