Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Public Relations
May 15, 2013
Defending Lucas Cattle Company ULMA Champion Jason Russell of Henley, Missouri, made his way to victory lane for the second time in as many races this past weekend when he drove to victory lane at Lucas Oil Speedway. Russell’s latest win is his thirteenth in ULMA competition in just two years.
Another strong field of competitors made their way to Wheatland, Missouri, for three heat races and the main event at Lucas Oil Speedway. Preliminary heat races featured some of the fiercest competition ever witnessed at the track for a weekly program.
Jon Binning and Justin Russell started things off with a heat race for the ages as the pair staged a classic battle to the wire in the opening heat race. Lap-after-lap the two drivers ran inches apart and did so with respect for each other with Russell taking the low side and Binning up high. Binning’s determined run on the high line ultimately led him to victory over Russell, rookie of the Year candidate Earl Roark, Bob King, and Lane Ehlert.
Daniel Jessen used every bit of the high side to claim heat two in another closely contested prelim. However, Jessen’s victory did not come easy as he had to outlast Jason Russell who drove from sixth to second place by race end. Zeke Langley, defending track champion Jeremy Kelly, and Chris Cox completed the top five.
For the third and final heat, Kevin Coyne led early but it didn’t take veteran driver Donnie Timmerman long to find his way around Coyne to grab the top spot. Although Coyne and Todd McCoin kept Timmerman close, they could not catch the leader and ultimately took the second and third spots behind Timmerman. Tommy Cordray recovered from an earlier tussle to finish fourth one spot ahead of Payton Looney in fifth.
Timmerman and Jason Russell earned the front row starting positions for the main event as Russell darted out front to initially lead. An early race caution period fell over the field for a spin on lap three with Jason Russell showing the way ahead of Timmerman, Binning, Coyne, and Jessen inside the top five.
Sixth-starting Coyne made his way to fourth on the ensuing restart and things looked to be going well for him after making major repairs from an opening weekend pileup until he broke an axle and exited the race on lap four. The elder Russell continued leading Timmerman and Binning thru lap seven with Justin Russell now coming into the mix until the second and final caution fell on lap eight.
When the race resumed, Timmerman tried all he could to keep Russell in sight but the defending overall champ was too stout on this night and kept everyone behind him. In a replay of the first heat race, Justin Russell and Jon Binning had yet another side-by-side run as the two battled for third place for several laps. On back, an even more intense battle took place as several drivers fought hard for positions inside the top ten.
The high side did not prove as strong for the main event as it had earlier for the heat races as Jessen slipped back to fifth by lap twelve to do battle with the likes of Roark, Todd McCoin, Kelley, Looney and Langley right until the checkered flag waived over the field.
At the conclusion of the race, Jason Russell claimed his second-straight victory to retain his early season point’s lead. Timmerman recorded his best-ever ULMA finish in second with Justin Russell third one rung ahead of Binning in fourth. Jeremy Kelley made his way to fifth from his eleventh starting position. Behind him, several drivers drove hard right to the line with Roark coming away sixth followed by Ehlert, McCoin, Looney, and Langley to round out the top ten. Action resumes this Saturday at the speedway for another weekly race program. Visit the track online for complete details at www.lucasoilspeedway.com.
Wet conditions forced Callaway Raceway to cancel its sixth-straight attempt to kick off its opening night for the new season. The track will try once again to open the curtain on the new season this Friday. To learn more about Callaway Raceway head over to www.callawayraceways.com.
Continued wet conditions also led to the cancellation of racing at Randolph County Raceway (RCR) in Moberly, Missouri, last Saturday. RCR will look to raise the curtain on its new season this weekend when the gates swing open for fans and drivers on Saturday night. Visit the track’s all-new website by pointing your web browser to www.randolphcountyraceway.com.
Drivers are reminded that ULMA licensing is mandatory at all sanctioned tracks. Drivers should be prepared to present their license on arrival when checking in. ULMA officials are on-site weekly at each of the competing tracks to answer questions and assist with the registration process. Visit www.ulmaracing.com for scheduling full results, information, stats, rules, and to print and complete the 2013 form prior to competing.
This season marks the first year for ULMA to partner with Hoosier Tire Midwest. Drivers may purchase tires from ULMA throughout the season by contacting ULMA officials, the program benefits drivers at the end of the season during the October 19 championship banquet, which takes place in California, Missouri. Please visit www.racetires.com for additional information.
Drivers earn championship points by keeping points earned from their 15 best race appearances throughout the season of the more than 50 possible scheduled race nights. Visit ULMA’s title sponsor at www.lucascattlecompany.com. ULMA sincerely thanks Hoosier Tire Midwest, FastShafts, Rod End Supply, RacingJunk.com, and PhotoGraphics by Shelly Payne for their support this season.
ULMA Standings as of 5-13-13
POS CAR # NAME STARTS POINTS
1st 2J Jason Russell 2 249
2nd 0X Justin Russell 2 237
3rd T8R Earl Roark 2 229
4th 7X Todd McCoin 2 223
5th 5 Tommy Cordray 2 215
6th 17 Daniel Jessen 2 215
7th 23Z Zeke Langley 2 209
8th 12 Payton Looney 2 209
9th O4 Jeremy Kelley 2 207
10th 99J Larry Jones 2 205
ULMA Schedule at a Glance
Friday, May 17th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, May 18th – Lucas Oil Speedway
Saturday, May 18th – Randolph County Raceway
Friday, May 24th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, May 25th – Randolph County Raceway – $1,000-to-win track special
Friday, May 31st – Callaway Raceway