By Jeff Adams
The UMP Summnernationals are in full bloom, with Don O’Neal tearing up the circuit after being hospitalized for a blood clot in his leg, which caused him to miss the first 4 races.
As of this writing (Monday) the “Real Deal” has won 5 races, and has streaks of 2 and 3 race wins. Billy Moyer continues to be Mr. Cosnistent, and is leading the chase for the $30,000 points check.
The series hits Illinois, Eldora, and Brownstown, IL before crossing the Mississippi River for races at Burlington, IA, Farley, IA and the most over-rated (but richest) race on the tour, the “Gopher 50” at Owatonna, MN, a track which is typically one-groove.
LaSalle gets it rain-date back after Owatonna, assuming Owatonna doesn’t rain out. Unfortunately, UMP will not recognize the LaSalle date for Summernationals points, which is ridiculous. The Fairbury SN race has been re-scheduled for July 27, and it obviously will not count for UMP points as well.
I just don’t get the logic in not giving the LaSalle race its’ just due. I understand not wanting to play favorites, but these races should count for points, even if they are rained out originally. Fans paid to see a Summernationals race, not just another UMP special event.
UMP has apparently made a deal with the promoters at Oakshade, OH to be the final leg of the tour each year, but I just don’t understand why a track near Toledo, OH should get this honor. Geographically, it does not make sense at all to go from Illinois to Minnesota to Iowa to Indiana to Ohio in 7 days.
I have never been to Oakshade, but I do hear good things about the track. I am sure it is a good facility, but if you are going to schedule a finale anywhere in Ohio it should be at Eldora. Eldora has done more to promote the UMP sanctioning body than any other facility in the USA.
As for not counting the rain-outs as points races, If you schedule a SN race, fans and promoters alike deserve to be awarded with a points-paying show, regardless of it is 1 week or 2 days after the Oakshade race. Last year, Peoria Speedway was willing to add another $5,000 to the winners share to host the UMP SN finale after their date was rained out, but was flatly denied.
Why not let the finale move from year-to-year? Reward the tracks like Fairbury, Farmer City, Spoon River, Farley, Pevely, or Haubstadt for being loyal to the sanctioning body. Make the finale pay $15,000 to-win and rotate it every year to somewhere different.
Just a few suggestions to make the series a little bit better, which is the goal of UMP as well. The criss-crossing the Midwest just does not make sense.
See you at the races.
The UMP Summnernationals are in full bloom, with Don O’Neal tearing up the circuit after being hospitalized for a blood clot in his leg, which caused him to miss the first 4 races.
As of this writing (Monday) the “Real Deal” has won 5 races, and has streaks of 2 and 3 race wins. Billy Moyer continues to be Mr. Cosnistent, and is leading the chase for the $30,000 points check.
The series hits Illinois, Eldora, and Brownstown, IL before crossing the Mississippi River for races at Burlington, IA, Farley, IA and the most over-rated (but richest) race on the tour, the “Gopher 50” at Owatonna, MN, a track which is typically one-groove.
LaSalle gets it rain-date back after Owatonna, assuming Owatonna doesn’t rain out. Unfortunately, UMP will not recognize the LaSalle date for Summernationals points, which is ridiculous. The Fairbury SN race has been re-scheduled for July 27, and it obviously will not count for UMP points as well.
I just don’t get the logic in not giving the LaSalle race its’ just due. I understand not wanting to play favorites, but these races should count for points, even if they are rained out originally. Fans paid to see a Summernationals race, not just another UMP special event.
UMP has apparently made a deal with the promoters at Oakshade, OH to be the final leg of the tour each year, but I just don’t understand why a track near Toledo, OH should get this honor. Geographically, it does not make sense at all to go from Illinois to Minnesota to Iowa to Indiana to Ohio in 7 days.
I have never been to Oakshade, but I do hear good things about the track. I am sure it is a good facility, but if you are going to schedule a finale anywhere in Ohio it should be at Eldora. Eldora has done more to promote the UMP sanctioning body than any other facility in the USA.
As for not counting the rain-outs as points races, If you schedule a SN race, fans and promoters alike deserve to be awarded with a points-paying show, regardless of it is 1 week or 2 days after the Oakshade race. Last year, Peoria Speedway was willing to add another $5,000 to the winners share to host the UMP SN finale after their date was rained out, but was flatly denied.
Why not let the finale move from year-to-year? Reward the tracks like Fairbury, Farmer City, Spoon River, Farley, Pevely, or Haubstadt for being loyal to the sanctioning body. Make the finale pay $15,000 to-win and rotate it every year to somewhere different.
Just a few suggestions to make the series a little bit better, which is the goal of UMP as well. The criss-crossing the Midwest just does not make sense.
See you at the races.
