Special to the Phoenix
Defending the home turf, that what it’s all about for the local drivers – especially the in the Modified division — in the third annual Fall Brawl at Outlaw Motor Speedway.
In the previous two fall classics, visiting Modified drivers to OMS have had things pretty much their own way. Nick Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan., and Johnny Bone of Pea Ridge, Ark., won the first two Fall Brawl modified features and took home purses of $5,000 each. That outsider-winning trend has also been prevalent in the other special modified races this year.
“We need to defend our track like we’d defend our mother’s honor,” says Joe Duvall, this year’s OMS Modified points champions, known for speaking his mind. “This trend of foreigners coming here and winning has to stop.
“We need the purse money to stay right here in our own economy.”
What is basically the final big weekend of racing at the track starts at 7 tonight with approximately 150 cars expected for four classes of racing. Saturday’s program starts at 5 p.m.
After this weekend, there is one final event of the racing year, the 100-lap “Turkey Leg” Enduro on Nov. 21.
Duvall understands the task of going against Bone, Purkey and other regional notables such as Springfield, Mo.’s Terry Phillips, Oklahoma City’s Randy Timms and Siloam Springs, Ark.’s Jason Hughes, to name a few, but is undaunted by the challenge.
“I’ve never met anyone that cannot be beat, but it is going to take a lot of effort on the part of the local drivers to do,” Duvall says. “We’re going to have to go in there with the attitude that this is our momma’s house and they are going to have to knock down the door to get in.”
Muskogee driver Tate Cole wholeheartedly agrees.
“They’re the best. I know because I have been racing against them all year,” he said. “Although OMS is my track, me and Chad (his racing teammate Chad Wheeler) have driven in about 30 races around the country and we know we’re going to have to on our game to beat them.
“All the local drivers are going to have to step it up. It’s going to be a very, very competitive two nights of racing.”
Duvall said it is going to be a fun night for everyone.
“It’s going to be fun for the fans, the drivers, and even the kids,” he said.
In addition to the racing, Saturday’s activities will involve trick-or-treat activities for the kids.
Track manager Eric Shannon said of the anticipated 150-car field that 40 or more of those racing will be Modifieds. There is a $5,000 price for winning.
In addition to Purkey and Bone, other drivers with opportunities to duplicate wins – all OMS drivers – are Danny Womack, Haskell (360 Modifieds), and Hank Long, Stilwell (Grand Nationals) who won features last year.
