It was another great night at the Highland Speedway on Saturday, July 11th. This night was sponsored by Grapperhaus Metal and included the first ever roll over contest during intermission. The Steve Schmitt Modified division of 19 cars was first up on the schedule. Taking the first checkered flag was Steve Ellison who won the first heat over Chirs Smith, Andy Oswald, and Travis Koehler. Secon heat went to Mike Harrison then Chad Sellers, Steve Lach, and Robbie Eilers. Third heat top dog was Eric Goetter who led Dean Hoffman, Jim Werner, Jr, and Jesse Wisely. It was Chris Smith who took the win in the dash leading Harrison, Sellers, and Hoffman. For the third time this season, it was Chris Smith who took the Feature win. He was chased by Harrison, Sellers, Ellison, Hoffman, Eilers, Lach, Jim Werner, Jr, Andy Oswald, Tyler Deibert, Jesse Wisely, Ron Hartnagel, Koehler, Eric Faust, Goetter, Aaron Muller, Chris Cobin, Paul Becker, and Stephen Plog DNS.
The UMP Sportsman division had 17 drivers. But this night belonged to the Eilers family. Taking the checkered flag in every race was an Eilers. It was Russell Eilers who took the first and the last checkered flag. He won the first heat leading Andy Casper, Rick Johnson, and Greg Spencer. Next heat went to Ryan Eilers over Bryan Slover, Aaron Melton, and Allan Geiseking. Continuing his sweep in the dash was Russell who beat out Johnson, Casper, and Melton. Taking his 10th win of this season and completing his sweep of the evening was Russell Eilers. He was chased by Casper, Johnson, Ryan Eilers, Geiseking, Rob Lee, Melton, Spencer, Slover, Tory Ernst, Jim Lafferty, Mark Bohnenstiehl, Jon Huegen, John Cooper, Bill Felchlin, Dan Ricklefs, Jr DNS, and Dale Laird DNS.
The UMP Late Models had 19 racers who wanted to take the checkered flag. However, it was Mark Faust who brought his broom to the race track. Starting off the division was Steve Leach who took the first heat over Paul Bailey, Mike Schulte, and Dave Thornton. Second heat saw Mark Faust take his first checkered flag of the evening. He led Frankie Martin, Bobby Dauderman, and Rick Salter. Third heat went to Marty Smith, Jr then Kevin Cole, Michael Jacober, and Steven Unterbrink. The dash saw Faust beat out Smith, Jr, Martin, and Cole. Taking his fourth win of the season in the Feature and finishing his sweep of the night was Mark Faust. Following him across the finish line was Cole, Salter, Martin, Chad Zobrist, Dauderman, Smith, Jr, Schulte, Jacober, Leach, John Beck, Bailely, Jason Zobrist, Randy Bingham, John Cory, Neal McPhillips, Brent Helmkamp, Unterbrink, and Thornton.
The Street Stock division had the highest car count with 25. First heat saw Michael Ripperda, Jr take the win over Stephen Flannery, Jr, Scott Ponder, and Fred Sparks. Second heat saw Dennis Ponder take his first checkered flag of the night then Brad Venhaus, Larry Smith, Jr, and Kory Reigel. Third heat had Jordan Bauer take the win over TJ Eilers, Jake Hewitt, and Billy Kruep. Consi order of finish was Dusty Sampson, Nathan Rakers, Brian Crawford, Terry McCann, Shaun Horstmann, Marcus Kruep, Joey Titchenal, Matt Korte, Chris Mathenia, and James Rhoades, Jr. It was Dennis Ponder who finished his sweep of the evening by taking the win in the Feature. He was chased by Ripperda, Jr, Scott Ponder, Venhaus, Hewitt, Flannery, Jr, Bauer, Eilers, AJ Cline, Reigal, Terry McCann, Sampson, Billy Kruep, Rakers, Crawford, Justin Leichsenring, Sparks, Vince Pratt, Smith, Jr, and Hortsmann.
There were 19 UMP Factory Stock drivers who came to win. However, the big winner of the night was Jason Suhre. Jason took the first heat win over Nick Knebel, Bob Zbinden, and Sean Denison. Austin Isaak took the lead in the second heat over Andy Hellmann, Jordan Suhre, and Dale Bohnenstiehl. Taking his first Feature win of the season and completing his sweep of the evening was Jason Suhre. He was chased by Zbinden, Austin Isaak, Knebel, Denison, Bohnenstiehl, Aaron Wood, Matt Hamblin, Hellmann, Eddie Sterns, Trevor Isaak, Tracy VonRohr, Ryan Emig, Travis Horner, Jeremy Izard, Scott Egbert, Rick Viviano, Lacey Egbert, Jordan Suhre.
Next Saturday, July 18th, will be Ski night sponsored by Excel bottling. The next night of racing at the Highland Speedway will be on Monday, July 20th. This is the Madison County Fair race that will pay $3,000 to win for the UMP Late Models. Special guest will be Kenny Schrader. Also racing will be UMP Modifieds, UMP Sportsman, and UMP Factory Stock. There will be no racing on Saturday, July 25th. Check out the website, www.highlandspeedway.com.