Bryan Collins
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM I-55 RACEWAY
Pevely, MO (May 3, 2008) On an unusually cold night in May, a great field of 120 racecars were on hand at I-55 Raceway to do battle on the high banked 1/3 mile dirt oval.
Two time and defending I-55 Raceway UMP DIRTcar Late Model Champion Bryan Collins of Elsberry, MO captured his second victory of 2008. Collins and Rusty Griffaw had a great battle for the lead during the first half of the main event, but Collins would pull away in the closing laps to claim the victory. The event was marred by a lap two crash in turn three that ended the night for several top competitors who had great runs in their qualifying heat races. The melee started when Dewayne Kiefer got into the back Dave Jumper at the end of the back stretch sending him spinning into turn three. The ensueing crash collected Tim Ratajczyk, Kevin Epperson, Dylan Sharp and Rich Lawson. Once the race was back underway, Collins and Griffaw battled for the lead, while Danny Haynes and Tim Manville fought for the third position and Billy Faust and Ed Dixon battled for the fifth spot. When the dust settled, it was Collins winning, Griffaw second, Haynes third, Manville fourth and Faust fifth.
Once again, the drivers in the UMP DIRTcar Modified division at I-55 Raceway put on one of the best races that this class can provide. There were essentially eight cars in a pack battling for the lead. Brent Mullins led every lap on the scorers sheets, but he had his hands full for all twenty laps. Mike Harrison tried every possible way to get around Mullins but could never find the right combination. Meanwhile, Ray Walsh put a show that any fan could appreciate as tried every possible line around the 1/3 mile oval looking for a way to get to the front. Walsh, who slipped as far back as fifth place while looking for a fast line, finally found one in the closing laps as he sent sparks showering from his machine from scraping the outside wall lap after lap. With his momentum from the high side, Walsh squeezed by Harrison and the outside wall coming to take the checkered flag and stole the second position, but came up just short of Mullins for the win.
Following Mullins, Walsh and Harrison across the line were Scott Weber finishing fourth and Bobby Bittle fifth. Bittle did his own high side highwire act as well, as he passed Paul Bauman, Bobby Martintoni and Ricky Horton in the closing laps to move up to fifth.
In the UMP DIRTcar Sportsman division, things were looking great for Jason Keller as he pulled out to a big lead in the main event, but as luck would have it, the caution flag would fly with just five laps remaining. That brought two time defending UMP National Champion and I-55 Raceway Track Champion Troy Naeger right up to his back bumper for the restart. Naeger siezed the opportunity and quickly moved past Keller on the restart as Keller slipped in turns three and four. Naeger would pull away to his second victory of the season at I-55 Raceway. Keller would claim the second position with Troy Medley finishing third, Kent Nations fourth and Tim Hollerbach fifth. Twenty-two of the original twenty-four starters finished the main event which only had one brief caution period.
Homer Mooney raced to the UMP DIRTcar/AARA Pro 4 Stock victory. Mooney outlasted Pat Brewer and last week's winner Jacob Buechting for the win.
UMP Late Models – 22 Entries
Heat 1
1. 11Z Bryan Collins
2. 16 Rusty Griffaw
3. 11D Brian Diveley
4. 50 Ed Dixon
5. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
6. 28 Don Klein
7. 95 Jeff Johns
8. 33 Ricky Frankel
Heat 2
1. 2J Dave Jumper
2. 33 Tim Manville
3. 81 Craig Smith
4. 30 Mark Voigt
5. 20 Darrin Forrest
6. 87 Ken Rumble
7. 7 Rich Lawson
Heat 3
1. 92B Billy Faust
2. 47 Danny Haynes
3. 13 Dewayne Keifer
4. 67 Dylan Sharp
5. 56 Kevin Epperson
6. 1 Ron McQuerry
7. 23 Paul Roider
Dash
1. 33 Tim Manville
2. 11Z Bryan Collins
3. 92B Billy Faust
4. 16 Rusty Griffaw
5. 2J Dave Jumper
6. 13 Dewayne Keifer
7. 47 Danny Haynes
8. 50 Ed Dixon
9. 11D Brian Diveley
Feature
1. 11Z Bryan Collins
2. 16 Rusty Griffaw
3. 47 Danny Haynes
4. 33 Tim Manville
5. 92B Billy Faust
6. 50 Ed Dixon
7. 95 Jeff Johns
8. 33 Ricky Frankel **MO/IL Dodge Dealers Hard Charger**
9. 30 Mark Voigt
10. 11D Brian Diveley
11. 87 Ken Rumble
12. 13 Dewayne Kiefer
13. 20 Darren Forrest
14. 81 Craig Smith
15. 1HR Ron McQuerry
16. 28 Don Klein
17. 23 Paul Roider
18. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
19. 56 Kevin Epperson
20. 67 Dylan Sharp
21. 7 Rich Lawson
22. 2J Dave Jumper
UMP Modifieds – 32 Entries
Heat 1
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2. 48 Bobby Martintoni
3. 31 Ricky Horton
4. 99 Robbie Helms
5. 21J Jeff Vernier
6. 87S Tony Patterson
7. 7 Mark Miner
8. 46 Dave Wibbenmeyer DNS
Heat 2
1. 41M Brent Mullins
2. 89 Bobby Bittle
3. 15 Jerry Grither
4. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
5. 377 Casey Pearson
6. C4 Chris Soutia
7. 30 Mike Nicholson
8. 6 Ray Wagner
Heat 3
1. 24 Mike Harrison
2. 24 Paul Baumann
3. 8X James Reed
4. F5 Chris Fisher
5. 72X Jason Sinn
6. 36 Conrad Miner
7. 5E Erik Edgar
8. 9W Doug Wood
Heat 4
1. 4J Scott Weber
2. 45M Eric Mabery
3. 17 Brad Thurston
4. 1A Steve Meyer Jr.
5. 88 Joe Puricelli
6. 78C Alan Conner
7. 3D Lou Dreimeier
8. 11B Brett Bennett
Dash
1. 41M Brent Mullins
2. 24 Mike Harrison
3. 1W Ray Walsh
4. 4J Scott Weber
5. 89 Bobby Bittle
6. 45M Eric Mabery
7. 48 Bobby Martintoni
8. 31 Ricky Horton
9. 24 Paul Baumann
Semi #1
1. 377 Casey Pearson
2. 88 Joe Puricelli
3. C4 Chris Soutia
4. 30 Mike Nicholson
5. 87S Tony Patterson
6. 78C Alan Conner
7. 36 Conrad Miner
8. 3D Lou Dreimeier
9. 5E Erik Edgar
DNS. 7 Mark Miner
DNS. 6 Ray Wagner
DNS. 9W Doug Wood
DNS. 46 Dave Wibbenmeyer
DNS. 11B Brett Bennett
Feature
1. 41M Brent Mullins
2. 1W Ray Walsh
3. 24 Mike Harrison
4. 4J Scott Weber
5. 89 Bobby Bittle
6. 31 Ricky Horton
7. 48 Bobby Martintoni
8. 24 Paul Baumann
9. 45M Eric Mabery
10. 377 Casey Pearson
11. 99 Robbie Helms
12. C4 Chris Soutiea
13. 78C Alan Conner
14. 15 Jerry Grither
15. 1A Steve Meyer, Jr.
16. 30 Mike Nicholson
17. 8X James Reed
18. 21 Jeff Vernier
19. 88 Joe Puricelli
20. 87S Tony Patterson
21. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
22. 72X Jason Sinn
23. 17 Brad Thurston
24. F5 Chris Fisher
UMP/AARA Sportsman – 31 Entries
Heat 1
1. 50 Kent Nations
2. 87 Gary Haynes
3. 62 Troy Medley
4. 105 Matt Hancock
5. 67 Ronnie Bader
6. 57 Trey Harris
7. 38 Chuck Crostic
8. M41 Steve Maisel DNS
Heat 2
1. 60 Dusty Knerrer
2. 96 Tim Hollerbach
3. 28 Tom Smallwood
4. 23 Kevin Mosier
5. 16 Joe McCain
6. 147 Kyle Stolzer
7. 66 Sam Lopretta
8. 39 Donnie Harkins
Heat 3
1. 55 Jason Keller
2. 36 Danny Ems
3. 32 Jim Abshire
4. 3 Scott Hensler
5. 54 Mike Dearing
6. 92 Jim Abshier
7. 128 Tyson Gegg
8. 95 Jeremy Nash DNS
Heat 4
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 19 Jimmy Cummins
3. 35 Chris Sale
4. 11 Jeff Herzog
5. 82 Pat Chalmers
6. 8 Steve Edgecomb
7. 17 Dave Racer
Dash
1. 55 Jason Keller **G&M Steel Dash Winner**
2. 96 Tim Hollerbach
3. 62 Troy Medley
4. 50 Kent Nations
5. 12 Troy Naeger
6. 60 Dusty Knerrer
7. 36 Danny Ems
8. 28 Tom Smallwood
9. 19 Jimmy Cummins
Semi #1
1. 57 Trey Harris
2. 147 Kyle Stolzer
3. 8 Steve Edgecomb
4. 16 Joe McCain
5. 82 Pat Chalmers
6. M41 Steve Maisel
7. 66 Sam Lopretta
8. 92 Jim Abshire
9. 39 Donnie Harkins
10. 17 Dave Racer
11. 128 Tyson Gegg
DNS. 38 Chuck Crostic
DNS. 95 Jeremy Nash
Feature
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 55 Jason Keller
3. 62 Troy Medley
4. 50 Kent Nations
5. 96 Tim Hollerbach
6. 60 Dusty Knerrer
7. 19 Jimmy Cummins
8. 87 Gary Haynes
9. 36 Danny Ems
10. 23 Kevin Mosier
11. 28 Tom Smallwood
12. 147 Kyle Stolzer
13. 3 Scott Hensler
14. 57 Trey Harris
15. 105 Matt Hancock
16. 8 Steve Edgecombe
17. 11 Jeff Herzog
18. 35 Chris Sale
19. 67 Ronnie Bader
20. M16 Joe McCain
21. 54 Mike Dearing
22. 82 Pat Chalmers
23. M41 Steve Maisel
24. 32 Jerry Fleming
UMP/AARA Pro 4 Stocks – 21 Entries
Heat 1
1. 188 Gary Price
2. 83 Pat Brewer
3. 49 Nathan Portell
4. 61 Steve Richards
5. 19 Jessica Buechting
6. 2S Philip Stuart
7. 74 Brandon Hedgecoth
Heat 2
1. 10H Homer Mooney
2. 65 Gary Range
3. 93 Brian Spalding
4. 3 Tim Griffaw
5. 99 Chuck Johnson
6. 667 Jackie Buechting
7. 88 Michael Anderson DNS
Heat 3
1. 16 Jacob Buechting
2. 66 Jason Marquitz
3. 121 James Ray
4. 77 Ron Lyons
5. 17 Andrew Nausley
6. 78 Rick Barker
7. 50 Trey Harris
Feature
1. 10H Homer Mooney
2. 83 Pat Brewer
3. 16 Jacob Buechting
4. 49 Nathan Portell
5. 188 Gary Price
6. 3 Tim Griffaw
7. 65 Gary Range
8. 93 Brian Spalding
9. 66 Jason Marquitz
10. 61 Steve Richards
11. 77 Ron Lyons
12. 121 James Ray
13. 78 Rick Barker
14. 19 Jessica Buechting
15. 17 Andrew Nausley
16. 667 Jackie Buechting
17. 99 Chuck Johnson
DNS. 2 Phillip Stuart
DNS. 50 Trey Harris
DNS. 74 Brandon Hedgecoth
DNS. 88 Michael Anderson
Mod Lites – Dwarf Cars
Heat 1 Sorry, no names provided
1. 7 Jeff Asher
2. 69 Ron Wick
3. 32C
4. 47 Danny Haynes
5. 32
6. 13
7. 11
Heat 2
1. 8 John Leahy, Jr.
2. 40 Vince Conway
3. 23
4. 31
5. 33
6. 25
7. 13
Feature
1. 8 John Leahy, Jr.
2. 7 Jeff Asher
3. 69 Ron Wick
4. 40 Vince Conway
5. 47 Danny Haynes
6. 33
7. 32
