Gary Christian races #5 Jon Mitchell before the Oklahoma teenager completed a run to his first career SUPR Series win at Champion Park Speedway. (Scott Burson) SUPR: Christian Is Third Young First Time Winner on SUPR Trail MINDEN, La. - Mar. 19. For the third time in three races to date on the 2011 Southern United Professional Racing (SUPR) tour, a young up-and-coming driver has made his mark in the mid-south racing landscape. Gary Christian, of Broken Bow, Okla., raced to a flag-to-flag victory as the tour returned to Champion Park Speedway Saturday.
Gary Christian led all the way to complete a run to his first career SUPR Series win at Champion Park Speedway last Saturday. (Scott Burson)
In the fight for second at Champion Park, Kenny Merchant chases Ray Moore low underneath Jay Brunson. (Scott Burson) If there's any doubt that the 21-year-old tour has turned another corner in its evolution, consider that some current competitors have more oval track experience than the first three winners this season have, combined. Christian joins Missouri's Will Vaught and young Texan Morgan Bagley as those who have hoisted Series trophies thus far. The three are also a departure from the domination of the series of mostly Bayou State competitors.
Robbie Starnes and #96 Jamie Burford in early action at Champion Park. Starnes went to the feature event and a fifth place finish.(Scott Burson) Driving the Pannell Motorsports MasterSbilt #33 that was vacated by Colorado's Kelly Boen last year, Christian earned the pole position start by virtue of passing points in earned by winning his heat race from fifth place. En route to the second Late Model win of his racing career, the 17-year-old driver led evey lap of the 40-lap feature, leaving Kenny Merchant in the fight of his life to maintain second all the way to the finish. The Ruston, La. native was trailed by series standout Ray Moore, Allen Tippen, and Houston area veteran Robbie Starnes.
Still struggling a bit in the early season, long-time SUPR Series regular races three-wide with #93 Ray Moore and #20 Kevin Sitton before finishing seventh at CPS. (Scott Burson)
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Big Gains for Hubbard, Pearson, Ogle - The A-Team Has Been Updated 05-15-12
Scott James battles #13 Barry Doss in heat race action at Florence (Ky.) Speedway, but in the $2,000-to-win feature, the only thing anyone saw was the tail end of James' #81 car. (Roy Walker)
After plenty of trash-talking via the electronic media between Jeff Matthews and Ivedent Lloyd last week, it was #21 Lloyd who got the final word as he reeled in #33 Matthews to win Friday's LM feature at Oclala, Fla.'s Bubba Raceway Park. (R.E. Wing)
Fans at Markleysburg, Pa.'s Roaring Knob Motorsports Comlex were treated to dual LM features Saturday - one a makeup from a May 5th rainout. (Above) Tim Senic challenges eventual regular feature winner Chuck Harper, while Jared Hawkins (below) claimed the makeup race. (Tommy Micheals)
Henley, Missouri's Jason Russell leads the way to Victory Lane in the ULMS Late Model feature at Lucas Oil Speedway Saturday. (Chris Bork)
Some fierce racing action at Lucas Oil speedway. (Chris Bork)
Dalton, Ga.'s Craig Reece returned to Dixie Speedway Saturday and led all the way to win the Crate LM victory. (Steve Hixson)
Ray Guss Jr. races last week's Quad City Speedway winner, Mike Murphy, Jr. This time, it was advantage Guss. (Chris Damitz)
With a strong motor back into his mount, Veteran Lamar Scoggins claimed last Friday's Crate LM victory at Boyd's Speedway. (Steve Hixson)
Veteran racer Lance Matthees navigates Spring Lake, Minnesota's Deer Creek Speedway before taking Saturday's WISSOTA Late Model checkers. (Jason Durst)
Racing hard at mid-pack, it's the dueling 55s of Cory Mahder (inside) and Greg Nippoldt at Deer Creek. (Jason Durst)
Ryan King (above and below) swept both the Ltd. Late Model and Crate Late Model features Saturday at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. (Chad Wells)
Still riding his wave in Iowa, Mike Murphy, Jr. in early action before taking the main event win at Davenport last Friday. (Chris Damitz)
Jason Jameson ran a gauntlet to finally capture another win Friday night at Moler
Raceway Park (see main page). (Roy
Walker)
After holding back a charge from Alex Ferree, Chub Frank drove home with a Friday night win at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (John Stivason)
Bobby Pierce, Brett Sievert, and Mike Glynn race in a tight pack in Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway's "Crosstown Cup", but (below) it was ultimately Shawn Toczek (42) here racing the high side of Mike Provenzano, who sailed to the win. (Dan Simpson)
A-Team Leaders from 1997-2011 (Click on link for complete rundown)
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