Ray Walsh
<a href="http://www.i55photos.com/2008%20Racing%20Season/492683" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM I-55 RACEWAY</a>
Pevely, MO (April 5, 2008) A strong field of forty UMP DIRTcar Modifieds were on hand for the $1,000 to win special being run in conjuction with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series at I-55 Raceway. NASCAR driver and I-55 Raceway co-owner, Ken Schrader was also on hand with his Federated Auto Parts, Red Baron Pizza #9 UMP DIRTcar Modified to compete for the victory.
For the second straight week, Ray Walsh of St. Louis, MO conquered the field and earned the UMP DIRTcar Modified victory. Walsh started on the pole for the main event and immediately jumped to the lead in front of outside front row starter Jeff Vernier with Matt Zimmerly, Ken Schrader and Scott Weber right on their heels. An early caution would fall on lap three when Matt Simpson slowed on the racetrack. During the caution period, second place runner Vernier would develop a mechanical problem with his rear suspension and have to retire early from the main event. That moved Zimmerly up to the second spot with Schrader, Weber and Bittle completing the top five. As the green flag fell, Schrader would move past Zimmerly for the second spot and close in on race leader Walsh. On lap six, Schrader would pull under Walsh going into turn one and pull into the lead as they exited turn two, but Walsh powered his way on the high side down the backstretch to take the lead back. The caution would fly again on lap nine as Rick Conoyer found the wall in turn two. On the restart, Schrader would slow as his right front tire went flat. Schrader would make it back out for the restart, but had to start all the way back in twentieth on the restart.
As the green flag waved, Walsh held off an early challenge from Weber and then pulled away to a dominating win. Weber would take the second spot with Bittle crossing the line in third. Jerry Grither worked his way up to a fourth place finish and Zimmerly rounded out the top five. Schrader kept the fans on the edge of their seats as he screamed through the field using the low and high side to come back to a tenth place finish.
Walsh has claimed both of the UMP DIRTcar Modified features held at I-55 Raceway this season!
UMP DIRTcar Modifieds - 40 Entries
Heat 1:
1. 21J Jeff Vernier
2. 89 Bobby Bittle
3. 14 Leroy Haney
4. 2F Todd Ferber
Heat 2:
1. 29 Jeff LeBaube
2. 17 Brad Thurston
3. 48 Bobby Martintoni
4. 45 Dean Vickers
Heat 3:
1. 44X Matt Simpson
2. 7M Mark Miner
3. 15 Jerry Grither
4. C4 Chris Soutiea
Heat 4:
1. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
2. 1W Ray Walsh
3. 24 Paul Bauman
4. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
Heat 5:
1. 9S Ken Schrader
2. 4J Scott Weber
3. 72X Jason Sinn
4. 31 Ricky Horton
Semi #1:
1. 88 Joe Puricelli
2. 14 Rick Conoyer
3. 99 Robby Helms
4. 6 Ray Wagner
5. C4 Chris Soutiea
6. 5N James Reed
7. 3D Lou Driemeier
8. 31P Mitch Parmeley
9. 62K Leo Kiefer
10. 17M Matt Verbeck
11. 0 Scott White
Semi #2:
1. 9W Doug Wood
2. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
3. 67 Todd McGraw
4. 78 Larry Hull
5. 59 Rich Whaley
6. 4UW Bobby Regot
7. 11K Kasey Burch
8. 22C Brandon Lennox
9. F5 Chris Fisher
10. 22M Chucky Milam
11. 51 Timmy Hill
Feature:
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 4J Scott Weber
3. 89 Bobby Bittle
4. 15 Jerry Grither
5. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
6. 7M Mark Miner
7. 14 Leroy Haney
8. 9W Doug Wood
9. 48 Bobby Martintoni
10. 9S Ken Schrader
11. 99 Robby Helms
12. 45 Dean Vickers
13. 24 Paul Bauman
14. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
15. 31 Ricky Horton
16. 88 Joe Puricelli
17. 67 Todd McGraw
18. 17 Brad Thurston
19. 72X Jason Sinn
20. 29 Jeff LeBaube
21. 2F Todd Ferber
22. 14 Rick Conoyer
23. 44X Matt Simpson
24. 21J Jeff Vernier
