|
UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Race 19: Korte Wheels to Vermillion County
Victory
DANVILLE, IL (July 5, 2009) - Defending UMP DIRTcar Late Model National
Champion Randy Korte knew a victory on Sunday night was crucial to his quest
for his first Hell Tour title. He had a slim 4-point lead in the UMP DIRTcar
Summer Nationals championship standings, and extended it at Vermillion
County Speedway in Danville, Ill., by powering his way to the checkered
flag.
The win was only Korte's second victory on the 2009 Hell Tour, but combined
with his 12 top-five finishes, it has him atop the standings with one week
to go.
Defending “Hell Tour” champion Dennis Erb Jr., of Carpentersville, Ill.,
finished second to keep pace with Korte, of Highland, Ill., in the rankings.
Erb climbed from a fifth-place starting spot using an unconventional outside
groove to maneuver his way to the front. Erb made multiple attempts to steal
the win away from Korte late but settled for a runner-up finish.
Ryan Unzicker, of El Paso, Ill., finished third after also challenging Korte
for the lead near the midpoint of the race. He eventually fell to a high
side running Erb in the battle for the runner up spot. It was Unzicker's
fourth top-five performance with his second place at Charleston (Ill.)
Speedway being his best finish.
Jason Feger, of Bloomington, Ill., finished fourth while Shannon Babb, of
Moweaqua, Ill., rounded out the top five.
A-Main Finish – 40 Laps
1. 00-Randy Korte
2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr.
3. 24- Ryan Unzicker
4. 25-Jason Feger
5. 18-Shannon Babb
6. B5-Brandon Sheppard
7. 42-Terry Casey
8. 99jr-Frank Heckenast Jr.
9. 55-Jeep Van Wormer
10. B12-Kevin Weaver
11. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr.
12. 25-Dan Walden
13. 95-Aaron Ricketts
14. 27-Rodney Melvin
15. 35-Derek Chandler
16. M14-Brandon Thirlby
17. 89-Daren Friedman
18. D8-Dustin Linville
19. 0-Richie Hedrick
20. 83-Scott Bull
21. 10s-Scott Schmitt
HELL TOUR NOTES
35 UMP DIRTcar Late Models arrived at the Vermillion County Ill. track to
compete in the 19th race of the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals. Four groups of
qualifying time trials took to the track with defending “Hell Tour” champion
Dennis Erb Jr. timing in quickest in group one while Terry Casey of New
London, Wisc., timed in quickest of the second group as well as quickest
overall with a lap of 13.296 seconds around the quarter-mile oval.
Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., was quickest in group three of
qualifying time trials while Rodney Melvin of Logan, Ill., timed in fastest
in group four.
Ryan Unzicker claimed the first of four heat races on the night outrunning
defending champion Dennis Erb Jr. Randy Korte used the same outside line as
Unzicker did in heat one to to claim the second heat race over quick timer
Terry Casey.
Jeep Van Wormer won the 3rd heat race using his pole position to grab the
early lead and holding off a charging Brandon Sheppard. Rodney Melvin
outpaced Frank Heckenast Jr. to get the fourth and final heat race victory.
Daren Friedman used a B-Main win in which he passed polesitter Steve
Sheppard Jr. late in the race while Sheppard settled for second and the last
transfer spot in the night's 40-lap feature. Using provisionals to start the
“Hell Tour” main event were Derek Chandler and Scott Bull for UMP National
and Summer National points while Richie Hedrick used a track provisional to
start 21st.
For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour fans can visit
http://www.thehelltour.com
Fans can now receive news, updates and other behind-the-scenes information
about the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals by following the tour's official feed
on Twitter, the internet's fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging
website.
Fans can view the latest text posts and subscribe as “followers” of the
Summer Nationals at
http://twitter.com/SummerNationals .
2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Date/Track/Location/Purse/Winner/Cars
06/11/09 Brownstown Speedway - Brownstown, IN - $6,000 (Jeep VanWormer - 43)
06/12/09 Kankakee Motor Speedway – Kankakee,IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 51)
06/13/09 Kamp Motor Speedway – Boswell, IN - $10,000 (Eric Smith - 44)
06/14/09 Quad City Raceway – East Moline, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 31)
06/16/09 Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/17/09 Belle-Clair Speedway - Belleville, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 47)
06/18/09 Charleston Speedway - Charleston, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/19/09 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL - $10,000 (RAIN)
06/20/09 Clarksville Speedway – Clarksville, TN - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 44)
06/21/09 Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, IN - $6,000 (Jeep Van Wormer - 43)
06/23/09 Charleston Speedway – Charleston, IL $6,000 (Rodney Melvin - 26)
06/24/09 Tri-City Speedway – Pontoon Beach, IL $6,000 (Jason Feger - 34)
06/25/09 Clay Hill Motorsports Park – Atwood, TN - $6,000 (Billy Moyer - 38)
06/26/09 Paducah International Raceway – Paducah, KY - $10,000 (Billy Moyer
- 41)
06/27/09 Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 34)
06/28/09 Lincoln Speedway – Lincoln, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte - 35)
06/29/09 Farmer City Raceway – Farmer City,IL $6,000 (Dennis Erb Jr. - 34)
06/30/09 Peoria Speedway – Peoria, IL - $6,000 (Jason Feger - 39)
07/01/09 Highland Speedway – Highland, IL - $6,000 (Jeep Van Wormer - 39)
07/02/09 Macon Speedway – Macon, IL - $6,000 (Shannon Babb - 34)
07/03/09 Quincy Raceway – Quincy, IL - $10,000 (Shannon Babb - 33)
07/04/09 I-55 Raceway – Pevely, MO - $10,000 (RAIN)
07/05/09 Vermillion County Speedway – Danville, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte -
35)
07/07/09 Shepp Speedway – Alexandria, IL - $6,000
07/08/09 Spoon River Speedway – Canton,IL $6,000
07/09/09 La Salle Speedway – La Salle, IL - $6,000
07/10/09 Waynesfield Motorsports Park – Waynesfield, OH - $10,000
07/11/09 Oakshade Raceway – Wauseon, OH – 10,000
 |
