The 2017 Zimmer’s Service Center ULMS Late Model Series tour kicked off last night at Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, PA with a $3000 to win season opening event. Twenty three late models entered the event as the only super late model event of the year at Mercer. 

Clymer, New York’s, Brent Rhebergen inherited the pole position after the top qualified drivers redrew for their starting spots for the 30 lap main event. Pole sitter, Max Blair scratched himself from the event with engine problems shuffling the starting lineup. As veteran flagman John Powell waved the green, Rhebergen shot in front of Doug Eck at the start bringing Hess with him into second. The first caution came out on lap two for a mutli car incident in turn 2 for Kyle Knapp, John Weaver, Matt Lux, Billy Dickson and Levi Sikora. Dickson and Sikora retired from the event at that time.

On the restart Rhebergen led Hess, Eck, Mike Pegher, Alex Ferree and Russ King. Hess applied pressure on Rhebergen on lap three coming to lap four to take the lead over in turn four. As the leaders crossed the line, the yellow came out gain for a hard crash in turn four as Tom Beck spun and was collected hard by ULMS Close Racing Supply Elite driver, Charlie Powell, both were finished for the night. One the restart fourth place running Pegher spun in turn two to bring the yellow back out.

Hess refired the field at the green with five laps finally down, it was Hess over a impressive running Rhebergen, Eck, Ferree, King, and Greg Oakes. King would rocket into third on lap seven in turn two and grab the runner up spot from Rhebergen in turn three as Hess had scooted away by ten car lengths. With ten laps in the books it was still Hess over King, Ferree now in third tracking down the top duo, Rhebergen now in fourth with Eck sitting in fifth over Oakes, Ken Schaltenbrand, Keith Barbara, Bob Dorman and Kyle Knapp. One lap later, Pegher would exit the track with a trail of white smoke ending his night.

At the halfway point it was still Hess but the red machine of Russ King was closing in very fast. With ten to go King was all over Hess and the A-train express of Alex Ferree was coming faster than a locomotive to join the duo as lap twenty two clicked off, lap traffic came into play and one lap later, Knapp would get sideways coming out of turn four and collect second place running King resulting in King coming to a stop and ending his night. On the restart Hess shot away from Ferree and with five to go, sixteenth starting Damian Bidwell who restarted seventh was shot out of cannon and quickly moved into fourth ahead of Eck. As Hess was checking out from Ferree by a second, Bidwell was stalking Rhebergen for third. As the checkers fell for Hess and Ferree, Bidwell squeezed by Rhebergen to grab third with ULMS Close Racing Supply Elite driver, Greg Oakes coming home fifth.

The defending 2016 ULMS Champion, Dave Hess drives the Terry Suppa owened #44s CJ Rayburn by BA Nolte and sponsored by Beacon Lubricants, McKean Tavern, Chiropractic Solutions, Fox’s Pizza of Warren, CarSmile Wiper Blades, Cargo Auto Parts, Hess Garage, Patterson Overhead Door, House Doctor, Genesis Shocks and Hoosier Racing Tire.

The three heat winners were Russ King, Max Blair and Mike Pegher Jr. Pegher was the Integra Shocks overall Fast Time in qualifying with a lap of 16.774.

ULMS will return to action on Friday and Saturday April 28 and 29th. Friday April 28th will see the ULMS make their first of three visits to Thunder Mtn Speedway in Brookville for a 30 lap, $3000 to win event and the following day they will head to the Monster Half Mile at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway for the Red Miley Rumble paying $3553 to win. Both events will be the season opener for both tracks.

The Zimmer’s Service Center ULMS Racing Series is supported by Zimmer’s Service Center, Hoosier Racing Tire Mid Atlantic, Sunoco Racing Fuel by Insinger Performance, Genesis Shocks, Integra Shocks, Lias Tire, American Racer, Advocare by Advozuvy.com and Close Racing Supply.

RESULTS:

Zimmers Service Center Heat #1:
Russ King, Doug Eck, Bren Rhebergen Bob Dorman Kyle Knapp, John Weaver, Levi Sikora, Matt Latta

Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Heat #2
Max Blair, Dave Hess Jr., Keith Barbara, Bobby Rohrer, Ken Schaltenbrand, Damian Bidwell, Skip Lindemuth, Billy Dickson

American Racer Tire Heat #3
Mike Pegher, Alex Ferree, Tommy Beck, Greg Oakes, Charlie Powell, Matt Lux, Breyton Santee

FEATURE:
DAVE HESS, Alex Ferree, Damian Bidwell, Brent Rhebergen, Greg Oakes,Bob Dorman, , Ken Schaltenbrand, Skip Lindemuth, Doug Eck, Breyton Santee, Kyle Knapp, John Weaver, Bobby Rohrer, Mike Pegher Jr., Keith Barbara, Tommy Beck, Charlie Powell, Matt Lux, Billy Dickson, Levi Sikora. Matt Latta (DNS) Max Blair (DNS), Russ King (DQ).