Michael Herrington kicks off Sprint Car season with SCMP victory

Mendenhall , Mississippi ( April 4, 2003 ) – Michael Herrington avenged a pre-season loss to Terry Vidrine by leading all 25 laps to take the opening O’Reilly SUPR Sprint Car feature victory at Simpson County Motor Speedway.  Herrington started on the pole and quickly shot into the lead in his patriotically decked racer.

Herrington led all 25 laps in the feature but lapped traffic and a hard charging Terry Vidrine made it an extremely close finish with Herrington taking the win by a single car length at the checkers.  Harold Henderson and Darryl Hyde closely followed the lead duo across the line.  Shane Morgan rounded out the top 5.

13 O'Reilly SUPR Sprint Cars were on hand and 13 proved to be an unlucky number for several competitors as first Lincoln Gatwood took a rough tumble in turn 4 during hot laps.  The damage was too much for the new team to repair and their night was done.  Then defending O'Reilly SUPR Sprint Car Champion Butch David suffered terminal motor woes and he was unable to continue, his night finished before the racing got started.  Finally, Wesley Young snagged the berm in turn one as he battled with Billy Gunter for the lead in the first heat race.  Young wasn't able to recover and went for a wild flip.  Young managed to make the call for the feature but did so minus his damaged wing.  Young ran for a few laps before retiring for the night.

Billy Gunter and Michael Herrington shared the heat race victories and started side-by-side in the feature.  Herrington was quick to grab the point while Gunter slipped back.  Terry Vidrine shot to second with Darrell Hyde and Harold Henderson soon to join the battle.  The sole caution of the race waved on lap 4 when David Bryant slowed on the track.  Bryant was able to continue but he would park his Ford-powered sprinter before the finish. 

Herrington maintained a strong lead early but lapped traffic would slow his progress and the battle for the win became a 4-car run to the checkers with Herrington holding off Vidrine with Henderson and Hyde closely following - the four cars all nose to tail at the checkers.

Shane Morgan started 10^th and advanced up to fifth at the checkers to earn the Hard Charger award while Michael Herrington claimed the Top Qualifier award.

Official Results:

1.         Mike Herrington

2.         Terry Vidrine

3.         Harold Henderson

4.         Darrell Hyde

5.         Shane Morgan

6.         Bobby Ingram

7.         Glynn LeBlanc

8.         Wendell Magnon

9.         Billy Gunter

10.        David Bryant

11.        Wesley Young

12.        Butch David – DNS

13.        Lincoln Gatwood – DNS 

Heat 1:

1.                  Billy Gunther

2.                  Bobby Ingram

3.                  Wendell Magnon

4.                  Wesley Young

5.                  David Bryant

Heat 2:

1.                  Michael Herrington

2.                  Terry Vidrine

3.                  Darrell Hyde

4.                  Harold Henderson

5.                  Glynn LeBlanc

6.                  Shane Morgan

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