MARS DIRTcar Series
August 2, 2011
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Larry Phillips Birthday Bash on Thursday Night at Lebanon Midway Speedway

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (August 2) - Even though it is one month later than the birthday of legendary Springfield, MO driver Larry Phillips, The Lebanon Midway Speedway will play host to the traveling Super Late Models of the MARS DIRTcar Series for the Larry Phillips Birthday Bash on Thursday Night Aug 4th. This will be the first time since 2009 in which Super Late Models will have competed at the Speedway. Eric Turner of Hermitage, MO won that thrilling feature with a pass on Terry Phillips with nine laps left to grab the victory.

This season the MARS has seen nine different winners out of thirteen feature events so far this season as Justin Wells was the most recent winner at the Monett Speedway in Monett, MO on July 17, 2011.

Heading the star-studded list of drivers expected to be on hand include current point leader Brad Looney of Republic, MO who holds a narrow 8 point lead over 6-time and defending MARS champion and former event winner Terry Phillips of Springfield, MO. Phillips comes into the race still looking for his first MARS victory of the season while Looney has 3 wins. Jesse "The Undertaker" Stovall of Galena, MO; rookie sensation RC Whitwell of Tucson, AZ; Jeremy Payne of Springfield, MO; Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR; Eric Turner and many others are expected to compete.

Heading the local favorites includes Lebanon, MO drivers Brandon "B-Mac" McCormick who won his first ever MARS feature earlier this season at Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, KS and former Midway track champion Tony Jackson Jr. will be on hand competing. McCormick has had very strong runs at Midway while Jackson who is a former Super Stock and A-Mod champion at the track has also been a strong runner.

With Midway being what many call a drivers track, Southwest Missouri area standouts Justin Wells of Aurora, MO and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ken “The Flying Farmer" Essary of Cape Fair, MO along with Shane Essary of Aurora, MO as all 3 of these driver have captured feature wins at Midway in the past.

With the MARS Series being UMP sanctioned and Midway a short drive down the Interstate, drivers from the St Louis area might find this event a chance to gather UMP National points for this $2,500 to win and $350 to start.

Support Classes will include the B-Mods (Springfield Raceway and Monett Speedway Motor and weight Rules), Midwest Modz and Pure Stocks. These 3 classes will be given 10 Bonus points to compete in this event as the final purses are being finalized.

Grandstand Tickets will be $17 for Adults while juniors (ages 8-15) will be $5 and under 8 Free. Pit passes will be $30 for this special event. Grandstand Gates will open around 5:30pm while the pit gates will open around 5PM. Hotlaps will start at 7:10pm with racing to begin at 8pm.

2010 Larry Phillips Birthday Bash Results:
1. Jeremy Payne (Springfield, MO), 2. Brad Looney (Republic, MO), 3. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 4. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 5. Brandon McCormick (Lebanon, MO), 6. Dave Eckrich (Oxford, IA), 7. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO), 8. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 9. Brantlee Gotschall (Nevada, MO), 10. Evan Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 11. Larry Jones (Eldrado Springs, MO), 12. Justin Asplin (, MO), 13. Leroy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 14. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 15. Ken Essary (Cape Fair, MO), 16. Chuck Comer, 17. Jarod Hilton, 18. Dwight Niehoff (Lockwood, MO), 19. Dave Ware, 20. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 21. Alan Vaughn (Belton, MO), 22. Dustin Mooneyham (Verona, MO)

MARS DIRTCAR SERIES
2011 POINT STANDINGS (7/17/11)

1 14 Brad Looney Republic, MO 888
2 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 880
3 00 Jesse Stovall Galena, MO 812
4 121 RC Whitwell Tucson, AZ 802
5 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO 748
6 56 Tony Jackson Lebanon, MO 741
7 42 Brandon McCormick  Lebanon, MO 702
8 28J Leroy Johnson Brookline, MO 603
9 99T Eric Turner Hermitage, MO 551
10 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR 396
11 33 Al Purkey Coffeyville, KS 394
12 2 Dustin Mooneyham Verona, MO 333
13 77 Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO 331
14 02 Tommy Weder Jr Woodward, OK 308
15 1 Jack Sullivan Greenbriar, AR 301
16 29 Bill Koons Omaha, NE 258
17 98 Justin Wells Aurora, MO 255
18 40 Shawn Harker Nebraska City, NE 253
19 14R Jeff Roth Rogers, AR 223
20 15E Shane Essary Fair Grove, MO 222