MARYVILLE, IL – April 23, 2010 – Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich., is eyeing DIRTcar Racing’s UMP Late Model national championship is 2010 – and so far, he’s proving that he’s a serious contender for the crown.
The campaign has only just begun, but Schlenk, 23, took over the circuit’s national points lead following last weekend’s action. He overtook fellow young lion Jason McBride of Carbondale, Ill., after scoring a top-three finish in all three of his starts.
Schlenk registered a second-place finish in the season-opening Sunoco American Late Model Series event on April 16 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park. He then finished third in another ALMS show on April 17 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and third in a weekend-ending program on April 18 at Waynesfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park.
The solid weekend pushed Schlenk to a 96-point (728-632) lead over McBride in the national standings. Schlenk has made 10 starts and McBride 11 so far in 2010.
Veteran Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky., meanwhile, remained atop the UMP Modified national points standings. He enters this weekend’s action holding a 21-point lead (786-765) over young Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M.
There was no change at the top of the national standings in UMP’s six other divisions. Points leaders remain Tait Davenport of West Paducah, Ky. (Pro Late Models), Jimmy Cummins of Waterloo, Ill. (Sportsman), Shane Hebert of Lafayette, La. (Limited Modifieds), Trevor Gamble of DeLeon Springs, Fla. (Stock Cars), Scott Mooers of Osteen, Fla. (Factory Stocks) and Michael Rittenberry of Clarksville, Tenn. (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.
DIRTcar Racing UMP National Points Standings (as of April 19, 2010):
Late Models (driver/points/races):
1. Rusty Schlenk 728 10
2. Jason McBride 632 11
3. Jeff Walston 527 8
4. Mike Hammerle 500 11
5. Richie Hedrick 417 8
6. Dennis Erb Jr. 414 7
7. David Clegg 405 7
8. Dillon Wood 389 7
9. Brian Shirley 387 6
10. Ryan Unzicker 387 6
11. Jeep VanWormer 357 5
12. Jason Riggs 354 7
13. Brandon Sheppard 352 7
14. Mark Voigt 346 5
15. Jason Feger 344 5
16. Dillan White 335 7
17. Jim Moon 334 7
18. Shannon Babb 333 5
19. Joe Kump 332 6
20. Mike Schulte 326 6
Modifieds (driver/points/races):
1. Randle Sweeney 786 13
2. Stormy Scott 765 12
3. Devin Gilpin 711 11
4. Jeff Matthews 622 9
5. Levi Kissinger 555 10
6. Dustin Isom 525 10
7. Rusty Griffaw 515 8
8. Rob Penny 510 13
9. Denny Schwartz 508 8
10. Mike Spatola 496 9
11. Tommy Seets Jr. 493 8
12. Chad Evans 484 9
13. Trent Young 474 9
14. Jimmy Ray 438 7
15. Will Krup 437 10
16. Dean Hoffman 429 7
17. Dave Wietholder 422 7
18. Bobby Bittle 412 6
19. Zach Fair 405 8
20. Todd Sherman 405 7
Pro Late Models (driver/points/races):
1. Tait Davenport 633 10
2. Nick Lyons 397 7
3. Credence Mott 371 7
4. Tony Albright 320 6
5. Brent Lewis 259 5
6. Bobby Dauderman 239 4
7. Cary King 233 4
8. Evan Taylor 220 6
9. Nick Bauman 210 3
10. Matt Santel 202 4
Sportsman (driver/points/races):
1. Jimmy Cummins 503 8
2. Steve Peeden 463 7
3. Chris Hillman 416 7
4. Shaun Daugherty 411 6
5. Aaron Barsness 406 6
6. Brad Cummings 367 7
7. Matt McGillvary 344 6
8. Josh Taylor 337 7
9. Chuck Bailey 331 6
10. Paul Shead 329 6
Limited Modifieds (driver/points/races):
1. Shane Hebert 298 4
2. John Paul Talkington 284 5
3. Kevin Dupont 261 5
4. Johnny Holden 234 4
5. Corey Buhler 230 4
6. Kamron Campbell 195 4
7. Brent Broussard 190 4
8. Grant Brown 187 4
9. Clay Settles 175 3
10. Ronnie Cotton 173 3
Stock Cars (driver/points/races):
1. Trevor Gamble 415 7
2. Tim Hughes 358 6
3. Mike Eubanks 319 7
4. Phillip Brown 313 5
5. Jody Wells 286 5
6. Larry Russell Jr. 280 4
7. Charles Christian 278 5
8. JR Mason 278 4
9. Rick Rush 277 6
10. Nate Zimmer 256 4
Factory Stocks (driver/points/races):
1. Scott Mooers 411 6
2. Randy Strehle 304 6
3. Luke Sadler 288 6
4. Dennis Ponder 269 5
5. Brad Venhaus 265 4
6. Wally Douglass 261 6
7. Richard Calmes Jr. 256 6
8. Courtney Eubanks 254 6
9. Donnie Nobles 253 5
10. Jordan Bauer 248 4
Sport Compacts (driver/points/races):
1. Michael Rittenberry 617 10
2. Bradley McGhee 545 9
3. Justin Hall 432 8
4. Shawn Kozier 420 6
5. RJ Glaser 393 6
6. Jordan Suhre 379 5
7. Eldon Hemken 365 6
8. Aimee Foster 362 6
9. Casey Feaster 351 6
10. Jay Gordon 351 7
