USRA LATE MODEL TRIPLEHEADER TO DECIDE INAUGURAL CHAMPION
by Jeff Nun

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (Aug. 20) — The USRA Late Models will wrap up their inaugural season next week with a tripleheader to decide the inaugural USRA Late Model National Champion. It all breaks loose on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. On Friday, the lightning-fast men and their machines travel to the Mountain Dew Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway, then return to the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. — home of the season opener and season finale that will see the crowning of the 2007 champ!

Following his victory on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Cresco (Iowa) Speedway, Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, wrestled the points lead away from Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo., who had a season-worst sixth-place finish. After seven races, however, the margin could not be slimmer at Simpson holds a one-point lead (1399 to 1398) going into this week's tripleheader.

Tommy Elston is not out of it, however. The Keokuk, Iowa, pilot sits third with 1255 points, but is heading to three tracks where he has tasted victory in the past.

The rest of the top-10 are Troy McKee, Jeff Aikey, Curt Schroeder, Todd McKee, Chris Fontana, Chris Simpson and Jason Utter.

All three events will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum $250 to start the main event each night. At the end of Saturday's feature race, the 2007 USRA Late Model National Champion will be crowned.



WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 - SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY

This will be the second time the USRA Late Models have visited the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster this season. In the first outing back on may 16, Denny Eckrich scored an impressive win over a strong field of competitors. Eckrich held off several passing attempts by Chad Simpson, who was working the bottom but just couldn't find a way around and settled for the second spot. Last year's winner, Jason Utter, took the third spot with Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo., taking the fourth spot after being the highest driver in passing points and earning the pole position.

Also in action will be the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring MUSCO Lighting Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks battling in their next-to-last points race of the season. Grandstand gates open at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps at 7:15 and the first heat race at 7:30.

The Southern Iowa Speedway is a sweeping half-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then four blocks north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call the track hotline at (507) 634-4281 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa online.



FRIDAY, AUG. 24 - MOUNTAIN DEW BLOOMFIELD SPEEDWAY

Back on May 25, Chris Simpson captured the USRA Late Model feature by holding off his brother (and points leader at the time), Chad Simpson, for the win while Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo., finished third. Nick Marolf of Moscow brought home a fourth-place paycheck, while Denny Woodworth of Mendon, Ill., rounded out the top-5 finishers. Scheduled for three events at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, the USRA Late Models were rained out on July 27, so race fans will certainly be hungry or the return of the fendered rockets to the historic Davis County Fairgrounds.

Also in action will be the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring Spilman Auto Parts Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods, Hobby Stocks and Kollision Korner Hornets presented by Budweiser, racing for 2007 track titles. Also, Mid-America 305 Winged Sprints will round out the busting-at-the-seams line-up. Grandstand gates open at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps at 7:15 and the first heat race at 7:30.

The Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 1.0 mile west of Bloomfield on US 63/SR 2, then 0.8 mile north on CR J40 (at the Davis County Fairgrounds). Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (641) 664-2500 for day-of-race information.



SATURDAY, AUG. 25 - PEPSI SCOTLAND COUNTY SPEEDWAY

On Saturday, Aug. 25, Memphis becomes title town! Tommy Elston and Gary Wilson drew the front row for the event back on April 28, with Elston grabbing the lead on the drop of the green flag. Elston continued to hold the top spot as Wilson and Chad Simpson battled side-by-side for the second spot. Elston went on to lead all 30 laps and pick up the win to etch his name in the record books as the first-ever USRA Late Model feature winner. Wilson held off Simpson at the line to finish in second. Chris Smyser came home in fourth, with Mark Burgtorf rounding out the top-5.

Also, Cunningham fertilizer presents the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series featuring Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods, Hobby Stocks, Outlaw Hobbys and Hornets racing for their 2007 track championship laurels. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 and the first heat race at 7.

Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (660) 465-8948. The Pepsi Scotland County Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 1.0 mile west of Memphis on US 136 to SR 15, then east (at the Scotland County Fairgrounds).

For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. For more information about the United States Racing Association and the USRA Late Models, visit www.usraracing.com online.