ERB WINS IN TRI-STATE TRAFFIC
>
> By Eldon Butcher
>
> Haubstadt, IN - June 15, 2008. Sunday night Tri-State Speedway
> hosted the 20th annual UMP Dirt Car Racing Summer Nationals tour.
> Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL, took the victory after an
> exciting race to the finish line in the late model feature. As the
> field rounded turn two on the 40th and final lap Erb managed to pull
> ahead of race leader Randy Korte. The battle had already brought the
> crowd to its feet in anticipation of a close finish. Erb held on for
> the victory and became the third different winner in the three nights
> of racing so far this season in the summer series.
> Dennis Erb Jr. was last year’s UMP National Champion and the
> 2007 Summer Nationals Champion. Randy Korte of Highland, IL, won
> last year’s UMP Summer Nationals race at Haubstadt. Korte had just
> returned to action last weekend after spending the early season on
> the injured list. The event lived up to every expectation to become
> a battle of the mighty with these two favorites leading the way!
> Randy Korte took the lead from pole sitter Billy Moyer on the
> first lap. Erb started ninth in the line-up and began the move up
> overtaking Moyer for second on the 27th lap. From that point on Erb
> kept digging using the bottom of the track down against the tire
> markers as Korte pushed the cushion up against the walls surrounding
> the turns. Inch by inch the race tightened. Erb described his race
> long effort. “I plugged away at the bottom gaining an inch at a time
> until we reached lapped traffic. The track conditions here were
> excellent for racing which allowed us to run 2 wide.” The track
> proved certainly proved to be race worthy despite a brief shower
> that passed over the speedway before the features
> Finishing behind Erb and Korte were Brian Shirley, Billy Moyer,
> and Don O’Neal. Shirley won the B-Main to earn a 13th starting
> position. The four heats sent three drivers each into the A-Main.
> Michael Kloos, Don O’Neal, Randy Korte, and Billy Moyer won those.
> Thirty-nine late model drivers qualified for the show. Will Vaught
> won the C-Main. Former track champion Kevin Claycomb finished eighth
> in the feature with his return to the track after resuming his late
> model driving career this season.
> The racing was not without incidents. Among the less fortunate
> was driver Matt Weidner who turned his car over in an accident in the
> fourth heat race. The car came to rest upside down near the exit of
> the track entering turn one.
> In UMP Open Wheel Modified action Randle Sweeney battled with
> Everett Bradham all 25 laps of the feature to take the victory. The
> two started on the front row and traded the lead several times.
> Sweeney, of Clifty, KY, cited good fortune at the victory
> ceremony. “We have been fortunate. Things have been staying
> together this season.” Sweeney came into the event as the UMP
> National Points leader. The win was his “15th or 16th” of the season
> in UMP competition. Sweeney narrowed his focus, “That was fun racing
> right there. And that is what it is all about!”
> Finishing behind the two modified drivers and making up the top
> five were Kent Robinson, Zack Fair, and Brandon Dierlam. Heat race
> victories were the work of Sweeney, Bradham, John Demoss, and Levi
> Kissenger.
> The Kentucky Vintage Racing Association was on hand as an added
> attraction. They competed in two heats and a 15 lap feature. Mark
> Moore of Murray, KY, won the feature. Charlie Jett and Rex Rutter
> took the heats. Rutter was second in the
> feature.
>
> RACE SUMMARY
>
> Tri-State Speedway
> Haubstadt, IN
> June 15, 2008
>
> UMP Late Models (39 Entries):
>
> First Heat - Michael Kloos, Billy Faust, Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley
> Second Heat - Don O’Neal, Jeep Van Wormer, Dewayne Kiefer, Derek
> Fisher
> Third Heat - Randy Korte, Steve Sheppard, Jordan Bland, Jason Feger
> Fourth Heat - Billy Moyer, Kevin Claycomb, Patrick Sheltra, Chad
> Zobrist
> C-Main - Will Vaught, Terry English, B.J. McCammon, Tim Lance
> B-Main - Brian Shirley, Jason Feger, Derek Fisher, Rodney Melvin
> Feature (40 Laps) - Dennis Erb Jr., Randy Korte, Brian Shirley, Billy
> Moyer,
> Don O’Neal, Jeep Van Wormer, Wes
> Steidinger, Kevin Claycomb,
> Rodney Melvin, Michael Kloos
>
> UMP Open Wheel Modifieds (33 Entries):
>
> First Heat - Randle Sweeney, Don Boyles, Brandon Dierlam, Jesse Snyder
> Second Heat - Everett Bradham, Zack Fair, Chris Moore, Phil Van Sant
> Third Heat - John Demoss, Kent Robinson, Danny Claycomb, Mark Auler
> Fourth Heat - Levi Kissinger, Mark Cole, Al Gardner, Kelsey Simmons
> B-Main - Brandon McDowell, Matt Huddleston, Tyler Weiss, Hud Cone
> Feature (25 Laps) - Randle Sweeney, Everett Bradham, Kent Robinson,
> Zack Fair, Brandon Dierlam, Danny
> Claycomb,
> Kelsey Simmons, Jesse Snyder, Levi
> Kissinger, Kenny Carmichael
>
> Kentucky Vintage Racing Association (15 Entries):
>
> Heat Winners - Charlie Jett and Rex Rutter
> Main Event (15 Laps) -Mark Moore, Rex Rutter, Joe Beard,
> Dennis English, Tim Cunningham
>
>
> Eldon Butcher,
> Director of Operations
> MIDWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES
> 4353 S. State Road 57
> Oakland City, IN 47660
>
> News/Info : www.mscssprints.com
> E-Mail: ebutcher@gibsoncounty.net
> Phone: (812)749-9715