Posted by UMARA on 6/20/2005, 11:19 am
Board Administrator

MURPHY GETS FIRST UMARA FEATURE VICTORY Leads Wire To Wire For First National Midget Feature Win By: Bill Freis Morris, IL – One week after Minooka’s Patrick Wilda led wire to wire for his first feature win in the UMARA National midget series and just a couple of weeks after rookie Adam Laurie did the same in the Sportsman midget division, Joliet’s Sean Murphy did the same. Murphy led all 30 laps of the D’Arcy GMC Professional Grade UMARA National midget series feature Saturday night in his Tessone Motors/Care Care Collision Centers midget for his first career win in that division. In the Sportsman midget division it was Lockport’s Danny Drogemuller getting his second feature win of the season and the fourth of his career. In the 30-lap National midget feature Murphy started from the pole and jumped right to the lead at the start ahead of David Ward and 3-time champ Steve Thinnes. The threesome ran nose to tail throughout the entire race. Behind them Indy’s Adam Nuetzel, who had started 9th quickly made his way past four cars in as many laps and looked like he may be on his way to the front, but a several lap battle between himself and David Gough kept him busy while the leaders moved on. The only chance Ward and Thinnes had of getting by Murphy was when they approached lapped traffic on lap 22. But Murphy mastered the traffic like a pro and went on to take the first of what will likely be many feature wins in his young career. At the finish it was Murphy, Ward, Thinnes, fast qualifier David Gough who almost got by Thinnes at the finish, last weeks winner Patrick Wilda, Nuetzel, Mike Heiss, Jim Anderson, Terry Ahern and Bobby Guess. Heat race winners were Nuetzel, Guess and Murphy. Veteran midget and sprint car driver Fred Teer took the early race lead in the D’Arcy GMC Professional Grade UMARA Sportsman midget feature. Meanwhile Danny Drogemuller, who began his career racing dirt modified stock cars and moved to the midgets, patiently worked his way through the field. A lap 11 caution, for the car of David Budres, bunched up the field and on the restart Doug Orseske drove hard to the outside of Teer into the first turn for the lead and on the next lap Drogemuller got by Teer as well. On lap 15 Drogemuller began to challenge Orseske for the lead and on lap 16 was able to get underneath him and take the lead. Orseske took a couple of shots at getting his lead back, but at the finish it was Drogemuller by four car lengths over Orseske. Drogemuller and Orseske were followed to the line by Teer, Scott Shilkuski, Brandon Wagner, Mike Bettenhausen, Rich Peciniak, Basil Hicks, Josh Lane and Klaus Wever. In the Sportsman sprint car feature Loran Critchett started on the pole, but it was Tom Schnabel of Yorkville jumping to the lead into the first turn. Schnabel pulled away to a couple car length lead but by lap five David Gough caught Schnabel and drove by him for the lead. On the ensuing lap Fred Teer got by Schnabel for the second spot and chased Gough to the finish. Gough and Teer were followed by Schnabel, Frank Reiss and Mark Schuck. Todd Shepherd took the win for the second week in a row in the BIDCA Classic Modified feature. He was followed by Tom Schnabel, Joe Mox, Al Clapps and Roger Osborne. The D’Arcy GMC Professional Grade UMARA Open Wheel Series returns to the Grundy County Speedway next Saturday June 25th for the 2nd Annual Don Carter Sr. Jim Anderson Classic presented by 1340 WJOL and Henry Ales Automotive Specialists. The event will include twin 25-lap National midget features, lots of give-a-ways, driver autographs and a full night of exciting open wheel racing. Stop by D’Arcy GMC, Henry Ales EZ-Lube on Essington or Briggs St., Mr. B’s Bar and Grill in Elwood or Corvette Collection in Plainfield for $3.00 adult discount coupons to the Classic event. RESULTS 30-Lap National Midget Feature: 1. Sean Murphy 2. David Ward 3. Steve Thinnes 4. David Gough 5. Patrick Wilda 6. Adam Nuetzel 7. Mike Heiss 8. Jim Anderson 9. Terry Ahern 10. Bobby Guess 11. Steve Stroud 12. Klaus Wever 13. Nick Wagner 14. Sarah Hyslop 15. Reid Ceponis 16. Scott Shilkuski (DNS – Flat Tire) 17. Rich Corson (DNS) 18. Tony Devea (DNS) 1st 10 lap National Heat: Adam Nuetzel 2nd 10 lap National Heat: Bobby Guess 3rd 10 lap National Heat: Sean Murphy Fast Qualifier: David Gough – 14:535 25-lap Sportsman Midget Feature: 1. Danny Drogemuller 2. Doug Orseske 3. Fred Teer 4. Scott Shilkuski 5. Brandon Wagner 6. Mike Bettenhausen 7. Rich Peciniak 8. Basil Hicks 9. Josh Lane 10. Klaus Wever 11. Mike Smith 12. Lamont Critchett 13. Mike Krysiak 14. Mike Slabenak Jr. 15. David Budres 16. Joe Knippel 17. Mark Losinieki 1st 10 lap Sportsman Heat: Danny Drogemuller 2nd 10 lap Sportsman Heat: Mike Krysiak