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 LAKEVILLE,
IN -- Don O'Neal winning almost $150,000, Shannon Babb winning five
Summer Nationals events, Brian Shirley a first time winner on the
Summer Nationals tour, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars taking nine of the top
ten spots in final points, all were highlights of this year's cross
country trek. But, the biggest news of the summer series, a highlight
of the Midwest area was not a WIN, but a loss. A loss of paramount
proportions. We lost the man who sat at the helm of the series for
many years and was synonymous with all that we came to expect from the
Summer Nationals over the years. The brainchild known as the Summer
Nationals, created at the hands of Bob Memmer will never be quite the
same again, as Bob has gone on to run his own version of the UMP
Summer Nationals in a better place, where there is no rain and no dust
and no controversy, a full field of cars every night and a different
winner at each event. R.I.P Bob and GOD SPEED to you! Undisputable is
the fact that the UMP series is better for having your input, the
sport that we all love known as dirt late model racing is stronger due
to your involvement, and many drivers are better off having known you
and felt your influence over their careers! To coin a phrase from the
Bob Hope playbook, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
Don O'Neal claimed the 2004 UMP Summer National points championship,
winning 11 of the events and topping the $110,000.00 earnings barrier.
He will also bank the $30,000.00 winners share of the points for his
championship run. O'Neal ended the grueling grind solidly on top of
the points chase with 1272 points.
Second place in the final points tally was Shannon Babb with 16 top 3
finishes, 5 wins and 1030 points. Babb amassed over $67,000.00 in
winnings. Additionally he will pick up an additional $12,000.00 check
at the UMP banquet for a runner up position in the Summer Nationals
points.
Third place in final points was former UMP National Champion, Terry
English who performed like a man of steel, earning a starting berth in
every Summer National A-Main without the use of a provisional. English
ended the series with 14 top 5 finishes and won over $38,000.00.
English had 944 points.
Fourth place changed hands on the final night with Dennis Erb
surpassing Rodney Melvin to take over the position. Erb on the heels
of 15 top 10 finishes ended the series with a runner up position at
Oakshade. Dennis ended the series with 727 points and will collect an
additional $5,000.00 for his efforts.
Finishing in fifth was reigning UMP National champion Rodney Melvin
with 723 points and 13 top 10 finishes. Rodney was one of the
brightest shining stars throughout the grueling Summer National
schedule, finishing well night in and night out among the best of the
Midwest.
The remainder of the top 20 was filled out by Randy Korte 666, Justin
Allgaier 420, Steve Sheppard, Jr. 394, Kevin Weaver 391 points, Chris
Carlson 389, Greg Johnson 373 points, Billy Faust 260, Billy Moyer
255, Duke Whiseant 216, Ed Dixon 194, Brian Shirley 191, Mark Faust
182, Brian Birkhofer 178, Wes Steidinger 175 and Rohn Moon 174.
Monday June 21 - GODFREY SPEEDWAY - Shannon Babb WINNER 38 cars
Tuesday June 22 - PEORIA SPEEDWAY - Brian Shirley WINNER 50 cars
Wednesday June 23 - KAMP SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 45 cars
Thursday June 24 - HARTFORD SPEEDWAY - RAINED OUT
Friday June 25 - KANKAKEE SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 40 cars
Saturday June 26 - FAIRBURY SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 44 cars
Sunday June 27 - TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY - Rodney Melvin WINNER 37 cars
Monday June 28 - LAWRENCEBURG SPEEDWAY - Billy Moyer WINNER 42 cars
Tuesday June 29 - CLAY CO. SPEEDWAY - Shannon Babb WINNER 27 cars
Wednesday June 30 - CLARKSVILLE SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 32cars
Thursday July 1 - MT. VERNON SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 34 cars
Friday July 2 - PADUCAH SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 32 cars
Saturday July 3 - I-55 SPEEDWAY - RAINED OUT
Sunday July 4 - VERMILION CITY SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 37 cars
Tuesday July 6 - HIGHLAND SPEEDWAY - Shannon Babb WINNER 34 cars
Wednesday July 7 - SPOON RIVER SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 58 cars
Thursday July 8 - MACON SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal WINNER 35 cars
Friday July 9 - FARMER CITY SPEEDWAY - RAINED OUT
Saturday July 10 - KENTUCKY LAKE MTR. SPEEDWAY - Terry English WINNER
34 cars
Sunday July 11 - TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY - Shannon Babb Winner 34 cars
Monday July 12 - OFF - TRAVEL DAY
Tuesday July 13 - FARLEY SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal Winner 30 cars
Wednesday July 14 - 34 RACEWAY - Earl Pearson Winner - 36 cars
Thursday July 15 - CROWN POINT SPEEDWAY - Don O'Neal Winner 39 cars
Friday July 16 - IONIA RACEWAY PARK - RAINED OUT
Saturday July 17 - SERIES FINALE AND CHAMPION CROWNING - Shannon Babb
Winner 66 cars
RE-CAP of Top 5 at each event:
Monday, JUNE 21 GODFREY SPEEDWAY, Godfrey, Illinois $6,000.00 to Win
1. Shannon Babb 2.Don O'Neal 3.Rodney Melvin 4.Terry English 5.Matt
Taylor
Tuesday, JUNE 22 PEORIA SPEEDWAY, Peoria, Illinois $6,000.00 to Win
1. Brian Shirley 2.Rodney Melvin 3.Greg Johnson 4.Terry English
5.Justin Allgaier
Wednesday, JUNE 23 KAMP MOTOR SPEEDWAY, Boswell, Indiana $6,000.00 to
Win
1. Don O'Neal 2.Shannon Babb 3.Michael Bradley 4.Terry English 5.Greg
Johnson
Thursday, JUNE 24 HARTFORD, MI, RAINED OUT
Friday, JUNE 25 KANKAKEE MOTOR SPEEDWAY, Kankakee, IL $10,000.00 to
Win
1. Don O'Neal 2.Brian Birkhofer 3.Shannon Babb 4.Dennis Erb, Jr.
5.Terry English
Saturday, JUNE 26 AMERICAN LEGION SPEEDWAY, FAIRBURY, IL. $10,000.00
to Win
1. Don O'Neal 2. Roger Long 3.Shannon Babb 4.Dennis Erb, Jr 5.Randy
Korte
Sunday, JUNE 27 TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY, HAUBSTADT, IN $6,000.00 to Win
1.Rodney Melvin 2.Don O'Neal 3.Shannon Babb 4.Terry English 5.Frankie
Martin,
Monday, JUNE 28 LAWRENCEBURG SPEEDWAY, LAWRENCEBURG, IN $6,000.00 to
Win
1. Billy Moyer 2.Terry English 3.Shannon Babb 4.Dennis Erb Jr 5.Justin
Allgaier
Tuesday, JUNE 29 CLAY CO. FLORA, IL. $6,000.00 to Win
1. Shannon Babb 2.Don O'Neal 3.Rodney Melvin 4.Greg Johnson 5.Billy
Faust
Wednesday, JUNE 30 CLARKSVILLE, TN. $6,000.00 to Win
1. Don O'Neal 2.Terry English 3.Rodney Melvin 4.Randle Sweeney 5.Gary
Frost
Thursday, JULY 1 MT. VERNON, IL. $6,000.00 to Win
1. Don O'Neal 2.Shannon Babb 3.Randy Korte, 4. Terry English 5.Dennis
Erb Jr
Friday, JULY 2 PADUCAH, KY. $10,000.00 to Win
1. Don O'Neal 2.Terry English 3.Shannon Babb, 4. Scott James 5.Billy
Moyer
Saturday, JULY 3 I-55 RACEWAY, PEVELY, MO. RAINED OUT
Sunday, JULY 4 VERMILION COUNTY, DANVILLE, IL. $6,000.00 to Win
1. Don O'Neal 2.Shannon Babb 3.Rodney Melvin 4.Terry English 5.Kyle
Logue
Monday, JULY 5 FAYETTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY, Brownstown, Il. $6,000.00 to
win RAINED OUT
Tuesday, July 6 HIGHLAND SPEEDWAY, Highland, Il. $6,000.00 to win
1. Shannon Babb, 2. Randy Korte, 3. Don O'Neal, 4. Steve Sheppard,
Jr., 5. Billy Faust
Wednesday, July 7 SPOON RIVER SPEEDWAY, Canton, Il. $6,000.00 to win
1. Don O'Neal, 2. Shannon Babb, 3. Dennis Erb, Jr., 4. Randy Korte, 5.
Terry English
Thursday, July 8 MACON SPEEDWAY Macon, Il. $8,000.00 to win
1. Don O'Neal, 2.Tery English, 3. Eric Smith, 4. Don Hammer, 5. Jason
Feger
Friday, July 9 FARMER CITY RACEWAY, Farmer City, Il. $10,000.00 to win
RAINED OUT
Saturday July 10, Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway Calvert City, Ky.
$10,000.00 to win
1. Terry English, 2. Don O'Neal, 3. Greg Johnson, 4. Billy Moyer, 5.
Rodney Melvin
Sunday July 11 Tri-City Speedway, Granite City, Il. $10,000.00 to win
1. Shannon Babb, 2. Earl Pearson, 3. Don O'Neal, 4. Brian Birkhofer,
5. Darren Miller
Monday July 12 - OFF TRAVEL DAY
Tuesday July 13 Farley Speedway, Farley, Iowa $10,000.00 to win
1. Don O'Neal, 2. Billy Moyer, 3. Shannon Babb, 4. Rick Eckert, 5.
Jimmy Mars
Wednesday July 14, 34 Raceway Burlington Iowa $10,000.00 to win
1. Earl Pearson, 2. Randy Korte, 3. Brian Birkhofer, 4. Rodney Melvin,
5. Terry English
Thursday July 15, Crown Point Speedway, Crown Point, In. $10,000.00 to
win
1. Don O'Neal, 2. Shannon Babb, 3. Dennis Erb, 4. Billy Drake, 5.
Rodney Melvin
Friday July 16, Ionia Raceway Park, Ionia, Mi. $10,000.00 to win
RAINED OUT
Saturday July 17, Oakshade Raceway Wauseon, Oh. $10,000.00 to win
1. Shannon Babb, 2.Dennis Erb, 3. Don O'Neal, 4. Donnie Moran, 5. Kris
Patterson
The
UMP Series runs exclusively on Hoosier tires.
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