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Photo Caption: "Steve Welk had the #57 UMW machine battling for top honors until a mechanical failure sidelined the Plymouth, Wis. native" (Photo Courtesy Jacques-O-Lat Photograpy)
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"Welk Shows Fast Pace and Rough Luck at Opening SCCA National"
ROCKTON, Ill. - UEMSI Motorwerks driver Steve Welk showed just how much the UEMSI Mazda Miata's had been improved over the off season as he battled for the victory at the BVR Shootout National at Blackhawk Farms this past weekend. In the UEMSI team's first SCCA National of the year both cars, the second belonging to Jacques Dresang, were in the top five all weekend with Dresang scoring a career best third place finish.
Welk started his weekend well putting his Linear Sport backed Miata third on the grid. For the first half of the race the former FF2000 standout battled for the lead with two other cars. After 15 of the 25-lap event the rear end of the #57 UEMSI Motorwerks Miata let go ending what would have been great battle for the lead.
"This was a great weekend for our team because it was our best showing on a dry racetrack in the Miatas so far," Welk stated after the race. "It didn't quite end the way I had hoped it would with the rear end breaking, but we definitely showed how much we have improved the cars over the winter. I'm looking forward to getting back in the car again and trying to build on the momentum that we have this year."
Welk's UEMSI teammate Jacques Dresang put in a solid drive from fifth on the grid. With a car that was setup for late in the race, the Plymouth, Wis. driver was patient and for the last half of the race battle for the third position that Welk had vacated. With two laps to go Dresang took the position for good running to his best SCCA National finish to date.
"It was a great race for the UMW squad," Dresang said. "Steve really showed how quick our cars are capable of running this season. While I may not have been able to put together a string of laps at his pace, I was happy to be in the lead group for most of the race. The UMW crew put in a lot of hard work in the off season, and I think the races in 2007 will provide ample evidence of the effort."
The UMW squad will be back in action on May 19-20 at the same Blackhawk Farms Raceway facility for the Milwaukee Region SCCA Carl Mueller National. Welk will again drive the #57 car, while Dresang can be seen with his old familiar #00.
Steve Welk has been involved in Motorsports for 16 years. Starting his career at the age of eight, Welk has remained focused on his goal of being a professional racecar driver since. In 2006 Welk formed Linear Sport, a motorsport company that specializes driver development and race team management. For more information on Steve Welk, please visit his official web site at www.SteveWelk.com.
Established in 1996, UMW is a racing organization that competes in the Sports Car Club of America. Team drivers Steve Welk and Jacques Dresang compete in the Spec Miata category, where they campaign matching McLaren-orange 1990 Mazda Miatas in SCCA Club Racing National and Regional events throughout the Central Division and at select events around the nation.
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