By Steve Molnar
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (February 23, 2004) ? The O?Reilly Southern United Professional Racing (SUPR) Late Models will kick off its 15th season of hosting dirt track racing in the Gulf South with the 5th Annual Mardi Gras Nationals on February 27th-28th. The two-day event will feature two complete races for the SUPR Late Models with a 25-lap feature slated for Friday Night and a 50-lap feature on tap Saturday night.
Started in 1990 in an effort to preserve dirt late models in Louisiana, the series has grown to host 393 events across 8 states. This growth has been achieved with an eye on keeping dirt late model racing affordable. SUPR pioneered the creation of a spec motor package that has proven to be a viable alternative to the high-powered open motor packages since throughout the world of racing. This steel block, spec aluminum head and intake package has proven to be reliable and powerful.
The current King of the O?Reilly SUPR Late Models is Kenny Merchant of West Monroe, Louisiana. Merchant dominated the competition in 2003 recording a season-high nine victories en route to his first championship. In the process, the 11-year dirt late model veteran has climbed to number two on the all-time SUPR victory list with 28 wins. He trails Doug Ingalls of Longview, Texas, a three-time series champion that won the very first title in 1990 and who returned to full-time competition in 2003 with a sixth place finish despite a late start.
The fact that Merchant is back to kick off the season at Pike County Speedway is made even tougher for his competition as Merchant recorded his last victory at Pike County Speedway at the Jambalaya 100 back in November. Merchant has recorded five victories in the last 15 races at Pike County Speedway.
But Merchant isn?t the driver that has a proven track record at Pike County as Mike Boland, David Ashley, Rob Litton and Marlon Wild each recorded an O?Reilly SUPR victory last year at the 3/8th mile speed plant. Boland, the eight-time Mississippi State Champion from just across the state line in Cuba, Alabama, won the Mardi Gras Nationals opener last year and topped the 2002 Jambalaya 100. David Ashley, the 1999 O?Reilly SUPR Champion, topped the final night at the Mardi Gras Nationals last year and he?s a frequent winner at Pike County Speedway through his career. Rob Litton of Alexandria recorded his first Pike County victory and Marlon Wild of Springfield, Louisiana returned to victory lane with his victory in August.
Spicing the competition up even further is the surprise announcement that Ken Schrader would be taking advantage of an off weekend on the NASCAR Nextel Cup to join the competition at Pike County Speedway. Schrader, a frequent short track competitor will be returning to O?Reilly SUPR competition seeking his second career victory, having recorded his first SUPR victory at Devil?s Bowl Speedway in 1991.
The action will begin on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with the O?Reilly SUPR Late Models running a complete program with heat races, last chance races and the 25-lap feature. The O?Reilly SUPR Late Models will return on Saturday night with another complete program of racing with heat races, last chance races and the final 50-lap feature. The Saturday night racing will also begin at 7:30 p.m. The weekend will also include UMP Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks.
Come join us at Pike County Speedway where the racing comes alive at I-55. For additional information call the Pike County Speedway office at (601) 684-9230 or the O'Reilly SUPR office at (225) 275-5040.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (February 23, 2004) ? The O?Reilly Southern United Professional Racing (SUPR) Late Models will kick off its 15th season of hosting dirt track racing in the Gulf South with the 5th Annual Mardi Gras Nationals on February 27th-28th. The two-day event will feature two complete races for the SUPR Late Models with a 25-lap feature slated for Friday Night and a 50-lap feature on tap Saturday night.
Started in 1990 in an effort to preserve dirt late models in Louisiana, the series has grown to host 393 events across 8 states. This growth has been achieved with an eye on keeping dirt late model racing affordable. SUPR pioneered the creation of a spec motor package that has proven to be a viable alternative to the high-powered open motor packages since throughout the world of racing. This steel block, spec aluminum head and intake package has proven to be reliable and powerful.
The current King of the O?Reilly SUPR Late Models is Kenny Merchant of West Monroe, Louisiana. Merchant dominated the competition in 2003 recording a season-high nine victories en route to his first championship. In the process, the 11-year dirt late model veteran has climbed to number two on the all-time SUPR victory list with 28 wins. He trails Doug Ingalls of Longview, Texas, a three-time series champion that won the very first title in 1990 and who returned to full-time competition in 2003 with a sixth place finish despite a late start.
The fact that Merchant is back to kick off the season at Pike County Speedway is made even tougher for his competition as Merchant recorded his last victory at Pike County Speedway at the Jambalaya 100 back in November. Merchant has recorded five victories in the last 15 races at Pike County Speedway.
But Merchant isn?t the driver that has a proven track record at Pike County as Mike Boland, David Ashley, Rob Litton and Marlon Wild each recorded an O?Reilly SUPR victory last year at the 3/8th mile speed plant. Boland, the eight-time Mississippi State Champion from just across the state line in Cuba, Alabama, won the Mardi Gras Nationals opener last year and topped the 2002 Jambalaya 100. David Ashley, the 1999 O?Reilly SUPR Champion, topped the final night at the Mardi Gras Nationals last year and he?s a frequent winner at Pike County Speedway through his career. Rob Litton of Alexandria recorded his first Pike County victory and Marlon Wild of Springfield, Louisiana returned to victory lane with his victory in August.
Spicing the competition up even further is the surprise announcement that Ken Schrader would be taking advantage of an off weekend on the NASCAR Nextel Cup to join the competition at Pike County Speedway. Schrader, a frequent short track competitor will be returning to O?Reilly SUPR competition seeking his second career victory, having recorded his first SUPR victory at Devil?s Bowl Speedway in 1991.
The action will begin on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with the O?Reilly SUPR Late Models running a complete program with heat races, last chance races and the 25-lap feature. The O?Reilly SUPR Late Models will return on Saturday night with another complete program of racing with heat races, last chance races and the final 50-lap feature. The Saturday night racing will also begin at 7:30 p.m. The weekend will also include UMP Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks.
Come join us at Pike County Speedway where the racing comes alive at I-55. For additional information call the Pike County Speedway office at (601) 684-9230 or the O'Reilly SUPR office at (225) 275-5040.
