Moyer claims I-55 Pepsi Nationals Title!
PEVELY, MO (September 15, 2001) Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas earned his fifth Pepsi Nationals title on Saturday night at the I-55 Raceway and claimed $10,000 for picking up the win. The win came in his sponsorsÂ’ backyard as he drove the Petroff Towing, B AUTO Parts, J&J Steel, Hoosier Tire, AFCO, C.J. Rayburn, Jay Dickens FORD powered #21 to victory lane.
The night was kicked off with a very emotional tribute to the victims in New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. Drivers and crews formed a complete circle around the speedway, all holding candles while God Bless the USA played in the background. I-55 Raceway collected over $6300 in donations from fans, sponsors and crews to donate to the American Red Cross.
I-55 RacewayÂ’s 2001 UMP Late Model Champion Ed Dixon set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 13.398 seconds.
The Tall Cool One, Bob Pierce jumped out front early and led all nine laps to claim the victory in the dash, giving him a front row pole starting spot in the main event. Ed Dixon followed in second with Kevin Weaver, Mark Oller, Shannon Babb, Dan Schlieper, Randy Korte, Kevin Gundaker and Jeff Leka rounding out the finishing order.
Billy Moyer won the first heat race over Don OÂ’Neal, Randy Korte and Dave Jumper. Billy Drake took the second heat race by besting Kevin Gundaker, Jr. Shickel and NASCAR Winston Cup star Ken Schrader. The third and final heat race went to Mike Mullvain over Jeff Leka, Tim Ratajczyk and Clay Baumann.
Matt Taylor took the Semi-Feature over Danny Haynes, Gary May, Don Klein and Greg Johnson.
As the green flag fell on the main event, Bob Pierce and Ed Dixon battled side-by-side, with Pierce on the low side and Dixon up on the cushion. The two swapped the lead back and fourth for the first nine laps before Pierce pulled ahead. As Pierce opened up his lead, Billy Moyer started moving up through the field from his seventh place starting spot. Moyer took over second place on lap eighteen and began to reel-in Pierce who had almost a full straight away lead. Pierce and Moyer worked their way through heavy lapped traffic, Moyer made the pass going into turn one on lap 36. Pierce fought back and pulled along side Moyer on lap 39, but Moyer held on to take the 40-lap event. Kevin Weaver followed the duo to the line for third. Shannon Babb was fourth and Don OÂ’Neal fifth. Billy Drake, Ed Dixon, Mark Oller, Dan Schlieper and Randy Korte rounded out the top ten.
In the UMP Modified division, the Rocket Man, Scott Weber was untouchable as he drove away from the field to claim the win. This was WeberÂ’s third consecutive Pepsi Nationals Title in the UMP Modifieds. Jim Shereck provided an early challenge to Weber, but Shereck and Rich Whaley tangled on lap ten, sending both cars spinning. For the final ten laps there was a big battle for second place and in the end it was Brent Mullins taking the spot over Tom Ratajczyk, Dean Hoffman and Rusty Griffaw.
Troy Naeger won his first ever AARA Sportsman Pepsi Nationals Title. Naeger held off rookie driver Ricky Horton who took second. The 2001 AARA Sportsman track champion Paul Belken was third. Brian Worley and Mark Blanke completed the top five.
| UMP Late Models (34 Cars) Qualifying: Ed Dixon 13.398 Bob Pierce 13.471 Jeff Leka 13.475 Shannon Babb 13.533 Kevin Weaver 13.577 Randy Korte 13.609 Billy Moyer 13.619 Kevin Gundaker 13.637 Jr. Shickel 13.659 Mark Oller 13.663 Dan Schlieper 13.681 Mike Mullvain 13.818 Don OÂ’Neal 13.829 Billy Drake 13.839 Clay Baumann 13.875 Gary May 13.9 Ken Schrader 13.925 Tim Ratajczyk 13.965 Dave Jumper 13.966 Billy Faust 13.988 Dwayne Kiefer 14.033 Matt Taylor 14.074 Danny Haynes 14.075 Bill Masters 14.093 Jason Frankel 14.125 Don Klein 14.125 Steve Shive 14.153 Greg Johnson 14.195 John Bohn 14.341 Ron Sensel 14.433 Scott Gaeshel 14.645 John Stanton 14.743 Rodney Pense 14.87 Tommy Worley NT Heat 1: Heat 2: Heat 3: Dash: Semi: Feature: |
UMP Modifieds (36 Cars) Heat 1: 1. 21 Dennis Richards 2. 14 Leroy Haney 3. 10 D.J. Cygan 4. 14K Loren Knox Heat 2: Heat 3: Heat 4: Dash: Semi: Feature: |
| AARA Sportsman (36 Cars) Heat 1: 1. 44 Nick Werner 2. 59 Jeff Whaley 3. 10 Todd McGraw 4. 9 Dale Carroll Heat 2: Heat 3: Heat 4: Dash: Semi #1: Semi #2: Feature: |
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