Springfield,Mo.-With only 2 weeks left before the running of the O’Reilly AutoParts Turkey Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers, the Speedway staff thought they would help to go back in time of the Turkey Classic.

This event started by being called the Open-wheel Turkey Event and fough cold bitter temps in 2007 as Danny “The Dude” Lasoski took the feature event for the 360 Winged SprintCars.

In the 2008 edition,weather plagued the event to be run after Thanksgiving and the raindate moved it to March in 2009.A beautiful Ozarks sky presented itself for Sat racing for 360 Winged Sprints, Midgets, A-Mods and B-Mods.

Just as the B-Mod featrue was rolling,rain clouds moved in.Twice the Speedway staff went under rain delays before having to cancel the features moving them to Sunday Afternoon.Several of the Midget and Sprintcar teams didn’t return as several headed on home.Colt Cheevers won the B-Mod feature,Brian Brown of Higginsville captured the Sprint feature while Brad Loyet took home the honors in the Midgets and Springfield’s Terry Phillips grabbed the A-Mod feature.Most will remember the terrifying rollover Eric Turner of Hermitage took in the A-Mod feature.Just over 40 A-Mods and 30 B-Mods checked in for the action while the Sprint Car numbers were just over 20 entries the same for the Midgets.

SpringfieldRaceway owners Jerry Hoffman and Doug Bland decided to regroup this event just as the 2009 season at the Quick-Quarter and went on to drop the Sprints and Midgets and add LateModels and Legendcars.The southwest Missouri area seemed to be more LateModel country with the traveling regional series of MARS/MLRA and Show-Me Racin Series right in the back yard,while just south the MSRA LateModel Series was making a name for itself.LegendCars were becoming a main stay on the weekly card at Springfield and with several drivers from Joplin and Springfield close by, it made sense to add them as the rules were the same for all LegendCars.

Before a beautiful 70 degree day on Sat November 28th, 169 race teams checked into the pits along with a capacity crowd.Drivers from 6 states were on hand to attempt and race their way into the features.

35 Latemodels checked in with names such as National Dirt Hall Of Famers,Ed Dixon of Washington and Ken Essary of Cape Fair,MSRA Hotshoe Joey Mack,Show-Me Series Champion Justin Wells,MARS front runner Brad Looney,MLRA Rookie Standouts Johnny Fennewald and Matt Johnson ans many others.Esaary started on the pole,but Fennewald grabbed the early lead as typical Springfield Racing was 2-3 wide action.Wells would grab the lead with the Teacher Essary following.On lap 13,THe Flying Farmer Essary made the winning pass but Wells and Brad Looney kept things interesting.During the latter stages did Essary secure the win in a feature that only had 4 vcautions,with the first on lap 15.12 cars finished on the lead lap.

With 75 A-Mods battling for the $1,000 to win,steve Martin of Ozark earned the pole spot after 8 heats and 5 last chance races.After 2 uneventful starts,the race was started single-file.Second row starter Scotty Drake was one of those early restarts and palced himself back in the 20th starting spot.Martin set a fast pace early while Mid-South Area Racer Robert Powers of Malden became a factor racing with Jim Body and St Louis Top Shoe Rusty Griffaw.After seveal green flag laps,Caution waved on lap 9 allowing 20th starting Drake to move closer to the front pack.When the front pack caught lapped traffic,Drake pulled even with Martin as wheel to wheel action was the call.A caution on lap 17 would see Martin with clear track and grab the win.13 of 20 starters completed the lead lap.

Over 40 plus B-mods complete a tough qualifying heats and last chance races as Dallas Scott and 2009 Champion Billy Street on the front row.Scott set the early pace with Street along side.The first caution waved on lap 8 as Warrenburg’s Dean Willie slowed.Street grabbed the lead from Scott on the restart and Dustin Thayer challanged.Scott got the lead back but then on lap 15,street grabbed it back for the win of the 20 lap feature.16 of 20 starters completed the lead lap.

THe Legends came with 17 cars as National Legend driver Warren Rupp of Iowa was in attendance.Jay Reynolds grabbed the opening lead with Dave Bauer in tow.On lap 17,Bauer made the low groove stick and grabbed the win over Reynolds.

This season Springfield Based O’Reilly AutoParts has signed on along with Bad Boy mowers out of Arkansas as the event sponsor.Again LateModels,A-Mods,B-Mods and Legends compete.

LateModels battle for 2,000 to win and 300 to start while A-Mods race for 1200 to win and 400 to start with NO Spoilers and the USRA Chip rule in effect.B-mods have some different rule packages to keep everyone lose and battle for 750 to win and 110 to start along with the Legends Competing.

New this season is the GM Performance Crate money for the B-Mods.A feature only as the top finishing Crate Motor will recieve an extra $100 fro GM Performance with 2nd and 3rd finishers gathering 75 and forth 50.

Pitgates open at 10:30 with hotlaps at 1PM.Draw cut-off is at 2PM and drivers meeting is 2:15 Racing at 3PM.Grandstand Admission is 20 for Adults.Pitpasses are $35.Entry Fees are LateModels(100)A-Mods(100) B-Mods(40) No entry Fee for Legends.Raceceivers are Required and not provided by the track.

Don’t miss the Ozarks Tradition as SpringfieldRaceway presents another outstand event in the Turkey Classic.

Next week we will recap the 2010 Turkey Classic which saw another exciting event.