jdearing
03-27-2005, 11:18 AM
by Dusty Wiegert
Five years ago an idea was struck to introduce a new racing series to offer Dirt Late Model drivers in the state of Kansas and surrounding areas more events without traveling too far from home every week. As a result of the idea, the Topless Outlaw Racing Association was formed in 2001 and quickly began signing races with Kansas race tracks. April 2001 was the first race taking place at the now closed Muskogee Speedway, and saw eventual 3 time champion Larry McDaniels win the inaugural event.
On May 14, 2005 under the direction for the second year of O’Reilly Auto Parts, TORA will begin its 5th anniversary season.
Steve Kosiski of Papillion, Nebraska will lead the way into 2005 as the defending series champion. Kosiski dominated last year’s rain soaked season, winning by the biggest points margin in series history.
Kosiski was the only one to run away from the rest of the pack though, as the rest of the top 10 stayed within striking distance of positions in front or behind them throughout the season. All of the drivers receiving awards at the end of the season competed in every race or close to it. The average car count was up, and the series was featured for the first time ever on national television as they battle the Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series on the Speed Channel.
Mike Wiarda won the Kuntz & Company Rookie of the Year award after finishing 3rd in the Point Standings and winning his first race at the famed Belleville High Banks. Jerrod Reimer, who finished 4th in the Rookie Points and 12th overall, received the Most Improved Driver award after making the jump from Street Stocks to Late Models.
With the banquet’s conclusion brought the start of the 2005 season as races began being scheduled. At the current time around 20 events are scheduled for the 2005 season, one that will bring more excitement to the Kansas based roofless series.
The series kicks off it’s 5th year at a new venue, the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City on May 14. It will be the first of two visits on the year for the 3/8 mile facility in the Sooner State.
The series then takes a 4 week break before heading to the Hutchinson Raceway Park in Hutchinson, Kanas on June 10 and then the next evening to the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas on June 11. Racing continues the next weekend as the series makes the first of several visits this year to the Belleville High Banks on a special Friday night edition of racing on June 17 and then up to the beautiful new facility in McCool Junction, Nebraska, the Junction Motor Speedway on June 18. On June 25 the series will head out west to tackle the Jetmore Motorplex to close out the month.
July starts off on the 1st for the first time ever at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, a challenge race between TORA and the O’Reilly National Championship Racing Association (NCRA). The next night the series will head to the Salina (KS) Speedway for their Fireworks Spectacular, and then another showdown with the O’Reilly NCRA series at the Belleville High Banks on July 3. The next weekend the series heads back to Mayetta’s Thunderhill Speedway for a July 9 show. A weekend off will follow until the action heats up once again on July 24 at the Belleville High Banks again in another challenge race, this time with the Polydome Late Model Series (WDRL). On July 29 the series will head back to Oklahoma as they will race for the second time ever at the Outlaw Motor Speedway in Wainwright, Oklahoma.
The month of August starts out with another swing with Hutchinson and Thunderhill Speedway, on the 12th and 13th. The series heads back to Oklahoma City on August 20 and then to the Belleville High Banks on August 27 for a special race of which details will be released soon.
With the conclusion of August ends a busy schedule, but racing action will continue on September 23-24 as the series makes it’s way to Lebanon, Missouri for the first time in a challenge race with the O’Reilly Mid America Racing Series (MARS), marking the first time since 2001 the series visits Missouri.
The season will then come to a close on October 6 at the Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas in the Capital Federal Savings Late Model Showdown.
Though it is a solid schedule, it is also tentative as race dates can be added or taken off as the year progresses.
In the 5th year of existence, the O’Reilly TORA Late Models show no signs of letting up as they once again will show the fans what exactly it takes to pilot a wedge bodied gladiator with roofs being prohibited. A few exceptions of the rule will take place on July 1, July 3, July 24, August 27, and September 23-24 as roofs will be mandatory.
O’Reilly Auto Parts returns again in 2005 as the title sponsor of the Topless Outlaw Racing Association. O’Reilly Auto Parts is among the leaders of automobile parts and accessories in the United States, with 1,183 stores in 18 states today. They intend to be the dominant supplier of auto parts in their market areas by offering their retail customers, professional installers, and jobbers the best combination of price and quality provided with the highest possible service level. To find your nearest O’Reilly Auto Parts store or to learn more about them visit www.oreillyautoparts.com
Kuntz & Company will begin their first full season as the sponsor of the Rookie of the Year race in which many good drivers are expected to compete this year. Kuntz and Company is located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and have been building custom racing engines for over 25 years. To contact them call 870-246-2595 or visit them on the internet at www.kuntzandcompany.com
American Racing Tires is back for their third year or sponsorship in supplying the official tire of the TORA series. This year a TORA stamped MD56 will be mandatory on the right rear with an option TORA stamped MD48 or MD56 on the other 3 corners. In the case of a challenge/co-sanctioned event MD56 will be mandatory on the rear of the car only. American Racing Tires are proud to be the official tire provider of the 2005 O’Reilly TORA season. To contact American Racing Tires phone them at 317-485-5133 or on the world wide web at www.americanracetires.com
2005 starts in May and as a list of driver registrations continues to grow it looks as if it will be another record breaking season. For the latest news and information, including driver profiles and fan area items being updated daily, head over to www.toraracing.org on the internet.
Five years ago an idea was struck to introduce a new racing series to offer Dirt Late Model drivers in the state of Kansas and surrounding areas more events without traveling too far from home every week. As a result of the idea, the Topless Outlaw Racing Association was formed in 2001 and quickly began signing races with Kansas race tracks. April 2001 was the first race taking place at the now closed Muskogee Speedway, and saw eventual 3 time champion Larry McDaniels win the inaugural event.
On May 14, 2005 under the direction for the second year of O’Reilly Auto Parts, TORA will begin its 5th anniversary season.
Steve Kosiski of Papillion, Nebraska will lead the way into 2005 as the defending series champion. Kosiski dominated last year’s rain soaked season, winning by the biggest points margin in series history.
Kosiski was the only one to run away from the rest of the pack though, as the rest of the top 10 stayed within striking distance of positions in front or behind them throughout the season. All of the drivers receiving awards at the end of the season competed in every race or close to it. The average car count was up, and the series was featured for the first time ever on national television as they battle the Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series on the Speed Channel.
Mike Wiarda won the Kuntz & Company Rookie of the Year award after finishing 3rd in the Point Standings and winning his first race at the famed Belleville High Banks. Jerrod Reimer, who finished 4th in the Rookie Points and 12th overall, received the Most Improved Driver award after making the jump from Street Stocks to Late Models.
With the banquet’s conclusion brought the start of the 2005 season as races began being scheduled. At the current time around 20 events are scheduled for the 2005 season, one that will bring more excitement to the Kansas based roofless series.
The series kicks off it’s 5th year at a new venue, the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City on May 14. It will be the first of two visits on the year for the 3/8 mile facility in the Sooner State.
The series then takes a 4 week break before heading to the Hutchinson Raceway Park in Hutchinson, Kanas on June 10 and then the next evening to the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas on June 11. Racing continues the next weekend as the series makes the first of several visits this year to the Belleville High Banks on a special Friday night edition of racing on June 17 and then up to the beautiful new facility in McCool Junction, Nebraska, the Junction Motor Speedway on June 18. On June 25 the series will head out west to tackle the Jetmore Motorplex to close out the month.
July starts off on the 1st for the first time ever at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, a challenge race between TORA and the O’Reilly National Championship Racing Association (NCRA). The next night the series will head to the Salina (KS) Speedway for their Fireworks Spectacular, and then another showdown with the O’Reilly NCRA series at the Belleville High Banks on July 3. The next weekend the series heads back to Mayetta’s Thunderhill Speedway for a July 9 show. A weekend off will follow until the action heats up once again on July 24 at the Belleville High Banks again in another challenge race, this time with the Polydome Late Model Series (WDRL). On July 29 the series will head back to Oklahoma as they will race for the second time ever at the Outlaw Motor Speedway in Wainwright, Oklahoma.
The month of August starts out with another swing with Hutchinson and Thunderhill Speedway, on the 12th and 13th. The series heads back to Oklahoma City on August 20 and then to the Belleville High Banks on August 27 for a special race of which details will be released soon.
With the conclusion of August ends a busy schedule, but racing action will continue on September 23-24 as the series makes it’s way to Lebanon, Missouri for the first time in a challenge race with the O’Reilly Mid America Racing Series (MARS), marking the first time since 2001 the series visits Missouri.
The season will then come to a close on October 6 at the Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas in the Capital Federal Savings Late Model Showdown.
Though it is a solid schedule, it is also tentative as race dates can be added or taken off as the year progresses.
In the 5th year of existence, the O’Reilly TORA Late Models show no signs of letting up as they once again will show the fans what exactly it takes to pilot a wedge bodied gladiator with roofs being prohibited. A few exceptions of the rule will take place on July 1, July 3, July 24, August 27, and September 23-24 as roofs will be mandatory.
O’Reilly Auto Parts returns again in 2005 as the title sponsor of the Topless Outlaw Racing Association. O’Reilly Auto Parts is among the leaders of automobile parts and accessories in the United States, with 1,183 stores in 18 states today. They intend to be the dominant supplier of auto parts in their market areas by offering their retail customers, professional installers, and jobbers the best combination of price and quality provided with the highest possible service level. To find your nearest O’Reilly Auto Parts store or to learn more about them visit www.oreillyautoparts.com
Kuntz & Company will begin their first full season as the sponsor of the Rookie of the Year race in which many good drivers are expected to compete this year. Kuntz and Company is located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and have been building custom racing engines for over 25 years. To contact them call 870-246-2595 or visit them on the internet at www.kuntzandcompany.com
American Racing Tires is back for their third year or sponsorship in supplying the official tire of the TORA series. This year a TORA stamped MD56 will be mandatory on the right rear with an option TORA stamped MD48 or MD56 on the other 3 corners. In the case of a challenge/co-sanctioned event MD56 will be mandatory on the rear of the car only. American Racing Tires are proud to be the official tire provider of the 2005 O’Reilly TORA season. To contact American Racing Tires phone them at 317-485-5133 or on the world wide web at www.americanracetires.com
2005 starts in May and as a list of driver registrations continues to grow it looks as if it will be another record breaking season. For the latest news and information, including driver profiles and fan area items being updated daily, head over to www.toraracing.org on the internet.