Jon Kirby
Beebe, Arkansas (7/17/09) – 2008 O’Reilly MSRA Kuntz & Company Rookie of the Year, Jon Kirby from Russellville, Arkansas added another accolade to his credential list on Friday night at Beebe Speedway in Beebe, Arkansas as he rocketed his way to his first ever O’Reilly MSRA Super Late win.
With twenty-four Super Late Models, representing five states, on hand, as well as a record crowd, Gary Christian from Broken Bow, Oklahoma earned the JFR Graphics Pole Qualifier Award for the 30 lap feature event after accumulating the most passing points in heat race action. He was flanked to his outside by fellow front row start, Jon Kirby.
As the field took the green flag, Kirby and Christian battled side-by-side into turn one with Dewaine Hottinger, Kyle Beard, and Billy Moyer Jr. in tow. Kirby would edge Christian by a couple of feet to lead the first lap as two and even some three wide racing reigned supreme throughout the field on the racy, ¼ mile oval. During the early stages of the event, Kirby would slowly creep away from the field as most eyes became focused on the incredible battle for the second position, which saw Hottinger, Christian, Beard, and Moyer Jr. battling in a tight nit group for the position. Christian would slip to the fourth position by the fifth circuit with Hottinger and Beard battling side by side for the second position. Beard would take sole possession of the position by lap six as he tried to make up ground on the leader, Kirby, who held a straight away advantage by lap 10 as he began to work lapped traffic.
At the race’s midway point, Kirby continued to maintain a comfortable lead with Beard in second, and Christian hitting his stride to retake the third position from Hottinger on lap 15. Hottinger would fall back to the fourth spot and into an intense battle with Billy Moyer Jr. for the position.
Lap 17 would see Gary Christian use a strong run in the middle of the track to overtake Beard for the second position as the pair exited turn four. Christian would begin to pursue Kirby for the top spot, but almost a half track and several lapped cars separated the duo. Kirby would go on to cruise to a comfortable win in the caution free event, which was the second straight caution free event at Beebe Speedway in 2009 for the O’Reilly MSRA Super Late Models. Gary Christian, Kyle Beard, Dewaine Hottinger, and Billy Moyer Jr. rounded out the top five in the final rundown.
The $2,000 win, which was the biggest of Jon Kirby’s career, made him the seventh different winner in the first ten events on the O’Reilly MSRA tour in 2009.
Justin Asplin from Birch Tree, Missouri received the Quartermaster Hard Luck Award after battling an ill handling race car all night.
Jon Kirby was the COMP Cams Top Performer
Heat races for the 24 car field, which represented five states, were won by Gary Christian, Jon Kirby, Dewaine Hottinger, and Shane Stephens.
Jeff Wells Jr. topped the 12 lap b-main with Randy Mitchell and Austin Rettig utilizing O’Reilly MSRA provisionals to start the feature event.
2009 O’Reilly MSRA Kuntz & Co. Rookie of the Year candidate, Austin Rettig was the Larry Shaw Race Cars Hard Charger after advancing from his 20th starting position to a 14th place finish.
The O’Reilly MSRA tour will compete in the second night of the weekend double header on Saturday, July 18th at Drew County Speedway in Monticello, Arkansas in The Commercial Bank Topless 30 Presented By Ryburn Automotive Superstore, which will be highlighted by a $2,000 to win/$400 to start, 30 lap event. For more information, please visit www.MSRADirt.com and www.DrewCountySpeedway.net .
The O'Reilly MSRA is sponsored by and would like to thank primary sponsor O'Reilly Auto Parts, their Associate Sponsors- GRT Race Cars, Hoosier Racing Tires, COMP Cams, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Quarter Master, Kuntz & Company, Mark Martin Auto Group, JFR Graphics, RiceTec, ASI Racewear, ROCKHARD Powdercoat, Inc., Boomland, NEA Supergas, and MSR Mafia.com Marketing Services; and their contingency sponsors - Suspension Spring Specialists, BSB Manufacturing, Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar Pizza, Five Star Bodies, Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, Schaeffer Oil, & FSR Products.
For the latest information on the O'Reilly MSRA Super Late Model Series, please visit www.MSRADirt.com
O’Reilly MSRA Super Late Models – July 17th, 2009
Beebe Speedway (Beebe, AR)
Feature Results
1. Jon Kirby (Russellville, AR)
2. Gary Christian (Broken Bow, OK)
3. Kyle Beard (Trumann, AR)
4. Dewaine Hottinger (Russellville, AR)
5. Billy Moyer Jr (Batesville, AR)
6. Shane Stephens (Arlington, TN)
7. Joey Mack (Benton, MO)
8. Jon Mitchell (Texarkana, TX)
9. Jeff Floyd (Walnut Ridge, AR)
10. Michael Murphree (Little Rock, AR)
11. Stacy Taylor (Jacksonville, AR)
12. Shane Diamant (Maumelle, AR)
13. Jordan Jones (Beebe, AR)
14. Austin Rettig (Sikeston, MO)
15. Jeff Wells Jr. (Trumann, AR)
16. Charlie Cole (Harrisburg, AR)
17. Terry Henson (Little Rock, AR)
18. Joe Long (Bryant, AR)
19. Justin Asplin (Birch Tree, MO)
20. Randy Mitchell (Muldrow, OK)
Entries: 24 (Representing Five States)
Heat Winners: Gary Christian, Jon Kirby, Dewaine Hottinger, Shane Stephens
JFR Graphics Pole Sitter: Gary Christian
Quarter Master Hard Luck Award: Justin Asplin
Provisionals: Randy Mitchell, Austin Rettig
Larry Shaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Austin Rettig (20th-14th)
COMP Cams Top Performer: Jon Kirby
Cautions: 0
Red Flag: 0
Leaders: Jon Kirby (1-30)
