2008belle.htm

200 S. BELT EAST
 BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS 62220
(618) 233-0052
Track Reporter Jack Pugh
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July 18, 2008 

The racing continued at Belle Clair Speedway this past Friday night with cars in the pits and fans in the stand for the next regular night of racing that included a nickel race for the kids.

  In the UMP Late Models divinizing, there were 19 cars ready to race. The heat winners were Brian Wolfmeier, Mike Hammerle and Mike Schulte. The dash went to Hammerle.

   The 25 lap feature race started with Hammerle and Wolfmeier on the front row.With the start of the rae, Wolfmeier jumped to the lead and never looked back. Trailing Wolfmeier were Hammerle, Clay Baumann, Ed Dixon and Frankie Martin at the beginning of the race.

  As the race went on, it was a two car battle between Wolfmeier and Hammerle. Wolfmeier was using the middle of the track while Hammerle was on the bottom. Wolfmeier ran a smooth race and stayed a car length or better ahead of Hammerle.

   There were several caution during the race and several were early in the race. Wolfmeier held off all challenges that Hammerle could muster.

   As the race ran down, lapped traffic was going to play a role in the outcome of the race. On the last lap, the two leaders ran up on lapped traffic and that was a factor in the outcome of the race. Coming out of turn four, the two leaders had to make a decision as to which lane to be in in order to finish. As it turned out Wolfmeier took a higher lane and best Hammerle by a fender at the checkered flag. It was Wolfmeier’s first win of the year at Belle Clair Speedway.

   Following Wolfmeier was Hammerle, Schulte,, Ed Dixon and Rick Standridge to complete the top five.

  In the UMP Modified class, there were 16 cars in the pits. The heat winners were Tim Hancock and Aaron Kleine. The dash went to Hancock.

  The 20 lap feature started with Hancock and Chris Smith on the front row. With the dropping of the green flag, it was Smith to the lead with Hancock, Kleine, Paul Reinneck and Richie Standridge in tow.

  The race for the lead was intense between Smith and Hancock. Smith would hold the lead until lap 10 when Hancock got by Smith coming out of turn two. The two made some contact in turn two, but Hancock maintain control and took over the lead.

   Hancock had his hands full as Kleine pressured him for the lead. Smith slowed with problems on lap 15 to bring out the caution.

   Hancock went on to win his first ever feature win followed by Kleine, Standridge, Dean Hoffman and Paul Reinneck.

   In the UMP Sportsmen class, there were 21 cars trying to made the feature. Heat race winners were Wade Sutter, Tim Haeffner, and Jim Clark. The dash went to Haeffner with the semi going to Jason Keller.

   The front row of the 15 lap was made up with Haeffner and Clark. Clark took the lead with the dropping of the green flag. He was followed by Haeffner, Danny Ems, Tom Smallwood and Sutter.

   Clark ran a clean, steady race to take his second consecutive feature race and third of the year. He also held on to the point lead. He was followed by Ems, Haeffner, Jimmy Cummins and Smallwood to round out the top five.