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Kevin Kaiser, Jeff Schlup, and
Robbie Test, Lead ULMA Standings in Final Stretch! There is nothing quite as exciting as a series championship that goes down to the wire in determining the champion. From the looks of things heading into the final stretch, the 2009 United Late Model Association (ULMA) championship will be in question until the final checkered flag falls. The three drivers sitting atop the standings heading into this weekend's action are all proven winners and it is anyone's guess which one will come away as the champion. Since the season began in late April, drivers have competed in a total of 48 points-earning events. There are fifteen additional points-earning races scheduled through the 19th of September, the final night to earn points towards this year's championship. Last Friday evening, the drivers in first and second position in the overall standings had a fierce battle for the win at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Missouri. Kevin Kaiser did all he could to keep the driver with the most ULMA wins at bay but in the end it was Jeff Schlup who came away with his association-leading sixth victory of the year, and sixth win at Callaway Raceway. Schlup's six wins have come in a total of 16 starts for the season, most of which are at the Fulton track. Kaiser posted a second place finish; however, Schlup gained 32 points in the process by posting a win and discarding one of his early-season lower-tier finishes. The ULMA championship is determined by the fifteen best finishes posted throughout the year. Ironically, the driver third in the standings, Robbie Test, also was third at the finish of last week's feature event at Callaway. Danny Lorton was the only additional ULMA driver to post a top-tier finish by coming away fifth at the line. There were eight ULMA members present among 22 total cars entered; ULMA drivers claimed four of the top five finishes at the conclusion of the main event. Callaway Raceway will again welcome drivers for another night of racing action in all classes on Friday night, August 21st. For complete details regarding the raceway log onto the track's official Web site at www.callawayraceways.com. Butler Motor Speedway (BMS) also held races last weekend. The track is the southern-most sanctioned ULMA track in the hunt for the championship and offers member drivers in the KC metro area to earn points on Friday nights. Four member drivers were present among 11 drivers on hand with Jon Binning adding another strong finish to his season. Binning came away with a third-place run and vaulted into the top ten in the point standings with fourteen total starts for the year. The Warrensburg, Missouri driver will be looking for additional starts to the year as he tries to climb his way into the championship hunt, last year Binning finished third when the season concluded and had registered a total of twenty-four starts throughout the year. Once Binning starts discarding finishes for the year, look for him to climb the standings as he has posted three wins and several top-five runs so far this season. Dwight Niehoff registered yet another start for the season and came away with a solid sixth-place finish; Mark Selsor also scored a top-ten run and came away in ninth. BMS opens its gates again on Friday night, August 21st for racing in all divisions. For more information log onto www.butlermotorspeedway.webs.com or on race day call (816) 738-9433. Both Saturday night-sanctioned tracks were rained out just as things were getting underway last weekend. Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri and Warrensburg's own Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) were hit by late-afternoon rain showers cancelling the night's action. Lucas Oil Speedway is hosting a special event this coming weekend and taking a break from their regular weekly schedule. The "Countdown to the Crown" weekly championship will resume on Saturday, August 29th. The speedway's remaining schedule and general track information is readily available at www.lucasoilspeedway.com. In just a couple of weeks at CMS, drivers will have the opportunity to race their way into victory lane for a $1,500-to-win payday as the track will hold its annual late model special on Friday, September 4th; the event will count towards the ULMA championship. Drivers may save $25 by pre-registering for the event by Saturday, August 29th and have the option of mailing in their entries or turning them in at the track by the deadline. Same night entries are available at the track for the event for drivers unable to pre-register. The entry fee for pre-registering is $50 and includes the driver's Friday night pit pass and race entry; there is no track registration for September 4th. Post-deadline and same night entries are $75 per driver and include race entry and driver's pit pass. Entry forms are accessible and printable from the track's official Web site at www.centralmissourispeedway.net. CMS will be in action this Saturday for kid's night at the races; several ULMA drivers have donated items for the kids' events, which includes free drawings and foot races for kids in attendance 12 years and under on the speedway. For complete standings, the schedule of events, rules, board member contact information, and general association information visit www.ulmaracing.com. ULMA is always looking for more support for their drivers, if you are a business looking to get involved in motorsports contact us at your convenience via our Web site. We are grateful for those businesses that support our form of late model racing! 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 Top 15 Point Standings as of 16 Aug 09
Upcoming ULMA-sanctioned points-earning events
Friday, August 21st Callaway Raceway (weekly race) Sunday rain date Butler Motor Speedway (weekly race)
Saturday, August 22nd Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
Friday, August 28th Callaway Raceway (weekly race) Sunday rain date Butler Motor Speedway (weekly race)
Saturday, Aug 29th Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race) Central Missouri Speedway (weekly race)
Friday, Sept 4th Callaway Raceway (weekly race) Track Points end, Sunday rain date Central Missouri Speedway: Track Special $1,500 to winButler Motor Speedway (weekly race)
Saturday, Sept 5th Lucas Oil Speedway (weekly race)
Friday, Sept 11th Callaway Raceway (regular classes, Track Awards ceremony, last night of races) Butler Motor Speedway (weekly race, track points end)
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