It’s ‘Hammer Time’ at Valley Speedway as Jason Bodenhamer Claims Second ULMA Feature Win of the Year!

Sam Stoecklin
ULMA Public Relations
July 13, 2012

            Fourteen Lucas Cattle Company ULMA competitors made their way to Valley Speedway on a Friday the 13th ‘Fast Friday’ night of racing that featured another wildly competitive evening of action. The night marked the 30th race of the season for ULMA with 14 different drivers visiting victory lane throughout the season. Once again, several drivers appeared to be strong enough to take away a “W” in the Valley. There were two preliminary heat races to start off the late model competition and to set the stage for the nightcap 20-lap featured race.

            For Rod End Supply heat race one, current track point leader and two-time Valley Speedway main event winner, Chris Hawkins, of Neosho, Missouri started on pole and checked out early in the race to set a blistering pace. However, all eyes were on Bob Test of Jefferson City, Missouri who started the event in fourth and by mid way through the heat race he made his way to second behind Hawkins after a great battle with previous Valley feature winner, Joe Walkenhorst. Test is a three-time ULMA feature winner this season and was looking to setup a strong starting spot on the grid for the main event. Hawkins drove his TNT Chassis machine to the heat win with Test settling for second and Walkenhorst third. Brett Wood, Gage Wineland, Steve Clancy and Nathan Cates rounded out the field.

            BuyRaceParts.com heat race number two featured a great surprise when outside pole sitter Jimmy Jobe of Odessa, Missouri shot out to an early race lead over first time ULMA competitor Don Dannar of Oak Grove.  Jobe ran very strong in the heat race keeping veterans such as Jason Bodenhamer and Kevin Coyne behind him with a smooth run. Eathan Young, another driver making his Valley Speedway debut ran strong in the heat race in a battle for the third position. Coming for the white flag, Jobe’s outstanding run came to a disappointing end as he drifted too high in turn four making contact with the unforgiving concrete wall receiving too much damage to continue. Bodenhamer assumed command of the race and never looked back as he bested Kevin Coyne, Young, Zeke Langley, Jon Binning, Jobe, and Dannar to the finish.

            The stage was set now for the 20-lap featured race of the night as drivers took to the track knowing this was their only opportunity of the week to earn valuable ULMA points. Bodenhamer and Test made up the front row with Coyne and Young row two and Hawkins and Wood in row three. Early in the event, Coyne experienced troubles in turn one as the caution flag flew for the driver out of Kingsville, Missouri came to a stop against the turn two uke tire with heavy right-side damage. Coyne was able to continue on but went tail back for the restart. Another early race caution flew on lap three when Hawkins also experienced problems in turn two with a single-car spin. Test led early race leader and begin to slowly distance himself from Bodenhamer and Walkenhorst inside the top three until another single car incident and yellow flag flew for Cates, who also found turn two not to his liking. Just before the next re-start, Brett Wood’s night also ended early as he left the speedway.

            Once the race resumed, Test used the high-side line to his advantage and again pulled away from Bodenhamer and Walkenhorst. A great battle behind the lead trio continued with Young, Binning, Dannar and Langley trying to sort out who would come away with the fourth spot. Shortly after the field completed lap seven, Binning’s engine let go down the Quick Lane back chute dropping a trail of fluids that caused problems for Coyne, whose car careened off the turn three embankment ultimately ending his bid to return to the front of the field. After the track crew completed cleanup, Test continued to lead Bodenhamer, Walkenhorst, Young, Dannar and Langley.

            Through the start of lap ten, it looked as though Test might race his way to his first-ever feature win at Valley Speedway but he ventured too high in turn one and got up and over the unforgiving berm’s loose terrain and lost several positions. However, the race stayed green as Test recovered with Bodenhamer now the leader and Walkenhorst continuing to challenge for the win. The two drivers ran clean for several laps in an intense battle at the front as they used two different racing lines to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. Jobe again suffered disappointment as his night came to an end just past the halfway point. Meanwhile Dannar and Young swapped the third and fourth positions with Steve Clancy joining the battle for a top-five finish entertaining.

            Bodenhamer and Walkenhorst, both with one feature win apiece this season at Valley, continued to set a torrid pace for the win with Dannar, Young, and Clancy giving chase to join the lead duo for a chance at the victory. Although Walkenhorst seemed to have more straightaway power, he could not quite grip the low side of the track in the corners to make the pass as Bodenhamer kept his car out front the rest of the way to come away with his second win of the season. Walkenhorst continued his recent string of top-three finishes with the runner-up position. Young rebounded to finish a strong third in his Valley debut with Clancy coming up from his 11th starting position to finish fourth. Dannar held on for fifth with Langley, Wineland, Test, Jobe, Binning, Coyne, Cates, and Wood rounding out the finishing order.

            ULMA late models will compete at Valley Speedway in a three-week stretch run beginning on Friday, July 27th followed up by additional Friday appearances on August 3rd and 10th. The later race will be a unique experience for the late model drivers and fans as the class will be the featured opening act for night one of the Monsters in the Valley truck show! The August 10th date also features a 40-lap feature event for the late models, stay tuned to www.ulmaracing.com and www.valleyspeedway.com for further details.

            Action at Callaway Raceway was brought to an end last week when a heavy thunderstorm rolled through the area before action began. Callaway gears up for another planned regular program this Friday, July 20, for more information check out www.callawayraceways.com. Lucas Oil Speedway also resumes its racing action after a week off as ULMA competitors make their return to the track this Saturday night, July 21. Average car counts in the late model division at the speedway this season is 28, you will not find another track in the entire Midwest averaging that kind of car count for weekly late model action! Visit the track online at www.lucasoilspeedway.com for additional details.

            ULMA’s title sponsor is Lucas Cattle Company. Contingency sponsors are Rod End Supply and Buyraceparts.com. Affiliate sponsors include Imhoff Construction, Bone Cutter Body Shop, PhotoGraphics by Shelly Payne, General Fence LLC, Midland Printing, and Taylor Tire Distribution. ULMA is a proud supporter of Homes for Our Troops. Email your request to join ULMA’s email group by sending your request to unitedlatemodelassociation@hotmail.com. Visit the association’s website for schedule of events, race history, results, points, and much more at www.ulmaracing.com or like ULMA on Facebook.

            The all-new ULMA t-shirts are now available at various ULMA-sanctioned tracks for just $10 each. Shirts come in all sizes in four different colors of white, grey, tan, and pink. Moisture-wicking shirts are available for special order. There are a limited number of sleeveless shirts available as well. See a ULMA official at any of the ULMA tracks to purchase yours today!

Current Lucas Cattle Company ULMA Point Standings:

Upcoming ULMA Races:
Friday, July 20th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, July 21st – Lucas Oil Speedway
Friday, July 27th – Callaway Raceway
Friday, July 27th – Valley Speedway
Friday, August 3rd – Callaway Raceway
Friday, August 3rd – Valley Speedway
Saturday, August 4th – Lucas Oil Speedway
Friday, August 10th – Callaway Raceway
Friday, August 10th – Valley Speedway (40-lap event, support for Monster Truck Show!)
Friday, August 17th – Callaway Raceway
Saturday, August 18th – Lucas Oil Speedway