O'REILLY AUTO PARTS MID-AMERICA RACING SERIES
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, May 2; Boliver Speedway
Saturday, May 3; Lebanon I-44 Speedway
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
BATESVILLE AR. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Mid-America Racing Series will invade the Show-Me state again this weekend for a pair of all important points events. On Friday, May 2, the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series will return to the Boliver Speedway. The former 3/8 asphalt track, now covered with clay, proved to be a very popular stop with the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. regulars in 2002.
It's sister track, the Lebanon I-44 Speedway, is also a former asphalt track, and is now covered with clay as well. The I-44 Speedway was a hub of big-time dirt late model racing in the 80's, and this will be the first special event at the track since returning to it's dirt racing roots. Both events will be worth $3,000 to win, and $500 to start the 40 lap feature event.
The O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series was only able to complete one of the two scheduled events from the past weekend, and Leslie Essary of Crane, Missouri was able to retain his point lead. His margine was reduced by half however, as Terry Phillips of Springfield, Missouri, the 2000 champion, is breathing down Essary's neck coming into the Boliver and I-44 events.
The competition for the year end points fund bonanza started en earnest from the drop of the first green flag two weekends ago, and Essary battled his way from the rear of the field at Joplin 66 to record a sixth place finish last Saturday. Terry Phillips fought for, and eventually won his career 25th O'Reilly M.A.R.S. feature event, propelling him past Jeff Taylor, into the second spot in the points.
Jeff Taylor, of Batesville, Arkansas, did slip one spot in the points, but actually gained ground on Essary at Joplin. Taylor was forced to take a provisional to make the feature event, then powered his way to a third place finish, and was the races hard charger.
Bill Frye, of Greenbriar, Arkansas the two time and defending series champion saw a late race spin cost him a top five, and possibly the win. Frye is fourth in series points and looking to move back up the ladder. Jeff Floyd of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas picked up two spots in series points, moving to fifth. Floyd recorded a hard fought top ten at Joplin.
Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Arkansas rides sixth in series points, but will opt for another event this weekend.
Alan Vaughn of Belton, Missouri rides in 7th in series points, and has shown consistancy as he rang up another top ten finish. Vaughn is a strong contender at any track he goes to, and could be in victory lane on the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series quickly.
Donnie Barnhart of North Little Rock, Arkansas has returned to the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. top ten. Barnhart finished outside the top ten at Joplin, but his fortunes have picked up, and will be a factor this season with the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. tour.
Steve Rushin of Poplar Bluff, Missouri has struggled early, going to the provisional well. Rushin did so again Saturday, but maintained his top ten point status.
Rushin's teammate, Jerry Buck of Harviell, Missouri has been at the other end of the spectrum from Rushin's. Buck flirted with his best ever career finish Saturday, before taking seventh place. Buck rounds out the top ten in series points.
Dewaine Hottinger of Russellville, Arkansas and Al Purkey, of Coffeyville, Kansas are just outside the top ten, and are expected this weekend. Mike Brown of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma should be at both events, and Charlie Randolph of Muskogee, Oklahoma is the leader in the Kuntz and Company Rookie of the Year competition.
Mike Bowers of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Robbie Starnes of Baytown, Texas, and Raymond Merrill, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma have all been commited to the tour early. Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Arkansas and Shane Essary of Aurora, Missouri run second and third in the Kuntz & Co. Rookie points. and should be on hand.
Gary Stolba, of Willow Springs, Missouri, Joey Mack of Benton, Misssouri, and Stacy Taylor of Willow Springs, Missouri have all had early struggles, but have remained on the tour. Rex McCroskey missed this past weekend with a shoulder injury, but could be back this weekend. Steve "Ace" Ihm tows in from Hazel Green, Wisconson each week, and Jerry Walker of Southhaven, Mississippi should also be on hand.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5:00pm at both tracks, with hotlaps set for 7:00 and racing at 7:30. Tickets are priced the same at both tracks, with Adult tickets priced at $15.00 and Junior tickets are $4.00. Both tracks have backstretch teer parking, where fans can enjoy the races from the comfort of their own cars. Those prices are $20.00 for adults, and $5.00 for juniors. Pit passes will be $30.00 each night.
Information about the Boliver and 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
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, May 2; Boliver Speedway
Saturday, May 3; Lebanon I-44 Speedway
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
BATESVILLE AR. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Mid-America Racing Series will invade the Show-Me state again this weekend for a pair of all important points events. On Friday, May 2, the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series will return to the Boliver Speedway. The former 3/8 asphalt track, now covered with clay, proved to be a very popular stop with the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. regulars in 2002.
It's sister track, the Lebanon I-44 Speedway, is also a former asphalt track, and is now covered with clay as well. The I-44 Speedway was a hub of big-time dirt late model racing in the 80's, and this will be the first special event at the track since returning to it's dirt racing roots. Both events will be worth $3,000 to win, and $500 to start the 40 lap feature event.
The O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series was only able to complete one of the two scheduled events from the past weekend, and Leslie Essary of Crane, Missouri was able to retain his point lead. His margine was reduced by half however, as Terry Phillips of Springfield, Missouri, the 2000 champion, is breathing down Essary's neck coming into the Boliver and I-44 events.
The competition for the year end points fund bonanza started en earnest from the drop of the first green flag two weekends ago, and Essary battled his way from the rear of the field at Joplin 66 to record a sixth place finish last Saturday. Terry Phillips fought for, and eventually won his career 25th O'Reilly M.A.R.S. feature event, propelling him past Jeff Taylor, into the second spot in the points.
Jeff Taylor, of Batesville, Arkansas, did slip one spot in the points, but actually gained ground on Essary at Joplin. Taylor was forced to take a provisional to make the feature event, then powered his way to a third place finish, and was the races hard charger.
Bill Frye, of Greenbriar, Arkansas the two time and defending series champion saw a late race spin cost him a top five, and possibly the win. Frye is fourth in series points and looking to move back up the ladder. Jeff Floyd of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas picked up two spots in series points, moving to fifth. Floyd recorded a hard fought top ten at Joplin.
Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Arkansas rides sixth in series points, but will opt for another event this weekend.
Alan Vaughn of Belton, Missouri rides in 7th in series points, and has shown consistancy as he rang up another top ten finish. Vaughn is a strong contender at any track he goes to, and could be in victory lane on the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. series quickly.
Donnie Barnhart of North Little Rock, Arkansas has returned to the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. top ten. Barnhart finished outside the top ten at Joplin, but his fortunes have picked up, and will be a factor this season with the O'Reilly M.A.R.S. tour.
Steve Rushin of Poplar Bluff, Missouri has struggled early, going to the provisional well. Rushin did so again Saturday, but maintained his top ten point status.
Rushin's teammate, Jerry Buck of Harviell, Missouri has been at the other end of the spectrum from Rushin's. Buck flirted with his best ever career finish Saturday, before taking seventh place. Buck rounds out the top ten in series points.
Dewaine Hottinger of Russellville, Arkansas and Al Purkey, of Coffeyville, Kansas are just outside the top ten, and are expected this weekend. Mike Brown of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma should be at both events, and Charlie Randolph of Muskogee, Oklahoma is the leader in the Kuntz and Company Rookie of the Year competition.
Mike Bowers of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Robbie Starnes of Baytown, Texas, and Raymond Merrill, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma have all been commited to the tour early. Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Arkansas and Shane Essary of Aurora, Missouri run second and third in the Kuntz & Co. Rookie points. and should be on hand.
Gary Stolba, of Willow Springs, Missouri, Joey Mack of Benton, Misssouri, and Stacy Taylor of Willow Springs, Missouri have all had early struggles, but have remained on the tour. Rex McCroskey missed this past weekend with a shoulder injury, but could be back this weekend. Steve "Ace" Ihm tows in from Hazel Green, Wisconson each week, and Jerry Walker of Southhaven, Mississippi should also be on hand.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5:00pm at both tracks, with hotlaps set for 7:00 and racing at 7:30. Tickets are priced the same at both tracks, with Adult tickets priced at $15.00 and Junior tickets are $4.00. Both tracks have backstretch teer parking, where fans can enjoy the races from the comfort of their own cars. Those prices are $20.00 for adults, and $5.00 for juniors. Pit passes will be $30.00 each night.
Information about the Boliver and 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
