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Flippin, Arkansas (August 23, 2002) – Kenny Merchant pounced on Al Purkey’s misfortune and led a SUPR sweep of the top 4 positions in the O’Reilly Auto Parts MLRA/SUPR Challenge. Merchant driving the J.D. Caver/Goddard Performance/USA Truck Stops Keith Craft-powered Ford Mustang Warrior claimed his 5th O’Reilly SUPR victory of the season and his first in three visits to North Central Arkansas Speedway. Merchant started on the outside pole and quickly fell in line behind Purkey as they raced into turn 1. Merchant continued to pursue Purkey and as the race reached the middle stages Merchant felt his car was getting stronger and that he might be able to mount a challenge for the lead. “I felt like I was better on longer runs. I felt the car was better, I ain’t going to say he was getting no worse just felt like I was getting better the longer we ran. I felt that was my only shot. It got pretty good. It’s still not quite right, I mean it’s still a new car and doesn’t have but three races on it.” Merchant wouldn’t get a chance to find out as Purkey’s right rear tire began to go down soon after the race reached the halfway mark and Purkey would be forced to pit on lap 36, ending his hopes for the win. Purkey was obviously disappointed with the results of the race but took the bad break in stride. “The tire was going down for four or five laps. There wasn’t anything I could do about it just hang on. I was hoping it was going to build up some air but it was so flat it wasn’t going to do that. I think we had a good shot, I mean we was in the driver’s seat.” Purkey, the B&K Underground Top Qualifier was able to salvage a 12th place finish in the State Line Speedway/G&G Dozer Hatfield Racing Engines-powered Pontiac Grand Prix Larry Shaw. The race track proved to have two clear grooves working with the lead duo of Purkey and Merchant running the high side while Surrett, Mitchell and Vaughn all seemed capable of gaining ground running the low groove. Surrett was able to climb to second place running the bottom but ran out of laps before he could challenge for victory. “I didn’t expect to come that far. I felt like I was about the only car that could run the bottom there. Jeff Taylor told us earlier in the week when we come here to concentrate on the bottom and don’t worry what everybody else does, just concentrate on the bottom and you’ll win the race. If would have started on the outside in the heat race (a great battle with Merchant) it might have been a different story. To come from 8th to second, I’m happy.” Jon Mitchell was another driver with the clear message instilled in his mind, stay on the bottom and it allowed him to record a solid third place finish after starting 12th and then battling with David Ashley during the late stages of the race. “The car was better than I thought it would be. I thought I had something for Surrett there at the at end but I killed the motor down the front straightaway and fired it back up.” 25 Late Models were on hand. Rodney Wing, Al Purkey, David Ashley and Kenny Merchant won the heat races and Jason Bodenhammer won the GRT Dash featuring the Top 3 in points from the MLRA and SUPR. Al Purkey was the B&K Underground Top Qualifier and Alan Vaughn secured the Lloyd Wild Jr. Logging Hard Charger award after he started 24th and finished 5th. Official Results: 1. Kenny Merchant 2. Tommy Surrett 3. Jon Mitchell 4. David Ashley 5. Alan Vaughn 6. Shane Essary 7. Keith Craft 8. Jason Bodenhammer 9. David Turner 10. Mike Bowers 11. Gary Gorby 12. Al Purkey 13. Jason Snodgrass 14. Micah Gavin 15. James Ward 16. Jason McCormick 17. Jay Blair 18. Odie Green 19. Ryan Plaisance 20. Mike Koch 21. Rodney Wing 22. Terry Melton 23. Robbie Starnes 24. Joe Conway 25. Andy May
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