ArkLaTex Speedway
Picture this: Litton tops Davis in SUPR photo finish
By Jason Wise
O'Reilly SUPR
Rob Litton earned $2,500. (scottscustomart.com)
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. | Slideshow
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 led Litton by two car lengths at the white flag 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, beating Davis 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): Whiseant, Adams, Litton. Consolation winner: Sitton.
