Post by LMR on 07/04/14 at 10:52pm
MLRA/MARS Late Models
Salina Highbanks Speedway
July 4, 2014
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Phillips Fends off Simpson for Freedom Classic Triumph at Salina
MLRA PR
Salina, OK (July 4) - Terry Phillips continued his hot streak, Friday, in the 1st Annual Freedom Classic at Salina Highbanks Speedway. In his Andy's Frozen Custard, Don Babb Motorsports Rocket Chassis, Phillips took the lead early and held off challenges from Lucas Oil MLRA series points leader Chad Simpson to score his 109th career victory on the tour.
"This track is so wide and good you can race all over it, stated Phillips. I love coming here this is my kind of race track. Hats off to the person that prepares this thing and the owners here."
The moment of the race came near the midway point, when Phillips entered turns three and four too high and almost gave away the lead. He slid and Simpson nearly ran squarely into the back of him.
"I went in there a little too hard and about went off the end," said Phillips of the near incident. "I finally figured this corner (turns three and four) out. I finally settled down a little bit and got comfortable with the line I was running."
Chad Simpson continued his fine season with another runner up finish and kept firm control of the points lead. "Great race track. It's the first time we've ever been here. We're getting closer and closer. Hopefully one of these days we'll get one."
The feature was only slowed once, for Travis Dickes, on lap 10. The leaders worked in and out of a good deal of lapped traffic over the final 20 circuits.
Saturday evening the show is once again at the Salina Highbanks Speedway. The winner will receive $5,000 and custom eagle trophy. Racing begins at 7 PM.
A-Main
1 3 75P Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
2 4 25C Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA
3 2 56J Tony Jackson, Jr Lebanon, MO
4 5 186 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO
5 10 18 Jack Sullivan Greenbriar, AR
6 15 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
7 1 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
8 8 4G Brantlee Gotschall Nevada, MO
9 6 2 Tommy Weder Jr. Woodward, Ok
10 11 58E Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
11 7 17H Jason Hughes Westville, OK
12 9 42M Brandon McCormick Lebanon, MO
13 22 99L Scott Lewis Henderson, CO
14 18 11M Brandon Morton Broken Arrow, Ok
15 13 85D Mark Dotson Cameron, MO
16 20 6T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
17 21 28J Leroy Johnson Battlefield, MO
18 17 14L Brad Looney Republic, MO
19 23 14R Jeff Roth Bentonville, AR
20 24 29K Bill Koons Omaha, NE
21 14 26R Randy Roth Bentonville, AR
22 16 88R John Driskill Bellavista, AR
23 12 7BH Brett Hansen Ft Gibson, Ok
24 19 6M Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR
B-Main #1
1 14L Brad Looney
2 6M Wendell Wallace
3 7H Josh Hughes
4 29K Bill Koons
5 3W Rick Wallais
6 0F Ferrell Skelton
7 14R Jeff Roth
8 160 Michael Maggard
B-Main #2
1 11M Brandon Morton
2 6T Travis Dickes
3 10M Jacob Magee
4 99L Scott Lewis
5 28J Leroy Johnson
6 13P Kevin Patrick
7 00S Jesse Stovall
Heat #1
1 186 Jeremy Payne
2 2 Tommy Weder Jr.
3 4G Brantlee Gotschall
4 26R Randy Roth
5 11M Brandon Morton
6 10M Jacob Magee
7 29K Bill Koons
8 3W Rick Wallais
Heat #2
1 25C Chad Simpson
2 18 Jack Sullivan
3 58E Dave Eckrich
4 19R Ryan Gustin
5 14L Brad Looney
6 6M Wendell Wallace
7 6T Travis Dickes
8 99L Scott Lewis
Heat #3
1 77A Justin Asplin
2 17H Jason Hughes
3 42M Brandon McCormick
4 85D Mark Dotson
5 7H Josh Hughes
6 0F Ferrell Skelton
7 14R Jeff Roth
8 160 Michael Maggard
Heat #4
1 56J Tony Jackson, Jr
2 75P Terry Phillips
3 7BH Brett Hansen
4 88R John Driskill
5 00S Jesse Stovall
6 13P Kevin Patrick
7 28J Leroy Johnson
Event photos courtesy of Lloyd Collins