For Immediate Release
October 15, 2010

MLRA Points Championship on the Line at Mid America Speedway

The Lucas Oil MLRA will wrap up the 2010 season next weekend with the running of the 1st Annual Bud Purkey Memorial at Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK. One of, if not the tightest points races in series history has unfolded throughout the course of the season. Current point leader, Al Purkey, has had to battle all season long with top contenders Brad Looney and Dave Eckrich.

Purkey knows even with one race left, wrapping up his series leading seventh championship won't come easy. "From a competition standpoint it might have been one of the most fun championship battles because we have three guys battling for it," commented Purkey. "It's crazy that at one time we had three cars within six points eighty percent through the season." Starting the season Purkey drove for BK Motorsports and just before the season's mid-point he and car owner Bill Koons decided to go in different directions. Making the switch back to Larry Shaw Race Cars and starting his own team again has had its share of challenges and rewards for the Coffeyville, KS native.

Looney has run strong for the duration of the season, but has yet to crack victory lane in series action. He comes into the final race just four points out of the lead. "I'm tickled to death just to be able to run the whole season and finish it," said Looney "I feel like we have a good chance. We have won there." Looney has a season long average finish of 7, with runner up finishes at both the Springfield Raceway and I-80 Speedway. "If I don't win the championship I can't complain about the season I've had." Based out of Republic, MO, Looney recently switched to a Victory Circle M1 by Moyer chassis and hasn't finished outside of the top ten since the middle of August.

For Eckrich it has been a learning experience as the Oxford, Iowa driver has tackled many tracks for the first time. "We started off the season race to race and it just happened we didn't miss any MLRA shows," shared Eckrich "Al and Brad have both picked up there game and we haven't, so we're still trying to get going a little better." Eckrich went to victory lane back on August 28th at Lucas Oil Speedway. He also has six top 5 finishes, as well.

Each of these drivers has led the standings at some point during the season. Regardless of the outcome all three drivers have raced each other door to door with the highest respect all season. Three drivers from three different states will be gunning for the title and the winners share of the Points fund at the series banquet in November.

The format for the Bud Purkey Memorial will be unlike any other the series has raced under all season. The drivers will qualify on Friday the 22nd and run the 50 lap A-Main on Saturday the 23rd. Points are awarded based on finishing positions, with 70 points to the winner, with a two point difference for every position throughout the A Main. Drivers also earn 1 point for every race attended which is added to their total following every race.

The Lucas Oil MLRA will conclude the season at the Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. The Inaugural Bud Purkey Memorial race will take place October 21-23 sponsored by Smiley's of Kansas. Practice will be held on Thursday night from 7-10 pm, a pit pass is $10 and grandstand admission is FREE. Friday October 22 heats and dashes will begin at 7:30 pm. The Hatfield Racing Engines/ Larry Shaw Race Cars pole dashes will be the main event on Friday. Pit passes $30 and grandstand adults $12. Saturday night the Lucas Oil MLRA $6000 to win feature grandstand admission is $20 for adults, children ages 7-15 are just $5. Children ages 5 and under are FREE! For updated event information visit www.alpurkeyracing.com or contact race promoters Al Purkey (620)515-5201 or Jim White (620)515-3771.

Please visit www.MLRAracing.com for updated Lucas Oil MLRA series and event information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ashley Berry
Lucas Oil MLRA PR

Inaugural Bud Purkey Memorial closes MLRA season at Mid America Speedway

Buckner, MO (October 18th, 2010) - One event remains in the 2010 Championship season for the Lucas Oil MLRA. The Bud Purkey Memorial will be the final event October 21-23 in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. The inaugural race in memory of the late Bud Purkey is being promoted by Al Purkey, son of Bud Purkey and Jim White, the event is presented by Smiley's of Kansas. Thursday night will kick off the first of three exciting nights at the 3/10 mile track with a practice session. Practice will be held from 6-9 pm. Hatfield Racing Engines and Larry Shaw Race Cars will present pole dashes for late models, modifieds and factory classes, on Friday night. The grand finale will be Saturday night in the $6000 to win Lucas Cattle Company Feature race.

The top three points contenders will bring nothing but their best to the last points race. Al Purkey, Brad Looney and Dave Eckrich have flip-flopped and even tied in the points battle throughout the season. Purkey leads Looney by only four points with Eckrich sitting in the third position. Omaha, Nebraska's and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Kosiski remains in the fourth spot, where he has held his ground all season long. Rounding out the top five is driver of the 75 Andy's Frozen Custard GRT by Phillips, Terry Phillips. Phillips gained his 100th career win with the Lucas Oil MLRA this season, matching a record of most series wins by an individual driver in a career.

Team mate to Phillips is Jeremy Payne in the 74 GRT by Phillips. Payne is currently sixth in Lucas Oil MLRA points standings. Leading Rookie of the Year candidate, Evan Hubert is seventh in the Rockstar Energy Drinks 9E. In the eighth spot is Henderson, Colorado's, Kelly Boen. Boen has won more races this year than any other Lucas Oil MLRA driver. In the Shop Quik MasterSbilt is John Anderson who is currently ninth in points. The final driver in the top ten is Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Asplin. Asplin drives the #77 B&A Lumber, Hatfield powered Rocket.

Please visit www.MLRAracing.com for complete and updated Lucas Oil MLRA Points Standings.

The 2010 Lucas Oil MLRA race season has been one of the most competitive seasons in series history. The Bud Purkey Memorial will wrap up an intense and memorable year, with fans and drivers from throughout the mid-west coming together at the Mid-America Speedway.

Practice on Thursday night from 6-9 pm, a pit pass is $10 and grandstand admission is FREE. Friday October 22 heats and Hatfield Racing Engines/Larry Shaw Race Car pole dashes will begin at 7:30 pm. Pit passes $30 and grandstand adults $12. Saturday night the Lucas Oil MLRA $6000 to win feature grandstand admission is $20 for adults, children ages 7-15 are just $5. Children ages 5 and under are FREE! For updated event information visit www.alpurkeyracing.com or contact race promoters Al Purkey (620)515-5201 or Jim White (620)515-3771.

MLRA LATE MODELS
2010 Point Standings after October 9 (wins)

1 33 Al Purkey Coffeyville, KS 1,595 (1)
2 14L Brad Looney Republic, MO 1,591
3 58 Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 1,557 (1)
4 53 Joe Kosiski Omaha, NE 1,329
5 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 1,169 (4)
6 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO 1,130 (3)
7 9E Evan Hubert Cross Timbers, MO 1,013
8 07 Kelly Boen Henderson, CO 957 (6)
9 2 John Anderson Omaha, NE 909 (2)
10 77A Justin Asplin Willow Springs, MO 905
11 29K Bill Koons Omaha, NE 890
12 22V Alan Vaughn Belton, MO 812
13 7J JD Hubert Cross Timbers, MO 797
14 99T Eric Turner Hermitage, MO 727 (1)
15 15 Jason O'Brien Atlantic, IA 678
16 56S Chris Spieker Massena, IA 672
17 24 Bryant Goldsmith Corning, IA 659
18 14 Kyle Berck Marquette, NE 609 (1)
19 15T David Turner Adrian, MO 601
20 25C Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA 591 (1)
21 21T Travis Dickes Madison, NE 566
22 92 Delbert Smith Wichita, KS 529
23 2X Andrew Kosiski Omaha, NE 457
24 5J Matt Johnson Archie, MO 420
25 26JR Corey Zeitner Bellevue, NE 404
26 1W Mike Wiarda Aurora, NE 381
27 42 Brandon McCormick Lebanon, MO 372
28 58X Gary Christian Broken Bow, OK 361
29 6H Al Humphrey Giltner, NE 356
30 33K Billy Koons Jr Omaha, NE 351