The Sportsman, Street Stock and Limited Modified State champions were each presented $500 provided they maintained UMP DIRTcar memberships. The Sportsman titlists were Shaun Daugherty (FL), Joel Funk (IL), Hines (IN), Bob Boyd (LA), Chad Weinrick (MI), Jeff Herzog (MO), Pete Stefanski (NY), Mike Jessen (OH), Mike Hodges (TN) and Don Newcomb (NM/TX); Street Stock champs were Bob Egley (PA), Grady Christian (FL), Jason Bahrs (IL), David Hurst (IN), Poncho Elder (KY), Travis Myers (LA), Eddie Lowery (MO), Dave Mannise (NY), Chris Peltier (TN), Collin Hodges (TX), Wayne Clauss (MI) and Stephen Chatman (MS); and Limited Modified winners were Eric Adkins (MO/KY), Clayton (LA/MS), Dustin Shoemaker (TX) and Rob Madrid (AZ/NM/West TX).
Other UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned series titlists honored during Saturday’s festivities were Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich. (Sunoco American Late Model Series) and Nick Allen of Wheatfield, Ind. (Wolfpack Challenge Series for Modifieds).
A number of special awards determined by a vote of the UMP DIRTcar Racing membership were handed out:
* In the Mechanic of the Year category, Lyne was joined by Modified division winner Chris Pfeiler.
* Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., earned recognition as the Most Improved Late Model Driver.
* Daren Friedman (Late Models) and Mike Spatola (Modifieds) received Sportsman of the Year hardware.
* Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, Ind., was announced as the UMP DIRTcar Racing Track of the Year. The oval’s husband-and-wife ownership team of Bob and Gail Kamp accepted the honor.
* Ray Marler, who operates I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., with NASCAR veteran Kenny Schrader, was feted as the 2008 UMP DIRTcar Racing Promoter of the Year.
Hoosier Tire’s Terry Young, meanwhile, received the fourth annual Bob Memmer Achievement Award, which honors the memory of UMP DIRTcar Racing’s late founder. The prestigious plaque was presented to Young by Eldora Speedway general manager Larry Boos, who won the award last year.
Drivers recognized with Rookie of the Year awards during the program were Jeff Walston of Paducah, Ky., who earned $1,000 as the top first-year UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model racer, and teenager Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who pocketed $2,000 for his strong debut season on the NALMS.
The 2008 UMP DIRTcar Racing Chassis Builder of the Year awards went to C.J. Rayburn Race Cars of Whiteland, Ill., in the Late Models and Bob Pierce Race Cars of Oakwood, Ill., in the Modifieds. Both veteran drivers/car builders were on hand.
Claiming the 2008 Engine Builder of the Year awards were Rhyne Competition Engines (Late Models) and Hovis Racing Engines (Modifieds).
The affair began with an awards ceremony for the top-seven drivers in the new Kid Modz division, a brainchild of former UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national champion Bob Pierce to bring youngsters into the sport. Pierce’s 12-year-old son, Bobby, emerged as the 2008 champion of the division, which ran races at 15 tracks in the Midwest.
Appreciation plaques were presented during the evening to promoters or representatives from Eldora Speedway, Fairbury American Legion Speedway, Belle-Claire Speedway, Clarksville Speedway, Farmer City Raceway/Lincoln Speedway, Highland Speedway, I-55 Raceway, I-57/I-64 Speedway, Kamp Motor Speedway, Kankakee County Speedway, Morgan County Speedway, Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Oakshade Raceway, Shep’s Speedway, Spoon River Speedway, Thunder Valley Speedway/Twin Cities Raceway Park, Track Enterprises (Macon Speedway and Paducah International Raceway), Tri-City Speedway/Lake Ozark Speedway and Winston Motor Speedway.
World Racing Group Chief Operating Office Tom Deery spoke during the banquet. He focused on UMP DIRTcar Racing’s emergence as a national sanctioning force.
“If (late UMP DIRTcar Racing founder) Bob Memmer were here tonight, he would be very proud of what UMP has become,” said Deery. “And not only is UMP something that was forged in the Midwest, but it’s something that is recognized across the country.”
Earlier in the day, Deery and UMP DIRTcar Racing director Sam Driggers hosted a meeting with promoters to discuss several topics, including the new DIRTcarMembers.com membership website, sanctioning agreements and public relations initiatives.
The 2009 UMP DIRTcar Racing season begins with a three-day meet for the open-wheel Modifieds on Jan. 29-31 at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway. Both the Modifieds and Super Late Models will then be part of the 38th annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., which runs from Feb. 3-14.
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit
www.dirtcar.com.