Old-fashioned rivals made racing events a happening time and back in the 1980's, the Ozarks' racing had the best where Larry Phillips, Billy Moyer and Ken Essary always packed the grandstands on the area dirt tracks. Tuesday night the Midway Speedway held our 1st Annual Larry Phillips Birthday Bash Blowout with the number "75" the theme on the minds of all and the old Rival Billy Moyer came to honor the event in the memory and respect as Moyer took the lead from Bill Frye on lap 23 and never looked back in grabbing the 75 lap Late Model feature.

MLRA Super Late Models

As the green dropped, Bill Frye grabbed the early lead from pole setter Gary Stolba as Will Vaught closed up behind Frye with Stolba battled side by side in the battle for second. On lap 5, Vaught took over 2nd place with Frye setting a quick pace. On lap 7, Moyer moved into 3rd spot and ran right behind Vaught and Frye as the trio started to pull away. With tight racing behind the lead trio, Moyer showed everyone how he developed the nickname, "Mr.Smooth", as the veteran moved quietly around Vaught on lap 22 and then leader Frye on lap 23. On lap 27, the 1st caution waved as Ken Essary had power steering problems coming to a stop in turn 2. On the restart, Moyer, Frye, Vaught, Al Purkey and a fast-moving Jack Sullivan were battling. During the long green run, Moyer started to pull away from Frye and Vaught as Sullivan became a player in the battle for 2nd place. From there, Moyer was pulling away and never looked back in collecting the $7,500 winner's share of the purse as Frye and Vaught battled with Sullivan for 2nd place honors before finishing in that order with Al Purkey, Leslie Essary, Terry Phillips, Alan Vaughn, Billy Moyer, Jr. and Steve Rushin completing the top 10. 17 of the 22 starters took the checkered flag.

"The track was smooth and very racy", quoted Moyer. "A good quality field of cars here tonight and an excellent payoff. I hope this event grows as it was fun. Frye was very quick early and that Vaught kid is really quick as it wasn't easy getting around him."

1st Heat
1). Gary Stolba-Willow Springs, MO.
2). Jeremy Payne-Springfield, MO.
3). Jeremy Kelley-Walnut Grove, MO.
4). Terry Phillips-Springfield, MO.
5). Justin Wells-Aurora, MO.
6). JD Hubert-Cross Timbers, MO.
7). Ken Essary-Cape Fair, MO.

2nd Heat
1). Will Vaught-Seneca, MO.
2). Jack Sullivan-Greenbriar, ARK.
3). Leslie Essary-Crane, MO.
4). Eric Turner-Hermitage, MO.
5). Steve Rushin-Poplar Bluff, MO.
6). Billy Humble-Rich Hill, MO.

3rd Heat
1). Bill Frye-Greenbriar, ARK.
2). Jason Bodenhamer-Centerview, MO.
3). Jack Simmons-Erie, KS.
4). Larry Clawson-Kansas City, MO.
5). Ron Myers-Phillipsburg, MO.
6). Billy Moyer, Jr.-Batesville, ARK.


 4th Heat
1). Billy Moyer-Batesville, ARK.
2). Al Purkey-Coffeyville, KS.
3). Alan Vaughn-Belton, MO.
4). David Turner-Adrian, MO.
5). Brantlee Gotschall-Nevada, MO.
6). Zack Simmons-Erie, KS.


B Feature
1). Justin Wells-Aurora, MO.  
2). Steve Rushin-Poplar Bluff, MO.
3). Ken Essary-Cape Fair, MO.
4). Billy Moyer, Jr-Batesville, ARK.
5). Brantlee Gotschall-Nevada, MO.
6). JD Hubert-Cross Timbers, MO.
7). Billy Humble-Rich Hill, MO.
8). Ron Myers-Phillipsburg, MO.
9). Zack Simmons-Erie, KS.

A Feature
1). Billy Moyer-Batesville, ARK.
2). Bill Frye-Greenbriar, ARK.
3). Will Vaught-Seneca, MO.
4). Jack Sullivan_Greenbriar, ARK.
5). Al Purkey-Coffeyville, KS.
6). Leslie Essary-Crane, MO.
7). Terry Phillips-Springfield, MO.
8). Alan Vaughn-Belton, MO.
9). Billy Moyer, Jr-Batesville, ARK.
10).Steve Rushin-Poplar Bluff, MO.
11).Justin Wells-Aurora, MO.
12).Jeremy Payne-Springfield, MO.
13).Eric Turner-Hermitage, MO.
14).Gary Stolba-Willow Springs, MO.
15).Larry Clawson-Kansas City, MO.
16).David Turner-Adrian, MO.
17).JD Hubert-Cross Timbers, MO.
18).Jason Bodenhamer-Centerview, MO.
19).Ken Essary-Cape Fair, MO. 
20).Brantlee Gotschall-Nevada, MO.
21).Jack Simmons-Erie, KS.
22).Jeremy Kelley-Walnut Grove, MO.

 A+ C Construction A-Modifieds

In support action, the Modifieds took to the track with NASCAR's Kenny Wallace trying to grab the $1,000 winner's prize as defending champion Tony Jackson, Jr. brought the field down the start with Lebanon's Brian Brown along side. Jackson grabbed the early lead with veteran Rex Merritt in tow. After a quick couple of yellows, Jackson and Merritt, along with Kenny Wallace and Jesse Stovall, were battling the entire distance as point leader Eric Hudson was charging forward. Merritt made several attempts but in the end Jackson held off the challenges to record the win followed by Merritt, Kenny Wallace, Stovall and Hudson at the stripe.

A Feature
1). Tony Jackson, Jr.-Lebanon
2). Rex Merritt-Billings
3). Kenny Wallace-St. Louis
4). Jesse Stovall-Branson
5). Eric Hudson-Rolla
6). Wayne Graybeal-Springfield
7). Matt Collins-South Coffeyville, Ok.
8). Jamie Ragland-Lebanon
9). Jack Jones-Lebanon
10).Bob Test-Jefferson City
11).Chris Johnson-Lebanon
12).Jimmy Willis-Macks Creek
13).Brian Brown-Lebanon
14).Rick Brown-Richland
15).Chris Tonoli-Hermitage
16).Don Luna-St. James
17).Wes Long-Springfield
18).Evan Hubert-Cross Timbers
19). Sam Petty-Niangua
DNS:
--).Justin Stoufer-Camdenton

We would like to get another head start on things and announce that the 2nd Annual Larry Phillips Birthday Bash Shootout is scheduled for Thursday, July 3rd, 2008. This is Larry Phillips birthday so we find it only appropriate to have it then and we thought we'd make the date known to everyone now. Kenny Wallace has told us he wishes to be a part of it again next year. Expect bigger and better things for years to come with this special event!

1) $1,000	13) $100	1) $7,500	13) $750
2) $600	14) $100	2) $3,750	14) $750
3) $400	15) $100	3) $2,000	15) $750
4) $300	16) $100	4) $1,250	16) $750
5) $250	17) $100	5) $1,000	17) $750
6) $200	18) $100	6) $900	18) $750
7) $175	19) $100	7) $875	19) $750
8) $150	20) $100	8) $850	20) $750
9) $125	21) $100	9) $825	21) $750
10) $100	22) $100	10) $800	22) $750
11) $100		11) $775
12) $100		12) $775