DIRT TEAMS AND FANS PREPARE FOR THIS WEEKEND’S “4th ANNUAL TRI-TRACK CHALLENGE”
by: Michelle Petroff

MACON, IL (May 31, 2006) - After weeks of anticipation, several of the best dirt late model teams in the nation are making final preparations for this weekend’s “4th Annual Tri-Track Challenge”. The upcoming U.M.P.-sanctioned trifecta consists of three independent $10,000-to-win shows plus an additional $10,000 bonus available to any competitor who can win two of the three events.

National touring drivers, series champions and regional throttlestompers are ready for door-to-door, mud slingin’ racing action in the three state showdown. Past and present champions and rookies from United Midwestern Promoters, Lucas Oil DirtCar Series/NARA, Xtreme DirtCar Series/Hav-A-Tampa, Northern Allstars Late Model Series, U.M.P. Challenge of Champions’ Series and U.M.P. Summernationals will be on tap with hopes of winning the $10,000, 40-lap main events.

The Tri-Track Challenge will debut this Friday night at the Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Ken Schrader-owned Paducah International Raceway. The 3/8-mile, high-banked track conveniently located off of I-24 in McCracken County, KY, has recently undergone numerous upgrades to the track and facilities that both spectators and competitors will recognize and benefit from. The new PIR will host their first Tri-Track as a prelude to their U.M.P. Summernationals’ event slotted for June 29th. We would also like to remind fans and competitors to enter PIR’s hot new promotion the “Chevrolet Silverado Sunset Giveaway” at the track for a chance to win a new 2007 Chevy Silverado Pickup and ride in style like Dale Jr.!

Teams will then caravan to the Show Me State for another Ken Schrader-owned facility – the 1/3-mile highbanks of I-55 Raceway. The Pevely, MO, track is located 30 miles south of St. Louis on I-55 and boasts an impressive pedigree of weekly racers and special event winners. I-55 Raceway has hosted all three previous installments of the Tri-Track Challenge and each event yielded a different winner. Shannon Babb, the winningest driver on the circuit and only driver to ever nab the $10,000 bonus, won the inaugural event but Indiana’s own Don O’Neal stole the show in 2004 and Jimmy Mars from Elk Mound, WI, took top honors last year.

Back on the schedule for the third year, Vermilion Co. Speedway in Danville, IL, will host the 2006 Tri-Track Challenge finale. The 3/8-mile semi-banked facility is now promoted by a renowned duo in dirt late model racing – Bill Nelson, Director of the Northern Allstars Late Model Series, and veteran track and special events promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises. National touring veterans Billy Moyer and Don O’Neal both claimed Tri-Track victories at Vermilion County but the 2006 entry list boats impressive names looking to reign supreme.

This year’s “Tri-Track Challenge” retains popular features including the Frisbee draw, free general admission for kids 12 and under at all tracks, no entry fees for competitors and the $10,000 bonus opportunity but the format has been slightly modified to accommodate the wishes of competitors and to make for the best possible show. Here’s how it works…

Each competitor will participate in a pill draw for qualifying. Competitors will then be placed into groups based on the pill draw and you will hotlap, qualify and compete in the heat race with this same group of cars. The top two finishers from each heat race will draw a Frisbee marked with a secret number on the frontstretch during driver introductions to determine their starting spot in the feature event. Consolation races will be lined up according to your finish in the heat result and the remainder of the A-Main starting field will also be started according to heat race transfer order. Each main event will consist of 40 laps of wide-open dirt late model racing with the winner receiving a $10,000 payday. Each track has also selected 2-5 additional divisions that will provide great racing during the night’s activities.

The response to the “4th Annual Tri-Track Challenge” has been very strong and we anticipate a stellar field of cars each night but a dozen names tentatively slotted to compete to the partial or full tour include:

Shannon Babb (Moweaqua, IL) – Former Lucas Oil DirtCar Series Champion, reigning U.M.P. Summernationals’ champion and the only competitor to sweep a Tri-Track Challenge tour and earn the $10,000 bonus
Wendell Wallace (Batesville, AR) – Recent 2006 “Show Me 100” winner, former Dirt Track World Champion and “Topless 100” winner
Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine, IA) – 2002 “World 100” winner, Master of the Mile with 3 Illinois U.M.P. Fall Nationals’ titles on the Springfield Mile, 2004 Knoxville Nationals winner, runner-up in 2003 XDCS National Championship points
Jimmy Mars (Elk Mound, WI) – 2005 U.M.P. Summernationals’ Championship runner-up, 2005 Tri-Track Challenge Winner at I-55 Raceway, $100,000 Dream winner
Darren Miller (Milledgeville, IL) – 2005 Knoxville Nationals winner, former NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour Rookie of the Year
Rodney Melvin (Logan, IL) – Only 4x U.M.P. National Late Model Champion
Dennis Erb, Jr. (Carpentersville, IL) – Former XDCS/HAT Rookie of the Year, 3rd in 2005 U.M.P. Summernationals’ Championship points
Randy Korte (Pierron, IL) – Reigning U.M.P. Challenge of Champions’ Champion, former U.M.P. National Late Model Champion
Brian Shirley (Chatham, IL) – Former A.M.A. motorcycle champion, 2004 Northern Allstars Late Model Series Champion & Rookie of the Year, former U.M.P. Late Model Rookie of the Year, 2005 Summernationals’ finale winner
Terry English (Benton, KY) – 3x U.M.P. National Late Model Champion, multiple track championships at Paducah Int’l Raceway, multi-time PIR “World 50” winner
Kevin Cole (Christopher, IL) – Former Paducah Int’l Raceway Champion, 2005 U.M.P. Late Model Rookie of the Year
Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) – 4x U.M.P. National Modified Champion




2006 U.M.P. Tri-Track Challenge Information

Friday, June 2, 2006
Paducah International Raceway
Location: Exit 11 on I-24, Paducah, KY
Promoters: Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Ken Schrader and Bob Sargent
Track Phone: (270) 898-7469
Track Website: http://www.paducahinternationalraceway.com
Gates Open: Pits – 4:00 p.m., Main Gate – 5:00 p.m.
Prices: Grandstands - $25, Kids 12 & Under - FREE, Pit Passes - $30, NO ENTRY FEE
Race Times: Qualifying – 6:45 p.m., Racing – 7:30 p.m.
Divisions Competing: U.M.P. Super Late Models, CARS Crate Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, U.M.P. Street Stocks, Outlaw Mini Sprints, 4-Cylinder Warriors


Saturday, June 3, 2006
I-55 Raceway
Location: Exit 178 on I-55, Pevely, MO
Promoters: Ken Schrader and Ray Marler
Track Phone: (636) 479-3219
Track Website: http://www.i55raceway.com
Gates Open: Pits – 4:00 p.m., Main Gate – 5:00 p.m.
Prices: Grandstands - $25, Kids 12 & Under - FREE, Pit Passes - $30, NO ENTRY FEE
Race Times: Qualifying – 6:15 p.m., Racing – 7:00 p.m.
Divisions Competing: U.M.P. Super Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, U.M.P. Sportsman


Sunday, June 4, 2006
Vermilion County Speedway
Location: Exit 210 on I-74, Danville, IL
Promoters: Bill Nelson and Bob Sargent
Track Phone: (217) 443-6588
Track Website: http://www.vermilioncountyspeedway.net
Gates Open: Pits – 3:00 p.m., Main Gate – 4:00 p.m.
Prices: Grandstands - $25, Kids 12 & Under - FREE, Pit Passes - $30, NO ENTRY FEE
Race Times: Qualifying – 6:30 p.m., Racing – 7:00 p.m.
Divisions Competing: U.M.P. Super Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, U.M.P. Street Stocks, Pure Stocks







Past U.M.P. Tri-Track Challenge Highlights

2005
Segment #1 – Vermilion Co. Speedway, Danville, IL
Fast Qualifier: Dennis Erb, Jr. (IL)
Dash Winner: Dennis Erb, Jr. (IL)
Heat Winners: Roger Long (IL) and Michael Bradley (IL)
Feature Top-5: Shannon Babb (IL), Darren Miller (IL), Kevin Weaver (IL), Brady Smith (WI) and Jimmy Mars (WI)

Segment #2 - I-55 Raceway, Pevely, MO
Fast Qualifier: John Vandenberg (IA)
Dash Winner: Billy Drake (IL)
Heat Winners: Shannon Babb (IL), Billy Faust (IL) and Jeep Van Wormer (MI)
Consi Winner: Jim Shereck (MO)
Feature Top-5: Jimmy Mars (WI), Darren Miller (IL), Shannon Babb (IL), Jeep Van Wormer (MI) and Billy Faust (IL)

Segment #3 – Tri-State Speedway, Haubstadt, IN
Fast Qualifier: Don O’Neal (IN)
Dash Winner: Don O’Neal (IN)
Heat Winners: Randy Korte (IL) and Rodney Melvin (IL)
Feature Top-5: Don O’Neal (IN), Dennis Erb, Jr. (IL), Darren Miller (IL), Jimmy Mars (WI) and Rodney Melvin (IL)

2003-2005 Tri-Track Challenge Feature Winners
Shannon Babb = 5 (3 – 2003, 1 – 2004, 1 – 2005)
Don O’Neal = 2 (1 – 2004, 1 – 2005)
Billy Moyer = 1 (1 – 2004)
Jimmy Mars = 1 (1 – 2005)

$10,000 Bonus Winner(s)
Shannon Babb (2003)