Batesville, Arkansas (April 24, 2006) – The Mid America Racing Series (M.A.R.S.) would like to salute Duane Johnson from Rogers, Arkansas, who served as the official flagman for the tour for the first six years of its existence. Due to family priorities, Duane, has made the decision to make this year’s Memorial Day Weekend 15th Annual Show Me 100 at West Plains Motor Speedway in West Plains, Missouri, his final event to serve as a flagman.
“Duane is as much of a fixture in the Super Late Model world in the Arkansas and Missouri area as the names Frye, Phillips, Essary, and Mooneyham, and he deserves a champion’s salute,” commented MidSouthRacing.com owner, Ben Shelton. “You would be hard pressed to find anyone in the racing community, who has something negative to say about Duane. He is a great friend to me, and it won’t be the same announcing a Show Me 100 without seeing Duane conducting business as usual on the flagstand.”
M.A.R.S. competition director, Kim Norris, also has many fond memories of Duane, and an incredible amount of respect for him. “Duane always brought a level of professionalism to the M.A.R.S. tour when he was in the flagstand, and he is one of the reasons that the tour was able to grow and succeed so rapidly in those early years.
Although, Duane spent many years with the M.A.R.S. tour, he also made his mark in many other areas of the Motorsports world. He served as the flagman for the M.L.R.A. Late Model Series for several years as well as flagging for countless tracks throughout Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
In closing Shelton comments, “It’s sad to see Duane leaving the flagstand after so many years, but I know that he will still be with us at the track whenever possible, and having him there as a friend is what is really important.”
For more information on the series visit the official website of the Mid America Racing Series at www.midamericaracingseries.com.
“Duane is as much of a fixture in the Super Late Model world in the Arkansas and Missouri area as the names Frye, Phillips, Essary, and Mooneyham, and he deserves a champion’s salute,” commented MidSouthRacing.com owner, Ben Shelton. “You would be hard pressed to find anyone in the racing community, who has something negative to say about Duane. He is a great friend to me, and it won’t be the same announcing a Show Me 100 without seeing Duane conducting business as usual on the flagstand.”
M.A.R.S. competition director, Kim Norris, also has many fond memories of Duane, and an incredible amount of respect for him. “Duane always brought a level of professionalism to the M.A.R.S. tour when he was in the flagstand, and he is one of the reasons that the tour was able to grow and succeed so rapidly in those early years.
Although, Duane spent many years with the M.A.R.S. tour, he also made his mark in many other areas of the Motorsports world. He served as the flagman for the M.L.R.A. Late Model Series for several years as well as flagging for countless tracks throughout Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
In closing Shelton comments, “It’s sad to see Duane leaving the flagstand after so many years, but I know that he will still be with us at the track whenever possible, and having him there as a friend is what is really important.”
For more information on the series visit the official website of the Mid America Racing Series at www.midamericaracingseries.com.
