Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

Dixon adds to long list of feature victories at Belle-Clair

Win at Belle-Clair is 612th of his career

Veteran driver Ed Dixon nailed down his 612th career feature win last Friday at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, taking the checkered flag in the UMP Late Model feature.

It was his fourth feature win of 2009 at Belle-Clair.

Trailing Dixon to the finish line were Mike Hammerle, Brian Bielong, Dave Thornton and Rick Standridge.

Tim Hancock claimed his first UMP Modified win this season. The top five included Kenny Rumble, Tom Ratajczyk, Jim Morrison and Smithton's Bobby Bittle, who started 12th.

UMP Sportsman feature winner Jimmy Cummins led all 15 laps in his event. It was the fifth win by Cummins this season. Chris Sale was the Pure Stock feature winner.

There is no racing at Belle-Clair Speedway tonight because of the Fourth of July holiday.

Tri-City Speedway

In Pontoon Beach, Tri-City Speedway will be running UMP Modifieds and UMP Pro Late Models tonight in addition to its regular Friday racing program as a makeup feature from the rained out FedEx 50 earlier this season.

Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and racing begins at 6 p.m.. Grandstand tickets are $12, with children 12 and younger admitted free.

Last Friday was Mid-Season Championship Night at Tri-City. Mark Voigt started on the pole and led flag-to-flag to claim the Super Late Model main event.

Tommie Seets Jr. took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the Modified main event and held off a late charge by Rusty Griffaw.

Mark Oller claimed the UMP Pro Late Model main event. Danny Ems hustled his way to victory in the Street Stock feature event.

Bob Zbinden rolled to his third Factory Stock feature win.

Highland Speedway

In Highland, Jeep Van Wormer was the UMP Late Model winner Wednesday at the Summer Nationals at Highland Speedway, followed by Mark Faust and Mark Voigt.

Mike Harrison was the Steve Schmitt Modified feature winner, while Ryan Eilers won the UMP Sportsman feature and Bob Zbinden won the UMP Factory Stock feature.

Michael Kloos stormed out to another UMP Late Model feature win Saturday at Highland Speedway.

Chad Zobrist was second, followed by Steven Unterbrink, Mike Schulte and John Beck.

Robbie Eilers collected his second 2009 Steve Schmitt Modified feature win, outrunning Chad Sellers and Dean Hoffman.

Russell Eilers notched his ninth feature win in the UMP Sportsman Division. Rookie driver Jordan Bauer won the Street Stock feature, while seven-time winner Bob Zbinden took the checkered flag in UMP Factory Stocks.

There is no racing Saturday at Highland.

I-55 Raceway

In Pevely, Mo., I-55 Raceway will host the UMP DIRTCar Summer Nationals on Saturday, featuring the $10,000 to win UMP DIRTCar Super Late Models, $800 to win Modifieds and $400 to win Sportsman.

Tickets are $25, with children 12-under free. Pit passes are $35. Gates open at 4 p.m., with qualifying at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.

Marine's Mark Voigt claimed his second UMP Super Late Model victory of the 2009 season Saturday at I-55 Raceway.

Tim Hancock took the UMP Modified feature win after an early battle with pole sitter Kenny Rumble and a later challenge from Ricky Horton.

Bobby Bittle stormed to a third-place finish after starting 11th, while Tommie Seets Jr. also moved up through traffic to finish fourth after starting 14th.

Troy Naeger would claim the UMP/AARA Sportsman main event as he and Danny Ems put on a great battle for the top spot. Naeger and Ems raced side-by-side for the final eight laps of the main event with Naeger winning by a half-car length.

Jason Crump took the win in the UMP/AARA Pro 4 Stock division. Jessica Buechting finished second, her best finish ever at I-55.