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Sam Stoecklin
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (July 15) - Last year's inaugural ULMA champion, Brett Rollert of Smithville, Missouri drove to his first victory of the season last Friday at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri in the first appearance of the Advantage Metals Recycling ULMA Late Models at the track this year. Rollert, who won eight events last year, picked up his ninth association win. He last won at Valley Speedway in September of last year on the final night of competition at the speedway. After the victory, Rollert declared his team is ready to put up a fight for the remaining races because their race program had recently taken a turn for the better. Rollert's nine wins ties him with Jason Bodenhamer on the all-time ULMA wins list. Bodee's nine victories have all come this season with his most recent win being last Saturday night at Lucas Oil Speedway. His most current win did not come in the same car that he drove to victory in his first eight victories. Bodenhamer's father-in-law is now officially one for one as a car owner with his son-in-law behind the wheel. Although Bodenhamer is the current ULMA point's leader, he will pilot a super late model this weekend at Valley Speedway and Lucas Oil Speedway.
In the ULMA's return to Valley Speedway on Friday night, thirteen competitors were present in hopes of picking up association points at the track for the first time this year. Two heat races got things underway for the late models, with Bryon Allison of Marshall, Missouri and Brett Rollert picking up the victories. Both drivers appeared to have things well in hand in their respective heat races and found themselves starting from the front row of the $100-to-start, $600-to-win weekly race. At the drop of the green flag, Allison and Rollert ran several close laps around the track until ultimately Rollert grabbed the point and utilized the high side to remain out front the entire distance. Steve Clancy continued his string of strong finishes in a heated battle with David Barker and Mike Ryun. The trio battled for several laps until the final re-start, which was not kind to Ryun as he fell to fifth in the final rundown. Another driver having a great second half of the season is Lockwood, Missouri's Jake Williams, who was at Valley for the first time. Williams came away with a sixth-place run. The final rundown was Rollert, Allison, Clancy, Barker, Ryun and Williams in the top six. James Rutledge, Kevin Coyne, Brett Wood, and Will McKinney, who earned his first ULMA finish of the year, rounded out the top ten. Due to a previously scheduled special event, ULMA late models will not run at Valley this coming weekend but will be competing at the track every week thereafter until the Valley Speedway season ends on Friday, September 12th. Check out www.valleyspeedway.com for complete speedway information.
Last Saturday night racing action took place at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri with fourteen late models on hand for the racing. In early evening heat races, Jake Williams and James Rutledge of California, Missouri picked up the wins and the pole starting positions for the feature event. Williams grabbed the lead from the onset of the 20-lap race with Rutledge close behind. On lap three, Bodenhamer, who was in the #31 late model made his way by Rutledge for second position; meanwhile by lap six, Williams had built up a half a straightaway lead as Bodenhamer began to chase him down. Lap-after-lap Bodee gnawed into Williams' lead and finally caught the leader midway through the race. The two raced nose-to-tail for several laps until lap sixteen, when Bodenhamer used the high side to maneuver around Williams and a lapped machine to grab the point and sail on to victory in the caution-free event. Williams stayed with the leader right up until the checkered flag flew, settling for second at the line. Rutledge held off Warsaw, Missouri driver Kevin Kaiser in a great battle for third and fourth, with last week's Lucas winner Bryon Allison, grabbing fifth. Finishing sixth was Javan Payne, with Andy Kennedy, Rylan Long, Harlen Kennedy, and Brett Wood rounding out the top ten. ULMA has a week off at Lucas Oil Speedway this weekend due to a previously scheduled event. For more information, visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com.
Warrensburg's Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) was rained out for the second time this year last Saturday night. However, the track is set to roar back to life this Saturday night, July 19th and will be the only ULMA points-earning track in action this weekend. It will be Central Auto Racing Boosters (CARB) night at the track. Drivers who start the main event and who are CARB members will earn extra money for their efforts. Check out CMS online at www.centralmissourispeedway.com or call the track report line at (660) 747-2166.
In just a few short weeks ULMA will make its second and final appearance of the year at the historic half-mile, this time during the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri. This special ULMA points race is set for Thursday, August 14th. All participants must be ULMA members and there will be a $50 association entry fee (pit passes sold separately), for the event. All cars will process through technical inspection prior to the event getting underway. The race pays $700 to the winner and $150 to start. For more information about State Fair Speedway and the complete purse, log on to www.sedaliastatefairspeedway.com. In addition to the low ticket prices for this race night, which also features modifieds and street stocks, the Missouri State Fair has August 14th tabbed as a $2.00 admission day. General admission to the races is only $8.00, which means you can see a great night of racing for only $10.00 featuring three classes of cars on the high-speed half-mile track!
For detailed information about the United Late Model Association log on to www.ulmaracing.com. You will find a complete schedule of events at all three affiliated tracks, special event information, 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 18: Friday-No ULMA Racing at Valley due to Special Event
July 19: Saturday-Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race) - No Racing at Lucas Due to Special Event
July 25: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race)
July 26: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
August 1: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race)
August 2: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
August 8: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race)
August 9: Saturday-Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race) - No Racing at Lucas Due to Special Event
August 14: Thursday-Missouri State Fair Speedway (State Fair Race) $700 to win, $150 to st THIS IS A ULMA POINTS-EARNING EVENT!
August 15: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race)
August 16: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
August 22: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race)
August 23: Saturday-Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race) - No Racing at Lucas Due to Special Event
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