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AMPed Up In Monticello
By: Linda M. Horn
August, 13, 2007
The Saturday night show at Monticello Speedway in Monticello, Arkansas was a special event featuring the AMP Late Model Series. Many well known names were in attendance for this event. Several of the SUPR Series drivers took advantage of the SUPR’s not having a race Saturday night, and traveled to Monticello to get in on the $2,000 to win Late Model show.
The AMP Series allows Late Models running “Spec” or Crate engines to compete in their events. Among the drivers and race fans Spec motors are thought to have a performance advantage over the Crate engines, but the Saturday night show was a combination of both types of engines performing excellent side by side racing action.
The 40 Lap Feature event held 24 competitors, each who had removed their roof’s to compete in the AMP Topless 40. The combination of SUPR, AMP and Crate drivers making up the field was enough to make any race fan anxious to see the green flag start, but before this could happen each of the drivers were introduced to the crowd then they were kind enough to present the AMP Series Leader, Christy Hudson, with a dozen red roses. Hudson had spent the entire week, and up to 6 hours before the race, in an Arkansas hospital with complications from a blood clot and other health issues.
Race car drivers are a breed all their own, but the drivers in this event Saturday night were like none other that this racing reporter has ever met. Fierce competitors on the track, the best of friends in the pits. They walk around among other drivers and race fans, blending in the crowd, friendly, smiling and happy to be able to put on a good show for the fans.
After their presentation, the drivers were commanded by the spectators in a load, cheerful demand to “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines”! Once engines roared, drivers made a lap around the track then split into a glorious 4-Wide Parade Lap and waved to the race fans to show their appreciation for such a wonderful turn-out.
The Green flag dropped, starting the much awaited 40 lap Feature, the race was on and it was all Jon Mitchell with the 5 car from Greenbriar, Arkansas. With 23 of the original 24 cars on the track, it was side by side racing action throughout all 40 laps of the race.
Mitchell was able to maintain the 1st place position and take home the $2,000 prize money for the night. Several attempts were made by the A1 car of Duke Whiseant to take the lead, with several close calls near the end of the race. But at the stripe, Whiseant held tight to the 2nd place position. Texas driver, Patrick Daniel (75) moved up through the field from an 8th place start to grab 3rd at the finish line.
Through several laps of the Feature, a strong battle for the 4th place position was held between Ray Moore (93), SUPR Series driver from Shreveport, LA.,and the Jay Mallard Ford #38 car driven by Mark Andrews of Marion, LA. With only a few laps left of the show, Moore moved around Andrews to take the 4th place spot in the finishing order, with Andrews rounding out the Top 5.
Jon Mitchell maintains his 1st place position in the AMP Series Points Standings thus far in the season with an impressive 1,488 points, giving him a 225 point lead over the 2nd place man. In the standings, the 2nd and 3rd place drivers are both "AMP Rookies". Kyle Beard, is currently 2nd in points with only a small 26 point gap between him and Joseph Long. Things could get rather interesting between Beard and Long in coming weeks as each of them strive to close the gap before the end of the season.
Other Awards given to AMP State Series drivers were as follows: Jon Mitchell - Team GRT Pole Sitter Award & Race Wraps Award; and Joseph Long - Larry Shaw / Super Duty Boat Docks Hard Charger Award after advancing from a 17th starting position to cross the finish line in 10th place. Great job by both drivers. Joe Long, among many others, performed wonderfully around the turns and down the straights to add more agility to the already heart pounding excitement on the track.
The excellent racing action seen on the Monticello Speedway surface Saturday night by these wonderful drivers was a fine example of great driving, sportsmanship, clean racing but most importantly a full field of drivers having a really good time. The exciting racing action was topped only by the filling of the stands by the spectators. Vacant seats were extremely hard to find in the grandstands. But everybody wanted to get a seat to witness the excellent racing action from drivers in the AMP Late Model Series as well as the regular Monticello Speedway classes.
The AMP Series will be making their way to Siloam Springs Speedway in Watts, Oklahoma for their next show on Saturday, August 25th. This is yet another show you don't want to miss!
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