Willis ends 10-year drought with Houston victory
Story courtesy of Todd Turner DirtonDirt.com
(ronskinnerphotos.com)

BAYTOWN, Texas (May 31) — Capturing his first series victory in nearly 10 years, veteran Howard Willis of Dayton, Texas, led every lap at Houston Raceway Park in O'Reilly Auto Parts Southern United Professional Racing action. Willis, running the series full time in 2008 after concentrating on modified racing for several years, started on the pole and rolled to a victory worth $2,500. | Slideshow

Willis and fellow front-row starter Robbie Stuart of DeRidder, La., battled side-by-side the first three laps at the quarter-mile oval before Willis edged away. Rookie and home-state driver Kevin Sitton dropped Stuart to third on the fourth lap and began to put some pressure on his fellow Texan, never letting Willis get out of sight the rest of the way.

Sitton actually got past Willis on the 33rd lap, but a caution flew because of contact among the frontrunners and a lapped car, restoring Willis to the top spot. Willis completed his victory with Sitton in second for his third top-five finish in the last four SUPR events. Reigning SUPR champion Ray Moore of Shreveport, La., charged from his eighth position to finish third after using the high side in turns one and two. Stuart settled for fourth and Rob Litton of Alexandria, La., a three-time series winner in 2008, rounded out the top five.

Notes: Willis drove a Flynn Racing entry sponsored by Stuckey Enterprises and Day Motorsports. ... Willis last won a SUPR event on Aug. 7, 1998, at Thunder Mountain Motorplex in Rusk, Texas. The Texan's 20 career series victories rank sixth all-time and he owns a pair of four-victory seasons (1994, '96). He won at least one SUPR race from 1991-98. ... Texas drivers filled four of the top 10 finishing positions. ... The series takes a break until the June 20-21 O'Reilly Auto Parts Late Model Challenge, which pits all the O'Reilly-sponsored regional series against one another. The main event pays $7,500 to the winner.

SUPR @ Houston Raceway Park: (1) Howard Willis, (2) Kevin Sitton, (3) Ray Moore, (4) Robbie Stuart, (5) Rob Litton, (6) Kenny Merchant, (7) Allen Murray, (8) Kyle Cummings, (9) Lee Davis, (10) Michael Coleman, (11) Jason Trevathan, (12) Doug Ivey, (13) Richard Mills, (14) Jayson England, (15) Elizabeth Halpin Smith, (16) Jason Boyd, (17) Donald Watson, (18) William Kenney, (19) Bubba Jones, (20) Kyle Anderson, (21) Doug Begnaud, (22) William Butler. Heat race winners: (among 22 cars): Willis, Stuart, Litton.


Corporate sponsors of O’Reilly SUPR include: AFCO, Barber Specialties Inc., Bert Transmission, Brodix, BSB Manufacturing, Dura-Lite Racing Wheels, GRT Race Cars, Hinchman Uniforms, Hoosier Tire Southwest, J&J Motorsports, Keith Craft Inc., Larry Shaw Race Cars, Lile's Custom Home's, Master Vac, O'Reilly Auto Parts, PBM Performance Products, Peterson Aluminum, Trick Wild, Triple A Diesel Service, X-Treme Graphics and Wall 2 Wall Performance.