Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Public Relations
August 19, 2013
(Moberly, Mo) – The 2013 Lucas Cattle Company race season has just a dozen events remaining on the schedule for drivers to accumulate championship points. The drivers earning the lion’s share of points last weekend were current leaders, Jason Russell and Vance Wilson. Russell claimed victories at Callaway Raceway and Lucas Oil Speedway while Wilson kept his dominant streak alive at Randolph County Raceway (RCR).
Last weekend’s events began on Friday at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Missouri, which finally hosted fans and drivers after three straight weather cancelations. Fourteen drivers made their way to the track, competing in three heat races, won by Jason Russell over Earl Roark and Payton Looney; Ashlee Lancaster over Larry Winn and Chris Lapp; and Jon Melloway over Todd McCoin, and Justin Russell.
Jason Russell and Lancaster paced the field for the beginning of the feature event with Russell quickly setting himself apart from a furious battle for second position. After dominating her heat race, Lancaster had high hopes for a solid finish in the main event but she got loose on lap three and lost several positions as Roark, McCoin, and Melloway were able to sneak by to advance forward as Lancaster recovered to hold fifth.
Looney and Chris Cox were involved in early race spins that drew a caution period just before Roark retired to the pits with problems bringing his night to an early end on lap three. By lap six, Jason Russell opened a full straightaway lead on McCoin, Melloway, Justin Russell, and Lancaster. On lap 11, Russell began lapping cars as he continued his torrid run at the front.
On lap 16, Lancaster’s woes continued as she was forced to an early retirement to the infield, which caused some excitement for leader Russell as he was pinned down below Lancaster’s car as she made her way off the track. Russell survived the tense few moments and went on to record his association-leading and record-breaking twelfth win of the season.
Behind Russell rounding out the top ten were Jon Melloway, who made a last-lap and high-side pass on McCoin to come away as runner-up. McCoin finished third with Justin Russell and Zeke Langley also finishing inside the top five. Sixth to tenth was Looney, Cox, Winn, Cliff Powell, and Lancaster.
Racing resumes at Callaway Raceway again on Friday, August 23. Information is available by contacting track owner and race promoter Betty Atterberry at (573) 220-1751 or the race status line at (573) 592-7795.
At RCR in Moberly, Missouri, eleven cars competed in a pair of heat races with Vance Wilson claiming the first heat race ahead of Larry Winn and Terry Wilson while Kenny Mudd claimed heat two over Bobby Penney and newcomer Ryan Petersheim.
Vance Wilson and Mudd led the charge for the main event with Wilson in search of his seventh-straight RCR victory. Several times this season the high-banked Moberly track has produced non-stop action and Saturday’s event was no different as the race went straight through without caution.
Although Mudd ran a strong race, it wasn’t enough as Vance Wilson claimed his tenth overall win of the season while recording his 16th straight top-three finish. Mudd, the only other driver to record a victory at RCR this year came away second, followed by Petersheim, who continues to impress in just his handful of late model starts this season as he took third for his best-ever ULMA finish. Following at the line were Penney, Terry Wilson, Jon Melloway, Zeke Langley, Winn, Cliff Powell, and Steve Dieckmann.
The fast and furious action at RCR continues this weekend as ULMA racing returns to the track for another night of racing on Saturday, August 24. Visit www.randolphcountyraceway.com or call 660-833-1727 for additional information.
Jason Russell picked up where he left off the night before by winning the opening heat race on Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway, where 22 competitors participated in the program. Behind Russell in the opening heat were Russell’s younger Brother, Justin and Ethan Young. Former track champion Jeremy Kelley claimed victory in heat two ahead of Todd McCoin and Kevin Coyne while another former track champion; Tommy Cordray took the checkers in the third and final heat ahead of Jon Binning and Payton Looney.
Kelley and Russell led the large field of weekly competitors to the initial green flag as Kelley was looking to end Russell’s recent dominating string of three wins in a row. However, it was not to be as Russell went on to record his fourth win in a row at Lucas Oil Speedway and thirteenth overall ULMA victory of the season. Russell’s single-season wins is a record for ULMA since it began in 2007.
Behind the elder Russell at the conclusion of the night’s featured race were Jeremy Kelley, Mike Montague, Cordray and Binning to round out the top five. Finishing sixth to tenth were Coyne, Harlen Kennedy, Justin Russell, Larry Jones, and R.D. Peterson.
Saturday marks another weekly program this weekend at the state-of-the-art facility; for a complete schedule of events visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com or call 417-282-5984.
This season marks the first year for ULMA to partner with Hoosier Tire Midwest. Drivers may purchase tires from ULMA throughout the season by contacting ULMA officials, the program benefits drivers at the end of the season during the October 19 championship banquet, which takes place in California, Missouri. Please visit www.racetires.com for additional information.
Drivers earn championship points from their 15 best race appearances throughout the season of the more than 50 possible scheduled race nights. Visit ULMA’s title sponsor at www.lucascattlecompany.com. ULMA sincerely thanks Hoosier Tire Midwest, FastShafts, Rod End Supply, RacingJunk.com, and PhotoGraphics by Shelly Payne for their support this season.
ULMA Standings
POS CAR # NAME STARTS POINTS
1st 2J Jason Russell 18 1790
2nd B1 Vance Wilson 17 1712
3rd 12 Payton Looney ® 17 1704
4th 7X Todd McCoin 17 1568
5th 0X Justin Russell 19 1568
6th 1TC Chris Cox 20 1549
7th 23Z Zeke Langley 20 1542
8th 16 Bobby Penney ® 15 1536
9th T8R Earl Roark ® 13 1337
10th 9 Chris Lapp 14 1324
ULMA Rookie of the Year Standings
POS CAR # NAME STARTS POINTS
1st 12 Payton Looney ® 17 1704
2nd 16 Bobby Penney ® 15 1536
3rd T8R Earl Roark ® 13 1337
4th 74X Jon Melloway ® 12 1174
5th O7 Kenny Mudd ® 10 1078
Remaining ULMA Schedule:
Friday, August 23rd – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, August 24th – Lucas Oil Speedway
Saturday, August 24th – Randolph County Raceway
Friday, August 30th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, August 31st – Randolph County Raceway
Friday, Sept 6th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, Sept 7th – Randolph County Raceway
Saturday, Sept 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway
Saturday, Sept 14th – Randolph County Raceway
Saturday, Sept 21st – Lucas Oil Speedway
Saturday, Sept 21st – Randolph County Raceway
Saturday, Sept 28th – Randolph County Raceway
Saturday, Oct 19th – ULMA Championship Banquet
California Shooters Club of Moniteau County