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The Flying Farmer Plows The Field At Monett
MONETT, MO (June 28) - The 2006 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame
Inductee, Ken ‘The Flying Farmer’ Essary of Cape Fair, MO dominated night
three of the O’Reilly MARS / NCRA co-sanctioned ‘Showdown in the Heartland’
at Monett Speedway Sunday night June 28, 2009.
Earning the most passing points, Essary qualified on the pole for the 30 lap
feature with four-time and defending MARS champion Terry Phillips of
Springfield, MO to his outside. Essary would take the early lead, but soon
after the nights first caution flag would wave on lap 4 as Larry Jones of El
Dorado Springs, MO and Jason O’Brien of Atlantic, IA would get together in
turn four, neither able to continue.
Phillips would work underneath Essary on the double-file restart and take
the lead on lap 6. Phillips continued to lead until lap 15, when a caution
flag would come out for Jeremy Payne of Springfield, MO and Bill Koons of
Omaha, NE who got together at the exit of turn four, ending their night.
While track workers were clearing the track, Phillips would turn into the
infield with a flat right rear tire, giving the lead back to Essary and
sending Phillips to the back of the pack.
Flanked by MARS points leader, Eric Turner of Hermitage, MO and 2002 NCRA
champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, NE on the double file restart, Essary had
his work cut out for him. The nights third caution would wave on the restart
as third running Berck, cut a right rear tire and would have to restart
tailback. Essary’s worries were not over as the next restart would have
Turner and now two-time NCRA champion Al Purkey of Coffeyville, KS right
behind him.
With a champion laden field behind him, Essary continued to work his car to
perfection on the restart, as the next fourteen laps went caution free,
giving Essary his first ever O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series victory.
The O’Reilly MARS / NCRA, ‘Showdown in the Heartland’ three race challenge
concludes with the MARS series claiming bragging rights as MARS cars get two
wins, Essary (Monett Speedway) and Turner (81 Speedway) and NCRA cars pick
up one win, Berck (Brill’s Motor Speedway).
Next up for the MARS Series will be July 10th at Midway Speedway in Lebanon,
MO and July 11th at Springfield Raceway in Springfield, MO.
Information regarding the MARS series can be found at
www.marsracingseries.com .
Information on NCRA can be found at
www.ncraracing.org .
The O’Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series would like to thank their sponsors for the
2009 season. O’Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, Larry Shaw Race Cars,
Powertrain Industries, Bilstein Shocks, VP Race Fuels, Wrisco Aluminum, GRT
Race Cars, Hatfield Racing Engines, Supermoon Graphics, CJ Rayburn Race
Cars, Ron’s Racing Collectibles, Allstate Insurance, Outlaw Racing Engines
and Dixie Stampede.
Feature finish: 1) Ken Essary, 2) Eric Turner, 3) Al Purkey, 4) Brandon
McCormick, 5) Cory Zeitner, 6) Gary Christian, 7) Terry Phillips, 8) Jason
Frieson, 9) Tony Jackson Jr., 10) Kyle Berck, 11) Mike Collins, 12) Darrell
Mooneyham, 13) Jason Bodenhammer, 14) Scott Koskovich, 15) Rylan Long, 16)
Steve Johnson, 17) Steve Kempt, 18) Bill Koons, 19) Jeremy Payne, 20) Shane
Essary, 21) Larry Jones, 22) Jason O’Brien
Heat race winners were: Ken Essary, Terry Phillips, Kyle Berck, Eric Turner
B main winner: Brandon McCormick
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