UMP champ Erb wins crash-filled WDRL race

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By Christopher Maloney | Monday, April 21, 2008 12:53 AM CDT | () comments

EAST MOLINE, Ill — The United Midwestern Promoters late models took three of the top-four spots at the second annual Spring Clash on Sunday at Quad-City Raceway. The feature pitted UMP drivers against the World Dirt Racing League.

The curfew-shortened 44-lap race began and ended with accidents that prolonged the event. The curfew postponed the scheduled four-cylinder feature.

Last year’s UMP champion Dennis Erb of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, took the checkered flag, followed by last Wednesday’s WDRL race champion, Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill.

Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa, started the feature in fourth position, but five laps in, he found himself cornered and then took a hit in the right fender. His A-frame was bent, and he was knocked out of the $5,000 event.

“I got off to a good start to the season and then hit some bad luck,” Utter said. “I started laying back, wanting to push it closer to end of the race, and got cornered. Two cars crashed up ahead of me. I tried to go low but there was a (track border) tire there, so I had no place to go. After the A-frame got bent, I couldn’t steer, and so I couldn’t get back into the race.”

Two other victims of accidents were 19-year old pole winner, Frank Hackenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., who was broadsided during the last lap of the race, and Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, whose accident was the last action the crowd saw.

Brian Harris of Davenport improved on last Wednesday’s 13th-place finish with a fifth-place finish Sunday.

In the other feature, Ray Bollinger of Kewanee, Ill., finished second to Gary Cook Jr. of Deer Creek, Ill., in the UMP Modifieds feature.

For Bollinger, the strong finish was a pleasant surprise.

“Just about three weeks ago, this car was nothing but the frame,” he said. “This finish feels great. Putting together this car has been a family affair with buddies, buddies’ dads, and my dad helping in making this car and tonight possible. I like tacky tracks, like this was tonight because of the weather. This was nice.”

To make up for the postponed four-cylinder feature, Quad-City Raceway officials said the track plans to host a four-cylinder double feature Sunday.