By Ben Shelton
MEMPHIS, TN (May 6, 2003) – The O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series at Memphis Motorsports Park will be invaded by the super late models of the Mid America Racing Series (MARS) this Friday, May 9th, and NASCAR stars, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney, will be leading the invasion.
The MARS series is nationally regarded as one of the most competitive, touring series in the nation, and this weekend, late model pilots from across the Midwest and South will converge on the ¼ mile, gumbo oval at MMP. Among the early entries are NASCAR veterans, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney. Each year, Schrader races more than twenty dirt races across the country, when his NASCAR schedule allows. He will be in action this Friday in his #99 Federated Auto Parts Rayburn. Dave Blaney, who is a former World of Outlaws Champion, will be returning to his grass roots, but this time in a dirt late model. Blaney will be piloting the Larry Shaw house car based out of Batesville, Arkansas.
The touring guys will not take it easy on the NASCAR drivers, as current points leader, Terry Phillips from Springfield, Missouri, is storming toward Memphis on the heels of back to back feature wins with the MARS series last weekend. Leslie Essary from Crane, Missouri currently holds down second in the series standings and will be looking to take over the top spot this Friday. Other touring drivers expected for this Friday’s show include Jeff Taylor, Bill Frye (Back to Back Series Champion), Steve Rushin Jr., Jerry Buck, Shane Essary, Dewaine Hottinger, Alan Vaughn, and many more.
The hometown drivers have a double shot of trouble heading their way with the MARS drivers plus the Nascar drivers, but they will be more than ready to defend their home turf and keep the “Memphis Mayhem” money at home. Local drivers expected to be in action include Johnny Lancaster (2002 Track Champion and current points leader), Jamie Dacus, Terry Pool, Tommy Ray, Jessie Bailey, Jerry Inmon, Blake Lane, Chris Ragan, Danny Christian, and many more.
Pit gates open at 4:00 and the grandstands open at 5:00 with hot laps at 7:00 and racing at 8:00. An autograph session in the grandstand area involving Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney will be held from 5:30 to 6:30. Grandstand admission is $15 for ages 12 and up and $5 for ages 6-11 (5 and under are free). Pit passes are $25 for ages 12 and up and $15 for children 6-11 (Age 5 and under free).
Memphis Motorsports Park is located at 5500 Taylor Forge Drive off of Fite Road between Highway 51 and Raleigh-Millington, seven miles north of I-240 near Millington.
For more information call (901)-358-RACE or visit www.thunderatthepark.com.
MEMPHIS, TN (May 6, 2003) – The O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series at Memphis Motorsports Park will be invaded by the super late models of the Mid America Racing Series (MARS) this Friday, May 9th, and NASCAR stars, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney, will be leading the invasion.
The MARS series is nationally regarded as one of the most competitive, touring series in the nation, and this weekend, late model pilots from across the Midwest and South will converge on the ¼ mile, gumbo oval at MMP. Among the early entries are NASCAR veterans, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney. Each year, Schrader races more than twenty dirt races across the country, when his NASCAR schedule allows. He will be in action this Friday in his #99 Federated Auto Parts Rayburn. Dave Blaney, who is a former World of Outlaws Champion, will be returning to his grass roots, but this time in a dirt late model. Blaney will be piloting the Larry Shaw house car based out of Batesville, Arkansas.
The touring guys will not take it easy on the NASCAR drivers, as current points leader, Terry Phillips from Springfield, Missouri, is storming toward Memphis on the heels of back to back feature wins with the MARS series last weekend. Leslie Essary from Crane, Missouri currently holds down second in the series standings and will be looking to take over the top spot this Friday. Other touring drivers expected for this Friday’s show include Jeff Taylor, Bill Frye (Back to Back Series Champion), Steve Rushin Jr., Jerry Buck, Shane Essary, Dewaine Hottinger, Alan Vaughn, and many more.
The hometown drivers have a double shot of trouble heading their way with the MARS drivers plus the Nascar drivers, but they will be more than ready to defend their home turf and keep the “Memphis Mayhem” money at home. Local drivers expected to be in action include Johnny Lancaster (2002 Track Champion and current points leader), Jamie Dacus, Terry Pool, Tommy Ray, Jessie Bailey, Jerry Inmon, Blake Lane, Chris Ragan, Danny Christian, and many more.
Pit gates open at 4:00 and the grandstands open at 5:00 with hot laps at 7:00 and racing at 8:00. An autograph session in the grandstand area involving Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney will be held from 5:30 to 6:30. Grandstand admission is $15 for ages 12 and up and $5 for ages 6-11 (5 and under are free). Pit passes are $25 for ages 12 and up and $15 for children 6-11 (Age 5 and under free).
Memphis Motorsports Park is located at 5500 Taylor Forge Drive off of Fite Road between Highway 51 and Raleigh-Millington, seven miles north of I-240 near Millington.
For more information call (901)-358-RACE or visit www.thunderatthepark.com.
