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2011 MARS DirtCar Series Phillips Honored as 2010 MARS DirtCar Series Champion By Brian Garrison SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Dec. 11. As the MARS DIRTcar Series held its 11th annual championship banquet on Saturday at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Terry Phillips, of Springfield, recorded his sixth championship title as he dominated this year with a series best nine wins. The Hatfield Racing Engines "Rookie of the Year" honors went to Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla. After a recap of the season, Brian Garrison, MARS PR Director and announcer, started things off with the official unveiling of the new MARS DIRTcar Series
"I think we have the best deal going", stated Mooneyham. "We’ve got a good core of drivers here and next year". The top 10 drivers were recognized for their achievements. Drivers had to compete in a minimum 75% of the races to qualify for awards and point fund money with the top eight qualifying. 10th place went to Jack Sullivan from Greenbrier, Ark. driver of the #1 Triple A Diesel, Bryant Motorsports, GRT house car, Sullivan was in the championship hunt before taking off and running the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals. Ninth place went to Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., driving Terry Pannell's Rocket Chassis. Boen saw limited action with the series, but was able to get two wins, at Creek County Speedway in Kellyville, Okla. and at the Belleville (Kan.) High Banks. Eighth place was awarded to Dustin Mooneyham of Verona, Mo. After taking last year off due to motor problems, Moneyham committed to running MARS and rebounded very strongly. Seventh place went to 39-year racing veteran Darrell Mooneyham of Aurora, Mo. He was also the recipient of the 2010 MARS Sportsmanship award. Sixth place was claimed by Leroy Johnson from Battlefield, Mo., and fifth to Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan. Fourth place went to Gary Christian from Broken Bow, Okla., who, at age 16, also came home the 2010 Hatfield Racing Engines Rookie of the Year honors. Third place was awarded Jeremy Payne of Springfield, Mo. who, despite an up and down year, was able to find victory lane three times, at the Great American Dirt Track in Jetmore, Kan., and a month later at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Ia. His third and final win of the year was on September 18th at the Springfield Raceway for the Larry Phillips Memorial. Second place was claimed by defending Rookie of the Year, Eric Turner of Springfield, Mo. For the second straight year, Turner fell just short of knocking off Terry Phillips and adding his name to the short list of point champions for the MARS series. Turner picked up two wins this year with the first coming on March 12th at Clarksville Speedway and May 8th at Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker, Okla. Eric drives the Steve Rushin owned Shaw by Purkey #99t. First place went to defending point champion Phillips, who became a six-time champion and took home the $12,000 check and trophy for his efforts. Phillips also collected nine wins on the tour. Those came at 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kan.; twice at Monett (Mo.) Speedway, State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, Mo.; Springfield Raceway, I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.; Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.; Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., and at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Oktaha, Okla. Phillips drives the #75 Andy’s Frozen Custard, Don Babb Motorsports, Hatfield Racing Engines, New Vision Graphics, Integra Racing Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Vitatub, GRT by Phillips.
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The First Rankings of 2012 - Updated 02-21-12
A-Team Drivers from 1997-2011 (Click on link for complete rundown)
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