SUPR "Star 125" win goes to Ashley

By Steve Molnar

BAKER, LA (August 7, 1999) - The O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing Late Model Series played host to the 5th Annual SUPR Star 125 at Baton Rouge Raceway and local favorite David Ashley, of nearby Zachary, Louisiana claimed the win. In a race billed as the race with pit stops, it was Ashley's crew that helped Ashley maintain track position. Ashley took over the lead for good on lap 45 when race leader Dave Siegert's ignition went out on a lap 44 restart. Ashley then held off a late challenge from Duke Whiseant to take the victory worth $7500. Ashley summed up the event, "It was one of them nights, everything seemed to be clicking, it worked out for the best."

Ashley set fast time in qualifying on a spectacular run that had the crowd on it's feet. The SUPR Star 125 had a unique qualifying procedure that required the crew's to change the right rear tire on the first timed lap combined with a standard qualifying lap. Ashley dove in aggressively onto pit lane and toted the left front tire exiting pit road. The quick tire change combined with the fastest qualifying lap earned Ashley a $100 bonus from Top Seal. Ashley won the first heat and earned the pole for the feature where he started alongside Donald Watson. Watson grabbed the early lead in the race staying up front until the first caution waved on lap 14 when Steve Latson, Rob Litton, Bubba Mullins and Jason Polite tangled. All but three of the cars pitted with Duke Whiseant being the first car out of the pits. Whiseant fell in line behind new leader Randy Blanchard, Kevin Watts and Randy Cook.

Blanchard's lead was short lived as he dropped out of the race 2 laps later. Kevin Watts set the pace up front until Whiseant moved by on lap 22. Whiseant held the lead until the second caution waved on lap 30 as Steve Latson slowed on the track. This time Dave Siegert's crew got him out of the pits the fastest and he lined up behind Eric Courville, Jason Polite and Phil Cooper. Polite led the next lap before Cooper took over and led until a caution waved on lap 41 for a slowing Elizabeth Halpin Smith. Dave Siegert grabbed the lead when Cooper pitted and he had David Ashley and Jay Blair in tow. Siegert led for three laps when the caution waved when Sam Patrick and Jason Polite tangled. Siegert's ignition failed on the restart and Ashley was able to get by without any major damage. Once out front Ashley was able to maintain a steady lead until Whiseant's late race challenge.

Attrition played a major role in the race as only 13 cars were running at the end of the 125-lap marathon. Ronny Adams dropped out on lap 64 with a broken rear end. Jay Blair had a solid run end late as he slowed with carburetor problems 19-laps from the end. Eddie Taylor brought out the final caution on lap 121 when his right rear tire went flat costing Taylor a solid 4th place finish. Taylor was able to make it back out and finished 9th, the last car on the lead lap. 27 Late Models were on hand. Heat race winners were Ashley, Watson, Whiseant and Courville while Ronny Adams and Steve Latson claimed the last chance races.


Official Results:
1. David Ashley
2. Duke Whiseant
3. Marlon Wild
4. Lonnie Covington
5. Wade Cleveland
6. Donald Watson
7. Randy Cook
8. Eric Courville
9. Eddie Taylor
10. Rob Litton
11. Kevin Watts
12. Phil Cooper
13. Sam Patrick
14. Jay Blair
15. Ronny Adams
16. Jason Polite
17. Richie Ginn
18. Elizabeth Halpin Smith
19. Dave Siegert
20. Chris Hoyt
21. Bubba Mullins
22. Steve Latson
23. Randy Blanchard
24. Ryan Fontenot