Essary family shares Show-Me Racin Series honors
West Plains, MO - May 05, 2008
By: Karen Fulp
It looked as if the Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series might loose Friday May 2nd’s event to rain early in the morning, but Russell & Valerie Hand worked hard on their North Central Arkansas Speedway and the series was able to pull of the first double-header weekend of 2008.
A field of 27 cars strong made the trip with Conner Ward, Kevin Henson, Jim Fulp, and Rick Lebow taking heat race wins. Burl Woods won the B feature, followed by Darrin Barton, Randy Galloway and Todd McIntrye. Wesley Briggs and Chris Morelock made the A by a points provisional.
Kevin Patrick and Kevin Henson led the 22 cars to the green for the A feature. Kevin Henson led until lap 5, when Ken Essary took the point. Four cautions during the feature mixed up the field, as the double file restarts shuffled drivers in or out of their preferred lanes. Ken Essary held on to the lead for the rest of the race, holding off battles of Conner Ward and Shane Essary. In the end, Conner Ward finished second, Jeremy Kelley third, Shane Essary forth, and Jim Fulp in fifth.
When the points were figured after this event, Jeremy Kelley held on to his point lead by 12 points, with Leslie Essary, Shane Essary, and Conner Ward ALL tied for second in points.
The spectacular West Plains Motor Speedway was the venue for night two of the Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series weekend. 28 cars made the call for the night. Leslie Essary, Darrin Barton, Jim Fulp, and Shane Essary won their heat races. Jarrod Hilton won the B, with Chris Morelock, Conner Ward, and Jimmy Bellamy transferring to the A feature. Wesley Briggs and Rick Wallis transferred by provisional.
Rookie of the Year contender Jeff Johnson and Kevin Patrick made up the front row as the field took to the track for the A feature. The track was very smooth and fast, but it was hard to get going, as several cautions plagued the field early in the race. A hard charging Shane Essary was forced to exit early, and on lap 4 an accident involving Jeremy Kelley, Jim Fulp, and Chuck Comer caused Comer to retire with heavy damage. Jeremy Kelley and Jim Fulp were able to continue, starting at the rear of the field.
There was a great battle for the lead with Kevin Patrick leading early, then Ken Essary taking the point for not even an entire lap, before getting passed by Leslie Essary. Leslie started on the 5th row inside, but was shown as the leader by lap six.
The remainder of the race was ran caution free until lap 20, when Jarrod Hilton had motor trouble and was unable to get completely off the track. Jim Fulp had steadily been making his way back through the pack and on lap 20 was running in 10th.
With 10 to go, Leslie Essary, Ken Essary, and Kevin Patrick were all able to hang on to their positions, with heavily contested battles on back. First time series runner Chuck Adams was able to finish in the forth position with his crate motor, Rick Lebow in fifth, and a hard-charging Jim Fulp was able to make it back up to 6th by the end of the race.
Chris Morelock is currently leading the 2008 Rookie of the Year battle, with Jimmy Bellamy, Jeff Johnson, Todd McIntrye, and Mark Penticuff rounding out the rookie field.
As always for the most current information on the Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series, visit www.Show-MeRacinSeries.com
Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series results
Friday May 2, 2008
North Central Arkansas Speedway
Hoosier Heat Race #1
Conner Ward
Jordan Holloway
Rick Wallis
Gary Chambers
Randy Galloway
Ron Johnson
Wesley Briggs
Country Dodge Heat Race #2
Kevin Henson
Ken Essary
Kevin Patrick
Jarrod Hilton
Burl Woods
Jeff Johnson
Mark Penticuff
Greenlawn Funeral Homes Heat Race #3
Jim Fulp
Leslie Essary
Jeremy Kelley
Don Cloyd
Roger Wilson
Todd McIntrye
Frank Tindle
Auto Express Heat Race #4
Rick Lebow
Shane Essary
Jimmy Bellamy
Chris Powell
Darrin Barton
Chris Morelock
Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply B Feature
Burl Woods
Darrin Barton
Randy Galloway
Todd McIntrye
Chris Morelock
Ron Johnson
Frank Tindle
Mark Penticuff
Wesley Briggs
Jeff Johnson
Roger Wilson
Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply A Feature
Ken Essary 55
Conner Ward 56
Jeremy Kelley 04
Shane Essary 115
Jim Fulp 00
Leslie Essary 5
Don Cloyd 30
Jarrod Hilton 11
Rick Lebow 33
Rick Wallis 3
Darrin Barton 60
Kevin Henson 15
Chris Morelock 25
Burl Woods 26
Jimmy Bellamy 59
Randy Galloway 44
Jordan Holloway 21
Wesley Briggs 28B
Gary Chambers 37c
Kevin Patrick 13
Chris Powell 29
Todd McIntrye 82
5-3-08 West Plains Speedway
SafeRacer.com Heat Race #1
Leslie Essary
Rick Lebow
Jeremy Kelley
Jordan Holloway
Chris Morelock
Todd McIntrye
Mark Penticuff
GRT Heat Race #2
Darrin Barton
Chuck Comer
Jeff Johnson
Burl Woods
Wesley Briggs
Gary Chambers
Rick Wallis
Morelock Racin Heat Race #3
Jim Fulp
Ken Essary
Randy Galloway
Don Cloyd
Jarrod Hilton
Conner Ward
Jimmy Bellamy
Dairan’s Towing
Shane Essary
Kevin Henson
Kevin Patrick
Chuck Adams
Dairan Hendrix
Frank Tindle
Ron Johnson
Race Brothers Farm and Home Supply B feature
Jarrod Hilton
Chris Morelock
Conner Ward
Jimmy Bellamy
Dairan Hendrix
Rick Wallis
Todd McIntrye
Frank Tindle
Ron Johnson
Wesley Briggs
Mark Penticuff
Gary Chambers
Race Brothers Farm and Home Supply A feature
Leslie Essary 5
Ken Essary 55
Kevin Patrick 13
Chuck Adams 99 (crate motor)
Rick Lebow 33
Jim Fulp 00
Conner Ward 56
Kevin Henson 13
Rick Wallis 3
Burl Woods 26
Jordan Holloway 26
Don Cloyd 30
Darrin Barton 60
Jeremy Kelley 04
Chris Morelock 25b
Randy Galloway 44r
Jeff Johnson 16
Jarrod Hilton 11
Wesley Briggs 28b
Jimmy Bellamy 59
Chuck Comer 83
Shane Essary 115
Contingency Awards
Dairan’s Towing
$50 to the first person that fails to qualify for the A – Todd McIntrye
GRT Race Cars
$50 gift certificate to winner – Leslie Essary
$25 gift certificate to 13 – Darrin Barton
$25 gift certificate to 15 – Chris Morelock
Kluhsman Racing Components
$50 KRC gift certificate to highest passing point from heat – Darrin Barton
$30 KRC gift certificate to winner – Leslie Essary
Morelock Racing
$100 to 19 – Wesley Briggs
Raceway Ministries
Bottled water to 5 – Rick Lebow
