16th Annual O’Reilly Show Me 100 Provides Economic Relief For Fans & Racers

jdearing

Administrator
Staff member
West Plains, MO (5/11/08) – Over the past few years the economy of the United States has been quite turbulent, and the cost of almost everything in American’s daily lives has sky-rocketed. However, the staff at West Plains Motor Speedway in West Plains, Missouri has always had a different view of things, and the 16th Annual O’Reilly Show Me 100 on May 22nd-24th, 2008 will show this to be more true than ever before.

Just as the cost of gas, food, and other amenities has steadily increased over the past few years, so has the payout for each year’s O’Reilly Show Me 100. In 1993, the first O’Reilly Show Me 100 event was held and boasted a staggering $25,000 to win and $2,500 to start for Super Late Models. During planning for the inaugural event, Don and Billie Gibson, who own West Plains Motor Speedway, coined the phrase “It just keeps getting bigger,” and there could not have been a better way to describe their creation. Over the past 16 years, the event has grown each year by adding $1,000 more to win and $100 more to start. In addition, each year the amount of the Fast Qualifier Award has been increased. The cumulative result for the 2008 O’Reilly Show Me 100 is an event that offers an incredible $42,000 to win and $4,200 to start the main event and a weekend purse exceeding $200,000.

While the purse has increased each year and the cost of operating the track has increased, the Gibsons have prided themselves on not increasing the entry fee, grandstand admission, or pit admission for the past several years.

Track owner Billie Gibson comments, “Fans and racers have had so many increases in all of the costs of living over the past several years, and Don and I decided that we would provide a little relief for them by not charging more for them to enjoy their favorite past time. As far as the racers, I can only imagine how challenging the ever increasing fuel prices have become, and this is why we have kept the entry fee and pit prices at the same rate. I know that every little bit counts, and I hope that by not increasing prices that it allows more people to get to enjoy dirt track racing here at West Plains Motor Speedway.”

Special event’s announcer and promoter, Ben Shelton from Memphis, Tennessee, has worked with the Gibsons for three consecutive O’Reilly Show Me 100 events. “The Gibsons are race fans first and promoters second, and I think that is the reason that they go above and beyond to make each year’s event more special than the one before, while simultaneously keeping the event affordable for fans and racers,” comments Shelton. “I go to shows all over the country each year, and unfortunately you see some promoters that just don’t care about the fans and racers, and it shows. When you step into West Plains Motor Speedway, whether you are a fan or racer, the entire staff makes you feel at home and makes you feel appreciated. A lot of promoters have forgotten how important this is, and it’s nice to know that there are folks like the Gibsons still in the racing world.”

The 16th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Show Me 100 will get underway on Thursday, May 22nd with the traditional practice night event that will include test and tune time from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. The popular BBQ Dinner with the drivers and crews will follow. The dinner is free to everyone with a pit pass and grandstand spectators are welcome to join for a modest $7.50 ticket fee.

Friday night will feature time trials and six heat races for the Super Late Models. The quick qualifier in the Super Late Models will receive a $2,000 check courtesy of Larry Shaw Race Cars, Mark Martin Ford, Mark Martin Chevrolet, and S & H Industrial. 2007 saw Show-Me 100 veteran, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tennessee pick up the $1,900 bonus check for setting fast time around the 3/8 mile oval. The top three finishers in each heat race will move on to Saturday night’s main event. The balance of the field in each of the heats will move on to one of three Super Late Model consolation events on Saturday night. Open Wheel Modifieds will be featured as the support class and will compete for $500 to win in an unsanctioned event sponsored by New Vision Graphics based out of Batesville, Arkansas.
On Saturday night, the Miller Brothers Coal Race of Champions, the Manufacturer’s Dash, and three consolation events will be held for the Super Late Models in addition to the 100 lap Show Me finale. Open Wheel Modifieds will be featured as the support class and will compete for $750 to win in an unsanctioned event sponsored by New Vision Graphics.

Grandstand admission for Thursday night’s practice is free. Adult general admission for Friday night is $20 for adults, children age 7-11 $10, and children 6 and under are free. Adult general admission for Saturday night is $25, children age 7-11 $12.50, and children 6 and under are free.

Pit admission is $20 on Thursday night and $35 on Friday and Saturday night.
Reserved tickets can be ordered from the offices of Gibson Racing or at the track. Reserved front stretch seating is priced at $50 for the event.

The entry fee for the 16th Annual O'Reilly Show-Me 100 $275. An on-site campground is available free of charge, but no electric hook-ups are available. For additional information and to see a seating diagram visit the track website at www.WestPlains-Speedway.com or call the business offices at (870) 994-7447.

Sponsors for the 15th Annual O’Reilly Show Me 100 include O’Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Race Tires, Rocket Chassis, Schoenfeld Headers, New Vision Graphics, Miller Brothers Coal, Hatfield Racing Engines, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Hawkeye Racing News, GRT Race Cars, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Mark Martin Ford and Mark Martin Chevrolet and S & H Industrial, MidSouthRacing.com, and MSRMafia.com.
 




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