O'REILLY AUTO PARTS MID-AMERICA RACING SERIES
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Saturday, August 23, 2003
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
LEBANON MO. Wendell Wallace visited Victory Lane for the second time this weekend, picking up the O'Reilly Auto Parts Mid-America Racing Series win Saturday at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway. Wallace dueled with Bill Frye for much of the race. Frye retook the points lead, after Terry Phillips crashed into the frontstretch wall early in the race.
Local favorite Brandon McCormick scored the pole for the nights feature, with Mike Brown to his outside. Frye shot from his inside second row starting position into a three wide formation on the opening lap. Frye drove to the lead in turn four, while Terry Phillips went to the high side of the track and was in second place on the lap two.
Jeff Floyd moved past Mike Brown into third in turn four on lap three, and Leslie Essary moved into the fifth spot on lap four. Frye was working the bottom of the track, and Phillips was way up high as the pair raced virtually side by side in the early laps.
David Gibson brought out the first yellow of the night on lap six, as he was pulled up in turn four with a flat tire. On the restart, it appeared as if something broke on Phillip's car, as he shot straight into the wall. Phillips then spun down to the inside of the track, collecting Chris Smyser in the process. Both were towed from the track, done for the night.
Wendell Wallace moved to fourth on the restart, and Frye, Floyd, Essary and Wallace stayed in a tight formation . Dewaine Hottinger brought out the caution again on lap 12, as he was stalled with a flat tire. Jeff Floyd had a tire go down during the caution, and he pitted, giving up second spot.
Wallace drove by Essary on the restart for the second spot. Wallace and Frye then drove side by side for the next several laps. Wallace lead lap 15, and maintained a slim lead until Shane Essary brought out the caution on lap 17. His car was pushed to the pits, and he was done for the night.
Brad Looney was fourth on the restart, then Gary Stolba drove to fifth working the extreme high side of the track. The pair swapped spots over the next several laps.
Out front, Wallace had been able to stretch out to a 10 carlength advantage over Frye by lap 22. The caution flag waved again on lap 27 for Charlie Randolph, who was coasting to a stop in turn two with a pair of flat tires.
The race resumed for one completed lap, before Jeff Floyd brought the yellow out again with a flat tire. Gary Stolba also pitted for fresh rubber.
Brad Looney rocketed into third on the restart. Wallace and Frye were side by side, and Frye worked back into the lead on lap 29. The frontrunning pair were a half straightaway over the field by lap 32. Dewaine Hottinger was on the move, and was fifth by lap 33.
Wendell Wallace drove back by Frye, retaking the lead in turn four on lap 34. Hottinger drove by Essary for fourth in turn two on lap 35, then drove by Looney for third on lap 38.
Wendell Wallace came home with his second win of the weekend. Bill Frye, Dewaine Hottinger, Brad Looney, and Leslie Essary made up the top five. Mike Brown, David Gibson, Steve Rushin, Joey Mack, and Scott Drake rounded out the top five.
Entries: 26
Top Qualifier: Brandon McCormick
W&W Concrete Hard Charger: Brad Looney
Provisionals: Jerry Buck (4), Shane Essary (3)
Lap Leaders: Bill Frye 1-14, 29-34; Wendell Wallace, 15-28, 35-40
Cautions: 5
A FEATURE (40 Laps)
1) Wendell Wallace, (8) GRT/Craft/Taurus; $3,000
2) Bill Frye, (3) GRT/Kuntz/Mustang; $2,000
3) Dewaine Hottinger, (12) GRT/Kuntz/Monte Carlo; $1,250
4) Brad Looney, (13) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $1,100
5) Leslie Essary, (10) GRT/Mike's/Grand Prix; $1,000
6) Mike Brown, (2) GRT/Kuntz/Taurus; $750
7) David Gibson, (6) Rocket/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $700
8) Steve Rushin, (14) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $675
9) Joey Mack, (16) GRT/Kuntz/Mustang; $650
10) Scott Drake, (11) Rayburn/Dickens/Grand Prix; $625
11) Brandon McCormick, (1) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $600
12) Gary Stolba, (5) GRT/Hatfield/Grand Prix; $575
13) Jeff Floyd, (4) GRT/Kuntz/Grand Prix; $550
14) Charlie Randolph, (9) GRT/BMS/Monte Carlo; $525
15) Rusty Dukes, (17) GRT/Hatfield/Grand Prix; $500
16) Jeff Taylor, (21) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
17) Shane Essary, (20) GRT/Hatfield/Grand Prix; $500
18) Terry Phillips, (7) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
19) Chris Smyser, (15) MasterSbilt/Kirchner/Grand Prix; $500
20) Tim Brown, (18) Warrior/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
21) Jerry Buck, (20) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
(scratch: Peyton Taylor)
1st Heat (12 Laps) 1) Jeff Floyd, Walnut Ridge AR 2) Mike Brown, Ft. Gibson OK 3) Wendell Wallace, Batesville AR 4) Peyton Taylor, Desha AR 5) Leslie Essary, Crane MO 6) Steve Rushin, Poplar Bluff MO 7) Mike Harris, Lebanon MO 8) Joey Mack, Benton MO 9) Shane Essary, Aurora MO
2nd Heat 1) Gary Stolba, Willow Springs MO 2) Terry Phillips, Springfield MO 3) Charlie Randolph, Muskogee OK 4) Scott Drake, Webb City MO 5) Dewaine Hottinger, Russellville AR 6) Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove MO 7) Tim Brown, Stoutland MO 8) Jerry Buck, Harviell MO (scratch: Jack Sullivan)
3rd Heat 1) Brandon McCormick, Lebanon MO 2) Bill Frye, Greenbriar AR 3) David Gibson, Ash Flat AR 4) Jeff Taylor, Pleasant Plains AR 5) Brad Looney, Republic MO 6) Chris Smyser, Lancaster MO 7) LeRoy Johnson, Springfield MO 8) Chris Comer, Parkville MO
Last Chance Qualifier (12 Laps, four transfer) 1) Chris Smyser 2) Joey Mack 3) Rusty Dukes 4) Tim Brown 5) LeRoy Johnson 6) Chris Comer 7) Shane Essary 8) Mike Harris (scratches: Jack Sullivan, Jerry Buck)
MARS POINTS AS OF: 08/23/03
1 66F FRYE, BILL GREENBRIAR, AR 2313
2 75P PHILLIPS, TERRY SPRINGFIELD, MO 2301
3 5T TAYLOR, JEFF PLEASANT PLAINS, AR 2141
4 5E ESSARY, LESLIE CRANE, MO 2083
5 F1 FLOYD, JEFF WALNUT RIDGE, AR 2035
6 427B BROWN, MIKE FT. GIBSON, OK 2017
7 81B BUCK, JERRY HARVIELL, M0 1891
8 9R RANDOLPH II, CHARLIE MUSKOGEE, OK 1865
9 65H HOTTINGER, DEWAINE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 1863
10 14JR RUSHIN, STEVE POPLAR BLUFF, MO 1815
11 97M MACK, JOEY BENTON, MO 1807
12 33S STOLBA, GARY WILLOW SPRINGS, MO 1615
13 18S SULLIVAN, JACK GREENBRIAR, AR 1587
14 15E ESSARY, SHANE AURORA, MO 1505
15 60B BOWERS, MIKE NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR1483
16 88WW WALLACE, WENDELL BATESVILLE, AR 1284
17 27T TAYLOR, STACY JACKSONVILLE, AR 1077
18 G2 GIBSON, DAVID ASH FLAT, AR 916
19 12M MERRILL, RAYMOND SALLISAW, OK 859
20 64M McCROSKEY, REX SPRINGFIELD, MO 655
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Saturday, August 23, 2003
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
LEBANON MO. Wendell Wallace visited Victory Lane for the second time this weekend, picking up the O'Reilly Auto Parts Mid-America Racing Series win Saturday at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway. Wallace dueled with Bill Frye for much of the race. Frye retook the points lead, after Terry Phillips crashed into the frontstretch wall early in the race.
Local favorite Brandon McCormick scored the pole for the nights feature, with Mike Brown to his outside. Frye shot from his inside second row starting position into a three wide formation on the opening lap. Frye drove to the lead in turn four, while Terry Phillips went to the high side of the track and was in second place on the lap two.
Jeff Floyd moved past Mike Brown into third in turn four on lap three, and Leslie Essary moved into the fifth spot on lap four. Frye was working the bottom of the track, and Phillips was way up high as the pair raced virtually side by side in the early laps.
David Gibson brought out the first yellow of the night on lap six, as he was pulled up in turn four with a flat tire. On the restart, it appeared as if something broke on Phillip's car, as he shot straight into the wall. Phillips then spun down to the inside of the track, collecting Chris Smyser in the process. Both were towed from the track, done for the night.
Wendell Wallace moved to fourth on the restart, and Frye, Floyd, Essary and Wallace stayed in a tight formation . Dewaine Hottinger brought out the caution again on lap 12, as he was stalled with a flat tire. Jeff Floyd had a tire go down during the caution, and he pitted, giving up second spot.
Wallace drove by Essary on the restart for the second spot. Wallace and Frye then drove side by side for the next several laps. Wallace lead lap 15, and maintained a slim lead until Shane Essary brought out the caution on lap 17. His car was pushed to the pits, and he was done for the night.
Brad Looney was fourth on the restart, then Gary Stolba drove to fifth working the extreme high side of the track. The pair swapped spots over the next several laps.
Out front, Wallace had been able to stretch out to a 10 carlength advantage over Frye by lap 22. The caution flag waved again on lap 27 for Charlie Randolph, who was coasting to a stop in turn two with a pair of flat tires.
The race resumed for one completed lap, before Jeff Floyd brought the yellow out again with a flat tire. Gary Stolba also pitted for fresh rubber.
Brad Looney rocketed into third on the restart. Wallace and Frye were side by side, and Frye worked back into the lead on lap 29. The frontrunning pair were a half straightaway over the field by lap 32. Dewaine Hottinger was on the move, and was fifth by lap 33.
Wendell Wallace drove back by Frye, retaking the lead in turn four on lap 34. Hottinger drove by Essary for fourth in turn two on lap 35, then drove by Looney for third on lap 38.
Wendell Wallace came home with his second win of the weekend. Bill Frye, Dewaine Hottinger, Brad Looney, and Leslie Essary made up the top five. Mike Brown, David Gibson, Steve Rushin, Joey Mack, and Scott Drake rounded out the top five.
Entries: 26
Top Qualifier: Brandon McCormick
W&W Concrete Hard Charger: Brad Looney
Provisionals: Jerry Buck (4), Shane Essary (3)
Lap Leaders: Bill Frye 1-14, 29-34; Wendell Wallace, 15-28, 35-40
Cautions: 5
A FEATURE (40 Laps)
1) Wendell Wallace, (8) GRT/Craft/Taurus; $3,000
2) Bill Frye, (3) GRT/Kuntz/Mustang; $2,000
3) Dewaine Hottinger, (12) GRT/Kuntz/Monte Carlo; $1,250
4) Brad Looney, (13) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $1,100
5) Leslie Essary, (10) GRT/Mike's/Grand Prix; $1,000
6) Mike Brown, (2) GRT/Kuntz/Taurus; $750
7) David Gibson, (6) Rocket/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $700
8) Steve Rushin, (14) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $675
9) Joey Mack, (16) GRT/Kuntz/Mustang; $650
10) Scott Drake, (11) Rayburn/Dickens/Grand Prix; $625
11) Brandon McCormick, (1) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $600
12) Gary Stolba, (5) GRT/Hatfield/Grand Prix; $575
13) Jeff Floyd, (4) GRT/Kuntz/Grand Prix; $550
14) Charlie Randolph, (9) GRT/BMS/Monte Carlo; $525
15) Rusty Dukes, (17) GRT/Hatfield/Grand Prix; $500
16) Jeff Taylor, (21) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
17) Shane Essary, (20) GRT/Hatfield/Grand Prix; $500
18) Terry Phillips, (7) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
19) Chris Smyser, (15) MasterSbilt/Kirchner/Grand Prix; $500
20) Tim Brown, (18) Warrior/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
21) Jerry Buck, (20) GRT/Hatfield/Monte Carlo; $500
(scratch: Peyton Taylor)
1st Heat (12 Laps) 1) Jeff Floyd, Walnut Ridge AR 2) Mike Brown, Ft. Gibson OK 3) Wendell Wallace, Batesville AR 4) Peyton Taylor, Desha AR 5) Leslie Essary, Crane MO 6) Steve Rushin, Poplar Bluff MO 7) Mike Harris, Lebanon MO 8) Joey Mack, Benton MO 9) Shane Essary, Aurora MO
2nd Heat 1) Gary Stolba, Willow Springs MO 2) Terry Phillips, Springfield MO 3) Charlie Randolph, Muskogee OK 4) Scott Drake, Webb City MO 5) Dewaine Hottinger, Russellville AR 6) Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove MO 7) Tim Brown, Stoutland MO 8) Jerry Buck, Harviell MO (scratch: Jack Sullivan)
3rd Heat 1) Brandon McCormick, Lebanon MO 2) Bill Frye, Greenbriar AR 3) David Gibson, Ash Flat AR 4) Jeff Taylor, Pleasant Plains AR 5) Brad Looney, Republic MO 6) Chris Smyser, Lancaster MO 7) LeRoy Johnson, Springfield MO 8) Chris Comer, Parkville MO
Last Chance Qualifier (12 Laps, four transfer) 1) Chris Smyser 2) Joey Mack 3) Rusty Dukes 4) Tim Brown 5) LeRoy Johnson 6) Chris Comer 7) Shane Essary 8) Mike Harris (scratches: Jack Sullivan, Jerry Buck)
MARS POINTS AS OF: 08/23/03
1 66F FRYE, BILL GREENBRIAR, AR 2313
2 75P PHILLIPS, TERRY SPRINGFIELD, MO 2301
3 5T TAYLOR, JEFF PLEASANT PLAINS, AR 2141
4 5E ESSARY, LESLIE CRANE, MO 2083
5 F1 FLOYD, JEFF WALNUT RIDGE, AR 2035
6 427B BROWN, MIKE FT. GIBSON, OK 2017
7 81B BUCK, JERRY HARVIELL, M0 1891
8 9R RANDOLPH II, CHARLIE MUSKOGEE, OK 1865
9 65H HOTTINGER, DEWAINE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 1863
10 14JR RUSHIN, STEVE POPLAR BLUFF, MO 1815
11 97M MACK, JOEY BENTON, MO 1807
12 33S STOLBA, GARY WILLOW SPRINGS, MO 1615
13 18S SULLIVAN, JACK GREENBRIAR, AR 1587
14 15E ESSARY, SHANE AURORA, MO 1505
15 60B BOWERS, MIKE NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR1483
16 88WW WALLACE, WENDELL BATESVILLE, AR 1284
17 27T TAYLOR, STACY JACKSONVILLE, AR 1077
18 G2 GIBSON, DAVID ASH FLAT, AR 916
19 12M MERRILL, RAYMOND SALLISAW, OK 859
20 64M McCROSKEY, REX SPRINGFIELD, MO 655
