Champion Park Speedway
Robinson is SUPR's fifth first-time winner of '11
By Bryan Wimberley
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
B.J. Robinson heads for victory Saturday night at Champion Park Speedway. (Best Photography)
HAUGHTON, La. (May 28) — B.J. Robinson of Blanchard, La., maintained a series trend Saturday at Champion Park Speedway as he became the season's fifth first-time winner on the O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing tour.
Driving a Raymond Childress-owned car, Robinson edged Kevin Sitton of Baytown, Texas, by three lengths to give the team its first series victory in more than 10 months. The former modified driver earned $2,500 and posted his fourth top-five finish in his last six starts, a stretch that included an unsanctioned victory in Chatham, La. | Slideshow
Behind Sitton, series points leader Morgan Bagley of Longview, Texas, was third while Chris Holley of Dayton, Texas, scored his first top 5 in six weeks, driving a backup car to a fourth-place finish. Jeff Chanler of Minden, La., rounded out the top five as he rallied from his 14th starting spot.
Robinson jumped into the lead over Sitton, Allen Tippen, Troy Berdan and Bagley on the first lap. Trouble struck quickly with a four-car accident between turns one and two involving Kennith Crowe, Wesley Chanler, Odie Green and Rob Litton.
On the restart, Robinson again took charge, but Sitton nosed under him on the third lap. Robinson maintained the point, leading a six-car breakaway.
Sitton went to work on the high groove against Robinson, but it backfired when Tippen slid under him to grab second. As Robinson hit lapped traffic on the 15th lap, Bagley was on the move and up to second a lap later. He was four lengths behind Robinson before the lap-20 spin of Derek Perkins.
On the restart, Robinson led Bagley and Sitton, who fought to regain the second spot, finally making the move stick with two laps remaining.
Sitton was only a few lengths behind Robinson and gaining ground, but the leader held on to win the ninth SUPR race of the season.
Notes: Robinson's Victory Circle by Stuckey race car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Childress Inspection Service, Stuckey Enterprises Racing, X-Treme Graphics, Childress Fishing Rental, TWM and Outpace. ... Robinson is employed by Stuckey Enterprises Racing. ... Robinson follows four other first-time winners: Will Vaught at Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track; Morgan Bagley at USA Speedway; Gary Christian at Champion Park Speedway; and Timothy Culp at Greenville Speedway. ... The checkered flag fell on the 25-minute feature at 11:48 p.m. ... Three cautions slowed the feature. ... Reigning series champion Rob Litton of Alexandria, La., had engine problems in his No. 6x and borrowed Paul Joyner's No. 74 car to start the feature, finishing 11th. ... Timothy Culp fell further behind Morgan Bagley in the series points as his night was hampered by a hot-laps accident that damaged his car. ... Runner-up Kevin Sitton posted his second straight third-place finish in his new Barry Wright Race Car. ... Drivers failing to make the feature: Nate Jantz, Paul Joyner, Allen Murray, Darin Patrick and Brandon Russell.
O'Reilly SUPR @ Champion Park: (1) B.J. Robinson, (2) Kevin Sitton, (3) Morgan Bagley, (4) Chris Holley, (5) Jeff Chanler, (6) Allen Tippen, (7) Bubba Mullins, (8) Jon Mitchell, (9) Timothy Culp, (10) Ronny Adams, (11) Rob Litton, (12) Robbie Stuart, (13) Doug Begnaud, (14) Wesley Chanler, (15) Jay Brunson, (16) Troy Berdan, (17) Kennith Crowe, (18) Derek Perkins, (19) Curt Lipsey, (20) Brett Frazier, (21) Odie Green, (22) Jody Prince. Heat race winners (among 27 cars): Tippen, Sitton, Berdan, Frazier. Consolation winner: Prince. Provisional starters: Perkins, W. Chanler.
