|
Lucas Oil MLRA Series Champion and Rookie of the Year
Ashley Berry
Lucas Oil MLRA PR
BUCKNER, MO (November 18, 2010) - The 2010 Lucas Oil MLRA season has come to
an end. The official awarding of this year's Champion and Rookie of the Year
is this Saturday, November 20, 2010. Al Purkey earned his seventh Lucas Oil
MLRA points championship and newcomer to the series Evan Hubert took top
Rookie honors. It was a great season for both drivers, who were able to
overcome mid-season obstacles and come out on top.
Rookie of the Year is awarded to a new driver who is a paid member of the
series and competes in at least seventy percent of the events. Evan Hubert
is the driver of the 9E Lucas Oil Products, Rockstar Energy Drink, Russell
Baker powered MasterSbilt. Evan missed three races in 2010, two of those
came after losing a motor at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction,
Nebraska. With that setback Evan would lose ground to second in the Rookie
battle, Justin Asplin. Asplin was very consistent all season in the 77A, B&A
Lumber Rocket, powered by a Hatfield Racing Engine.
Evan was able to remain the top contender all season long. Congratulations
to all the Rookie drivers on a great 2010 season!
Al Purkey is no stranger to a tight points battle and this year the
championship came down to the wire. Coming into the final race of the season
at South Coffeyville, Purkey came in with a four point lead, finished one
place behind Brad Looney in the feature and won the championship by two
points. Looney and Purkey were not the only two competitors up for the
title. Dave Eckrich won at Lucas Oil Speedway in August and took the points
lead for several weeks. Dave finished the season in third place after a dose
of bad luck at the final race. Eckrich had to leave the track during parade
laps due to a transmission failure.
Purkey's championship makes his seventh title with the Lucas Oil MLRA.
Purkey drives the #33 Hatfield powered Shaw Race Car. A career driver, Al is
a crowd favorite and always a top driver wherever he competes. Purkey had a
mid-season split with car owner Bill Koons but did not miss a beat under
these circumstances. Al hopped in a borrowed car from fellow driver Al
Humphrey for the Adams County Speedway event, allowing him to remain a
points contender. The next time out Al would be back in his own car, a 2008
Shaw for the late summer portion of the season. In October Purkey would
debut his new 2010 Shaw at Lakeside Speedway. In the new car Purkey had four
top five finishes leading up to the final race of the season.
Congratulations to Al on his seventh Lucas Oil MLRA Championship, and to all
the other drivers who made for an exciting 2010 season.
On Saturday, November 20, 2010 the drivers of the Lucas Oil MLRA will come
together for the annual awards ceremony. This year the event will take place
at Harrah's Casino in Kansas City, MO.
The official hotel of the 2010 Lucas Oil MLRA Banquet is Fairfield Inn &
Suites. Call 816-452-6212 to reserve your room. For discounted room rates
mention the MLRA when you call. Fairfield Inn & Suites is located at 4231
North Corrington Ave Kansas City, MO 64117.
The Lucas Oil MLRA (Midwest Latemodel Racing Association) sanctions regional
Super Dirt Late Model touring series events in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Nebraska, and Iowa.
For all the latest news and information on the Lucas Oil 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 Lucas Oil MLRA would like to thank the sponsors of the 2010 Tour
including Lucas Oil Products, AAA Missouri, Hoosier Race Tires, Lucas Cattle
Company, Hatfield Racing Engines, Larry Shaw Race Cars, AFCO Racing
Products, GRT Race Cars, Powertrain Industries, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bodee's
Race Bodies, Outpace Racing Products, Weld 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 , Keizer Wheels
 |
