Even the lights going out can't stop Kenny Merchant

Even the lights going out can't stop Kenny Merchant

Murfreesboro , Arkansas ( May 31, 2003 ) – Kenny Merchant returned to victory circle after a short Memorial Day Holiday away with a win tonight at Southwest Arkansas Super Speedway. Merchant, from West Monroe , Louisiana has now won 5 of the first 12 races on the 2003 O’Reilly SUPR Late Model schedule and in the process, halted a three drought after failing to win a single race during last weekend’s big three night swing through Louisiana . But don’t feel bad for Kenny, he still recorded 2 top 3 finishes and quickly bounced back from a major driveline failure at Fast Trax Motorplex. With the win, Merchant has increased his lead over James Ward in the O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship standings to 148 points.

This time Merchant had two major foes to overcome. First, the lights went out. Not once but on three different occasions. Thankfully the Southwest Arkansas Super Speedway crew hustled to get the problem fixed and the racing was able to get underway, albeit a little later than anticipated. Then Kenny faced a bigger foe on the race track as Ryan Plaisance, from Harvey , Louisiana jumped to the early lead in his Planet Beach Tanning Salons/Cajun Motorsports Keith Craft-powered Ford Taurus Rocket. Plaisance led the feature well past the halfway mark but Merchant was able to chase him down in his J.D. Caver/Bayou Fabricators Keith Craft powered Ford Taurus Warrior and Merchant was ready to seize the opportunity when Plaisance had a slight push on lap 35. Once out front Kenny checked out on the field to record the victory. Plaisance didn’t get the victory tonight but has now held the lead in the last two events and appears to have turned his program around.

Rob Litton continues to record a string of top 5 finishes in his Brown’s Trucking/Litton Motorsports Wall 2 Wall Performance Engines powered Chevrolet Monte Carlo Rocket. Litton won his heat race and was near the front of the pack for the entire race but was unable to close in on Plaisance and Merchant. Robbie Starnes is another driver that has reemerged as a threat to win each night out. Starnes won his heat race and finished fourth ahead of Doug Ingalls.

Trey Beene, Curt Lipsey, James Ward, Tommy Surrett and Jody Prince rounded out the top 10. 20 O’Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand at Southwest Arkansas Super Speedway. Ryan Plaisance, Rob Litton and Robbie Starnes won the heat races.

Official Results:

1. Kenny Merchant

2. Ryan Plaisance

3. Rob Litton

4. Robbie Starnes

5. Doug Ingalls

6. Trey Beene

7. Curt Lipsey

8. James Ward

9. Tommy Surrett

10. Jody Prince

11. Brent McGee

12. Keith Craft

13. Eric Conner

14. Shane Harris

15. Jon Mitchell

16. Bill Gordon

17. Odie Green

18. Jeff Chanler

19. David Ashley

20. Shane McCloud

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