HAILMANN WINS AGAIN AT SPRINGFIELD!
by Gary Woodall

SPRINGFIELD, MO. (June 10, 2006) - Baillie Diesel in Nixa, MO was the "Race Night Sponsor" for the Show-Me Racin Series at the Springfield Raceway Saturday night, June 10th. The touring Series invaded the track in Springfield, MO with 24 Late Models and if you weren't there, you have no idea what you missed.

In the Babe's Drive-In first heat race, Conner "The OZ Man" Ward in the Tri-Lakes Manufacturing #56 and Leslie Essary in the Mike's Motor Machine #5 would set the pace for the eight car field. Ward and Essary put on a two wide race for several laps before Essary took command. The fans saw 2 and 3 wide racing through the field as Ken Hartwigsen in the Bueller Realty #27, Jarrod Hilton in the #11, Mark Bourey in the R&M Industries #30, and Jeremy Kelly in the #04 battled for third position. Essary went on the win, followed by Hartwigsen and Bourey in that order.

The B&P Discount Grocery second heat had Roger "High Groove" Wilson in the #77 and the #33 Stringer Engine GRT of Rick Lebow on the front row. Ken Patterson in the Bentonville Mold & Die #98 and Blane Reed in the Lumix Electrical #23 made up the second row. As the green flag waved, Wilson and Lebow raced hard through turns one and two, but back in the pack, Scott Fry in the #F7 and Jim Greenway in the Baillie Diesel #28 machine were door to door for 5th. Lebow came home the winner, followed by Wilson, Greenway and Patterson.

The "Foot Done It" Graphics heat race #3 saw the Series point leader, Ken Essary in his #55 and Kevin Henson in the Keller Williams Realty #15 up front, with Mike Hailmann in the Dan's Marine #85 and Chad Pyle in the Gautney Total Performance #6 in row number two. Henson and Essary put on a show for the lead, while Tyler Milner in the #5M and Chad Smith in the Action Cycle #13 raced hard for 4th position. As Essary took control, "Rookie of the Year" candidate Mike "Superman" Hailmann passed Henson for second and when the checkered waved it was Essary, Hailmann, Henson and Milner advancing to the 'A' Main.

After "on track" introductions of the Show-Me drivers, the customary 4-wide parade lap to salute the race fans had the crowd on their feet and it was hard to tell who was the loudest. The race fans at the Springfield track showed their appreciation to the drivers and the thunder was about to roar.

Tyler Milner in the Arney Trucking #5M and Mark Bourey in the Childress Welding #30 set the pace as 20 more Show-Me Series Late Models tightened up behind them. Milner, Bourey, the #27 of Hartwigsen and Greenway's #28 raced for the lead. It was 2 and 3 wide racing back through the field with Rick Lebow and Ken Essary side by side for laps before a yellow flag slowed the pace and created a restart.

On the restart, Hailmann in #85 and Wilson in the #77 had Leslie Essary in the #5 and Henson's #15 right on their bumpers. Ken Patterson and the #13 of Chad Smith, Kelley in the M.J. Kelley Insurers #04 and Jim Fulp in his new #00 were battling for the 13th position. As the action intensified up front with Hailmann taking the lead, the caution waved again which had Essary's #5 and the #15 of Henson racing for 2nd.

When they restarted, the "rookie" took command, Essary took over 2nd, while Lebow and Ken Essary moved closer to the front. Chris Hawkins in his #99.7 machine was involved in an accident which relegated him to the rear of the field as Roger Wilson in the #77 had to retire to the pits with right front suspension problems.

As the field kept shuffling throughout the race, Hailmann pulled away from veteran Essary in the #5, but "twists of fate" saw Rick Lebow, #2 man in the point standings, break a rear trailing arm which forced him to the pits. A few laps later, as Ken Essary had moved up to the 3rd position and alongside Leslie to challenge for 2nd, the father-son racers rubbed in turn one and something broke on the left front of Ken's #55 bringing his night to an abrupt end.

The battles raged on through the pack and with only three laps remaining, Mike Hailmann was about to become the first Show-Me Racin Series driver this season to be a double 'A' Main feature winner. The intense racing back in the pack saw Conner Ward in the #56 move up from his 9th row starting position to finish 7th. Jim Fulp in the #00 ended up 8th, followed by Patterson, Smith and Milner. Scott Fry wound up 14th, with Manes, Blane Reed's #23 and Chad Pyle following in that order.

The 24 Show-Me Racin Series drivers autographed a 2006 Show-Me T-shirt which was to be given away during intermission. For a $1.00 donation to Camp Barnabas, the organization for helping "Kids be Kids", you were given a ticket for a chance to win the t-shirt. David Todd from Norwood, MO was the "lucky" winner of the Shwo-Me shirt with all proceeds from the drawing going to the camp.

Sammy Clapper and the Talon Broadcasting Company donated a number of NASCAR Busch Series ballcaps that were given away during intermission. Baillie Diesel also furnished ballcaps and t-shirts that were given away throughout the evening. A driver autograph session was a crowd pleaser also held during intermission

With three races in only eight days, the tough June schedule of six races has the Late Models heading to the West Plains Motor Speedway for a $1000 to win 'A' Main on June 17th. Gates open at 5:00 with racing at 7:00 p.m.

For information regarding the fastest growing touring Late Model Series in the Midwest, log on to www.Show-MeRacinSeris.com for schedule updates, driver profiles, "News" articles, point standings, rules and more. You may also call Gary Woodall at 417-838-5500.



Contingency Awards



Martin Oil Company: 15 gallons of Trak Tek fuel: Mike Hailmann #85

10 gallons of Trak Tek fuel: Kevin Henson #15

1 case of Kendall Racing oil: Jarrod Hilton #11



Babe's Drive-In "Hot Dog" trophy & $25: Jeremy Kelley #04



GRT Racecars: $50 gift certificate: Mike Hailmann #85

$25 gift certificate: Jim Fulp #00

$25 gift certificate: Conner Ward #56



Peterson Fluid Systems : $50 gift certificate: Scott Fry #F7
Kluhsman Racing Components: New Throttle Linkage to the highest place finisher who had not previously won the award: Kevin Henson #15
$30 gift certificate: Mike Hailmann #85



Pushrod Factory Engines: $30 off a set of pushrods: Chris Hawkins #99.7
Spring Valley Barber Stylist: $50 cash: Kevin Henson #15
Raceway Ministries Book: Ken Essary #55

A feature
1.Mike Hailmann
2.Leslie Essary
3.Kevin Henson
4.Mark Bourey
5.Jimmy Greenway
6.Jeremy Kelley
7.Conner Ward
8.Jim Fulp
9.Ken Patterson
10.Chad Smith
11.Tyler Milner
12.Jarrod Hilton
13.Chris Hawkins
14.Scott Fry
15.Jeremy Manes
16.Blane Reed
17.Chad Pyle
18.Ken Essary
19.Rick Lebow
20.Kenny Hartswigsen
21.Frank Tindle
22.Roger Wilson

B Feature

1.Blane Reed
2.Conner Ward
3.Chad Pyle
4.Jordan Holloway – DQ’d
5.Jeremy Manes
6.Ron Johnson
7.Frank Tindle
8.Scott Fry

Heat 1
1.Leslie Essary
2.Kenny Hartwigsen
3.Mark Bourey
4.Jarrod Hilton
5.Jeremy Kelley
6.Jim Fulp
7.Conner Ward
8.Jeremy Manes


Heat 2
1.Rick Lebow
2.Roger Wilson
3.Jimmy Greenway
4.Ken Patterson
5.Chris Hawkins
6.Blane Reed
7.Scott Fry
8.Frank Tindle


Heat 3
1.Ken Essary
2.Mike Hailmann
3.Kevin Henson
4.Tyler Milner
5.Chad Smith
6.Chad Pyle
7.Jordan Holloway
8.Ron Johnson