Tippen claims first win of "07 while Merchant takes Triple A Diesel ArkLaTex Regional title and Ray Moore clinches 2007 O'Reilly SUPR Late Model National Championship at Champion Park!

Newcomer upsets SUPR foes at Paris
Story courtesy of Todd Turner DirtonDirt.com

PARIS, Texas (Sept. 20) — A modified driver with little Late Model experience, Wendall Bolden of Greenville, Texas, wasn't sure that making his first start on the O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing tour was such a good idea. He told fellow Texas driver Patrik Daniel he didn't want to be in the way against SUPR's veteran drivers. It turns out that Bolden shouldn't have been worried.

Making his SUPR debut in the first-ever series race at Paris Motor Speedway, the fourth-starting Bolden took the lead from polesitter Kyle Cummings of Minden, La., exiting turn two on the 25th lap and led the rest of the 40-lapper for a $2,000 victory. Ronny Adams of Greenwood, La., rallied from 10th to finish second while Cummings ended up third at the 10-year-old track, which hosted its first Late Model event of any kind. Gary Scott Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., and Daniel, of Wills Point, Texas, rounded out the top five in the caution-free event.

Bolden, who competes regularly at Paris and Devil's Bowl Speedway near Dallas, bought used tires from Daniel to compete in his first SUPR event. When he got a flat tire after finishing second in a heat race at Paris, Bolden bought a new right-rear tire for the feature and it helped him to victory.

Notes: Bolden's No. 28B is sponsored by Tony Bass Roofing, Quinlan Pest Control and Machine Works. ... SUPR points leader Kenny Merchant of West Monroe, La., finished sixth and holds a 218-point lead over second-running Kevin Sitton of Baytown, Texas, who was seventh. ... In SUPR's Barber Specialties & Liles Custom Homes East Texas Regional Points, Howard Willis wrapped up the miniseries by a single point over Sitton. ... Sitton has already wrapped up the ArkLaTex Regional Points and the 2008 SUPR Rookie of the Year crown. ... With the Oct. 11 event at Houston Raceway Park canceled, SUPR competitors wrap up the season at the 2008 Louisiana State Championship on Oct. 18 at Baton Rouge Raceway in Baker, La.

O'Reilly SUPR @ Paris Motor Speedway: (1) Wendall Bolden, (2) Ronny Adams, (3) Kyle Cummings, (4) Gary Scott Christian, (5) Patrik Daniel, (6) Kenny Merchant, (7) Kevin Sitton, (8) Howard Willis, (9) Lee Davis, (10) Ray Moore, (11) Allen Murray, (12) Jayson England, (13) Jodie Gooch. Heat race winners (among 13 cars): Davis, Cummings.

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.