By Jay Hardin
Macon, IL September 9, 2003—The last auto race of the season on the Illinois fairground mile dirt tracks promises to be one of blazing speed and close competition as the United Midwestern Promoters Late Model and Modified Series invade the “World’s Fastest Mile Dirt Track” at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Sunday, September 14 for the 12th annual Turbo Blue Illinois Fall Nationals. Track Enterprises CEO and race promoter Bob Sargent has posted a total purse that exceeds $50,000, with $12,000 awarded to the winner of the 40-lap late model feature, and $2000 going to the winner of the 20-mile modified event.
Well over 100 race cars are expected to make the tow to Springfield, Illinois for the 12th annual Fall Nationals, an event that keeps growing since it’s inception in 1992. Many of the biggest stars and best drivers from the UMP Late Model series and the Modified series are expected to be in Springfield, as well as many drivers from local and area race tracks. Five different states are represented on the late model and modified preliminary entry list, with several more expected by race time.
The defending winner of the Fall Nationals late model event is expected to compete Sunday. Two-time Fall nationals late model winner Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa is the driver of the Seubert Calf Ranches-McDonald’s sponsored late model and won the 2002 World 100 at Eldora. Birkhofer is a fan favorite across the upper Midwest and really looks forward to competing on the large, high speed race tracks.
Batesville, Arkansas Billy Moyer has been an annual attendee of the Illinois Fall Nationals, becoming the only driver to claim four late model wins in the event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Moyer, a five time winner of the World 100 at Eldora, is the current one-lap track late model track record holder at Springfield, the DuQuoin and Indiana State Fairgrounds and the only driver in late model racing history to post feature wins on all three of those historic facilities.
Moyer’s Car City-Hawkeye Truck Sales teammate is local favorite Shannon Babb of Decatur, Illinois. Babb, nicknamed the “Decatur Invader”, is a member of the Babb racing family of central Illinois, and became the first central Illinois driver to post a major win on the Illinois State Fair mile when he captured his first Illinois Fall Nationals late model win in 2001.
Birkhofer had a lot of competition during last year’s UMP Late Model Fall Nationals event, which was rained out on it’s original date and run September 29. With 46 late models in attendance, Gary Webb set fast time with a lap of 28.822, 124.905 miles an hour in qualifications. Birkhofer won the second heat, setting an 8 lap track record of over 121 miles an hour in the process. That record was short-lived, however, as Don O’Neal smashed the 8 lap record in the third heat, with a time of 3:52.60, a speed of 123.818 miles an hour. O’Neal also set a new 4 lap record for the late models in the dash, over 120 miles an hour for the 4 miles.
In the feature it was all Birkhofer, who led the 40 mile distance from start to finish. Moyer took the second slot, with Webb third, O’Neal fourth and Springfield’s own Joe Ross in the fifth position.
Other stars of the UMP Late Model series expected to compete at Springfield include Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Illinois, a former LaSalle and Kankakee track champion, Al Atkinson of Wisconsin and Rob Kirchner of Iowa.
Illinois late model drivers who may compete at Springfield on Sunday include Steve Sheppard (presently 6th in the UMP National Points) and Ed Bauman of New Berlin, Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Tim Lance of Mapleton, Mike Fannin of Leroy, Jason Frankel of Quincy, Dave Smith of Monticello, Matt Taylor, Joe Ross Jr., Roger Brickler, and Brian Shirley (currently 11th in the UMP standings) of Springfield.
Area drivers who may be on the late model entry list include three time UMP National Late Model champion Ed Dixon of Washington, Missouri, Denny Ekrich of Tiffin, Iowa, former NASCAR weekly champ and two time UMP champ Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, second generation driver Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri and young sensation Kyle Steffens of St. Charles, Missouri.
The UMP Modified event traditionally draws a large number of machines and drivers to Springfield, and Sunday should be no exception.
Jim Shereck of St. Charles, Missouri is the defending winner of the Fall Nationals modified feature, and is expected to return to defend his title in the Dairy Queen-Imo’s Pizza Special. Shereck excels on the big mile dirt tracks, he is the only three time winner of modified events at the DuQuoin State Fair "Magic Mile".
Over seventy modifieds pulled onto the Illinois State Fairgrounds last September in search of the $2000 first prize. The large field made six heats necessary for the modifieds, plus two semi features. While no new track records were set in the modified class, five of the six heat races were run without a yellow flag. Steve Adams, Denny Schwartz, Curt Rhoades, Shereck, Greg Hughes and Hank Delonjay won the heat races, with Jim Leka and former ARCA stock car driver Mark Voight taking the semi-features.
The feature was extremely competitive, with Denny Schwartz leading the first thirteen laps, before being overtaken by Shereck on the fourteenth go around. Shereck then cruised to a $2000 payday, and his third mile track win, having won twice at DuQuoin.
Competing against Shereck in the modified division will be former two-time Fall Nationals winner and three-time winner of the Wynn’s Sportsman event in August, Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Illinois. Leka won the modified track championship this season at the Farmer City Raceway, is a former NASCAR weekly racing series national champion and runs very well on the mile tracks. Currently Leka sits 8th in the UMP Modified National points chase.
Other drivers of note expected in the modified class include Kyle Steffens of St. Charles, Missouri, Brandon Maxwell of Milan, Tennessee and Tony Roland of Valparaiso, Indiana.
Illinois drivers who have entered the modified division include Donnie Lehmann of Springfield, Kyle Logue of Oreana, Denny Schwartz of Ashmore (the current point leader at Charleston and 2nd in the UMP National standings), Al Crawley of Decatur, Hank Delonjay of Quincy and Mark Voight, winner of the Oldani Memorial at DuQuoin, of Marine. Curt Rhodes of Taylorville, the current UMP Modified point leader at the Terre Haute Action Track is also entered, as is last year’s Oldani Memorial winner at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, Brian Shaw of Robinson.
Gates for the competitors open at 7 a.m. Sunday, with the Illinois State Fairgrounds grandstand open at 9. Practice begins at 10, with qualifications for the late models at 11. Late model drivers will be taking aim at Billy Moyer’s one lap track record of 28.175, 127.773 miles an hour set in September of 1996.
Racing action for the 12th annual Turbo Blue Illinois Fall Nationals is set for 1 p.m. with heat races, semi features and the feature events for both divisions. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children and may be obtained by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200, at the Illinois State Fair Box Office or at Ticketmaster locations.
Additional information may be obtained by calling Track Enterprises, or on their web site at www.trackenterprises.com.
Macon, IL September 9, 2003—The last auto race of the season on the Illinois fairground mile dirt tracks promises to be one of blazing speed and close competition as the United Midwestern Promoters Late Model and Modified Series invade the “World’s Fastest Mile Dirt Track” at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Sunday, September 14 for the 12th annual Turbo Blue Illinois Fall Nationals. Track Enterprises CEO and race promoter Bob Sargent has posted a total purse that exceeds $50,000, with $12,000 awarded to the winner of the 40-lap late model feature, and $2000 going to the winner of the 20-mile modified event.
Well over 100 race cars are expected to make the tow to Springfield, Illinois for the 12th annual Fall Nationals, an event that keeps growing since it’s inception in 1992. Many of the biggest stars and best drivers from the UMP Late Model series and the Modified series are expected to be in Springfield, as well as many drivers from local and area race tracks. Five different states are represented on the late model and modified preliminary entry list, with several more expected by race time.
The defending winner of the Fall Nationals late model event is expected to compete Sunday. Two-time Fall nationals late model winner Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa is the driver of the Seubert Calf Ranches-McDonald’s sponsored late model and won the 2002 World 100 at Eldora. Birkhofer is a fan favorite across the upper Midwest and really looks forward to competing on the large, high speed race tracks.
Batesville, Arkansas Billy Moyer has been an annual attendee of the Illinois Fall Nationals, becoming the only driver to claim four late model wins in the event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Moyer, a five time winner of the World 100 at Eldora, is the current one-lap track late model track record holder at Springfield, the DuQuoin and Indiana State Fairgrounds and the only driver in late model racing history to post feature wins on all three of those historic facilities.
Moyer’s Car City-Hawkeye Truck Sales teammate is local favorite Shannon Babb of Decatur, Illinois. Babb, nicknamed the “Decatur Invader”, is a member of the Babb racing family of central Illinois, and became the first central Illinois driver to post a major win on the Illinois State Fair mile when he captured his first Illinois Fall Nationals late model win in 2001.
Birkhofer had a lot of competition during last year’s UMP Late Model Fall Nationals event, which was rained out on it’s original date and run September 29. With 46 late models in attendance, Gary Webb set fast time with a lap of 28.822, 124.905 miles an hour in qualifications. Birkhofer won the second heat, setting an 8 lap track record of over 121 miles an hour in the process. That record was short-lived, however, as Don O’Neal smashed the 8 lap record in the third heat, with a time of 3:52.60, a speed of 123.818 miles an hour. O’Neal also set a new 4 lap record for the late models in the dash, over 120 miles an hour for the 4 miles.
In the feature it was all Birkhofer, who led the 40 mile distance from start to finish. Moyer took the second slot, with Webb third, O’Neal fourth and Springfield’s own Joe Ross in the fifth position.
Other stars of the UMP Late Model series expected to compete at Springfield include Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Illinois, a former LaSalle and Kankakee track champion, Al Atkinson of Wisconsin and Rob Kirchner of Iowa.
Illinois late model drivers who may compete at Springfield on Sunday include Steve Sheppard (presently 6th in the UMP National Points) and Ed Bauman of New Berlin, Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Tim Lance of Mapleton, Mike Fannin of Leroy, Jason Frankel of Quincy, Dave Smith of Monticello, Matt Taylor, Joe Ross Jr., Roger Brickler, and Brian Shirley (currently 11th in the UMP standings) of Springfield.
Area drivers who may be on the late model entry list include three time UMP National Late Model champion Ed Dixon of Washington, Missouri, Denny Ekrich of Tiffin, Iowa, former NASCAR weekly champ and two time UMP champ Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, second generation driver Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri and young sensation Kyle Steffens of St. Charles, Missouri.
The UMP Modified event traditionally draws a large number of machines and drivers to Springfield, and Sunday should be no exception.
Jim Shereck of St. Charles, Missouri is the defending winner of the Fall Nationals modified feature, and is expected to return to defend his title in the Dairy Queen-Imo’s Pizza Special. Shereck excels on the big mile dirt tracks, he is the only three time winner of modified events at the DuQuoin State Fair "Magic Mile".
Over seventy modifieds pulled onto the Illinois State Fairgrounds last September in search of the $2000 first prize. The large field made six heats necessary for the modifieds, plus two semi features. While no new track records were set in the modified class, five of the six heat races were run without a yellow flag. Steve Adams, Denny Schwartz, Curt Rhoades, Shereck, Greg Hughes and Hank Delonjay won the heat races, with Jim Leka and former ARCA stock car driver Mark Voight taking the semi-features.
The feature was extremely competitive, with Denny Schwartz leading the first thirteen laps, before being overtaken by Shereck on the fourteenth go around. Shereck then cruised to a $2000 payday, and his third mile track win, having won twice at DuQuoin.
Competing against Shereck in the modified division will be former two-time Fall Nationals winner and three-time winner of the Wynn’s Sportsman event in August, Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Illinois. Leka won the modified track championship this season at the Farmer City Raceway, is a former NASCAR weekly racing series national champion and runs very well on the mile tracks. Currently Leka sits 8th in the UMP Modified National points chase.
Other drivers of note expected in the modified class include Kyle Steffens of St. Charles, Missouri, Brandon Maxwell of Milan, Tennessee and Tony Roland of Valparaiso, Indiana.
Illinois drivers who have entered the modified division include Donnie Lehmann of Springfield, Kyle Logue of Oreana, Denny Schwartz of Ashmore (the current point leader at Charleston and 2nd in the UMP National standings), Al Crawley of Decatur, Hank Delonjay of Quincy and Mark Voight, winner of the Oldani Memorial at DuQuoin, of Marine. Curt Rhodes of Taylorville, the current UMP Modified point leader at the Terre Haute Action Track is also entered, as is last year’s Oldani Memorial winner at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, Brian Shaw of Robinson.
Gates for the competitors open at 7 a.m. Sunday, with the Illinois State Fairgrounds grandstand open at 9. Practice begins at 10, with qualifications for the late models at 11. Late model drivers will be taking aim at Billy Moyer’s one lap track record of 28.175, 127.773 miles an hour set in September of 1996.
Racing action for the 12th annual Turbo Blue Illinois Fall Nationals is set for 1 p.m. with heat races, semi features and the feature events for both divisions. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children and may be obtained by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200, at the Illinois State Fair Box Office or at Ticketmaster locations.
Additional information may be obtained by calling Track Enterprises, or on their web site at www.trackenterprises.com.
