Pevely, MO (July 26, 2003) Tim Ratajczyk put on a dominating performance by leading all twenty-five laps to take the victory in the U.M.P. Late Model main event. Ratajczyk started on the outside of the front row along side pole sitter Brent Kreke. Ratajczyk used high side and pulled away to a comfortable lead early on. Kevin Gundaker moved past Kreke on lap five to take second but could never get close enough to challenge Ratajczyk for the lead. Kyle Steffens moved up through the field to claim the third spot. Paul Belken had his best outing of his rookie season in the late model to finish fourth. Brian Wolfmeier completed the top five. Second place point contender Ed Dixon had problems after making contact with Kevin Gundaker in the Dash and started at the rear of the feature and nursed his car home to a fourteenth place finish.
Brent Thompson won his first U.M.P. Modified feature of the season at I-55 Raceway. Thompson also started on the outside of the front row and beat pole sitter Ray Walsh to the first turn on top side. Walsh stayed glued to Thompson rear bumper early on the event until a caution flew on lap six. On the restart, Walsh attempted to make the pass on Thompson as he went low into turn one and slid to the top in front of Thompson. Walsh easily cleared Thompson but caught the outside wall in turn two allowing Thompson to pull along side but the two made contact, which resulted in a flat tire and front suspension damage on Walsh's car and ended his night. On the restart, it appeared Thompson was going to go on to an easy victory as he opened up a full straight away lead on the rest of the field. But Brian Worley worked his way into second place and proceeded to chase down Thompson as the two worked lapped traffic. Worley attempted a couple of passes for the lead using the low side, but couldn't get past Thompson for the lead and settled for second. Doug Wood had a solid run to finish third. Jim Shereck worked his way up from the thirteenth starting position to finish fourth. Jerry Grither made his first appearance of the season at I-55 Raceway and came home fifth.
Scott Weber's run of bad luck continued at I-55 Raceway as he was hit in the head by a foreign object during the Dash causing him to spin into the inside wall going into turn three. The blow left a five inch crack in Weber's helmet. Weber did compete in the feature event, but suffered a flat tire and did not finish. Second place points contender Bobby Bittle blew an engine in hotlaps and did not compete in any of the racing events.
Ricky Horton also broke his run of bad luck and captured his first AARA Sportsman victory of the season. Horton moved past Paul Bauman on lap three and went on claim the win. Bauman held off a late charge by Scott Stuppy to take second. Paul Belken came home fourth and Ron Imm, Jr. was fifth. Point leader Todd McGraw had to miss the action tonight as he was serving a one race suspension for an incident earlier this season.
U.M.P. Late Models – 21 Entries
Heat 1:
1. 51 Steve Shive
2. 50 Ed Dixon
3. 28 Don Klein
4. 2J Dave Jumper
Heat 2:
1. 13 Brent Kreke
2. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
3. 11 Kevin Gundaker
4. 46 Paul Belken
Dash:
1. 13 Brent Kreke
2. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
3. 11 Kevin Gundaker
4. 2J Dave Jumper
Feature:
1. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
2. 11 Kevin Gundaker
3. 8 Kyle Steffens
4. 46 Paul Belken
5. 37 Brian Wolfmeier
6. 47 Danny Haynes
7. 82 Billy Laycock
8. 13 Brent Kreke
9. 67 Mark Oller
10. 51 Steve Shive
11. 2J Dave Jumper
12. 27 Kenny Helmick
13. 77 Clay Baumann
14. 50 Ed Dixon
15. 28 Don Klein
16. 70 Rich Lawson
17. 68 Tom Fitzgerald
18. 2F Todd Ferber
19. 70M Mark McClintock
20. 44 Dean Motsinger
DNS. 66 Jim Gibson
U.M.P. Modifieds – 28 Entries
Heat 1:
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 41 Stu Springer
3. X1 Dave Sandage
4. 99 Brian Wolfmeier
Heat 2:
1. 18 Brent Thompson
2. 166 Brian Worley
3. 71 Jay Hughes
4. 3R Leon Rakers
Heat 3:
1. 4J Scott Weber
2. 9W Doug Wood
3. 85 Todd Gailius
4. 95 Jerry Grither
Dash:
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 18 Brent Thompson
3. 41 Stu Springer
4. 9W Doug Wood
Semi:
1. C4 Chris Soutiea
2. 51 John Hoffman
3. 24 Mike Crader
4. 20 Don Zander
5. 6 Ray Wagner
6. 23 Dylan Sharp
7. 73 Chris Moyer
DNS. 89 Bobby Bittle
DNS. 21 Dennis Richards
DNS. 56 Kevin Epperson
Feature:
1. 18 Brent Thompson
2. 166 Brian Worley
3. 9W Doug Wood
4. 17 Jim Shereck
5. 95 Jerry Grither
6. 45M Eric Mabery
7. 41 Stu Springer
8. 85 Todd Gailius
9. 3R Leon Rakers
10. C4 Chris Soutiea
11. 71 Jay Hughes
12. 59 Rich Whaley
13. X1 Dave Sandage
14. 6 Ray Wagner
15. 0 Gabe Regot
16. 41 Larry Hull
17. 58 Gene Hoffman
18. 20 Don Zander
19. 1W Ray Walsh
20. 4J Scott Weber
21. 51 John Hoffman
22. 24 Mike Crader
23. 23 Dylan Sharp
24. 99 Brian Wolfmeier
AARA Sportsman – 24 Entries
Heat 1:
1. 24 Paul Bauman
2. 01 Steve Borgetti
3. 86 Doug Kim
4. 8 Ed Lowry
Heat 2:
1. 46 Paul Belken
2. 75 Ron Imm, Jr.
3. 98 David Bardin
4. 19 Jimmy Cummins
Heat 3:
1. 4 Ricky Horton
2. 00 Scott Stuppy
3. 50 Eric Rudd
4. 30 Mike Nicholson
Dash:
1. 46 Paul Belken
2. 24 Paul Bauman
3. 4 Ricky Horton
4. 75 Ron Imm, Jr.
Feature:
1. 4 Ricky Horton
2. 24 Paul Bauman
3. 00 Scott Stuppy
4. 46 Paul Belken
5. 75 Ron Imm, Jr.
6. 98 David Bardin
7. 01 Steve Borgetti
8. 86 Doug Kim
9. 8 Ed Lowry
10. 3P Bob Prince
11. 50 Eric Rudd
12. 30 Mike Nicholson
13. 19 Jimmy Cummins
14. 111 Zac Parks
15. 128 Lee Clardy
16. 911 Christian Doggendorf
17. 69 Mark Hunter
18. 103 Randy Dickman
19. 18 Buddy Lowry
20. 7 Craig Wodicker
DNS. 73 Phil Argus
DNS. 105 Matt Hancock
DNS. 26 Gary Wilson
DNS. 64 Lee Bowers
AARA Wannabeez – 18 Entries
Heat 1:
1. 6 Joe Gruhala
2. 188 George Price
3. 41 Matt Johnson
4. 2 Dan Schmidt
Heat 2:
1. 10 Homer Mooney
2. 11 Chad Carter
3. 26 Rob Inman
4. 01 Robert Denny
Feature:
1. 10 Homer Mooney
2. 11 Chad Carter
3. 6 Joe Gruhala
4. 41 Matt Johnson
5. 21 Dave Heinrichs
6. 26 Rob Inman
7. 8 Ken Williams
8. 99 Robbie Hoffman
9. 57 Don Hoffman
10. 188 George Price
11. 3 Geoff Kay
12. 2 Dan Schmidt
13. 8B Pat Brewer
14. 23 Chris Roark
15. 01 Robert Denny
16. 77 Ron Lyons
17. 28 Scott Geary
18. 4 Joe Potter
