7/12/2022
Midwest Wingless Racing Association
Pauley Moves On After Great Run As Competition Director With MWRA.
Effective Immediately: Competition Director Lonnie Pauley is stepping down from his post with the MWRA after guiding the club at the race track from 2020 to present. Stepping into that role also effective immediately will be Caleb Harvey who has been mentored by Pauley since last season, while also being the official score keeper of the club among his different duties. Coming in to assist with scoring as Harvey moves to CD will be the highly regarded Linda Howell of I-35 Speedway, who will help the MWRA during its Friday and Sunday Night programs for the rest of 2022.
“One of the Best In The Midwest”
Lonnie Pauley has been involved in racing in many capacities since the late 1970’s, and has gained the respect and admiration of the racing community during that time. Among his posts have been stints working with tracks that included Saline County Speedway in Marshall where he was president of the Missouri Sprint Car Association in the 1970’s. While later in the 1980’s Lonnie would become involved in the modified midget scene (micros) at tracks that included Sweet Springs, Warrensburg, and 65 Speedway in Sedalia where he co-promoted events with Bill and Joy Utz. After becoming a flagman at 65 Speedway in 1982 as well, Pauley found his favorite place all-time at a race track, the flag stand. In the 1980’s Pauley would also work with Emmitt Hahn at his race track, Creek County outside of Tulsa, and at the first 3 chili bowl events.
In the new Millennium, after spending some time away from his native Missouri, Lonnie would return to the sport he loved as a official with the WAR Sprint Car Series. While working closely at that time with the owner of the series, Casey Shuman. During his stint with WAR, and also POWRi from 2014-2020, Pauley became a noted pit steward and flag man, before coming to the USAC MWRA in 2020.
After joining the MWRA, Pauley collaborated well with first series founder Raul Romero, and later Shelby Manthe. Those relationships, and the team built around them at the track that currently features Dale Hogan, Chris Schofield, and Drake Barker, and the before mentioned Harvey, has made the USAC MWRA Sprint Car club one of the best open wheel series in the Heartland.
“A Lasting Legacy”
Head of the MWRA in 2022 Manthe had this to say about Pauley, “We would like to thank Lonnie Pauley as he ends his tenure with MWRA. We enjoyed working with him very much, and he will be deeply missed, but he helped lay the foundation that leaves us in a great spot for the rest of this season and beyond.” While Pauley wanted to express just how much he enjoyed working with the MWRA, and it’s participants, stating, “It was a great ride, but I’m ready to slow down a bit.”
Both the MWRA and Pauley wanted to express that this is a most amicable split. And comes about because it’s what’s best for Lonnie at this time. With Pauley stating he will continue to help behind the scenes if needed on occasion. While it also frees up his schedule to do some freelance jobs as they present themselves.
That will happen later this week, as Pauley will be back at his favorite place at the race track, the flag stand. This time, as he was earlier this season, working again for the USAC National Series as the midgets will run in the Heartland for the Chad McDaniel Memorial at Beloit, Kansas on Wednesday, and at Fairbury, Nebraska on Friday and Saturday night.
We wish you the best of Luck this week working with the USAC National Midget Series Lonnie. And appreciate very much everything you have done for the MWRA. Thank You??
Article Credit: Ray Cunningham
