ULMA Victories go to Title Hopefuls Jason Russell, Payton Looney, and Vance Wilson!
Sam Stoecklin – ULMA Public Relations
ULMA – (July 2, 2013) – Lucas Cattle Company ULMA drivers were out in full force last weekend for three points-earning races as the season rolls on into the summer stretch. Action began at Callaway Raceways in Fulton, Missouri on Friday, then continued Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, for the track’s $1,000-to-win special event, and concluded at the tight confines of Double XX Speedway in California, Missouri on Sunday.
When the final laps came to a close Sunday at Double X Speedway, three familiar faces appeared in victory lane over the weekend as they have multiple times this year. Jason Russell, Payton Looney, and Vance Wilson have accounted for 13 wins in the 15 races contested and will likely be the drivers left standing as the point’s battle comes to a close later this season.
Sixteen drivers competed at Callaway Raceways on Friday night in three heat races and the twenty-lap main event. Walt Imhoff bested Larry Winn and Zeke Langley for the first heat race. In heat two, Vance Wilson led the way over Payton Looney, and Todd McCoin, while in the third and final heat race, Jason Russell crossed the line first ahead of Chris Cox, and Kenny Mudd.
A good old-fashioned straight up start placed Imhoff and Wilson on the front row for the twenty-lap main event and from the initial drop of the green flag it was evident Wilson was hungry for the win as he led Jason Russell and Imhoff across the line to lead the initial lap. Fifth-starting and two-time track main event winner Payton Looney made his way to third by lap three as he tried to keep pace with Wilson and Russell. Behind the lead trio, Imhoff, Langley, Winn and McCoin raced just as hard to keep the leaders within sight.
By lap 8 Jason Russell did all he could to take the point from Wilson but could not make the pass stick as Wilson held him at bay. Meanwhile Looney sat behind the leaders a distant third as Wilson and Russell began to put other cars a lap down. Zeke Langley worked his way to fourth by the race’s mid-point in one of his stronger runs so far this year. Russell again pressured for the lead on laps 11 and 14 but each time Wilson denied his bid for the top spot.
In the race’s closing stages things really began to heat up near the front as the three lead cars were never able to catch their breath in a heated battle to continue to put cars a lap down while doing all they could to hold their own positions. Larry Winn made a late-race charge to overtake Langley for fourth leaving Langley in fifth.
As Wilson and Russell crossed the start/finish line Wilson appeared to be comfortably in the lead as Russell tried to keep him close. Down the back stretch for the final time Wilson chose the middle to high line leaving just enough room for Russell to drive hard into turn three through lapped cars and ultimately slide up the track in turn four to position himself in front of Wilson. As the pair raced to the checkered flag it was Russell who claimed the victory in a thrilling finish at the line as Wilson tried to cross back under, but coming up one spot short in second. Looney was third, followed by Winn, Langley, Chris Cox, Imhoff, Ashlee Lancaster, McCoin and Lapp rounding out the top ten in the caution-free race.
Racing continues Friday, July 5 at Callaway Raceways for another weekly racing program. The track is currently experiencing website troubles; however, information is available by contacting track owner and promoter Betty Atterberry at (573) 220-1751. The track race status phone line is (573) 592-7795.
A strong field of 26 cars checked in for three heat races and the featured main event paying $1,000-to-win at Lucas Oil Speedway Saturday night. Drivers battled for starting positions for the featured race of the night through the heat races with Kenny Mudd, Bobby Penney, and Larry Jones crossing the strip in heat one. West Plains, Missouri’s Josh Hughes, making his first late model appearance at the speedway this year, claimed the second heat race over leading Rookie of the Year driver Payton Looney, and Chris Cox. The final heat race was all Jason Bodenhamer as he drove to victory over Jon Binning and current ULMA point leader Jason Russell.
Hughes and Looney led the large field of cars to the initial green flag laps as both drivers were in search of their first-ever main event wins at the speedway. Through lap five Hughes maintained a slim lead over Looney, Bodenhamer, Mudd, and Jason Russell. By lap 8, Looney, in search of his first-ever main event win at the speedway grabbed the point from Hughes to assume command of the race.
Throughout the ensuing laps, Looney methodically separated himself from the rest of the field as the race pace was clicking off at a blistering pace. Hughes still held down second in front of Bodenhamer, Russell, Mudd, Penney, binning, and Cordray by lap 15. On lap 18 the leader began lapping traffic like an old pro as he further distanced himself from any challengers.
At the lap 20 marker, with five laps remaining Looney continued his torrid run over Hughes and now Jason Russell, who slid by Bodenhamer down the front stretch in a hotly contested tussle for the position. Looney went on to flash under the line and take a big win in front of the Hickory County Fair crowd to claim his first track win and third overall ULMA victory of the year. Hughes held on for second with Russell claiming third ahead of Bodenhamer in fourth and Mudd in fifth. Jon Binning finished sixth in a solid run over the rest of the top ten that included Penney, Jeremy Kelley, Cordray, and Justin Russell. Looney earned $1,000 for his win as the track held their annual late model special event courtesy of Rain’s Ice.
The always tough field of cars competing at the track will return again this Saturday, July 6, for another weekly race program, which serves as the track Mid-Season Championship night. The races will be sponsored by Casey’s General Stores and all area Casey’s General Stores have $2 off coupons available for this week only! Stop by your local Casey’s (in an approximate 50 mile radius of Wheatland, MO) to save on this weekend’s admission.
Jason Russell leads the ULMA late model track point standings with former champion Jeremy Kelley 76 points behind in second. Payton Looney is third in overall standings, but on top of the overall ULMA Rookie of the Year point standings. Tommy Cordray and Jason Bodenhamer are only a few points behind, rounding out the top five. Be sure to log onto the track’s website at www.lucasoilspeedway.com for a complete schedule of events for Lake Lucas, the county fair, and the dirt track.
To conclude the busy weekend of action, drivers made their way to the ever-popular Double XX Speedway in California, Missouri on Sunday evening. Eleven drivers were on hand for two heat races and a 20-lap main event, which served as a tune-up for another appearance at the speedway in July for ULMA competitors.
Todd McCoin looked as strong as ever in grabbing the win over Vance Wilson and Earl Roark in the opening heat race while another strong Rookie of the Year contender, Bobby Penney, drove his MastersBilt race car into victory lane ahead of former track feature-race winner Brandon Imhoff and Matt Sosebee.
Using the passing points system to determine the starting positions, McCoin and Penney paced the field in front of the enthusiastic Double X Speedway fans. McCoin, who was looking to claim his first-ever main event at any ULMA race took command of the early laps and checked out on the rest of the field leaving Penney to battle with red-hot Vance Wilson, who was entering the race on the heels of 8 straight top-three finishes!
By lap six, Wilson found a way to get around Penney on the close-knit circuit and began a long and steady journey to draw in race-long leader McCoin. Behind the top three Imhoff ran solidly in fourth but the best battle on the speedway was between Justin Russell and Kevin Coyne, who like the night before at Lucas Oil Speedway, seemed to be glued together the entire race distance.
On lap 15, Wilson was right on the bumper of McCoin looking for just the slightest bit of room to make a bid for the lead. The door to that room opened on the following lap when the leader left just the slightest opening for Wilson to come through to gain the point. Over the final four laps as the lead duo raced through traffic, McCoin kept Wilson in sight but could never quite get the run he needed to reclaim the top spot.
Wilson went on to register his career 160th victory, an incredible number while still in his prime racing years and his fourth win of 2013. McCoin held onto the second position, his best-ever Lucas Cattle Company ULMA finish as his family and friends feverishly cheered him on. Penney also posted his best-ever finish by claiming third over Imhoff in fourth. Justin Russell held back Coyne in sixth to claim the fifth spot as the pair raced right to the checkered to sort out their battle. Wilson, who was making his first-ever appearance at the track later stated that, “I love this little place, he (McCoin) left just the slightest opening and I took it, you have to do that on a small track like this.” Wilson was the 2010 Lucas Cattle Company ULMA Champion.
On back to finish out the top ten were multiple-time track champion James Rutledge in his return to racing, followed by Chris Cox, Greg Clemmons, and Sosebee. ULMA action returns to Double XX Speedway again on Sunday, July 14 during a special night billed as Race for Rile. Visit www.xxspeedway.com, locate the track on Facebook, or call 573.796.4694 for additional details. ULMA is looking for business partner sponsors for this event. Interested parties should call Sam Stoecklin at 660-909-1083. A large turnout of fans is expected.
Racing at Randolph County Raceway (RCR) in Moberly, Missouri, took off a week from late model racing last Saturday evening but the track is set to once again roar back to life this coming Saturday, July 6, for another weekly racing program that includes the ULMA late models. Be sure to visit the track online by pointing your web browser to www.randolphcountyraceway.com.
ULMA licensing is mandatory at all sanctioned tracks, no exceptions! Drivers must present their license on arrival when checking in at all tracks. Visit www.ulmaracing.com for scheduling full results, information, stats, rules, and to print and complete the 2013 form prior to competing. Drivers should be prepared for technical inspection at all tracks at all times!
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 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
| POS | CAR # | NAME | STARTS | POINTS |
| 1st | 2J | Jason Russell | 11 | 1289 |
| 2nd | 1TC | Chris Cox | 12 | 1196 |
| 3rd | 0X | Justin Russell | 12 | 1163 |
| 4th | B1 | Vance Wilson | 10 | 1095 |
| 5th | 7X | Todd McCoin | 10 | 1044 |
| 6th | 12 | Payton Looney ® | 9 | 1017 |
| 7th | 23Z | Zeke Langley | 10 | 996 |
| 8th | T8R | Earl Roark ® | 8 | 842 |
| 9th | 16 | Bobby Penney ® | 8 | 810 |
| 10th | 9 | Chris Lapp | 8 | 809 |
ULMA Schedule at a Glance
Friday, July 5th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, July 6th – Lucas Oil Speedway
Saturday, July 6th – Randolph County Raceway
Friday, July 12th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, July 13th – Randolph County Raceway
Sunday, July 14th – Double XX Speedway
Friday, July 19th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, July 20th – Lucas Oil Speedway
Friday, July 26th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, July 27th – Randolph County Raceway, $1,000 to win track special
Category: Missouri
