Despite the best efforts of competitors and racers to complete the program, rain played havoc with the Allstar Fall Nationals for the second time this week on Saturday night, forcing officials to postpone the remaining 24 laps in the Late Model feature event and the 30-lap $5,000-to-win Modified Championship Feature to Sunday at noon. All gates will open at 11 a.m.
Jeep Van Wormer (Pinconning, Michigan) was leading the DIRTcar UMP Late Model feature at the time of the stoppage, followed by current Eldora points leader Kent Robinson (Bloomington, Indiana), Bobby Pierce (Oakwood, Illinois), Jon Henry (Ada), Jacob Hawkins (Fairmont, West Virginia), Jeremy Berwanger (Murray City), Ryan Unzicker (El Paso, Illinois) who is currently second in the national standings, Steve Casebolt (Richmond, Indiana), Andrew Reaume (Blenheim, Ontario), Jeff Babcock (Wayne) and DIRTcar UMP National Championship leader Rusty Schlenk (McClure).
Late Model heat race winners were Van Wormer, Casebolt and Robinson.
In earlier action for the UMP Modifieds, Kyle Strickler (Mooresville, North Carolina), Taylor Cook (Huntersville, North Carolina), Josh Rice (Verona, Kentucky) and Justin Haley (Winamac, Indiana) won the four tournament-style qualifying races which seeded drivers based on preliminary action.
Hawkins won the $3,000-to-win Wabash River Challenge over Tyler Nicely (Owensboro, Kentucky) and Jordan Conover (Kenton).
Second generation driver Danny Schwartz (Ashmore, Illinois) won the $2,000-to-win Fall Harvest Pursuit. He was followed by Blake Spalding (Hartford, Michigan) and Gene Nicholas (Lowell, Arkansas).
Trent Young (Crofton, Kentucky) and Jonathan Taylor (Saltsburg, Pennsylvania) will lead the $5,000-to-win National Championship feature to the green on Sunday afternoon. Taylor is chasing multi-time Eldora champion Jerry Bowersock (Wapakoneta) for the 2017 Eldora Points Championship. Bowersock is scheduled to lineup in the 14th position.
Attendees of Saturday’s event should retain their tickets and wristbands as rainchecks for Sunday’s activities.
Eldora Speedway PR
