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Dan Robinson
BUCKNER, Mo. (November 12) - The O'Reilly MLRA presented by Lucas Oil Products Championship Awards Banquet will be held at the beautiful Argosy Casino in Riverside, Missouri on Saturday, November 21st, 2009. Coffeyville, Kansas' Al Purkey along with car owner Bill Koons will receive their 2009 Championship Awards. 2009 MLRA Rookie of the Year Matt Johnson from Archie, Missouri will also receive his RoY Hardware. The awards don't stop there however as all eligible drivers will receive their portion of the Championship point fund along with many outstanding contingency awards from our great series sponsors.
The Awards Banquet will begin with a social hour at 5:30pm with dinner set to begin at 7:00pm. The Awards portion of the banquet will follow. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Everyone is welcome including Drivers, Owners, Sponsors, Families, Crews, and Fans. The Argosy Casino is located at 777 NW Argosy Parkway in Riverside, Missouri. Visit www.stayargosy.com for complete details about the facility.
The Kansas City Airport Marriott has signed on as the Host Hotel for the banquet. Room rates are just $59, just mention MLRA when making your reservations by calling (800) 810-2771. Visit www.KansasCityAirportMarriott.com for facility location and visitor information.
To make banquet reservations, please call the MLRA Series Office at (816) 650-5063 or (816) 305-6572. You can also visit www.MLRAracing.com for more information.
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The MLRA congratulates Coffeyville, Kansas' Al Purkey for capturing the 2009 MLRA Championship. The title was Al's Sixth MLRA Championship of his career breaking a tie for the most all time as Belton, Missouri's Alan Vaughn has five to his credit. Purkey topped defending MLRA Champion John Anderson by just 10 points in the season long battle.
Anderson went into Lakeside Speedway in early October with a seemingly comfortable 58 point lead but mechanical difficulties allowed the tenacious Purkey to close the gap with the final showdown set for Nevada Speedway on Sunday night October 18th. Anderson went on to win the race but Purkey stayed glued to his bumper crossing the line in second wrapping up the title. Purkey was consistent all season winning the Championship despite not scoring a single MLRA feature win in 2009. Purkey did however score 13 Top-5's enroute to the Championship with a lowest finish of 22nd at the State Fair Speedway on August 23rd as a broken RR axle sidelined him after contending for the win earlier in the race. Please visit www.BillKoonsRacing.com for information on the Al Purkey Racing Team.
Purkey's Bill Koon's owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Billy's Cafes, Purkey's Auto Salvage, Taylormade Performance, Integra Racing Shocks, Duralite Racing Wheels, and VP Racing Fuel.
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Archie, Missouri's Matt Johnson captured the 2009 O'Reilly MLRA Rookie of the Year by virtue of his 7th place finish in the final points standings. Matt ran like a veteran all season earning the respect of his fellow competitors and the admiration of the fans. Matt ran as high as third in the last race at Nevada and was going to be a threat for the win before mechanical gremlins intervened.
Matt began his career in 2001 running a Street Stock at the Adrian Speedway the day before his high school graduation. He quickly progressed into Open Wheel modifieds winning the Adrian Speedway Track Championship in 2004. Matt ran a GRT by Phillips in '09 with a Scott Bailey Racing Engine under the hood. Sponsors include Mazzio's Pizza in Harrisonville, Sherwood Heating and Cooling, T-Bones Car Wash, All-State Electric, and Daniel Turner Excavating. Matt is 26 years old and resides in Archie, Missouri. This was Matt's first experience in a Dirt Late Model.
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Final 2009 Standings
MLRA Late Models
1 33P Al Purkey Coffeyville, KS 1,451
2 2J John Anderson Omaha, NE 1,441
3 53K Joe Kosiski Omaha, NE 1,232
4 2B Jason Bodenhamer Centerview, MO 1,205
5 15T David Turner Adrian, MO 1,150
6 25s Chris Smyser Lancaster, MO 1,021
7 5J Matt Johnson Archie, MO 992
8 24G Bryant Goldsmith Corning, IA 989
9 22V Alan Vaughn Belton, MO 984
10 45DW Denny Woodworth Mendon, IL 952
11 3C Mike Collins Council Bulffs, IA 919
12 29K Bill Koons Ohama, NE 829
13 14 Kyle Berck Marquette, NE 734
14 75P Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 729
15 99T Eric Turner Hermitage, MO 675
16 74P Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO 620
17 L88 Larry Clawson N. Kansas City, MO 597
18 7W Brett Wood Warrensburg, MO 584
19 04K Jeremy Kelley Walnut Grove, MO 576
20 18L Rylan Long Greenfield, MO 568
21 4G Brantlee Gotschall Nevada. MO 553
22 07 Kelly Boen Henderson, CO 541
23 1W Mike Wiarda Aurora, NE 504
24 6H Al Humphrey Giltner, NE 477
25 15X Jason O'Brien Atlantic, IA 406
26 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 382
27 73B Shad Badder Oak Grove, MO 377
28 1F Jason Friesen Sutton, NE 373
29 26 Corey Zeitner Bellevue, NE 366
30 49G Zachary Goulden Gladstone, MO 359
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