By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Randy Mooneyham, owner of the Monett Speedway, is billing tonight’s offering at the 3/8-mile clay track as the “Showdown in the Heartland.”
It’s a late model clash between MARS (the O’Reilly Mid-America Racing Series) and NCRA (the National Central Racing Association).
The drivers are finishing a weekend tripleheader. They competed at Brill Motor Speedway at Meeker (Okla.) on Friday night and 81 Speedway at Wichita on Saturday night.
Tonight’s support classes at Monett are B modified, bomber, rookie and Legends Cars. Gates open at 5 with races at 7:30.
Admission prices are $15 and $5 with no charge for 12-and-under A pit pass is $30.
Kyle Berck, Marquette, Neb., won the co-sanctioned A feature on Friday night at Meeker. He was followed by Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, Mo.), Kelly Boen (Henderson, Colo.), Brandon McCormick (Lebanon) and Jeremy Payne (Springfield).
Eric Turner, Hermitage, Mo., started on the pole in the 30-lapper and wound up sixth.
Finishers in the main event also included Coffeyville’s Al Purkey (seventh), Lebanon’s Tony Jackson Jr. (13th), Aurora’s Darrell Mooneyham (17th), Lockwood’s Rylan Long (18th) and Springfield’s Terry Phillips (19th).
Turner led the first 10 laps, according to NCRA publicist David Smith Jr., before Berck took over.
Smith said that Phillips, who was committed to the low side, and Berck were dueling on the front stretch on lap 25 and made contact when both went low to avoid a lapped car.
Phillips, sent for a spin, went to the work area but the race car had too much damage to continue.
Bodenhamer challenged Berck on the restart, Smith said, but Berck wound up winning by about eight car lengths.
Bodenhamer won the first B feature to claim the 11th starting spot in the main.
Turner, a rookie on the MARS circuit, and Payne were 1-2 in points in early June with 606 and 602, respectively. Fifth-place Jackson and No. 12 Long also are rookies.
John Anderson, Omaha, was the early leader in NCRA late model points.
Payne, teammate of Phillips, recently won the late model division of the annual Tony Roper Memorial at Monett. Payne, who led all 35 laps, earned $3,000 in beating five-time MARS points champion Bill Frye of Greenbrier, Ark.
Hatfield Racing Engines, Joplin, is among the MARS sponsors.
Sports
June 27, 2009
Heartland Showdown set tonight in Monett
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
- Both sides of border hope changes make easier entry into Canada
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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