Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Public Relations
September 1, 2015
Lucas Cattle Company ULMA Late Model racing is quickly winding down for the 2015 season but the action on the track is still going strong as drivers compete for championship points. Last week, two tracks hosted three events with Randolph County Raceway (RCR) in Moberly, Missouri playing host to both a Friday and Saturday night program while Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri hosted its final regular weekly racing championship night on Saturday.
Although the overall title is still up for grabs, ULMA is pleased to announce and to congratulate this year’s Hoosier Tire Midwest ULMA Rookie of the Year, Dustin Hodges of Fulton, Missouri. On his way to the Rookie of the Year title, Hodges picked up two victories, both coming in late July at Callaway Raceway. Hodges will be honored at this year’s ULMA banquet along with other top-tier drivers on Saturday, October 24th at the Isle of Capris Hotel & Casino in Boonville, Missouri. Banquet tickets and details will be released in the coming weeks.
RCR was the site of the opening ULMA-sanctioned event last weekend when 16 drivers checked in for competition on Friday. In preliminary heat race action, Lancaster, Missouri’s Chris Smyser claimed the victory in the opening heat ahead of Dustin Hodges and Cody Holtkamp. For heat two, David Melloway kept Kenny Mudd, and Brother, Jon Melloway at bay to claim the victory.
For the main event, Hodges and Smyser led the field to the initial green flag. Any betting person might have put their money on Smyser to add to his multiple win season; however, Mudd advanced from fourth position to eventually assume the lead, leaving David Melloway and Dustin Hodges inside the top three. It was Mudd’s second ULMA victory of the year and first since May 23. Cody Holtkamp finished fourth with Smyser, McCoin, Chuck Melloway, Terry Gallaher, Chris Cox, and Ashlee Lancaster rounding out the top ten.
ULMA racing returned to RCR again on Saturday for another full program of action supporting the National Sprint League racing event. Thirteen drivers raced in a pair of heat races to determine the starting lineup for the Late Model feature. Dustin Hodges grabbed the opening heat race win over Cody Holtkamp and Corey Botkins while Jon Melloway of Hallsville, Missouri bested previous night feature winner Kenny Mudd and Danny Crane in heat two.
Hodges and Jon Melloway started on the front row for the main event. Melloway, who is currently in a tight battle with Todd McCoin for the overall ULMA Championship was a strong runner all throughout the night; however, for Hodges, things did not go his way as he fell from contention. By race end Melloway held off Kenny Mudd and Danny Crane of Columbia, Missouri, for the victory. It was Jon Melloway’s second win of the year and first since early May.
Melloway was relieved and thankful to get back to victory lane when the race concluded, knowing in the back of his mind how important these last few finishes are to his championship hopes. Cody Holtkamp finished fourth for the second-consecutive night with Terry Gallaher fifth. John Ketterer, Chris Smyser, Daryl Dooling, Jason Munoz, and Corey Botkins rounded out the top ten.
The 2015 regular weekly racing season came to a close at Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday evening in Wheatland, Missouri. ULMA congratulates this year’s Lucas Oil Speedway champion, Justin Russell, of Henley, Missouri on his first-ever track championship.
For the final night of action, 24 drivers signed in for action in three preliminary heat races. Josh Poe of Drexel, Missouri claimed heat one over Lance Town and Payton Looney. In heat two, J.D. Hubert of nearby Cross Timbers, Missouri was victorious ahead of Chad Richwine and Justin Russell. Larry Jones of El Dorado Springs, Missouri captured the win in heat three over Todd McCoin and Clint Long, making his first 2015 appearance.
In the main event, Looney quickly grabbed the lead and never looked back leading the entire distance for his third win in a row at the speedway and ninth overall ULMA win for 2015. Josh Poe, more known for his time behind the wheel of Modified ran a very close second in the main event. Hubert started and finished third followed by Todd McCoin and Clint Long. Finishing out the top ten were track champion Justin Russell, Phil Edmondson, Lane Ehlert, Larry Jones, and Lance Town.
ULMA racing has concluded at the speedway for the 2015 season; however, the speedway still has several special event weekends with various types of racing scheduled to close out the season. For a complete schedule of remaining events visit the track online at www.lucasoilspeedway.com.
This weekend marks the final two championship points-earning events for the association this year. The weekend kicks off on Saturday at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) in Warrensburg, Missouri as ULMA drivers make their fourth and final appearance of the year at the track. Earlier this season, defending ULMA Champion Jon Binning and former ULMA Champion Jason Bodenhamer claimed victories at CMS; Payton Looney scored a CMS win over the Independence Day weekend.
At CMS, pit gates open at 4:30 with grandstands opening at 5. Driver pill draw cutoff is 6:15 (late drivers do not earn passing points in the heat races). The driver’s meeting takes place at 6:30, hot laps roll off at 7, and racing begins at 7:30. The track will be hosting its annual Labor Day special event racing with USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, B-Mods, and Pure Stocks also competing on Saturday night. General admission is $15, Senior Citizens and Military w/I.D. $12, Kids ages 6 to 12 $5, five and under free. All pit passes this weekend at CMS are $35. The track will host a post-race BYOB free party with karaoke in the tech barn once racing concludes. Visit www.centralmissourispeedway.net for more information or on race day call (660) 747-2166.
The final Lucas Cattle Company points-earning night of the season for drivers takes place at Randolph County Raceway (RCR) on Sunday, September 6th during another special-event weekend at the track. Also on the card Sunday at RCR is the ASCS Sprint Cars, W.A.R. Sprints, and USRA Modifieds. General admission for Sunday is $20, kids 6 to 14 $10, children five and under are free. Gates open at 5 p.m. For complete details visit the speedway’s website at www.randolphcountyraceway.com.
Although ULMA Championship Points end at RCR on Sunday, September 6th there is one additional race that dots the ULMA landscape for the 2015 season. For the first time in its nine-year history, ULMA competitors will have a chance to compete at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on Friday, September 18. For those drivers wanting to turn a few practice laps at Lakeside Speedway before the race date, ULMA drivers have been invited to hot lap their cars on Friday, September 11th, with more information to follow. This is a full-on ULMA only late model event. Additional sponsor details and purse structure to be announced.
Jon Melloway and Todd McCoin will sort out this year’s championship with the final two races on the line. Melloway holds a narrow 8-point lead over McCoin. Both drivers are past the 15 starts threshold and will each throw out two lesser performing nights if they compete in both events this weekend and earn more points than their current two lowest nights remaining to be discarded. McCoin’s two lowest nights to discard are a pair of 90 points-earning finishes. For Melloway, his two lowest points-earning nights remaining to be discarded should he improve upon his points-earning tallies are 92 points.
Lucas Cattle Company Point Standings (full standings at www.ulmaracing.com)
POS CAR # NAME STARTS POINTS
1st 74 Jon Melloway 25 1580
2nd 7X Todd McCoin 23 1572
3rd 15 Payton Looney 15 1536
4th 1T Chris Cox 24 1492
5th 22H Dustin Hodges ® 21 1491
6th 23 Cody Holtkamp 18 1471
7th 0X Justin Russell 15 1444
8th 8 Dave Miller 15 1214
9th 16P Bobby Penney 13 1152
10th 9D Dwight Niehoff 11 1016
11th 65 Jon Binning 12 998
12th 25S Chris Smyser 10 978
13th O7 Kenny Mudd 10 903
14th 14X David Melloway 10 882
15th 16 Ashlee Lancaster 10 868
Hoosier Tire Midwest ULMA Rookie of the Year standings
POS CAR # NAME STARTS POINTS
1st 22H Dustin Hodges ® 21 1491
2nd 4 John Ketterer ® 10 862
3rd 7B Wesley Briggs ® 10 800
4th 1X John O’Neal ® 7 640
5th 45 Marvin Forrest ® 4 304
Remaining 2015 ULMA Schedule (as of 8/31/15)
Saturday, Sept 5 – Central Missouri Speedway
Sunday, Sept 6 – Randolph County Raceway (Final Points Race)
Friday, Sept 18 – Lakeside Speedway – Non point’s race.
Saturday, Oct 24th – ULMA Championship Banquet, Isle of Capri – Boonville, Mo
For complete standings, results, calendar of events and license information be sure to visit ULMA online at www.ulmaracing.com. ULMA Temp Licenses are sold at each affiliated track for $10 per event entered. Drivers must either be a paid in full ULMA member or purchase the temp license to compete in ULMA events. Visit ULMA’s title sponsor at www.lucascattlecompany.com. ULMA thanks Hoosier Tire Midwest, Radical Race Wear, FastShafts.com, RacingJunk.com, RacinDirt.com, and Photographics by Shelly Payne. For more information on ULMA, visit www.ulmaracing.com.