Al Purkey once again tops O'Reilly SUPR/MLRA Challenge

Al Purkey once again tops O'Reilly SUPR/MLRA Challenge

by Pattie Frost

FLIPPIN, Ark. (June 7, 2002) - Friday night's action at the North Central Arkansas Speedway in Flippin Arkansas had the best of both O'Reilly Auto Parts sponsored Associations take part in the Twin Lakes Farm and Lawn 50-lapper. The Honorable Mayor, Mary Jane Erwin and Husband Tommie along with Mayor Erwin's Brother Dick Johnson and Wife Liz, make up the Team of Race Promoters at NCAS.

The other "team" providing additional entertainment was that of Kevin Fletcher the MLRA Voice and Race Director of SUPR Greg Holmes. Together these two had the Press box jumping leaving the Fans to think they were in-on a real "Bob & Tom Radio Show". Holmes, giving his insight about the SUPR bunch who had gathered, was really rather entertaining with stories and tribulations of his racers travels.

When it came to racing action, the former 3 time MLRA Champ, Al Purkey of Caney Kansas was not to be out-done as he steered the his G & G Dozer-Larry Shaw-Hatfield Racing Engine racer to victory in the caution-free 50-lapper.

Following in second was the 1994 Rookie of SUPR with 16 race wins to his credit, Ruston Louisiana Kenny Merchant. Merchant and his Ford powered-Keith Craft Racing Engine-Warrior, put the Merchant Motorsports rig in second from the git go and held a good position over MLRA's former Champ Alan Vaughn. Vaughn, took his championship contention to the limit as he powered up the Rocket-Smitty's Racing Engines-Helt's Turf Farm-Davidson Trucking-Super Clean Plumbing and Drain Cleaning sponsored racer to the front early-on to finish in third.

While this looked to be a one of theirs - one of ours (MLRA/SUPR) show the 2000 Rookie of the Year for SUPR, Rodney Wing of Meridian MS driving the Billy McDonald-Keith Craft powered-Rocket through it's paces for a good strong 4th place finish. MLRA's David Turner from Creighton, MO aboard the Adrian Bank-Scott Bailey Racing Engines-Centerless Grinding-Rocket dealt with the lapped traffic most of the night to hold on to 5th. SUPR's Rob Litton in from Alexandria Louisiana and his Wall 2 Wall Performance Engine-GRT-Monte Carlo finished in 6th.

No finer a show was the race from behind. Missouri's Jason Bodenhamer, lost an oil-cooler earlier in the night (during the heat race), having to tag the field at the start of the 50 lapper. Coming from the back of the pack to finish 9th in his GRT-Buzzard Racing Engines-Cannon Electric-Bodee's Race Bodies special. The 27 year old stand-on-gas, proved once more that it's no secret he's been in the top five MLRA Points since his winning Rookie of the year back in '99. Hard-luck of the race had to go to James "Binky" Ward aboard the Allen Crowe-Wall 2 Wall Performance Engines-GRT, towing in from Lettsworth, La., saw mechanical woes befall him early on.

Other highlights of the night:

Showing what was to come as they lined up for the Heat Race number 1, MLRA's Alan Vaughn on the champion trail for 2002 to the lead on the first circuit over SUPR's action stars, taking second third and fourth with Rob Litton, Kennith Crowe, and Ryan Plaisance (all from Louisiana).

More of the same action was found in the second heat as Rodney Wing in his Meridian Mississippi-Rocket powered out to the lead with Sheridan Arkansas's Mike Bowers leading MLRA's Al Purkey from lap one till the ninth circuit then with only three laps to go Purkey took over second having to settle for the bridesmaid spot as he scoped out the SUPR star's style.

The third heat at the 3/8's mile high bank saw Lebanon Missouri's Used Car Dealer, Brandon McCormick aboard his GRT, Mikes Motor Machine show his talent as the former Champion from Wheatland Raceway and Dallas County took his Daryl Capps Autosports-Precision Construction-Cordry Mobile Homes rig to the lead on the drop of the green. While SUPR's "Binky" Ward and MLRA's Racin Farmer, David Turner battled for second and third with Turner counting the laps down similar to Purkey, with three to go he moved into second for the night.

Not to be out-done, the fourth Heat lined up with the SUPR veteran Kenny Merchant from Ruston Louisiana driving the Billy McDonald Warrior with it's Keith Craft powered Ford followed by front row sitter Texarkana's Jon Mitchell in his GRT-Kenneth's High Performance-Pannell Motorsports-J&J Motorsports-W & W Timber-Askins Polaris-Cunningham Cleaners Phase II Graphics-AFCO-Huggins Cams racer who dropped in behind Merchant to cruise to second. Picking up the third place finish was the Warrior driven by Plaquemine Louisiana's Sam Patrick.

O'Reilly MLRA/SUPR Challenge Official Results:
1. 33 Al Purkey
2. c28 Kenny Merchant
3. 22 Alan Vaughn
4. 10 Rodney Wing
5. 15T David Turner
6. 6X Rob Litton
7. 77 Kennith Crowe
8. 15E Shane Essary
9. 2 Jason Bodenhamer
10. 6P Sam Patrick
11. R25 Ryan Plaisance
12. 5 Leslie Essary
13. 42 Brandon McCormich
14. 71 Jason Snodgrass
15. 5M Jon Mitchell
16. 18 Terry Melton
17. 15 Odie Green
18. 65 Mike Koch
19. 98C John Conway
20. 14 David Ashley
21. 2M Andy May
22. 60B Mike Bowers
23. 3J James Ward

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