By Steve Molnar

BYRAM, MS (September 18, 1999) - David Ashley knew that he was going to have to run a great race to complete his sweep of the O’Reilly Southern United Professional Racing (SUPR) features at Jackson Motor Speedway. Ashley was up to the task and the win stretched his championship point lead to 30 points with 3 races to go. After the race Ashley was quick to thank his supporters.

“I’d like to thank After Crash for all of their support. Donald Watson for his support and everybody, Doug Barton and all of the crew for standing behind me.”

Ashley headed a Warrior chassis sweep of the top 3 positions in the feature.

Ashley started the feature alongside his car owner Donald Watson. Ashley’s chief rival for the series championship, Duke Whiseant, a winner of 4 O’Reilly SUPR victories, started the feature directly behind him in row 2. Alongside of Whiseant in an A-1 Auto Salvage team car was Ronny Adams, a 6 –time tour winner this year. Throw in 4-time Mississippi State Champion Mike Boland and the red-hot Kenny Merchant on row 3 and Ashley knew he would have his hands full.

“I couldn’t make a mistake.”

Ashley was flawless early as he stormed around the bottom at Jackson Motor Speedway. Whiseant was close in line but it was Mike Boland who would make the final challenge.

As Ashley reflected after the race, “I seen the crowd cheering and I knew who was in second. I knew at that point Boland was behind me and then at one point, under caution, he pulled up beside me and I said to myself, of all the times in my life to make a mistake, now is not the time.”

And while Ashley was able to hold off the challenge from Boland, a late race caution had Ashley worried.

“The caution hurt me because it let my tire cool off too much. And when we went back (racing) the car wouldn’t track forward, it wanted to get too sideways and we struggled a little bit but it all worked out for the best. I just knew that Mike was going to be tough here, he’s always tough.”

Mike Boland started the feature 5th but feel back to 6th on the 2nd lap. He started his charge forward on lap 8 as he got by Ronny Adams and Donald Watson to move to 4th. He then got by Merchant on lap 16 before chasing down the lead battle. Boland was able to grab 2nd on lap 23 but he was never able to work his way under Ashley.

“The car was real good. He was on the bottom and I was on the bottom and the only way I could pass him was if he missed up. I wanted to try him on the outside that last lap but I knew Merchant was there. David drives a good clean race and I drove him clean. I’m just glad I got second.”

Ashley started the race from the outside pole and shot to the lead from the get go. Despite two restarts, Ashley was able to duplicate his move to the front and once out front, Ashley was tenacious in defending the low groove. And yet, as the race got rolling, Kenny Merchant was proving that the top groove offered plenty of racetrack. Merchant was 5th after 1 lap and was up to 3rd on the 2nd lap. But that line was right up on the cushion and Kenny found out firsthand what happens when the cushion is jumped.

“We were pretty good just coming up on the top and the car was real tight and I got into the corner too hard and broke it loose. And when I did, I just slid up there and jumped the cushion and hit the wall.”

Despite the lap 8 contact that knocked off part of his rear spoiler, Merchant was able to continue.

But without the full use of his spoiler, Merchant was passed by Mike Boland on lap 16 before Merchant changed his line and found that the car ran better down in the low groove. “The car was a little bit too tight and when we knocked the spoiler off, it freed it up. We was good on the bottom.” He was able to work his way past Whiseant on lap 34 to finish 3rd.

In the early going it looked like Ashley and Whiseant were going to wage a one on one battle for the lead. Whiseant, who started 3rd, grabbed 2nd and held it for the first half of the race before Mike Boland moved by for second on lap 23 and later Kenny Merchant relegated Whiseant to 4th with 6 laps to go.

Thirty Late Models were on hand and Duke Whiseant claimed the GRT Top Qualifier award based on his performance in the 4th and final heat. Whiseant started 5th but shot to the front on the first lap to take the win. David Ashley, Mike Boland and Kenny Merchant claimed the 3 previous heat races. Ricky Ingalls and Bubba Mullins won the last Chance qualifiers. Jay Blair moved up 6 positions in the feature to claim the Lloyd Wild Jr. Logging Hard Charger award.


Official Results:
1. David Ashley
2. Mike Boland
3. Kenny Merchant
4. Duke Whiseant
5. Scott Slay
6. Ronny Adams
7. Wade Cleveland
8. Rusty Cummings
9. Jay Blair
10. Donald Watson
11. Larry Ritter
12. Dennis Duncan
13. Jon Mitchell
14. Dave Siegert
15. Bubba Mullins
16. D.G. Hawkins
17. Mike Bairfield
18. Rodney Wing
19. Dave Burkhalter
20. Darrin Dorsey
21. Richie Cauthen
22. Ricky Ingalls

For further information regarding the 2000 O’Reilly SUPR Series contact
Greg Holmes at 225-275-5040 or e-mail us at gholmes@suprracing.com.