The UMP Summernationals rolled their weekly summer series into Lincoln Speedway on Sunday. The rain dampened the track, didn’t stop the action.

The UMP provides rules for many tracks, including Lincoln Speedway, for both the Late Models and Modifieds.

Sunday’s prize for the Late models was $6,000 to win.  This made the infield become a sea of trailers of varying shapes and sizes that housed both Late Models and the Modifieds, both with enough drivers present that it required four or more heats to get them all qualified.

The weather was perfect for racing at the beginning of the night.  Cool with only a few wispy thin clouds and a slight breeze.  Three weeks straight at the speedway the weather has provided some brilliant racing and the track was smooth as glass due to the hard work of the crews and the weather making their lives easier.  The stands were packed and everything seemed right for an awesome night of racing.

However that wasn’t the case tonight.  As the heats began to wind down and the sun began to set, the wind begun to pick up and the skies became ominous with dark clouds.  Rain was upon the speedway.

The rush began trying to get the C-mains and B-main of the Late Models and the two Semi-Features of the Modified in to get the feature mains of the two main classes at the speedway.

 
The skies erupted like a faucet turned on and the rain poured on while everyone ran for cover.  Thankfully it only lasted for a few minutes, but the damage was done.  The track was covered in rain with the clock ticking on the curfew time of 11:00 pm. 

In a magnificent effort the crew and almost every driver brought out the cars and got the track dried and packed down once again. 
Racing resumed and both the Modifieds and Late Models got the Semi and B-main features in. 

Then the Late Models were ready to get to put on their circular dance as the clock struck 10 pm.  On pole was the 9 car, the 71 in second and 55 third. 

The racing was frantic and the first caution was brought out after the first lap, when the 35 car hit the turn on the first wall and flipped it. The driver came out of the car with a wave to the still packed stands signifying he was okay. 

The green flag dropped again and the 71 had the lead and held it for most of the race until a late caution bunched up the field. 

Eventually the 71 would bow out after a wreck with the 3L of Matt Taylor, a regular at Lincoln Speedway, and Taylor would be able to continue. 

The 9 took the lead back from the 3s on the restart, but would have mechanical problems and bow out after the restart.  It turned into the 3s inheriting the lead with a handful of laps left. 

A last caution came out and the skies began to erupt again ending the racing under caution with the 3s taking the win, the 1 placing second and the 28 taking third. 
“I never thought I would win one like this (rain-shortened win),” the jubilant 3s driver said. “I want to thank my sponsors, crew and my girlfriend, Candy.”

With time running out and the track wet again, racing was called and the fans and drivers went home wet.