{"id":6527,"date":"2011-03-27T16:23:31","date_gmt":"2011-03-27T21:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100.24.212.105\/?p=6527"},"modified":"2023-08-08T16:32:02","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T20:32:02","slug":"mars-returns-to-thunderbird-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/divisions\/late-models\/mars-returns-to-thunderbird-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"MARS Returns to Thunderbird Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"
The martians of the MARS DIRTcar Series will invade Muskogee, Oklahoma’s Thunderbird Speedway for the first time in nearly a decade this Friday April 1, 2011.\u00a0 The Thunderbird Speedway is the largest track that the MARS Series will see this year and one of only a handful of true half-mile dirt tracks left in the country.\u00a0 Sallisaw, OK native Raymond Merrill picked up the the feature win the last time the series visited on June 21, 2002.\u00a0 This race, dubbed the ‘Azalea Nationals’ is\u00a0in honor of\u00a0the Azalea Festival hosted\u00a0by the city of\u00a0Muskogee every April.<\/p>\n
Driver’s expected\u00a0include 6-time MARS Champion Terry Phillips and\u00a0Jeremy Payne\u00a0of Springfield, MO; Brandon McCormick of Lebanon, MO; Jesse Stovall of Galena, MO; R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, AZ; Brad Looney of Republic, MO; Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, MO; 5-time MARS Champion Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR; Al Purkey of Coffeyville, KS;\u00a0Dewaine Hottinger and Jon Kirby\u00a0of Russellville, AR; Colton Dunlap of Muskogee, OK; Gary Christian of Broken Bow, OK; Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR; Leroy Johnson of Battlefield, MO; Shane Essary of Aurora, MO; Darrell Mooneyham of Verona, MO: Justin Asplin of Birch Tree, MO\u00a0and many more.\u00a0 Other drivers with MARS wins at the historic half-mile include Terry Phillips, Bill Frye and Leslie Essary of Crane, MO.<\/p>\n
Grandstand gates open at 6:00pm with hotlaps at 7:30pm and racing scheduled at 8:00pm.\u00a0 General admission for adults is $15, Seniors 65 and older are $13.\u00a0 Kids 11-17 are $5 and kids 10 and under are free.\u00a0 Pit gates will open early.\u00a0 Pit pass for adults is $30, Seniors 65 and older are $25.\u00a0 Kids 6-11 are $10 and kids 5 and under are free.<\/p>\n
Information regarding the Thunderbird Speedway can be found at\u00a0http:\/\/thunderbirdspeedwaymuskogee.yolasite.com\/<\/a>.\u00a0 The physical address is 1444 S. Cherokee, Muskogee OK 74401.<\/p>\n