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Kellen Burns
BOSWELL, Ind. (June 13) - Eric Smith is no stranger to racing on a big stage but may have never experienced a win like what he earned Friday night at Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, IN.
"We've always been pretty good here," said an ecstatic Smith after his win. "But to actually win a $10,000 to win show, it's the biggest race I've ever won."
Smith used a heat race win to secure the pole starting position via a redraw but he had his work cut out for him. Rising star Brandon Sheppard jumped out to lead the field the initial six circuits before Smith made his move low on Sheppard to take the lead. "I thought maybe when I jumped the cushion a couple times that I broke a break line," explained Smith. "When I pumped the breaks they'd work a little but, I couldn't use them to get in the corner."
Smith was chased to the line by El Paso, IL pilot and Summer Nationals regular Ryan Unzicker who made a late charge after battling with third place finisher Terry Casey.
"I couldn't tell if Ryan was getting close at the end," said Smith. "I tried to run hard the whole time but running on the cushion, it will wear you out."
A former track champion at nearby Farmer City Raceway, Unzicker was looking to make the final few laps very interesting for the Kamp Motor Speedway crowd. "I was expecting him (Smith) to go high and I was going to jump down to the bottom," remarked the 27 year old Unzicker. I went to the top and I think I overcorrected myself."
"If I wouldn't have jumped the cushion it would have been a very exciting end to the race," Unzicker said.
Wisconsin native Terry Casey rounded out the podium at Kamp Motor Speedway. Casey, a driver known to fans as "Mr. Excitement" definitely lived up to his moniker on a very fast track but felt fortunate at the end of the night to be where he was due to mechanical issues. "I lost my brakes after the first caution," said Casey, who swerved to avoid Smith and Unzicker under the first caution. "I thought I did ok without any brakes," joked Casey.
44 UMP DIRTcar Late Models entered through the pit gates of the 3/8th mile oval Saturday night. Group qualifying quick times were posted by eventual third place finisher Terry Casey, Towanda, IL pilot Donny Walden, as well as two second generation drivers in Brandon Sheppard, and Frank Heckenast Jr.
The pole was the lucky place to be as heat race action saw all but one group fast timer claim their heat race win with eventual winner Smith capturing heat two over Walden. Joey Janowski and JR Hotovy both claimed spots in the night's A-Main event with consolation finishes. Dan Walden, Ted Loomis, and Wes Steidinger all used provisionals to start the A-Main.
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UMP Late Model Summer Nationals
44 Late Models
Feature
1. Eric Smith 9
2. Ryan Unzicker 24
3. Terry Casey 42
4. Frank Heckenast Jr. 99
5. Steve Sheppard 5S
6. Duane Chamberlain 1C
7. Guy Volk V77
8. Joe Janoski 6J
9. Steve Dimmick 11
10. Jason McBride 77
11. Jason Feger 25
12. Donny Waldon 1W
13. Dan Walden 25W
14. JR Hotovy 13H
15. Brandon Sheppard B5
16. Justin Ratliff 16C
17. Wes Steidinger J1
18. Jim Moon 1
19. Brent Kreke 13
20. Ted Loomis 23
21. Dick Potts 92
22. Kevin Weaver 10S
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