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Veteran Driver Randy Ainsworth Races to First-Ever ULMA Main Event Victory! By
Sam Stoecklin One of the most exciting things to see in racing is a veteran driver racing to victory lane for the first time. That is exactly what happened when Randy Ainsworth of Excelsior Springs, Missouri claimed his first-ever ULMA-sanctioned late model event during last weekend's race action at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS). Ainsworth, a former asphalt and IMCA dirt modified competitor, bested a field of 19 late models at CMS for the win and received a thunderous round of applause when he exited from his Quarles Family-sponsored #57a late model in victory lane. Randy has been the model of consistency at CMS this year where he races full time and is now third overall in the track late model point standings; he became the fourteenth different ULMA member driver to post a victory this year. In nine feature races at CMS this season, nine different drivers have raced their way into the winner's circle. In the overall ULMA standings, Ainsworth sits solidly in the top five. Chasing Ainsworth all the way to the checkered flag was Shawn Rayfield of O'Fallon, Missouri. Rayfield was making his second-ever CMS appearance and followed up his win the previous week with a runner-up finish just ahead of Steve Clancy in third this past week. Danny Monroe of Jamestown, Missouri, another patient and smooth driver like Ainsworth, posted his best ULMA finish this year with a nice run up to the fourth spot just ahead of Kevin Coyne in fifth. Bob King, Bob Test, A.L. Barbour, Dwight Niehoff, and Allen Perryman also posted top ten finishes. CMS is set for another Saturday night of competition this Saturday July 25th. For complete track information, start times, and standings visit www.centralmissourispeedway.net. A healthy car count of late models was on hand at Callaway Raceway last weekend with several ULMA members in attendance of drivers present. Jeff Schlup of California, MO came away with a second-place finish, the highest of member drivers racing that night. Schlup now as amassed an incredible ten top-three finishes this season in thirteen starts. His worst finish, and first finish that will be thrown out after he crosses the fifteen starts threshold is a nineteenth place run. Look for Schlup to rocket to the top of the standings in the coming weeks as he makes his way past fifteen total starts this season. Javan Payne, Robbie Test, Bob Test, and Kevin Kaiser also scored top ten runs last weekend. Callaway Raceway will host another week of competition this Friday, July 24th, according to the track schedule if the races are cancelled due to weather on Friday, the program will be run on Sunday, July 26th. For complete track information check out the track's Web site at www.callawayraceways.com. Butler Motor Speedway (BMS) was also in action last Friday night with a handful of ULMA members on hand. Jon Binning of Warrensburg, Missouri made his first-ever appearance at the track a good one by coming home with a nice fifth-place finish behind several super late models. At BMS, steel-block ULMA cars run with open late models on the tight confines of the track. John Farmer returned to ULMA-sanctioned racing and came away with a ninth place finish, just ahead of Dwight Niehoff in tenth. The speedway is scheduled for another action-packed night of racing this Friday, July 24th. For more information log onto the track's official Web site at www.butlermotorspeedway.webs.com. For race day information call (816) 738-9433, the track is located 45 minutes south of Kansas City off Hwy 71 in Butler, MO. Lucas Oil Speedway had a special event last weekend but is scheduled to return to its "countdown to the crown" weekly race action this Saturday, July 25th with all divisions, including sanctioned ULMA racing. At Lucas Oil Speedway, ULMA cars run with Show-Me late models for the weekly program. For additional information regarding the speedway point your Web browser to www.lucasoilspeedway.com. With Lucas returning to their regular program this weekend, all four ULMA-sanctioned tracks will be in action. Thirty-four possible points-earning races have been contested so far this season at the four tracks plus one special event at 24 Raceway in Moberly, Missouri. The overall ULMA standings did not change at the top as Kevin Kaiser of Cole Camp, Missouri maintains his advantage over previous leader Robbie Test of Jefferson City. Kaiser has thirteen top five finishes counted among his fifteen starts and his next worse throwaway finish is a 7th place. Robbie Test also has thirteen top five runs among fifteen starts and his next thruway finish is a sixth place run. The difference between the two drivers is the win category, in which Kaiser is credited with three to Test's one. Kevin Coyne sits securely in third position with ten top five finishes. Danny Lorton is fourth with nine top five finishes just ahead of Ainsworth in fifth place with eight top five runs. A total of eight drivers now have fifteen or more feature-race starts this season with several more set to cross the fifteen-start marker in the coming weeks as the points battle continues to tighten. For complete standings, a schedule of events, rules, board member contacts, and general association information visit www.ulmaracing.com. Official Sponsors: Imhoff Construction. Contingency Sponsors: Fast Shafts, Wineland Enterprises, Rod End Supply, Racingjunk.com, Bulldog Racing Engines, Hoosier Race Tires™, GFRracing.com, Flag 2 Flag Racing.com/Racing Cam System, Monroe Signs & Graphics, Kenny Johnson’s Race Replicas. Affiliate Sponsors: Photography by Shelly Payne, Ken Dake Attorney at Law, and High Fly'N Photos.
ULMA Point Standings as of 19 Jul 09
Upcoming ULMA-sanctioned events
Friday, July 24th Callaway Raceway (weekly race) Sunday rain date Butler Motor Speedway (weekly race)
Saturday, July 25th Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race) Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race)
Friday, July 31st Callaway Raceway (weekly race) Sunday rain date Butler Motor Speedway (weekly race)
Saturday, Aug 1st Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
Friday, August 7th Callaway Raceway (weekly race) Sunday rain date Butler Motor Speedway (weekly race)
Saturday, Aug 8th Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
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