The story
Payton Looney turned the pandemic-delayed, one-day Show-Me 100 into a hometown breakthrough, reclaiming the lead on lap 20 and controlling the final 81 circuits.
The Show-Me 100 returned on July 18 after the COVID-19 pandemic moved it away from its traditional Memorial Day weekend. The 28th running became a condensed one-day program, with 48 cars completing qualifying, four heat races, two consolations and the 100-lap feature.
Looney swept his path to the pole by setting fast time at 15.537 seconds and winning the first heat. He led the opening seven laps before Shanon Buckingham took command on lap 8. Looney reclaimed the lead on lap 20, built an advantage as large as a straightaway and beat Kyle Strickler by 1.677 seconds.
Buckingham finished third, followed by Chris Ferguson and Ricky Thornton Jr. The $20,000 victory was the biggest of Looney’s career and made the 26-year-old from Republic only the second Missouri driver to win the state’s marquee Dirt Late Model event, joining 1999 winner Terry Phillips.