Drew County Speedway
Mitchell wins Monticello's Mitcham Memorial
From series and track reports
MONTICELLO, Ark. (May 17) — Reigning series champion Jon Mitchell of Texarkana, Texas, won the Kenneth Mitcham Memorial at Monticello Speedway for his first Arkansas Motorsports Professionals victory of the season. Mitchell, who earned $2,500, started on the pole and led four laps before Kyle Beard of Trumann, Ark., took command. But Mitchell regained the lead on the 24th lap and led the remainder of the 30-lapper.
The fourth-starting Beard settled for second while Allen Tippen of Minden, La., was third ahead of 10th-starting Mike Bowers of North Little Rock, Ark., and front-row starter Charlie Cole of Marianna, Ark. Jeff Chanler of Minden, La., was running fourth early in the race but was penalized for dropping below the cone on a restart and sent to the tail. He ended up eighth.
Notes: Mitchell's winning GRT Race Car is sponsored by W&W Timber, Marion Towing and JFR Graphics. ... The race honored Mitcham, a long-time driver from Strong, Ark., killed in April 2007 in a racing accident at Greenville (Miss.) Speedway. Before the feature, Mitcham was remembered with a pair of honorary pace cars piloted by Mitcham's nephew and son-in-law. A bouquet of flowers on the back of one of the cars was in honor of Mitcham's father, who died the previous week. ... Doug Showah was the first retiree when he hit a tire barrier on the second lap. ... The next series weekend is June 6-7 with $1,500-to-win races at Beebe (Ark.) Speedway and Central Arkansas Speedway in Plumerville.
AMP @ Monticello: (1) Jon Mitchell, (2) Kyle Beard, (3) Allen Tippen, (4) Mike Bowers, (5) Charlie Cole, (6) Terry Henson, (7) Raymond Taylor, (8) Jeff Chanler, (9) Mark Andrews, (10) Clay Fisher, (11) Jeff Wells, (12) Andy Hockenhull, (13) Rachel York, (14) Tommy Surrett, (15) Jody Prince, (16) Doug Showah. Heat race winners (among 16 cars): Mitchell, Cole, Prince.
