Sooner Region South Coffeeyville results 2008-05-03

Taylor Trumps ASCS Sooners Again at Mid-America

SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla. (May 3, 2008) -- Gary Taylor racked up his second consecutive American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region win by wiring the field in Saturday night's 25-lap main event at Mid-America Speedway.

Piloting Mike and Megan Eubanks' Wesmar-powered Tel-Star Communications No. 5* Triple X, Taylor jumped into the outset and then survived a skirmish in lapped traffic to secure the win.

Starting from the front row outside, Taylor outgunned polesitter Rafe Essary for the lead at the drop of the green. Lapped traffic came into play in less than a handful of laps, and at the midway point Taylor and Sapulpa's Danny Smith crossed paths.

"I made a move to keep up my momentum and I got into Danny Smith and turned him around," Taylor explained. "I feel bad for doing that, but when you get out in front you don't know if anyone is close so you just try and keep your speed going."

Taylor survived the close call and with several lapped cars between him and his chasers, he withstood another pair of late cautions before dashing away to a near straightaway victory over Jamie Passmore, who snared runner-up honors after starting eighth.

Texas shoe Kolt Walker assumed the ASCS Sooner Region points lead by claiming the show position, with defending series champion Brian McClelland and Michael Brown rounding out the top five.

The balance of the top ten included Matt Covington, Sheldon Barksdale, 18th-starter Joe Wood, Jr., Travis Jenkins and Justin Melton.

McClelland, Covington and Essary each earned heat race victories.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Results from Mid-America Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 87-Brian McClelland, 2. 20-Rick Barksdale, 3. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 4. 5$-Danny Smith, 5. 11-Justin Melton, 6. 4am-Travis Jenkins.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 95-Matt Covington, 2. 5*-Gary Taylor, 3. 61-Earnest Jennings, 4. 85s-Forrest Sutherland, 5. 72-Sherman Davis, 6. 15k-Kerry McAlister.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 26-Rafe Essary, 2. 15b-Michael Brown, 3. 45k-Kolt Walker, 4. 20s-Sheldon Barksdale, 5. 11z-Zack Beeler. DNS: 03-Joe Wood, Jr.

"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 5*-Gary Taylor, 2. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 3. 45K-Kolt Walker, 4. 87-Brian McClelland, 5. 15B-Michael Brown, 6. 95-Matt Covington, 7 20S-Sheldon Barksdale, 8. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 9. 4AM-Travis Jenkins, 10. 11-Justin Melton, 11. 85s-Forrest Sutherland, 12. 5$-Danny Smith, 13. 61-Earnest Jennings, 14. 11Z-Zack Beeler, 15. 72-Sherman Davis, 16. 26-Rafe Essary, 17. 20-Rick Barksdale, 18. 15K-Kerry McAlister.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kolt Walker 544, 2. Brian McClelland 505, 3. Matt Covington 461, 4. Michael Brown 451, 5. Kerry McAlister 437, 6. Sherman Davis 435, 7. Justin Melton 429, 8. Travis Rilat 416, 9. Gary Taylor 412, 10. Joe Wood, Jr. 398.

-credit: ascs