As winter grows closer, and before the USAC MWRA banquet on Saturday night November 19th, we salute the top 20 drivers in points for the Midwest Wingless Racing Association. Now continuing on with positions 11th thru 15.
Number 11
Overland Park, Kansas, standout “Cool Hand” Luke Howard missed the first few races in 2022 with the MWRA after a breakout campaign in 2021. When he did come out to play, the results were just as spectacular, if not more so than last season when Howard finished 6th in points, and won his first MWRA feature at Bethany to take the Most Improved Driver award. In 2022 once again racing the Howard 2H under the tutelage and mechanical expertise of “Ole-Three-Timer” Rick Smith, Luke, a recent high school grad would win twice more in the MWRA at I-35 and U.S. 36. While also collecting 4 heat race wins to lead the series, and 5 top 10 finishes in 6 feature starts.
Number 12
The other half of the “Zach Attack” Zach Clark, of Olathe, Kansas, had a up and down season in 2022, but never lost the heart and desire to compete successfully after a 7th place finish with the series in 2021. This season Clark would fight his way into one of the coveted “Dirty Dozen” Top 12 spots after the last points race of the year at Valley Speedway. Among Zach’s results for 2022 with the MWRA were 4 top 10 finishes in feature events, a heat race win, and B feature victory at Bethany.
Number 13
Nobody worked harder to make the top 12 in series points than Tyler Burton of Independence, Missouri in 2022. Unfortunately after a crash in hot laps at the Helm Memorial during the final points paying event at Valley Speedway those dreams were dashed when the chassis of the Burton 03 received fatal damage to the chassis. The Burton’s would make every points paying program with the series in 2022. While Tyler would make 7 feature starts, including a impressive run at Bethany when the youngster from Harry Truman’s hometown transfered to the A in the 33 car field.
Number 14
After a lengthy decades long layoff from racing, veteran driver Buddy Parker of Wichita Falls, Texas, with a stop over in Richmond, Virginia, would return to the sprint ranks full time in 2022 with the MWRA to run the Weld & Parkinson Racing 93. This car, a tribute to the late Jerry Weld, one of the all-time greats of KC Racing, was just the tonic Parker needed to get his juices flowing once again. Buddy, a second generation sprint champ would make 6 feature starts with the MWRA in 2022, while Finishing a career best 10th place with the series at I-35 Speedway. One of the best shows of sportsmanship in the series this season came at 81 Speedway in June when Parker gave up his ride to title contender Chris Parkinson for the A feature. Parkinson would then take the 93 from the tail of the field to a 5th place finish allowing Parkinson to continue his fight for the 2022 championship.
Number 15
Lone Jack, Missouri’s Cody Baker driving the THR/Tribble/Baker Racing 9’s and 38’s has seen it all over the last two years competing in sprint cars, and life in general. Excellent starts to both 2021, and 2022, were thwarted for different reasons, but ending with the same unfortunate results. The resolve of this race team led by Patriarch and Hall of Famer Ted Hall a veteran owner, builder, and mechanic, of racing cars that have included Champ Cars, Super Modifieds, Midgets, Stock Cars, Sprint Cars, and Micros, has led to championships results that have included winning the Knoxville Nationals. And in 2022, a great finish to the race season winning the last three races in the MWRA for 2022. Including the final points paying show the Helm Memorial at Valley Speedway. And then following that up by winning both non points shows at the Missouri Nationals at US 36 Speedway.
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- administrator on Oct 24, 2022
- Article Date: 10/24/2022 by Ray Cunningham