The martians of the MARS DIRTcar Series will invade Muskogee, Oklahoma’s Thunderbird Speedway for the first time in nearly a decade this Friday April 1, 2011. The Thunderbird Speedway is the largest track that the MARS Series will see this year and one of only a handful of true half-mile dirt tracks left in the country. Sallisaw, OK native Raymond Merrill picked up the the feature win the last time the series visited on June 21, 2002. This race, dubbed the ‘Azalea Nationals’ is in honor of the Azalea Festival hosted by the city of Muskogee every April.
Driver’s expected include 6-time MARS Champion Terry Phillips and Jeremy Payne of Springfield, MO; Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, MO; Jesse Stovall of Galena, MO; R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, AZ; Brad Looney of Republic, MO; Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, MO; 5-time MARS Champion Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR; Al Purkey of Coffeyville, KS; Dewaine Hottinger and Jon Kirby of Russellville, AR; Colton Dunlap of Muskogee, OK; Gary Christian of Broken Bow, OK; Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR; Leroy Johnson of Battlefield, MO; Shane Essary of Aurora, MO; Darrell Mooneyham of Verona, MO: Justin Asplin of Birch Tree, MO and many more. Other drivers with MARS wins at the historic half-mile include Terry Phillips, Bill Frye and Leslie Essary of Crane, MO.
Grandstand gates open at 6:00pm with hotlaps at 7:30pm and racing scheduled at 8:00pm. General admission for adults is $15, Seniors 65 and older are $13. Kids 11-17 are $5 and kids 10 and under are free. Pit gates will open early. Pit pass for adults is $30, Seniors 65 and older are $25. Kids 6-11 are $10 and kids 5 and under are free.
Information regarding the Thunderbird Speedway can be found at http://thunderbirdspeedwaymuskogee.yolasite.com/. The physical address is 1444 S. Cherokee, Muskogee OK 74401.
Information on the MARS DIRTcar Series can be found at www.marsracingseries.com.
The MARS DIRTcar Series would like to thank their sponsors for the 2011 season. Hoosier Racing Tire, Libscomb Auto Group, Powertrain Industries, Leitle Car Quest, VP Race Fuels, Wrisco Aluminum, Comp Cams, GRT Race Cars, Hatfield Racing Engines, Supermoon Graphics, Don Babb Motorsports, Andy’s Frozen Custard and Allstate Insurance.