Phillip Cooper returns to victory lane at Many Motorsports Park

Many, Louisiana (August 29, 2003) – Phillip Cooper ended a long victory drought on the O’Reilly SUPR by taking the 40-lap victory tonight at Many Motor Speedway.  Cooper, who returned to Late Model competition two years ago, started on the outside pole and won the battle into turn one to stake claim to the lead from pole sitter Doug Ingalls.  Once out front, Phillip used the right combination of tires and well-timed cautions to lead the event flag-to-flag.

Cooper won his first O’Reilly SUPR victory in 1998 and appeared capable of recording more victories in time instead was forced to take off some time from racing before returning with an open wheel modified before a trade was struck two years ago that saw cooper switch his modified for a late model.  That trade paid off with Cooper returning to victory lane in weekly competition at several tracks and the occasional open show victories but it was the recent purchase on a new GRT Race Car that helped put him back in victory lane, that and the support of Hometown Mortgage and Chain Electric.

Ingalls went with a harder tire compound and this kept him from challenging until the tires warmed up.  Just as his combination was reaching its prime, a caution waved and Cooper was able to ease away on the lap 21 caution.  A final caution would wave on lap 32 and this set a final scramble that saw David Ashley move by Ryan Plaisance to secure third only to see Kenny Merchant make a last lap charge to grab third at the line.  Ashley finished fourth ahead of Rob Litton and Plaisance.  Marlon Wild finished seventh with Rusty Cummings, Odie Green and Donald Watson rounding out the top 10.  Kenny Merchant earned the Lloyd Wild Jr. Logging Hard Charger award for his run from 15^th to 3^rd.

25 O’Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand.  Doug Ingalls, Phillip Cooper, Ryan Plaisance and Rusty Cummings claimed the heat wins while Jody Prince topped the Last Chance race.

Official Results:

1.      Phillip Cooper

2.      Doug Ingalls

3.      Kenny Merchant

4.      David Ashley

5.      Rob Litton

6.      Ryan Plaisance

7.      Marlon Wild

8.      Rusty Cummings

9.      Odie Green

10.  Donald Watson

11.  James Ward

12.  Jody Prince

13.  Trey Beene

14.  Jon Mitchell

15.  Keith Craft

16.  Scott Taylor

17.  Tommy Surrett

18.  Mike Hines

19.  Lee Davis

20.  Butch Patton

21.  Curt Lipsey

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