Kevin Kovac, DIRT MotorSports Public Relations

UMP Modified National Points Leader Dan Hamstra Seriously Injured In Wednesday Highway Accident

EVANSVILLE, IN – Sept. 21, 2006 – United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modified national points leader Dan Hamstra of Wheatland, Ind., was seriously injured Wednesday in a highway accident.

One of the Midwest’s most respected short-track racers, Hamstra was driving to a local hospital to see his daughter, who gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday, when his vehicle reportedly struck a tree head-on. He was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point, Ind., and later flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill., for further treatment.

Hamstra, who turns 50 on Oct. 18, suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured vertebra, broken ribs, collapsed lungs and numerous cuts. His most serious injury was a lacerated liver.

Listed in critical but stable condition on Thursday morning, Hamstra was resting under heavy sedation as doctors prepared to operate on his damaged liver. No time-table for his recovery was known.

The accident occurred as Hamstra was finishing up one of the most successful seasons of his long UMP Modified career. His latest victory, on Sept. 16 at Kamp (Ind.) Motor Speedway, gave him 20 wins in 2006, and he was heading into this weekend’s action leading the UMP Modified national points standings by 58 points over Denny Schwartz of Ashmore, Ill.

Just three weekends remain in the 2006 UMP Modified national points chase, which wraps up with the UMP Nationals on Oct. 6-7 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Hamstra has spent the season focused on winning his first career UMP Modified national title, and with the end near he could taste the $20,000 champion’s award.

“Dan has really been pursuing the national championship,” said UMP director Sam Driggers. “He’s been calling the (UMP) office two or three times a week to ask about the points (standings) so he can really stay on top of them.

“All of us with DIRT MotorSports and UMP send our best wishes and prayers to Dan and his family.”

Hamstra, who finished fourth in last year’s UMP Modified national points race, has 49 UMP starts under his belt this season. In addition to his regular stops of Kamp and Kankakee (Ill.) Motor Speedway, he’s also won features at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway, Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway and Vermillion County (Ill.) Speedway.

Cards can reach Hamstra at 12249 North 400 West, Wheatfield, IL, 46392.

best wishes to him and his family