^{Elkhart Lake, Wis. 23 June 2008 – For the UMW Motorwerks team and driver Steve Welk, the 2008 version of the SCCA Chicago Region June Sprints was to be used as a test session for the upcoming Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup series race in August. The local team did more than set quick laps though, as their 2006 Mazda MX-5, driven by Welk, managed to capture the D-Prepared crown at the fabled event.} 

^{After qualifying second to Ron Pawley’s Lexus IS300, Welk drove a consistent, patient race, which saw Pawley drop out early; leaving Welk in a path towards his first victory at the June Sprints, setting his best times of the weekend in the 13-lap main event.} 

^{“This is a great way to start off the second-half of our 2008 season,” declared Welk. “The team worked very hard all weekend to ensure that the UMW Motorwerks / Citgo MX-5 was in good form on raceday; and to take home top honors in the team’s own backyard here at Road America is a great thing, as team partner Rick Dresang has been trying to win the Sprints for nearly 35 years.”}

^{Welk, who lives a stone’s throw away in Plymouth, Wis., finished third at the June Sprints in 2007 in the Spec Miata category; making this year’s finish even sweeter, as it confirmed that the team had the speed to put themselves in the position to win.} 

^{The next stop for the UMW Motorwerks team will be at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore. on July 25-27 for round three of the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. The team is currently placed eleventh in point standings, and looks to fare well on their first visit to the 1.9 mile road course.}

^{Established in 2008, UMW Motorwerks is the combination of two racing families; the Dresang family's UEMSI Motorwerks and the Welk family's Welk Motorsports. UMW Motorwerks will compete in the extremely competitive SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship. Driver Steve Welk will campaign the team's vividly-painted McLaren-orange #57 car as the championship crosses North America.UMW Motorwerks aims to establish itself as a successful pro-racing organization as it strives to win races and fans alike on the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series tour. www.uemsimotorwerks.com}