Tri-City Speedway
Phillips outruns Unzicker for sixth MARS victory
Terry Phillips (75) holds off Ryan Unzicker (24). (stlracingphotos.com)
GRANITE CITY, Ill. (Aug. 6) — Five-time series champion Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., stretched his MARS DIRTcar Series points lead Friday with a flag-to-flag victory at Tri-City Speedway. Phillips earned $3,000 for his sixth victory of the season and 73rd of his career, both MARS-leading marks.
Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., rallied from sixth to challenge Phillips but settled for second while ninth-starting Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan., was third. Mark Voigt of Marine, Ill., and outside front-row starter Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark., rounded out the top five.
Notes: Phillips drives a Hatfield-powered GRT sponsored by Andy’s Frozen Custard and Don Babb Motorsports. ... Phillips has four career MARS victories at Tri-City. ... Frank Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., finished eighth in the Randy Korte Motorsports No. 00; Korte is out of action after back surgeries. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Jimmy Dehm, Bobby Pierce, Matt Furman, Justin Asplin, Austin Rettig and Dewayne Kiefer. ... Next up for MARS competitors is an Aug. 7 event at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., in a weekend of racing at tracks promoter by Kevin and Tammy Gundaker.
MARS @ Tri-City: (1) Terry Phillips, (2) Ryan Unzicker, (3) Al Purkey, (4) Mark Voigt, (5) Billy Moyer Jr., (6) Tim Lance, (7) Craig Smith, (8) Frank Heckenast Jr., (9) Chad Zobrist, (10) Todd Hall, 11) Billy Laycock, (12) Eric Turner, (13) Rickey Frankel, (14) Jason McBride, (15) Brandon McCormick, 16) Rylan Long, (17) Gary Christian, (18) Tim Ratajczyk, (19) Wendell Wallace, (20) Dave Eckrich, (21) Jeremy Payne, (22) Leroy Johnson. Heat race winners (among 34 cars): Moyer, Smith, Payne, Phillips. Consolation winners: Ratajczyk, Heckenast.
