David Ashley clinches 2005 O'Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship with Deep South triumph!

David Ashley clinches 2005 O'Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship with Deep South triumph!

Loxley, Alabama (October 29, 2005) – David Ashley told his car owner Randy Cook that he’d be coming home with $5,000 and he proved to be a man of his word as Ashley collected the first place check at Deep South Speedway and in the process he clinched the 2005 O’Reilly SUPR Late Model Championship. Ashley who confesses to being a fan of the big South Alabama track felt he was due a victory. “We’ve run so good here only to see it taken away time and time again.”

Ashley started fifth in the feature in the Thornhill Wrecker/Serco/Wyatt’s Collision Center/Hawk Brakes Larry Shaw Monte Carlo powered by Wall2Wall Performance Engines and bided his time while Jody Prince set the early pace up front. Prince would lead until lap 41 when Ray Moore would move to the point as Prince slipped in turn four on a restart. Moore would slip in the same spot on a restart just three laps later and Ashley would take the lead. Ashley would lead the final seven laps to take the win.

Prince set the early pace and appeared to be heading toward a strong victory but his right rear tire began to fade and this proved to be his undoing as the slip in turn four was soon followed by a flat tire forcing Prince to make a dash to the pits for a change. And while Moore was solidly entrenched in second the battle for third would get intense with Ryan Plaisance stacking an early claim on the position only to slow and drop out of the race on lap 17. Ashley would claim third at this point but Marlon Wild would grab third on lap 38 only to see Ashley reclaim the position on lap 42, setting the stage for his run to the front.

Ashley credited a conservative early race strategy for his success. “Everybody was pushing there stuff pretty hard and I remember from last time we were here that people wore their tires out so I tried to save mine. Right there toward the end, once I got around Jody on that open green I saw that I was catching Ray and I said I can’t wait to get up there – we just need a caution and the caution came out.” Well actually two came out as first Brock Williams, Keith Mancil and Randy Little spun on the backstretch and then a yellow on the restart and unfortunately for Randy Little that caution quickly became a red flag as Little flipped his GRT entering turn three having been collected into a tangle of cars that included Nathan Ingersoll, James Gilmore and Keith Mancil. Little apparently launched over the front nose of Ingersolls’ car and landed on his roof. Little emerged from the wreckage but his car was not so lucky.

Following the first caution on lap 43 Moore made a slip in turn four but Ashley’s pass was negated due to the red flag for Little’s flip. The next restart saw Moore protect his line as the field raced back to the green but he was unable to repeat the feat the next lap and Ashley got by to take the lead and the win.

Ray Moore who challenged Prince through much of the early stages appeared to be in a strong position once he took the lead but the late race cautions doomed his chances for a win. Still Moore was able to maintain second to the checkers with Heath Oestricher, who started 10th making a strong run to finish third. B&K Underground Top Qualifier Phillip Cooper finished fouth with Patrik Daniel rounding out the top five followed by Shep Lucas, Jeff Chanler, Keith Mancil, Jody Prince and James Gilmore. Allen Tippen claimed the Creel Brothers Hard Charger award moving from 19th to seventh in the feature.

36 O’Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand. Ryan Plaisance, Ray Moore, Phillip Cooper, David Ashley and Marlon Wild topped the heat races with Jimmy Noland and Elizabeth Halpin Smith taking the last chance victories.

Official Results:

1. David Ashley

2. Ray Moore

3. Heath Oestricher

4. Phillip Cooper

5. Patrik Daniel

6. Shep Lucas

7. Jeff Chanler

8. Keith Mancil

9. Jody Prince

10. James Gilmore

11. Brock Williams

12. Curt Lipsey

13. Frank Wilson

14. Randy Little

15. Nathan Ingersoll

16. Jimmy Noland

17. Jason Ingalls

18. Marlon Wild

19. Mike Ladner

20. Larry Lee Cifra

21. Elizabeth Halpin Smith

22. Robbie Stuart

23. Ryan Plaisance

24. Stephen Brantley

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