Cousin Carl and Family Back in the Ozarks
Carl
Edwards was joined by many of his family, and all
of his friends in the Ozarks area of Springfield,
Missouri for the 22nd annual Racers Reunion January
31 at the Shrine Mosque. As a guest Edwards recieved
the royal treatment as City Police Chief Lynn Rowe
was on hand to honor the established racer from Columbia,
Missouri and to welcome him to his new honarary home
in Springfield, Mo. on behalf of Mayor Tom Carlson.
With a large crowd of fans Rowe proudly presented
Carl with the Key to the City. Shocked, Carl remarked
of how he was in town many years ago to attend a Prom
and never was offered anything like that back then
hinting maybe he had calmed down abit from then.
Reading the official document for the city of Springfield,
Rowe slipped in a remark or two about Carl's effort
of the now famous slide job he tried to put on Jimmie
Johnson at Kansas Speedway the Crowd roared with laughter
along with Edwards. The actual night was filled with
many witty remarks of days past, and funny stories
told on themselves. And others for the newest inductees
in the Ozarks Area Racers Reunion for 2009.
Inducted into the Pioneer catagory was Batesville,
Arkansas native Larry Shaw. Setting the stage for
Larry's achievements was 5 time series champion of
the O'Reilly MLRA presented by Lucas Oil Products,
Al Purkey. Al noted Larrys days have been filled with
many wins by various talented drivers, he considered
himself fortunate to have been in the winning catagory
driving a chassis built by Shaw, and said he wouldn't
have ever been successful without his friends help
and advice.
Accepting his award Shaw noted his ties in
the area was started years ago with his close friend
the deceased Julian Martin. Julian is the father of
NASCAR superstar Mark Martin. Their lives was dotted
from track to track in the start of Marks career,
which neither ever thought would develop to where
it did. Larry Shaw continued to show his appreciation
to the Midwest for accepting him as a chosen one for
the prestigious honor.
Larry's career has always been focused towards
the sport of auto racing constantly making it better
for the drivers and the fans.If building race car
chassis wasn't enough several years back Larry took
on the duties of re-building the Locust Grove Speedway.
After the task was done,the new name of the Batesville
Speedway was attached and it still remains today where
each year several prestigious races are held including
the Topless 100 and a Street Stock special that attracts
drivers from just about every state and including
Canada.
Shaw also stated his wife a couple of years
back, went through open heart surgery and healed to
good health from the thoughts and prayers of his good
racing friends, and now he is under the scope and
being treated for cancer and promised to fight it
with his might, and live long. He thanked everyone
numerous times for the award and reminded Larry Shaw
Chassis would be around for years to come. It will
celebrate 30 years this year in bussiness with near
4,000 cars being built and over 3,400 Feature wins
in the last few years.
Others accepting awards for the Pioneer Catagory
included Don Babb, Administrator of CMH Hospital in
Bolivar, Mo., Jim Sterling, longtime owner of the
Bolivar Hearld and Free Press along with journalism
preofeesor at Missouri University, Bill Allen, Race
Car Driver, Builder, Owner and currently Promotor
of the Bolivar Speedway as well as the Dallas County
Raceway, Harry Lightfoot, Previous promotor of the
Fairgrounds Speedway helping develop the crowd capacity
stands for the weekly racing program.
Legend Awards was presented to Terry Brumley, Late
Model racer from the 70's era with many wins to his
credit as a driver for himself and co racer with Larry
Phillips (decased), J.C. Newell Camdenton, Missouri
racer nicknamed the "Gentleman" for the
right reasons. J.C. and son Ben with his family have
been circling the ozarks for many years., Eddie Williamson
another racer with numerous wins in days past was
the first one to fly the DR. Pepper colors on a race
car in the area and the colors was usually found under
the checkered flag at the end of the race., finally
"Spunky" Bunky Long was also awarded the
Legends award for his efforts in the 60's and 70's
he continues today racing a smaller horsepower lawnmower
but with the same excitement.
