Harold Leep Jr. Memorial Saturday
4th Annual Tribute To A Great Man
John Lemon
OCRS Public Relations
Tulsa
Oklahoma (July 23, 2012) – The Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada, Oklahoma will
stage the 4th annual “Harold Leep Jr. Memorial” race this Saturday
night. Sanctioned by the Oil Capital Racing Series, this special event honors a
member of one of the all-time great racing families that have competed in the
region. It is a racing event that teams are not there just to collect points,
prize money or merely hang out amongst themselves. Not at all, those who will flock
to OSP for such a special occasion are doing so to pay honor and their respects
to a good man (and his family) who is well respected and admired by those who
knew him and by those who have heard all the many positive things he did for so
many in life. In the four years since his passing, Leep Jr. is as remembered
today as he was prior and Saturday night we will continue to recall what a
great man he was. As Harold would most certainly say himself” “Folks, its time
to go racing. Let’s load ‘em up boys”
Three
drivers have claimed honor in the HLJM and all of three have all done well in
their sprint car endeavors. Frank Dittman of Moore, Oklahoma won the first HLJM
in 2009. Dittman went on to claim a total of three OCRS wins that season. OSP,
Outlaw Motor Speedway in Oktaha Oklahoma and the famed 81 Speedway in Park
City, Kansas were the arenas Dittman laid down the law. Mr. Dittman was also the
2009 State Fair Speedway “Champ Sprint” titlist in Oklahoma City as well.
The
next season saw Tulsa’s Mike Goodman receive HLJM honors as he added yet
another marquee win to his stellar career. Goodman had to fend off Andy Shouse of
Oklahoma City and an ever improving Kyle Cobb of Choctaw Oklahoma for his HLJM
hardware. A three time OCRS champion (2004-05-07), Goodman has won numerous
feature events and championships in multiple sanctions and divisions.
Harold Leep Jr. poses with
his supermodified at State Fair Speedway
Last year saw a second Moore resident take the checkered
flag as the “Gasman”, Whit Gastineau, won a struggle between himself and
Norman’s Danny Jennings. It was a joyful and prideful win for the 2011 OCRS points
runner-up. Gastineau is no stranger to OCRS victory lane. Heading into the HLJM
event, Gastineau has parked in victory lane 14 times in OCRS competition. Owasso’s
Matt “Mongoose” Sherrell took third behind Jennings while Pauls Valley
gunslinger Gary Owens, who is also anticipated to compete Saturday night, took
fourth for the second year in a row. Owens is the defending champ sprint
Oklahoma State Champion and he will defend that crown at OSP in September.
The
HLJM has vastly become the “I must win this” event for many drivers. To have
your name associated with an honorable man as Harold Leep Jr is an
accomplishment many now cherish. A couple of quick mentions that would like to
take the 2012 running of the HLJM are Jamie Passmore and Danny Smith. Passmore
has won so many OCRS events he can hardly keep count including the last visit
by OCRS at OSP last month. This season, Passmore has tallied nine wins to date and
leads the “Goodyear Tire and Rubber / OCRS Championship” hunt. A HLJM victory
is now a target of the three-time champion. Smith, an OCRS loyalist since its
inception in 2001 when he started the series, has one of the four feature wins
Passmore didn’t obtain this year (Mid-America Speedway) along with multiple
other OCRS triumphs. The versatile driver from Sapulpa Oklahoma has this
weekend circled as well.
“Its
always tough when you think of your racing fraternity brothers and sisters when
they aren’t here in person,” said OCRS president Barry Grabel. “I know what
this event means to the Leep family. To understand their excitement when OCRS
and OSP brings everyone together to pay respect to Harold Jr. well…. to tell
you candidly, it is a proud feeling that we (OCRS) can somehow provide a way to
show the Leep family we will never forget our friend. There aren’t many
prolific families in the region as the Leep’s are, racing or otherwise” said
Grabel.
Other
drivers that will be looking to win such a prestigious event include: Fred
Mattox, Casey Wills, the Kent cousins Tim and Johnny, Rafe Essary, the current
2012 Brodix / PM-PRO rookie of the year front runner Alex Sewell, Kyle Clark,
Beau Gastineau and Michael Bookout just to name a few. The ominous OCRS winged
warriors are coming off a bye week and the teams are anxious to get back to
work and this Saturday night at OSP, the challenge to be the fourth recipient
of the HLJM or to be a repeat victor, will be an honor in which to compete.
TO ALL RACE FANS AND RACE
TEAMS………………….
As has been done the past three
seasons, lets all continue to join together as one to honor a man who
lived life with dignity, respect and honor. Ladies and Gentlemen, the 4th
annual Harold Leep Jr. Memorial is upon us. Here are the facts to make
note of for Saturday night:
WHAT:
4th annual Harold Leep Jr. Memorial featuring OCRS sprint
cars
WHERE:
Oklahoma Sports Park / Ada Oklahoma
WHEN:
Saturday July 28, 2012 / Gates open 5pm / Hot laps 7pm / Racing 7:30pm
OCRS drivers meeting will be held at 6:30pm
Oklahoma Sports Park is home to a 4/10 mile clay oval track and is
located just 10 miles northwest of Ada, Oklahoma on state highway 3W.
Track Phone: 580-332-5535
/ Promoters Phone:
580-332-5383
Track website:
www.oklahomasportspark.com
The Oil Capital Racing Series is supported by several associate sponsors
that contribute to the series. Please support these sponsors that
contribute to the very sport you have come to enjoy and let them know
you appreciate their participation in sprint car racing!
PM-PRO
Former OCRS winners at Oklahoma Sports Park
5.19.07: Mike Goodman
7.14.07: Chris Burns
9.22.07: Mike Goodman*
5.31.08: Mike Goodman
9.20.08: Danny Smith*
5.30.09: Frank Dittman**
9.19.09: Andy Shouse*
6.12.10: Mike Goodman**
7.10.10: Jamie Passmore
9.18.10: Whit Gastineau*
5.14.11: Whit Gastineau**
7.09.11: Whit Gastineau
9.17.11: Gary Owens*
6.09.12: Jamie Passmore
*Denotes date of Oklahoma State Championship event
** Denotes date of “Harold Leep Jr. Memorial” event
WWW.OCRSRACING.COM
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