Mike Ryun Vaults to Second in Standings as Brett Rollert Scores Win Number Three in ULMA Action! By Sam Stoecklin ULMA Media Relations Warrensburg, MO August 27, 2008 Another week of competition is now in the history books as the chase continues for the second-ever ULMA title and things have heated up near the top of the overall standings. With his second win of the season, Mike Ryun vaulted into second place behind current point’s leader Jason Bodenhamer. Ryun’s win came at Valley Speedway, where he is also the current track point’s leader. The level of competition seen in ULMA action in recent weeks is no surprise to anyone that has followed the second-year association and its drivers. Clearly, the bar has been raised when it comes to wheeling a late model around the tracks within the greater Kansas City area and the sheer determination and dedication by drivers and fans alike in preserving weekly late model racing is testimony to why ULMA was formed in the first place. Late models are visibly unique looking cars and provide fans in the stands as well as new fans to dirt racing an exciting alternative to the doldrums of watching the same looking cars compete week in and week out at various tracks. For a late model fan, there is no better rush than witnessing a strong field of late models make their way around a racetrack and ULMA hopes to provide this unique experience for old and new fans for many years to come. Mike Ryun’s win at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri did not come easy as he kept some tough competitors at bay for the win. Heat race winners included Ryun, Bryon Allison, and Bob King to determine the starting grid for the main event. At the drop of the green flag for the 20-lap main, Ryun and Allison paced the front of the field with fourth-starting Brett Rollert feeling out the track searching for the right groove to make his way to the front. As Ryun quickly found his groove around the track, the best battle was between Allison and Rollert with Steve Clancy, King and James Rutledge close behind. The Rollert/Allison battle lasted for several laps before Rollert took to his familiar high-side lane and made the pass for second. Clancy and King both made their way around Rutledge for position to move into the top five by race end. As the race came to a close Ryun was too strong for the rest of the field and raced his way to his second-ever ULMA sanctioned win, this time ahead of Rollert, Allison, Clancy, King and Rutledge. Action continues this Friday, August 29th at the speedway for another weekly race program. After this weekend, the remaining ULMA dates at Valley Speedway include September 5th and 12th, with the event on the 12th actually serving as the final night ULMA points will be awarded for 2008. The ULMA Board of Directors is in talks with Dennis Shrout at Valley Speedway for a special event on Saturday, September 13th. If you would like to see ULMA late models and a support class at the speedway on the 13th please contact Mr. Shrout or talk to him at the racetrack to show your support. Race sponsors are needed to help pull this event off; potential sponsors may contact the association. For more information on Valley Speedway, visit the track’s official Web site at www.valleyspeedway.com. Another strong field of 18 late models raced their way around the high banks of Warrensburg’s Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) last Saturday night. Just like the night before at Valley, it took three heat races to sort out the starting grid for the main event. Heat-race winners included Clancy, Rollert, and Ryun with Clancy and Rollert pacing the early laps once the 15-lap main event began. The two previous CMS feature-race winners ran strong in a classic battle for the win. Initially Clancy looked to have the field covered utilizing the low lane, that is until once again Rollert figured out the high line, drive around Clancy, and sail on to claim his second win of the year at the track, and third overall ULMA victory. Clancy held on to second position with Ryun close behind in third at the checkers. Chad Clark made a rare start this year and claimed the fourth spot just ahead of Bob King and Brett Wood to round out the top six. Counting this weekend, there are two more nights of ULMA action at CMS, which wraps up its season on Saturday, September 6th. The future at CMS is uncertain heading into the 2009 season as promoters Earl and Susan Walls have placed the track up for sale and will not return as promoters next year. Having a look at the ULMA driver’s roster reveals that well over half of the members reside within one hour’s driving distance of the track and that it would be a wise decision by any new promoter to keep the late models on as one of the track’s competing divisions. For complete CMS race information visit www.centralmissourispeedway.net. Lucas Oil Speedway, the association’s other affiliated Saturday night track, did not compete ULMA late models last week but is set to swing its doors open once again this weekend. The track has two more nights of competition counting this Saturday scheduled for the regular race season with the season set to wind down on Saturday, September 6th for regular weekly racing. The Wheatland, Missouri track will host the second-annual Mid-Missouri ULMA Championships later this year on Saturday, October 4th. Although the point’s champion will be decided well before this event, a large field of cars is expected to compete. Look for more information to be released shortly regarding this season-ending event. Early plans include presenting ULMA awards and trophy presentations at the track during the intermission break the night of the event. Check out the track online at www.lucasoilspeedway.com. In the point’s battle, Jason Bodenhamer still holds a comfortable lead despite rarely competing in ULMA competition over the last few weeks. His nine series wins have him firmly in command with only seven points-earning races remaining (Valley 3, CMS 2, and Lucas 2). Mike Ryun surges to second overall after two top three finishes last weekend but the driver who has the best shot at taking the crown away from Jason Bodenhamer, based on the ULMA title being decided by the best overall 15 finishes is Jon Binning. Although Binning slips to third this week, if he can race his way to the front over the final few events he has a chance at moving into the lead, pending Bodenhamer does not throw out any previous finishes. Binning needs to finish seventh or better to gain points, Bodenhamer needs to finish fourth or better to keep Binning behind. The real battles will be throughout the rest of the top ten. Behind the top three of Bodenhamer, Ryun, and Binning, there is a tight battle between fourth, fifth, and sixth positions between Rutledge, Allison, and Clancy. Brett Wood and Jake Williams have a heated battle going for seventh and eighth as do Randy Ainsworth, David Angell, David Barker, and Brett Rollert for ninth through twelfth. There are plenty of opportunities for drivers who are on the verge of obtaining 15 starts to get to that threshold in the coming weeks. We will see who will step up to the plate and try to improve their position in the final standings as the weeks click off. For more information on the United Late Model Association log onto www.ulmaracing.com, here, you will find a complete schedule of events at all three affiliated tracks, special event information, point standings, rules, and business information. E-mail ULMA at unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com. When visiting our great sponsors please thank them for supporting local dirt-track racing! Title Sponsor: Advantage Metals Recycling LLC (Formerly Galamba Group), visit www.galambagroup.com, e-mail Advantage Metals Recycling at info@advantagerecycling.com or get the ‘Advantage’ by calling 1-866-527-4733. Official Sponsors: King’s Small Engine Repair LLC, Imhoff Construction. Contingency Sponsors: RacingJunk.com, IMPACT Racing, FastShafts, Wineland Enterprises, Mike Crump Racing & Supply, J&T Racing Supply, Monroe’s Signs & Graphics, Bodee’s Race Bodies, Rod End Supply, and Kenny Johnson’s Race Replicas. Affiliate Sponsors: Photography by Shelly Payne, Nevels Sign Graphics, and Ken Dake Attorney at Law. Remaining ULMA Schedule at a Glance August 29: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race) August 30: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race) September 5: Friday-Valley Speedway (weekly race) September 6: Saturday-Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) - Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race) Note: the Lucas and CMS events on Saturday, September 6th are the final weekly events at both tracks. September 12: Friday-Valley Speedway (final weekly race at Valley / ULMA points end) October 4: Saturday-Second-Annual Mid-Missouri ULMA Late Model Championships with awards presented during intermission and an after-race celebration at the conclusion of the night. Watch for more details about this event soon! Complete point standings at www.ulmaracing.com ULMA Points Top 15 Point Standings POS CAR # NAME POINTS Starts 1st 1X Jason Bodenhamer 1474 20 2nd 51M Mike Ryun (R) 1434 21 3rd 65 Jon Binning 1432 23 4th 1 James Rutledge 1418 24 5th 1A Bryon Allison 1404 16 6th 12C Steve Clancy 1404 16 7th 7 Brett Wood 1378 27 8th 72W Jake Williams (R) 1342 18 9th 27 David Angell 1274 15 10th 57A Randy Ainsworth (R) 1270 18 11th 88B David Barker 1148 14 12th 93R Brett A. Rollert 1141 13 13th 3P Allen Perryman 1014 12 14th 40 Kevin Kaiser 1000 11 15th 18 Rylan Long 932 10 Rookie of the Year Standings POS CAR # NAME Starts POINTS 1st 51M Mike Ryun (R) 21 1434 2nd 72W Jake Williams (R) 18 1342 3rd 57A Randy Ainsworth (R) 18 1270 4th 0X Jason Sivils (R) 9 642 5th 65D Dan Eckhoff (R) 8 549