Here is what drivers had to say following Saturday night’s MARS Racing Series race at Lucas Oil Speedway for the season finale:
Terry Phillips — Winner: I don’t know about having an advantage from being around because I suck here normally. This is why I’m so excited! Haven’t won a Modified or a Late Model race especially Late Model in a long time. We hit something. We’ve been racing this Late Model a little bit more and kinda feeling it and kinda get in a rhythm of what we need to change. My Crew Chief Troy over there, he decided to make a call and it worked real well.
I’m pretty excited! I see why these kids get so damn excited. I usually just get out, but—.
Shawn Mann from Searcy, Arkansas. He helps out Kyle Beard, my son-in-law, and he’s got a boy that races, and I jumped in one of their cars once just for the fun of it. Man, it’s been on ever since. I really appreciate him. I think we’re going to do this a little bit more next year, get some more artillery together. I’m going on the Fun Tour next year, race wherever the hell I want.
I want to thank Andy’s Frozen Custard, Don Babb, he was here last night a little under the weather couldn’t make it tonight, Shawn Mann, Mann Motorsports, Chris Davis standing over there. He lets me come in his shop, and plunder through, and buy some sheet metal. Scott Bass been with me for a long time. This is weird I usually can name them off pretty good, but I guess I’m a little excited. Royal Jones, MVT, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Karst Industry, he come on board with me in my Modified this year. I mean he’s helped me out a ton and were friends. We went to driving school in 1985 together. That’s where we met and we’re back together. Valvoline, Daugherty Brothers. I’m even going to give a shout out to Greg Deatherage for giving me these fine glasses so I can see to win.”
Chris Simpson — Finished 2nd: “Yeah, we’ll take it. This last little stretch from last weekend to Fairbury to here we’ve been consistent. So our program is close. I feel like we just didn’t need those cautions. I had harder tires on than they did. Once I got rolling I was good. It just took too long to come back to me. Got into second there and just kinda had to ride it out.
Hats off to the track crew. I’ve been here for four times in the last month and that’s the best the track’s been. So I just want to thank them for all their hard work.
Thank all my sponsors. Randy Davidson Trucking. He’s here. He’s been a huge supporter of mine forever. Hoker Trucking, C&J Trucking, HG Equipment, Carmody Services, Hotrod Septic, Will Fisher. Just everybody who helps out, man. I can’t do it without them.
I really wanted to get this tonight. It’s my daughter Brinley’s birthday. It would’ve been really special to get $10 grand for her, but just want to wish her a happy birthday. We’ll drive all night and be there in the morning.”
Dallon Murty — Finished 3rd: “That was a fun race there. Congrats to Terry. It’s cool to see him win a race. He’s still got it. And congrats to Chris. I don’t know. We were good early and then probably chose a little too soft of a right rear there for the end. And the cautions really hurt me.
Thank all my sponsors. Zeb, Jonah, JD, Shannon, everyone that helps. I forgot a few people: Mimi, Rebecca, Papa Larry, and all my family, my mom’s here. Yeah, pretty good weekend.”
Dylan Thornton — Finished 8th: “The start of the year we didn’t really know what to expect. You know we went into it blind and we had a lot of bad nights that, I think, hurt us. The second half of the season we had a lot of speed. Unfortunately, the name of the game lately is we’ve been really fast just can’t quite finish the job. But all-in-all, man, we can’t complain.
Not going to say we had low expectations, but we didn’t expect a season like this being our first year kinda doing open stuff. We can’t complain. It was a ton of fun. We learned something new every single week and these guys are fun to race with. It’s always fun to go to knew tracks. It’s hard, but it’s fun to get to check out new places and stuff like that. Hopefully, we can do it again next year.
Of course, Ricky and Brenda Kay, I hate it for them we don’t have a car back here to take a picture with. They do so much to make this operation work. Tyson Gheer, man, he busts his butt on this thing every week and makes sure everything is always good to go. His girlfriend Megan comes and helps. Austin Hammond, he’s a new addition to us and been great.
All of our sponsors: Salty’s BBQ & Catering, Peterson Insurance, Kay Farms, Wheatland Autobody, Tyler Matzen Trucking, Vander Heiden Trucking, Hoker Trucking. Jeff Hoker does a lot for us. We wouldn’t be able to do most of the stuff we do without him. All our product sponsors: Performance Bodies, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Henry’s Headers, Dynamic Drivelines, Keiser Wheels, the list goes on. We couldn’t do it without everybody.”
Ryan Unzicker — Finished 19th: “We’ve been nervous as heck for the last couple weeks going into here. Just unfortunate deal there on the back stretch. I don’t know what happened. I just got pinched off. I don’t know.
I must’ve learned a little bit last week because I gave up a little bit too much, too soon there at Fairbury and I lost some points. I could’ve repaired the car and get back out. I wasn’t going to do that again. I made that mistake once and it wasn’t going to happen.
I just can’t thank my crew, my wife, my son. It’s a pretty special moment to win it twice. Small team. We just keep digging and praying that things go our way. The car’s had some speed all year. Big thanks to Bobby, Bobby Hamilton, Ben Gamblin, Maynard, all my crew guys back at the shop, ones that step in when we need them.
All my great sponsors. We got some here tonight. Tony Tecco with Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Josh and his family, Josh Fromme and his family with Mosquito Hero. It’s just an amazing deal that I got so many people behind me. Sorry, I’m tearing up.
Thank you, again. I just got a lot of great sponsors to thank. Low Voltage Solution, he came on a couple years ago. He actually bought me my first Longhorn and I can’t thank him enough. Ever since I got in those race cars I’ve been really well. Advanced Racing Shocks, Cory, he was here last night and at the test session on Thursday. Budda Bert Transmission hooked me up with some transmissions for this last couple weekends. Remtek Enterprises, RJR Transportation, KDM, Fuel Factory is my fuel brand. Can’t thank them enough. They’ve got an awesome project. Go check them out. El Paso Outdoor Center. There’s so many here, guys. Larimer Cows & Calves, Fairbury Fastener, FK Rod Ends, American Racing Wheels, Brucker Farms, Midwest Sheet Metal, Varsitee Screenprinting, Aftershock Decals, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services. Brad, I about forgot you, buddy. You were with me as well this whole weekend. Thanks for coming. There’s so many great people.
Longhorn, Pro Power, Advanced Racing Shocks. That’s what got the job done this Summer.”
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