The 2019 Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Model Series ended the year with the Mark O’Donnell Memorial last night with Mike Pegher Jr finding the Close Racing Supply ULMS victory lane for the first time in his career. Pegher had to hold off a hard charging Max Blair over the final four laps to win the $3013 prize money by 0.121 seconds. Blair’s second place finish was good enough for him to wrap up the 4 race mini series title that was worth an extra $1000.
Dave Blazavich and Pegher brought the 25 car field to Bob Connor’s green flag to start the 30 lap Mark O’Donnell Memorial with the world famous #1c Cochran Automotive, Lynn Geisler owner machine of Pegher jetting out to the lead with Blazavich and Matt Lux following. The first yellow came when lap 1 was completed. The restart saw Max Blair quickly find his way into second as Blazavich and Blair began a side by side battle for the runner up spot. Blazavich would regain second from Blair and begin to hound Pegher for the lead as he was using the top way around the track.
By lap 9 the leaders were in lap traffic as Blazavich was still hounding Pegher and Blair still in striking distance. On lap 9 the yellow came out for John Myers after he suffered left front damage as he was clipped by Blazavich. A lap 10 yellow came out of Ken Schaffer and Doug Eck who got collected up in a chain reaction event in turn 4. On the restart Blazavich went back to the top of the track and lap he would take the top spot from Pegher and Chub Frank came out of no where to find himself in fourth position in the Chad McClelland #119 machine.
At the halfway mark it was Blazavich over Pegher, Blair, Frank and Lux. Lap traffic was a factor again on lap 19. Pegher would use lap traffic to make the pass on Blazavich with ten to go and Blair would get by also moving the #18B of Blazavich back to third. A caution with seven to go tighten the field back up and now putting Blair in the runner up spot in the restart. On the restart they were three wide down the back stretch behind Pegher and Blair. Frank, Blazavich and David Scott rocketed into the top five in his Terry Suppa owned CJ Rayburn by BA. The final yellow came out on lap 26 as Mike Laughard spun in turn 3 and was collected by Zack Wiech.
The final 4 lap shootout saw Pegher again control the start with Blair using the top groove to stay glued to the bumper of his brother in law. As the duo came to the white flag, Blair ducked to the inside of Pegher. Pegher pinched Blair as they entered the corner. Blair hard on the brakes to avoid contact and this allowed Pegher to pull away by a few car lengths. Blair wasn’t done yet with a half a lap remaining he charged into turn 3 again on the outside and made a last pitch under Pegher at the line to come up short by 0.121 seconds.
A jubilant Pegher was greeted in victory lane by his brother in law Blair and the Lynn Geisler winning team. Following Pegher and Blair was David Scott, Blazavich, Frank, Jared Miley, Greg Oakes, Lux, Andrew Wylie and Del Rougeux.
The event marked the end of the 19th season for the Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Model Series. The series is already scheduling dates for their 20th Anniversary season in 2020 and will be sanctioning the 5 race Viper Motorsports Billy Vacek Memorial Speedweek in 2020.
ULMS RACING SERIES is proudly supported by Zimmer’s Service Center, Close Racing Supply, Insinger Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Precise Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer Tire, Murphy’s Logging, Alliance Racewear, WEHRS Machinery & Racing Products, DirtDefender, Jay’s Auto Wrecking, Genesis Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Keizer Wheels, Cousins Designs, Dynamic Drivelines, Mary Norgrove Notary Public, Jays Automotive, Phantom Signs & Graphics, and Advocare by Advozuvy.com
RESULTS:
MARK O’DONNELL MEMORIAL:
MIKE PEGHER JR., Max Blair, David Scott, Dave Blazavich, Chub Frank, Jared Miley, Greg Oakes, Matt Lux, Andrew Wylie, Del Rougeux, Boom Briggs, Dan Angelicchio, Mike Wonderling, Charles Powell, Rick Tripodi, Kenny Schaffer, Paul Kot, Jason Dobson, Mike Laughard, Zack Wiech, Drake Troutman, Doug Eck, John Weaver, John Myers, Kyle Knapp, Steve Scaife (DNS) Kelvin Kohan (DNS)
Zimmer Service Center Heat #1
Lux, Blazavich, Wonderling, Miley Powell, Knapp, Kot, Tripodi, Kohan (DNS)
Hoosier Tire Heat #2
Pegher, Blair, Scott, Angelicchio, Weaver, Dobson, Schaffer, Wiech, Eck
Lias Tire Heat #3
Wylie, Rougeux, Oakes, Frank, Laughard, Briggs, Troutman, Myers, Scaife
Integra Shocks Fast Time: Matt Lux
Genesis Shocks Award: Mike Pegher
Dynamic Drivelines Award: Jared Miley
Keizer Wheels Award: Del Rougeux
DirtDefender Award: Mike Pegher
Alliance Race Wear Hard Charger: Chub Frank