By Ben Shelton
TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI (Ben Shelton)– Racers, crews, fans and officials converged on Sam’s Town – Tunica as Memphis Motorsports Park honored its champions at its annual Night of Champions Awards Banquet on January 3rd, 2003. The 2002 O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series season marked a year of change at Memphis Motorsports Park as weekly purses were increased, the points fund was increased to $40,000, and car counts soared to record levels.
The 2002 season also marked the return of the Union Auto Parts/AC Delco Late Model Division to the weekly program after a 5-year hiatus. The return was a success with an average of 23 late models per week, and a winner’s list for the year representing four states. Johnny Lancaster topped the points in the late model division followed by Brian Hudson, Jamie Dacus, Tommy Ray, and Mike Carr.
<table align="right" width="350" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#CCCC99"><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><img src="http://www.stlouisracing.com/pixs/mmpchampions.jpg" width="350" border="1" alt=""><br><font size="1" face="verdana,arial" color="#000000">In the photo standing from left to right: Johnny Lancaster (late model), Don Brown (hobby stock), Bud Ward (mini stock), Eddie Gallagher (sprint car), Mark Brandon (modified) – Photo by Phil Bowden</font></td></tr></table>
Eddie Gallagher was a man on a mission in the Waste Management Sprint Car Division in 2002 as he won over half of the season’s weekly shows. Other drivers picking up weekly wins in the 2002 season include Dale Howard, Ernie Ainsworth, Robert Gant (first time feature winner), and Mike Ward (most wins in history of the sprint car division at MMP). The sprint car division thrived again in 2002 averaging 28 entries per week. Gallagher won the sprint car points over, Dale Howard, Bryce Vowan, Raymond Stull, and Robert Gant.
The Southaven Car Care Modified Division saw the points battle come down to a war between brothers. Taking advantage of late season problems, Mark Brandon topped his brother, Chris Brandon in the modified division. The modified class saw an average of 26 cars per week during the course of the 2002 season. Following the Brandon’s in the final points rundown were Jeff Waller, Howard Kimbrough, and Craig Dunavant.
The Crankshaft Specialist Mini Stock Division saw Bud Ward continue his stronghold on his competitors winning 70% of the 2002 events. Rick Sirkel (first time feature winner), Mike Campbell, and Jamey Hard were each able to pick up two feature wins in 2002. Following Ward in the final points were Mike Campbell, Rick Sirkel, Martha Woods, and Greg Fisher.
The 2002 Brim’s Snack Food Hobby Stock Division saw the farewell of the current hobby stock class at MMP. The division is being replaced with a street stock class for 2003. Driver’s claiming feature wins in 2002 included Carl Brown, Chuck Fletcher, Don Brown, Richard Gray, and James Hutchinson. In the division’s final season Don Brown claimed the point’s championship over Chuck Fletcher, Carl Brown, Richard Gray, and Dennis Shepherd.
The night was capped off by a preview of events to come in 2003. The MARS Late Model Series will invade the Park twice in 2003 with one event on May 9 and another on August 29. The ever-popular ASCS Sprint Car Series will thunder into the area for four events in 2003 including a two-day show in late April. Several other special events highlight the 2003 O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series schedule with the season being capped off with the 2nd Annual Memphis Nationals on October 11th – 12th. For more information on the 2003 season visit www.thunderatthepark.com or call 901-358-RACE.
TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI (Ben Shelton)– Racers, crews, fans and officials converged on Sam’s Town – Tunica as Memphis Motorsports Park honored its champions at its annual Night of Champions Awards Banquet on January 3rd, 2003. The 2002 O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series season marked a year of change at Memphis Motorsports Park as weekly purses were increased, the points fund was increased to $40,000, and car counts soared to record levels.
The 2002 season also marked the return of the Union Auto Parts/AC Delco Late Model Division to the weekly program after a 5-year hiatus. The return was a success with an average of 23 late models per week, and a winner’s list for the year representing four states. Johnny Lancaster topped the points in the late model division followed by Brian Hudson, Jamie Dacus, Tommy Ray, and Mike Carr.
<table align="right" width="350" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#CCCC99"><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><img src="http://www.stlouisracing.com/pixs/mmpchampions.jpg" width="350" border="1" alt=""><br><font size="1" face="verdana,arial" color="#000000">In the photo standing from left to right: Johnny Lancaster (late model), Don Brown (hobby stock), Bud Ward (mini stock), Eddie Gallagher (sprint car), Mark Brandon (modified) – Photo by Phil Bowden</font></td></tr></table>
Eddie Gallagher was a man on a mission in the Waste Management Sprint Car Division in 2002 as he won over half of the season’s weekly shows. Other drivers picking up weekly wins in the 2002 season include Dale Howard, Ernie Ainsworth, Robert Gant (first time feature winner), and Mike Ward (most wins in history of the sprint car division at MMP). The sprint car division thrived again in 2002 averaging 28 entries per week. Gallagher won the sprint car points over, Dale Howard, Bryce Vowan, Raymond Stull, and Robert Gant.
The Southaven Car Care Modified Division saw the points battle come down to a war between brothers. Taking advantage of late season problems, Mark Brandon topped his brother, Chris Brandon in the modified division. The modified class saw an average of 26 cars per week during the course of the 2002 season. Following the Brandon’s in the final points rundown were Jeff Waller, Howard Kimbrough, and Craig Dunavant.
The Crankshaft Specialist Mini Stock Division saw Bud Ward continue his stronghold on his competitors winning 70% of the 2002 events. Rick Sirkel (first time feature winner), Mike Campbell, and Jamey Hard were each able to pick up two feature wins in 2002. Following Ward in the final points were Mike Campbell, Rick Sirkel, Martha Woods, and Greg Fisher.
The 2002 Brim’s Snack Food Hobby Stock Division saw the farewell of the current hobby stock class at MMP. The division is being replaced with a street stock class for 2003. Driver’s claiming feature wins in 2002 included Carl Brown, Chuck Fletcher, Don Brown, Richard Gray, and James Hutchinson. In the division’s final season Don Brown claimed the point’s championship over Chuck Fletcher, Carl Brown, Richard Gray, and Dennis Shepherd.
The night was capped off by a preview of events to come in 2003. The MARS Late Model Series will invade the Park twice in 2003 with one event on May 9 and another on August 29. The ever-popular ASCS Sprint Car Series will thunder into the area for four events in 2003 including a two-day show in late April. Several other special events highlight the 2003 O’Reilly Thunder Racing Series schedule with the season being capped off with the 2nd Annual Memphis Nationals on October 11th – 12th. For more information on the 2003 season visit www.thunderatthepark.com or call 901-358-RACE.
