Merchant masterminds second Labor Day weekend SUPR win

GLENMORA, LA (September 5, 1999) - Kenny Merchant returned to victory lane at Thunder Valley Speedway as he jumped to the highside to pass Ronny Adams and David Ashley to take the win. The win was Merchant's second O'Reilly Southern United Professional (SUPR) win at Thunder Valley and also his 2nd win of the weekend. Merchant was quick to recognize those who have helped him this year. "I'd like to thank Jon Brunson with J&J Racing, J.D. Caver, Shelton Automotive, Riverside Kawasaki, Blockers Mobile Homes, Hossier and Warrior for all of their help."

After the race, Merchant said that his car worked better at the top of the track. "All night we done a little better on the top, even in the heat we won from the outside, we run all of the laps up to. This new car doesn't like to go down to the bottom and stop and go, it likes to stay rolling. We built it as a bigger race track car because we've been struggling on bigger race tracks." As for the pass for the lead he said "Ronny just gave the top up and I wasn't going anywhere so I just tried to make it work. I drove it a little harder up on the top and it stuck. We lucked up really."

Bill Avant grabbed the lead at the start and held for the first 5 laps when Ronny Adams was able to power by on the highside of the track. Adams continued to run the highside until the caution waved on lap 17 but David Ashley, who was running the bottom of the track, was running him down. Adams then moved down low to protect his lead when Merchant saw the opening and moved back to the highside to grab the lead and the win. Adams maintained 2nd ahead of Ashley and Diamond Dave Siegert as all three cars closed in on Merchant at the finish.

Adams explained his decision to move down to the bottom groove. "My crew told me on that caution to move down to the bottom and actually I think I got better on the bottom but I hadn't run there so I really didn't know what to do down there for a little while. I kept changing my line but I started picking up on Kenny there at the end. I needed another lap I think."

Ashley had the bottom groove working for him but once Adams moved down low he couldn't mount the type of charge he wanted to. "I could get in better than they could. He would brake me down so bad getting in I couldn't get off the way I wanted. Siegert was right there and I knew if I bobbled he was coming through." Ashley's 3rd place finish moved him back into the O'Reilly SUPR point lead with just 5 races to go in the season championship.

Eddie Taylor was the GRT Top Qualifier as he claimed the 4th and final heat race. Keith Craft, Bill Avant and Kenny Merchant claimed the remaining heat races. Jay Blair was the Wild Logging Hard Charger gaining 13 positions in the feature.


Official Results:
1. Kenny Merchant
2. Ronny Adams
3. David Ashley
4. Dave Siegert
5. Jay Blair
6. Eddie Taylor
7. Marlon Wild
8. Wade Cleveland
9. Duke Whiseant
10. Eric Courville
11. Keith Craft
12. Jon Mitchell
13. Ryan Fontenot
14. Steve Latson
15. Rob Litton
16. Donald Watson
17. Wayman McMillan
18. Paul Joyner
19. Kevin Watts
20. Bill Avant
21. Brian Deroche
22. Bubba Mullins