NEW ULRA OPEN LATE MODEL SERIES COMING TO AREA TRACKS
A new dirt-track series for open Late Models led by long-time southwest Missouri driver Jesse Stovall is scheduled to kick off its inaugural 15-race schedule April 25th at Monett Motor Speedway.
Stovall, a former MLRA champion from Billings, Mo., said the goal is to give regional racers an avenue to compete in open Late Models.
“It’s been a dream of mine to build a series that is aimed for the racer and the race tracks and that’s what we are going to try to do,” Stovall said of the new United Late Model Racing Association (ULRA), which will pay $3,000 to its feature winners and $400 to start.
In addition to Monett, which is set to play host to five ULRA events, Legit Speedway Park in West Plains, North Central Arkansas Speedway in Flippin, Caney Valley Speedway in Kansas, Poplar Bluff Speedway in Missouri and the Salina (Okla.) Highbanks Speedway will be a part of the series. These 6 tracks have “United” together to form an alliance for the benefit of the racers and race tracks. All member tracks are involved in the rule making process and all aspects of nightly racing.
Stovall, who leads track prep and serves in an advisory role for Monett Motor Speedway, said the ULRA rules package will be similar to the former MLRA Series, of which he was a part of for many years. He also said that the intention is to bring back harder-compound tires to keep costs more reasonable for race teams.
A complete rules package can be found at ULRAracing.com.
“This series is 100 percent designed for the racer and the race track, to fill a void and give racers a chance to run Open Late Models in our area of the country,” Stovall said. He added that himself or Tony Rogers will administrate ULRA programs and tech at the events.
“The tracks involved this season are a starting point,” Stovall said. “At some point, we would love to have other tracks involved and expand the schedule.”
Support classes for the ULRA events, along with admission prices, will be announced by the individual tracks playing host to events.
Tentative 2025 ULRA schedule
Friday, April 25 – Monett Motor Speedway
Friday, May 30 – Monett Motor Speedway
Saturday, May 31 – Legit Speedway Park (West Plains, Mo.)
Friday, June 13 – Monett Motor Speedway
Saturday, June 28 – Salina Highbanks Speedway (Salina, Okla.)
Saturday, July 12 – Caney Valley Speedway (Caney, Kan.)
Friday, July 18 – North Central Arkansas Speedway (Flippin, Ark.)
Friday, July 25 – Monett Motor Speedway
Friday, Sept. 5 – North Central Arkansas Speedway (Flippin, Ark.)
Saturday, Sept. 6 – Legit Speedway Park (West Plains, Mo.)
Friday, Sept. 12 – Poplar Bluff Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 13 – Poplar Bluff Speedway
Friday, Sept. 26 – Monett Motor Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Caney Valley Speedway (Caney, Kan.)
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