Saturday, September the 19th, was Budweiser Championship night in four divisions at the Highland Speedway. First champion crowned of the evening was in the UMP Late Model division – the Highland Bulldog, Chad Zobrist. Leading off the 25 car division in the first heat was Mike Hammerlee. He beat out Kerry Gaultney, Michael Jacober and Steve Leach. Second heat went to Mark Voigt over Brent Helmkamp, John Beck, and Jason Zobrist. Third heat top dog was Mark Faust, then Paul Bailey, Chad Zobrist, and Mike Schulte. Racing to the finish line first in the Feature for the 8th time this season was Mark Faust. Order of finish behind him was Michael Kloos, Zobrist, Voigt, Bailey, Frankie martin, Hammerlee, Schulte, Brian Wolfmeier, Dick Taylor, Gaultney, Marty Smith, Jr, Tyler Reddick, Shannon Kuhn, Brian Bielong, Jacober, Randy Bingham, Race Macmahon, John Beck, Leach, Rick Salter, Helmkamp, Todd Ferber, Timm Manville DNS, and Jason Zobrist DNS.
There were 24 Steve Schmitt Modifieds ready to take the checkered flag. However the Champion, Jim Werner, Jr, was the one who took the checkered flag for the fourth time this season in the Feature. First off, Robbie Eilers won the first heat over Tim Hancock, Jim Werner, Jr, and Chris Smith. Second heat went to Andy Oswald, then Steve lach, David Wietholdfer, and Brian Bielong. Third heat saw Roger Fohne lead Chad Sellers, Ron Hartnagel, and Eric Goetter. Chasing the Champion, Jim Werner, Jr, in the Feature was Dean Hoffman, Sellers, Eilers, Smith, Hancock, Bielong, Steve Ellison, Wietholdfer, Lach, Goetter, Tyler Deibert, Travis Koehler, Timmy Fohne, Dave McDougal, Roger Fohne, Steve Maisel, Aaron Muller, Stephen Plog, Lonnie Casey, JD Rottler, Oswald, Hartgnagel, and Mike Linsky, DNS.
Also racing was the 22 car Pro Late Models. First winner in the heats was Bobby Dauderman, then Tait Davenport, Daniel Heck, and Dustin Griffin. Second heat went to DJ Cygan who led Matt Santel, Casey Montague, and Bobby Pierce. Third heat saw Jason Zobrist beat out Brant Kehrer, Mark Oller and Aaron Heck. The two drivers who are number one and two in UMP National points were racing hard for the finish line. It was Tait Davenport who raced ahead of Bobby Dauderman at the finish line in the Feature. Order of finish then was Cygan, Zobrist, Daniel Heck, Oller, Kehrer, Montague, Pierce, Matt Liner, Aaron Heck, Charlie Heck, Johnny Prior, Ryan Seger, Bobby Martintoni, Justin Vosholler, Tim Hancock, Brandon Moss, Santel, Griffin, Michael Dauderman, and John Cory, DNS.
The Street Stock division of 17 cars already had a Champion going into the night. It was Michael Ripperda, Jr. who decided to add his seventh Feature win this season. Leading off by winning the first heat was Brad Venhaus who beat out Larry Smith, Jr, Brin Crawford, and Justin Leichsenring. Second heat went to Stephen Fohne who was chased by Stephen Flannery, Jr, Michael Ripperda, Jr, and TJ Eilers. Order of finish behind Champion Michael Ripperda, Jr was Venhaus, Eilers, Jake Hewitt, Terry McCann, Fohne, Shaun Hortsmann, Billy Kruep, Crawford, Smith, Jr, Marcus Kruep, Bill Austin, Jordn Bauer, Leichsenring, Flannery, Jr, Jeff Buss, and John Cory DNS.
For the last time this season, the UMP Factory Stocks had the highest car count of the evening with 31 cars. The Champion, Bob Zbinden, had the title sewn up going into this night. First heat winner was Sean Denison, then Dale Bohnenstiehl, Matt Hamblin, and Justin Suhre. Second heat went to Travis Horner who beat out Nick Knebel, Austin Isaak, and Jason Suhre. Third heat top dog was Trevor Isaak, then Bob Zbinden, Dan Dodson, and Jordan Suhre. Consi order of finish was Charlie Durbin, Justin Shaw, Tracy VonRohr, Josh James, Eddie Sterns, Michael Langford, Ryan Emig, Jeremy Izard, Terry Idaak, Jacob Rexing, Ed Martiszus, Rick Viviano, Lacey Egbert, Brent Trame, Cody Ventimiglia, and Nick Nieponski DNS. For the 11th time this season, Bob Zbinden crossed the finish line first in the Feature. He was chased by Denison, Hamblin, Justin Suhre, Austin Isaak, Jordan Suhre, Trevor Isaak, Jason Suhre, Knebel, Horner, Dodson, Shaw, Durbin, VonRohr, Sterns, Willy Myers, Kyle Swip, Shea Gagne, Langford, and Bohnenstiehl.
Winners of the Powder Puff races were Erica Dieu-Smith and Jackie Eilers. Mechanic race winners were Billy Knebel and Mitch Denison.
The night was sponsored by Donnewald Distributing who gave away a mini-chopper motorcycle. The lucky winner was Kelly Baumgartner and it just happened to be her birthday. The family of Dick Gray honored his memory by giving money to Jr Fan Club members. The winner of $100 was Jayce Fohne. Winners of $50 were Christen Hartmonn and Emma Korte.
Next Saturday and Sunday, September 26th & 27th, will be the UMP Factory Stock Nationals. Tech will be at 5:00 pm. The pill draw will end at 5:15 pm with hot laps at 5:30 pm. The qualifying will start at 6:00 pm. Also running for $200 to win will be the Street Stocks. There will also be Match races for street legal cars racing King of the Hill style for $100 to win. Sunday will see the Championship for the UMP Sportsman division with the top six in points locked into the Feature. The A and B Mains for the UMP Factory Stocks will be run and also on Sunday will be the UMP Pro Late Models and $1,000 to win UMP Modifieds. Pill draw ends at 1:45 pm with hot laps at 2:00 pm.