Donnie Barnhart returns to I-30 victory lane

Little Rock, Arkansas (August 23, 2003) – Donnie Barnhart jumped to the high side and grabbed the led on the second lap and then held off the competition to take his first O’Reilly SUPR Late Model victory since 1997 and his 6th overall with the series.  Barnhart, from nearby North Little Rock, Arkansas, clearly likes the 1/4 mile at I-30 Speedway as he captured his 4th O'Reilly SUPR victory at I-30 Speedway. Barnhart started on the outside of row two with his V-6 power plant and elected to try the outside cushion to power his way into the lead and the decision paid off as he was able to get the lead while the competition was jockeying for position on the bottom groove.  Once out front, Barnhart also elected to run the bottom of the track and from that position he was able to hold off all challenges.

The feature began with Rob Litton taking the lead with David Ashley challenging from the outside pole position.  Litton led the first lap but as the pair continued to battle for the lead a momentary bobble was all Barnhart needed to grab the lead from the outside.  Once out front, Barnhart was able to hold off all competitors including Jon Mitchell who came closest to taking the lead from Barnhart.  Mitchell started the feature from the seventh starting spot and steadily worked his way forward and was challenging Barnhart for the lead on lap 41 and drew even with Donnie when Donald Watson spun in turn three and negated Mitchell’s pass attempt.  When the race restarted Barnhart was able to hold off Mitchell to take the win.

Rob Litton earned the B&K Underground Top Qualifier award with a victory in the first heat race and held the lead early but was unable to get back by Barnhart and eventually finished third ahead of Rusty Cummings and Kenny Merchant.  With the fifth place finish, Merchant extended his lead in the 2003 O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship standings to 285 points over James Ward.  James Ward, now driving for Keith Craft, recorded a seventh place finish, one position behind his car owner as Craft drove to a sixth place finish in the #79 car of Ray McCullough.  Shane Harris, Cody Chisolm and Brian Holloway rounded out the top 10 with Garrett Durrett in 11^th.  Durrett started 22^nd and passed 11 cars to earn the Lloyd Wild Jr. Logging Hard Charger award.

23 O’Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand.  Rob Litton, Keith Craft and David Ashley claimed the heat race wins.

Official Results:

1.       Donnie Barnhart

2.       Jon Mitchell

3.       Rob Litton

4.       Rusty Cummings

5.       Kenny Merchant

6.       Keith Craft

7.       James Ward

8.       Shane Harris

9.       Cody Chisolm

10.   Brian Holloway

11.   Garrett Durrett

12.   Doug Ingalls

13.   Curt Lipsey

14.   Jody Prince

15.   Odie Green

16.   Jerrell Harper

17.   Donald Watson

18.   Tommy Surrett

19.   Eric Conner

20.   Terry Henson

21.   Richie Tosh

22.   David Ashley

23.   Ryan Plaisance

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