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Memphis, Tennessee (April 12, 2002) - Steve Russell hammered the competition as the O'Reilly SUPR Late Models visited Memphis Motorsports Park for the first time since 1998. The event was delayed by an ill-timed rain shower that forced the MMP officials to scramble to prepare the track for competition. But scramble they did and when the grader proved difficult to handle, Craig Dunavan, a race fan from the stands who works with graders jumped into the fray and helped complete the job at hand.
Thanks to the hard work and efforts of the Memphis Motorsports Park officials, the show was underway at 10:00 p.m. And while the drivers found a slick surface to work with in the heat races, the feature proved to be worth the wait with multiple grooves and plenty of side by side action with the exception of one driver. That driver was Steve Russell. The Pontotoc Pirate started alongside the B&K Underground Top Qualifier Sam Patrick and shot right to the front with his Rick's Furniture/Jeff Cooley Trucking Chevy Monte Carlo GRT and he was able to stay ahead of the battle for second for much of the night, building a lead of a full straightaway ahead of David Ashley who was busy fending off the challenges of a half dozen cars.
"The track was still a little bit slick but during the race it got better." And while Russell appeared to have a lock on the field he felt his car was too tight for the track conditions. "The car was so tight that I could hardly get it around through their (the corners) and I just tried to get it too the slick stuff and it would free it up then I could could come back down straighter so I wouldn't have to fight it all the way around."
David Ashley made a late race charge to the front joining the top 5 on lap 29, moving to third on lap 31 and finally to second on lap 36. And yet Ashley felt he has a lot more racing in himself and is eager to show everyone he's going to be tough to beat. "Everything is in place. We've just got to get it clicking. It's been little silly things that have been getting us out. I don't think we showed our colors yet." But while Ashley had to wortk his way to the front he didn't feeel he had much left for Russell tonight. "Russell was good, he showed his colors toward the end. I really don't think we had anything for him, it's hard to say but he was good. But we're tickled to death. I thank Randy and Sherry Cook for everything that they do and Larry Shaw, J&J Motorsports and everyone involved. We'll go to Little Rock and see what happens."
Michael
Coleman, started eight but find an opening at the start and shot to third
by the end of one. "Well we started eight and I got a good
brake at the early part of the race and from that point it was about track
position. I had the wrong setup on the car and it got really really
loose" But Coleman fought the ill-handling car and brought it
home in third place. "Finally we get to finish one. I'd
like to thank Randy Welsh, Bill Day, my parents and RCI for all they do
and it was my crew chief's birthday (Todd Livingston) and I was trying to
win it for him." Kenny Merchant claimed the Lloyd Wild Jr. Logging Hard Charger as he passed 12 cars to finish in fourth place, passing Rodney Wing on the final lap to grab the spot after a fierce side-by-side battle that also included the surprising entry of Randall Chupp. Chupp and the Biscotti's Racing team were looking for a place to race as the rain kept them from their appointed rounds in the East. Chupp worked the top side of the track and appeared to be headed to the front, but so where plenty other drivers and a late race bobble relegated him back to a sixth place finish.
Marlon Wild, Sam Patrick, Tommy Surrett and Jon Mitchell claimed the heat race wins with Rob Litton and Tommy Ray notching the Last Chance victories. 30 O'Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand and a large crowd turned out and stayed for the action despite the inclement weather and the delay.
Official Results: 1. Steve Russell
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