Contact: Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR Director
kkovac@dirtcar.com | 704-254-7929

DIRTcar UMP Weekly Points Update: Unzicker (Late Models) & Sweeney (UMP Modifieds) Remain National Points Leaders After Week 17

CONCORD, NC – May 30, 2011 – Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill. (Late Models) and Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky. (UMP Modifieds) remained atop the DIRTcar UMP national points standings after Week 17 of the circuit’s 2011 season.

Unzicker, 28, opened up a 95-point edge (957-862) over Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., in the Late Model rankings for DIRTcar-sanctioned races completed through May 22. The rising star registered finishes last weekend of third on May 20 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway and ninth on May 21 at Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway.

With the ’11 UMP Late Model national title to be determined using drivers’ best 35 finishes/points nights, Unzicker now has 15 counted races under his belt. That number includes a victory on May 13 at Farmer City – his fourth overall of the season – that was not reflected in his points total released after Week 16.

Unzicker will carry his points lead into the busy Memorial Day weekend. His schedule shows four races in as many nights, beginning on Friday (May 27) with a Northern All-Stars Late Model Series event at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway and continuing on Saturday and Sunday at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway and Memorial Day Monday at Macon (Ill.) Speedway (Northern All-Stars).

Thirlby moved up to second in the national standings, overtaking Dewayne Kiefer of St. Genevieve, Mo., after scoring a pair of top-five finishes last weekend. The Michigander placed third on May 20 at Mt. Pleasant (Mich.) Speedway and fifth on May 21 at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio.

The veteran Sweeney, meanwhile, enters the holiday weekend with a slim nine-point advantage (941-932) over Jeff Mathews of Seffner, Fla., in the UMP Modified national standings. Sweeney’s lone counted race last weekend was a second-place finish on May 21 at Western Kentucky Speedway in Nebo, Ky., while Mathews recorded a 10th-place finish on May 21 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Other national points leaders include Clayton Miller of Elkton, Ky., whose runner-up finish on May 21 at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway marked just his fifth loss in 12 feature starts this season in the track’s Pro Late Model division; Troy Clark of North Vernon, Ind. (Sportsman), who was victorious on May 20 at Farmer City Raceway; Texan Johnny Holden (Limited Modifieds); Nat Zimmer of Mattoon, Ill., who assumed command of the Stock Car standings after scoring victories on May 20 at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill., and May 21 at Clay County Speedway in Flora, Ill.; Floridian Tom Hughes (Factory Stocks); and Bradley McGhee of Hopkinsville, Ky (Sport Compacts).

Log on to www.DirtCar.com for more information on DIRTcar Racing’s UMP circuit and to view complete points standings for all divisions, including the current State points rankings.

New for 2011, the weekly DIRTcar UMP points update is powered by www.MotorStats.com. DIRTcar’s affiliation with the Durham, N.C.-based Web site is providing fans and competitors a more timely and detailed look at the points standings. National and State points standings for all divisions are typically updated by Thursday each week, and new features allow visitors to click on each driver’s name to see a complete race-by-race review of their finishes to date.

DIRTcar Racing UMP National Points Standings (as of May 22, 2011):

Late Models (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Ryan Unzicker 15 957
2. Brandon Thirlby 17 862
3. Dewayne Kiefer 17 821
4. Michael Kloos 13 772
5. Brandon Sheppard 14 765
6. Jeff Walston 14 742
7. Mike Hammerle 15 730
8. Mike Spatola III 12 719
9. Jon Henry 11 689
10. Rusty Schlenk 10 682
11. Jason Feger 11 677
12. Randy Korte 10 634
13. Mike Schulte 12 618
14. Nick Lyons 12 602
15. Terry English 9 579
16. Frankie Martin 11 573
17. Bobby Pierce 11 554
18. Dillan White 11 550
18. Charles Zimmerman 11 550
20. Scott Schmitt 13 532

UMP Modifieds (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Randle Sweeney 15 941
2. Jeff Mathews 14 932
3. Jamie Lomax 15 881
4. Mike Harrison 12 801
5. Tim Hancock 13 797
6. Clayton Miller 13 784
6. Brett Korves 15 784
8. Dustin Isom 13 780
9. Michael Long 11 760
10. Scott Weber 13 758
11. Brian Bielong 13 745
12. Kelby Simmons 17 728
13. Dave Wietholder 14 724
14. Nick Allen 11 723
15. Trent Young 12 697
16. Dean Hoffman 11 694
17. Butch Weisser 11 688
17. Jeff Leka 11 688
19. Gabe Menser 13 685
20. Brian Lynn 11 676

Pro Late Models (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Clayton Miller 11 717
2. Mark Oller 11 706
3. Credence Mott 12 679
4. Daniel Heck 13 659
5. Bobby Martintoni 11 617
6. Nick Bauman 9 562
7. Tait Davenport 9 552
8. Gil Smith 10 548
9. Brent Lewis 11 536
10. Evan Fink 9 528

Sportsman (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Troy Clark 12 743
2. Nick Macklin 10 635
3. Dave Crawley Jr. 9 579
4. Dan Flessner 8 498
5. Jeremy Hines 8 496
6. Robbie Eilers 9 494
7. Blaise Hetznecker 9 462
8. Aaron Barsness 7 455
9. Alan Crowder 9 435
10. Mark Schaefer 7 393

Limited Modifieds (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Johnny Holden 10 594
2. John Wyble 10 591
3. Jeff Lawson 11 557
4. Haley Westerfield 10 515
5. Clay Settles 10 495
6. Howard Willis 7 490
7. Todd Bates 7 415
8. Christopher Geary 9 407
9. Kamron Campbell 7 392
10. Nick Tharp 10 374

Stock Cars (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Nate Zimmer 12 844
2. Mike Hodges 11 810
3. Joeseph Hamm 11 687
4. Fred Perry Jr. 10 592
5. Chuck Barnes Jr. 8 556
6. Dustin Rollins 11 539
7. Mick Kulak 9 511
8. Phillip Brown 9 496
9. Joe Belkey II 8 490
10. Bubba Christian 8 456

Factory Stocks (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Tom Hughes 9 595
2. Rob Sternberg 8 540
3. Jeff Buss 8 523
4. Mike Epplett 10 522
5. Jake Hewitt 9 521
6. Fred Traxler 9 495
6. Alan Peacock 7 495
8. Dennis Bringedahl 8 490
9. Donnie Birdwell 8 476
10. Bobby Mcqueen 8 469

Sport Compacts (rank/driver/races/points):
1. Bradley McGhee 14 900
2. Michael Rittenberry 12 783
3. Casey Feaster 12 733
4. Logan Brown 11 686
5. Kenny Butterfield 9 656
6. Jordan Suhre 10 648
7. Trevor Isaak 11 639
8. Jacob Rexing 10 606
9. Kyle Mcmahon 11 578
10. Brett Eilerman 12 555