Humboldt Speedway
McCormick grabs $3,000, first touring victory
Brandon McCormick (42) battles runner-up Terry Phillips en route to victory. (Ron Mitchell)
HUMBOLDT, Kan. (May 6) — Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, Mo., notched his first touring Late Model victory Friday at Humboldt Speedway, earned $3,000 in an event co-sanctioned by the MARS DIRTcar Series and National Championship Racing Association DIRTcar Series.
McCormick, a semi-regular on the MARS circuit for more than 10 seasons, took the lead before the halfway point and held off challenges from reigning MARS champion Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., for his first series victory. | Sidebar | Slideshow
Phillips settled for second while Lebanon driver Tony Jackson Jr. was third. Eric Turner of Springfield, Mo., driving McCormick's backup car, finished fourth and track veteran Randy Zimmerman of Fort Scott, Kan., rounded out the top five. Jeremy Payne of Springfield, a teammate to Phillips, started on the pole but ended up 14th after a flat tire knocked him from contention. Brad Looney of Republic, Mo., was out front when a flat tire sent him pitside, handing the lead to McCormick.
Notes: McCormick's GRT Race Car is sponsored by Darryl Capps Autosports and Douglas A Richardson CPA. ... McCormick's best season performance with MARS came with a fourth-place finish in points in 2009. ... Brian Bolin won the night's feature for USRA-sanctioned modifieds. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Rex Merritt, Justin Hoepker, Brantlee Gotschall and Bill Koons. ... The MARS-NCRA weekend continues Saturday with a $2,500-to-win event at 81 Speedway near Wichita, Kan.
MARS-NCRA @ Humboldt: (1) Brandon McCormick, (2) Terry Phillips, (3) Tony Jackson Jr., (4) Eric Turner, (5) Randy Zimmerman, (6) Al Purkey, (7) Jesse Stovall, (8) Shane Essary, (9) David Turner, (10) Brad Looney, (11) Mike Collins, (12) Corey Zeitner, (13) Dean Moore, (14) Jeremy Payne, (15) Larry Jones, (16) Joe Kosiski, (17) Steve Kempt, (18) Leroy Johnson, (19) Shawn Harker, (20) Tommy Weder Jr., (21) R.C. Whitwell, (22) John Anderson. Heat race winners (among 35 cars): Whitwell, Looney, Jackson, Zimmerman. Consolation winners: Purkey, Turner. Provisional starters: Kosiski, Kempt, Johnson, Anderson.
