MLRA at Wheatland

Buckner, MO (August 23rd, 2008)-Mark Burgtorf shot past early leader Al Purkey on a lap 12 restart and withstood the challenges of John Anderson to take the win in the O'Reilly MLRA Feature at the Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday night August, 23rd. This was the MLRA's fifth and final appearance of the season at "The Diamond of Dirt Tracks."

Al Purkey led the field to the green flag in his Bill Koons owned machine and set the early pace leading the first 12 laps on a beautiful night in Wheatland, MO. Burgtorf from Quincy, Illinois took advantage of a lap 12 restart to shoot by Purkey in his Rick's Transit Repair, Summy Tire, Gem City Ford, Kuntz Ford Powered Rayburn. Omaha, Nebraska's John Anderson worked his way from his fourth row starting position to take the second spot in his Jay Dicken's Mastersbuilt. David Turner finished third in his Adrian Bank, Shepherd of the Hills, Scott Bailey Racing Engined Rocket.

The man with the drive of the night was Jesse Stovall as he had trouble in his heat race forcing him to start 19th in the B-feature. Jesse masterfully worked the traffic to finish third in the B which again forced him to start deep in the field for the A-Feature but once again he would wheel his Paul McKenna Racing Clements Racing Engines Victory Circle mount to a stellar fourth place finish. Mendon, Illinois' Denny Woodworth rounded out the top 5.

Justin Wells from Aurora, Missouri was sixth with Jason Bodenhamer seventh. Al Purkey slipped back to the eighth spot at the finish after starting on the pole, while youngster Evan Hubert claimed the ninth position. Webb City, Missouri's Scott Drake finished in the tenth spot.

Kingsville, Missouri's David Barker received the $1,000 bonus from Midwest Walnut by virtue of his 16th place finish in the main event.

The season long points battle is a five horse race as John Anderson went to the top of the standings as he has a 12 point lead over David Turner. Terry Phillips by virtue of skipping this event has dropped into the third spot 38 markers behind Anderson. Jeremy Payne also missing this event sits in fourth, with Denny Woodworth rounding out the Top 5.

John Anderson-984

David Turner-972

Terry Phillips-946

Jeremy Payne-902

Denny Woodworth-854

Branley Gotschall-718

Heat Race Winners were Jason Bodenhamer, Al Purkey, Bryant Goldsmith, and Larry Clawson. Story City, Iowa's Jeremy "Smackdown" Grady captured the win in the B-Main to advance to the main event. Full Results are listed below.

Eric Turner won the feature in the Pitt's Home's A-Modifieds.

The next event for the O'Reilly MLRA presented by Lucas Oil will be on Saturday night September 13th, at the Nevada Speedway in Nevada, Missouri. For more information please visit www.nevadaspeedway.net or call the track (417) 667-7919 in the evenings, (417) 667-8507 a the shop, or (417) 667-5859 the Day of the Race.

MLRA 8/23/2008
A Feature:1. Mark Burgtorf (Quincy, IL), 2. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 3. David Turner (Adrian, MO), 4. Jesse Stovall (Galena, MO), 5. Denny Woodworth (Mendon, IL), 6. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO), 7. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 8. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 9. Evan Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 10. Scott Drake (Webb City, MO), 11. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 12. Billy Moyer, JR (Batesville, AR), 13. Larry Clawson (N Kansas City, MO), 14. Jeremy Grady (Story City, IA), 15. Reid Millard (Jefferson City, MO), 16. David Barker (Kingsville, MO), 17. JD Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 18. Bill Koons (Ohama, NE), 19. Shad Badder (Oak Grove, MO), 20. Bryant Goldsmith (Corning, IA), 21. PJ Haskins (Adrian, MO), 22. Tony Jackson (Lebanon, MO), 23. Brantlee Gotschall (Nevada, MO), 24. Ricky Frankel (Quincy, IL),

B Feature:1. Jeremy Grady (Story City, IA), 2. Tony Jackson (Lebanon, MO), 3. Jesse Stovall (Galena, MO), 4. Bill Koons (Ohama, NE), 5. JD Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 6. Evan Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 7. Larry Jones (Eldrado Springs, MO), 8. PJ Haskins (Adrian, MO), 9. Chris Hawkins (Neosho, MO), 10. Donnie Gemes (Warsaw, MO), 11. Rylan Long (Greenfield, MO), 12. Brantlee Gotschall (Nevada, MO), 13. Will Vaught (Seneca, MO), 14. Steve Johnson (Joplin, MO), 15. Robbie Love (Fort Scott, KS), 16. Johnny Fennewald (Appleton City, MO), 17. Rob Starkey (Greenfield, IN), 18. Chris Smyser (Lancaster, MO), 19. Ken Essary (Cape Fair, MO), 20. Aaron Seabaugh (Freeman, MO), 21. Gary Stolba (Willow Springs, MO), 22. Randy Zimmerman (Fort Scott, KS),

Heat 1:1. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 2. David Turner (Adrian, MO), 3. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 4. Scott Drake (Webb City, MO), 5. Ricky Frankel (Quincy, IL), 6. Jeremy Grady (Story City, IA), 7. Larry Jones (Eldrado Springs, MO), 8. Johnny Fennewald (Appleton City, MO), 9. PJ Haskins (Adrian, MO), 10. Donnie Gemes (Warsaw, MO),

Heat 2:1. Al Purkey (Coffeyville, KS), 2. Denny Woodworth (Mendon, IL), 3. Reid Millard (Jefferson City, MO), 4. Tony Jackson (Lebanon, MO), 5. Bill Koons (Ohama, NE), 6. JD Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 7. Steve Johnson (Joplin, MO), 8. Rob Starkey (Greenfield, IN), 9. Will Vaught (Seneca, MO), 10. Robbie Love (Fort Scott, KS),

Heat 3:1. Bryant Goldsmith (Corning, IA), 2. Mark Burgtorf (Quincy, IL), 3. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO), 4. Shad Badder (Oak Grove, MO), 5. Ken Essary (Cape Fair, MO), 6. Aaron Seabaugh (Freeman, MO), 7. Chris Smyser (Lancaster, MO), 8. Randy Zimmerman (Fort Scott, KS), 9. Jesse Stovall (Galena, MO),

Heat 4:1. Larry Clawson (N Kansas City, MO), 2. Billy Moyer, JR (Batesville, AR), 3. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 4. David Barker (Kingsville, MO), 5. Rylan Long (Greenfield, MO), 6. Brantlee Gotschall (Nevada, MO), 7. Chris Hawkins (Neosho, MO), 8. Evan Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 9. Gary Stolba (Willow Springs, MO),