Pevely, MO (March 25, 2006) A large field of 131 racecars turned out for I-55 Raceway's 2006 season opener. A big crowd of spectators also filled the grandstands as they braved some very cold temperatures and got to see some fast and exciting racing action.

Forty UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Late Models signed in the gate for opening night. Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, IL took the first heat race victory of 2006 as he won the first qualifying heat over Steve Shive, Mark Oller and Brent Kreke. The second heat saw I-55 Raceway's defending track champion Ed Dixon take the win over Randy Korte, Jayme Zidar and Tim Manville. The third heat was won by Mark Voigt over Billy Faust, Jeff Johns and Bret Sievert. The fourth and final heat was won by Mark Faust as he bested Tim Ratajczyk, Brian Collins and Danny Haynes.

Wes Steidinger was once again impressive in the dash as he held off Randy Korte to earn the victory. Jayme Zidar took the third spot with Ed Dixon claiming fourth. The dash win earned Steidinger the pole for the main event. Michael Kloos and Denny Woodworth claimed the last chance qualifier wins to earn their way in the feature event as well.

At the drop of the green flag on the main event, Steidinger took the lead from the pole position, but his lead was short lived and outside front row starter Randy Korte moved past and led the first half of the twenty-five lap main event. As the leaders worked lapped traffic, Billy Faust moved up to challenge Korte for the lead from his third row outside starting position. Lebanon, IL's Billy Faust soon found his way past Korte in the lapped traffic and worked the lapped traffic flawlessly for the remainder of the event and went on to take the win. Korte held on and crossed the finish line in second. Steidinger claimed the third position with Ed Dixon picking up the fourth spot. Tim Ratajczyk rounded out the top five. Michael Kloos claimed the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Hard Charger Award as he improved his finishing position over his starting position the most of all the drivers in the main event.

In the UMP Modified division, Bobby Bittle dominated the field as he swept the night's events by winning his qualifying heat race, the dash and the main event over a field that had forty-two entries. Bittle started the main event from the pole and led all twenty laps of the main event. Mark Miner provided early on and after each restart, but each time Bittle would pull away and went on to a solid victory. Miner claimed the second position. James Reed has his best run ever at I-55 Raceway as he claimed the third position by passing a couple of cars late in the event. Tommie Seets, Jr. worked his way up through the field to claim the fourth position and Rick Weekly rounded out the top five.

Chad Sellers went for a tremendous flip in his heat race as his car went end over end several times in turns one and two. Sellers was able to walk away from the accident.

Troy Naeger and Chuck Adams battled in out for the entire fifteen laps of the UMP Sportsman main event. The two were side by side on several occassion, but in the end it was Naeger claiming the win. Ronnie Bader came across the line in the third position with Mike Nicholson finishing fourth and Kent Nations rounding out the top five.

Trey Harris claimed the victory in the AARA Pro 4 Stock division over Mike McMullin. Chris Fisher, Gary Price and Homer Mooney completed the top five.

UMP Late Models – 40 Entries
Heat 1
1. 1 Wes Steidinger
2. 51 Steve Shive
3. 67 Mark Oller
4. 13 Brent Kreke
5. 28 John Beck
6. 45 Denny Woodworth
7. 81 Craig Smith
8. 96 Cory Daugherty
9. 74 Russ Scheffler
10. 87 Ken Rumble

Heat 2
1. 60 Ed Dixon
2. 00 Randy Korte
3. 9z Jayme Zidar
4. 33 Tim Manville
5. 16 Mike Hammerle
6. 4 Scott Gaeschel
7. 88 Terry Babb
8. 27 Jeff Beyers
9. 69 Mark Hunter
10. 7 Rich Lawson

Heat 3
1. 30 Mark Voigt
2. 26 Billy Faust
3. 95 Jeff Johns
4. 9 Brett Sievert
5. 6k Michael Kloos
6. 82 Billy Laycock
7. 78 Chad Zobrist
8. 10 Dallas Bennett
9. 28 Don Klein
10. 10 Brad White

Heat 4
1. 51 Mark Faust
2. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
3. 11z Bryan Collins
4. 47 Danny Haynes
5. 21 Justin Anderson
6. 22 John Paule
7. 55 Gary Wilson
8. 56 Brian Epperson
9. 12 Randy Meyers
10. 80 Jacob Miller

Dash
1. 1 Wes Steidenger
2. 00 Randy Korte
3. 9z Jamie Zidar
4. 60 Ed Dixon
5. 11z Brian Collins
6. 26 Billy Faust
7. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
8. 30 Mark Voigt
9. 51 Mark Faust

Semi 1
1. 6k Michael Kloos
2. 82 Billy Laycock
3. 81 Craig Smith
4. 27 Jeff Beyers
5. 87 Ken Rumble
6. 28 Don Klein
7. 10 Dallas Bennett
8. 74 Russ Scheffler
9. 69 Mark Hunters
10. B10 Brad White
11. 28 John Beck

Semi 2
1. 45 Denny Woodworth
2. 78 Chad Zobrist
3. 55 Gary Wilson
4. 96 Cory Daughtery
5. 16H Mike Hammerle
6. 56 Kevin Epperson
7. 22P John Paule
8. 4E Scott Geaschel
9. 12 Randy Meyers
10. 80 Jacob Miller
DNS. 7 Rich Lawson

Feature
1. 26 Billy Faust
2. 00 Randy Korte
3. 1 Wes Steidenger
4. 60 Ed Dixon
5. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
6. 9S Bret Sievert
7. 67 Mark Oller
8. 51F Mark Faust
9. 9Z Jayme Zidar
10. 47 Danny Haynes
11. 6K Michael Kloos (Hard Charger)
12. 95 Jeff Johns
13. 51 Steve Shive
14. 13 Brent Kreke
15. 82 Billy Laycock
16. 55 Gary Wilson
17. 88 Terry Babb
18. 78 Chad Zobrist
19. 21J Justin Anderson
20. 45DW Denny Woodworth
21. 30 Mark Voigt
22. 81 Craig Smith
23. 33 Tim Manville
24. 11Z Bryan Collins

UMP Modifieds – 43 Entries
Heat 1
1. 45 Eric Mabery
2. 31 Rick Horton
3. 14 Rick Conoyer
4. 31 Mitch Parmeley
5. 15 Jerry Grither
6. 11G Matt Goulden
7. 17 Brad Thurston
8. 77 Jeff Ray
9. 22 Robert Martin

Heat 2
1. 77 Rick Stevenson
2. 17v Mike Vanderiet, Jr.
3. 16 Tommie Seets, Jr.
4. 4j Scott Weber
5. 32 Nick Neville
6. 18 Bobby Dauderman
7. 99R Robby Helms
8. 59 Rich Whaley
9. 72 Jeremy Roth

Heat 3
1. 4w Rick Weekly
2. 16 Kenny Kennedy
3. 94 Ed Lehnhardt
4. 1w Ray Walsh
5. T0 Tim Hancock
6. 26 Kasey Nations
7. 3r Leon Rakers
8. 20 Brad McKinnon
9. 9w Doug Woods

Heat 4
1. 66 Brian Worley
2. 7 Mark Miner
3. 48 Bobby Martintoni
4. 33D Derek Neville

Heat 5
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 8x James Reed
3. 360 John Seets
4. 27 Brad Crosby
5. 41 Larry Hull
6. 78 Allen Conner
7. c6 Ray Wagner
8. 12 Tom Ratajczyk

Dash
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 45 Eric Mabery
3. 4w Ricky Weekly
4. 66 Brian Worley
5. 77 Rick Stevenson
6. 7 Mark Miner
7. 31 Mitch Parmeley
8. 16 Kenny Kennedy
9. 17v Michael Vanderiet, Jr.

Semi #1
1. 48 Bobby Martintoni
2. 77 Jeff Ray
3. T0 Tim Hancock
4. 78 Allen Conner
5. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
6. 20M Brad McKinnon
7. 18 Bobby Dauderman
8. 9W Doug Wood
9. 17 Brad Thurston
10. 72 Jeremy Roth
DNS. 21P Adam Parmeley
DNS. 41 Larry Hull

Semi #2
1. 11g Matt Goulden
2. c6 Ray Wagner
3. 1w Ray Walsh
4. 32n Nick Neville
5. 12 Tim Ratajczyk
6. 3R Leon Rakers
7. 26 Kasey Nations
8. 99R Robby Helms
9. 59 Rich Whaley
DNS. 15 Jerry Grither
DNS. E55 Chad Sellers
DNS. 22 Robert Martin

Feature
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 7 Mark Miner
3. 8x James Reed
4. 16 Tommie Seets, Jr.
5. 4w Ricky Weekly
6. c6 Ray Wagner
7. 1w Ray Walsh
8. T0 Tim Hancock
9. 45 Eric Mabery
10. 33D Derek Neville
11. 27 Brad Crosby
12. 17v Michael Vanderiet, Jr.
13. 14 Ricky Conoyer
14. 77S Rick Stevenson
15. 77R Jeff Ray
16. 31H Ricky Horton
17. 4J Scott Weber
18. 11G Matt Goulden
19. 94 Ed Lenhardt
20. 48 Bobby Martintoni
21. 360 John Seets
22. 31P Mitch Parmeley
23. 66 Brian Worley
24. 16K Kenny Kennedy

UMP Sportsman – 30 Entries
Heat 1
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 99 Chuck Adams
3. 55 Jason Keller
4. 147 Kyle Stolzer
5. 7 Scott Hoener
6. 111 Zak Parks
7. 16 Bob Price
8. 92 Jim Abshier
9. 94 Dan Friederich

Heat 2
1. 30 Mike Nicholson
2. 24 Paul Bauman
3. 29 Jeff LaBaube
4. 811 Wade Sutter
5. 32 Jerry Fleming
6. 71 Dan Pitti
7. 28 Tom Smallwood
8. 53 Lawrence Schaeffer
9. 79 Jim Goodson
10. 62 Troy Medley

Heat 3
1. 86 Jake Robbins
2. 50 Kent Nations
3. 67 Ronnie Bader
4. 97 John Goodson
5. 82 Jim Clark
6. 10 Steve Maisel
7. 66 Sam Lopretta
8. 28 Tyson Gers
9. 43 Mike Harris
10. 64 Jim Smith

Dash
1. 99 Chuck Adams
2. 12 Troy Naeger
3. 30 Mike Nicholson
4. 29 Jeff LaBaube
5. 50 Kent Nations
6. 67 Ronnie Bader
7. 24 Paul Bauman
8. 86 Jake Robbins
9. 55 Jason Keller

Semi #1
1. 62 Troy Medley
2. 28 Tyson Gers
3. 94 Dan Friederich
4. 53 Lawrence Schaeffer
5. 92 Jim Abshier
6. 64 Jim Smith
7. 79 Jim Goodson
8. 66 Sam Lopretta
DNS. 16 Bob Price
DNS. 28 Tom Smallwood
DNS. 43 Mike Harris
DNS. 96 Tim Hollerbach

Feature
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 99 Chuck Adams
3. 67 Ronnie Bader
4. 30 Mike Nicholson
5. 50 Kent Nations
6. 24 Paul Bauman
7. 86 Jake Robbins
8. 62 Troy Medley
9. 55 Jason Keller
10. 97 John Goodson
11. 811 Wade Sutter
12. 32 Jerry Fleming
13. 7 Scott Hoener
14. 147 Kyle Stolzer
15. 10 Steve Maisel
16. 28 Tyson Gess
17. 53 Lawrence Schaefer
18. 94 Dan Friederich
19. 111 Zac Parks
20. 82 Jim Clark
21. 92 Jim Abshier
22. 29 Jeff LeBaube
23. 71 Dan Pitti
24. 64 Jim Smith

AARA Pro 4 Stock – 18 Entries
Heat 1
1. 15 Mike McMullin
2. 50 Trey Harris
3. 188 Gary Price
4. 14 Brad Smith

Heat 2
1. 5 Chris Fisher
2. 10 Homer Mooney
3. 88 Jeff Price
4. 49 Nathan Portell

Feature
1. 50 Trey Harris
2. 15 Mike McMullin
3. 5 Chris Fisher
4. 188 Gary Price
5. 10 Homer Mooney
6. 86 Jason Crump
7. 14 Brad Smith
8. 66 Jason Marquitz
9. 73 Mike Henderson
10. 911 Tim Hoffman
11. 74 Brandon Hedgcoth
12. 186 Steven Crump
13. c6 Scott Allen
14. 88 Jeff Price
15. 77 Ron Lyons
16. 49 Nathan Portell
17. 33 Randy Martin
18. 25 Joe Perrigo