Lucas Oil Speedway
Moyer wins O'Reilly Challenge at Wheatland
From track and correspondent reports
Billy Moyer earned $10,000. (Chris Bork)
WHEATLAND, Mo. (June 21) — Hall of Fame driver Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., crashed the party at Lucas Oil Speedway and stole away with a $10,000 victory in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. In a clash of the regional O'Reilly-sponsored tours, the national touring driver started outside the front row and raced to victory on the 3/8-mile oval. | Slideshow
Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., representing the O'Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series, advanced two spots from his starting position to finish second in the All-Star event that drew 65 entries, mostly from the Midwestern tours. Wendell Wallace of Batesville (MARS) rallied from ninth to finish third while second-year Late Model driver Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo. (MARS/MLRA) and Jeremy Payne of Springfield, Mo. (MARS/MLRA) rounded out the top five.
Outside front-row starter Terry Phillips, Payne's teammate as well as a two-time MLRA champ and three-time MARS champ, outdueled the polesitter Moyer over the early laps to grab the lead on the 12th of 51 laps. But Phillips spun while trying to put a lap on Bill Frye just before the race's midpoint and had to restart on the tail. He returned to finish ninth while Moyer led the rest of the way.
Notes: Moyer's Victory Circle M1 Chassis is sponsored by Banner Valley Hauling and J&J Steel. ... Eric Turner, 12th in the Late Model feature, won the night's modified action. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Kyle Beard (MSRA), Justin Wells (MARS), Larry Clawson (MLRA), Rusty Dukes (MLRA), Jeff Floyd (MSRA), Billy Moyer Jr. (MSRA), Chris Smyser (MLRA), Bryant Goldsmith (MLRA), Joe Kosiski (MLRA), Dewaine Hottinger (MSRA), Ted Martin (NCRA) and David Turner (MLRA).
O'Reilly Challenge: (1) Billy Moyer, (2) Jack Sullivan, (3) Wendell Wallace, (4) Jesse Stovall, (5) Jeremy Payne, (6) Kyle Berck, (7) Jon Kirby, (8) James Ward, (9) Terry Phillips, (10) Chris Jones, (11) Ray Moore, (12) Eric Turner, (13) Bill Frye, (14) John Anderson, (15) Kenny Merchant, (16) Kelly Boen, (17) Dusty Johnston, (18) Delbert Smith, (19) Mike Wiarda, (20) Joey Mack, (21) Tommy Elston, (22) Steve Rushin, (23) Denny Woodworth, (24) Brandon McCormick, (25) David Turner, (26) Mark Burgtorf. Heat race winners (among 65 cars): Stovall, McCormick, Elston, Sullivan, Phillips. Consolation winners: Moore, Rushin, Boen.
