Binky is back!

Binky is back! James Ward tops O'Reilly SUPR Late Models at Thunder Valley

Glenmora , Louisiana ( September 13, 2003 ) – James “Binky” Ward issued his declaration of independence with a stirring charge through the field to take his third victory of the season and more importantly his first as a car owner. “Any time you’re racing for somebody else, they’re in control that’s why I’m trying to do my own thing here and it couldn’t have started off on a better note. It didn’t look good in the heat or the consy but it all turned around for the feature and that’s the one that pays.”

Ward had recently been wheeling a GRT courtesy of Keith Craft but just felt it was time to get back in a Larry Shaw chassis. “I like to drive a car in and I don’t like to run one sideways and the Shaw will turn.” Ward purchased a Larry Shaw chassis from Randy Cook Racing with the help of Dan Ewing on Monday night and spent the week getting his new car together with the help of many of his friends and family. And as it turned out they still weren’t ready when they arrived at the track with minor engine repair on hand but with some help from Kenny Merchant and crew Ward was able to make the call. Still it was struggle in the early stages and Ward was forced to use a provisional starting spot to make the field. Despite all these obstacles, Binky was up to the task storming from 21^st to 1^st to take the win and keep alive his slim hopes for the 2003 O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship in his Keith Craft Racing Engines/Jr.’s Quality Transmissions /Scott’s Custom Art/Bailey’s Decal Ford Taurus Shaw.

The race started with David Ashley starting on the pole after earning the B&K Underground Top Qualifier award. Starting to his outside was Ryan Plaisance and it would be Plaisance out to the early lead with Ashley in second followed closely by Chris Wall who moved to third on lap four. An early caution waved for Brock Williams and on the restart, Ashley would spin in turn three with an apparent assist from Wall. As the race returned to green, Wall overtook Merchant for the lead with David Bryant, Ronny Adams and Rodney Sheridan in tow. Wall would hold the lead running the bottom groove until lap 27 when Kenny Merchant would take the lead. Wall‘s night would end lap 43 when he lost a driveline after a lift bar bracket broke. During that time Ward was made slow steady progress forward. He grabbed 10^th on lap 26 but now was stepping up the pace moving in to the top five just seven laps later. Ward was third by lap 36 and second by lap 38 and then into the lead on lap 46 of 50.

Kenny Merchant didn’t go down without a fight but Merchant’s outside groove left little room for error and a when Merchant looked down low his car just wasn’t as strong. “I kind of went down there and kind of halfway blocked for two or three laps, but I don’t know that just ain’t me. I’d rather go back to the top and get beat.” A slip in turn four saw Merchant nearly collect the front stretch wall as Ward went by into the lead. Merchant held on to second and is now just 83 points from clinching the 2003 O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship with four events remaining on the calendar.

Jon Mitchell, who started 13^th, was right in the middle of the fight for the lead with Merchant and Ward but settled for third. “I felt like we had something going away there. Some of the restarts we’d take off good and then some we’d just struggle.” Still Mitchell appears to have turned his program around with a string of string finishes that have moved him to 8^th in the title chase.

Ryan Plaisance ran a steady race after leading early to finish fourth and his performance moved him by Rob Litton and Doug Ingalls to fifth in place in the 2003 standings. 1998 SUPR Champion Rusty Cummings rounded out the top 5 with Dwight Falcon, Ronny Adams, Curt Lipsey, David Ashley (back to 9^th from the rear) and Doug Ingalls rounded out the top 10.

28 O’Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand. Chris Wall, David Ashley, Kenny Merchant and Ryan Plaisance won the heats with Phillip Cooper and Curt Lipsey taking the last chance races.

Official Results:

1. James Ward

2. Kenny Merchant

3. Jon Mitchell

4. Ryan Plaisance

5. Rusty Cummings

6. Dwight Falcon

7. Ronny Adams

8. Curt Lipsey

9. David Ashley

10. Doug Ingalls

11. Robbie Stuart

12. Rob Litton

13. Keith Craft

14. Donald Watson

15. Charles Nash

16. Billy McDonald

17. Chris Wall

18. Kennith Crowe

19. Jim Bryant

20. Brock Williams

21. Marlon Wild

22. Phillip Cooper

23. Rodney Sheridan

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