Trenton Berry and the newly formed Heartland Late Model Tour provided Terry Phillips an extra $1,500 following a scoring error resulted in an extra lap being run at Legit Speedway that allowed Tyler Kuykendall pass him and get the win.

Following a caution with four laps left in the race, Kuykendall started in third and ripped it around the top side to get around Sawyer Crigler for second. He then tracked down Phillips for the lead and was able to get around him on lap 31 of what was supposed to be a 30-lap feature. Kuykendall dove to the bottom of turn three and muscled Phillips up the track and then he beat him in a drag race to the line.

In a post to Facebook, Berry, who is the co-owner of the tour shared that there was a scoring error that caused the series to run an extra lap. He explained, “In the late model race at West Plains we had a yellow with four laps to go. On the restart we went an extra lap with the checkers falling on lap 31. Tyler Kuykendall assumed the lead, over Terry Phillips, coming out of turn four to the checkers. Kuykendall is the winner of the race, however Phillips led lap 30. We didn’t realize this officially until after payout was taking place.”

“Prior to our feature a car got into the backstretch wall and ripped the scoring loop out of the conduit and it could not be repaired during the program. So we had to score by hand and the ladies did a great job,” Berry elaborated. “We simply missed calling the white flag to the flagman at the proper time. This is not the tracks fault, scorers fault or flagman’s fault. The blame and responsibility to get it correct lies solely with Heartland Promotions. We screwed it up. I am incredibly sorry.”

From there Berry shared that he and the series paid Phillips an extra $1,500, “Myself, along with Gary Stolba called Terry last night and explained it all to him. I met TP this afternoon and wrote him an additional $1,500 check to cover the difference of what he lost from first to second.”

Berry then shared why he decided to pay Phillips the extra $1,500 despite the series’ rulebook stating, “If, for any reason, the race incidentally goes one (1) lap short or long, the race is officially over when the
checkered flag has been displayed, AND the leader crosses the scoring loop.” Berry wrote, “We have a rule in our rule in our rule book, 10.2.6 iii, which covers races running a lap short or long, but ethically paying Terry or any racer in a similar position is the only right answer.”

Berry also shared that Kuykendall will remain the race winner and will get full points for the win, “I don’t want any of this to diminish the drive toward the front from Kuykendall. He gave the fans all he had. He was paid in full and nothing on his end changes.”

StockCarReport.com has reached out to Berry to see if there was any changes to Phillips’ points or if he just received the extra $1,500. As it looks right now, he’s been given second place points for the race. The series awards 100 points for a win and 95 points for second. Phillips currently has 195 points according to the series’ website.

Phillips is the points leader after winning the series opener at Legit Speedway on Friday, May 15th. He has a 20 point advantage  over Scott Crigler and 32 point advantage over Sawyer Crigler, who are in second and third respectively.

The series takes this Memorial Day weekend off, but will be back in action at the end of the month at for a double header at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri on Friday, May 29th and then at Moberly Motorsports Park in Moberly, Missouri on Saturday, May 30th.

NEXT: Hunt The Front Super Dirt Series Cancels West Virginia Tripleheader Due To Rain