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Vance Wilson Powers to Victory Lane during Missouri State
Fair Speedway ULMA Special Event!
by: Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Media Relations
SEDALIA, MO (August 19) - For the first time in its four-year history, ULMA
late models were part of the racing action at the ‘Historic Half Mile’ in
Sedalia, Missouri during the Missouri State Fair and it will be Vance
Wilson’s name that will forever have a place in the history books as the
first-ever fair week ULMA winner. Wilson will also go down as the first-ever
topless ULMA winner as the cars ran without their roofs. The ULMA late model
championship standings heading into Tuesday night’s topless event saw Jason
Bodenhamer, Bob Test, Jon Binning, and Vance Wilson all looking to improve
one of their season’s fifteen starts. In early heat race action the eighteen
cars on hand tried to make their way to the front of the feature lineup.
Wilson claimed the opening heat over Bodenhamer, who advanced six spots to
second. Walt Imhoff, Dustin Vance, and Brett Wood completed the top five.
For the second heat, young driver Gordy Gundaker, son of legendary Missouri
racer Kevin Gundaker, came away with the victory over Test, Kevin Coyne,
Shawn Rayfield, and Dustin Walker.
Once the heat races concluded, drivers were hoping for a smooth sailing main
event as Bodenhamer and Vance started from the front after earning the most
passing points in their respective heats. From the start, Wilson grabbed the
lead but Bodenhamer stuck right with him until a lap three caution slowed
the field. Once racing resumed, Bodenhamer used the high side in turn two to
power his way to the front leaving Wilson in second by lap five. The race
ran smoothly for several more laps as Bodenhamer and Wilson waged the battle
for the win until a lap fourteen caution again slowed the field.
Unfortunately right at the same time, Bodenhamer’s car, which had been
smoking for several laps, was forced to leave the speedway with motor
problems ending his night. At the same time, Test also experienced motor
woes and also exited the race after running third the entire race. Wilson
inherited the lead back on lap fourteen after Bodenhamer’s engine let go.
With the top two in ULMA points out of the event, Steve Clancy, Kevin Coyne,
and Gordon Gundaker found themselves right in the thick of things for the
win. The green flag waved again but another caution flew for Brett Wood and
Bob King in turn four and again for Walt Imhoff before the race made it to
lap seventeen. The final event of the night had a rough ending with two
late-race cautions flying over the field. It didn’t matter for Wilson though
as he took home the win and the $1,000 payday. Clancy and Gundaker took
their battle for second right down to the wire with Clancy narrowly claiming
the spot in a photo finish for second with Gundaker third. Coyne had a
strong run to fourth with Jon Binning fifth while Trace Westling rounded out
the top six. Results from the Tuesday fair races and the speedway’s
remaining race schedule may be found at www.missouristatefairspeedway.com.
Last weekend at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Missouri rain struck while the
late models were in the midst of their main event. Wilson, who has been a
man on a mission lately, was leading at the time. The race will continue
this Friday, August 20 when the field will hit the track once again. The
previous week at Callaway Raceway saw Wilson take the win over Test as Jeff
Schlup, Zeke Langley, Trace Westling, and James Stafford all came away with
top-ten finishes. There were 16 cars at Callaway during the night Wilson won
his last feature. For complete results, remaining track schedule and general
details visit www.callawayraceways.com.
Jeremy Kelley of Walnut Grove, Missouri drove his #4 machine to victory lane
at the speedway for the third time last weekend, also his third ULMA
victory. Kelley earned the pole for the twenty-lap feature event and then
drove to a hard-fought win over a strong field of fellow competitors
including Wilson, who went on to finish second. Andy Kennedy scored another
top-three finish at the speedway with Tommy Cordray and R.D. Peterson
rounding out the top five. There were seventeen cars on hand the night of
Kelley’s victory. Two weeks ago at Lucas Oil Speedway, a new driver visited
victory lane as Chris Morelock, of Springfield, Missouri drove to the win
from the pole position. It was Morelock’s first-ever win at the track and
first ULMA victory as well in his Show-Me spec engine car. Larry Jones ran a
strong second in the event with Wilson, Cordray and Andy Kennedy also
recording top-five finishes. There were eighteen late models on hand the
night of Morelock’s win. Another Saturday night of racing at the speedway
takes place August 21 when the drivers return to the speedway. Visit the
track online at www.lucasoilspeedway.com for a complete rundown of results,
the track schedule and race information.
Two weeks ago at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) in Warrensburg, Missouri
Bodenhamer claimed his track leading seventh win of the season in convincing
fashion by using the multi-grooved track to take him to the front of the
field just passed the halfway point of the race. Behind the winner came
Test, Brian Pipes with another top five, and Dustin Walker, with his
strongest finish of the year. Brett Wood, Jimmy Jobe, Jon Binning and Steve
Clancy also registered top ten finishes among thirteen drivers. Last
Saturday night, Bodenhamer once again appeared to be the man to beat until
right as he was again using the high side to claim the top spot, his engine
spewed water and he was forced to leave the race. In one of the best
features in a while, Jon Binning and a non-ULMA member were both battling in
the top three for the win until Bodee left the track. In the end, Binning
claimed his second win of the year and first since early May of this season.
Clancy recorded a strong third place finish with Wood, Coyne, Jobe, Walker,
Bodenhamer, Dave Mosby, and Zach Green also running in the top ten among
thirteen cars. The tight point battle and great late model racing resumes
this Saturday at CMS, visit the speedway’s website at
www.centralmissourispeedway.net for complete information.
For complete standings and the remaining race schedule visit our official
website by logging onto www.ulmaracing.com. The ULMA points fund benefits by
booking your lodging needs through the official ULMA website, savings await
everyone using the link on the website by choosing from several quality
hotel chains. ULMA membership is available on site at each affiliated track
for $50; ask for the track’s ULMA representative. Driver and affiliate
membership is also available via the Website. To join the association’s
email group, send request to unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com.
Official 2010 sponsors and affiliated business partners are greatly
appreciated. This year’s team includes official sponsor Imhoff Construction.
Contingency Sponsors: Fast Shafts, Rod End Supply, Racingjunk.com, TCI®
Automotive, Kenny Johnson’s Race Replicas. Affiliate Sponsor: Photographics
by Shelly Payne. ULMA 2010 Business Partners: NeedSponsorship.com,
MySmokinRide.com, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Homes for Our Troops. If
you would like to join the team, contact us at your convenience at
unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com or www.ulmaracing.com.
Current Top Twenty Standings
POS CAR # NAME POINTS Starts
1st 88B Jason Bodenhamer 1484 18
2nd 1 Bob Test 1470 32
3rd 65 Jon Binning 1408 22
4th 12c Steve Clancy 1378 18
5th B1 Vance Wilson 1372 14
6th 7 Brett Wood 1358 22
7th 1T Chris Cox (R) 1332 25
8th 7W Trace Westling 1290 18
9th 27 Danny Lorton 1278 20
10th 98 James Stafford 1240 25
11th 22 Kevin Coyne 1216 19
12th 23Z Ezekiel Langley (R) 1176 18
13th 21 Jeff Schlup 1172 13
14th 5 Tommy Cordray 1138 12
15th 25 Robbie Wright 1127 16
16th 28 Brian Pipes 1060 13
17th 4W Dustin Walker 1048 14
18th 55K Andy Kennedy 1044 12
19th 2P R.D. Peterson 1040 13
20th 16 Ashlee Lancaster (R) 1024 13
Rookie of the Year
POS CAR # NAME POINTS STARTS
1st 1T Chris Cox (R) 1332 25
2nd 23Z Ezekiel Langley (R) 1176 18
3rd 16 Ashlee Lancaster (R) 1024 13
4th 72 Ben Solberg (R) 742 9
5th 52 Joe Bartlett (R) 660 9
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