October 5 & 6 UMP National Championships Will Crown Eldora and UMP DIRTcar Champions
ROSSBURG, OH (Sept. 26) – While the card shows two divisions of racing, Late Model and Modified, will be in competition next weekend (October 5 & 6) at Eldora Speedway, the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) National Championships will see four 2012 point chases coming to a close.
After the checkered flag falls on 40-laps of Late Model racing Saturday night, title holders for Eldora Speedway and the UMP National Standings will have been determined. A 25-lap Modified chase around the historic .500-mile clay oval that same evening will likewise establish divisional championships for Eldora and the UMP National Standings.
The battle for Eldora supremacy is the toughest in recent years, with the UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Modified division, extremely tight. Each of the top five drivers has a mathematical chance to take home the coveted title.
Only five points separate the first four places, led by Joey Kramer at 226 markers. Behind him are Rob Williams (224), Matt Westfall (222) and Ryan Sutter (221). Brian Post will have the toughest shot at cracking the title, as he is 29 points behind Kramer. Ironically none of the five have yet to capture an Eldora title.
Matt Miller leads the Late Model standings into the two-day Nationals Championship, with a slim six-point margin over Jeep VanWormer. Canadian Andrew Reaume looms in third, fourteen points out of the lead, and could possibly be the first ‘North of the Border’ champion at Eldora with a strong Nationals run.
The pursuit for the UMP DIRTcar National title showcases two-car battles in each division. Illinois drivers Brian Shirley and Kevin Weaver are waging a dogfight for the Late Model honor, while the Modified hunt is boiling down to a Devin Gilpin vs. Nick Allen showdown. Both call Indiana home.
The entire weekend is being dedicated to the memory of UMP founder Bob Memmer, who passed away in 2004. Friday’s agenda includes time trial runs for each division, along with the Modified heat races and the Late Model Race of Champions. The Late Models will stage their heat races on Saturday, and the Modifieds their Race of Champions, prior to the B-Features and A-Features for each division.
Tickets for the UMP National Championships, and the following weekend’s UNOH Sprintacular may be purchased online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937)338-3815 during normal business hours.