Monett Motor Speedway
Looney wins at Monett, takes MARS points lead
Brad Looney (14) earned $3,000 for Sunday's victory at Monett. He also took the MARS points lead. (Ron Mitchell)
MONETT, Mo. (May 29) — Brad Looney of Republic, Mo., led all 35 laps of the 11th annual Tony Roper Memorial on Sunday at Monett Speedway for his second career MARS DIRTcar Series victory and first since 2007.
Looney's $3,000 victory pushed him into the series points lead over six-time series champion Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., who finished fourth. | Slideshow
Justin Wells of Aurora, Mo., picked up the runner-up honors while R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, Ariz., was third for Poplar Bluff, Mo.-based car owner Steve Rushin. Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., rounded out the top five finishers.
Notes: Looney's Hatfield-powered Victory Circle Chassis is sponsored by Family Pharmacy, Federal Protection Inc., and Republic Glass. ... His previous MARS victory came May 5, 2007, at I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Mo. ... Drivers failing to make the main event: Eric Tinderholt, Jon Driskill, Dwight Niehoff, Jason Pursley, Jeff Floyd and Shane Essary. ... Next up for MARS is a June 3-4 trip to Oklahoma for events at Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker and Salina Highbanks Speedway. It's the first series trip to Salina since 2001.
Tony Roper Memorial: (1) Brad Looney, (2) Justin Wells, (3) R.C. Whitwell, (4) Terry Phillips, (5) Wendell Wallace, (6) Ken Essary, (7) Jack Sullivan, (8) Jesse Stovall, (9) Brandon McCormick, (10) Larry Jones, (11) Dustin Walker, (12) Tony Jackson Jr., (13) Leroy Johnson, (14) Rex Merritt, (15) Dustin Mooneyham, (16) Rylan Long, (17) Jeremy Payne, (18) Shane Harris, (19) Jeff Roth, (20) Jarrod Hilton, (21) Eric Turner. Heat race winners (among 27 cars): Stovall, Looney, Phillips, Essary. Consolation winner: Payne. Provisional starter: Johnson.
