by: Dusty Wiegert
MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- With a very cold breeze in the air and a crowd of anxious spectators on a Friday night, Bill Frye rolled into the Muskogee Speedway looking for a $2000 payday and went home satisfied while the Topless Outlaw Racing Association presented by Trio Machine Inc. crowned a repeat champion in the form of Larry McDaniels.
At the start of the 30 Lap A Feature Al Purkey jumped out front from his outside front row starting spot to take the lead with Frye close behind. Lap traffic on lap 9 caused Purkey to lose the lead to the hard charging Frye. Frye weaved his way in and out of the heavy lapped traffic as the eventual Midwest Motorsports Hard Charger Terry Phillips moved from his ninth place starting spot to challenge Purkey for second. At the halfway mark Phillips had sailed past Purkey into second and was knocking on the door of Frye. With 10 laps to go Phillips looked to the outside as traffic held up Frye but couldn't make it stick. Frye held on to become the 2002 Octoberfest Champion. Phillips settled for second, Purkey third, and Charlie Randolph fourth.
In B Feature action Eddie Tidwell won from the pole position leading every lap. Dan Morris finished second, Diamond Mundy third, and Tim Echevarria fourth.
After a successful second season Larry McDaniels is crowned as the first back to back TORA Champion. Look for more about the 2002 Champion and also 2002 Rookie of the Year Justin Hoepker in the following weeks.
MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- With a very cold breeze in the air and a crowd of anxious spectators on a Friday night, Bill Frye rolled into the Muskogee Speedway looking for a $2000 payday and went home satisfied while the Topless Outlaw Racing Association presented by Trio Machine Inc. crowned a repeat champion in the form of Larry McDaniels.
At the start of the 30 Lap A Feature Al Purkey jumped out front from his outside front row starting spot to take the lead with Frye close behind. Lap traffic on lap 9 caused Purkey to lose the lead to the hard charging Frye. Frye weaved his way in and out of the heavy lapped traffic as the eventual Midwest Motorsports Hard Charger Terry Phillips moved from his ninth place starting spot to challenge Purkey for second. At the halfway mark Phillips had sailed past Purkey into second and was knocking on the door of Frye. With 10 laps to go Phillips looked to the outside as traffic held up Frye but couldn't make it stick. Frye held on to become the 2002 Octoberfest Champion. Phillips settled for second, Purkey third, and Charlie Randolph fourth.
In B Feature action Eddie Tidwell won from the pole position leading every lap. Dan Morris finished second, Diamond Mundy third, and Tim Echevarria fourth.
After a successful second season Larry McDaniels is crowned as the first back to back TORA Champion. Look for more about the 2002 Champion and also 2002 Rookie of the Year Justin Hoepker in the following weeks.
