Baytown, Texas (May 7, 2005) - Kenny Merchant continued his recent string of strong runs in his J.D. Caver/J&J Motorsports Keith Craft-powered MasterSbilt dueling with David Ashley and Jody Prince early before taking the lead on lap 12 and holding off all challenges to take the win in O'Reilly SUPR Late Model competition at Houston Raceway Park. Merchant's victory didn't come easy as he was on hand without his normal crew chief Beau Taylor and it showed early when Kenny lost his left front wheel during hot laps but once the racing began, Kenny was on program.
Merchant, who started fourth, used the first few laps seeking the best line around the big fast 3/8th mile Houston Raceway Park oval before going with the bottom groove and racing to the front on lap12. Merchant had to move by Jody Prince to take the lead but it was David Ashley who would prove to be Merchant's biggest challenger, running in second for much of the race but unable to move by Merchant, who would ease away to sizeable leads on long green flag stretches. Still when the last of four cautions waved on lap 38, Ashley was ready to make on last charge, but instead was left with having to hold off a pair of hard chargers, Jon Mitchell and Robbie Starnes.
Starnes started 18th after winning his heat race but failing to make the minimum weight and Mitchell who started 20th. Mitchell led Starnes through the field, reaching the top five on lap 19. They continued to race forward with Starnes never more than a car length behind Mitchell reached third on lap 31 and a pair of cautions, the first on lap 34 for contact between Jody Prince and Jason Ingalls in turn four when Prince's left rear went down and the second on lap 38 for a spinning John Ewell, had the pair in position to strike. It was Starnes time to move by Mitchell, running to the outside of Mitchell as they raced into turn three on the restart and by the end of the next lap Starnes had moved by Ashley for second. Starnes tried to reel in Merchant but the top appeared to go away and instead of battling Merchant for the win, Starnes was forced to contend with a rejuvenated Ashley.
Ashley was up to the task retaking second on lap 45 but with little time left to track down Merchant who pulled away to his third victory of the season.
26 O'Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand. Jody Prince, David Ashley, Kenny Merchant and Doug Ingalls took the heat wins while Brad Looney topped the last chance race. David Ashley was the B&K Underground Top Qualifier while Jon Mitchell earned the Creel Brothers Hard Charger award for passing 16 cars in the feature.
Official Results:
1. Kenny Merchant
2. David Ashley
3. Robbie Starnes
4. Jon Mitchell
5. Doug Ingalls
6. Patrick Daniel
7. Ray Moore
8. Robbie Stuart
9. Brad Looney
10. Ronny Adams
11. Jody Prince
12. Jason Ingalls
13. Ryan Fontenot
14. Shawn Brassfiled
15. Bill Gordon
16. Earl Whatley
17. John Ewell
18. Trey Beene
19. Adam Willis
20. Keith Mancil
Merchant, who started fourth, used the first few laps seeking the best line around the big fast 3/8th mile Houston Raceway Park oval before going with the bottom groove and racing to the front on lap12. Merchant had to move by Jody Prince to take the lead but it was David Ashley who would prove to be Merchant's biggest challenger, running in second for much of the race but unable to move by Merchant, who would ease away to sizeable leads on long green flag stretches. Still when the last of four cautions waved on lap 38, Ashley was ready to make on last charge, but instead was left with having to hold off a pair of hard chargers, Jon Mitchell and Robbie Starnes.
Starnes started 18th after winning his heat race but failing to make the minimum weight and Mitchell who started 20th. Mitchell led Starnes through the field, reaching the top five on lap 19. They continued to race forward with Starnes never more than a car length behind Mitchell reached third on lap 31 and a pair of cautions, the first on lap 34 for contact between Jody Prince and Jason Ingalls in turn four when Prince's left rear went down and the second on lap 38 for a spinning John Ewell, had the pair in position to strike. It was Starnes time to move by Mitchell, running to the outside of Mitchell as they raced into turn three on the restart and by the end of the next lap Starnes had moved by Ashley for second. Starnes tried to reel in Merchant but the top appeared to go away and instead of battling Merchant for the win, Starnes was forced to contend with a rejuvenated Ashley.
Ashley was up to the task retaking second on lap 45 but with little time left to track down Merchant who pulled away to his third victory of the season.
26 O'Reilly SUPR Late Models were on hand. Jody Prince, David Ashley, Kenny Merchant and Doug Ingalls took the heat wins while Brad Looney topped the last chance race. David Ashley was the B&K Underground Top Qualifier while Jon Mitchell earned the Creel Brothers Hard Charger award for passing 16 cars in the feature.
Official Results:
1. Kenny Merchant
2. David Ashley
3. Robbie Starnes
4. Jon Mitchell
5. Doug Ingalls
6. Patrick Daniel
7. Ray Moore
8. Robbie Stuart
9. Brad Looney
10. Ronny Adams
11. Jody Prince
12. Jason Ingalls
13. Ryan Fontenot
14. Shawn Brassfiled
15. Bill Gordon
16. Earl Whatley
17. John Ewell
18. Trey Beene
19. Adam Willis
20. Keith Mancil
