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Jason Wise
VIVIAN, La. (May 3) - For the second consecutive week, Lee Davis was involved in a photo finish in O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing action. This time, however, Davis would have to settle for runner-up honors as Rob Litton of Alexandria, La., nipped the Greenwood, La., driver at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway finish line finish to score his second SUPR feature victory of the 2008 season. The polesitting Litton collected $2,500 for his 14th career series victory.
Litton took the early lead and began to check out on the field in the opening laps as he worked the bottom groove. With Litton hugging the bottom, the sixth-starting Davis began to work in the high line around Ark-La-Tex and found a developing groove of rubber to begin his assault on the leader.
The duo of Litton and Davis put on a spirited battle throughout the 50-lap feature, running side-by-side and swapping the lead with each passing lap. While Litton and Davis were battling up front, Kenny Merchant, Ray Moore, Ronny Adams and Howard Willis had their own war raging for the third position as they closed in on the leaders.
In the closing laps, the contending drivers were split between running the high-side cushion or hugging the hub of the clay oval. Davis initially got the edge on Litton on the final lap and appeared poised to add another victory to his triumph the previous week at Golden Triangle Speedway in Beaumont, Texas. But his plans were interrupted when Litton came rocketing into the lead exiting turn four, diving underneath Davis to beat him to the checkered flag. Merchant, of West Monroe La., finished third followed by Moore, of Shreveport, La., and Willis, of Dayton, Texas.
Notes: Litton's previous 2008 victory came at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss., on April 19. ... The event was slowed by three cautions brought out by Heath Culp, Duke Whiseant and Allen Tippen, respectively. .... The SUPR Late Model tour heads to Columbus (Miss.) Speedway in Columbus, Miss., on May 10 for the John L. Cliett Memorial, an event co-sanctioned by the O'Reilly Southern All Star Series.
SUPR @ Ark-La-Tex Speedway: (1) Rob Litton, (2) Lee Davis, (3) Kenny Merchant, (4) Ray Moore, (5) Howard Willis, (6) Kevin Sitton, (7) Ronny Adams, (8) Kyle Cummings, (9) Duke Whiseant, (10) Jody Prince, (11) Robbie Stuart, (12) Jason Ingalls, (13) Gary Christian, (14) Jim Bryant, (15) Jeff Chandler, (16) Nick Brown, (17) Allen Tippen, (18) Michael Coleman, (19) Rusty Cummings, (20) Doug Ingalls, (21) Heath Culp, (22) Jon Mitchell.
Heat race winners (among 26 cars): Duke Whiseant, Ronny Adams, Rob Litton. Consolation winner: Kevin Sitton.
Corporate sponsors of O'Reilly SUPR include: AFCO, Barber Specialties Inc., Bert Transmission, Brodix, BSB Manufacturing, Dura-Lite Racing Wheels, GRT Race Cars, Hinchman Uniforms, Hoosier Tire Southwest, J&J
Motorsports, Keith Craft Inc., Larry Shaw Race Cars, Lile's Custom Home's, Master Vac, O'Reilly Auto Parts, PBM Performance Products, Peterson Aluminum, Trick Wild, Triple A Diesel Service, Wall 2 Wall Performance and X-Treme Graphics.
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