FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2011

MARS Returns to Thunderbird Speedway

The martians of the MARS DIRTcar Series will invade Muskogee, Oklahoma's Thunderbird Speedway for the first time in nearly a decade this Friday April 1, 2011.  The Thunderbird Speedway is the largest track that the MARS Series will see this year and one of only a handful of true half-mile dirt tracks left in the country.  Sallisaw, OK native Raymond Merrill picked up the the feature win the last time the series visited on June 21, 2002.  This race, dubbed the 'Azalea Nationals' is in honor of the Azalea Festival hosted by the city of Muskogee every April.

Driver's expected include 6-time MARS Champion Terry Phillips and Jeremy Payne of Springfield, MO; Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, MO; Jesse Stovall of Galena, MO; R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, AZ; Brad Looney of Republic, MO; Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, MO; 5-time MARS Champion Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR; Al Purkey of Coffeyville, KS; Dewaine Hottinger and Jon Kirby of Russellville, AR; Colton Dunlap of Muskogee, OK; Gary Christian of Broken Bow, OK; Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR; Leroy Johnson of Battlefield, MO; Shane Essary of Aurora, MO; Darrell Mooneyham of Verona, MO: Justin Asplin of Birch Tree, MO and many more.  Other drivers with MARS wins at the historic half-mile include Terry Phillips, Bill Frye and Leslie Essary of Crane, MO.

Grandstand gates open at 6:00pm with hotlaps at 7:30pm and racing scheduled at 8:00pm.  General admission for adults is $15, Seniors 65 and older are $13.  Kids 11-17 are $5 and kids 10 and under are free.  Pit gates will open early.  Pit pass for adults is $30, Seniors 65 and older are $25.  Kids 6-11 are $10 and kids 5 and under are free.  

Information regarding the Thunderbird Speedway can be found at http://thunderbirdspeedwaymuskogee.yolasite.com/.  The physical address is 1444 S. Cherokee, Muskogee OK 74401.

MARS DIRTCAR SERIES

March 11 Results
1 2 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN
2 1 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IL
3 3 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
4 4 1 Jack Sullivan Greenbriar, AR
5 5 14 Brad Looney Republic, MO
6 9 27 Chuck Proctor Charlotte, TN
7 7 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
8 6 27M Rodney Melvin Benton, IL
9 16 28E Dennis Erb Carpentersville, IL
10 12 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO

March 12 Results
1 1 28E Dennis Erb Carpentersville, IL
2 10 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR
3 2 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN
4 5 33 Terry English Benton, IL
5 6 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
6 4 56 Jeff Walston Paducah, KY
7 7 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IL
8 11 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
9 8 3S Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
10 13 002 RC Whitwell Tucson, AZ

2011 Point Standings
1 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 141
2 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IL 129
3 28 Dennis Erb Carpentersville, IL 126
4 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL 122
5 14 Brad Looney Republic, MO 115
6 88 Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR 115
7 56 Jeff Walston Paducah, KY 108
8 1 Jack Sullivan Greenbriar, AR 104
9 27 Rodney Melvin Benton, IL 102
10 33 Terry English Benton, KY 100
11 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 100
12 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 92
13 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 92
14 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO 90
15 13W David Webb Nicholasville, KY 88
16 02 RC Whitwell Tucson, AZ 86
17 54 Dillan White Crofton, KY 84
18 71 Chris Wall Holden, MS 82
19 2X Nick Lyons Centralia, IL 81
20 75C Carnell Parker III Clarksville, TN 79
21 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 78
22 56 Tony Jackson Lebanon, MO 77
23 16A Steven Ashby Cunningham, TN 75
24 58X Gary Christian Broken Bow, OK 74
25 00 Jesse Stovall Galena, MO 73
26 28J Leroy Johnson Brookline, MO 72
27 D11 Dustin Butler Clarksville, TN 72
28 13L Mitchell Lingauer Clarksville, TN 72
29 96T Tanner English Benton, KY 70
30 B12 Kevin Weaver  Gibson City, IL 70


Information on the MARS DIRTcar Series can be found at www.marsracingseries.com.