SUPR Star 125 at Baton Rouge this Friday-Saturday

By Steve Molnar

BAKER, LA (August 4, 1999) - Magnolia Beach Plaza and Baton Rouge Raceway are proud to present the 5th Annual SUPR Star 125 – The Race with Pit Stops this Friday and Saturday night, August 6th and 7th at Baton Rouge Raceway. The SUPR Star 125 is the marquee event on the O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing Late Model Series, a 32-race dirt late model racing series running throughout Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.

The SUPR Star 125 race is a unique, one of a kind Dirt Late Model race, as it requires that all teams must change at least 2 tires during the race. This stipulation changes the focus of the race onto the entire race team.

As SUPR President, Greg Holmes states, "It used to be up to the driver but now the pit crew comes into play."

Last year's race was a classic example of the importance of the pit crew in the SUPR Star 125. Randle Chupp, of Knoxville, Tennessee was running second to Ronny Adams in the 1998 SUPR Star 125 when his pit crew was able to get his car serviced faster during the first round of pit stops. Chupp was able to take over the lead exiting pit road and went on to claim the victory. Other previous SUPR Star winners were Ronnie Poche in 1997, Ricky Ingalls in 1996 and the racing schoolteacher John Lovas at the inaugural SUPR Star in 1995.

Stars expected to contend for the victory this year include current O'Reilly SUPR point leader David Ashley, of Zachary, Louisiana. Ashley has claimed two victories this year on the O'Reilly SUPR Late Model Series and has claimed several track championships at Baton Rouge Raceway. Joining him will be Duke Whiseant, of Texarkana, Arkansas. Duke Whiseant has claimed 3 victories this year on the O'Reilly SUPR Late Model Series and is just 29 points behind Ashley in the championship point standings. Local favorite, Elizabeth Halpin Smith of Baton Rouge, who made history this year when she became the first woman to win a major dirt late model event when she claimed the O'Reilly SUPR event at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas, is also expected.

The action gets underway this Friday night with gates opening at 5:00pm and races starting at 8:00pm. Friday night's action will start heat races in the Pure Stocks, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks followed by time trails for the UMP Modifieds and the O'Reilly SUPR Late Models. The format for O'Reilly SUPR Late Model time trails is new this year in that the heat race line up will be determined by a combination of fastest lap and fastest pit stop. Once the time trails are complete, the UMP Modifieds and the O'Reilly SUPR Late Models will return with heat race action followed by the Mini Stock feature to cap off the night.

The racing continues on Saturday night as gates open at 4:00pm and the races gets started at 7:30pm. The UMP Modifieds and the O'Reilly SUPR Late Models will start the night off with the Last Chance races for non-qualifiers to determine the final starting positions for the UMP Modified feature and the SUPR Star 125. Following feature races in the Pure Stock and Street Stock divisions, the SUPR Star 125 will hit the track. The night will be capped off with the $2000 to win UMP modified feature, a race that is expected to attract the top UMP Modified competitors in the Gulf South.

Come join us at the Baton Rouge Raceway, the Fastest Family Fun in Town. Admission for adults is $12 on Friday night and $18 on Saturday night. Children 7-12 will be admitted for $3 on both nights and children 6 and under will be free. Baton Rouge Raceway is located just off Plank Road, 1 mile North of Baker. For additional information call the Baton Rouge Raceway offices at 275-5040 or on race day call the track at 774-2524.