Kevin Kaiser Claims 2009 ULMA Title!
By Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Media Relations
Warrensburg, MO
September 29, 2009

               In three years of existence, the battle for the United Late Model Association (ULMA) title had never been as close as it was heading into the final week of points earning for the 2009 season.  Two drivers were still in the hunt for the crown with two events remaining; however, when all was said and done Kevin Kaiser, an independent racer from Cole Camp, Missouri, edged out Jeff Schlup of California, Missouri and became the third different ULMA champion in as many years. 

               Kaiser's weekend got off to a rocky start in the quest for the title as he finished in 17th position at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Missouri while Schlup nailed down his association-leading seventh win of the season at the track.  With the title on the line, the battle ended in non-dramatic fashion as neither driver competed on the final points-earning night of the year at Warrensburg's Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) and Kaiser became the champion.  Kaiser finished the year with four wins (one from a double points event), nine seconds, and three third-place finishes among his fifteen best points-earning nights of the year.  Among Kaiser's wins were victories at three separate tracks, one in the early spring special event at 24 Raceway in Moberly, Missouri and one win each at CMS and Callaway Raceway.  Schlup capped the year off with seven wins (all at Callaway Raceway), four seconds, three thirds, and one fifth-place finish among his fifteen best finishes.  Hot off the heels of his $1,700 win at CMS, Warrensburg driver Jon Binning closed the year out in fine fashion with his fifth overall victory of the year at CMS to finish a strong third in the overall standings; Binning also posted two seconds, two thirds, two fifths, three sixths, and two seventh-place finishes for his fifteen best performances of the year. 

               The 2009 Rookie of the Year for ULMA is Robbie Test of Jefferson City, Missouri who posted a total of 35 starts throughout the year, more than any other driver.  Among Test's fifteen best finishes were one win, two seconds, four thirds, five fourths, and three fifth-place finishes with his lone winning coming at CMS.  Excelsior Springs, Missouri driver Randy Ainsworth rounded out the top five for the year, to his credit Ainsworth picked up a win at CMS and also recorded four seconds, one third, one fourth, five fifths, two sixths, and three seventh-place finishes during the year among his fifteen best points-earning nights.  Kevin Coyne of Kingsville, Missouri was sixth with one win, followed by Bob Test of Jefferson City, Missouri in seventh with one win; Steve Clancy of Odessa, Missouri was eighth with two wins.  Danny Lorton had a best finish of third on the year to finish ninth, one spot ahead of promising up-and-coming driver Dwight Niehoff of Lockwood, Missouri in tenth, whose best finish of the year was a second at CMS. 

               All total, 55 different drivers earned points throughout the season in 59 separate points-earning events.  There were seventeen winners during the 2009 season, including Schlup (7), Binning (5), Kaiser (4), J.D. Hubert (4), Evan Hubert (3), Clancy (2), Bob King (2), and David Barker, Larry Clawson Jr., Bob Test, Javan Payne, Robbie Test, Matt Menzie, Shawn Rayfield, Randy Ainsworth, Kevin Coyne, and Tommy Cordray with one win each.  Callaway Raceway and CMS each hosted 16 races, Butler Motor Speedway (BMS) hosted 15 races, and Lucas Oil Speedway hosted 10 races, with 24 Raceway and Valley Speedway each hosting one points-earning race.  Special double-points events were held at 24 Raceway and BMS during the 2009 season. 

               It was a special year for the champion as he celebrated ten years of Kevin Kaiser Motorsports in conjunction with INCE Race Cars.  Kaiser donated 10 percent of his 2009 winnings to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital for children with cancer as well as Benton County & Pettis County Hospices by involving race fans who were able to sign his car's rear deck lid and the top of the car for a $5 donation with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to his charitable causes.  Over $1,200 was raised via the fan's autograph fundraiser.  Kaiser drove the INCE house car in a 2009 on his way to the title.  Kaiser Motorsports sponsors for the year included Yeager's Cycles Sales-Harley Davidson - Sedalia, CRS - Certified Repair Service - Sedalia, Borman Oil - Cole Camp, Rick's Welding & Machine - Versailles, Auto Tech - Gravois Mills, Durham Race Engines - Thomasville, NC, CV Products - Thomasville, NC, Dale's Towing - Sedalia, Phoenix Manufacturing - Cole Camp, T. J. Royer, Citizens Farmer's Bank - Cole Camp, INCE Race Cars - Minden, Nebraska, Midland Printing - Sedalia, Best Carpet Care - Sedalia

Classic Jewelry - Sedalia, Jim's Tire Service - Sedalia, and Signs By Wild Bill - Lone Jack.   

               Kaiser will be crowned champion at the end-of-year Championship Banquet for the association, which will take place on Saturday, October 17th in California, Missouri at Centennial Hall, on the Moniteau County Fairgrounds at 610 E. South Street.  RSVP deadline for the banquet is October 5th so get your RSVP form in today!  The top ten drivers will be recognized at the banquet.  ULMA wishes to thank the following businesses for contributing to the end-of-year banquet:  W-K Chevrolet of Sedalia, Jim's Tire Service of Sedalia, Lucas Oil Speedway, and Central Missouri Speedway.  A banquet attendance form is at the end of this press release for anyone wishing to attend, simply print out the RSVP form and return to the listed address for your banquet tickets. 

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 wishes to thank its weekly affiliated tracks during the 2009 season:

Central Missouri Speedway, Warrensburg, Missouri:  www.centralmissourispeedway.net

Callaway Raceway, Fulton Missouiri:  www.callawayraceways.com

Butler Motor Speedway, Butler, Missouri:  www.butlermotorspeedway.webs.com

Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Missouri:  www.lucasoilspeedway.com

In addition ULMA thanks 24 Raceway in Moberly, Missouri for hosting the Spring Challenge earlier in the year; Visit 24 Raceway online at www.24racewayinmoberly.com and Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri.  For complete standings, rules, board member contact information, and general association information visit www.ulmaracing.com.