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Dan Robinson
TOPEKA, Kans. (September 5) - Jeremy Payne battled wheel to wheel with Car Owner Terry Phillips before ultimately taking the lead with ten laps to go and leading the rest of the way to take the O'Reilly MLRA win at HPT.com Speedway at Heartland Park Topeka. The win was Payne's third of 2009 as he picked up $3,000 for his efforts. Philips settled for second while Al Purkey came across the line in third with Brad Looney fourth and Eric Turner working his way from his tenth starting spot to finish in fifth. When asked for a word immediately following the race, Payne responded with a simple "Eat Andy's" in reference to primary sponsor Andy's Frozen Custard, as he is always very aware of the sponsors that help support his racing efforts.
Event Images
Coffeyville, Kansas' Al Purkey and Springfield, Missouri's Terry Phillips made up the front row for the 30 lap main event and with Purkey leading the field to the green flag. Phillips charged to the lead with a crossover move coming out of turn 2 but the caution flag flew for a spin involving John Kuchar and Alan Vaughn wiping out the pass. As the field came back to the green flag, Phillips once again got the better of Purkey to lead Lap #1. With five laps in the books, it was Phillips leading Purkey with Bryant Goldsmith in third and Jeremy Payne up to fourth from his sixth starting spot.
Phillips began encountering lap traffic on Lap 8 as Purkey used it to his advantage to take the lead on the outside of Phillips down the backstretch. Goldsmith continued to run third with Payne fourth and Delbert Smith in the fifth spot. Phillips continued to stalk Purkey as the 5-time MLRA Champion weaved his way in and out of heavy lap traffic. Phillips took the lead back from Purkey on lap 13 as the two continued to battle wheel to wheel. The second caution flag of the night flew on lap 14 as Scott Koskovich slowed down the backstretch. The running order with 14 laps down had Phillips as your leader followed by Purkey, Payne, Goldsmith, and Brad Looney.
On the restart Payne got by Purkey to move into second with Purkey third and Looney fourth but the third caution flag of the evening flew wiping out the pass once again as the 64 of Greg Larsen got together with Bill Koons coming out of turn #4. Phillips held the lead with Payne now second and Purkey third as Payne began pressuring his boss for the lead at the halfway point of the race. Payne and Phillips waged a classic side by side battle for the top spot with Payne to the point with just ten laps remaining. Payne appeared to have the better car as Phillips appeared to be fighting a tight racecar as Payne methodically worked lap traffic followed by Phillips, Purkey, Looney, and Eric Turner who had now worked his way into the top-5. Payne took the checkers to pick up the win with Phillips second, Purkey third, Looney fourth, and Eric Turner in fifth.
Heat Race Winners included Delbert Smith, Al Purkey, and Terry Phillips.
Payne's GRT Chassis is Powered by a Hatfield Racing Engine with sponsorship support from Andy's Frozen Custard, Brian Burch Motorsports, and New Vision Graphics. 26 MLRA Super Late Models were in attendance for the $3,000 to win, 30 Lap Main Event. Terry Phillips raced a brand new black schemed GRT. Kyle Berck pulled double duty, also running the #52 Champ Mod owned by Steve Kosiski after Steve's 15 year old son Brian was deemed too young to race per the HPT.com Speedway rulebook. Complete and updated points standings will be available shortly at http://www.MLRAracing.com.
Lucas Oil A-Feature Results
1. Jeremy Payne (Springfield, MO), 2. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 3. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 4. Brad Looney (Republic, MO), 5. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 6. Bryant Goldsmith (Corning, IA), 7. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 8. Delbert Smith (Wichita, KS), 9. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 10. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 11. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 12. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 13. Mike Collins (Council Bluffs, IA), 14. Alan Vaughn (Belton, MO), 15. Bill Koons (Omaha, NE), 16. Chris Smyser (Lancaster, MO), 17. Scott Daly (Elkhorn, NE), 18. Jeremy Kelley (Walnut Grove, MO), 19. David Brack (Great Bend, KS), 20. John Kuchar (Brighton, CO), 21. Zachary Goulden (Gladstone, MO), 22. Justin Hoepker (Iola, KS), 23. Greg Larson (Plattsmouth, NE), 24. Scott Koskovich (Omaha, NE), 25. David Turner (Adrian, MO), 26. Jimmy Segraves (Valley Center, KS)
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #1 Results
1. Delbert Smith (Wichita, KS), 2. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 3. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 4. Mike Collins (Council Bluffs, IA), 5. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 6. Jeremy Kelley (Walnut Grove, MO), 7. Chris Smyser (Lancaster, MO), 8. John Kuchar (Brighton, CO), 9. Justin Hoepker (KS)
Hoosier Race Tires Heat Race #2 Results
1. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 2. Bryant Goldsmith (Corning, IA), 3. Brad Looney (Republic, MO), 4. Greg Larson (Plattsmouth, NE), 5. David Turner (Adrian, MO), 6. Bill Koons (Omaha, NE), 7. Alan Vaughn (Belton, MO), 8. Scott Daly (Elkhorn, NE), 9. Zachary Goulden (Gladstone, MO)
Country Mart Heat Race #3 Results
1. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 2. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 3. Jeremy Payne (Springfield, MO), 4. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 5. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 6. David Brack (Great Bend, KS), 7. Scott Koskovich (Omaha, NE), 8. Jimmy Segraves (Valley Center, KS)
MLRA Contingency Award Winners
Tanner Racing Products by-Greg Larsen
Performance Bodies Nosepiece Award-Delbert Smith
BSB Manufacturing Product Certificate-Jason Bodenhamer
KRC Product Award-Chris Smyser
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