A.L.M.S.

  The 2009 racing season has already started and the  ALMS series by Sunoco will once again have a full schedule with 24 races to date . The ALMS series is a regional series for drivers in the Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky state area to follow. The success of the ALMS series is due to the drivers that follow the series and also due to Sunoco Racing Fuel and Bazell Oil. Other sponsers include AllStar Performance, CJ Rayburn race cars and Bert Transmission.

  Not many changes are in store for the series, The point fund will remain the same as well as the pay offs. We are going to change the procedures a little. See the procedures for the changes. We will be heading to several new tracks this year as well as going back to many of the tracks that have become a staple of the ALMS series. Mt Pleasant speedway, Waynesfield Motorsports Park and Merritt Speedway will have there first  ALMS race in the 2009 season with tracks Like Eldora Speedway, Oakshade Raceway, Limaland Motorsports Park and Attica Raceway Park hosting there usual events with the series.

  In the 2009 season drivers can join UMP Dirtcar as members and get their 2009 ALMS membership for free, Just mark the ALMS box for the Series and pay the $125.00 fee . You will then write in the box where it says( membership purchased at )__________________. Write on that line ALMS. That way UMP will pay for your ALMS membership. When you join as a ALMS/UMP Dirtcar member you are eligible for all UMP Dirtcar points funds, The ALMS point funds as well as the insurance thru UMP Dirtcar. ($50,000.00 medical, $10,000.00 Life and a small dental policy)

   If you just want to join ALMS , You can do that also. See the website for memberships , print it off , fill it out and mail it in.

  We will also use the same point structure that UMP Dirtcar uses, It has been tweaked a little, You can also see that on the website.

  Our address and telephone number has changed , it will be listed below, Good luck to everyone in the 2009 season.

        Sam Driggers
        ALMS Director
        PO Box 411
        Grayville, Il. 62844
        (618) 450-2072 Office
        (618) 450-2079 Fax
        (618) 445-2537 Home
        (812) 449-2660 Cell
        (704) 467-7786 Cell # 2

(JACKSON, MICHIGAN) For the second time in three years “The Jackson Assassin” Rusty Schlenk was Crowned Champion of the American Late Model Series, presented by Sunoco. The awards ceremony took place at the Eldora Ballroom, in conjunction with the Eldora Speedway Banquet and the Crowning of their Champions.

Just before the Champion received his awards, two time ALMS Series Champion, and perennial front runner, Brian Ruhlman came to the stage and began his speech for the runner-up accolades, by saying “When I heard Mike Lawrence and Rusty Schlenk were teaming up, it wasn't good news”. Brain himself had driven for Mike Lawrence, and that pairing had a huge amount of success together. Double digit wins, three strait Eldora Speedway Late Model Track Championships, an ALMS Series Title, and a $10,000 victory at Eldora's season ending UMP National Championships. Brian knew his road to a third ALMS Series Championship would be much tougher if the Young Hot Shoe was to acquire the seat in the Mike Lawrence owned, meticulously maintained Dargie Powered Rocket. And his instincts were spot on! In the first ALMS event of the season, held at Tony Stewart's Legendary Eldora Speedway, on April 19, 2008, Brian Ruhlman would take the Win and the Championship point lead. A position he would keep the entire season, until the very last ALMS Series event held at Millstream Speedway, in Findlay, Ohio, on September 28, 2008.

Want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and to reassure everyone that there will be a series again for the 2009 season. To date I already have 22 races booked and I am working on several more. With times being tough it has been difficult to get tracks to schedule races of any sort but for whatever reason the A.L.M.S. races just seem to fall into place, Maybe that’s because yor are such a great bunch of people.

I don’t see many if any changes for the 2009 season reguarding rules or pay offs, The point funds will remain the same and you will still get UMP points for all races. Memberships and schedules will be mailed out within the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Congratulations to Rusty Schlenk and Ryan Vanderveen for being the 2008 champion and Rookie of the year . The Eldora  folks are still working on a date for the banquet and as soon as that becomes availble, I will forward the info to you. 

In closing, I hope everyone has a happy and safe hoilday and look forward to seeing all of you in the 2009 season.

       Best regards
       Sam Driggers
       A.L.M.S series director/UMP Dirtcar director