Merchant Triumphs at Champion Park

Photo courtesy of www.scottscustomart.com

By Bryan Wimberley
DirtonDirt.com correspondent

MINDEN, La. (April 10) — Polesitter Kenny Merchant of West Monroe, La., captured
his series-leading 54th career O'Reilly Auto Parts Southern United Professional Racing
series victory on Saturday, but he's had easier nights. Merchant overcame near
disaster in a heat race and held off Kyle Cummings in the main event for a
$2,500 victory at the quarter-mile oval.

Merchant, who borrowed a rear end from Ray Moore's team after a heat-race
accident, had an exciting duel with Cummings late in the race as the two broke
away from the pack with 12 laps remaining in the 40-lapper.

Cummings, of Sibley, La., got alongside Merchant on lap 31, and drove deep into
turn one on lap 33 as the frontrunners made contact. Merchant held on, though,
and a lap-33 caution set up the race to the finish. Cummings chased Merchant the
rest of the way, sticking a nose underneath with two laps remaining but settling
for second, just three lengths behind the winner.

Ronny Adams of nearby Greenwood, La., finished third while Ray Moore of
Haughton, La., and hometown driver, Allen Tippen rounded out the top five.

Merchant knows he was fortunate to keep Cummings behind him.

"Kyle is just great here at these places that you run right around" infield tire
barriers, said Merchant, who fought brake problems part of the race. "If you
have to run down around them, then Kyle is the man to beat.

NOTES: Merchant's Trak-Star Chassis has a Wall 2 Wall Performance Engines and
sponsorship from J.D. Caver & Co., J&J Motorsports, Bayou Fabricators and
Henry's Auto Salvage. ... The victory was Merchant's third of the last four SUPR
series races held at Champion Park Speedway. ... Kyle Cummings has finished no
worse than fourth at the last five SUPR events at Champion Park. ... The
checkered flag fell on the 36-minute feature at 11:28 p.m.; three cautions
slowed the action. ... Thirteen cars finished on the lead lap. ... Robbie Stuart
of DeRidder, La., was the hard charger of the race, going from 17th to eighth.
... Alex Ashley of Zachary, La., flipped his No. 9 in turn four on the 12th lap
to draw the first caution, but he wasn't injured. ... Another scary flip in the
second heat race sent Darin Patrick of West Monroe, La., on his roof as his No.
21 car rested atop the track in turn two. Patrick could not climb out
immediately, as track safety crew worked to get the car upright. Patrick was
uninjured, but done for the night. ... Drivers failing to make the feature: Jim
Bryant, Wesley Chandler, Mark McWilliams, Rusty Cummings, Wayman McMillan, Ron
Cavanaugh, Bob Ewell, Shawn O'Toole, Joey Couvillion, Bryan Sugg, Darin Patrick,
Timothy Culp and Heath Culp. ... Next up for O'Reilly SUPR competitors is an
April 24 event at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, Texas, the series visit since
'98, when Rusty Cummings was victorious.

SUPR @ Champion: (1) Kenny Merchant, (2) Kyle Cummings, (3) Ronny Adams, (4)
Ray Moore, (5) Allen Tippen, (6) Jeff Chandler, (7) Jody Prince, (8) Robbie
Stuart, (9) Bubba Mullins, (10) David Ashley, (11) Rob Litton, (12) Chad Thrash,
(13) Lee Davis, (14) Skip O'Neal, (15) Josh Danzy, (16) Kevin Sitton, (17)
Michael Coleman, (18) B.J. Robinson, (19) Chris Holley, (20) Jeff Gandy, (21)
Alex Ashley, (22) Paul Joyner. Heat race winners (among 35 cars): Prince, Adams,
Merchant, Thrash. Consolation winners: Stuart, Sitton. Provisional starters:
Joyner, Robinson.

*****
Corporate sponsors of O’Reilly SUPR include: AFCO, Bert Transmission, Brodix, BSB Manufacturing, Dirt on Dirt, Dominator, Dura-Lite Racing Wheels, GRT Race Cars, Hinchman Uniforms, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Master Vac, O'Reilly Auto Parts, PBM Performance Products, Trak-Star Racecars, Trick Wild, Triple A Diesel Service, Wall 2 Wall Performance, X-Treme Graphics

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