While stubborn showers and a sketchy forecast cancelled racing across the state of Missouri on Friday, we took a chance and ventured south to the Highland, Illinois Speedway for the make up UMP Summernationals late model and Summit modified event originally scheduled for July 10. The headline race would feature a $10,000 top prize to the winner of the late model feature, while the mods would compete for a $2,000 check.
Bobby Pierce came into the weekend, which would move across the Mississippi River to the I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri for a Saturday make up event, as the late model points leader. Nick Hoffman, who has completely dominated the modified tour to this point, winning all but one race, would not be in action, having temporarily taken over driving duties in the Scott Bloomquist #0 late model.
UMP ProMods and Street Stocks would fill out the card.
Time trials kicked off the proceedings. Rodney Standerfer was quickest among the twenty three modifieds with a lap of 13.926, one of only two to break the fourteen second mark. Late models were paced by one of the first two cars out, track regular Blaze Burwell , who circled the quarter mile at 13.203 seconds as the times for the most part slowed as qualifying continued for the twenty nine entrants.
Areas of mud in the infield were witness to the heavy rains the track had recieved, and track workers spent some time after qualifying trying to smooth the bumps out of the racing surface. Finally the first heat hit the track about 8:00 P.M. In typical UMP "time 'em and start 'em straight up," all three late model ten lappers were won from the pole position. Burwell topped his row one mate Tanner English, Bobby Pierce defeated the outside pole sitter Brandon Sheppard, and Garrett Alberson grabbed heat three followed by fourth starting Shannon Babb. The top five from each heat would transfer to the fifty lap feature straight up behind the heat winners who would draw amongst themselves for the top three positions.
Heat race action for the other classes was followed by a late model consy, with local drivers Todd Rehg, Dan Jacober, and Paul Kuper moving to the main event. Four provisionals would fill out the twenty two car starting field.
A rather lengthy intermission followed while track track crew again worked the choppy surface.
Late models would run first, and there was drama before the green flag even waved. Ninth starting Todd Tischauser apparently lost a wheel as the cars prepared for the parade lap. He was allowed to make repairs, but then made to go to the back of the field. Meanwhile, Brandon Lance ducked to the infield work area ahead of the green, but came back to tag the tail following a caution as lap one was scored. Pierce had redrawn the pole, and he paced Alberson and English on the opening circuit. That early yellow involved track regulars Daryn Klein, Michael Kloos, and Jacober, with only Jacober able to continue. Sixth starting Babb powered to third on the Delaware style restart. While the leaders hugged the low line around the tire barrier, fifth starting Sheppard began searching for a bite one lane higher while being scored in fourth. Pierce opened a commanding lead, catching slower traffic about lap ten. All eyes were now on Babb and Sheppard, as the two veterans battled for third. Around lap fifteen Sheppard secured the position, then began working his higher line chasing Alberson for second. The yellow waved for the second time about lap twenty ( Highland could use a scoreboard or a stronger P.A.!) Sheppard charged to second on the restart and was now hounding the leader. As the crossed flags signaled the halfway mark, the top two had pulled away, running nose to tail and side by side, bouncing through the corners. Five more laps, and Pierce caught a rut exiting turn two, allowing Sheppard to slip around on the inside line. Before the lap was scored, however, the caution came out giving the lead back to Pierce, much to the dismay of many in the packed grandstands. Pierce survived another yellow for Mitch McGrath, who spun while running fifth. Ashton Winger now entered the conversation, breaking into the top five after starting fifteenth. Back under green, they battled side by side, with Brandon holding a slight edge past the flag stand on lap thirty six. Pierce had regained the spot as the yellow came out again, but this time Lady Luck was with B Shepp, who restarted out front. Pierce stayed close for one more lap before he temporarily lost the handle in turn four. He was able to recover in time to hold second, but Sheppard was able to open a sizable lead as a result. The race then stayed green until the end, with Sheppard taking a popular win in his family owned #B5. Pierce was runner up, followed by English. Alberson had faded out of the top five, but rebounded to grab fourth in front of Winger. Babb finished where he started in sixth, besting Joe Godsey, Jason Feger, Burwell, and tenth starting Chad Zobrist.
While three features remained on the card, it was now on the wrong side of 10:30, so we headed out for the long distance walk to the parking area. (A trip to Highland is not for the feint of heart!) Checking results on the three hour trip home, Mike Harrison took the modified money from the pole over fourth starting Standerfer. First heat winner Owen Steinkoenig topped the ProMods from outside row one, and Gary Walker turned a pole start into a street stock win.
While everyone will surely want to check all the nuts and bolts after battling on a track with "character," the late model feature was very entertaining and kept the conversation going long after the checkers waved!
At this time, our next adventure is scheduled to be the rescheduled SLMR east series race at the C J Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa on Thursday, August 19. Hope to see you there!
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