By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
The championship of the inaugural Allstate Insurance DLRA Touring Series will be decided tonight and Saturday nights at Midway Speedway in Lebanon during the fourth annual Coca-Cola Fall Brawl.
Terry Phillips leads Jesse Stovall by two points entering the late model event. No. 3 Jeremy Payne is only 23 points out of first place.
The title of the DLRA Touring Series is worth $5,000. Phillips recently was crowned MARS champion. The winner of this week’s DLRA main event will receive $2,000.
“We expect a solid field of quality late models,” DLRA Touring Series founder Randy Mooneyham said. “Many of the open race cars are ready to tackle the Midway.”
Tonight’s schedule includes qualifying heats for the late models and qualifying for the support classes — modified, B-modified, factory stock and bomber. Pole dashes in the support classes will help set the starting grid for Saturday’s feature events. Plus, an enduro will cap tonight’s show.
Gates open at 5 p.m. today with racing at 8. Saturday’s program starts at 7:30.
First place in the A features of the support classes will pay out $1,000 (modified), $450 (B-modified), $500 (factory stock) and $450 (bomber).
Making the modified main event will be worth $100. Earning a starting spot in B-modified, factory stock and bomber main events will be worth $60.
The payout for the top four in Friday night’s enduro: $600, $400, $300 and $200.
Grandstand admission prices are $12 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. A pit pass for each show is $30.
Daniel Jessen victorious
Jessen, Neosho, won the factory stock special — worth $350 — at the Nevada Speedway last Saturday night.
It was Jessen’s third A feature victory of the season at the quarter-mile dirt track.
Completing the main event winners were Rusty Skaggs (late model), Brian Bolin (modified) and Greg Cassidy (mini stock).
Nevada’s Cassidy won for the first time this season at Nevada. Fort Scott drivers Bolin and Skaggs won for the eighth and fifth time, respectively.
Mechanics Jeff Brockman and Alex Hart won their specials in modified and factory stock classes, respectively.
A mini stock special will headline this week’s program.
The late model Midwest Late Model Racing Association will visit the track on Oct. 11. Modified and street stock classes will provide support on Oct. 11.
Show-Me Racin’ Series
The late model series, sponsored by Race Brothers, has one show left for the 2008 campaign.
It will be part of the annual Spooker on Oct. 18 at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla.
Points leader Leslie Essary, Crane, Mo., won the main event last Thursday night at Springfield Raceway.
Leslie Essary has 950 points and another title wrapped up. Completing the top six in points: Conner Ward (860), Ken Essary (856), Shane Essary (852), Rick Lebow (808) and Jordan Holloway (794).
