Pevely, MO (April 5, 2003) Cold weather settled into I-55 Raceway as the temperatures dropped into the upper 30's, but a fast, smooth racetrack heated things up quickly. In the U.M.P. Late Model division, Ed Dixon started the 2003 season with a strong showing. Dixon took the lead at the start from the outside front row and never looked back. Kevin Gundaker challenged Dixon early on for the lead, but Dixon was too strong and pulled ahead to a comfortable lead. After several early cautions for single cars spins, Dixon would open up a sizeable lead. Meanwhile, Mark Oller was on the move from his sixteenth starting position and as the laps were winding down, Oller took second place from Gundaker. Oller was able to pull along side Dixon for the lead on several occasions, but Dixon pulled back ahead each time. The final caution came on lap twenty-three for a hard crash involving Steve Shive and Dewayne Kiefer. Both drivers were alright, but each of their cars suffered major damage. On the final restart, Oller tried to move past Dixon on the low side, but Dixon powered ahead using the cushion to his advantage. Dixon went on to victory with Oller second, Gundaker third, Tim Ratajczyk fourth and Dave Jumper fifth.
Thirty-six U.M.P. Modifieds were on hand to do battle. Once again the modifieds kept the fans on the edge of their seats with fast side by side action. Ray Walsh and Scott Weber battled all twenty laps for the lead with Bobby Bittle occasionally mounting a challenge for the lead as well. But it was Walsh claiming the victory with Weber a close second and Bittle third. Tom Ratajczyk moved up from deep in the field to claim fourth. Brian Worley made a late race charge and picked up many positions in the final few laps to finish fifth.
The AARA Sportsman division provided the closest finish of the evening. Scott Stuppy only the lead the race for the final 100 yards and won by a half car length over Ricky Horton. Horton led the first fourteen laps with Stuppy close behind the entire time. Coming into turn three on the final lap, a lapped car provided Stuppy the opportunity he needed. The three cars went into turn three side by side and the two leaders made contact with each other. They both gathered things back together and raced out of turn four side by side with Stuppy edging Horton at the line. Mark Blanke finished third, Paul Bauman fourth and David Bardin rounded out the top five.
U.M.P. Late Models (20 Cars)
Heat 1:
1. 50 Ed Dixon
2. 8 Kyle Steffens
3. 44 Jim Burwell
4. 13 Dewayne Kiefer
Heat 2:
1. 51 Steve Shive
2. 9B Chuck Baird
3. 11 Kevin Gundaker
4. 10 Andy Pryor
Dash:
1. 11 Kevin Gundaker
2. 50 Ed Dixon
3. 51 Steve Shive
4. 13 Dewayne Kiefer
Feature:
1. 50 Ed Dixon
2. 67 Mark Oller
3. 11 Kevin Gundaker
4. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
5. 2J Dave Jumper
6. 8 Kyle Steffens
7. 27 Kenny Helmick
8. 82 Billy Laycock
9. 28 Don Klein
10. 9B Chuck Baird
11. 10 Andy Pryor
12. 70 Rich Lawson
13. 51 Steve Shive
14. 441 Brian Wolfmeier
15. 13 Dewayne Kiefer
16. 47 Danny Haynes
17. 46 Paul Belken, Jr.
18. 44 Jim Burwell
19. 95 Jeff Johns
20. 1D Dean Hoffman
U.M.P. Modifieds (36 Cars)
Heat 1:
1. 6 Ray Wagner
2. 89 Bobby Bittle
3. 18 Brent Thompson
4. 99 Brian Wolfmeier
Heat 2:
1. 56 Kevin Epperson
2. X1 Dave Sandage
3. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
4. 22X Clint Eckenrodt
Heat 3:
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 59 Rich Whaley
3. 8 Kirk Murphy
4. 2 Todd Ferber
Heat 4:
1. 4J Scott Weber
2. 22 Matt Mevert
3. 166 Brian Worley
4. 14K Loren Knox
Dash:
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 4J Scott Weber
3. 89 Bobby Bittle
4. 59 Rich Whaley
Semi:
1. 10 Curt Rhodes
2. 9 Doug Wood
3. 41 Stu Springer
4. 15 Doug Blair
5. 45M Eric Mabery
6. Z34 Steve Zelch, Jr.
7. 1J Floyd Jordan
8. C4 Chris Soutiea
9. 41 Larry Hull
10. 32 Eldred Winebaugh
11. 95B Jim Beishir
12. 8X James Reed
13. 3L Bill LaRue
14. 58 Eugene Hoffman
15. 12 Jesse Snyder
16. 23 Dylan Sharp
Feature:
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 4J Scott Weber
3. 89 Bobby Bittle
4. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
5. 166 Brian Worley
6. 59 Rich Whaley
7. 99 Brian Wolfmeier
8. 3R Leon Rakers
9. 6 Ray Wagner
10. 41 Stu Springer
11. X1 Dave Sandage
12. 18 Brent Thompson
13. 21R Dennis Richards
14. 22M Matt Mevert
15. 14K Loren Knox
16. 8 Kirk Murphy
17. 22X Clint Eckenrodt
18. 7M Kevin Moffett
19. 17 Jim Shereck
20. 56 Kevin Epperson
21. 15 Doug Blair
22. 10 Curt Rhodes
23. 2 Todd Ferber
24. 9 Doug Wood
AARA Sportsman (27 Cars)
Heat 1:
1. 86 Doug Kim
2. 00 Scott Stuppy
3. 28 Tom Smallwood
4. 30 Bobby Hooker
Heat 2:
1. 38D Mark Blanke
2. 24 Paul Bauman
3. D5 Dave Jenkins
4. 19 Jimmy Cummins
Heat 3:
1. 4 Ricky Horton
2. 98 David Bardin
3. 01 Steve Borgetti
4. 51 John Hoffman
Dash:
1. 86 Doug Kim
2. 4 Ricky Horton
3. 00 Scott Stuppy
4. 98 David Bardin
Feature:
1. 00 Scott Stuppy
2. 4 Ricky Horton
3. 38D Mark Blanke
4. 24 Paul Bauman
5. 98 David Bardin
6. 86 Doug Kim
7. 01 Steve Borgetti
8. D5 Dave Jenkins
9. 19 Jimmy Cummins
10. D40 Ed DeMille
11. 44 Brian Eaves
12. 8 Ed Lowry
13. 50 Eric Rudd
14. 51 John Hoffman
15. 18 Buddy Lowry
16. 21 Brad McKinnon
17. 30 Bobby Hooker
18. 69 Mark Hunter
19. 111 Zac Parks
20. 7 Craig Wodicker
21. 35 Chris Sale
22. 27 Nathan Walsh
23. 28 Tom Smallwood
24. 66 Darren Holland
Other Sportsman Present:
10 Todd McGraw
3P Bob Prince
75 Ron Imm, Jr.
AARA Wannabeez (13 Cars)
Heat 1:
1. 8 Pat Brewer
2. 72 Stan Cain
3. 58 Sharon Hoffman
4. 8W Ken Williams
Heat 2:
1. 6 Joe Gruhala
2. 01 Robert Denny
3. 57 Don Hoffman
4. 49 Dennis Harris
Feature:
1. 8 Pat Brewer
2. 01 Robert Denny
3. 2 John Honaker
4. 57 Don Hoffman
5. 49 Dennis Harris
6. 6 Joe Gruhala
7. 58 Sharon Hoffman
8. 99 Robie Hoffman
9. 8 Ken Williams
10. 188 Gary Price
11. 77 Ron Lyons
DNS. 21 Dave Heinrichs
DNS. 72 Stan Cain
