IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

October 5, 2008 United Dirt Late Models On The Move By Jack Smith "I am ultra-ultra excited about it, I think it is an awesome layout of a schedule", is how Ken Kinney, owner of the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series (UDLMCS), described the 2009 series schedule. Released just a few days ago, the 2009 version of the very exciting brand of dirt late model racing created by Kinney will step up the pace set this year. The schedule features 20 events across three states, at thirteen different facilities including one asphalt race and several combined sanctioned events with the National Late Model Series. Ken Kinney felt it important to get the 2009 schedule out to teams and car owners as early as possible. "Drivers will have time to work with potential sponsors and plan ahead a bit", he said. The 2008 United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series has been one of the brightest spots in short track racing in the Florida-Georgia market. The concept for the UDLMCS series was created in the waning months of 2007 and hit the ground running in late February 2008 with 45 teams showing off their talents to a standing room only audience at Ocala Speedway. Shane Williams and Ivedent Lloyd battled hard for the win in the Inaugural UDLMCS Race. Williams continued his February domination of late models in taking the win. Showing the Ocala race was not a fluke, over 40 teams made the trip to the nation's southernmost dirt track and braved a frigid wind to perform in front of one of the largest crowds ever at the New Hendry County Speedway. Lloyd took the win. The record of 47 cars at East Alabama in April didn't last long as 49 cars were signed in for the “Battle by the Bay” as East Bay hosted its first UDLMCS event. By the time the series headed back to Ocala Speedway in June for the Powell Memorial, excitement had grown to a whole new level.Fifty-three race teams came to honor the Powell Family and again a packed house, as fans seemed to know the series was providing some of the most exciting racing to be found. A month later, Volusia Speedway Park hosted the 3rd Annual Scott Thompson Memorial. Ken Kinney got with Ray Miller of the National Late Model Series and track GM Tonya Moschell and when race day came there were over 60 cars in the pits. The last race at East Bay Raceway Park on September 29th produced one of the most exciting finishes all year. "It was the most exciting finish, it definitely was," Kinney said after the race. Race Director Billy Ausburn was even more outspoken in his excitement about the race. "If you didn't go to the race...you missed probably the best dirt late model race I've seen this year, and trust me I've seen a lot them. The race was awesome, the lapped cars were racing each other, the leaders were racing each other, at one time they were four wide for the lead, you didn't know who was going to win." In February 2009, the series opens with the first three races in Florida over two weekends. Friday, February 27 the opener at Ocala Speedway for the Second Annual Late Model Clash, then Saturday night at East bay Raceway Park. The following weekend the teams move south to New Hendry County Speedway. VIEW THE NEW SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE! The second three races moves the series to Georgia, followed by another double-header weekend, this time in Alabama, with a Friday show at Penton Speedway and Saturday at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The series has already announced the Championship Points Fund for 2009. "We are going to award $15,000 in cash and prizes to the 2009 Champion of the series." There is also serious efforts underway to increase the posted awards for drivers and teams in 2009, and announcements about some of these are expected before the Oct 25th race. Track operators, sponsors and drivers alike have been very pleased with the way things have turned out for United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series in 2008. Golden Isles Speedway owner Frankie Lloyd said recently, "Ken Kinney is the new kid on the block this year and he is doing very good with it". Ocala Speedway owner Mike Peters spoke glowingly about the UDLMCS, "It is an awesome show, Ken does an outstanding job,he does what a series promoter should do." "He is doing a real good job, you couldn't ask for anything better, we love to come to his shows, he pays good money, and you can count on it." said late model star Mark Whitener. Rebecca Zeigler with Zeigler racing engines said, "We have met a lot of great people, we have had a lot of our customers run in it and it definitely been a great series to be a part of." Not only has Ken Kinney assembled a solid team to bring an exciting late model show to tracks in the south, but he has utilized the media and promotion in a big way. All the races of the UDLMCS in 2008 are made available on the Internet in video format, produced by Bob Culbertson's Florida Video. Fans all over the Country have been able to listen to announcer Rick Anges call the races live on the Internet via Real Racin' USA. The series has actively been involved at helping to put fans in the grandstands at many of the events with pre-event publicity including on-air radio ads and interviews and print media interviews and "meet and greets". A photographic record of the series throughout the year is provided by Rick Warren on RicksDarkRoom.com. Ken Kinney has reason to be "ultra" excited about the 2009 UDLMCS schedule, and as he has said often, "We want to be the junior circuit of the Super Late Models next year." NEXT STOP: HENDRY COUNTY SPEEDWAY Hendry County Speedway on October 25 is the next stop for the United Dirt Late Models. Promoter Ken Kinney is very amped up about the concluding races for 2008. "After listening to drivers and watching the rising cost of our sport the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series is proud to announce the 1st Kim Allen Memorial race at New Hendry County Speedway." Kinney added, "Running a 50 lap feature and a payout that is not only $7000 to win but also paying $400 to start the Kim Allen Memorial promises to be one of the top paying races of the year in the state of Florida." A joint promotion between Hendry County Speedway and the UDLMCS is making $10 tickets available until the the 20th of October. Tickets will be $20 the day of the show. Two of the south's top super late model racers Ivedent Lloyd and Jason Fitzgerald, driver of the Bobby Labonte dirt late model team, are committed to the race. "It should be a great mix between our stars and the super late model guys coming down to try and pick their pocket". Radio and print media advertising along with numerous "meet and greet" car shows in the area will shortly get underway for the event. Ken Kinney said last week, "We are going to pack Clewiston like they have never seen it. We are going to pack that place where you have to walk down the road to get there or we have a bus bringing people back there". NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS The "Night of Champions" at East Bay Raceway Park on November 8th is the First Annual Florida Late Model Championship and is already drawing interest and commitments from several top drivers from Georgia who haven't raced with the series before. Also scheduled is a Media Race with personalities from the Tampa Bay area media outlets. Fans are going to be treated to one of the best "star-quality" shows they have seen at a short track in Florida. Ken Kinney is making every effort to get the race winner's share back up the $7000 originally planned for the race. "Central Florida Mobile Homes put up a thousand dollars, United Land Clearing of Orange Park, Florida put up $1000. I want to come up with another $2000 through commitments from others in the racing community. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on The Real Racin USA Florida Fan Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!