It was an awesome night of racing on Saturday, April 17th at the Highland Speedway. The UMP Late Models had 23 cars that were ready to race. First driver to take the checkered flag of the night was Frankie Martin. He won the first heat over Mark Voigt, Clay Baumann, and Dan Jacober. Second heat went to Mark Faust who led Mike Schulte, John Beck, and Dave Thornton. Third heat top dog was Craig Smith who beat out Chad Zobrist, Aaron Kleine and Jason Zobrist. The Feature was a hard fought race with three wide racing between Chad Zobrist, Mark Faust and Craig Smith for most of the laps. In the end it was Zobrist who pulled off the win. He was followed by Faust, Smith, Baumann, Schulte, Kleine, Voigt, Paul Bailey, Shannon Kuhn, Dan Jacober, Brandon Hogenson, Jason Zobrist, Michael Jacober, Bruce Unterbrink, Randy Bingham, Bob Geashel, Justin Vosholler, Lenny Garson, Martin, John Cory, John Beck, Thornton, and Johnny Prior DNS.
The UMP Steve Schmitt Modifieds saw 18 drivers in their race cars. Winner of the first heat was Khris Fohne, then Dean Hoffman, Chad Sellers, and Ron Hartnagel. Second heat went to Mike Harrison who was chased by Jim Werner, Jr, Brett Korves, and Todd Ferber. Third heat saw Brian Bielong beat out Steve Lach, Chris Smith, and Steve Ellison. The Feature saw Dean Hoffman take the checkered flag. He led Bielong, Sellers, Harrison, Lach, Ellison, Hartnagel, Tyler Deibert, Korves, Adam Pate, Fohne, Trista Stevenson, Ferber, Parker Williams, Jr, Travis Koehler, Werner, Jr, and Chris Smith DNS.
The UMP Sportsman division had 24 cars. It was Allan Geiseking who took the first heat win over Jon Ripperda, Dennis Wernle, and Bill Shuford. Second heat belonged to Jimmy Cummins who led Joe Volluz, Mark Bohnenstiehl, and Nathan Schmitt. Third heat top dog was Steve Stevenson. He was followed by Jim Lafferty, Jr, Jimmy Miller, and Lenny Garson. It was Jimmy Cummins who brought his broom along to the track. He swept his division by winning the Feature for the second time this season. Order of finish behind him was Ripperda, Volluz, Wernle, Stevenson, Bohnenstiehl, Schmitt, Lafferty, Jr Miller, Ryan Eilers, Aaron Melton, Rob Lee, Lenny Garson, Rick Johnson, Shurford, CJ Simpson, Curt Loddeke, Pat Chalmers, Nick Knebel, Danny Beard, Mark Pfleuger, Jon Huegen, Geiseking DNS, and Russell Eilers DNS.
Twenty five UMP Street Stock drivers were ready to take the checkered flag. Brian Crawford started off the division by taking the flag in the first heat. He was chased by Brad Venhaus, Shaun Horstmann, and Jake Hewitt. Second heat went to Troy Bunfill, then Zach Hoffman, Michael Ripperda, Jr, and Bill Austin. Third heat had TJ Eilers leading Jordan Bauer, Dennis Ponder, and Justin Leichsenring. The Feature also had a repeat winner this season. It was Brad Venhaus who crossed the finish line first. Behind him were Bauer, Crawford, TJ Eilers, Hoffman, Ripperda, Jr, Horstmann, Bunfill, Ponder, Hewitt, Austin, Justin Leichsenring, Larry Smith, Jr, Matt Koch, Tim Koch, Stephen Fohne, Kenny Landolt, Brian Handegan, Jeff Buss, Marcus Krukep, Jacob Steinkoenig, Michael Leichsenring, James Krkuep, Cody Johnson, and James Rhoades, Jr DNS.
The UMP Factory Stock division had 23 cars. First heat belonged to Josh James over Jacob Rexing, Joe Benton, and Eddie Sterns. Second heat went to Jordan Suhre, then Willy Myers, Eldon Hemken, and Jon Easley. Third heat saw Shea Gagne lead Travis Horner, Bobby Funderburk, and Austin Isaak. The Feature saw Josh James take out his broom to sweep his division. Order of finish behind him was Jordan Suhre, Myers, Rexing, Horner, Sterns, Easley, Hemken, Funderburk, Justin Suhre, Austin Isaak, Justin Hall, Trevor Isaak, Gagne, Caleb Lintezenich, David Lisac, Shawn McCall, Benton, Cale Hartnagel, Lacey Egbert, Cody Ventimiglia, Jim Hinson DNS, and Jerry Thompson DNS.
Highland Speedway has a Jr Fan Club for kids under age 11. This is free to all kids who come to the speedway, just sign up behind the ticket booth when you enter the grandstand. At intermission, names are called to receive a grab bag or have your picture taken with your favorite driver. Children under 11 get in free for regular races. They just need to be accompanied by an adult.
