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David Smith Jr.
JETMORE, Kans. (June 5) - In perhaps the biggest victory of his career, Omaha, Nebraska's John Anderson took the lead with three laps remaining to take the first annual "Sunflower State Showdown" for late models at the Great American Dirt Track in Jetmore, Kansas Saturday night and earn a healthy $10,000 for the victory. The race was a three series co-sanctioned event with the O'Reilly National Championship Racing Association, MARS DIRTCar series and CLMA DIRTCar series.
Current MARS DIRTCar series point leader Eric Turner of Hermitage, MO took the lead from the pole and quickly jumped into the lead at the start of the 50 lap feature event. The lead would only last one lap, however, as Friday nights preliminary feature winner Jeremy Payne used his outside front row starting position to drive around Turner exiting turn two and down the backstretch to lead lap two.
Not to be out done, fifth starting Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Arkansas wanted his chance at the lead and took over the point on lap three. Sullivan would start to pull away from the field throughout the early portion of the race but that would change on lap twenty-one when the first caution of the feature fell for Darrell Mooneyham.
Taking advantage of the double file restart behind the leader, Turner used his outside starting position to overtake Sullivan and regain the lead. Turner was starting to cruise but on lap twenty-six the caution would fall for Bill Koons who came to a stop on the raceway.
Turner stayed out front on the restart with Anderson, Sullivan, Eddie Kirchoff and Kelly Boen giving chase. However the caution would wave once again on lap twenty-eight for a stalled Al Purkey.
Once racing action resumed, Turner would still hold on to the lead but be pressured by Sullivan, who tried several failed attempts at retaking the top spot. But Sullivan's persistence finally paid off and on lap thirty-five would pass Turner to take the lead.
It appeared Sullivan was on cruise control as he had worked up to a half stretch lead with ten laps remaining. However it all went south with six laps remaining as the motor blew on his GRT chassis ending his night and hopes for victory.
This would give Turner the lead with four laps remaining but would also bunch up the field on the restart with Anderson, Boen, Terry Phillips and Kirchoff close behind. However another caution on the attempted restart for Corey Zeitner would bring drama on the next restart.
Once racing action resumed, Turner again held the point but behind him the battle for second was fierce as Anderson and four time NCRA champion Boen battled for the position. Lap 46 would see Anderson and Boen make contact entering turn one causing Boen to spin and cause major front end damage on the Terry Pannell Motorsports owned #33x ending his night.
The final restart saw a four lap shoot out with Turner again jumping out into the lead. Anderson, Kirchoff, Phillips and defending O'Reilly/NCRA late model champion Kyle Berck gave chase but it was Anderson who benefited the most on the restart and was glued to the leader's bumper.
Lap 47 saw Turner stay low entering turns one and two while Anderson worked the top of the three-eighths mile oval. Anderson, aboard the Shop Quik Convenience stores #2 would get a bite coming out of turn two and down the backstretch, over took the lead.
From then on there was no catching Anderson as he held on to take the victory and the Sunflower State Showdown.
Turner would hold on to second while Kirchoff out ran Phillips late to take the third position. MARS DIRTCar rookie Gary Christian rounded out the top five.
The three heat races for the cars not already locked into the nights feature finale were won by Dean Moore, David Brack and Christian. Turner earned the right to start on the pole for the feature finale with his victory in the eight car "pole dash." Payne finished second followed by Phillips, Boen, Sullivan, Anderson, Kirchoff and Berck.
A Feature: 1, John Anderson. 2, Eric Turner. 3, Eddie Kirchoff. 4, Terry Phillips. 5, Gary Christian. 6, Dean Moore. 7, Kyle Berck. 8, Shawn Harker. 9, Dustin Mooneyham. 10, David Brack. 11, Al Purkey. 12, Jason Schierholk. 13, Corey Zeitner. 14, Bill Koons. 15, Scott Lewis. 16, Dave Garman. 17, Leroy Johnson. 18, Kelly Boen. 19, Brad Looney. 20, Jase Kaser. 21, Jack Sullivan. 22, Jeremy Payne. 23, Steve Lewis. 24, Wylan Petrie. 25, Darrell Mooneyham. 26, Brady Wagner. 27, Patrick Johnson.
1st Heat: 1, Dean Moore. 2, Al Purkey. 3, Shawn Harker. 4, Bill Koons. 5, Scott Lewis. 6, Steve Lewis. 7, Brady Wagner.
2nd Heat: 1, David Brack. 2, Patrick Johnson. 3, Jason Schierholk. 4, John Anderson. 5, Patrick Johnson. 6, Corey Zeitner.
3rd Heat: 1, Gary Christian. 2, Terry Phillips. 3, Darrell Mooneyham. 4, Dave
Garman. 5, Kyle Berck. 6, Wylan Petrie.
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