ULMA Title Chase Closes Back Up With Rollert and Estes!
by: Sam Stoecklin

WARRENSBURG. MO (Aug 24) - After 17 weeks of competition just four points separate current leader, Brett Rollert, of Smithville, Missouri, from Winston, Missouri-based driver Jason Estes in the chase for the ULMA title. As a result of his fourth ULMA victory, Estes gained back 6 points on Rollert, who finished second to Estes last Friday night at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri. Estes’ latest triumph at Valley was his third at the track this year; he also has one victory at Warrensburg’s Central Missouri Speedway. Both drivers are now left with fourth-place finishes as their discard finish out of 15 overall points-earning nights counting towards the championship. Heading into Friday-night action there are just three more weekends of racing left before the points-earning season comes to a close at CMS on Saturday, September 8th. Last Saturday night California, Missouri-based driver Jeff Schlup tied Rollert for the most series wins with five by virtue of his third win at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. Schlup also has two victories at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Missouri. Callaway’s competition was rained out last weekend and the track is scheduled to run double features tonight, Friday August 24th. Strong finishes were also posted by Kevin Kaiser who had a fifth-place run at Valley Speedway, with Kevin Coyne, James Rutledge and Will McKinney also posting top tens. Jason Sivils salvaged a top ten run at Lucas Oil Speedway, the only ULMA member driver besides Schlup inside the top ten at the track. At CMS, top ten runs were posted by Estes, Jamie Wineland, Rollert, Jon Binning and Danny Lorton.

Recently CMS became the second track to fully adopt the ULMA rules package. Beginning in 2008 all CMS late model drivers are required to be fully compliant with the ULMA rules with the most significant change being there will be no canister shocks allowed on the cars. With CMS’ decision to adopt the rules, the association now has two tracks that are full-on ULMA for 2008! The association continues to work with affiliated tracks in hopes that they will fully accept the ULMA rules for their 2008 competition seasons while at the same time continuing to grow the fan base and driver car counts at each of the tracks.

Last week the ULMA was pleased to announce its first-ever appearance at the fast, wide and smooth LA Raceway in La Monte, Missouri. The LA Raceway ULMA Missouri State Championships will feature ULMA late model member drivers competing in a $1,000-to-win, 25-lap feature with 24 cars starting the main event on Saturday night, September 15th.

The evening’s program will feature a drivers’ "meet & greet" session where the fans can meet the drivers and take pictures with their cars during a fan walk. Drivers’ cars will be on display and fans can receive autographs from the drivers. The fan walk will run from 5:30 to 6:30 while a live radio broadcast will be going on from the track. All participating cars will be "pre-teched" by ULMA-designated technical inspectors beginning at 4PM; all cars must pass technical inspection prior to the night’s events getting underway. ULMA rules will be strictly enforced; visit www.ulmaracing.com  for current rules clarification and more information about this special event.

Admission and pit gates will open at 5:00; hot laps will begin at 7:00 with racing action getting underway at 7:30. There will also be a special "Dash for Cash" ran for the heat race winners to determine the first few starting rows of the feature event. Only ULMA member drivers may compete in this special non-ULMA points-earning race. ULMA membership forms are currently available on the ULMA Website or by requesting them from unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com .

 Drivers who are not currently ULMA members may join the association anytime between now and the day of the event. Membership forms will be available on the day of the event for drivers wishing to join the association. The 2007 ULMA membership fee is just $50. The entry fee for the event will be $25 for all participants in the ULMA Late Model division. Pit passes for everyone entering the pits for this race will be $25. General admission is: adults $10, kids ages 6 to 11 $5, children 5 and under free! B-modifieds will also be competing; the b-mod purse is now posted on the LA Raceway

Website at www.laraceway.com . Race sponsors for this event include John Rector Motors, BOB FM, Donco Fabrication and Machine, KIX FM, Jim's Tire Service, KSIS FM, Classic Jewelry, and K and C Precision Engine.

Just 10 points-earning races remain over the final four weekends of competition for the 2007 season: CMS-3, Valley-3, Callaway-2, and Lucas Oil-2. All four ULMA-affiliated tracks plan to be in operation this weekend with their regular race programs. A full rundown of the ULMA point standings appears at the end of this write-up. ULMA t-shirts may be purchased by finding a ULMA track representative for only $15, proceeds go to the drivers’ points fund. Don’t get left behind in the dust … racing with ULMA is a must!

ULMA wishes to thank all of its sponsors for the 2007 season. When visiting our sponsors tell them you heard about them through the ULMA! TITLE SPONSOR: WK Chevrolet, Sedalia, Missouri. OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Foster’s Transmission & Repair, Imhoff Construction Inc., Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company. CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: INCE Race Cars, Bodee’s Race Bodies, Fast Shafts, Schroeder Rotary Drilling and Pump Company, J & T Racing, Mike Crump Racing Supply, Randy’s Race Mart, Photography by Shelly Payne, and Ken Dake Attorney at Law.

ULMA Point Standings as of August 19, 2007
POS CAR # NAME POINTS Starts
1st 93R Brett Rollert 1468 29
2nd 58 Jason Estes 1464 27
3rd 40 Kevin Kaiser 1440 20
4th 21 Jeff Schlup 1418 20
5th 65 Jon Binning 1374 24
6th 27 Danny Lorton 1372 24
7th 22 Kevin Coyne 1368 23
8th 1 James Rutledge 1366 30
9th 4F Chad Frewaldt 1362 19
10th 3 Jamie Wineland 1310 22
11th 7 Brett Wood (Rookie) 1298 28
12th OO Zachary Green 1176 23
13th 69 Walt Imhoff 1134 15
14th 27 David Angell (Rookie) 1128 14
15th 14 Shawn Williams 1120 14
16th 5 Jim Adkins 1096 13
17th 75 A.L. Barbour (Rookie) 1094 18
18th 88 Derek Nevels 943 12
19th 15 Donnie Gemes 934 12
20th 8J Wes Jenkins 848 11
21st mc14 Will McKinney (Rookie) 828 10
22nd 22M Danny Monroe 708 9
23rd 31 Bob Hiller 686 10
24th 3P Allen Perryman 682 10
25th 7 Jeffrey Shere 620 9
26th 53 Jeremy Watts 560 7
27th 69 Kevin Caldwell 488 6
28th 55 Marty Pope 464 6
29th 27T Philip Todd 338 5
30th 94 Kenny Carroll 336 5
31st 7 Trace Westling 320 4
32nd 0x Jason Sivils (Rookie) 317 5
33rd 27A Aaron Todd (Rookie) 263 4
34th 56 Jimmy Jobe 237 4
35th 8 Josh Green 72 1