SHOW-ME SERIES IMPRESSIVE AT LUCAS OIL SPEEDWAY!
by Gary Woodall

WHEATLAND, MO. (July 7, 2006) - With 28 Show-Me Racin Series Late Models on hand for the first of two races at the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" on Friday Night, July 7th, the stage was set for another great night of racing. It was the first visit to the track for most of the Show-Me drivers and as Jim Greenway, driver of the #28 GRT Late Model put it, "WOW, this place is something."

Advance Tire & Wheel in Republic, MO was the race night point fund sponsor for the Late Models at the Wheatland, MO track. The first heat race started 7 cars with Roger "High Groove" Wilson in #77 and Greenway in his Baillie Diesel sponsored #28 setting the pace. The #28 prevailed when the checkered flew, with Wilson coming in a close 2nd. Newcomer Jordan Halloway, in Max Knight Trucking #14, finished 3rd.

Custom Cams heat race #2 had Chris Hawkins in the KBTN Radio #99.7 on the pole, and after being challenged hard by Mike Madison's Faubion Construction #21, Chris held on for the win. Second place went to Madison, who was chased by Mark Bourey in #30 and rookie Chad Pyle in the Wheaton Grain #6.

Midwest Sheet Metal #3 had a mix of veteran and "rookie" drivers, with 4 of the top 6 cars being in the top 10 in the point standings. Scott Fry in his black #F7 and the Hudson Tire #11 of Jarrod Hilton roared out of turn 4 and took the green flag with Rick Lebow's #33 and Ken Hartwigsen in the Bueller Realty #27 on their bumpers. Ken Essary, who started at the tail end of the race eventually took the checkered, with the Stringer Engine powered #33 of Lebow coming home 2nd.

The "mini 'A' Main" heat race #4 was undoubtedly the most furious of the heat races and was a great preview for what the race fans could expect in the "real" Feature race coming up. Jim Fulp fought of continual challenges from Smith's #13, but also had to deal with the current point leader, Leslie Essary in #5. When it was all said and done, Fulp won the race, Essary was a close 2nd, followed by Smith's GRT.

Only 4 of the 12 Late Models in the DuraLite Racing Wheel 'B' feature would advance to the 'A'. Chuck Comer's #83, Ken Patterson in the Bentonville Plastics #98, Hilton's #11 and the "Iceman" Tyler Milner's #5M made the cut.

After "on track" driver introductions, the Show-Me Racin Series Late Models formed up in their 4-wide "salute to the fans" and every race fan in attendance was on their feet waving and cheering the drivers. The "thundering sound" of the Late Models was awesome as the cars lined up in their starting positions for the Advance Tire & Wheel 'A' Main Feature that would pay $1000 to win.

With only 1 caution flag in the 30 lap feature, the race fans were treated to 2, 3 and 4 wide racing throughout the field. Even though they finished 14th, 15th and 16th, Jeremy "The Lone Ranger" Kelley in #04, Roger Wilson's Freedom Bank #77 and Chuck Comer's #83 raced 3 wide during the closing laps of the race and proved once again, the competition from the front of the pack to the back is intense at every Show-Me event.

Mark Bourey's R&M Industries #30, Jim Greenway in the Bill's Automotive Machine #28 and Darrel Mooneyham in the Moon Brothers Racing #20 also raced furiously for 7th position. At the same time, Leslie Essary, the most winning Show-Me driver so far this season was having to deal with lapped traffic as he lead the race after starting 10th in the field.

The race for 2nd position was hard fought as well, with Ken Essary's #55, Fulp's #00, the B and T Manufacturing #99.7 of Chris Hawkins and "Rookie of the Year" candidate Chad Pyle in #6 putting the fans on the edge of their seats as the laps wore down. When the checkered flag fell however, it the Barrister Title #5 of Leslie Essary winning the $1000..........again. Essary has won 5 of the last 6 features and continues to be on top of the point standings.

"The Flyin' Farmer" in the ARW Digital Balancing #55 was 2nd, with Fulp, Hawkins and Pyle rounding out the top 5. The Wheaton Grain Co. #6 of Chad Pyle had the best finish of the season so far, and proved he's a contender after being plagued with "bad luck" up to now. You can log on to the website for the "new point standings shuffle".

The 2006 Show-Me Racin Series T-shirt, autographed by all the Show-Me drivers on hand at the Lucas Oil Speedway was won by Billi Tucker from Crane, MO. Donations of $1 buys a raffle ticket for the t-shirt with a drawing held at intermission. All proceeds go to Camp Barnabas, the camp located in Purdy, MO for "Kids being Kids". The Series is proud to contribute to the camp for children with disabilities.

Information and details about the Show-Me Series can be found at www.Show-MeRacinSeries.com Schedule, race results, point standings, driver profiles, "News" articles, contact info and more is available on the site. Race track owners/promoters are ask to contact Gary Woodall at 417-838-5500 to obtain details on bringing the fastest growing touring late model series to their track. The Show-Me Racin Series is averaging 23 cars per event in 2006.

Listen to "Talkin' Dirt with the Show-Me Series" every Saturday morning on KKBL FM 95.9 at 10:00 a.m. The show is re-broadcast from noon to 1:00 p.m. on KSWM AM940. The hour long radio show is courtesy of the Talon Broadcasting Company and is hosted by Sports Director, Sammy Clapper.

Contingency Sponsor awards:

Martin Oil Company

15 gallon Track Tek racing fuel to winner – Leslie Essary
10 gallon Track Tek racing fuel to _17_ - Ken Patterson
1 case of Kendall Racing oil to _19_ - Jarrod Hilton

Babe’s Drive – In

$25 cash to Hard Charger – “hot dog” Trophy – Leslie Essary

GRT Race Cars

$50 gift certificate to winner – Leslie Essary
$25 gift certificate to _11_ - Kevin Henson
$25 gift certificate to _13 - Rick Lebow

Peterson Fluid Systems

$50 gift certificate to _15_ - Roger Wilson

Kluhsman Racing Components

Free throttle linkage to the highest finishing car who hasn’t previously won the award) - Chad Pyle

$30 KRC Gift Certificate to winner – Leslie Essary

Pushrod Factory
12th place - $30 gift certificate – Jeremy Kelley

Lucas Oil Speedway July 7, 2006
Advance Tire and Wheel A feature
1. Leslie Essary
2. Ken Essary
3. Jim Fulp
4. Chris Hawkins
5. Chad Pyle
6. Chad Smith
7. Mark Bourey
8. Jimmy Greenway
9. Darrell Mooneyham
10. Mike Madison
11. Kevin Henson
12. Mike Hailmann
13. Rick Lebow
14. Jeremy Kelley
15. Roger Wilson
16. Chuck Comer
17. Ken Patterson
18. Tyler Milner
19. Jarrod Hilton
20. Jordan Halloway
21. Kenny Hartwigsen
22. Scott Fry


B feature
1. Darrell Mooneyham

Heat Race 1
1. Jimmy Greenway
2. Roger Wilson
3. Jordan Halloway
4. Tyler Milner
5. Blane Reed
6. Jeremy Kelley


Heat Race 2
1. Chris Hawkins
2. Mike Madison
3. Mark Bourey
4. Chad Pyle
5. Jeremy Manes
6. Frank Tindle
7. Ron Johnson

Heat Race 3
1. Ken Essary
2. Rick Lebow
3. Jarrod Hilton
4. Kenny Hartwigsen
5. Mike Hailmann
6. Scott Fry

Heat Race 4
1. Jim Fulp
2. Leslie Essary
3. Chad Smith
4. Kevin Henson
5. Chuck Comer
6. Darrell Mooneyham
7. Ken Patterson
8. Burl Woods