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Kilgore, Texas (May 3, 2003) - Robbie Starnes survived an intense battle with Kenny Merchant to take his first O’Reilly SUPR victory since 1994 and his first victory in a Dirt Late Model since returning home to Texas in 1999. Starnes now driving for Tony Flynn got a chance to say hi to his car owner who is on an extended work assignment in India by reaching victory lane. In Starnes’ words, it “feels like my first win ever.” Driving a new Flynn Racing/New Vision Graphics/Afco Shocks & Springs/Wall2Wall powered Pontiac Grand Prix Larry Shaw Race Car, Starnes grabbed the outside pole position by dominating his heat race action and at the start of the feature race it appeared Starnes was ready to do the same thing. Starnes jumped out to a sizeable early lead over B&K Underground Top Qualifier Doug Ingalls. Ingalls was quickly forced to fend off the challenge from current O’Reilly SUPR point leader Kenny Merchant and they battled for several laps before Merchant was able to grab second. As the race reached midpoint it became clear that Merchant was cutting in to Starnes’ lead. The question was would he have enough time to catch him. That was answered with 10 laps to go in the 40-lap feature. Starnes was fighting his way through lapped traffic and Merchant, sensing the chance closed in to challenge for the lead. Merchant got his chance coming off turn 4 with 5 laps to go and he shot to the lead only to see the caution flag waving for debris on the track. So the race was restarted based on the previous lap running order with Starnes on the point. This time he was ready for the challenge and overcame Merchant’s final lap pass attempt, an attempt that almost worked as Merchant had the lead entering the front stretch but Starnes’ momentum pulled the #77 by for the win by a nose. Starnes felt he just missed the setup but could adjust for it on the track. “The car was real tight going in and I was just having to stand back in the throttle to get it turned but I couldn’t be smooth.” And the caution helped secure the win for Starnes who admitted that he didn’t know Merchant was that close. As for the final lap Starnes relayed that the track had a sweet spot in turn four and if he hit the corner right it would just launch the car down the front stretch. He hit it right on the last lap. 30 O’Reilly SUPR late Models were on hand at lone Star Speedway and Keith Craft, Robbie Starnes, Rob Litton and Ronny Adams led the early charge by claiming the 4 heat race victories. Darren Ellis and Donald Watson claimed the last chance victories. Official Results: 1. Robbie Starnes 2. Kenny Merchant 3. Doug Ingalls 4. Keith Craft 5. Rob Litton 6. James Ward 7. Tommy Surrett 8. Marlon Wild 9. David Ashley 10. Curt Lipsey 11. Odie Green 12. Trey Beene 13. Jon Mitchell 14. Darren Ellis 15. Bill Gordon 16. Donald Watson 17. Jack Ambern 18. Joe Wilhelm 19. Michael Coleman 20. Ronny Adams 21. Lee Davis 22. Bobby Russell 23. Ryan Plaisance
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