Post by LMR on 11/05/15 at 3:14pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2015
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Devin Friese Claims 2nd Title with the Re-Invasion of Ufo Championship
INDIANA, PA (November 5) - Devin Friese of Chambersburg, PA won his second UFo Championship in 2015, coming out on top of a season-long, star fight over Dylan Yoder and Michael Altobelli, Jr. for the point title. Friese was also the 2011 UFo Champion, which was the last previous year the tour ran under its current format and management.
As traditional for the UFo Championship under its current configuration, point fund checks have been distributed to the top-finishing point drivers just a month after the season finale. 2015 UFo point fund sponsors include Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, American Racer, Lias Tire, Precise Racing Equipment and Townsend Gas and Oil. Over $207,000 was paid out in 2015 including $17,000 of points fund for the limited schedule tour.
The re-boot of the UFo Championship in 2015 generated excellent car and fan counts. The tour averaged a whopping 36.5 cars over each race with 136 total Super Late Model drivers in competition. The 2016 schedule is already being formed with 5 dates locked in so far. A second tandem UFo late model division is also being considered.
Devin collected his 2015 UFo Championship by only 9.5 points over Dylan Yoder of Selinsgrove, PA. Going into the final event at Dog Hollow Speedway, only 2.5 points separated the drivers, with Michael Altobelli, Jr of Saxton, PA also in contention for the championship.
Devin won his second UFo feature race of the season in the first night of final Dog Hollow event to help carry him to the championship. He also triumphed with a win a Port Royal Speedway in July. Devin won $13,498 in UFo competition in 2015 including $4,000 for the championship. Devin's sponsors include Timmons Oil Company, Friese Bus Transportation, Schaeffer's Racing Oil, High Tech Power Coating, HTMA, FK Rod Ends, Bell Helmets, Oakley, VP Fuel, Jones Racing Products, Mastersbilt Race Cars, Vic Hill Engines and Wilwood Brakes.
Dylan Yoder latched on to the 2015 UFo Championship after winning the second touring event of the season. This victory came at Dog Hollow Speedway after starting 20th on the grid. Dylan also was victorious at Port Royal in September. He was the top money earner in UFo competition in 2015, winning $14,735 including $3,000 for his second place point finish. Dylan's sponsors include Sam and Sis Ray of S & R Repair Towing & Recovery, HTMA, Phil Miller Racing Engines and Mastersbilt by Huey.
Michael Altobelli, Jr. finished third in the UFo point ranking, just 17 points behind Yoder. Michael topped off his strong performances at Dog Hollow by leading 29 of the 55 feature laps in the UFo season finale, then finishing a close second place in that event. Michael also tied as the leader in UFo heat race wins for 2015. His UFo winnings for the season total $9,195 including $2,500 for third in the point race. Michael's sponsors include Allen Lemin Racing, Northeast Land Clearing, Daugherty Motorsports, Rick Steele Surveying, HTMA, Precision Tree Service, R.L. Insulation, Shearer Custom Speed and Andy Durham Racing Engines.
Dan Stone of Thompson, PA missed a few events, but strong performances in carried him to a fourth place finish in the final points. Dan did not win any events, but was runner-up three times in 2015 UFo competition. His only finish outside of the top six was one 13th place finish. Dan's UFo winnings total $11,050 including $2,000 for his fourth-place points finish. Dan's sponsors include Stone's Excavating, Northeastern Telephone Company/NEP Wireless, James T. O'Hara Construction, Integra Shocks, HTMA, Port City, Beya Performance Exhaust, Coleman Farms, KRS Graphics andTerri Hyser's Hair Salon.
2015 saw a new wave of new drivers find their way onto the majority of the UFo tour. Waylon Wagner of Lewistown, PA missed only the West Virginia event to come home fifth in the point standings. Wagner collected $4,415 in UFo competition including $1,800 in point prize money. Waylon's sponsors include Class 1 Transport, Victory, Auto, Black's County Homes & Sales and Kuhndawg.
Dan Angelicchio of Mount Pleasant, PA finished sixth with $5,050 of winnings including $1,500 of point awards. Dan's sponsors include Brook's Auto Group, Winchester Auto Auction and Laurel Highlands Insurance Group, Amy Angelicchio Studios and W Construction.
2015 Dog Hollow Champion Dwayne Tanneyhill of Bellwood, PA was ranked seventh, and took home $4,090 of winnings including $1,000 of point money. Dwayne's sponsors include Albright Farms and Phil's Garage.
Nick Dickson of Lewiston, PA and Coleby Frye of Dover, PA tied for eighth in the point standings and will split the final point payoff position. Nick's winnings for 2015 totaled $5,587 including point fund payoff. Nick's sponsors include Dickson's Alignment, Dickson's Custom Exhaust, HTMA, Mastersbilt by Huey and Modern Image Race Graphics.
Coleby won $4,600 in UFo competition including point fund winnings. Coleby's sponsors include Creekside Auto Sales, Baer's Auto Repair and Towing, Fryeco Inc., Pizza Box, C & J Lawn Car, Dover Car Wash, R.H. Cooper & Son Preowned, Keyser Manufacturing Company, Pizza Express and Brooks Graphix.
2015 Average Car Count = 36.5
2015 Average Winner's Start/Restart Position = 10.2
2015 Total Drivers in Competition = 136
2015 Total Payoffs $207,512
2015 Event Summary
"Dr Eriksen Grand Prix" at Hesston - May 24, 2015
6th starting Keith Jackson made a daring move to pass Brian Tavenner with just 2 laps remaining in the 56 lap feature to take the $4,056 win. Dan Stone also passed Tavenner to finish second with Tavenner, 10th starting Jerry Bard and 12th starting Nick Dickson rounding out the top 5. Three lead changes included Tavenner leading the first 17 laps before Kyle Hardy took control between laps 18-28. Tavenner lead again from laps 29-54 before Jackson made the winning pass. 36 UFo Super Late Models were present.
"Shawn McGarvey Championship" at Dog Hollow - June 19, 2015
Dylan Yoder roared from his 20th place starting position to win the $3,000 first prize in the 41 lap feature. In a race with three lead changes, Keith Barbara lead the first nine laps before Jared Miley took the lead. Miley lead laps 10-13 before jumping the cushion and giving the lead to Ron Delano, Jr. Yoder tracked down Delano and made the winning pass on lap 35 of the 41 lap feature. Miley came back to finish second with Michael Altobelli, Jr., Delano and 19th starting Justin Kann rounding out the top five. 39 UFo Super Late Models filled the pits
"Revolution 2015" at Hesston - July 2, 2015
Mason Zeigler achieved an almost impossible task of winning the $4,000 to win race from a 29th restart position in the only Area 51-lap feature of 2015. Zeigler was relegated to the back row of the 30-car field after stopping on a lap 1 caution. In an incredible race with 5 lead changes, Nick Dickson lead the first lap before Dylan Yoder took over from laps 2-7. Yoder experienced mechanical issues giving the lead back to Dickson from laps 8-38. A caution at that point totally changed the event with Justin Kann grabbing the lead for laps 39-40 before 10th starting Dan Stone took over for laps 41-44. On lap 45, Zeigler made the winning pass and lead the rest of the way. Stone, Jerrry Bard, Kann and 13th starting Andy Haus followed. 44 UFo Super Late Models were in attendance.
"Mega-88" at Tyler County - July 9-10, 2015
Tim Dohm outraced Greg Oakes in the final laps to win $5,000 in the first of two 44 lap features. Dohm controlled most of the race before a double file restart put Oakes beside him on lap 26. The two raced side-by-side for the next 8 laps with Dohm finally getting the edge. Oakes finished second with Jackie Boggs, Derek Doll and Jared Miley rounding out the top five. 31 UFo Super Late Models signed in.
In the second 44 lap race, 14th starting Jared Hawkins passed Jeremy Berwanger in the final turn to win $5,000. Paul Wilmoth, Jr. lead the first 20 laps before Berwanger took the lead. Hawkins continually advanced his position and tracked down Berwanger to make the winning pass in turn four on the final lap. As Hawkins and Berwanger made some contact, Jared Miley also slipped by to get second with Berwanger, 11th starting Oakes and Tim Senic rounding out the top five. 27 UFo Super Late Models returned for the second night of action at Tyler County.
"Tri-Star Sizzler" at Port Royal - July 18, 2015
Devin Friese raced to his first UFo win of the season to win $3,000. Mike Lupfer lead the first two laps before Dan Stone took the point and lead through lap 22. On a double file restart Friese took the lead and lead the remainder of the 35 lap feature. He was followed by Stone, Jason Schmidt, 11th starting Coleby Frye and Nick Dickson. 28 UFo Super Late Models raced at this event.
"Connor Bobik Make-A-Wish Race" at Dog Hollow - July 19, 2015
Jared Miley surged from 8th to take the lead from Michael Altobelli, Jr on lap 3 and lead the rest of the distance of the 41 lap feature. Miley fought off Altobelli, then Scott Rhodes over several double file restarts to take the $3,000 prize. At the line, Miley was followed by Rhodes, Dan Angelicchi, 10th starting Devin Friese and 11th starting Dylan Yoder. 30 UFo Super Late Models attended this event.
"Sam Barley Championship" at Dog Hollow - August 7, 2015
Jared Miley claimed his second consecutive UFo victory in the $3,000 to win race. Scott Rhodes took the lead at the green. Rhodes and Miley raced for 31 laps for the lead before Miley took the point on that lap. Following Miley at the finish line in the 41 lap feature were Rhodes, Dylan Yoder, 11th starting Devin Friese and 10th starting Michael Altobelli, Jr. 31 UFo Super Late Models reported to the pits.
"Butch Renninger 33" at Port Royal Speedway - September 5, 2015
Dylan Yoder raced to win $3,960 in the 33 lap tribute feature and closed within 2.5 points of point leader Devin Friese. Yoder lead the first five laps before Nick Dickson roared to the lead on a double file restart on lap 6. Dickson lead until Yoder returned the favor on a double file restart on lap 20. Dickson finished second with 11th starting Dan Stone, Tim Wilson and Jeff Miller rounding out the top 5. 35 UFo Super Late Models invaded Port Royal for this race.
"Flyin' Floyd Kline Klassic" at Dog Hollow - September 25, 2015
Devin Friese topped the biggest field of cars of the season to win the $2,000 first place money in the 36 lap feature. Friese turned in a strong performance leading the entire distance, but sixth starting Kyle Hardy caught him in the final laps. Hardy finished second with Jason Covert, Dan Stone finishing third and fourth. 23rd starting Dylan Yoder just beat Gregg Satterlee, who restarted 26th) by inches to take fifth in the 27 car feature. The incredible UFo Super Late Model car count was 53 cars this night.
"The ThunderDog 55" at Dog Hollow - September 26, 2015
Accepting a penalty from post-race activity the previous night, Kyle Hardy started 23rd and roared through the field to win the $5,250 prize in the 55 lap feature. Michael Altobelli, Jr. lead the first 29 laps while Hardy weaved his way through the traffic in the 27 car feature to advance to second. Hardy took over the lead on lap 30, but had to fend off side-by-side challenges of Altobelli in the final laps. Altobelli, Keith Jackson, Coleby Frye and 12th starting Dan Stone rounded out the top five. 47 UFo Super Late Models filled the pits for the finale.
Final 2015 UFo Points
1. 12 / Devin Friese / Chambersburg, PA / 925
2. 24 / Dylan Yoder / Selinsgrove, PA / 915.5
3. 79/99* / Michael Altobelli Jr / Saxton, PA / 898.5
4. 21d/72 / Dan Stone / Thompson, PA / 765
5. 5w / Waylon Wagner / Lewistown, PA / 722
6. 14 / Dan Angelicchio / Mt. Pleasant, PA / 684
7. 81 / Dwayne Tanneyhill / Bellwood, PA / 663
8. 0/f1 / Coleby Frye / Dover, PA / 620
9. 17 / Nick Dickson / Lewistown, PA / 620
10. 66 / Justin Kann / Huntingdon, PA / 613.5
11. 82 / Andy Fries / Pittsburgh, PA / 605
12. 20 / Shawn Claar / Imler, PA / 532
13. 50r / Cody Robbins / Julian, PA / 514
14. m1 / Mike Mort / Lewistown, PA / 512
15. 39 / Tim Smith Jr / McVeytown, PA / 507
16. 83r / Scott Rhodes / Somerset, PA / 459
17. 118 / Quintin Wyandt / Hooversville, PA / 447
18. 4ds / Chad Hollenbeck / Kingsley, PA / 439
19. 0b/02 / Larry Baer / Dover, PA / 433
20. 26 / Jerry Bard / Shippensburg, PA / 431
Complete information on the UFo Championship may be found at http://www.ufochampionship.com.