8/17/2023
Owosso Speedway
A History of the Masters of the Pros
Debuting in 2013, the Masters of the Pros has quickly been established as the preeminent event for Pro Late Models in the United States. Not only featuring one of the richest prizes for the Pro Late Models, and a crown jewel event on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, the winner receives the famous Green Jacket, like they just ran the course on the PGA tour.
The first event in 2013 would feature an $8000 payday to the winner of the event at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri. 28 drivers would take the green flag and 39 showed up.Prestige would land on the winners list of the event right from the beginning. Eventual NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott would win the inaugural event leading the final 43 laps after passing legendary Illinois-driver (and former winner at the Owosso Speedway) Eddie Hoffman. Former ASA/CRA Super Series Champion Chuck Barnes and eventual 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion (and 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion) Daniel Hemric would complete the podium.
In 2014 the event would return to Lebanon, Missouri for another $8000 payday. Anderson Bowen from Suwanee, Georgia would win the second iteration of the event. Just 16 years old, Bowen would perform similarly to Elliott the year before, leading the final 44 laps from 5th place on the starting grid. Dave Gentile, former champion of the USPRO Series in 2008 would come home second, his career best in the JEGS Tour, and Lebanon I-44 regular Matt Wallace was the last on the podium. Future Cup Series drivers Justin Haley and Harrison Burton would grace the top 10. Two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin would finish last car on the lead lap after leading the opening 17 laps.
2015 would see the event still in Missouri, but moved to July 4th weekend after the traditional May date was rained out. Current Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Xfinity driver John Hunter Nemechek would win big in the rescheduled event after a thrilling battle with Sterling Marlin. Marlin would fade the third late, getting passed by Matt Wallace who bested his runner up finish from the year before.
In 2016 the event would return to the traditional date, but would see Nemechek become the first repeat winner in event history. He would not be able to call it an easy victory after dueling with eventual runner up Trevor Noles. Bubba Pollard, a prolific winner in short track racing came home in the last podium spot.
2017 would see one of the local Lebanon I-44 Speedway competitors win in what would be the final running of the event in the Show-Me State. Cole Williams would lead wire-to-wire to claim the victory in what would be the most dominating fashion anyone would win the event. Multi-time JEGS Tour Champion Jack Dossey III and Cole Rouse.
The event would come to Michigan in 2018 as the event landed at Birch Run Speedway. Bubba Pollard would find himself two spots better than 2016 as he took the win. The laps were pushed to 200 and $10,000 was the new prize up for grabs with a new date in June. Former ASA/CRA Super Series Champion Johnny VanDoorn would finish second after several clashes with Pollard throughout the event, and Jack Dossey III would have a podium for the second year in a row.
The event would keep the $10,000 payday in 2019, but would move south the Memphis International Raceway, the largest circuit to hold the event at 3/4s of a mile. The former NASCAR Xfinity Series track would see the second repeat winner of the event as Bubba Pollard claimed his second straight event. Legendary Tennessee driver Willie Allen was the runner up, while current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series star Carson Hocevar was third.
In the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic the event would persevere, moving to the fourth different track in as many years as Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway played host to the event. Matt Craig from Kannapolis, NC would win this one over Bubba Pollard after his fourth podium finish in five years. Craig, a multi-time Champion of the now defunct CARS Super Late Model Series, would pick up one of the largest wins of his career and a $10,000 payday.
Last years edition of the race would be claimed by Willie Allen. Jake Garcia and Christopher Tullis were the podium for that addition.
After events filled with legends of stock car racing, NASCAR Champions, and future stars, the event moves once more to the Owosso Speedway. The event will continue it’s traditional $10,000 payout to the winner, along with the green coat. The event will run 184 laps to celebrate the 84th anniversary of the Owosso Speedway. This will be yet another marquee event at the Speedway, joining the richest Outlaw Super Late Model races in the country, the biggest Modifieds race in the country with the Hot Shoe 100, and of course, the season ending Owosso Nationals.
Article Credit: Chris Fobbe
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe
