2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series "Rookie of the Year" To Highlight 'Racers Reunion" Jan., 31 in Springfield, Mo.
Carl Edward's the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series "Rookie of the Year", a Missouri Driver, will highlight the 17th Annual Ozarks Area Racers Reunion and Hall of Fame Ceremonies on January 31, 2004 in Springfield. Edward's known for his back flips off the side of his Truck won three races in his Superchips Ford and the Raybestos "Rookie of the Year " honors award by a record 138 points. The 24-year-old Edward's is the third Roush Racing Driver to win the "Rookie of the Year" award following 1998 Greg Biffle and 2000 Kurt Busch.
The Saturday afternoon and evening event will be on both levels of the Shrine Mosque Auditorium, Sponsored by the OARA, the (Ozarks Area Racing Association). That evening 10 Former Area Stock Car Drivers and others closely related to the sport will be inducted into the "2004 Hall of Fame". Former Drivers Bill Peck, Racing Brothers James and Junior Bohnstedt of Springfield, Russ Wallace (Rusty, Mike, and Kenny's Dad) of St. Louis and the late Billy Joe Adams of Fair Grove will be inducted as Legends. For other outstanding rolls in Stock Car Racing, additional inductees include Don Loveland of Springfield, the late Bill Willard of Lebanon, O.E. McCracken, Springfield, Don Wynn of Hartville, and Jim Sawyer of Willard. Their names will be added to the Permanent Monument located at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, the location of the former Fairgrounds Speedway.
The evening will also Honor the Top Point's Drivers from area and nearby racetracks, in our "Salute to the Champions" ceremony. Those honored will be representing the Airport Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Lebanon 1-44 Speedway, Monett Speedway, Joplin 66 Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Wheatland Raceway, Southwest Missouri Pro 4 Championship series and the O'Reilly MLRA Super Dirt Late Model series.
Doors open at 4 p.m., the Hall of Fame and Salute to the Champions ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. Autograph tables will be set up for fans to meet former Ozarks racers as well as present Drivers. Throughout the day there will be a large display of current and vintage racecars and hundreds of historic racing photos as well as numerous vendor booths. Light food and soft drinks are included with admission.
(Advance Tickets go on sale January 19th at the outlets, None sold before then)
Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 at the event; ages 12 and under, $8.00 They are available at all O'Reilly Auto Parts locations, The Shrine Mosque, Kaleidoscope, and Greene County Freight and Food Sales, Springfield. Part of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Tickets can also be purchased from Ozarks Area Racers Committee Members.
For more information contact Mark Perry at (417) 886-3358
For Media requests contact Kevin Fletcher at (417) 234-3273 there will be an alloted time for before the event. But you must have confirmation to be included.
Area Championship Drivers to be recognized
Airport Speedway
Mike Riddle (Marshfield, Mo.) - Modified
Eric Todd (Falcon, Mo.) - 305 Sprint Car
Billy Russell (Springfield, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Rylan Long (Greenfield, Mo.) - Super Stock
Danny Broom (Springfield, Mo.) - Mini Stock
Joe Wiles (Springfield, Mo.) - Open Mini Stock
Allen Chitwood (Republic, Mo.), Richard Morton (Springfield, Mo.) Cruisers
Bolivar Speedway
Brad Looney (Republic, Mo.)- Late Model
Eric Maggard (Republic, Mo.) - Modified
Shawn Williams (Willard, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Richard Thiesen (Bolivar, Mo.) - Super Stock
Jamie Wicker (Crane, Mo.) - Bomber
Lebanon 1-44 Speedway
Brad Looney (Republic, Mo.)- Late Model
Eric Maggard (Republic, Mo.) - Modified
Quinton Day (Ozark, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Mike Joplin (Springfield, Mo.) - Super Stock
Gary Clawson (Rolla, Mo.) - Bomber
Monett Speedway
Justin Wells (Aurora, Mo.) - IMCA Late Model
Steve Mulinberg (Sparta. Mo.) - Modifieds
Jody Tillman (Kimberling City, Mo.) - Factory Stock
John Mulinberg (Sparta, Mo.) - Bomber
Brad Longley (Mt. Vernon, Mo.), Kevin Fly (Mt. Vernon, Mo.) - Cruisers
Joplin 66 Speedway
Justin Wells (Aurora, Mo.) - IMCA Late Models
Billy Street (Joplin, Mo.) - Modified
Mike Weller (Carls Jct., Mo.) - Factory Stock
Kurt McCall (Miami, Okla.) - Bomber
Urbana Speedway
Larry Andrus (Springfield, Mo.) - Mini Stock
Junior Estes (Fristo, Mo.) - Pure Street
Donald Jennings (Eldridge, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Dale Roper Jr. (Fair Grove, Mo.) - Super Stock
Kenny Wallander (Camdenton, Mo.) - Street Stock
Wheatland Raceway
Kerry Schulze (Nevada, Mo.) - Late Models
Eric Turner (Hermitage, Mo.) - Modified
John Fellers (Flemington, Mo.) - Sportsman
Robert Brown (Prescott, Ks.) - Super Stock
Jody Saultz (Camdenton, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Alan Vaughn (Belton, Mo.) - O'Reilly Midwest Late Model Racing Association Champion
Rusty Dukes (Fair Grove, Mo.) - O'Reilly Midwest Late Model Racing Association "Rookie of the Year"
Lonnie Mulhbauer (Springfield, Mo.) - Southwest Missouri Pro 4
Carl Edward's the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series "Rookie of the Year", a Missouri Driver, will highlight the 17th Annual Ozarks Area Racers Reunion and Hall of Fame Ceremonies on January 31, 2004 in Springfield. Edward's known for his back flips off the side of his Truck won three races in his Superchips Ford and the Raybestos "Rookie of the Year " honors award by a record 138 points. The 24-year-old Edward's is the third Roush Racing Driver to win the "Rookie of the Year" award following 1998 Greg Biffle and 2000 Kurt Busch.
The Saturday afternoon and evening event will be on both levels of the Shrine Mosque Auditorium, Sponsored by the OARA, the (Ozarks Area Racing Association). That evening 10 Former Area Stock Car Drivers and others closely related to the sport will be inducted into the "2004 Hall of Fame". Former Drivers Bill Peck, Racing Brothers James and Junior Bohnstedt of Springfield, Russ Wallace (Rusty, Mike, and Kenny's Dad) of St. Louis and the late Billy Joe Adams of Fair Grove will be inducted as Legends. For other outstanding rolls in Stock Car Racing, additional inductees include Don Loveland of Springfield, the late Bill Willard of Lebanon, O.E. McCracken, Springfield, Don Wynn of Hartville, and Jim Sawyer of Willard. Their names will be added to the Permanent Monument located at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, the location of the former Fairgrounds Speedway.
The evening will also Honor the Top Point's Drivers from area and nearby racetracks, in our "Salute to the Champions" ceremony. Those honored will be representing the Airport Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Lebanon 1-44 Speedway, Monett Speedway, Joplin 66 Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Wheatland Raceway, Southwest Missouri Pro 4 Championship series and the O'Reilly MLRA Super Dirt Late Model series.
Doors open at 4 p.m., the Hall of Fame and Salute to the Champions ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. Autograph tables will be set up for fans to meet former Ozarks racers as well as present Drivers. Throughout the day there will be a large display of current and vintage racecars and hundreds of historic racing photos as well as numerous vendor booths. Light food and soft drinks are included with admission.
(Advance Tickets go on sale January 19th at the outlets, None sold before then)
Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 at the event; ages 12 and under, $8.00 They are available at all O'Reilly Auto Parts locations, The Shrine Mosque, Kaleidoscope, and Greene County Freight and Food Sales, Springfield. Part of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Tickets can also be purchased from Ozarks Area Racers Committee Members.
For more information contact Mark Perry at (417) 886-3358
For Media requests contact Kevin Fletcher at (417) 234-3273 there will be an alloted time for before the event. But you must have confirmation to be included.
Area Championship Drivers to be recognized
Airport Speedway
Mike Riddle (Marshfield, Mo.) - Modified
Eric Todd (Falcon, Mo.) - 305 Sprint Car
Billy Russell (Springfield, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Rylan Long (Greenfield, Mo.) - Super Stock
Danny Broom (Springfield, Mo.) - Mini Stock
Joe Wiles (Springfield, Mo.) - Open Mini Stock
Allen Chitwood (Republic, Mo.), Richard Morton (Springfield, Mo.) Cruisers
Bolivar Speedway
Brad Looney (Republic, Mo.)- Late Model
Eric Maggard (Republic, Mo.) - Modified
Shawn Williams (Willard, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Richard Thiesen (Bolivar, Mo.) - Super Stock
Jamie Wicker (Crane, Mo.) - Bomber
Lebanon 1-44 Speedway
Brad Looney (Republic, Mo.)- Late Model
Eric Maggard (Republic, Mo.) - Modified
Quinton Day (Ozark, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Mike Joplin (Springfield, Mo.) - Super Stock
Gary Clawson (Rolla, Mo.) - Bomber
Monett Speedway
Justin Wells (Aurora, Mo.) - IMCA Late Model
Steve Mulinberg (Sparta. Mo.) - Modifieds
Jody Tillman (Kimberling City, Mo.) - Factory Stock
John Mulinberg (Sparta, Mo.) - Bomber
Brad Longley (Mt. Vernon, Mo.), Kevin Fly (Mt. Vernon, Mo.) - Cruisers
Joplin 66 Speedway
Justin Wells (Aurora, Mo.) - IMCA Late Models
Billy Street (Joplin, Mo.) - Modified
Mike Weller (Carls Jct., Mo.) - Factory Stock
Kurt McCall (Miami, Okla.) - Bomber
Urbana Speedway
Larry Andrus (Springfield, Mo.) - Mini Stock
Junior Estes (Fristo, Mo.) - Pure Street
Donald Jennings (Eldridge, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Dale Roper Jr. (Fair Grove, Mo.) - Super Stock
Kenny Wallander (Camdenton, Mo.) - Street Stock
Wheatland Raceway
Kerry Schulze (Nevada, Mo.) - Late Models
Eric Turner (Hermitage, Mo.) - Modified
John Fellers (Flemington, Mo.) - Sportsman
Robert Brown (Prescott, Ks.) - Super Stock
Jody Saultz (Camdenton, Mo.) - Factory Stock
Alan Vaughn (Belton, Mo.) - O'Reilly Midwest Late Model Racing Association Champion
Rusty Dukes (Fair Grove, Mo.) - O'Reilly Midwest Late Model Racing Association "Rookie of the Year"
Lonnie Mulhbauer (Springfield, Mo.) - Southwest Missouri Pro 4
