Got to the track at around 4:00....qualifying started at 6 p.m.......
there was 111 modified and 70 late model
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modified
they did group qualifying so there was 9 groups........they inverted 4
fastest qualifier was Jeff Leka #3L...17.924
group 1..Earl Plessinger #39.........18.287
group 2..Scott Orr ##88,,,,,,,,,,,,,i must have messed up on this one cause I did not have Orr fastest
group 3..Jeff Leka #3L......17.924
group 4..Wes McClara #45m.............18.070
group 5..Jerry Bowersock #07..........17.938
group 6..Steve Ott #0tt...................18.137
group 7..David Spille #711..............18.336
group 8..Tim Hancock #T0..............18.760
group 9..Denny Schwartz #21s........18.161
late model....70 cars....6 groups
fastest overall...........Josh Richards #1 with 15.797
group 1..Duane Chamberlain #1.....16.531
group 2..Dennis Erb #28......16.449
group 3..Brad Neat #41..........16.063
group 4..Jeep VanWormer #55......15.960
group 5..Wes Steidinger #1s.....16.140
group 6..Josh Richards #1*........15.797
friday night they also had the heat races for the modified....// top two in heats transfer to the Feature...
All the other times that I have went to Eldora they give you print out sheets on qualifying with the names and where the drivers are from....they also print out the heat line ups and how they finish... this year they did not do that...said their machine was broken.... It is just impossible to write the lineups down with as many cars there are and with the same numbers ...
modifieds
heat #1..
The #08 of Mike Roediger got out to an early lead but the #41g of Matt Goulden passed him in lap 5...
only caution I recorded was for the white #11 who slowed on the track and then pulled off...
winner : Goulden, ........Williams, Roediger, Rosselit, Haager, Hole, Heady, Plessinger, Hood, Shoulders, Bailey, DeGoey, Zimmerman...
heat #2..
Dave Porth and the #05 started front row with Gabe Menser and Orr on second row.... Porth got out to the early lead but Gabe Menser gave him a real run for his money being on his bumper most the race....
a caution came out for the #24 when he spun in turn 3..
winner: Porth..........Menser, Orr, Miller, Spatola, Shingleton, Hill, Boller, Lowe, Howell, VendWiele, Wiebe, Ogle
heat #3
This was a wild and crazy heat...how could it not be with Leka, Ruhlman, Mullins, DeMoss, McLeod and Humphrey all in the same heat!!!!
There was a caution right at the start of the race when it looked like Humphrey got into Leka (racing incident..nothing more) and caused Humphrey to start weaving back n forth....caused a four car wreck..Leka took his car off the track for some minor damage and went back on the track taking up tail position..
Brent Mullins held the lead for a while and then the #20 of Ruhlman passed him...then here came Leka..
By checkered flag Jeff Leka had moved all the way up to take second behind the #20 of Chad Ruhlman
winner: Ruhlman, .....Leka, Mullinis, Ullery, DeMoss, Bowlby, McLeod, Kowarsch, Adkins, Humphrey,Weekly, Shutts, Walkup
heat #4
This one went off pretty smooth.. only one caution when the #12 spun out.....the #89 of Bobby Bittle took control right from the start and never looked back..
winner: Bittle........Smith, Guyton, McClara, Shawn OiConner, Shan O'Connor, Higgins, Hayden, DeVall, Yuhanick, Bauer, Bitterling
heat #5
This one started off with Mike Harrison in the front right from the start also.... a caution comes out when the #5 spins and the #00 of Arpin spins trying to avoid hitting him... the #5 had been running in second and now had to go to the tail..... it seemed everytime Harrison went around turn three he was hitting the wall..sparks would fly but he held on to first with Bowersock a close second..
winner: Mike Harrison.......Bowersock, Fisk, Shute, Jason Hastings, Arpin, Shuman, Chinn, Brooks, Chrisman, Sanders, Treon
heat #6..
Well... this is the heat that Chad Kinder was in driving the #23h of Dan Hamstra.... I have absolutely nothing written for this heat.... I think it went off without a caution..... I kinda get excited when Chad is out there.... but.. I do know that Kinder got out in front and stayed there to the end by a good margin.. was very emotional to see the #23h car out on the track....it was good to see it out there so everyone kept it in their mind who the UMP points leader was......
winner: Chad Kinder......Brian Ruhlman, Ott, Allen, King, Craig Conyer,Brosseau, Estrada, Evans, Lynn, Coulter, Taylor
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heat #7..
Ed Roley got out to a large margin right at the start of this heat.......the battle was with Clayton Miller and Ryan Thomas..then Miller started pulling away putting Ryan Thomas who is 6th in ump points in a B main..
winner: Ed Roley......Clayton Miller, Ryan Thomas, Spille, Kevin Hastings,Bumgardner, Bitterling, Dalman, Trent, Hoying, Robinson,jr, Pendergrass
heat #8..
In this heat I don't have much wrote down either because I was watching the #7r of Kent Robinson...this was his first time at Eldora and is his rookie year....he has been having an outstanding year and did a great job at Eldora...
winner: Ron Perrine,jr, ....Tim Hancock, Dauderman, Burch, Kent Robinson, Rob Fuqua,Verbeck, Howard, Hohlbein, Harman, Unger, Hewitt,jr...
heat #9..
This was a great battle and was three wide a couple of times with #21s Denny Schwartz, #0 Hobbs and #21d Danny Schwartz... ..the real battle was going on for second....Lee would not give his spot up...Danny gets into the wall going into turn three and rides it half way around..he keeps going but when he got to turn one he was done....
winner: Denny Schwartz, Lee Hobbs, Kirkland, Jesse Cramer, Ganitt, Bland, Boylard, Keyes, Richardson, Patterson, Morrow, Danny Schwartz
Next they had the State Race of Champs
1.....JEFF LEKA ...ILLINOIS
2..Mike Harrison..Wolfepack
3..John DeMoss...Indiana
4..Denny Schwartz...Midwest Mod Series
5..Mike Roediger...Ohio
6..Bobby Bittle..Missouri
When I talked with Jeff and Pam saturday Jeff told me he heard me hollar at him from the stands congratulating him and Pam said she kept looking and finally realized it was me and screamed "CJ YOU MADE IT and waved real big !!!
saturday MIke , my son in law, and I went to the track early with intentions to go to pit area for some interviews....
When we got to the parking lot we ran into Team #22 in the parking lot.... these guys are crazy..
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While there they made hamburgers for everyone and then some kids/adults came by and Chad Kinder autographed the sweatshirts and tee shirts they purchased...
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And this guy was a real character.........he was waving and talking with everyone who came by...even signed autographs with signature "ED ROLEY"..... that was so nice of him........
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Mike and I finally headed for the pit area around 3:30 p.m.......
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I had four guys I was looking for........I found one out of the three..... I found WES McCLARA but did not find RAY HUMPHREY or RYAN DAUBER or WES STEIDINGER..... Humphrey was involved in an accident on friday night and had pulled out.... I don't know where Ryan or Wes was..... I walked all over the late model parking area and could not find them..........I did however find JACKIE BOGGS but when I was there he was in his hauler and did not come out.......soooooo.....
We then headed to modified area............ Ran into some of my favorite people....THE ROBINSON'S ... I love these people... so nice..... I talked with Kent for a while..........I am so proud of this young man..!!! He is a rookie... has had a very successful year.... he won honors as the Track Champion at the Bloominton Track his first year..... that is great !!!! His mom was a little nervous with him coming to Eldora his first year... I sure can understand that .........best race drivers from all over are there.....but Kent is a very level headed driver...a smart driver..... he was in Heat #8 friday night and finished 5th putting him into a B Main for saturday...***he was in B- Main #3 and ended up in 6th out of a 30 car field......YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!!!!..can't wait to see what you do next year ****** while talking Jesse Cramer came over to say hi...another great kid with a great future............
Becky Robinson wanted to meet Pam Leka so I introduced them... they have some mutual friends.... I left them and went back up to the #T9 car to meet Ryan Thomas's wife Heather...... what a sweetie.....she took it upon herself to start a fund raiser for Dan Hamstra ...she had stickers made up that say "GET WELL SOON #23H HAMSTRA"..........she sells out of them as soon as she gets them..... she has made over a $1000 for Dan... GREAT JOB HEATHER........... it was so nice to meet you and get to talk with Ryan again.....another great kid ..........Heather wanted to meet Chad Kinder so I introduced them.......
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I got interviews with WES McCLARA #45...BRAD HEADY #89H... AND TIM HANCOCK #T0
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I got to talk with CRAIG CONYER for a while..........Geez Craig..... I was trying to sort out the cars in the B Main #2 ...there was so many accidents and so many cars that I could not keep them straight... I did not realize that was your car that was involved in that bad wreck..... I hate to hear that Craig...you sure have had more then your share of bad luck !!!! I am so glad to hear that you are ok !!!!
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I had a great time talking to all the friends I have made in the pit area..... you are all a great group of people to get to know.....
Nice to see Lee Hobbs again....Rob Fuqua's crew chief Tim always says hello...Tina Cramer, Jesse's mom..
Said hello to Dave Porth and told him he better sign up to my site .. ...
All you guys tell me you come on my site but ya don't sign up !!! My site is safe.....right members ????
I told Cody Hood I appreciated him putting his individual race results on weekly and Gabe Menser was standing by him....Gabe told me he doesn't know how to get around much on the puter.....Cody is gonna show him how..... right Cody....
Now for saturday's races..........
They had a pill draw for the winners of each heat to see where they would line up:
order they picked and number they pulled out:
1..Matt Goulden.......3
2..Dave Porth..........8
3.Chad .Ruhlman.....5
4..Bobby Bittle.........1
5..Mike Harrison.......9
6..Chad Kinder.........2
7..Ed Roley..............4
8..Ron Perrine,jr......6
9..Denny Schwartz...7
2nd place finishers........
1..Williams..............10
2..Gabe Menser.......16
3..Jeff Leka.............11
4..Stan Smith..........14
5..Jerry Bowersock..13
6..Brian Ruhlman.....17
7..Clayton Miller.......12
8..Tim Hancock........15
9..Lee Hobbs............18
two provisionals...
John DeMoss and Ryan Thomas
B Main #1...top three to feature
John DeMoss tagged the back of the field and had to make one lap in the b main then pulled off for the provisional...
there was at least four cautions in this feature....first one was for the #89h of Heady when he spins out...
a second caution comes out when the #12 and the #16 crash in turn 4.. ..another caution for the #95L..he pulls off.... a caution came out on restart ..did not like start........ after the #08 had led laps 3 thru 9 something broke on the car and he had to pull out....
**three to advance: Scott Orr, Brent Mullins and Nick Rosselit
B Main #2......WAS HORRIBLE
there was wreck after wreck after wreck..... and with only one lap scored....by the end of this race there were only 14 cars left on the track out of 29 ..........on the first lap there were four cars involved..now there are 25.... .... it was really hard to see the car numbers ...the wrecks were all over in turn three...that is how I missed Craig Conyer....... one involved the #5 and the #7.... one was with the #00 and #85....single file restart....... another accident.... this one did happen in turn one.... there was like three cars in this one...the #21 catches on fire...#15 is involved..........down to 20 cars...the #45 of Wes McClara pulls out... with 6 laps in the #5 spins...running order is #74...#0...#00..#60 and #12...
next caution comes out the the #74 when he spins going into turn 4 after leading the whole race up to this point.....**six laps.**
#72 spins with nine laps in....only 15 cars are left... #37 goes off ...now 14 cars
There was a checker/yellow flag finish with the #00 and the #19 crashing on last lap....
Three to advance: Steve Ott....Steve Arpin and Ryan Fisk...
B Main #3...
In this B Ryan Thomas did the same thing....he went to tail and had to make a lap so he could pull off and take the provisional......was several cautions in this one....took him forever to be able to pull to the infield...
first caution came when the #18, the #711 of Spille and the #64 crashed in turn one... Spille got out of his car and went over to the #18 car and I am sure not to say hello...... Spille was done ....#64 and #18 stayed on track...
before a lap was completed another caution came out for the #15 and the #24 who crash in turn one...
on restart the #45 of Todd Kirkland and the #12t of Jesse Cramer is on the front row....Kent Robinson is on second row...
line up is Kirkland...Cramer...Fuqua...Robinson..Hastings...
Jesse gets around Kirkland for lead...... Kirland stops on track.....that #21d of Danny Schwartz kept chopping away.....
the #225 and the #50 crash
with 8 laps in it is Cramer , Burch, Danny Schwartz, Hastings , Fuqua, Robinson, #50, #225,
Top three to feature is Jesse Cramer, Bob Burch and Danny Schwartz........ Jesse did a heck of a job...and what about that Schwartz coming from the tail to take third..... would have loved to have seen Rob Fuqua and Kent Robinson also make it to the A Main......
The A Main Feature.............
line up
1..Bittle #89......Kinder #23h
2..Goulden#41g...Roley #11r
3..Ruhlman #20....Perrine
4..Schwartz #21s...Porth #25
5..Harrison #24.....Williams
6..Leka #3L...........Miller #15
7..Bowersock #07....Smith
8..Hancock #T0.....Menser #1g
9.. B.Ruhlman.......Hobbs #0
10..Orr #88.....Ott #0tt
11..Cramer #12t...Mullins #41m
12..Arpin #00...Schwartz #21d
13..Rosselit........Fisk
14..Burch.....DeMoss
15..Thomas
I have absolutely no notes on this race......... I was emotionally drained.... Chad Kinder was driving the #23h in honor of Dan Hamstra.........it was very moving for me..... I always want Chad to win....but this time I wanted him to do it for Dan......AND HE ALMOST DID....... he led nineteen of the twentyfive laps and lost the drive shaft .... he was lookin good and it seemed like God had a plan...... Jeff whostarted 11th worked his way right through the field to get in behind Chad..... Chad said he knew Jeff was there and coming fast...said Leka had the fastest car...................congratulations JEFF LEKA on an awesome race..
Chad ...you did an awesome thing this weekend by taking the #23h car out on that track and giving it 110% for Dan Hamstra and his fans..... they knew you raced your heart out... it showed.......thankyou...
AND PAM LEKA !!!!!!! WHAT DID I TELL YOU !!!!!!!
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THE UMP NATIONAL POINTS CHAMPION
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