Jetmore, KS (June 5, 2010) – The Great American Dirt Track hosted the richest late model race in Kansas history by paying out a unprecendended $40,000 purse and it was John Anderson of Omaha, NE that took home the $10,000 top prize.
In an area dominated by sprint cars, 27 super late models checked into the pits for the two-day show. Representing the MARS DIRTcar Series, the O’Reilly NCRA and the CLMA DIRTcar Series.
Day one started with the draw and heat races that took the top 20 drivers from passing points to a qualifying 20 lap feature. The top 8 from the feature locked themselves into the 50 lap $10,000 to win feature. The rest would re-draw and heat race on night two. Jeremy Payne of Springfield, MO, Eric Turner of Springfield, MO, Terry Phillips of Springfield, MO, Kelly Boen of Henderson, CO, Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR, Kyle Berck of Marquette, NE, John Anderson of Omaha, NE and Eddie Kirchoff of Gillette, WY would be the top 8 qualifiers.
Day two would begin with the re-draw and heat races for the non-qualifiers from day one. After that, the top 8 from night one would run an eight lap dash to set the first four rows in the feature. The rest of the field was filled in by using passing points from the heat races. Turner would win the dash and start on the pole for the 50 lap feature. Track officials worked on the track prior to the feature to put more moisture in it, making the track heavy and hooked up.
Turner would get the jump on the field and lead the first lap, but then outside front row starter Payne would get a run on the highside out of turn two and overtake Turner to lead lap two. Payne’s lead was short lived as fifth starting Sullivan would take control on lap three and maintain the point until the races first caution would wave on lap 21 for Darrell Mooneyham of Verona, MO. Top five at this point was Sullivan, Anderson, Turner, Kirchoff and Boen. Using the double file restart, Turner took advantage of his outside starting spot to retake the lead from Sullivan. Turner maintained the lead until a caution on lap 26 for Bill Koons of Omaha, NE. Turner would take the lead on the restart, but the races third caution would fly for Al Purkey of Coffeyville, KS on lap 28. Top 5 on the restart would be Turner, Anderson, Sullivan, Kirchoff and Boen. Turner would get the jump on the restart and fend off challenges by Sullivan over the next few laps. Sullivan would get around Turner for the lead on lap 35 and appeared to be on cruise control as he opened up nearly a straightaway lead over Turner who was running in second. But it was not meant to be for Sullivan as disaster struck on lap 44 when he blew up his power plant on the front straight away. Turner would then inherit the lead, with Anderson in second, Boen third, Phillips fourth and Kirchoff fifth. On the next restart Corey Zeitner of Bellevue, NE would lose the handle of his car in turn one bringing out the yellow flag. Then on the races seventh and final caution on lap 46, Boen and Anderson would make contact in turn one that sent Boen spinning. Boen sustained a lot of front end damage and was unable to continue on. Setting up a four lap shoot out, Turner would lead the field to green with Anderson, Kirchoff, Phillips and Berck in tow. Turner would dive to the bottom in turns one and two, opening up the high line for Anderson who took the lead on lap 47 and held on to win the Sunflower State Showdown.
1st Annual Sunflower State Showdown official results: (1) John Anderson, (2) Eric Turner, (3) Eddie Kirchoff, (4) Terry Phillips, (5) Gary Christian, (6) Dean Moore, (7) Kyle Berck, (8) Shawn Harker, (9) Dustin Mooneyham, (10) David Brack, (11) Al Purkey, (12) Jason Schierkolk, (13) Corey Zeitner, (14) Bill Koons, (15) Scott Lewis, (16) David Garmann, (17) Leroy Johnson, (18) Kelly Boen, (19) Brad Looney, (20) Jace Kaser, (21) Jack Sullivan, (22) Jeremy Payne, (23) Steve Lewis, (24) Darrell Mooneyham, (25) Waylan Petrie, (26) Brad Wagoner, (27) Patrick Johnson
Heat race winners for June 5: Moore, Brack, Christian
