The Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Model Series made their second visit of the year to Freedom Motorsports Park in Delevan, NY. Max Blair kept his hot streak going by grabbing his seventh ULMS win of the year, all seven wins have come in the last ten events.
Local and hometown favorite, Greg Oakes of Franklinville and Nathan Hill paced the field to start the 30 lap Pete Loretto Memorial main event with Oakes and his Yorkshire Battery, #22 Rocket XR1 immediately grabbing the lead at the start with Mike Maresca following into second and Max Blair making a quick charge from his sixth place starting spot to third as the field raced down the backstretch. The first caution of the event came out on lap 3 for Al Brewer who came to a stop on the backstretch with a right front flat.
On the restart, Oakes again lead the field into turn one over Maresca and Blair, who seemed to make contact allowing Chris Hackett, Mike Wonderling, and tenth starting Dave Hess Jr to move around the #111 of Blair. Lap five Oakes had a half a straight away lead over Maresca as Hess was now fourth and working on Hackett for third. By lap ten Hess had moved his way up to third and Blair had worked his way back to fifth. Lap thirteen would see the yellow lights come on for the very fast car of Dave Hess Jr, who shredded a right rear tire on the front stretch and during the caution, the leader Oakes came to a stop in turn one and would need a push to the pits. Oakes and Hess both would return before the event restarted.
Mike Maresca now was the new leader with Blair now back up to second followed by Mike Wonderling, Hackett and Bryce Davis. Maresca led the field into turn one with Blair applying heavy pressure as Hess was charging through the field. The top two ULMS point cars of Blair and Maresca would race door too door for multiple laps with Maresca holding off Blair until the black and green #111 XR1 Rocket of Blair vaulted pass the #7m Russ King Racing prepared Rocket XR1 of Maresca to take over the lead.
Once in the lead, Blair pulled away from Maresca and the rest of the field. With ten laps to go, Hess was up to fourth challenging Wonderling for third and the #44 of Hess would take third on lap twenty two. Blair’s straightaway lead over Maresca came to an end on lap 24 when the 4th place running Wonderling slowed with a right rear flat. The restart saw Blair in front for the Delaware restart with Maresca and Hess on his rear bumper. The anticipation of Hess continuing his charge to the front was short lived as he would get to high on the restart allowing Bryce Davis and Oakes to move by and Hess fell to fifth. Blair would pull away as Oakes continued his charge back to the front from his earlier pit side appearance and lap 26 would see the #22 machine now in third running after Maresca and battling Maresca for the runner up spot only to see Blair pick up his seventh win of the year on the ULMS tour over Maresca, Oakes, Davis, Hess, Wonderling, Hackett, Hill, Al Brewer and Jason Dobson.
Heat winners were Blair and Oakes. The Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Model Series is now off until Friday, July 27, when the series makes its second visit of the year to Dog Hollow Speedway for the tracks 20th Anniversary event paying $5000 to win. Rain date for the event will be Saturday, July 28th. ULMS will return to Freedom on Friday August 10th followed by a Saturday August 11th event at Genesee Speedway for a pair of New York state events.
ULMS RACING SERIES is proudly supported by Zimmer’s Service Center, Plyler’s Entry System, Close Racing Supply, Insinger Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Precise Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer Tire, Genesis Shocks, Integra Shocks, Keizer Wheels, Mary Norgrove Notary Public, Jays Automotive and Advocare by Advozuvy.com. The ULMS Racing Series gives the fans four divisions of action featuring the Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Model Series, Plyler Entry UEMS Modifieds, Advocare by Advozuvy.com United 4 Cylinder Series and in 2019 the Super V6 Late Model Series.
PETE LORETTO MEMORIAL:
MAX BLAIR, Mike Maresca, Greg Oakes, Bryce Davis, Dave Hess, Mike Wonderling Jr., Chris Hackett, Nathan Hill, Al Brewer and Jason Dobson.