Tri-State Speedway
Merrill outruns Anderson for victory at Tri-State
Raymond Merrill and his crew enjoy victory lane. (Ron Mitchell)
POCOLA, Okla. (April 27) — Making a rare Dirt Late Model start, pole-starting Raymond Merrill of Sallisaw, Okla., knocked the rust off at Tri-State Speedway and knocked off foes on the MARS DIRTcar Series and Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association en route to a $3,000 victory. | Slideshow
Merrill outdueled reigning MLRA champion John Anderson of Omaha, Neb., in grabbing his first sanctioned Late Model victory in four seasons. Merrill led the first 20 laps before Anderson slipped ahead, but Merrill regained the spot on lap 22 and held on the rest of the way.
"I hadn't been in a car in seven or eight months, so it helps to make a few laps to get smooth,” said Merrill, who drove a Barry Wright Race Car rented from friend and Batesville, Ark., driver Wendell Wallace. “Getting the lead was so important tonight. I knew it was mine to win or lose. We got in lapped traffic, that's kind of when my rust showed up a little bit.”
Anderson credited Merrill with having the fastest car in grabbing a home-state victory.
"I got him in traffic, and he got me in traffic,” Anderson said. “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 of Crane, Mo., who ran as high as second, finished third with Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., and Jesse Stovall of Galena, MO., rounding out the top five.
Notes: The winning car is sponsored by Triple A Diesel, New Vision Graphics, Wincrest Farms and Bennings Heat & Air. ... Merrill notched his third career MARS victory and second on the MLRA circuit. ... His previous sanctioned victory came Oct. 31, 2009, at Tri-State. ... He has frequently fielded Wallace’s cars over the years at occasional events. ... Heavy overnight rain and a persistent mist threatened the racing action, but officials stuck with it to get the racing surface in shape. ... Will Vaught moved into the MLRA points lead. ... Jesse Stovall moved into the MARS lead. ... Brad Looney of Republic, MO., won the Casey's General Stores Hard Charger honors with his 23rd-to-seventh run. ... Modified ace Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, made his first Late Model start of the season, finishing 19th. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Brandon Cheek, Tommy Weder Jr., Justin Wells, Jason Redman, Brandon Hunter and Mason Oberkramer. ... MARS and MLRA competitors head to Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, Okla., on Sunday; the race was postponed after a Friday rainout. Racing is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Tri-State Speedway: (1) Raymond Merrill, (2) John Anderson, (3) Will Vaught, (4) Jack Sullivan, (5) Jesse Stovall, (6) Terry Phillips, (7) Brad Looney, (8) Mark Dotson, (9) Jason Bodenhamer, (10) Shawn Knuckles, 911) Jon Kirby, (12) Justin Asplin, (13) Dustin Walker, (14) Eric Turner, (15) Robert Baker, (16) Leroy Johnson, (17) Tony Jackson Jr. (18) Chase Junghans, (19) Ryan Gustin, (20) Travis Dickes, (21) Jerry Standifer, (22) Brandon Morton, (23) Tommy Weder Jr., (24) Jake Davis. Heat race winners (among 29 cars): Vaught, Merrill, Sullivan, Dotson. Consolation winner: Asplin. Provisional starters: Johnson, Knuckles, Looney, Weder.
