McKean County Raceway
Davies grabs ULMS victory at McKean County
Ron Davies gets rolling at McKean County. (Tim Montouri)
EAST SMETHPORT, Pa. (April 27) — Fifth-starting Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., outdueled Bob Close of Eldred, Pa., at McKean County Raceway and captured Saturday’s Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial for a $3,000 NDRL's ULMS Racing Series victory. | Slideshow
Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., finished second followed by pole-starting Russ King of Bristolville, Ohio. Jason Dupont of Cyclone, Pa., and reigning ULMS champ Boom Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., rounded out the top five in the caution-free affair. Close ended up 16th after retiring mid-race.
King and Close led the field to green with Close taking the early lead over King, Davies, and a hard-charging Hess. Davies and King battled for second with Davies gaining the advantage as Hess made his way around King for third.
Close set a torrid pace out front before catching lapped traffic on lap nine, giving Davies the opportunity to make a bid for the lead. Davies took full advantage of the opening and took the lead from Close as the field completed lap 10.
Close wouldn't go without a fight, though, as he regained the lead for laps 11 and 12 before Davies, who had his hands full with Hess, regained the lead for good on lap 13.
Hess followed Davies around Close to take over the second spot before Close bounced off a rough patch in the racing surface sending his car into the air briefly and landing hard back onto the surface. Close slowed, ending his night on lap 15.
Davies picked up the pace and pulled away while Hess and King battled for second. The two were stuck behind a lapped car for several laps before Hess was finally able to work around the slower machine, putting some distance between his No. 44 and King. Out front, Davies was in control in wrapping up his first ULMS victory in five seasons.
Notes: Davies drives a Capital Race Car sponsored by Hornburg Oil, Penn Gold Well Services and Octane Custom Designs. ... Davies notched his seventh career ULMS victory but first since the 2008 opener at Little Valley (N.Y.) Speedway. ... The caution-free feature lasted about 19 minutes. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Scott Gurdak and Chad Valone. ... The event was the first of 13 this season for the series at McKean County, which is also under the NDRL umbrella. ... The series returns to McKean on May 11 for another $3,000-to-win race.
Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial: (1) Ron Davies, (2) Dave Hess Jr., (3) Russ King, (4) Jason Dupont, (5) Boom Briggs, (6) Chris Hackett, (7) Matt Urban, (8) Dick Barton, (9) Greg Oakes, (10) Rich Gardner, (11) Brent Rhebergen, (12) Brian Booze, (13) Jim Rasey, (14) Doug Eck, (15) Wally Fox, (16) Bob Close, (17) Andrew Gordon, (18) Darrell Bossard, (19) Mike Knight, (20) Bill Davis. Scratched: Rob Blair. Heat race winners (among 23 cars): Close, Knight, Davies.
