Merrill Cracks Lucas Oil MLRA Victory Lane
Pocola, OK (April 27, 2013) – Raymond Merrill had a night to remember Saturday, at Tri State Speedway, in Lucas Oil MLRA competition. Behind the wheel of Wendell Wallace’s #6m, Merrill started on the pole and led all but one lap in the main event. On lap twenty-one, John Anderson moved in front of Merrill in lapped traffic. The pass was short lived however as Merrill took the lead back almost as quickly as he lost it.
“I hadn’t been in a car in seven or eight months, so it helps to make a few laps to get smooth,” stated Merrill. “Getting the lead was so important tonight. I knew it was mine to win or lose. We got in lap traffic, that’s kind of when my rust showed up a little bit.”
Second finishing John Anderson put together a solid night and credited Merrill with having the fastest car of the evening. “I got him in traffic, and he got me in traffic,” stated Anderson of the lead exchange. “We’ve been trying and testing a few things. It’s starting to come around a little bit. What we’ve put together with JRi Shocks, has really improved our program, and we’re really happy with the direction.”
Will Vaught ran as high as second in the feature, before settling into third. Jack Sullivan and Jesse Stovall filled out the balance of the top five.
Notes: The evening’s Casey’s General Stores Hard Charger award went to Brad Looney who rolled off twenty-third and finished seventh. With another top three run, Will Vaught took over the championship point lead. Merrill’s win is his first ever with the Lucas Oil MLRA. Both he and Wallace are planning to attend Sunday’s race at Thunderbird Speedway, but following the race Saturday, there was uncertainty as to who would drive the race car.
Tomorrow the Lucas Oil MLRA rolls into Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, OK. Originally scheduled for Friday, rain put a halt to the show. Racing will begin at 5:00 PM. Adult grandstand tickets are just $15.
4/28/13 Contingency Awards
Casey’s General Stores Hard Charger – Brad Looney (23 to 7)
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race – Chase Junghans
Performance Bodies Move of the Race – John Anderson
JRi Shocks – Jesse Stovall
KRC Top Qualifier – Raymond Merrill
KRC Hard Luck – Tommy Weder Jr.
Powertrain Industries – Tony Jackson Jr.
Eibach Springs – Raymond Merrill
BSB Maufacturing – Dustin Walker and Justin Asplin
Keizer Wheels – Travis Dickes
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Will Vaught
Weld Wheels – Eric Turner
Race Results
Lucas Cattle Company A Feature (30 Laps):1. Raymond Merrill (Sallisaw, OK), 2. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 3. Will Vaught (Crane, MO), 4. Jack Sullivan (Greenbriar, AR), 5. Jesse Stovall (Billings, MO), 6. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 7. Brad Looney (Republic, MO), 8. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 9. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 10. Shawn Knuckles (Poplar Bluff, MO), 11. Jon Kirby (Russellville, AR), 12. Justin Asplin (Birch Tree, MO), 13. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO), 14. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 15. Robert Baker (Bryant, AR), 16. LeRoy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 17. Tony Jackson, Jr (Lebanon, MO), 18. Chase Junghans (Manhattan, KS), 19. Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 20. Travis Dickes (Madison, NE), 21. Jerry Standifer (Howe, OK), 22. Brandon Morton (Broken Arrow, OK), 23. Tommy Weder Jr. (Woodward, OK), 24. Jake Davis (Hackett, AR)
Sunoco Race Fuels B Feature (12 Laps):1. Justin Asplin (Birch Tree, MO), 2. Robert Baker (Bryant, AR), 3. Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 4. Brandon Morton (Broken Arrow, OK), 5. LeRoy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 6. Shawn Knuckles (Poplar Bluff, MO), 7. Cliff Morrow (Enid, OK), 8. Brandon Cheek (Hackett, AR), 9. Brandon Hunter (Alma, AR), 10. Brad Looney (Republic, MO), 11. Mason Oberkramer (Brosley, MO), 12. Jason Redman (Sapulpa, OK), 13. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO), 14. Tommy Weder Jr. (Woodward, OK)
Lucas Oil Products Heat 1 (10 Laps):1. Will Vaught (Crane, MO), 2. Chase Junghans (Manhattan, KS), 3. Jon Kirby (Russellville, AR), 4. Travis Dickes (Madison, NE), 5. Justin Asplin (Birch Tree, MO), 6. Tommy Weder Jr. (Woodward, OK), 7. Shawn Knuckles (Poplar Bluff, MO), 8. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO)
Midwest Sheet Metal Heat 2 (10 Laps):1. Raymond Merrill (Sallisaw, OK), 2. Tony Jackson Jr (Lebanon, MO), 3. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 4. Jake Davis (Hackett, AR), 5. Jerry Standifer (Howe, OK), 6. Brad Looney (Republic, MO), 7. Jason Redman (Sapulpa, OK), 8. Brandon Hunter (Alma, AR)
Hoosier Racing Tires Heat 3 (10 Laps):1. Jack Sullivan (Greenbriar, AR), 2. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 3. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 4. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO), 5. LeRoy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 6. Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 7. Brandon Cheek (Hackett, AR)
Powertrain Industries Heat 4 (10 Laps):1. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 2. Jesse Stovall (Billings, MO), 3. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 4. Robert Baker (Bryant, AR), 5. Brandon Morton (Broken Arrow, OK), 6. Cliff Morrow (Enid, OK), 7. Mason Oberkramer (Brosley, MO)
Category: MLRA
