The MARS DIRTcar Series headlines the 11th Annual Tony Roper Memorial this Sunday May 29, 2011 at the martians home track, the Monett Speedway located in Monett, MO.
Tony Roper was a NASCAR driver. He was born in Springfield, Missouri, to Dean Roper and Shirley Medley. Growing up his family was heavily involved in auto racing. Roper started racing in 1986. For the next six years Tony raced in IMCA Modifieds and Late Models on Midwest dirt and asphalt tracks. In 1992 he finished in second place for the American Speed Association Rookie of the Year award. He started racing in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1995, and the Busch Series in 1999. On October 13, 2000, Roper was racing in the Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly 400 at Texas Motor Speedway when he attempted to pass Steve Grissom. However, another truck veered up the racetrack in the tri-oval, forcing Roper to evade, turning him into Grissom’s front bumper. The contact caused Roper’s #26 Ford to take a sudden hard-right turn, which then caused the truck to slam head-on into the concrete wall of the tri-oval. Roper died the next day as the result of the injuries he sustained from the crash.
6-time and defending MARS champion Terry Phillips of Springfield, MO won last year’s event and will lead a strong contingent of racers into action including Jesse Stovall of Galena, MO; Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, MO; Jeremy Payne of Springfield, MO; RC Whitwell of Tucson, AZ; Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, MO; Leroy Johnson of Springfield, MO; Eric Turner of Springfield, MO, Justin Wells of Aurora, MO; Ken Essary of Cape Fair, MO; Darrell Mooneyham of Verona, MO; Gary Christian of Broken Bow, OK; Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR; Shane Essary of Aurora, MO: Justin Asplin of Birch Tree, MO and many more.
The Monett Speedway is raising money and collecting donations to benefit the Convoy of Hope Disaster Response Fund. All fans and drivers are challenged to donate and to bring canned food items to support our friends and families in Joplin, MO that were recently affected by the devastating tornado this past Sunday May 22, 2011. Representatives from the Convoy of Hope will be at the Monett Speedway from 4:30pm – 7:00pm to assist with donations and answer any questions.
The event will also feature A-Mods, Sport Mods, Midwest Modz, Legends and Pure Stocks. Pit passes for this event will be $35.00. Grandstand admission will be $20.00 for adults, kids 12-15 $5.00 and 11 and under are free. Grandstands will open at 5:00pm and Pit Gates for this event will open at 3:00pm. Hot laps at 7:00pm and racing scheduled to start at 7:30pm.
For more information on the Monett Speedway please visit www.monettspeedway.net.
For more information on the MARS DIRTcar Series please visit www.marsracingseries.com.
The MARS DIRTcar Series would like to thank their sponsors for the 2011 season. Hoosier Racing Tire, Libscomb Auto Group, Wrisco Industries, Leitle Car Quest Auto Parts, VP Race Fuels, Powertrain Industries, Ron Mitchell Racing Photos, Hatfield Racing Engines, Andy’s Frozen Custard, COMP Cams, Arsenal Racing Graphics, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Don Babb Motorsports, GRT Race Cars, Supermoon Graphics and Vicci.