MARS DIRTcar Series
Tri-State Speedway
April 27, 2013
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Merrill scores MARS/MLRA Late Model victory at Tri-State Speedway



MARS PR
POCOLA, OK (April 27) - Part-time late model driver Raymond Merrill from Sallisaw Oklahoma picked up the win Saturday night at the Tri-State Speedway. Merrill’s win was worth $3,000 and was his third career win with the MARS series. Merrill rented his late model ride from Batesville Arkansas driver Wendell Wallace.

Heavy rain over-night and a persistent mist during the afternoon led some to believe that the racing would have to be postponed, but an exceptional job was done by track officials as they worked hard to get the racing surface in race condition.Merrill started on the pole and held the top spot for most of the 30 lap feature race.With five laps remaining, Merrill started working lap traffic, John Anderson of Omaha, NE was able to get by Merrill briefly and assume the race lead, but Merrill was too strong and dove underneath Anderson to regain the lead.

Anderson; Will Vaught of Crane, MO; Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, AR and Jesse Stovall of Republic, MO rounded out the top five.

A-Main
1 6RM Raymond Merrill
2 2 John Anderson
3 1V Will Vaught
4 1S Jack Sullivan
5 00 Jesse Stovall
6 75P Terry Phillips
7 14L Brad Looney
8 85D Mark Dotson
9 2B Jason Bodenhammer
10 14JR Shawn Knuckles
11 11K Jon Kirby
12 77A Justin Asplin
13 14W Dustin Walker
14 99T Eric Turner
15 17M Robert Baker
16 28J Leroy Johnson
17 56 Tony Jackson, Jr.
18 18 Chase Junghans
19 19R Ryan Gustin
20 21D Travis Dickes
21 2S Jerry Standefer
22 11 Brandon Morton
23 02 Tommy Weder, Jr.
24 7D Jake Davis



B-Main
1 77A Justin Asplin
2 17M Robert Baker
3 19R Ryan Gustin
4 11 Brandon Morton
5 28J Leroy Johnson
6 14JR Shawn Knuckles
7 99M Cliff Morrow
8 555 Brandon Cheek
9 1/4 Brandon Hunter
10 02 Tommy Weder, Jr.
11 14L Brad Looney
12 93 Mason Oberkramer
13 36 Jason Redman
14 98 Justin Wells

Heat #1
1 1V Will Vaught
2 18 Chase Junghans
3 11K Jon Kirby
4 21D Travis Dickes
5 77A Justin Asplin
6 02 Tommy Weder, Jr.
7 14JR Shawn Knuckles
8 98 Justin Wells

Heat #2
1 6RM Raymond Merrill
2 56 Tony Jackson, Jr.
3 2B Jason Bodenhammer
4 7D Jake Davis
5 2S Jerry Standefer
6 14L Brad Looney
7 36 Jason Redman
8 1/4Brandon Hunter

Heat #3
1 1S Jack Sullivan
2 2 John Anderson
3 99T Eric Turner
4 14W Dustin Walker
5 28J Leroy Johnson
6 19R Ryan Gustin
7 555 Brandon Cheek

Heat #4
1 85D Mark Dotson
2 00 Jesse Stovall
3 75P Terry Phillips
4 17M Robert Baker
5 11 Brandon Morton
6 99M Cliff Morrow
7 93 Mason Oberkramer

Event Photos courtesy of Ron Mitchell

MARS/MLRA Late Models
Tri-State Speedway
April 27, 2013
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Merrill Cracks Lucas Oil MLRA Victory Lane at Tri-State Speedway



MLRA PR
POCOLA, OK - 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.
 
Race Results 

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)
 
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)
 
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)
 
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)
 
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)
 
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)