O'REILLY AUTO PARTS MID-AMERICA RACING SERIES
Lebanon I-44 Speedway, 1st Annual Bill Willard Memorial
Friday, Saturday; September 12-13
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
BATESVILLE AR. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Mid-America Racing Series season is winding down. Only two points events remain on the schedule. This weekend, the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. stars and cars will head to the Lebanon I-44 Speedway for the first of those remaining events.
The 1st Annual Bill Willard Memorial, named for the builder and long time owner of the I-44 Speedway, is the first $10,000 to win race in the history of the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series. The event will be held over two nights this Friday and Saturday. On Friday, there will be a full program including heats, a dash for cash, and a 25 lap qualifying feature event that will set the inside row for Saturday's Championship Feature.
On Saturday, there will be a second full night of racing. Heats for the un-qualified cars, plus another 25 lap qualifying event. Finally, the 50 Lap Championship feature that will pay the winner $10,000 and guarentee $1,000 to start the race.
The Dash for Cash is sponsored by the Bank of Crocker (Missouri), and will pay the winner $1,000. The top four qualifiers from Friday night, plus the top two cars from the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points not among the top four qualifiers will go 12 laps for the $1,000. Another $1,000 will be divided up, and paid out to the second through sixth place finishers in the dash. Following Friday's events, track promoter Randy Mooneyham will have a pig roast with pleanty of adult beverage free for everyone with a pit pass.
Bill Frye of Greenbriar, Arkansas leads the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points standings heading into the weekend. Frye picked up a pair of second place runs over the Labor Day Weekend, the last time the M.A.R.S. series was in action.
Terry Phillips of Springfield, Missouri is in second place in the points, but only 16 markers back of Frye. Phillips picked up yet another win on the series, but lost a bit of ground on Friday at the Memphis Motorsports Park. Phillips will be primed to re-take the point lead this weekend.
Jeff Taylor, of Pleasant Plains, Arkansas was a top ten finisher both nights over Labor Day Weekend. Taylor is solidly in third place, and looks to finish 2003 strong. Leslie Essary of Crane, Missouri is fourth in points, and finished just outside the top five at Monett. Essary needs to finish strong to hold off Jeff Floyd.
Floyd, of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas has come back strong after missing a pair of events due to injury. Floyd, in fifth in the point standings, could still finish as high as fourth. Mike Brown of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma continues to rise in the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points. Brown had a tough weekend, the last time the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series was in action, but is solid in sixth.
Charlie Randolph, of Muskogee, Oklahoma has risen to seventh in O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points, and has locked up the Kuntz & Company Rookie of the Year Championship. Randolph notched his first series win at the Memphis Motorsports Park over Labor Day Weekend, then backed that up with a top five run at Monett.
Jerry Buck of Harviell, Missouri has had some tough luck as of late, and is now in eighth place in series points. Buck did manage a top ten run at Memphis. Buck can still make his way back to seventh in points, only twelve behind Randolph. Dewaine Hottinger of Russellville, Arkansas runs nineth in points, but also could challenge Randolph for seventh. Hottinger is just 24 markers behind Randolph and only 12 behind Buck.
Steve Rushin of Poplar Bluff, Missouri rounds out the top ten in O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points. Rushin turned in a top five run at Memphis, one of several he's had as of late. Joey Mack of Benton, Missouri is 11th in points. Mack notched his first pole of 2003 at Memphis, but was the first out of the event after a crash.
Gary Stolba, of Willow Springs Missouri rides in 12th in points. Stolba is followed in the series points by Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Arkansas and Shane Essary of Aurora, Missouri. That pair is still in a battle for the second spot in the Kuntz and Company rookie points, and with only seven points sperating the pair, it could go down to the wire.
Billy Moyer and Wendell Wallace, both of Batesville, Arkansas have commited to running the event. Both have big followings in the area, and will be popular additions to the race.
Other top drivers from the region that could participate are Raymond Merrill of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, David Gibson of Ash Flat, Arkansas, Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kansas, Dustin and Darrell Mooneyham of Aurora, Missouri, Ken Essary of Cape Fair Missouri, Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, Missouri, Scott Drake of Webb City, Missouri, Rusty Dukes of Fair Grove, Missouri, Justin Wells of Aurora, Missouri, and Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri all could be in attendance.
Brad Looney of Republic, Missouri, 2003 Lebanon I-44 Speedway track champion will lead a strong group of local contenders as well.
There will be pleanty of other racing this weekend as well. There will be a $1,500 to win purse for both IMCA Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds. The Factory Stock and Super Stock classes will run for $800 to win, and the Bombers will vie for $400 to win. Over $75,000 in total purse will be up for grabs and the Energy Companies of Lebanon will help sponsor the extraviganza. Others sponsors for the event are Blimpies of Lebanon, Heartland Antique Mall, C&S Towing, and Champion Brands of Lebanon.
Ticket prices will be $10.00 for Adults on Friday, with Juniors (13-15) admitted for $5.00, and kids 12 and under Free. Pit Passes will be $25.00 on Friday. Admission on Saturday will be $20.00 for Adults, Juniors will still be $5.00 and 12 and under Free. Pit Passes will be $30.00 on Saturday. Tier Parking will be $20.00 for adults each night, with Juniors $5.00 and kids 12 and under $2.00 each night.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5:00pm each night. Hotlaps are expected to begin at 6:45, with racing set for 7:30 both nights. The track is located 6 miles northeast of Lebanon on I-44 to exit 135 (Sleeper exit). Go north to outer drive, then west 1.1 miles on historic Route 66 (frontage road).
Information about the Lebanon I-44 Speedway can be found at the Monett Speedway website at http://monettspeedway.tripod.com/
Information about the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series can be found at the series website at http://www.midamericaracingseries.com/
Title Sponsor for the 2003 Mid-America Racing Series is O’Reilly Auto Parts. Rookie of the Year sponsor for 2003 is Kuntz & Co. Performance and Balancing.
Major Corporate Sponsors for the 2003 M.A.R.S. season are Competition Cams, Rinehart Trucking, GRT Race Cars, Hatfield Racing Engines, Hoosier Racing Tires, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Schoenfeld Headers, and Turbo Blue Racing Fuel.
Turbo Blue is the official racing fuel for the Mid-America Racing Series.
Associate Corporate Sponsors for the 2003 M.A.R.S. season are Appleton Rack & Pinion, Boyd Built Fabricators, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duralite Racing Wheels, JFR Graphics, Landrum Spring Service, M&M Racing Equipment, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Mudslinger The Magazine, Pizza Hut of Batesville, Ringer Gloves, Rockhard Powder Coating, Raceday Embroidery.
Raceday Embroidery is the sponsor of the Crew of the Year Award
Lebanon I-44 Speedway, 1st Annual Bill Willard Memorial
Friday, Saturday; September 12-13
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
BATESVILLE AR. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Mid-America Racing Series season is winding down. Only two points events remain on the schedule. This weekend, the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. stars and cars will head to the Lebanon I-44 Speedway for the first of those remaining events.
The 1st Annual Bill Willard Memorial, named for the builder and long time owner of the I-44 Speedway, is the first $10,000 to win race in the history of the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series. The event will be held over two nights this Friday and Saturday. On Friday, there will be a full program including heats, a dash for cash, and a 25 lap qualifying feature event that will set the inside row for Saturday's Championship Feature.
On Saturday, there will be a second full night of racing. Heats for the un-qualified cars, plus another 25 lap qualifying event. Finally, the 50 Lap Championship feature that will pay the winner $10,000 and guarentee $1,000 to start the race.
The Dash for Cash is sponsored by the Bank of Crocker (Missouri), and will pay the winner $1,000. The top four qualifiers from Friday night, plus the top two cars from the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points not among the top four qualifiers will go 12 laps for the $1,000. Another $1,000 will be divided up, and paid out to the second through sixth place finishers in the dash. Following Friday's events, track promoter Randy Mooneyham will have a pig roast with pleanty of adult beverage free for everyone with a pit pass.
Bill Frye of Greenbriar, Arkansas leads the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points standings heading into the weekend. Frye picked up a pair of second place runs over the Labor Day Weekend, the last time the M.A.R.S. series was in action.
Terry Phillips of Springfield, Missouri is in second place in the points, but only 16 markers back of Frye. Phillips picked up yet another win on the series, but lost a bit of ground on Friday at the Memphis Motorsports Park. Phillips will be primed to re-take the point lead this weekend.
Jeff Taylor, of Pleasant Plains, Arkansas was a top ten finisher both nights over Labor Day Weekend. Taylor is solidly in third place, and looks to finish 2003 strong. Leslie Essary of Crane, Missouri is fourth in points, and finished just outside the top five at Monett. Essary needs to finish strong to hold off Jeff Floyd.
Floyd, of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas has come back strong after missing a pair of events due to injury. Floyd, in fifth in the point standings, could still finish as high as fourth. Mike Brown of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma continues to rise in the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points. Brown had a tough weekend, the last time the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series was in action, but is solid in sixth.
Charlie Randolph, of Muskogee, Oklahoma has risen to seventh in O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points, and has locked up the Kuntz & Company Rookie of the Year Championship. Randolph notched his first series win at the Memphis Motorsports Park over Labor Day Weekend, then backed that up with a top five run at Monett.
Jerry Buck of Harviell, Missouri has had some tough luck as of late, and is now in eighth place in series points. Buck did manage a top ten run at Memphis. Buck can still make his way back to seventh in points, only twelve behind Randolph. Dewaine Hottinger of Russellville, Arkansas runs nineth in points, but also could challenge Randolph for seventh. Hottinger is just 24 markers behind Randolph and only 12 behind Buck.
Steve Rushin of Poplar Bluff, Missouri rounds out the top ten in O'Reilly M.A.R.S. points. Rushin turned in a top five run at Memphis, one of several he's had as of late. Joey Mack of Benton, Missouri is 11th in points. Mack notched his first pole of 2003 at Memphis, but was the first out of the event after a crash.
Gary Stolba, of Willow Springs Missouri rides in 12th in points. Stolba is followed in the series points by Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Arkansas and Shane Essary of Aurora, Missouri. That pair is still in a battle for the second spot in the Kuntz and Company rookie points, and with only seven points sperating the pair, it could go down to the wire.
Billy Moyer and Wendell Wallace, both of Batesville, Arkansas have commited to running the event. Both have big followings in the area, and will be popular additions to the race.
Other top drivers from the region that could participate are Raymond Merrill of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, David Gibson of Ash Flat, Arkansas, Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kansas, Dustin and Darrell Mooneyham of Aurora, Missouri, Ken Essary of Cape Fair Missouri, Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, Missouri, Scott Drake of Webb City, Missouri, Rusty Dukes of Fair Grove, Missouri, Justin Wells of Aurora, Missouri, and Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri all could be in attendance.
Brad Looney of Republic, Missouri, 2003 Lebanon I-44 Speedway track champion will lead a strong group of local contenders as well.
There will be pleanty of other racing this weekend as well. There will be a $1,500 to win purse for both IMCA Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds. The Factory Stock and Super Stock classes will run for $800 to win, and the Bombers will vie for $400 to win. Over $75,000 in total purse will be up for grabs and the Energy Companies of Lebanon will help sponsor the extraviganza. Others sponsors for the event are Blimpies of Lebanon, Heartland Antique Mall, C&S Towing, and Champion Brands of Lebanon.
Ticket prices will be $10.00 for Adults on Friday, with Juniors (13-15) admitted for $5.00, and kids 12 and under Free. Pit Passes will be $25.00 on Friday. Admission on Saturday will be $20.00 for Adults, Juniors will still be $5.00 and 12 and under Free. Pit Passes will be $30.00 on Saturday. Tier Parking will be $20.00 for adults each night, with Juniors $5.00 and kids 12 and under $2.00 each night.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5:00pm each night. Hotlaps are expected to begin at 6:45, with racing set for 7:30 both nights. The track is located 6 miles northeast of Lebanon on I-44 to exit 135 (Sleeper exit). Go north to outer drive, then west 1.1 miles on historic Route 66 (frontage road).
Information about the Lebanon I-44 Speedway can be found at the Monett Speedway website at http://monettspeedway.tripod.com/
Information about the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series can be found at the series website at http://www.midamericaracingseries.com/
Title Sponsor for the 2003 Mid-America Racing Series is O’Reilly Auto Parts. Rookie of the Year sponsor for 2003 is Kuntz & Co. Performance and Balancing.
Major Corporate Sponsors for the 2003 M.A.R.S. season are Competition Cams, Rinehart Trucking, GRT Race Cars, Hatfield Racing Engines, Hoosier Racing Tires, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Schoenfeld Headers, and Turbo Blue Racing Fuel.
Turbo Blue is the official racing fuel for the Mid-America Racing Series.
Associate Corporate Sponsors for the 2003 M.A.R.S. season are Appleton Rack & Pinion, Boyd Built Fabricators, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duralite Racing Wheels, JFR Graphics, Landrum Spring Service, M&M Racing Equipment, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Mudslinger The Magazine, Pizza Hut of Batesville, Ringer Gloves, Rockhard Powder Coating, Raceday Embroidery.
Raceday Embroidery is the sponsor of the Crew of the Year Award
