GREENWOOD, La. (Aug. 16) — Before Saturday's O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing feature at Boothill Speedway, veteran Texas driver Doug Ingalls presented Kenny Merchant with an embroidered checkered flag touting Merchant as the new all-time leader in SUPR victories. Then the 56-year-old Ingalls, making just his second start of 2008, went out and did his best to tie Merchant's mark. He nearly pulled it off.

Starting 11th, the 37-year-old Merchant rallied into second by a lap-27 caution, then made an outside pass of the leading Ingalls on the 30th lap and led the rest of the way for the West Monroe, La., driver's series-leading 43rd career SUPR victory.

The fourth-starting Ingalls, of Longview, Texas, settled for second followed by hometown driver Lee Davis, who started alongside Merchant in the sixth row. Gary Scott Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., and Rob Litton of Alexandria, La., rounded out the top five finishers. Polesitter David Ashley of Zachary, La., led the first seven laps, but a broken ring and pinion forced him out of the race and handed the lead to Ingalls on lap eight.

Notes: Merchant had overtaken the 41-victory record of Ingalls with his Aug. 2 victory at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. ... In Merchant's first career Late Model event, he finished second to Ingalls. ... Ingalls last won on the series on Sept. 5, 2004, at Louisiana's Champion Park Speedway. Ingalls won four SUPR races in 2004. ... Next up for SUPR competitors is a pair of $2,500-to-win Labor Day weekend events. On Aug. 30, the series travels to Greenville (Miss.) Speedway followed by an Aug. 31 visit to Champion Park Speedway near Minden, La.

O'Reilly SUPR @ Boothill: (1) Kenny Merchant, (2) Doug Ingalls, (3) Lee Davis, (4) Gary Scott Christian, (5) Rob Litton, (6) Ricky Ingalls, (7) Ronny Adams, (8) Jody Prince, (9) Jeff Gandy, (10) Mark Andrews, (11) Jason Ingalls, (12) Waylon Morris, (13) Tom Lorenz, (14) Kyle Taylor, (15) Allen Tippen, (16) Jerry Russell, (17) Doug Ivey, (18) David Ashley, (19) Kevin Sitton, (20) Robbie Starnes. Heat race winners (among 20 cars): Gandy, D. Ingalls, Ashley.


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.