Evansville, IN — UMP DIRTcar Racing open-wheel Modified drivers collected a total of $179,470 in 2007 points-fund cash during the organization’s 24th annual awards banquet on Jan. 12 in Springfield, Ill.
The richest points fund in the nation for the type of open-wheel Modifieds sanctioned by UMP DIRTcar Racing included $74,975 for the national points race; $61,350 for the Region points battles; $36,900 for the State points races; and $6,245 for the UMP-sanctioned Wolfpack Challenge Series.
Denny Schwartz, 47, of Ashmore, Ill., walked off with the lion’s share of the lucrative points fund, pocketing $23,650 in checks following a 2007 season that saw him capture the UMP DIRTcar Racing open-wheel Modified national championship for the second time in three years.
Jeff Leka of Buffalo, Ill., who lost the national title to Schwartz by four points in a dramatic battle that wasn’t decided until the season’s final lap, settled for a points-fund take that totaled $14,425.
Other drivers who accumulated attractive points-fund returns in 2007 with their UMP DIRTcar Racing open-wheel Modified action included Shelby Miles of Bloomington, Ind. ($11,000), Bobby Martintoni of Livingston, Ill. ($8,800), Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky. ($7,000) and Ben Stephens of Hattiesburg, Miss. ($5,770).
Below is a complete breakdown of the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Modified points-fund distribution, which was divided among 210 drivers.
2007 UMP DIRT Car Racing Open-Wheel Modified National Points Fund Distribution ($74,975):
1. Denny Schwartz $20,000; 2. Jeff Leka $10,000; 3. Shelby Miles $5,000; 4. Bobby Martintoni $3,000; 5. Gary Cook Jr. $2,000; 6. Jesse Cramer $1,500; 7. Kent Robinson $1,400; 8. Bobby Bittle $1,300; 9. Bub Patrick $1,200; 10. Randle Sweeney $1,100; 11. Dave Porth $1,000; 12. Ryan Thomas $900; 13. McKay Wenger $800; 14. Todd Sherman $700; 15. Danny Schwartz $650; 16. Matt Bex $600; 17. Mike Spatola $550; 18. Tim Reynolds $500; 19. Chuck Haga $490; 20. Jon Henry $475;
21. Matt Boknecht $470; 22. Andy Sprague $465; 23. Lance Dehm $460; 24. Rob Fuqua $455; 25. Scott Orr $450; 26. Kevin Hastings $445; 27. John McCaul $440; 28. Bill Lewis $435; 29. Greg Amick $430; 30. Derek Losh $425; 31. Matt Goulden $420; 32. Doug Adkins $415; 33. Tony Anderson $410; 34. Brian Bielong $405; 35. Arby Burton $400; 36. Clayton Miller $395; 37. Jason Hastings $390; 38. (tie) Chad Evans $382.50; 38. (tie) Ray Walsh $382.50; 40. Dan Dykman $375;
41. Ben Stephens $370; 42. Lee Hobbs $365; 43. Tim Rivers $360; 44. Jeff Curl $355; 45. Tommy Kroll $350; 46. Richie Ginn $345; 47. Mike Vanderiet $340; 48. Randy Myers $335; 49. Mark Herbert $330; 50. Jeff Wellum $325; 51. Gabe Menser $320; 52. Jeb Freidman $315; 53. Kenny Carmichael $310; 54. (tie) Gary Richard $302.50; 54. (tie) John Demoss $302.50; 56. Jim Farris $295; 57. Matt Bachman $290; 58. Chad Osterhoff $285; 59. Mike Wilbern $280; 60. Brian Lynn $275;
61. Rich Neiser $270; 62. Mike Harrison $265; 63. Tim Hancock $260; 64. Randy Whitten $255; 65. Vince Cooper $250; 66. Todd Gilpin $245; 67. Brent Londeree $240; 68. Kevin McCarty $235; 69. Tim Tuttle $230; 70. Jamie Wilson $225; 71. Mark Miner $220; 72. Kyle Cooper $215; 73. Dean Hoffman $210; 74. Brad Wieck $205; 75. Brett Korves $200; 76. Miles Thalman $195; 77. Tim Walker $190; 78. Devin Gilpin $185; 79. Scott Weber $180; 80. Chris Smith (#155) $175;
81. Josh Ferguson $170; 82. (tie) Daniel Lewellwn $162.50; 82. (tie) A.J. Garber $162.50; 84. Justin Houston $155; 85. Chad Sellers $150; 86. Jamie Cobb $145; 87. (tie) Aaron Ricketts $137.50; 87. (tie) Paul Bailey $137.50; 89. Matt Miley $130; 90. Daryl Herbert $125; 91. Joel Funk $120; 92. Nick Poole $115; 93. Cody Hood $110; 94. Brian Yeatman $105; 95. Randy Shuman $100; 96. Jon Horn $95; 97. Michael Bolyard $90; 98. Marty Smith $85; 99. Jason Henry $80; 100. Shane Hebert $75
2007 Wolfpack Challenge Series Points Fund Distribution ($6,245):
1. Craig Conyer $2,500; 2. Jeff Wellum $1,200; 3. Wes McClara $600; 4. Matt Goulden $450; 5. Rick Weekly $300; 6. Kent Robinson $275; 7. Rob Fuqua $260; 8. McKay Wenger $240; 9. Chad Kinder $220; 10. Shelby Miles $200
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Open-Wheel Modified Region Points Fund Distribution ($61,350):
NORTH: 1. (tie) Denny Schwartz $3,500; 1. (tie) Jeff Leka $3,500; 3. Gary Cook Jr. $1,000; 4. Dave Porth $700; 5. McKay Wenger $500; 6. Mike Spatola $400; 7. Tim Reynolds $375; 8. Chuck Haga $350; 9. Andy Sprague $325; 10. Kevin Hastings $300; 11. John McCaul $275; 12. Lance Dehm $250; 13. Derek Losh $225; 14. Jason Hastings $175; 15. Arby Burton $160; 16. Bub Patrick $140; 17. Dan Dykman $120; 18. Tommy Kroll $115; 19. Jeff Curl $100; 20. Rob Fuqua $75
SOUTH: 1. Randle Sweeney $5,000; 2. Clayton Miller $2,000; 3. Miles Thalman $1,000; 4. Tim Walker $700; 5. Justin Houston $500; 6. Jamie Cobb $400; 7. A.J. Garber $375; 8. Jeff Elliott $350; 9. Michael Bolyard $325; 10. Steve Ladd $300; 11. Brandon Dierlam $275; 12. Fred Thalman $250; 13. Matt Thomas $225; 14. Dustin Isom $175; 15. Jeff Parks $160; 16. Dustin Ladd $140; 17. Brian Shaw $120; 18. Michael Coakley $115; 19. Ron Wall $100; 20. George Herter $75
EAST: 1. Shelby Miles $5,000; 2. Todd Sherman $2,000; 3. Matt Bex $1,000; 4. Jon Henry $700; 5. Matt Boknecht $500; 6. Bill Lewis $400; 7. Kent Robinson $375; 8. Tony Anderson $350; 9. Scott Orr $325; 10. Doug Adkins $300; 11. Lee Hobbs $275; 12. Greg Amick $250; 13. Gary Richards $225; 14. Jesse Cramer $175; 15. Todd Gilpin $160; 16. Brent Londeree $140; 17. Kevin McCarty $120; 18. Brad Wieck $115; 19. Devin Gilpin $100; 20. Tim Rivers $75
WEST: 1. Bobby Martintoni $5,000; 2. Bobby Bittle $2,000; 3. Brian Bielong $1,000; 4. Ray Walsh $700; 5. Matt Goulden $500; 6. Chad Evans $400; 7. Mark Miner $375; 8. Mike Vanderiet $350; 9. Dean Hoffman $325; 10. Brett Korves $300; 11. Tim Hancock $275; 12. Chris Smith #155 $250; 13. Randy Myers $225; 14. Mike Harrison $175; 15. Marty Smith $160; 16. Chad Sellers $140; 17. Paul Bailey $120; 18. Scott Weber $115; 19. Doug Wood $100; 20. Kenny Neu $75
DEEP SOUTH: 1. Ben Stephens $5,000; 2. Richie Ginn $2,000; 3. Mark Herbert $1,000; 4. Matt Miley $700; 5. Nick Poole $500; 6. Jason Henry $400; 7. Shane Hebert $375; 8. Kent Wood $350; 9. Gregg Hollingsworth $325; 10. D.J. Purvis $300; 11. Brad Rose $275; 12. Lance Broadus $250; 13. Michael Barfield $225; 14. Chris Smith #88 $175; 15. Chris Cassano $160; 16. Charlie MacNichol $140; 17. Danny Hebert $120; 18. Jerry Cassano $115; 19. Troy Seidl $100; 20. Robby Barker $75
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Open-Wheel Modified State Points Fund Distribution ($36,900):
CALIFORNIA: 1. Kenny Neu $800; 2. Ed Daviess $400; 3. Donny Bottoms $200; 4. Joel Hannagan $150; 5. Mike Salazar $125; 6. Jack Waldon $115; 7. Smoke Oakley $110; 8. Rickey Berndt $100; 9. John Toolanen $100; 10. Aaron Crowell $100
COLORADO: 1. Robbie Chiles $800; 2. Tommy Spurlock $400; 3. Jason Kirkpatrick $200; 4. Trevan Pepper $150; 5. Terry Chiles $125; 6. Kris Asbell $115; 7. Matt Ratzlaff $110; 8. John McCormick $100; 9. Michael McKinsey $100; 10. Chris Boone $100
FLORIDA: 1. Matt Miley $800; 2. Nick Poole $400; 3. Charlie MacNichol $200; 4. Chris Smith #88 $150; 5. Patrick Williams $125; 6. Dave Barber $115; 7. Rick Scott $110; 8. Greg Vandergriff $100; 9. Eddie Tribble $100; 10. Don Rollison $100
ILLNOIS: 1. Jeff Leka $800; 2. Gary Cook Jr. $400; 3. Dave Porth $200; 4. McKay Wenger $150; 5. Lance Dehm $125; 6. Brian Bielong $115; 7. Chad Evans $110; 8. Jason Hastings $100; 9. Kevin Hastings $100; 10. Jeff Curl $100
INDIANA: 1. Shelby Miles $800; 2. Jesse Cramer $400; 3. Kent Robinson $200; 4. Matt Bex $150; 5. Ryan Thomas $125; 6. Greg Amick $115; 7. Matt Boknecht $110; 8. Bub Patrick $100; 9. Lee Hobbs $100; 10. Bill Lewis $100
KENTUCKY: 1. Randle Sweeney $800; 2. Miles Thalman $400; 3. Justin Houston $200; 4. Jamie Cobb $150; 5. Tim Walker $125; 6. Jeff Elliott $115; 7. Steve Ladd $110; 8. Fred Thalman $100; 9. Dustin Ladd $100; 10. Michael Coakley $100
LOUISIANA: 1. Shane Hebert $800; 2. Michael Barfield $400; 3. Chris Blaszak $200; 4. Richie Ginn $150; 5. Leslie Hendrix $125; 6. Danny Hebert $115; 7. Chris Cassano $110; 8. Tommy Cannon $100; 9. Jerry Cassano $100; 10. Kevin Maddox $100
MICHIGAN: 1. Andy Sprague $800; 2. John McCaul $400; 3. Day Dykman $200; 4. Mike Wilbern $150; 5. Rich Neiser $125; 6. Randy Whitten $115; 7. Tim Tuttle $110; 8. Jon Horn $100; 9. Jacob Poel $100; 10. Jeremy Holman $100
MISSOURI: 1. Bobby Martintoni $800; 2. Ray Walsh $400; 3. Bobby Bittle $200; 4. Mark Miner $150; 5. Doug Wood $125; 6. Mike Vanderiet $115; 7. Jason Russell $110; 8. Leroy Haney $100; 9. Dennis Richards $100; 10. Ray Wagner $100
MISSISSIPPI: 1. Mark Herbert $800; 2. Ben Stephens $400; 3. Richie Ginn $200; 4. Jason Henry $150; 5. Kent Wood $125; 6. Gregg Hollingsworth $115; 7. D.J. Purvis $110; 8. Brad Rose $100; 9. Lance Broadus $100; 10. Robby Barker $100
OHIO: 1. Jon Henry $800; 2. Doug Adkins $400; 3. Tony Anderson $200; 4. Todd Sherman $150; 5. Gary Richard $125; 6. Brian Post $115; 7. Brent Hole $110; 8. Anthony Kinkade $100; 9. D.J. Cline $100; 10. Darryl Banks $100
OREGON: 1. Mark Wauge $800; 2. Monte Bischoff $400; 3. C.J. Putnum $200; 4. Jeff Hudson $150; 5. Kevin Putnum $125; 6. Justin Holt $115; 7. Wayne Kniffen $110; 8. Travis Peery $100; 9. Jeremy Richey $100; 10. Jerry Severson $100
TENNESSEE: 1. Clayton Miller $800; 2. A.J. Garber $400; 3. Matt Thomas $200; 4. Billy Palmer $150; 5. David Flowers $125; 6. Charles Zimmerman $115; 7. Steve Mullinax $110; 8. Dustin Isom $100; 9. Randle Sweeney $100; 10. Aaron Ogle $100
TEXAS: 1. Troy Seidl $800; 2. Jay Vinson $400; 3. Mike Girardo $200; 4. Edward Wickham $150; 5. Benny Perry $125; 6. Johnny Brown $115; 7. Richie Ginn $110
CANADA: 1. Curtis Coulter $800; 2. Jim Dale Jr. $400; 3. Joey Brousseau $200; 4. Abe Unger $150; 5. Aaron Wiebe $125; 6. Chris Vandewiele $115; 7. Brian Spellman $110; 8. Brad McLeod $100
FLORIDA DIRTcar NATIONALS: 1. Steve Arpin $800; 2. Brian Strand $400; 3. Joey Kramer $200; 4. Lee Hobbs $150; 5. Ray Walsh $125; 6. Kenny Wallace $115; 7. Tom Seets $110; 8. Brad Waits $100; 9. Kevin Adams $100; 10. Mark Dotson $100
FLORIDA WINTERNATIONALS: 1. Steve Arpin $800; 2. Kevin Weaver $400; 3. Jeff Mathews $200; 4. Denny Schwartz $150; 5. Jeff Leka $125; 6. Dave Groves $115; 7. Rob Fuqua $110; 8. J.E. Stadler $100; 9. Scotty Kincaid $100; 10. Julie McDermid $100
