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HAV-A-TAMPA Dirt Racing Results, Standings and Report -- Hospitality 100

15 July 1997

JACKSON, MS - In the heat of the night in the heart of Mississippi, Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH charged to victory in the HAV-A-TAMPA Dirt Racing Series, Hospitality 100 at Jackson Motor Speedway. The win was Moran's second of the year in the Magnolia State and his fourth victory this season on the prestigious cigar-sponsored tour. Moran used the high groove during the early part of the race to gain momentum on the tight and testy quarter-mile track, and then dropped to the low groove and marched his way to the front of the field. Following Moran across the line was Ronnie Poche of Natchidoches, LA and Mike Boland of Cuba, AL.

"We just got a brand new Chevrolet SB-2 engine in this Camaro and it was flawless," said Moran after climbing from his car in victory lane. "We knew the motor would be strong, but it was more than I had imagined. We've got a lot of racing left to win this series championship, we'll take it one race at a time. We didn't know exactly what to expect with the track. Jimmy, from Sopha's Hoosier Tires made a suggestion and it worked, we appreciate their help and are just real happy to win again here in Mississippi."

Moran began the race on the outside of pole sitter Poche but at the drop of the green flag the GM Performance Parts Camaro dropped backwards to third spot in the running order behind Poche and Billy Moyer. Moran soon reasserted himself and dropped to the inside to pass Moyer and then set off after Poche. Moran went back to his earlier high line to take the lead from Poche then dropped back into the low groove to motor away from the field. Moran picked up five bonus points for leading the most laps and ended the three race win streak of Moyer.

Moyer and Dale McDowell tangled in turn one while battling for third spot, and although both were able to continue, their cars were no longer competitive. Moyer would finish in 18th place, while McDowell would end up 16th, both a lap down to the leader.

After Friday's highly competitive heat races, Saturday brought entirely new track conditions and drivers and crews were scrambling in the pits to make the right tire and suspension choices. The sweltering heat contributed to the challenging track conditions and many were caught with the wrong tire compound at race time.

Three local drivers, Mike Boland, Scott Slay and Shane Draughn did extremely well against the touring regulars, all finishing in the top ten and making good use of their local knowledge and McCreary tires to aid their runs to the front. For Poche it was his first ever start from the pole in HAV-A-TAMPA action and the Louisiana driver did a fine job in holding on to second spot at the finish.

The next event for the HAV-A-TAMPA Dirt Racing Series will be Thursday, July 17 when the tour makes a stop in Olive Hill, KY at Carter County Speedway before moving on to Florence (KY) Speedway for two races on Friday and Saturday July 18th and 19th.


RACE RESULTS, HOSPITALITY 100
pos Driver              Hometown                Laps    Money
---------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Donnie Moran        Dresden, OH             100     $15,300
2.  Ronnie Poche        Natchidoches, LA        100       8,700
3.  Mike Boland         Cuba, AL                100       5,000
4.  Freddy Smith        Knoxville, TN           100       4,250
5.  Shane Draughn       Jackson, MS             100       3,050
6.  Ray Cook            Murphy, NC              100       3,200
7.  Scott Slay          Jackson, MS             100       2,500
8.  Johnny Virden       Russellville, AR        100       2,500
9.  Skip Arp            Georgetown, TN          100       2,400
10. Marshall Green      Dalton, GA              100       2,050
11. David Gibson        Ash Flat, AR            100       1,850
12. Kenny Merchant      Rushton, LA             100       1,300
13. Wendell Wallace     Batesville, AR          100       1,600
14. Clint Smith         Griffin, GA             100       1,400
15. Donnie Barnhart     N Little Rock, AR       100       1,000
16. Dale McDowell       Rossville, GA            99       1,275
17. Johnny Stokes       Columbus, MS             99         950
18. Billy Moyer         Batesville, AR           99       1,225
19. Earl Pearson, JR    Jacksonville, FL         98         900
20. Jim McDuffue        Meridian, MS             97         900
21. Larry Ritter        Jackson, MS              94         900
22. Dennis Duncan       Terry, MS                81         900
23. Jimmy Cliburn       Star, MS                 73         900
24. Jason Smith         Laurel, MS               49         900
25. Mark Miner          Stockbridge, GA          18         900

ISKY RACING CAMS Fast Gun Award: Clint Smith 15.629 secs(57.59 mph)


HAV-A-TAMPA Points Standings after 20 of 32 events

1. Billy Moyer          3196    11. Johnny Virden          2062
2. Wendell Wallace      3027    12. Bill Frye              2039
3. Freddy Smith         2892    13. Steve Russell          1743
4. Donnie Moran         2838    14. Ronnie Johnson         1660
5. Dale McDowell        2747    15. Mark Miner             1621
6. Clint Smith          2683    16. Earl Pearson Jr        1451
7. Skip Arp             2561    17. Gar Dickson            1403
8. Marshall Green       2472    18. Robbie Starnes         1262
9. David Gibson         2347    19. Kenny Merchant         1021
10.Ray Cook             2318    20. Bob Pierce              979

John Kaiser, The Autochannel