By Ray Cunningham
Osborn, Missouri:
Tonight the “Best in the Midwest” your USAC Midwest Wingless Racing Association Non Winged Sprint Cars take to the dirt track at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Missouri for race number one of the 2022 season along with other classes that include IMCA winged sprints. For the MWRA this is the 3rd season of competition after being founded in 2020 by Raul Romero.
Over that time period the MWRA has featured many of the best racers and races ran in the Heartland including 3 events at U.S. 36 all won by Wyatt Burks of Topeka, Kansas your 2020 MWRA Champion driving for the late Don Rumsey.
The Capital City driver will be back tonight to defend his streak at U.S. 36 in the Wyatt Burks Racing 11w. But will have plenty of competition that will include Wesley Smith of Nixa, Missouri racing the John Helm Racing/WSR Racing 12 fresh off a win last Sunday in the Hockett Tribute race. As well as a 2nd place run in MWRA points in 2021 behind Kory Schudy, while leading this USAC series with 4 feature wins.
Several other contenders tonight will include 3rd generation driver Chris Parkinson of Gladstone, Missouri. Parkinson was 3rd place in MWRA points for 2021 running his familiar and colorful 65. While veteran open wheel racer and teammate Chad Winfrey of Gladstone comes over to non winged sprints after being a champion in midgets to run for ROY honors this season.
Zach Clark from Olathe, Kansas, had one of his best seasons ever in non winged sprints in 2021 while finishing in 7th place in MWRA points, and now looks for his first victory with the series in 2022. While 2021 Rookie of the Year driver Xavier Doney of Odessa, Missouri driving the Doney/Lawson 74 got his first victory last year at Salina, Kansas, showing off this teenagers budding talents.
2020 MWRA most improved driver Dakota Earls, a 3rd generation chauffeur out of Independence, Missouri, has been steadily improving over his two years running sprints and looks to make another leap up the ladder after once again finishing in the top 10 in points in 2021 driving the Earls 15E. While his uncle Chad Tye, a veteran and former track champ at Valley Speedway where the MWRA will race Saturday night is always a threat. And Missouri’s Brian Scott Beebe a 5th place finisher in MWRA points during the inaugural season in 2020 is rounding back into form for 2022.
Tonganoxie, Kansas, has featured some excellent open wheel drivers during the last decade. Among them, 11th place finisher in MWRA points for 2021 Heath Murry a veteran of many racing classes will be on the prowl to advance his racing pedigree in sprint cars running in his second campaign in the fire breathing machines. While Buddy and former midget racing standout A.J. Gilbert also one of the “Tonganites” runs for ROY honors in 2022, along with Parkville, Missouri’s Justin “JJ Dyno-mite” Johnson.
Speaking of drivers named Johnson, Warren “Wojo Johnson of Overland Park, Kansas, will be running with the MWRA in 2022 driving for old “3-timer” Rick Smith, a 3-time winning car owner running in the WAR series. While Kansas City, Missouri, racer Tom Curran a champion in the micro division before bringing his talents to the sprint ranks a couple seasons back is showing great promise. Along with Wichita, Kansas, wheelman Spencer Martinez.
Veterans will enhance the MWRA lineup once again in 2022. Racing tonight in Osborn, Cody Baker of Lone Jack, Missouri driving for his Hall of Fame Grandfather Ted Hall will look for his 2nd win in the series after a impressive victory at Nevada, Missouri, in last years lid lifter. While 4th place in points in 2021 with MWRA Chad Goff, of Spring Hill, Kansas, the “O-Town Outlaw” Lance Silvers of Ottumwa, Iowa, 10th in points in 2021, and salty veterans Buddy Parker of Richmond, Virginia, and Chad Frewaldt of Kansas City, Kansas, may all be in attendance tonight for the first MWRA race in 2022. Followed by another showdown tomorrow night at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri.
Join us tonight for your USAC MWRA Sprint cars at U.S. 36 Speedway in Osborn, Missouri, for the first race of the 2022 campaign! Photography by High Fly'N Photos www.highfly-nphotos.com John Lee
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- administrator on Jun 03, 2022
- Article Date: 6/3/2022 by Ray Cunningham