Flyn’ Farmer 55 Set for Saturday May 9

May 5, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (May 5, 2026)—🏁ALL CLASSES 🏁

Saturday May 9 Midwest Sheet Metal presents the 4 State Dirt Late Model Series with the Flyn’ Farmer 55.The Late Model A Main will be paying $1,555 to win on this night & we will be honoring the Legendary Stock Car Driver Ken Essary from Galena Missouri. If you are a Race Fan you watched that iconic Yellow Dirt Car with the big Red 55 numbers fly around the dirt tracks across the Midwest from the 70’s all the way throughout the early 2000’s . Ken was not just a great Driver but he had a vision for the sport as he Co Founded the MLRA Late Model Series & later in 2004 founded the Show-Me Late Model Racin Series.

Thanks to Woodys Express Top Soil & Trucking for the added money to the Late Model Main Event .

🔥 Classes Racing Saturday 🔥

ALL METAL RECYCLING
Bombrs $155 to WIN

INDIGO SKY CASINO & RESORT
MW Modzs $355 to WIN

WHEELER METALS
Legends $355 to WIN

GUFFEY SERVICES HEATING & AIR
Front Wheel Drive $355 to WIN

ALL TRAILER SERVICES
B-Mod $555 to WIN

Thompson Equipment
MW Modzs B Class $255 to WIN

PEPSI
Full Bodies $355 to WIN

4 State Dirt Late Model $1,555 to WIN

🎟️ Grandstand Pricing 🎟️
Adults: $25
Seniors/Military: $23
Kids 6 through Senior in High School: $3
Kids 5 & Under: FREE

🎟️Pit Pricing 🎟️
Adults : $40
Kids 6-14 : $15
5 & under : FREE

⏰ Race Day Times ⏰
Pits Open: 3:45
Grandstands Open: 5:30
Driver Meeting: 5:55
Driver Cut-Off: 6:05
Hot Laps: 6:25
Racing: 7:00

🛻Don’t forget about the
OUTLAW Monster Trucks
& Dirt Car Racing
June 12 & 13 …..🛻☠️

🎂 Celebrate Your Birthday at Springfield Raceway! 🎂
If your birthday falls during race week, you receive FREE General Admission!

Come celebrate with us. Group discounts are available.

📺 Can’t make it to the track? Watch from home:
https://springfieldraceway.tv/

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/@SpringfieldRacewayYT

📍 Springfield Raceway
🏁 Saturday, May 9
🔥 WEEKLY RACING / ALL CLASSES

Tag your race crew and make plans to be here!

About Ken Essary:
Ken Essary became known as the Flyin’ Farmer during his racing career that spanned over 40 years. He and his wife Linna live on the family farm and continue to farm today.

Ken was born in 1946. Around age 10 he knew he wanted to be a racer after watching his uncle race at the Fairgrounds in Springfield. He didn’t get his first car until the age of 25 in 1971. At that time, there was only one class of cars, Late Models – Ken doesn’t remember how he did in his first outing, but he won the first A main he qualified for. In 1974 he won 18 out 20 events at Fayetteville Arkansas. Rolling through the 70’s Essary often raced 5 nights a week racking up 50 plus wins per season, collecting numerous track championships and wins in area special events.

In the 80’s he started traveling to some of the closer special events and was the USAC Rookie of the Year in 1987. In 1989 he was a co-founder of MLRA. Essary also founded the Show-Me Racin Series in 2004 in an effort to keep racing affordable and provide a way to get started in racing.

Some notable accomplishments:
2006 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee
2007 Ozarks Area Racers Hall of Fame Inductee
900+ Career A Feature Wins
1987 USAC Rookie of the Year
2 Time MLRA Champion
2 Time Show-Me Racin’ Series Champion
5 Time 4-State Dirt Track Champion
3 Time Arkansas Dirt Track Champion
2 Time Missouri Dirt Track Champion
Midwest Dirt Track Championship – Muskogee, OK
3 Time World Classic Champion – Van Buren, AR

Even with all the accomplishments of his own racing career, one the greatest contributions that Essary made to the sport is the help and support he has provided for area racers. For years, Ken’s race shop was the place to be for parts, fuel, tires, and advice. It would be hard to find a racer in the Ozarks that hasn’t been influenced in some way by Ken Essary.