Kenny Merchant extends point lead with victory at Boothill

Kenny Merchant extends point lead with victory at Boothill

Shreveport, Louisiana (March 22, 2003) – Kenny Merchant is quickly taking control of the 2003 O’Reilly SUPR Championship battle as he notched his first victory of the season at Boothill Speedway. The victory coupled with a pair of top 5 finishes at the Mardi Gras Nationals has allowed Merchant to build a 52 point lead over Kennith Crowe. Merchant driving the J.D. Caver/Bayou Fabricators/J&J Racing/Keith Craft Racing Engines Ford Taurus Warrior just felt that things went his way tonight. “We had a pretty good car tonight. We just dodged the holes and missed the wrecks and motor ran great. It worked out good.”

Merchant started 7^th and slipped to 10^th at the start but it wasn’t long before Merchant began to charge forward through the field, moving to 5^th by lap, then grabbing third on lap 8. Merchant grabbed the lead from pole sitter Rob Litton on a lap 12 restart as he first passed Odie Green for second in turn three and then drove by Litton fore the lead on the front stretch. Merchant led the remaining 37 laps to take the victory but not without a late challenge from Davis . And while Merchant claimed his car wasn’t perfect but it was strong enough to take the 20^th O’Reilly SUPR victory of his career. The win also moved Kenny into sole possession of 4th place on the All-Time SUPR victory list.

Lee Davis, put in the drive of the night starting 15^th, passing 13 cars to finish second. The run earned Davis the Lloyd Wild Jr. Logging Hard Charger award. Davis was happy with run in his Bison Auto Salvage/Performance Steel Buildings/PTS Racing Engines Pontiac Grand Prix GRT particularly considering the fact that the toe out in the car was knocked in an early lap tussle. But he also knew that it was going to be tough to get to the lead. “I done made all I was going to make. I couldn’t have done anything with Kenny. The car was good, we was running good and I got tangled one time and got the front end all knocked out. Once it got toed out it took me awhile, I could drive it but it was still darty and you had to be real careful around everybody because you didn’t know which way your car was going.”

James Ward also recorded a solid finish in third and the defending Late Model America/Ashley Brothers Rookie of the Year was tickled to record another solid finish. Still he feels that tire choice hurt him in the end. I was real good about midway through the race but for some reason when they threw that caution with 14 to go, I couldn’t get the front end to turn. It would just wash out on me.” Still Ward is excited by the performance of his Circle M Trailers/Jus’ Paw Pet Grooming/Jr.’s Quality Transmissions Keith Craft powered Chevy Monte Carlo Larry Shaw.

Rob Litton earned the B&K Underground Top Qualifier money started on the pole and led the first 12 laps before Merchant took the lead. Litton continued to battle up front slipping to 4^th at the finish. Litton was making his O’Reilly SUPR debut in 2003 in his new Brown’s Trucking/Wall2Wall Racing Engines Chevy Monte Carlo Rocket. David Ashley had a quiet night but still manage to move up to a fifth place finish at the checkers in his Thornhill Wrecker Service/Ace Storage/J&J Racing Chevy Monte Carlo Larry Shaw.

Odie Green recovered from a late race tangle with Rob Litton to finish 6^th followed by Ryan Plaisance, Garrett Durrett and Tommy Surrett (last car on the lead lap).

32 O’Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand. Ronny Adams, Rob Litton, Odie Green and Jon Mitchell won the four heat races while Ray Moore and Tommy Surrett took the last chance victories.

Official Results:

1. Kenny Merchant

2. Lee Davis

3. James Ward

4. Rob Litton

5. David Ashley

6. Odie Green

7. Ryan Plaisance

8. Garrett Durrett

9. Tommy Surrett

10. Kennith Crowe

11. Bill Gordon

12. Jody Prince

13. Butch Jenkins

14. Curt Lipsey

15. Ray Moore

16. Michael Hudson

17. James Flores

18. Jon Mitchell

19. Jim Burford

20. Allen Tippen

21. Ronny Adams

22. Jeff Chanler

Designed and Developed by Internet Advantage

Maintained by Weakside Productions