Leslie Essary Takes the First Victory
By Clarissa Essary

WEST PLAINS MO. (April 7, 2007) - The Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series got underway Saturday April 7, 2007 at West Plains Motor Speedway. It was a chilly day but there was a great turn out of 25 late models in the pits. Don and Billie Gibson had the track in tip-top shape for the first race of the season.

The 00 of Jim Fulp started pole in the first heat race with the 5 of Leslie Essary to the outside. The green dropped and Leslie jumped out to the lead. Fulp had shock pin troubles and did not return back until lap 3. The 04 of Jeremy Kelly was running hard in second with the 6c of Heath Clausen of Norfolk, NE and Justin Asplin, 2007 Rookie of the Year contender, in the 7a battling for the fourth position. Leslie Essary in the 5 came away with the win with the 04 of Jeremy Kelly in second.

The second heat race of the day started with the 21 of Mike Madison on the pole. Justin Wells in the 10 battled though and quickly took the lead. The 5m of Tyler Milner and the F7 of Scott Fry raced hard for the second position but Milner managed to hold on to it. Wells in the 10 held on to first the entire time to take the second heat race of the day.

Ken Essary in the 55 and Roger Wilson in the 77 started on the front row of third heat. The 15 of Kevin Henson was coming on strong and applying pressure from the third position. The 11 of Jarrod Hilton, the 27 of Kenny Hartwigsen, and Chris Hawkins in the 99.7 were battling hard for the fourth position. The third heat ended with Ken Essary taking the win.

The fourth and final heat race of the day had the 6p of Chad Pyle in the pole position. The 28g of Jimmy Greenway went from last to second in four laps, applying pressure to Pyle. On lap 5 Rick Lebow in the 33 took over the second position and took first on lap 7. Lebow was able to hold on and take the win with the 6p Pyle in second.

The 6p of Chad Pyle would set the pace for the first A main of the 2007 racing season with Roger Wilson in the 77 to his outside. The green dropped and the 30 lap feature was underway. Wilson jumped out to lead the first lap with Pyle in second, and Greenway in third. Justin Wells in the 10 was coming on strong and by lap 9 he had taken the second position. Wells caught Wilson and took away the lead on lap 14.

The red flag would come out on lap 14 for the 28g of Randy Galloway who hit he wall in turn one. When the green dropped again, Wilson came back to take the lead. The 5 of Leslie Essary was moving up through the field applying pressure to Wells and Wilson. On lap twenty, Essary took away the lead. Only ten laps left in the race and everyone was racing hard for their positions. On lap twenty-three, Wells pulled off with of a flat. Essary managed to hold on and come away with the first victory of the 2007 Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series Season. The top five was the 77 of Roger Wilson, the 28 of Jimmy Greenway, Tyler Milner in the 5m, and the 33 of Rick Lebow.

We encourage all race fans to head down to the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Ok on Saturday evening April 14th for the second points race of 2007. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6:00 and racing at 7 p.m Admission will be: Pits $30 -- under 11 $10
Grandstand: Adults $10 Kids $3 ages 5-11 4 & under free. The Late Model “A” Feature will pay $1000 to win, $300 to start and there will be a $50 entry fee. Show-Me Racin Series members who do not qualify for the race will receive $100 and non-members will receive $75.

For more information on the Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series visit www.Show-MeRacinSeries.com  or call 417-880-9693.