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Congratulations to 2009 Champion Al Purkey and 2009 Rookie of
the Year Matt Johnson
BUCKNER, MO (October 25, 2009) - The MLRA congratulates Coffeyville,
Kansas' Al Purkey for capturing the 2009 MLRA Championship and Archie,
Missouri's Matt Johnson for taking home Top Rookie honors in 2009. The title
was Al's Sixth MLRA Championship of his career breaking a tie for the most
all time as Belton, Missouri's Alan Vaughn has five to his credit. Purkey
topped defending MLRA Champion John Anderson by just 10 points in the season
long battle.
Anderson went into Lakeside Speedway in early October with a seemingly
comfortable 58 point lead but mechanical difficulties allowed the tenacious
Purkey to close the gap with the final showdown set for Nevada Speedway on
Sunday night October 18th. Anderson went on to win the race but Purkey
stayed glued to his bumper crossing the line in second wrapping up the
title. Purkey was consistent all season winning the Championship despite not
scoring a single MLRA feature win in 2009. Purkey did however score 13
Top-5's enroute to the Championship with a lowest finish of 22nd at the
State Fair Speedway on August 23rd. Please visit www.BillKoonsRacing.com for
more information on the Al Purkey racing team.
Purkey's Bill Koon's owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Billy's Cafes,
Purkey's Auto Salvage, Taylormade Performance, Integra Racing Shocks,
Duralite Racing Wheels, and VP Racing Fuel.
Archie, Missouri's Matt Johnson captured the 2009 O'Reilly MLRA Rookie of
the Year by virtue of his 7th place finish in the final points standings.
Matt ran like a veteran all season earning the respect of his fellow
competitors and the admiration of the fans. Matt ran as high as third in the
last race at Nevada and was going to be a threat for the win before
mechanical gremlins intervened.
Matt began his career in 2001 running a Street Stock at the Adrian Speedway
the day before his high school graduation. He quickly progressed into Open
Wheel modifieds winning the Adrian Speedway Track Championship in 2004. Matt
ran a GRT by Phillips in '09 with a Scott Bailey Racing Engine under the
hood. Sponsors include Mazzio's Pizza in Harrisonville, Sherwood Heating and
Cooling, T-Bones Car Wash, All-State Electric, and Daniel Turner Excavating.
Matt is 26 years old and resides in Archie, Missouri. This was Matt's first
experience in a Dirt Late Model.
The 2009 MLRA Championship Banquet will be held on Saturday night, November
21st at the beautiful Argosy Casino in Riverside, Missouri. To make
reservations, please call the MLRA at (816) 650-5063 or (816) 305-6572. You
can also visit http://www.MLRAracing.com for more information. There are 16
drivers currently eligible for post season awards. All MLRA members that
participate in a minimum of seventy percent (70%) of scheduled MLRA races
are eligible for the points fund awards
Sponsorship Opportunties are available for 2010. Please contact the series
office at (816) 650-5063 or (816) 305-6572.
The O'Reilly MLRA (Midwest Latemodel Racing Association) presented by
Lucas Oil Products sanctions regional Super Dirt Late Model touring series
events in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa.
For all the latest news and information on the O'Reilly MLRA please visit
us on the web at www.MLRAracing.com or by calling the series office at (816)
650-5063 or (816) 305-6572.
The O'Reilly MLRA would like to thank the sponsors of the 2009 Thunder Tour
including O'Reilly Auto Parts, Midwest Walnut, Lucas Oil Products, Tompkins
Industries, Hoosier Race Tires, Lucas Cattle Company, Hatfield Racing
Engines, Country Mart, Larry Shaw Race Cars, AFCO Racing Products, GRT Race
Cars, The Driveline Shop, Taylor Cable Products, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bodee's
Race Bodies, Outpace Racing Products, Duralite Racing Wheels, Impact Signs
and Lighting, Rod End Supply, Racing Optics, Schoenfeld Headers, Kluhsman
Racing Components, Performance Bodies, ATL Fuel Cells, Bilstein Shocks, BSB
Manufacturing, Tanner Racing Products by MB
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