Pevely, MO (June 3, 2006) Mother Nature did her best to put a damper on the Tri-Track Challenge at I-55 Raceway, as persistant showers interupted qualifying three separate times. The final shower turned into a downpour that lasted 20 minutes and caused a hour and half delay as track crews reworked the track. The track crews did an excellent job getting the track back in shape as it was smooth and very fast the rest of the night.
Thirty-six UMP Late Models signed in to compete for the $10,000 to win Tri-Track Challenge event at I-55 Raceway. Highland, IL's Randy Korte led all qualifiers as he set fast time with a lap of 13.287 second. Billy Moyer claimed the first qualifying heat race with Tim Ratajczyk, Brian Shirley and Ed Dixon also transferring to the main event from the first heat. The second heat went to Steve Sheppard over Darren Miller, Jimmy Owens and Jeff Johns. The third heat was taken by Randy Korte over Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars and Dennis Erb. The fourth and final heat win went to Joe Morris over Mark Voigt, Billy Faust and Danny Haynes. Brian Birkhofer and Terry Phillips took the wins in the two semi-feature events.
The first and second place drivers from each heat race came out on the track at the start of the main event and each picked up a frisbee off the track that had the numbers one through eight on them which would decide how the top eight cars would line up for the main event. Randy Korte drew the number one starting spot with the first leg winner of the Tri-Track Challenge Joe Morris picking the outside front row starting spot.
Randy Korte took command of the event at the drop of the green flag. The lightning fast surface produced constant two and three wide racing throughout the entire field. Billy Moyer quickly moved up from his seventh place starting position and found himself in second place and chasing down Korte after just two laps. The race went green for the first twenty-two laps of the event as Korte set a blinding pace and worked lapped traffic three wide as he held Moyer off. Shannon Babb began his charge from his sixth place starting spot and found himself in the third spot on lap fifteen and he began running down Moyer.
After the restart on lap twenty-two, Korte opened up a comfortable lead over Moyer as Babb pressured Moyer for the second spot. Babb would soon take the spot from Moyer and move in on Korte. Korte worked the lapped traffic flawlessly and continued to hold a small lead over Babb until the final caution flew on lap thirty-six. With just four laps remaining on the restart, Korte once again bolted out to the lead. Babb moved in with just two laps remaining. Babb got along side Korte in turn two on lap thirty-eight but Korte powered back ahead down the back stretch. Babb once again moved in on Korte going into turn one on the final lap, but stumbled in turn two as his car developed a bad push and Korte powered away to take the win. Babb crossed the line in second place with Moyer taking third. Darren Miller moved up from the eight spot to claim the fourth finishing spot and Brian Shirley rounded out the top five.
Bobby Bittle continued his strong season as he picked up the win in the UMP Modified division. Bittle took the lead on lap three as he moved past Scott Weber. Jerry Grither moved up through the field and battled with Weber for the second spot. Grither eventually took over the second position and was able to move along side Bittle for the lead. But Bittle adjusted his line around the track and held him off for the win. Weber, who was using the very top of the track and the deep cushion moved back past Grither on the final lap to claim the second position. Ricky Horton followed Grither across the line and took the fourth spot with Ray Wagner completing the top five.
Troy Naeger won his fifth UMP Sportsman feature event of the season at I-55 Raceway. With only one caution on lap two, Naeger was able to pull away to a convincing win. Paul Bauman took the second position with Chuck Adams coming home third. Kent Nations and Jeff LeBaube rounded out the top five.
UMP Late Models – 36 Entries
Qualifying
Number Driver Time
0 Randy Korte 13.287
28 Dennis Erb 13.348
21 Billy Moyer 13.427
18 Shannon Babb 13.516
28 Jimmy Mars 13.618
83 Joe Morris 13.64
27 Rodney Melvin 13.668
112 Tim Ratajczyk 13.68
32D Darrin Miller 13.749
88 Terry Babb 13.753
5S Steve Sheppard 13.754
15 Brian Birkhofer 13.796
3S Brian Shirley 13.796
47 Danny Haynes 13.835
60 Ed Dixon 13.857
67 Mark Oller 13.875
9 Billy Drake 13.899
20 Jimmy Owens 13.936
51 Steve Shive 13.946
1A Justin Allgaire 13.983
6K Michael Kloos 13.984
95 Jeff Johns 14.01
78 Paul Belken 14.07
33 Tim Manville 14.113
82 Billy Laycock 14.147
11Z Brian Collins 14.15
B12 Kevin Weaver 14.157
13 Dwayne Keifer 14.181
32M Danny Maguire 14.257
21 Billy Moyer Jr. 14.26
7 Rich Lawson 14.266
1 Ron McQuerry 14.4
69 Mark Hunter 14.409
47 Danny Haynes 14.481
75 Terry Phillips 14.549
30 Mark Voigt 14.672
26 Billy Faust 15.348
Heat 1 Top 4 advance
1. 21 Billy Moyer
2. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
3. 3S Brian Shirley
4. 60 Ed Dixon
5. 15B Brian Birkhofer
6. 6K Michael Kloos
7. 7 Rich Lawson
8. 13 Dwayne Keifer
9. 9 Billy Drake
Heat 2 Top 4 advance
1. 5S Steve Sheppard
2. 32 Darren Miller
3. 20 Jimmy Owens
4. 95 Jeff Johns
5. 11Z Brian Collins
6. 51 Steve Shive
7. 82 Billy Laycock
8. 21J Billy Moyer Jr.
9. 78 Paul Belken
Heat 3 Top 4 advance
1. 00 Randy Korte
2. 18 Shannon Babb
3. 28 Jimmy Mars
4. 28 Dennis Erb
5. 27 Rodney Melvin
6. B12 Kevin Weaver
7. 67 Mark Oller
8. 1A Justin Allgaire
9. 32M Danny Maguire
Heat 4 Top 4 advance
1. 83 Joe Morris
2. 30 Mark Voigt
3. 26 Billy Faust
4. 47 Danny Haynes
5. 75 Terry Phillips
6. 33 Tim Manville
7. 1 Ron McQuerry
8. 88 Terry Babb
9. 69 Mark Hunter
Semi 1 Top 4 advance
1. 15 Brian Birkhofer
2. 11Z Brian Collins
3. 6K Michael Kloos
4. 51 Steve Shive
5. 82 Billy Laycock
6. 7 Rich Lawson
7. 78 Paul Belken
8. 21J Billy Moyer Jr.
9. 13 Dewayne Kiefer
DNS. 9 Billy Drake
Semi 2 Top 4 advance
1. 75 Terry Phillips
2. 27 Rodney Melvin
3. B12 Kevin Weaver
4. 33 Tim Manville
5. 1A Justin Allgaire
6. 67 Mark Oller
7. 69 Mark Hunter
8. 1 Ron McQuerry
9. 32M Danny Maguire
10. 88 Terry Babb
Feature
1. 00 Randy Korte (1)
2. 18 Shannon Babb (6)
3. 21 Billy Moyer (7)
4. 32 Darren Miller (8)
5. 3S Brian Shirley (9)
6. 5S Steve Sheppard (5)
7. 28 Jimmy Mars (11)
8. 83 Joe Morris (2)
9. 15 Brian Birkhofer (17)
10. 26 Billy Faust (12)
11. 60 Ed Dixon (13)
12. 28 Dennis Erb (15)
13. 75 Terry Phillips (18)
14. 11Z Bryan Collins (19)
15. 67 Mark Oller (25)
16. 33 Tim Manville (24)
17. 30 Mark Voigt (3) DNF
18. 20 Jimmy Owens (10) DNF
19. 47 Danny Haynes (16) DNF
20. 6K Michael Kloos (21) DNF
21. B12 Kevin Weaver (22) DNF
22. 51 Steve Shive (23) DNF
23. 112 Tim Ratajczyk (4) DNF
24. 27 Rodney Melvin (20) DNF
25. 95 Jeff Johns (14) DNF
UMP Modifieds – 30 Entries
Heat 1
1. 1W Ray Walsh
2.166 Brian Worley
3.41 Matt Goulden
4.18 Bobby Dauderman
5.7 Mark Miner
6.12 Tom Ratajczyk
7.20Z Dan Zander
8.18 Jake Seets
9.C4 Chris Soutia
10.14 Rick Conoyer
Heat 2
1. 15 Jerry Grither
2. C6 Ray Wagner
3. 89 Bobby Bittle
4. 16 Jon Paul Reando
5. 31 Ricky Horton
6. 9W Doug Wood
7. 45M Eric Mabery
8. 15 Danny Reisinger
9. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
10. 31 Mitch Parmeley
Heat 3
1. 4J Scott Weber
2. 17 Brad Thurston
3. 99 Robby Helms
4. 59 Rich Whaley
5. 88 Joe Puricelli
6. 3R Leon Rakers
7. 2F Todd Ferber
8. 20 Dan Zander
9. 72 Jeremy Roth
10. 59 Ryan Gegg
Dash
1. C6 Ray Wagner
2. 4J Scott Weber
3. 89 Bobby Bittle
4. 15 Jerry Grither
5. 166 Brian Worley
6. 59 Rich Whaley
7. 41 Matt Goulden
8. 17 Brad Thurston
9. 1W Ray Walsh
Semi Top 6 advance
1. 2F Todd Ferber
2. 18 Jake Seets
3. 14 Rick Conoyer
4. 20Z Dan Zander
5. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
6. 31 Mitch Parmeley
7. 20M Brad Mckinnon
8. 72 Jeremy Roth
9. 15 Danny Resinger
DNS. C4 Chris Soutiea
DNS. 45M Eric Mabery
DNS. 59G Ryan Gegg
Feature
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 4J Scott Weber
3. 15 Jerry Grither
4. 31 Ricky Horton
5. C6 Ray Wagner
6. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
7. 166 Brian Worley
8. 7M Mark Miner
9. 18D Bobby Dauderman
10. 1W Ray Walsh
11. 3R Leon Rakers
12. 14 Rick Conoyer
13. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
14. 20Z Dan Zander
15. 17 Brad Thurston
16. 2F Todd Ferber
17. 41G Matt Goulden
18. 16 Jon Paul Reando
19. 31P Mitch Parmeley
20. 9W Doug Wood
21. 59 Rich Whaley
22. 18S Jake Seets
23. 99R Robby Helms
24. 88 Joe Puricelli
AARA Sportsman – 23 Entries
Heat 1
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 50 Kent Nations
3. 97 John Goodson
4. 29 Jeff LaBaube
5. 67 Ronnie Bader
6. 31 Brian Shuberg
7. 28 Tom Smallwood
8. 96 Tim Hollerbach
Heat 2
1. 24 Paul Bauman
2. 30 Mike Nicholson
3. 99 Chuck Adams
4. 147 Kyle Stolzer
5. 17H Dave Heimos
6. 28 Tyson Gegg
7. 7 Scott Honer
8. 93 Jeff Honea
Heat 3
1. 19 Jimmy Cummins
2. 32 Jerry Fleming
3. 62 Troy Medley
4. 55 Jason Keller
5. 811 Wade Sutter
6. 112 Jason Davinroy
7. 105 Matt Hancock DNS
Dash
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 24 Paul Bauman
3. 32 Jerry Fleming
4. 50 Kent Nations
5. 99 Chuck Adams
6. 19 Jimmy Cummins
7. 30 Mike Nicholson
8. 62 Troy Medley
9. 97 John Goodson
Feature
1. 12 Troy Naeger
2. 24 Paul Bauman
3. 99 Chuck Adams
4. 50 Kent Nations
5. 29 Jeff LaBaube
6. 32 Jerry Fleming
7. 30 Mike Nicholson
8. 19 Jimmy Cummins
9. 97 John Goodson
10. 62 Troy Medley
11. 67 Ronnie Bader
12. 155 Jason Keller
13. 811 Wade Sutter
14. 147 Kyle Stolzer
15. 28 Tom Smallwood
16. 31 Brian Shubirg
17. 17H Dave Heimos
18. 128 Tyson Gegg
19. 7 Scott Honer
20. 112 Jason Davinroy
21. 105 Matt Hancock
DNS. 93 Jeff Honea
DNS. 96 Tim Hollerbach
