Pevely, MO (September 29, 2004) I-55 Raceway and the United Midwestern Promoters (U.M.P.) present the 2nd Annual U.M.P. Challenge of Champions Extravaganza on Saturday, October 2nd at the I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO. Over $40,000 in prize money will be on the line with a top prize of $15,000 being awarded to the winner of this event. This event is the finale event of the 2004 U.M.P. Challenge of Champions Series which included seventeen other events that were run throughout the Midwest. Twelve different drivers won those previous seventeen events and therefore have guaranteed themselves are starting spot in this Extravaganza event!
Those twelve winners include:
Tony Albright, who won the opening event of the season at Clarksville Speedway on April 3rd.
Dennis Erb, who has won three events this year including April 9th at Davenport Speedway, May 15th at Kamp Motor Speedway and July 23rd at the Vermilion County Speedway.
Randy Korte, who won at the Godfrey Speedway on April 23rd.
Don O'Neal, who won at the Vermilion County Speedway on May 16th.
Frankie Martin, who took the win at the Highland Speedway on May 22nd and then won his second event on July 31st at the Mt. Vernon Raceway.
Kevin Weaver, who has two wins including the May 23rd event at the Fayette County Speedway and the June 24th event at Kamp Motor Speedway.
Rodney Melvin, who also has two wins including the May 28th event at the Clay County Speedway and the June 18th event at the Belle-Clair Speedway.
Matt Taylor, who took the win at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway on May 29th.
Eric Smith, who won at the Spoon River Speedway on June 3rd.
Shannon Babb, who took the win at the Highland Speedway on July 28th.
Terry English, who won at the Paducah Int'l Raceway on August 7th.
Jason Feger, who claimed the final Challenge of Champions event at Macon Speedway on September 26th.
This event provides a unique format that not only rewards the drivers who followed the U.M.P. Challenge of Champions Series, but also allows great opportunities for other drivers to compete in the event as well. The racing format will go as listed below:
Qualifications: All race cars will qualify in time trials.
Challenge of Champions Dash: The top 7 in Challenge of Champions Points without a guaranteed starting position will race in a 10 lap Dash. The first four (4) from the Dash get a starting spot in the feature. Fifth, sixth and seventh in the Dash will start on the pole of the B Heats! The top seven in points without a guaranteed starting spot are Brian Shirley, Mark Faust, Chad Zobrist, Roger Long, Wes Steidinger, Michael Bradley and Ed Dixon.
"B" Heats: Two or Three qualifying B Heats will be held for all race cars not already guaranteed into the feature. Five or more drivers will make the feature event from the "B" Heats. (# of drivers from the B Heats will vary depending on if all drivers locked into this event show up. If one or two drivers locked in do not show up, more drivers will be taken from these B heats)
Consolation Race: A consolation race will be held for drivers unable to make the feature through the B Heats. One driver will make the feature.
Provisional: The 24th and final starting position for the feature will be a provisional starting position to the highest driver in Challenge of Champions Series Points not yet qualified for the feature.
"A" Heats: The 24 drivers qualified for the 40 lap feature event revert back to their qualifying times to determine the lineup for three 8 car, 10 lap heats.
Feature Line Up: The lineup for the 40 lap feature event is determined by how you finish the "A" Heats.
NOTE: Anyone wrecking or having mechanical problems in a heat, can drive a replacement car in the Feature. But the driver must start in the rear, and the replacement car must have qualified and raced in a B Heat. No driver can qualify more than one car.
This race will also award National & State UMP Points.
A solid field of U.M.P. Modifieds will also be on hand competing for a $1,000 first place prize. The U.M.P. Modifieds always provide a great competitive show at I-55 Raceway with side-by-side fast paced action.
Sportsman cars are also on the card and their rules have been opened up for this event to allow many of the other area track's cars to be able to compete in this event. The Sportsman division will be battling for a $500 top prize.
Gates at the I-55 Raceway will open at 4pm with U.M.P. Late Model qualifying beginning at 6:30pm. Grandstand tickets are $20 with kids 12 and under free.
I-55 Raceway, a high-banked, one-third-mile clay oval, is located 30 minutes south of the St. Louis Gateway Arch on Interstate 55 at Pevely exit 180 & 178. For more information, call the track at (636) 479-3219 or visit www.i55raceway.com.
Those twelve winners include:
Tony Albright, who won the opening event of the season at Clarksville Speedway on April 3rd.
Dennis Erb, who has won three events this year including April 9th at Davenport Speedway, May 15th at Kamp Motor Speedway and July 23rd at the Vermilion County Speedway.
Randy Korte, who won at the Godfrey Speedway on April 23rd.
Don O'Neal, who won at the Vermilion County Speedway on May 16th.
Frankie Martin, who took the win at the Highland Speedway on May 22nd and then won his second event on July 31st at the Mt. Vernon Raceway.
Kevin Weaver, who has two wins including the May 23rd event at the Fayette County Speedway and the June 24th event at Kamp Motor Speedway.
Rodney Melvin, who also has two wins including the May 28th event at the Clay County Speedway and the June 18th event at the Belle-Clair Speedway.
Matt Taylor, who took the win at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway on May 29th.
Eric Smith, who won at the Spoon River Speedway on June 3rd.
Shannon Babb, who took the win at the Highland Speedway on July 28th.
Terry English, who won at the Paducah Int'l Raceway on August 7th.
Jason Feger, who claimed the final Challenge of Champions event at Macon Speedway on September 26th.
This event provides a unique format that not only rewards the drivers who followed the U.M.P. Challenge of Champions Series, but also allows great opportunities for other drivers to compete in the event as well. The racing format will go as listed below:
Qualifications: All race cars will qualify in time trials.
Challenge of Champions Dash: The top 7 in Challenge of Champions Points without a guaranteed starting position will race in a 10 lap Dash. The first four (4) from the Dash get a starting spot in the feature. Fifth, sixth and seventh in the Dash will start on the pole of the B Heats! The top seven in points without a guaranteed starting spot are Brian Shirley, Mark Faust, Chad Zobrist, Roger Long, Wes Steidinger, Michael Bradley and Ed Dixon.
"B" Heats: Two or Three qualifying B Heats will be held for all race cars not already guaranteed into the feature. Five or more drivers will make the feature event from the "B" Heats. (# of drivers from the B Heats will vary depending on if all drivers locked into this event show up. If one or two drivers locked in do not show up, more drivers will be taken from these B heats)
Consolation Race: A consolation race will be held for drivers unable to make the feature through the B Heats. One driver will make the feature.
Provisional: The 24th and final starting position for the feature will be a provisional starting position to the highest driver in Challenge of Champions Series Points not yet qualified for the feature.
"A" Heats: The 24 drivers qualified for the 40 lap feature event revert back to their qualifying times to determine the lineup for three 8 car, 10 lap heats.
Feature Line Up: The lineup for the 40 lap feature event is determined by how you finish the "A" Heats.
NOTE: Anyone wrecking or having mechanical problems in a heat, can drive a replacement car in the Feature. But the driver must start in the rear, and the replacement car must have qualified and raced in a B Heat. No driver can qualify more than one car.
This race will also award National & State UMP Points.
A solid field of U.M.P. Modifieds will also be on hand competing for a $1,000 first place prize. The U.M.P. Modifieds always provide a great competitive show at I-55 Raceway with side-by-side fast paced action.
Sportsman cars are also on the card and their rules have been opened up for this event to allow many of the other area track's cars to be able to compete in this event. The Sportsman division will be battling for a $500 top prize.
Gates at the I-55 Raceway will open at 4pm with U.M.P. Late Model qualifying beginning at 6:30pm. Grandstand tickets are $20 with kids 12 and under free.
I-55 Raceway, a high-banked, one-third-mile clay oval, is located 30 minutes south of the St. Louis Gateway Arch on Interstate 55 at Pevely exit 180 & 178. For more information, call the track at (636) 479-3219 or visit www.i55raceway.com.
