By: Betty Glynn
La Salle, IL – The UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals is one of the most popular touring series in dirt track racing today. With its continuously growing popularity, comes a stacked line up of superstars from dirt and die hard followers. Now add at least one well known Nascar driver and it is a true dream come true for racing enthusiasts.
The fantasy is about to become a reality at the Illinois Valley’s largest outdoor entertainment complex. On July 12th, the Summernational’s will storm the grounds of the La Salle Speedway with at least one Nascar standout returning to his roots in a UMP Late Model.
The super Late Model tour is a grueling 28 race schedule which runs in the heat of the summer over a 30 day period. The series pays over three quarters of a million dollars in prize money. For those who commit to the entire schedule, it can be prosperous but it is taxing and feels comparable to a triathlon.
The team members endure long road trips, experimental setups, weather tracking, marathon strategy sessions, late nights, food on the run, makeshift workshops wherever they can find the space - sometimes along the road, and much more.
This years anticipated event, along with the Illinois Fall Nationals on September 16th, is being promoted by Track Enterprises of Macon, IL.
According to Track Enterprises Bob Sargent, they are ready for what might be the largest car count of Late Models to date at the Speedway.
“We are very, very excited to bring the Summernationals and Ken Schrader to the fans of La Salle,” Sargent told during a recent phone interview.
“There are a lot of fans up there and La Salle Speedway is a great facility.
It will be an incredible show for the fans of dirt track racing.”
Thursday’s race boasts a $6,000 payday for the forty lap main event winner and one of the last cracks at the coveted title and generous points fund during the home stretch.
The event at La Salle falls on the eve of the Nascar weekend less then an hours drive away at Chicagoland Speedway. During the phone interview, Sargent was able to confirm only one Nascar driver for sure. That Nascar celebrity is veteran racer Ken Schrader.
However, with a heavily stacked field and big money on the line more Nascar racers may make a surprise visit.
Schrader competes weekly in the Nextel Cup behind the wheel of his asphalt machine but still finds the time to kick up some dust.
As the legend goes, his dirt roots started at the early age of three when his father used a cable to tie up his go-kart to a post in their backyard and let the youngster go round and round in circles until he ran out of gas.
This began his love of turning left.
At 52 years of age, he has a vested interest in the dirt world and has been the co-promoter of I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO for over ten years. He races approximately 90 times a season and has been known to just show up at dirt tracks across the Midwest.
In the last ten years of racing in the Nextel Cup, Schrader has earned more then $23 million dollars. His largest payout in one season was in 2006 when he hit a high mark of $4,130,880 in earnings. This combined with endorsements and events he has clearly made a career all his own. Through the years, he has also driven for his self-owned team in a variety of other series including the Craftsmen Truck Series, the Nascar Grand National West Division, the Nascar Auto Zone Elite Southwest Series and the ARCA Series.
Before becoming a Nextel racer he was well known in the for his open wheel racing. He won in every division raced, including two USAC championships; the Silver Crown and Sprint Car divisions in the early eighties.
As for Summernationals news: Leading into the final races of the series Dennis Erb Jr., a former track champ at La Salle, is sitting atop the Summernationals points chase by a mere 2 points following a July 9th race in Iowa. The Carpentersville driver used to make the trek, over 100 miles, weekly to La Salle not only as a driver but with his father, the late Dennis Erb Sr, who drove for many years as well.
His Saturday’s are not spent on the high banks of La Salle anymore, except for an occasional big dollar event, as he now races professionally across the country. He has made many headlines not only as a top competitor but as a “One Man Band”. The difference between Erb and so many of his comrades is that he normally arrives either solo or with only one helper, a female none-the-less, where others have a full crew.
Trailing in the second place points spot is Don O’Neal of Indiana. The former Summernationals champ will be more then willing to put on a show and keep the suspense for the crown building til the finish.
After La Salle, there will be only two more venues left in the demanding tour. A make up race in Farmer City on Friday and the final event at Ohio’s Oakshade Raceway on Saturday.
Between the touring pro’s, the local hotshots and Nascar stars it is a dream come true for racing fanatics. The thrilling UMP Open Wheel Modifieds will be the only other class set to compete for the weeknight special.
The pit gates will open at 4:00 P.M. with Grandstands opening at 5 P.M.
Qualifications will begin at 6:30 P.M. while racing is scheduled to begin at 7:30 P.M.
Tickets prices are $20.00 for adults; children 6 – 11 are $5.00; and children 5 & under will be admitted for free.
La Salle, IL – The UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals is one of the most popular touring series in dirt track racing today. With its continuously growing popularity, comes a stacked line up of superstars from dirt and die hard followers. Now add at least one well known Nascar driver and it is a true dream come true for racing enthusiasts.
The fantasy is about to become a reality at the Illinois Valley’s largest outdoor entertainment complex. On July 12th, the Summernational’s will storm the grounds of the La Salle Speedway with at least one Nascar standout returning to his roots in a UMP Late Model.
The super Late Model tour is a grueling 28 race schedule which runs in the heat of the summer over a 30 day period. The series pays over three quarters of a million dollars in prize money. For those who commit to the entire schedule, it can be prosperous but it is taxing and feels comparable to a triathlon.
The team members endure long road trips, experimental setups, weather tracking, marathon strategy sessions, late nights, food on the run, makeshift workshops wherever they can find the space - sometimes along the road, and much more.
This years anticipated event, along with the Illinois Fall Nationals on September 16th, is being promoted by Track Enterprises of Macon, IL.
According to Track Enterprises Bob Sargent, they are ready for what might be the largest car count of Late Models to date at the Speedway.
“We are very, very excited to bring the Summernationals and Ken Schrader to the fans of La Salle,” Sargent told during a recent phone interview.
“There are a lot of fans up there and La Salle Speedway is a great facility.
It will be an incredible show for the fans of dirt track racing.”
Thursday’s race boasts a $6,000 payday for the forty lap main event winner and one of the last cracks at the coveted title and generous points fund during the home stretch.
The event at La Salle falls on the eve of the Nascar weekend less then an hours drive away at Chicagoland Speedway. During the phone interview, Sargent was able to confirm only one Nascar driver for sure. That Nascar celebrity is veteran racer Ken Schrader.
However, with a heavily stacked field and big money on the line more Nascar racers may make a surprise visit.
Schrader competes weekly in the Nextel Cup behind the wheel of his asphalt machine but still finds the time to kick up some dust.
As the legend goes, his dirt roots started at the early age of three when his father used a cable to tie up his go-kart to a post in their backyard and let the youngster go round and round in circles until he ran out of gas.
This began his love of turning left.
At 52 years of age, he has a vested interest in the dirt world and has been the co-promoter of I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO for over ten years. He races approximately 90 times a season and has been known to just show up at dirt tracks across the Midwest.
In the last ten years of racing in the Nextel Cup, Schrader has earned more then $23 million dollars. His largest payout in one season was in 2006 when he hit a high mark of $4,130,880 in earnings. This combined with endorsements and events he has clearly made a career all his own. Through the years, he has also driven for his self-owned team in a variety of other series including the Craftsmen Truck Series, the Nascar Grand National West Division, the Nascar Auto Zone Elite Southwest Series and the ARCA Series.
Before becoming a Nextel racer he was well known in the for his open wheel racing. He won in every division raced, including two USAC championships; the Silver Crown and Sprint Car divisions in the early eighties.
As for Summernationals news: Leading into the final races of the series Dennis Erb Jr., a former track champ at La Salle, is sitting atop the Summernationals points chase by a mere 2 points following a July 9th race in Iowa. The Carpentersville driver used to make the trek, over 100 miles, weekly to La Salle not only as a driver but with his father, the late Dennis Erb Sr, who drove for many years as well.
His Saturday’s are not spent on the high banks of La Salle anymore, except for an occasional big dollar event, as he now races professionally across the country. He has made many headlines not only as a top competitor but as a “One Man Band”. The difference between Erb and so many of his comrades is that he normally arrives either solo or with only one helper, a female none-the-less, where others have a full crew.
Trailing in the second place points spot is Don O’Neal of Indiana. The former Summernationals champ will be more then willing to put on a show and keep the suspense for the crown building til the finish.
After La Salle, there will be only two more venues left in the demanding tour. A make up race in Farmer City on Friday and the final event at Ohio’s Oakshade Raceway on Saturday.
Between the touring pro’s, the local hotshots and Nascar stars it is a dream come true for racing fanatics. The thrilling UMP Open Wheel Modifieds will be the only other class set to compete for the weeknight special.
The pit gates will open at 4:00 P.M. with Grandstands opening at 5 P.M.
Qualifications will begin at 6:30 P.M. while racing is scheduled to begin at 7:30 P.M.
Tickets prices are $20.00 for adults; children 6 – 11 are $5.00; and children 5 & under will be admitted for free.
