Memphis, Tennessee (May 9, 2003) The O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series at Memphis Motorsports Park hosted the O’Reilly Mid America Racing Series Super Late Models in front of a capacity crowd on Friday, May 9th.
Forty-six, super late model competitors filled the pit area to take a shot at conquering the “Memphis Mayhem 40.” By the time that the feature rolled around the field had been narrowed down to twenty-three competitors. Batesville, Arkansas natives dominated the front row as Wendell Wallace and Jeff Taylor held the front row for the main event after accumulating the most passing points in the heat races. At the drop of the green, Wallace and Taylor raced into turn one with Wallace on the hub and Taylor on the cushion and Terry Phillips in tow. The pair raced side by side for the first six laps. By lap 11, Wallace had a two car length lead and was beginning to navigate lap traffic. Wendell maintained his lead in traffic until lap 20 as Taylor began to close back in on him. Caution flew on lap 23 for a spun Jerry Buck. Mayhem truly broke out on the ensuing, double file restart as Wallace, Taylor, and Phillips flared out three wide for the lead with Wallace maintaining the slim advantage. For the next few laps, the three drivers battled for position, and on lap 26 Taylor used a strong run on the bottom to move past Wallace on the back straight. Phillips also moved in on Wallace and grabbed second place for a few laps before Wallace ultimately stole it back. Taylor led the last 14 laps by a slim margin over Wallace and Phillips to pick up the $3,000 payday. Rounding out the top ten were Ken Schrader (Nascar), Mike Brown, Jeff Floyd, Bill Frye, Charlie Randolph, Danny Christian, and Leslie Essary. Heat races were won by Mike Bowers, Ken Schrader, Terry Phillips, Mike Brown, and Jeff Taylor. Joey Mack and Leslie Essary claimed the twin consolation races. Dewaine Hottinger and Steve Rushin got in the field on MARS provisionals and Jessie Bailey got in the field via a promoter’s provisional. Nascar driver, Dave Blaney was also in action but failed to make the feature.
Jeremy Ray has run strong all year in the Rick’s Powder Coating Modified division but has managed to fall just short of victory lane. On Friday night he finally found his way to victory lane as he passed race long leader, Craig Dunavan with four laps to go in the 15 lap main event. Following Ray and Dunavan at the finish line were Brandon Poppenheimer, Dennis Barbour, and Mark Stephens. Heat races were won by Craig Dunavan, Brandon Poppenheimer, and Cliff Carter.
Bud Ward appeared to have yet another mini stock victory in his grasp before car problems on the final corner allowed his sister, Sissy Swindell, to slip by and take the win. Ward grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and led all but the final corner of the feature. Following Swindell and Ward at the line were Jamey Hard, Anthony Jones, and Roy Webb. Heat races were won by Jack Pickett and Bud Ward.
The Ray’s Auto Collision street stock feature saw a familiar face gracing victory lane as
the current points leader, Joe Strop, picked up yet another feature victory. Despite late pressure from Mike Downing, Strop led the feature green to checkered en route to the win. Rounding out the top five were Chuck Fletcher, Martha Woods, and Wimp Gatlin. Heat races were won by Joe Strop and Mike Downing.
O’REILLY MID AMERICA RACING SERIES
O.H. HENDRICKS LATE MODELS
Carcount: 46
Heat Winners: Mike Bowers, Ken Schrader, Terry Phillips, Mike Brown, Jeff Taylor
B-Main Transfers: Joey Mack, Garrett Durrett, Leslie Essary, Jamie Dacus
Provisionals: Dewaine Hottinger, Steve Rushin, Jessie Bailey
Feature Results: 1)Jeff Taylor 2)Wendell Wallace 3)Terry Phillips 4)Ken Schrader 5)Mike Brown 6)Jeff Floyd 7)Bill Frye 8)Charlie Randolph 9)Danny Christian 10)Leslie Essary 11)Johnny Lancaster 12)Mike Bowers 13)Dane Dacus 14)Jessie Bailey 15)Steve Rushin 16)Dewaine Hottinger 17)Joey Mack 18)Dean Carpenter 19)Garrett Durrett 20)Jerry Inmon 21)Jerry Buck 22)Steve Ross 23)Jamie Elam
RAY’S AUTO COLLISION STREET STOCKS
Carcount: 13
Heat Winner: Joe Strop, Mike Downing
Feature Results: 1)Joe Strop 2)Mike Downing 3)Chuck Fletcher 4)Martha Woods 5)Wimp Gatlin 6)Doug Layton 7)Troy Yarbrough 8)Jimmy Rines 9)JC Waller 10)Jeff Jackson 11)William Bailey 12)Richard Wehrman
RICK’S POWDER COATINGS MODIFIEDS
Carcount: 20
Heat Winners: Craig Dunavan, Brandon Poppenheimer, Cliff Carter
Feature Results: 1)Jeremy Ray 2)Craig Dunavan 3)Brandon Poppenheimer 4)Dennis Barbour 5)Mark Stephens 6)Raines Sojourner 7)Jarod Roller 8)Jeff Richardson 9)Frank Edwards 10)Scott Wicker 11)Jeff Waller 12)Jerry Jackson 13)Ashley Newman 14)Jamie Elam 15)Danny Dow 16)Terry Kerbough 17)Cliff Carter
BURCH’S AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Carcount: 18
Heat Winners: Jack Pickett, Bud Ward
Feature Results: 1)Sissy Swindell 2)Bud Ward 3)Jamey Hard 4)Anthony Jones 5)Roy Webb 6)Lee Switcher 7)Jack Pickett 8)Greg Fisher 9)Mark Clark 10)Cotton James 11)Chris Lackey 12)Robert Stevens 13)Allen Williams 14)David Dunham 15)Mark Lovell 16)Shane Parker 17)Jeremy Daughtery 18)Rick Sirkel
Attached Photos
MMP50903mod.jpg - Jeremy Ray picked up his first modified feature win of the year (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMP50903latemod1.jpg - Jeff Taylor en route to the feature victory (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMP50903latemod2.jpg - Wendell Wallace and Jeff Taylor battled for the win in the MARS event before Taylor came out on top (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMP50903mini.jpg - Sissy Swindell picked up the win in the mini stock feature (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMPE440c.jpg - Joe Strop from Steele, Missouri picked up yet another feature win (Photo by Phil Bowden)
Ben Shelton
www.thunderatthepark.com
Forty-six, super late model competitors filled the pit area to take a shot at conquering the “Memphis Mayhem 40.” By the time that the feature rolled around the field had been narrowed down to twenty-three competitors. Batesville, Arkansas natives dominated the front row as Wendell Wallace and Jeff Taylor held the front row for the main event after accumulating the most passing points in the heat races. At the drop of the green, Wallace and Taylor raced into turn one with Wallace on the hub and Taylor on the cushion and Terry Phillips in tow. The pair raced side by side for the first six laps. By lap 11, Wallace had a two car length lead and was beginning to navigate lap traffic. Wendell maintained his lead in traffic until lap 20 as Taylor began to close back in on him. Caution flew on lap 23 for a spun Jerry Buck. Mayhem truly broke out on the ensuing, double file restart as Wallace, Taylor, and Phillips flared out three wide for the lead with Wallace maintaining the slim advantage. For the next few laps, the three drivers battled for position, and on lap 26 Taylor used a strong run on the bottom to move past Wallace on the back straight. Phillips also moved in on Wallace and grabbed second place for a few laps before Wallace ultimately stole it back. Taylor led the last 14 laps by a slim margin over Wallace and Phillips to pick up the $3,000 payday. Rounding out the top ten were Ken Schrader (Nascar), Mike Brown, Jeff Floyd, Bill Frye, Charlie Randolph, Danny Christian, and Leslie Essary. Heat races were won by Mike Bowers, Ken Schrader, Terry Phillips, Mike Brown, and Jeff Taylor. Joey Mack and Leslie Essary claimed the twin consolation races. Dewaine Hottinger and Steve Rushin got in the field on MARS provisionals and Jessie Bailey got in the field via a promoter’s provisional. Nascar driver, Dave Blaney was also in action but failed to make the feature.
Jeremy Ray has run strong all year in the Rick’s Powder Coating Modified division but has managed to fall just short of victory lane. On Friday night he finally found his way to victory lane as he passed race long leader, Craig Dunavan with four laps to go in the 15 lap main event. Following Ray and Dunavan at the finish line were Brandon Poppenheimer, Dennis Barbour, and Mark Stephens. Heat races were won by Craig Dunavan, Brandon Poppenheimer, and Cliff Carter.
Bud Ward appeared to have yet another mini stock victory in his grasp before car problems on the final corner allowed his sister, Sissy Swindell, to slip by and take the win. Ward grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and led all but the final corner of the feature. Following Swindell and Ward at the line were Jamey Hard, Anthony Jones, and Roy Webb. Heat races were won by Jack Pickett and Bud Ward.
The Ray’s Auto Collision street stock feature saw a familiar face gracing victory lane as
the current points leader, Joe Strop, picked up yet another feature victory. Despite late pressure from Mike Downing, Strop led the feature green to checkered en route to the win. Rounding out the top five were Chuck Fletcher, Martha Woods, and Wimp Gatlin. Heat races were won by Joe Strop and Mike Downing.
O’REILLY MID AMERICA RACING SERIES
O.H. HENDRICKS LATE MODELS
Carcount: 46
Heat Winners: Mike Bowers, Ken Schrader, Terry Phillips, Mike Brown, Jeff Taylor
B-Main Transfers: Joey Mack, Garrett Durrett, Leslie Essary, Jamie Dacus
Provisionals: Dewaine Hottinger, Steve Rushin, Jessie Bailey
Feature Results: 1)Jeff Taylor 2)Wendell Wallace 3)Terry Phillips 4)Ken Schrader 5)Mike Brown 6)Jeff Floyd 7)Bill Frye 8)Charlie Randolph 9)Danny Christian 10)Leslie Essary 11)Johnny Lancaster 12)Mike Bowers 13)Dane Dacus 14)Jessie Bailey 15)Steve Rushin 16)Dewaine Hottinger 17)Joey Mack 18)Dean Carpenter 19)Garrett Durrett 20)Jerry Inmon 21)Jerry Buck 22)Steve Ross 23)Jamie Elam
RAY’S AUTO COLLISION STREET STOCKS
Carcount: 13
Heat Winner: Joe Strop, Mike Downing
Feature Results: 1)Joe Strop 2)Mike Downing 3)Chuck Fletcher 4)Martha Woods 5)Wimp Gatlin 6)Doug Layton 7)Troy Yarbrough 8)Jimmy Rines 9)JC Waller 10)Jeff Jackson 11)William Bailey 12)Richard Wehrman
RICK’S POWDER COATINGS MODIFIEDS
Carcount: 20
Heat Winners: Craig Dunavan, Brandon Poppenheimer, Cliff Carter
Feature Results: 1)Jeremy Ray 2)Craig Dunavan 3)Brandon Poppenheimer 4)Dennis Barbour 5)Mark Stephens 6)Raines Sojourner 7)Jarod Roller 8)Jeff Richardson 9)Frank Edwards 10)Scott Wicker 11)Jeff Waller 12)Jerry Jackson 13)Ashley Newman 14)Jamie Elam 15)Danny Dow 16)Terry Kerbough 17)Cliff Carter
BURCH’S AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Carcount: 18
Heat Winners: Jack Pickett, Bud Ward
Feature Results: 1)Sissy Swindell 2)Bud Ward 3)Jamey Hard 4)Anthony Jones 5)Roy Webb 6)Lee Switcher 7)Jack Pickett 8)Greg Fisher 9)Mark Clark 10)Cotton James 11)Chris Lackey 12)Robert Stevens 13)Allen Williams 14)David Dunham 15)Mark Lovell 16)Shane Parker 17)Jeremy Daughtery 18)Rick Sirkel
Attached Photos
MMP50903mod.jpg - Jeremy Ray picked up his first modified feature win of the year (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMP50903latemod1.jpg - Jeff Taylor en route to the feature victory (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMP50903latemod2.jpg - Wendell Wallace and Jeff Taylor battled for the win in the MARS event before Taylor came out on top (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMP50903mini.jpg - Sissy Swindell picked up the win in the mini stock feature (Photo by Phil Bowden)
MMPE440c.jpg - Joe Strop from Steele, Missouri picked up yet another feature win (Photo by Phil Bowden)
Ben Shelton
www.thunderatthepark.com
