2004mlra
These are the archives for 2004 MLRA series


Thanks to Pattie Frost and sometimes Clint Brown
 

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there is normally more than one story here, please scroll down
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Nov 9, 2004

For a short time on Saturday, November 20, the bells and whistles of the casino will be replaced by bench racing and acceptance speeches at the Argosy Casino as the O'Reilly MLRA rolls in for their annual awards banquet.
 
The night will kick off at 5:30 pm with a social hour that is sure to see plenty of bench racing and talk of the highly competitive on-track action held throughout the 2004 racing season.  The next phase of the evening begins at 7:00 pm with dinner being served to all in attendance.  Immediately following the dinner it's time to hand out the hardware as the top points earners will be recognized for their accomplishments during the season.
 
Attendance is open to the public with tickets being $30.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door.  For more information or to purchase tickets contact Harriett at 816-650-5063.

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Nov 1, 2004
 

Hello Racers Fans & Friends:
 
Here it is Halloween and I'm watching NHRA Drag Racing after a full day of NASCAR and looking to the future.........  No, no-crystal ball,  here just got the schedule for the Early Thaw and wanted to pass it on to you to plan your JANUARY Get-a-way!
 
Race Dates are all at Casa Grande at this writing. 
 
Starting dates are:
 
Saturday Jan 15 Day Race $5,000
Sunday   Jan 16 Day Race $5,000
 
Tuesday Jan 18 Nite at 5:pm $3,000
Thursday Jan 20 Nite at 5:pm $3,000
 
Friday  Jan 21 Nite at 5:pm $5,000
Saturday Jan 22 Day Race $10,000
 
Sunday Jan. 23 will be a rain date
 
Click on to the link below for more info:
 
C.A.R. - Central Arizona Raceway  http://www.centralazraceway.com/dirtlatemodels.htm
 
Sure hope you start your plans for the Early Thaw........ Don't forget the MLRA Banquet to be held on Nov.20th hope to see you there!
 
Just a reminder Clint "VEGA" will be doing the writing for MLRA
this coming season.
 
Sure do want to thank you all for giving me "stories" to write about.
 
Pattie Frost


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Oct. 27, 2004

Belton, MO's Alan Vaughn came up the big winner with the O'Reilly MLRA in 2004 as he captured his third straight crown and fourth overall.  Vaughn capped off the season with the win at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, OK that sealed the title and held off hard charging Jason Bodenhamer from Centerview, MO by 66 points in the final tally 1512 to 1446.
 
Bodenhamer had one of his best season ever on the O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour picking up multiple victories and challenging Vaughn right to the very end.  Veteran O'Reilly MLRA competitor and three time champion Al Purkey brought his machine from his Coffeyville, KS base to finish third with Brett LaFollette and O'Reilly MLRA rookie TJ Kuykendall rounding out the top five in the final standings.
 
With the 2004 O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour completed all that remains is to hand out the championship hardware.  Join the O'Reilly MLRA staff, drivers, sponsors and fans at the Argosy Casino on Saturday, November 20 for a night of celebrating and bench racing.  The Social Hour kicks things off at 5:30 followed by dinner at 7:00 and the awards presentations directly afterwards.  Tickets are $30.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door.  For more information or to purchase tickets contact Harriett at 816-650-5063.
  
2004 O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour
Final Points Standings
 
Place Car # Driver Shows Points Hometown Chassis
1 22V Alan Vaughn 22 1512 Belton, MO Rocket/Shaw
2 2B Jason Bodenhamer 22 1446 Centerview, MO GRT
3 33P Al Purkey 19 1315 Coffeyville, KS Shaw
4 23L Brett LaFollette 21 1105 Kansas City, KS Masterbilt
5 8K TJ Kuykendall 22 1085 Warsaw, MO GRT
6 88B David Barker 21 1025 Kingsville, MO Rocket
7 15T David Turner 17 1000 Adrian, MO Rocket
8 56W Gary Webb 17 947 Blue Grass, MO GRT
9 63E Dale Eaton 21 897 St. Joe, MO Racemart
10 55R Randy Reynolds 21 833 Drexel, MO GRT
11 28N Herb Nagy 22 789 Harrisonville, MO GRT
12 1S Kerry Schultz 17 747 Moundville, MO GRT
13 24L CJ Lyle 14 633 Shawnee, KS GRT
14 L88 Larry Clawson 14 556 N. Kansas City, MO Rayburn
15 75P Terry Phillips 9 491 Springfield, MO GRT
16 99G Gary Gorby 11 444 Caney, KS Shaw
17 52K Steve Kosiski 7 439 Omaha, NE Rocket
18 1K John Anderson 8 405 Omaha, NE Rocket
19 92S Delbert Smith 10 404 Wichita, KS GRT
20 98C Joe Conway 11 359 Lawton, OK Shaw
21 68S Aaron Seabaugh 9 346 Freeman, MO GRT
22 1A Bryon Allison 8 329 Marshall, MO Shaw
23 18M Terry Melton 11 308 Bartlesville, OK Shaw
24 15E Shane Essary 6 307 Aurora, MO Shaw
25 53K Joe Kosiski 6 300 Omaha, NE GRT
26 9R Charlie Randolph 5 299 Muskogee, OK GRT
27 5R Randy Timms 6 270 Oklahoma City, OK Masterbilt
28 51F Matt Furman 6 234 Coralville, IA Rocket
29 91F Bob Fennewald 6 213 Butler, MO GRT
30 1R Russell Portwood 5 209 Coffeyville, KS Shaw
31 45E Tommy Elston 5 206 Keokuk, IA GRT
32 42M Brandon McCormick 4 202 Lebanon, MO GRT
33 5* Mike Brown 5 195 Ft. Gibson, OK GRT
34 5E Leslie Essary 3 164 Crane, MO Shaw
35 21R Rusty Skaggs 4 158 Ft. Scott, KS Hoffman
36 52M Ryan McAninch 3 116 Goddard, KS GRT
37 46B Barney Bauerfeind 3 92 Adrian, MO GRT
38 71M Jason Meadors 3 85 Fordland, MO American Made
39 21M Billy Moyer 1 71 Batesville, AR Rayburn
40 82B John Bey 1 61 Deadwood, SD GRT
41 12D Scott Drake 1 61 Webb City, MO Rayburn
42 22C David Conkwright 2 56 Manhattan, KS American Made
43 6F Tommy Fulton 1 47 Muskogee, OK GRT
44 14L Brad Looney 1 45 Republic, MO American Made
45 T1T Earl Kinderknecht 1 37 Salina, KS GRT
46 18S Jack Sullivan 1 37 Greenbrier, AR GRT
47 24J Jasen Landers 1 35 Cairo, NE Shaw
48 R15 Charley Reed 3 35 Archie, MO GRT


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Oct 26, 2004
 

Alan Vaughn rolled into the beautiful Outlaw Motor Speedway looking to not only notch another win on the 2004 O'Reilly MLRA tour, but to also close the book on his fourth title run with the series.  As the checkered flag fell on the forty lap A feature Sunday Vaughn had grabbed both to cap off a historic run to the championship.
 
As the green flag dropped outside front row starter Mike Brown grabbed the top spot and held the point with polesitter Vaughn shadowing his every move looking for a way around the front runner.  His chance opened up on lap thirteen as Vaughn was able to move past, but not to be outdone Brown grabbed the lead once again only two laps later.  Brown's spot at the front was short lived as Vaughn was able to work past once again two laps later.  The front two quickly had company in the form of fourteenth starting Steve Kosiski who had quickly worked his way through the field charging to the front.  The trio of Vaughn, Brown, and Kosiski diced back and forth for the remainder of the event taking the checkered flag ahead of Kosiski and Brown.
 
By virtue of the win Vaughn completed the run to his third straight O'Reilly MLRA Championship to go along with his title run in 1995.
 
Final Results
O'Reilly MLRA
Outlaw Motor Speedway "Thriller"
October 23/24, 2004
 
 
B Feature #1 1) Scott Drake
B Feature #2 1) Jason Bodenhamer
B Feature #3 1) Tommy Fulton
   
A Feature (40 Laps) 1) Alan Vaughn (22JV), 2) Steve Kosiski (52), 3) Mike Brown (5*), 4) David Turner (15T), 5) Al Purkey (33P), 6) Kelly Boen (7), 7) Tommy Fulton (6F), 8) Shane Essary (15E), 9) Ryan McAninch (52M), 10) Delbert Smith (92), 11) Scott Drake (12D), 12) Larry Clawson (L88), 13) Charlie Randolph (9R), 14) Ramond Merrill (12M), 15) Brandon McCormick (42M), 16) Jason Bodenhamer (2B), 17) Tommy Rowe (2R), 18) Gary Webb (W56), 19) TJ Kuykendall (8K), 20) Chris Mayes (117), 21) Bryan Schutt (15S), 22) Dan Weatherman (64L), 23) Mike Wiarda (24W), 24) CJ Lyle (24L), 25) Brett LaFollette (23), 26) Earl Kinderknecht (T1T)


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Oct 19, 2004

Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, OK will play host to the final event of the 2004 O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour this Thursday through Saturday, October 21-23, with $5,000 on the line for the winner and a champion to be crowned.
 
Action gets underway on Thursday with an open practice session for all competitors.  Friday night drivers will take to the track with heat race action with the top ten spots guaranteed a spot in Saturday nights field.  Also on tap Friday night will be a special Dash for Cash reserved for the top six in passing points from the heat races.  Saturday night the field will be set with an additional ten drivers coming from the last chance event followed by the $5,000 to win main event.
 
This event will see the 2004 Thunder Tour championship battle come to a close as Belton, MO's Alan Vaughn heads into Muskogee with a slim 36 point lead over second place Jason Bodenhamer from Centerview, MO.  Bodenhamer will be looking to overtake the 2-time defending champion and claim his first season crown with the O'Reilly MLRA.  The fight at the front isn't the only one to be decided as only 38 points separate fourth thru sixth place.  Brett Lafollete will try to hold off rookie competitor TJ Kuykendall and David Barker and retain his spot.
 
The gates at Outlaw Motor Speedway will open at 5:00 pm all three nights as drivers and fans prepare for the final checkered flag of 2004.  General admission is FREE for Thursday nights practice session with pit passes only $10.00.  Pit Passes on Friday night are set at $30.00 and $35.00 on Saturday night.
 
Outlaw Motor Speedway is situated on the west side of US69 Highway @ the Wainwright exit.  The track is 7 miles south of Muskogee and 11 miles north of Checotah.  From I-40, take US69 North 10 miles to the Wainwright exit.  For track information contact 918-687-9200.
 
For more information on the O'Reilly MLRA visit our website at www.mlraracing.com or call 816-650-5063.

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Oct 17, 2004

Hello Friends, picked this up from news link and it's good to hear!  Jon Johnson a long time racer and former champion of the midwest is going home soon!  He was injured in the NCRA
event at Hutch Nationals.  Glad to hear he's on the mend!  Nice man and a good fixture in the sport of Sprint Car Racing.
 
Pattie 
 
Story last updated at 10:57 AM on Friday, October 15, 2004

Raceway Rumblings

By Mike Mathis

Great News! Jon Johnson is going home! I talked with Jon this morning and he is getting released from the burn center in Wichita. Jon stated; "I'm still in pain and have a lot of rehabilitation to go through but I convinced the doctors to let me go home."

Jon also said; " They replaced the dressings this morning and they did it without any pain killers. That was the only way I could go home." I guess Jon believes in the renowned saying, Home is where the heart is. Jon has been through two surgeries and numerous skin grafts. It is very important that he walks and stretches the tendons in his ankles that were badly damaged.

We are all very happy that Jon is able to go home and we need to give him moral support in his rehab effort. Jon's recovery is going to be a painful and long-term process. We urge you to continue stay in touch with Jon and his family. In our next and last column of the year will provide ways to send Jon gifts and cards. You can always send cards and letters to DCRP, 804 West McArtor , Suite 103, Dodge City, KS 67801 and we will forward them to Jon.

This Saturday night and Sunday afternoon we will have the final race event of the 2004 race season. This is the 1st Annual Fall Classic Invitational hosting racecars from around the region in the Modified, Super and Street Stock Divisions. Come out and show these drivers our support of them and the finest dirt track in the United States.

There will be drivers from more than 4 states to see who really is the best of the best. This last weekend of the year we will guarantee our race fans one of the most competitive and best race events you can watch. There are sensational drivers coming to Dodge City that have heard about the great facilities and race track we have.

On Saturday night at 6 p.m. we will kickoff the weekend with Qualifying races and main events that will lock-in the top finishers for Sunday afternoons finale. We will be racing Modifieds, Super and Street Stocks along with the Cruisers during Saturday's event.

On Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. we will have the Modifieds, Super and Street Stocks along with the final points race for the Hornets. There will be last chance races to earn starting positions in the final main event. We will also have trophy dashes with Saturday night main event winners that will determine the front of the pack starting positions for the finale main event. By the time the final's are ready to go onto the track we will have a great field of racecars that will put on a race that will be nothing less than spectacular.

Grandstand admission for each race is only $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for teens 13-16, $3.00 for kids 6-12 with 5 and under Free. Saturday's race time is 6pm with start time on Sunday at 2pm. Pit admission is $25.00 per person regardless of age. Parents have to sign Minors Releases for anyone under 18 years of age.

Please check our Web site at www.dodgecityraceway.com or call out hotline at 620-225-3277 for updates and information.


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Oct 12, 2004

 
O'REILLY MLRA LATEMODEL RACING SERIES
POINT STANDINGS
AS OF OCTOBER 10,2004
 
 
1      22V    Alan Vaughn              21      1422   Belton, MO  Rocket/Shaw
2        2B    Jason Bodenhamer  21      1386   Centerview,MO  GRT
3      33P    Al Purkey                    19     1236   Coffeyville, KS    Shaw
4      23L    Brett LaFollette         20     1064   KanCity, KS  Mastersbilt
5      8K  R  TJ Kuykendall             21     1031   Warsaw, MO  GRT
6      88B    David Barker              21     1026   Kingsville, MO Rocket
7      15T    David Turner               17      920    Adrian, MO  Rocket
8      63E    Dale Eaton                  21       897    St.Joe, MO Racemart
9      56W   Gary Webb                 16        894   Blue Grass, IA  GRT
10   55R  R Randy Reynolds        21        833   Drexel, MO GRT
11   28N     Herb Nagy                  21        759   Harrisonville, MO GRT
12     1S     Kerry Schultz             16         715   Moundville, MO  GRT
13   24L     C.J. Lyle                      13         595   Shawnee, KS  GRT
14   L88     Larry Clawson            13         494   N.KC MO, Rayburn
15    75P    Terry Phillips                9          491   Springfield, MO GRT
16    99G    Gary Gorby                 10         420   Caney, KS  Shaw
17    1K      John Anderson             8          405  Omaha, NE  Rocket
18    52K    Steve Kosiski                6          364  Omaha, NE  GRT
19    68S    Aaron Seabaugh          9          346   Freeman, MO  GRT
20    92S    Delbert Smith               9          344  Wichita, KS GR
 
 
Final Race of the 2004 Season
 
Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, Oklahoma   
October 21, 22, 23 2004
O'Reilly MLRA, O'Reilly NCRA, O'Reilly TORA
3 great series to compete for $5,000 to win!
Modifieds $3,000 to Win!
Plus ORCS 360 Sprints, Factory Stock & Pure Stock
 
Thursday night FREE General Admission ~ Pit Passes $10.00
Gate Opens at 5:pm Practice Session on Thursday Night ONLY
Friday night Pit Pass $ 30.00  Saturday Pit Pass $ 35.00 
Friday Night's action will be Heat Races*
 Dash for Cash for the Top 6 in Passing Points*
*Latemodels and *Modifieds
Saturday night it's racing at its best!
for more info:
www.outlawmotorspeedway.com
call:  918-687-9200
 
Or contact: MLRA at 816-650-5063 email to: [email protected] 
 
thanks for reading ................. 

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Oct 12, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
O'Reilly MLRA Latemodel Stock Cars
along with the World Dirt Racing League 
 
MLRA & WDRLA at Lakeside Speedway
Friday night 10/8 and Saturday 10/9 
  
LATE PASS GIVE STEVE KOSISKI WDRL WIN AT LAKESIDE SPEEDWAY
Brady Smith Wraps up Series Points Title with Fourth Place Finish

(Kansas City, KS) Steve Kosiski roared past Terry Phillips four laps from the checkers Saturday night to win the 50-lap Capital Federal Savings Late Model Showdown, a WORLD Dirt Racing League event, at Lakeside Speedway near Kansas City, Kansas.

The win completed a two-night turnaround for the Papillion, Nebraska veteran, who failed to qualify for the series feature event the night before on the Lakeside Speedway half-mile.

“Terry Phillips is a great racer and a good runner, and it felt good to be up there running with the good guys tonight,” quipped Kosiski following the win. “We’ve had some tough nights, and last night was definitely disgusting for us.”

“The rains hit pretty hard Thursday night and it made the track hard for them to prepare last night,” he added. “They did an very good job preparing the race track tonight and made it good and raceable for all of us to run on.”

Kosiski started fifth in the 28-car field but darted past second row starters Kelly Boen and Eric Pember at the drop of the green flag, to settle into the number three position behind Phillips and Denny Eckrich the first trip in front of the grandstand.

With the leaders running through traffic, the race was slowed by a caution flag on lap ten when Winona, Minnesota’s Keith Foss got into the wall in turn two. Kosiski took advantage of the race stoppage and raced past Eckrich and into the runner-up spot on the ensuing restart, with Phillips driving to a seemingly comfortable advantage in his car number 75.

Kosiski began chopping into the southern Missouri driver’s lead and grabbed the top spot momentarily as the two front-runners diced through lapped traffic on lap 19, only two lose the point before the leaders crossed the start-finish line. Kosiski again took a shot at the leader a pair of laps later, but Phillips was able to keep his Presley’s Country Jubilee/GRT/Monte Carlo in front by less than a car length as the pair raced through the corners.

The final caution flag came out on lap 32, setting the stage for Kosiski’s late race heroics. The driver of the TB & Company/Double D Hook ‘N Go sponsored car number-52 stalked the front-running Phillips for the next dozen circuits before pulling alongside the leader on lap 44. Three laps later, Kosiski powered to the outside racing out of turn two and outran Phillips down the backstretch to grab the lead.

“You really had to watch how far you got into turn four,” said Kosiski of his late-race pass. “But turn two really helped me because I could actually go above Terry a little bit. I knew I wasn’t ever going to get room with Terry there, so I had to keep working turn two and hoping something would happen to where I could get enough momentum coming off.”

“I knew if I passed him too soon I would be in trouble,” he added. “I’m just glad it worked out the way it did."

Denny Eckrich overpowered Phillips on the white flag lap to grab second, with Phillips holding off a fast-finishing Brady Smith for third.

Smith’s fourth place finish wrapped up the 2004 PolyDome Super Series driver’s championship for the 26-year old Wisconsin native. Smith, of Solon Springs, became the first driver is series history to win both the series championship and the Seubert Calf Ranches Rookie-of-the-Year award during the same season.

RESULTS:

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Gary Webb (Blue Grass, IA), 2. Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA), 3. Eric Pember (Pittsville, WI), 4. Mike Wallace (Carter Lake, IA), 5. Al Zeitner (Bellevue, NE).
Second PolyDome Qualifier; 1. Jason Bodenhamer (Cenverview, MO), 2. Matt Furman (Iowa City, IA), 3. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI), 4. Mike Johnson (Clovis, CA), 5. Delbert Smith (Wichita, KS).
Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Craig Preble (Yutan, NE), 2. Ed Kosiski (Ralston, NE), 3. Tommy Elston (Keokuk, IA), 4. Sonny Findling (Kirksville, MO), 5. Mike Brown (Fort Gibson, OK).
Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 2. Raymond Merrill (Sallisaw, OK), 3. Chris Smyser (Lancaster, MO), 4. Alan Vaughn (Belton, MO), 5. Mark Teske (Spring Valley, MN).
Fifth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. David Turner (Adrian, MO), 2. Kurt Kile (Nichols, IA), 3. Mike Wiarda (Hampton, NE), 4. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 5. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE).
Sixth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Kelly Boen (Henderson, CO, 2. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 3. Dave Eckrich (Cosgrove, IA), 4. Larry McDaniels (Valley Center, KS), 5. Dean Moore (Grand Junction, CO).
Seventh PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Kosiski (Papillion, NE), 2. Scott Drake (Harrisonville, MO), 3. Ryan McAninch (Goddard, KS), 4. Darrell DeFrance (Marshalltown, IA), 5. Lyle Shephard (Manhatten, KS).
First KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Purkey, 2. Chris Spieker (Massena, IA), 3. McAninch, 4. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 5. Kurt Kile.
Second KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Teske, 2. Berck, 3. John Hampel (Nodaway, IA), 4. Dave Eckrich, 5. Tommy Rowe (Doniphan, NE).
Third KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Wiarda, 2. Wallace, 3. Bryon Allison (Marshall, MO), 4. Brown, 5. Mike Danburg (Council Bluffs, IA).
Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Denny Eckrich, 2. Phillips, 3. Pember, 4. Boen, 5. Steve Kosiski, 6. Foss.
Capital Federal Savings Late Model Showdown: 1. Steve Kosiski, 2. Denny Eckrich, 3. Phillips, 4. Brady Smith, 5. Ed Kosiski, 6. Purkey, 7. Turner, 8. Johnson, 9. Teske, 10. Elston, 11. Smyser, 12. Bodenhamer, 13. Preble, 14. Spieker, 15. Merrill, 16. Wiarda, 17. Vaughn, 18. Wallace, 19. Brett LaFollette (Kansas City, KS), 20. Webb, 21. Dave Eckrich, 22. Pember, 23. Furman, 24. Boen, 25. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 26. Berck, 27. Foss, 28. Drake.

Billet Proof Lap Leaders: Phillips (1-46), Steve Kosiski (47-50)
QA1 Shocks Passing Points: 1. Boen (71.32)
Seubert Calf Ranches Rookie-of-the-Race: Brady Smith
Chase Race Decals Hard Luck Driver: Pember

Contingency Awards:

Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs: Steve Kosiski, Denny Eckrich, Brady Smith
MSD Ignition: Ed Kosiski
Performance Bodies: Teske
Peterson Fluid Systems: Elston
Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange: Spieker
Hooker Harness: Webb
Weld Racing Wheels: Dave Eckrich
Diamond Oil/Sunoco Race Fuels: Pember
Hoosier Tire: Kurt Kile, Spieker, Elston, Teske


Fri. October 8, 2004

By Tom Lathen and Phil Roberts
WORLD Dirt Racing League

(Kansas City, KS) -- Brady Smith outran veteran Missouri
driver Terry Phillips Friday night following a late-race restart to win the first night of the Capital Federal Savings Late Model Showdown, a WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Super Series event, here at Lakeside Speedway.
 

October 8, 2004

With the 35-lap victory, the Solon Springs, Wis., driver can wrap up the WDRL drivers¹ championship by simply taking the green flag in the second round of the Late Model Showdown at Lakeside on Saturday night.

"We had a great run here tonight," said Smith following the win. "The guys worked real hard on the car all night, and had the thing dialed in. It was kind of a handful at the beginning. I don't know if it was the track or the car that came to us in the end, but this is a great win.

"I've never had the opportunity to race Terry (Phillips) before," he added. "I've heard a lot of good stuff about him, and I am just happy to hold off a veteran like him at a track we had never been at before."

After winning the six-lap Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash, Smith started on the inside pole and darted into the lead at the drop of the green flag with Omaha, Nebraska's John Anderson running a close second, just ahead
of Phillips and Kevin Kile.

The first of six caution flags waved on lap six when Kelly Boen got turned around in turn three, with a second caution coming a lap later when Anderson and Phillips tangled briefly in turn two while racing for second, sending
Phillips to the pits to replace a flat tire.

On the restart, Anderson outran Smith up the front straightaway and into turn one to take over the lead. But three laps later, on lap 10, Smith returned the favor, roaring off the bottom out of turn four to grab the
advantage as the pair raced side by side in front of the grandstands.

Anderson's THT Designs/Rocket/Grand Prix regained the point on lap 11. But following a lap-16 caution period, Smith grabbed the top spot for good, powering to the bottom into turn one, leaving Anderson to battle it out with Denny Eckrich for second, just ahead of Tommy Rowe and Phillips, who had steadily worked his way back through the field following his lap-seven tangle.

The race was slowed by two more caution periods on laps 23 and 25, allowing Phillips to wheel into second. But over the final 10 circuits, Smith's Kapus-Erickson Chrysler/Big Red Motorsports entry proved to be class of the field, winning the race to the checkers by a dozen car lengths.

"We finally got this place figured out in the last 12 laps," Smith said. "I figured out (turns) one and two earlier in the race, but in those last twelve laps, I finally figured out how to run through (turns) three and
four.

"Those last few laps, I could put the car in the corner and mash the gas all the way through," he added.

A total of 77 Super Late Models went through technical inspection for the first of two nights of racing, which was co-sanctioned by the Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA).


RACE REPORT
LAKESIDE SPEEDWAY
KANSAS CITY, KANS.
FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2004

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Tommy Rowe (Doniphan, NE), 2. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 3. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 4. Steve Kosiski (Papillion, NE), 5. Rusty Patterson (Mason City, IA).

Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 2. Mike Danburg (Council Bluffs, IA), 3. Chris Smyser (Lancaster, MO), 4. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 5. Kelly Boen (Henderson, CO).

Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Kurt Kile (Nichols, IA), 2. John Kuchar (Henderson, CO), 3. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI), 4. Brian Schutt (Lebanon, MO), 5. Jeremy Bishop (Hutchinson, KS).

Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Matt Furman (Iowa City, IA), 2. Kevin Kile (West Liberty, IA), 3. Al Zeitner (Bellevue, NE), 4. Dale Eaton (St. Joseph, MO), 5. Mike Wiarda (Hampton, NE).

Fifth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. C.J. Lyle (Shawnee, KS), 2. David Turner (Adrian, MO), 3. Dean Moore (Grand Junction, CO), 4. Will Vaught (Crane, MO), 5. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE).

Sixth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Alan Vaughn (Belton, MO), 2. Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA), 3. Dave Eckrich (Cosgrove, IA), 4. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 5. Ed Kosiski (Ralston, NE).

Seventh PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 2. Tommy Elston (Keokuk, IA), 3. Earl Kinderknecht (Salina, KS), 4. Ryan McAninch (Goddard, KS), 5. Mike Smith (Jewell, IA).

Eighth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Carl Edwards (Jefferson City, MO), 2. T.J. Kuykendall (Warsaw, MO), 3. Mike Johnson (Clovis, CA), 4. Mike Wallace (Omaha, NE), 5. Raymond Merrill (Sallisaw, OK).

First KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Elston, 2. Dave Eckrich, 3. Moore, 4. Wiarda, 5. Gary Webb (Blue Grass, IA).

Second KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Foss, 2. Ed Kosiski, 3. Kinderknecht, 4. Steve Kosiski, 5. Gary Stolba (Willow Springs, MO).

Third KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Boen, 2. Saathoff, 3. Smyser, 4. Craig Preble (Yutan, NE), 5. Jeremy Bishop (Hutchinson, KS).

Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Smith, 2. Anderson, 3. Phillips, 4. Kevin Kile, 5. Kurcha, 6. Kurt Kile.

Capital Federal Savings Late Model Showdown 35-Lap Feature: 1. Smith, 2. Phillips, 3. Purkey, 4. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 5. Denny Eckrich, 6. Dave Eckrich, 7. Elston, 8. Joe Kosiski, 9. Kevin Kile, 10. Kuchar, 11. Brett LaFollette (Kansas City, KS), 12. Danburg, 13. Kuykendall, 14.
Bodenhamer, 15. Furman, 16. Rowe, 17. Vaughn, 18. Anderson, 19. Foss, 20. Kurt Kile, 21. Johnson, 22. Edwards, 23. Lyle, 24. Ed Kosiski, 25. Boen, 26. David Barker (Kingsville, MO), 27. Turner, 28. Saathoff.

Additional information of interest:
* Billet Proof Lap Leaders: Smith (1-6), Anderson (7-9), Smith (10), Anderson (11-15), Smith (16-35)
* QA1 Shocks Passing Points winner: Kurt Kile (67.8)
* Seubert Calf Ranches Rookie-of-the-Race: Smith
* Chase Race Decals Hard Luck Award winner: Anderson

Contingnecy award winners:
* Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs: Smith, Berck, Denny Eckrich
* MSD Ignition: Dave Eckrich
* Performance Bodies: Elston
* Peterson Fluid Systems: Joe Kosiski
* Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange: Kevin Kile
* Hooker Harness: Matt Furman
* Weld Wheels: Anderson
* Diamond Oil/Sunoco Race Fuels: Foss

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Oct 8, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
O'Reilly MLRA Latemodel Stock Car
Buckner, MO
 
 
O'Reilly MLRA Point Standings
As Of  October 7, 2004
 
1    22v    Alan Vaughn  19    1309    Belton, MO Rocket/Shaw
2    2B    Jason Bodenhamer 19    1257  Centerview, MO GRT
3    33P  Al Purkey   16  1079  Coffeyville, KS Shaw
4    88B  David Barker  19   953 Kingsville, MO  Rocket
5    23L   Brett LaFollette  18  945  Kansas City, KS Mastersbilt
6    8K  R. T.J.Kuykendall  19  933  Warsaw, MO  GRT
7    63E   Dale Eaton  19  830  St.Joe, MO  Racemart
8    56W  Gary Webb  14   816  Blue Grass, IA  GRT
9    15T    David Turner  15  813  Adrian, MO  Rocket
10  55R R. Randy Reynolds  19  766 Drexel, MO  GRT
11  28N   Herb Nagy  19  692  Harrisonville, MO  GRT
12  1$  Kerry Schultz  15   684  Moundville, MO  GRT
13   24L  CJ Lyle  11   529  Shawnee,KS  GRT
14   L88  Larry Clawson  11  439  N.KC, MO  Rayburn
15   99G  Gary Gorby   10  420  Caney, KS  Shaw
 
 
Next events to come are Friday and Saturday Oct.8 & 9, 2004 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City Kansas  two sperate race events. 
 
See you there!
 
 
p.s.  Congrats to Jason Bodenhamer and his lovely wife Jackie on the birth of their Son, William Ace Bodenhamer born yesterday.  Both Mother and Father are doing fine, Ace made his way into the Winners Circle almost two months early and tipped the Official O'Reilly MLRA
Scales at 4 lbs.  But is doing just fine! 


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Oct 7, 2004
 

The 2nd Annual Al Bodenhamer Memorial is now in the record books!  David Turner of Adrian Missouri and a long time friend of the late Al Bodenhamer was both honored and excited at his winning of tonight's event!
 
"Al Bodenhamer's fight with his Cancer was hard to watch" stated Turner in remembering his friend.  "Jason and his family put their lives on hold for the last couple of years so that Al could enjoy what time he had left" Turner continued.  "Jason stayed close and took care of the business that the family had built, raced when he could and was married to Jackie all in time that Al could see that his Son Jason was settling down" Turner concluded.
 
The icing continued for the Adrian State Bank sponsored Rocket racer when Turner took the honors by winning the Race Engine Builders event for his long time engine builder and Crew
Chief Scott Bailey of Peculiar, Missouri.  "Scott's been there for me in so many ways, he's put us together more than once and he's held our Team together through all we've been through" Turner joked up when remembering where he's been.
 
Al Purkey of Coffeyville Kansas came in second battling with Blue Grass Iowa's Gary Webb taking third.  Coming in -- in 4th place after never having seen Adrian Missouri nor having run on anything as small as Adrian was California's Mike Johnson in the 2J towing in from Clovis California.  Now if people only knew, Mike Johnson is a hitter from the small Central California town nestled between Bakersfield and Fresno where he's had many a lap at the famed Oildale Track - so Adrian had to seem like home.  Following Johnson was the newly crowned MARS Champion Terry Phillips, then in sixth it was Jason Bodenhamer. Jason Bodenhamer who had less than 40 hours to build a brand new race car
from his devastating crash at Wheatland Missouri on Saturday night.   Tonight starting the feature would have been like winning the Main event for Bodenhamer - his Father would have been so proud. Kansas City Kansas driver Brett LaFollete held down the seventh position while Ken Schrader finished eighth then it was David Barker Aaron Seabaugh TJ Kuykendall and Alan Vaughn crossing the line in 12th.
 
With 35 Cars on hand for the start of Speed weeks in Kansas City!
 
Heat Race Results
1st Heat 
Alan Vaughn, Ken Schrader, Stevenson, Long, Eaton, Reynolds Crocker
2nd Heat
Mike Johnson, Jason Bodenhamer, Simmons, Barker, Lyle, Stolba
3rd Heat
Brett LaFollette, Gary Webb, Fennewald, Dixon, Schultz, Kuykendall, Brown
4th Heat
Al Purkey, Terry Phillips, House, Jones, Melton, Nagy, Millard
5th Heat
David Turner, Aaron Seabaugh, Bohlman, Sims, Skaggs
 
1st Dash Race Engine Builders
David Turner, Al Purkey, Jason Bodenhameer, David Barker, Dale Eaton
 
2nd Dash Jack Vaughn Memorial
Jason Bodenhamer, Al Purkey, Alan Vaugh, David Turner, Gary Stolba
 
1st B
C J Lyle, Ed Dixon, Kerry Schultz, Rusty Skaggs, Garry Stolba
2nd B
David Barker , Dale Eaton, Jones, Crocker, Kuykendall
 
Next Race will be Friday Night at Lakeside 10/8/04 


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Oct 3, 2004

2004 FEEL THE THUNDER TOUR
O'Reilly MLRA Point Standings
as of October 3, 2004

1st 22v Alan Vaughn 18 1242 Belton, MO Rocket/Shaw
2nd 2B JasonBodenhamer 18 1180 Centerview MO GRT
3rd 33P Al Purkey 15 997 Coffeyville KS Shaw
4th 88B David Barker 18 882 Kingsville, MO Rocket
5th 23L Brett LaFollette 17 873 Kansas City, KS Masterbilt
6th 8K R T.J.Kuykendall 18 868 Warsaw, MO GRT
7th 63E Dale Eaton 18 767 St.Joe MO, Racemart
8th 56W Gary Webb 13 736 Blue Grass, IA GRT
9th 55r R Randy Reynolds 18 734 Drexel, MO GRT
10th 15T David Turner 14 730 Adrian, MO Rocket
11th 28N Herb Nagy 18 643 Harrisonville, MO GRT
12th 1$ KErry Schultz 14 635 Moundville, MO GRT
13th 24L C.J. Lyle 10 490 Shawnee, KS GRT
14th L88 Larry Clawson 11 439 N.Kansas City, MO Rayburn
15th 99G Gary Gorby 10 420 Caney KS Shaw


Next Race will be Wednesday October 6th at Adrian Speedway for the Al Bodenhamer Memorial Event along with the Jack Vaughn Dash and the Race Engine Builders Special.....see you there!

Al Purkey nabs Wheatland Fall Classic Title
 
Clint Brown
October 3, 2004
 
Al Purkey showed once again why he is a dominant force when the O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour rolls into town as he bested a field of forty-six cars that traveled to Wheatland Raceway for the Third Annual Fall Classic.
 
Purkey jumped to the front of the pack as the green flag waved, but the going wasn't easy as the #45 of Keokuk, IA's Tommy Elston applied some heavy pressure looking to take over the top spot.  Elston was able to briefly work his way to the lead, but Purkey quickly found a line to his liking to move back out front and open up a three car length advantage as the leaders entered lapped traffic.  While the two front runners dealt with the slower cars Terry Phillips closed up on the bumper of Elston all while Gary Stolba and Jason Bodenhamer battled it out for the fourth position.  The lead pack sliced through lapped traffic with the front three separated by no more than three car lengths with Bodenhamer working past Stolba for fourth and quickly began reeling in Phillips.  With ten laps to go the leaders were in very heavy lapped traffic and contact with a slower car sent the #2B of Bodenhamer on a scary ride as his car flipped multiple times into the fence at the end of the front stretch.  Thankfully Bodenhamer emerged under his own power, but the car was done.  With the cleanup completed the field went back to green for the final ten lap dash which Purkey held on to as the field raced across the line.  Elston held on for second with Phillips, Alan Vaughn, and Brett LaFollette rounding out the top five.
 
Don't forget to join the 2004 O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour on Wednesday, October 6 at Adrian Speedway for the running of the Al Bodenhamer Memorial.  This high octane evening will also feature the Jack Vaughn Dash as well as the Engine Builders special taking to the track at Glen and Colleen Portzen's beautiful facility.  For more information on Adrian Speedway call Glenn Portzen at 816-297-4400 or visit them on the web at www.adrianspdwy.com.
 
For the latest news and information on the 2004 O'Reilly MLRA Thunder Tour visit us on the web at www.mlraracing.com or call 816-650-5063.
 
Full Results
Wheatland Raceway Fall Classic
October 2, 2004
 
A Feature (40 Laps) - 1) Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 2) Tommy Elston (Keokuk, IA), 3) Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 4) Alan Vaughn (Belton, MO), 5) Brett LaFollette (Kansas City, KS), 6) Bryan Allison (Marshall, MO), 7) David Barker (Kingsville, MO), 8) CJ Lyle (Shawnee, KS), 9) David Turner (Adrian, MO), 10) Kerry Schulze (Moundville, MO), 11) Rusty Dukes (Fair Grove, MO), 12) TJ Kuykendall (Warsaw, MO), 13) Larry Jones (El Dorado, MO), 14) Larry Stevenson (Lees Summit, MO), 15) Brandon McCormick (Lebanon, MO), 16) Gary Stolba (Willow Springs, MO), 17) Ken Essary (Cape Fair, MO), 18) Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 19) Stephen Oerly (Jamestown, MO), 20) Will Vaught (Crane, MO), 21) Shane Essary (Aurora, MO), 22) Randy McGraw (Marshall, MO)
 
B Feature #1 (Top 3 Transfer to the A) - 1) Shane Essary, 2) Larry Jones, 3) Will Vaught, 3) Larry Clawson (North Kansas City, MO), 4) Rusty Skaggs (Fort Scott, KS), 5) Bud Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 6) Russell Portwood (Coffeyville, KS), 7) Randy Reynolds (Drexel, MO), 8) Reggie Jackson (Lebanon, MO), 9) Dale Eaton (St. Joseph, MO), 10) Jeff Shere (Galena, KS), 11) Aaron Seabaugh (Freeman, MO), 12) Mark Daye (Webb City, MO), 13) Christian Rayburn (Osage Beach, MO), 14) Bob Kerbs (Nevada, MO)
 
B Feature #2 (Top 3 Transfer to the A) - 1) Rusty Dukes, 2) Stephen Oerly, 3) Larry Stevenson, 4) Chad Clark (Marshall, MO), 5) Burl Woods (Springfield, MO), 6) Reid Millard (Jefferson City, MO), 7) Brian Schutt (Lebanon, MO), 8) Herb Nagy (Harrisonville, MO), 9) James House (Copan, OK), 10) Jake Morris (Marshall, MO), 11) Thomas Hammonds (Sedalia, MO), 12) Dustin Mooneyham (Verona, MO), 13) Kevin Kaiser (Cole Camp, MO), 14) Jason Meadors (Fordland, MO)


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Sept 27, 2004
 

Hello Racers and Race Fans...........
 
October is going to be plenty busy for all of us in Kansas! The first 10 Days are action packed!   Better grab another Tear Off with the Dirt a flyin' your sure to need it.
 
First off begin the month by attending  Wheatland Raceway season finale when they host their Fall Classic for their weekly series.  Friday night October 1st the gang at Wheatland are planning to hold their qualifying Heats for their weekly classes (Ltd.Lates; Modifieds;Pure Stocks;Super Stocks and Factory Stocks) then on Saturday night October 2, 2004 they will host the O'Reilly MLRA Super Latemodels 2004 Thunder Tour for the final time of the season.  Pit gate will open at 4PM on Saturday for the O'Reilly MLRA Super Latemodels and Races are to begin at 7:pm  This will be a 40 Lap Feature with $3,000.00 to the Winner of the O'Reilly MLRA Super Latemodel event.
 
For more information on Wheatland Raceway contact www.wheatlandraceway.com  or call Mike Crocker at 417-282-5512 or
Cell phone 417-839-1556 
 
Next up............
 
Wednesday October 6, 2004  Join the O'Reilly MLRA at Adrian Speedway for the Al Bodenhamer Memorial Event, along with the Jack Vaughn Dash and the Racing Engine Builders special.  Action packed night to begin with the gates opening at 4:pm.
 
For more information on Adrian Speedway contact www.adrianspdwy.com  or call Glenn Portzen at 816-297-4400
 
 
Don'