{"id":3767,"date":"2009-08-28T06:47:26","date_gmt":"2009-08-28T11:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100.24.212.105\/?p=3767"},"modified":"2010-11-12T06:48:37","modified_gmt":"2010-11-12T12:48:37","slug":"ump-dirt-racing-national-points-update-red-hot-feger-extends-super-late-model-points-lead-cook-maintains-modified-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/divisions\/late-models\/ump-dirt-racing-national-points-update-red-hot-feger-extends-super-late-model-points-lead-cook-maintains-modified-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"UMP DIRT Racing National Points Update: Red-Hot Feger Extends Super Late Model Points Lead; Cook Maintains Modified Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"
Maryville, IL<\/strong> \u2014 Jason Feger is the hottest driver on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Super Late Model circuit.<\/p>\n And as a result, the 31-year-old from Bloomington, Ill., is expanding his lead in the organization\u2019s national points standings.<\/p>\n Feger won twice in three UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned starts last weekend, pushing his points lead to 29 markers (2,843-2,814) over two-time defending national champion Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., in races run through Aug. 24. It\u2019s now been three consecutive weeks that Feger has been atop the national points battle, which is determined using drivers\u2019 best 40 finishes\/points nights.<\/p>\n After entering last weekend\u2019s action with a precarious 12-point edge over Erb, Feger went out and won features on Aug. 21 at Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway and Aug. 22 at Highland (Ill.) Speedway (his fifth Monster Midwest Tour victory of 2009). He also finished second in a Monster Midwest event on Aug. 23 at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway, giving him a near-perfect weekend.<\/p>\n Feger, who is seeking his first-ever UMP DIRTcar national title, has won six of his last eight starts since Aug. 7. He has 15 UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned wins overall, tying him with Dona Marcoullier of Houghton Lake, Mich., for the circuit lead.<\/p>\n Erb had a solid weekend as well, sandwiching a win in the Northern All-Stars Late Model Series event on Aug. 22 at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway with third-place finishes on Aug. 21 at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway and Aug. 23 at Quincy.<\/p>\n Gary Cook Jr. of Deer Creek, Ill., meanwhile, continued to pace the UMP DIRTcar Racing national Modified points standings, adding another 14 points to his advantage from the previous week. He enters the weekend leading Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky., by 102 points (2,371-2,269).<\/p>\n With the Modified standings determined by drivers\u2019 best 30 finishes\/points nights, Cook had two strong outings last weekend that gained him points. He finished second on Aug. 22 at Spoon River Speedway in Canton, Ill., and won on Aug. 23 at Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill.<\/p>\n But while Cook has a triple-digit cushion on his nearest pursuer, the battle behind him is razor-close. Just 102 points separates second place Sweeney from 10th-place Lance Dehm of Pontiac, Ill.<\/p>\n Other UMP DIRTcar national points leaders through Aug. 23 included Tait Davenport of West Paducah, Ky. (Pro Late Models), Jimmy Cummins of Waterloo, Ill. (Sportsman), Chad Boone of Owensboro, Ky. (Limited Modifieds), Rick Thomas of Koehler, Ill. (Stock Cars), Bill May of Muskegon, Mich. (Factory Stocks) and Bob Zbinden of Alhambra, Ill. (Sport Compacts).<\/p>\n