Marlin, Barnes, Slone Top List of Second Group of Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144 Entries
Event Information – Entry List
2014 ARCA/Midwest Champion Ty Majeski to sub for Hoffman
Salem, Indiana (Thursday, May 21, 2015): Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS Officials have announced the second group of entries that have arrived for the Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144 event that will be held at Lebanon I-44 Speedway, located in Lebanon, Missouri on Saturday, May 30th, for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance. The 144 lap event will pay $8000 to win plus bonuses, making it one of the highest paying crate late model events in the country, plus the winner will be awarded a signature green jacket, similar to the one that is known for adorning the champion of golf’s Masters event.
Two time Daytona 500 Champion Sterling Marlin has entered to compete again in the event. Marlin, who competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, captured 10 wins with 216 top 10’s and 11 pole awards. Sterling’s first NASCAR win came in the 1994 Daytona 500 in the Morgan-McClure Kodak Oldsmobile backed that up with a 1995 Daytona 500 win. The 1983 NASCAR Rookie of the Year competed in 748 races in NASCAR’s top tier division. Marlin competed in last year’s event, leading the first 17 laps before being passed by Cole Williams. Marlin stayed near the front throughout the race until contact from another racer caused him to spin, placing him at the back of the field resulting in a 23rd place finish.
2004 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Chuck Barnes Jr. is entered driving for local car owner Kevin Crider. Barnes Jr. finished second in the inaugural Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144 in 2013 to winner Chase Elliott. Barnes Jr. is seeking his first JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win, but has five ARCA/CRA Super Series wins including the 2004 All American 400 at the Fairgrounds in Nashville.
2010 and 2012 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Late Model Champion Mike Slone has entered for his third straight Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144. Slone will drive a team car to Barnes Jr. with the help of Kevin Crider Motorsports. Slone came from his 18th starting spot last year to get a hard earned sixth place finish.
Several other CRA regulars have entered including Hunter Baize, currently second in ARCA/CRA Super Series points after three races and picked up his first series win last year at Columbus Motor Speedway. Other CRA drivers entered include Corey Deuser, a series winner in 2013, and a former feature winner at I-44, Cole Rouse who has also competed in several races at I-44 Speedway, veteran Ohio racer Mike Stacy and Van Doorn Racing Development Rookie drivers Kevin Zielezinski and Matt Mills.
A great group of local competitors have also now entered including current I-44 Late Model points leader JC Newell, also 2014 I-44 Late Model Champion Kaleb Allison who finished seventh in last year’s event, Brennon Willard, Payton Lucas, Jimmy Vanzant, Josh Woody, Joe Ross and brothers Kevin and Kyle Donahue.
Seminole, Florida’s Robbie Lyons has entered. Lyons has been competing with the CARS Super Late Model Tour in North Carolina and will make his JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour debut at I-44 driving for Chad Finley Racing. Chad Finley finished fourth in last year’s event.
TK Racing has announced that 2014 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion Ty Majeski will pilot that car in the Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144 now. Midwest veteran racer Eddie Hoffman was originally announced as the driver, but work obligations will keep Hoffman out of the seat for that event. Majeski was the winner of last Saturday’s Midwest Tour event at State Park Speedway in Wisconsin.
The above listed drivers join the already strong group of drivers already entered for the Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144 including Bubba Pollard, Matt Wallace, Cody Coughlin, Cole Williams, Dalton Armstrong, Justin South, brothers Marc and Jaxson Jacobs, Kody Evans, Austin Kunert, Quinnton Bear, Bret Holmes, Chandler Smith, Riley Thorton, and Jake Griffin. There are currently 35 cars entered for the Mercy “Masters of the Pros” 144, additional entries are expected to continue to arrive over the next week leading up to the event.
More information on Lebanon I-44 Speedway is available at the facility’s official website at www.i44speedway.net. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.
