Van Doorn Takes First CRA Super Series Win; Parham Takes Budweiser 150

John Van Doorn took his first CRA Super Series win with his victory in the Budweiser 250 presented by Great Deals Magazine Saturday night at Anderson Speedway.  Van Doorn held off several challenges by different drivers while leading for 126 laps of the race.

“This was the hardest race I have ever won.”  Stated an exhausted Van Doorn in victory lane.  “this car was very tight for the whole race, and did not drive well.  But we won!  I want to thank (car owner) Tim Ice for giving me this chance.”

Van Doorn was never able to shake the field as several cars tried to get by him before dropping back through out the second half of the race.  His strongest challenge was from Jack Smith who appeared to have the car to beat late in the race making many passes on the high side of the track as the laps counted down, but when Van Doorn let up due to a caution on lap 245 Smith got into the rear of Van Doorn and the wall ending his night with only five laps to go.

 “I just could not let up in time when he did and I got into him and the wall.  It is a shame too as we had worked hard to save our tires and seemed to have the car where we wanted it at the end.”  A dejected Smith stated.

Brian Rievley worked his way from the 12^th starting position to finish second, Scott was third, Terry Fisher, Jr. fourth and Random Lake, Wisconsin driver Brad Mueller finished fifth.

Parham Takes Budweiser 150

Calvin Parham and Brian Hopkins battled through the field and then battled with each other over the last few laps with Parham winning the CRA Street Stock Budweiser 150.  Parham started ninth and took the lead from pole sitter Phil Evans on lap 144 for his first lead of the evening.  Hopkins nearly passed Parham on the next lap when a caution came out for a car spinning into the pit area.  Parham retained his lead and hung on to win.

“I want to thank my car owner Steve Davis for all the work he put in this week.  I know he worked over 56 hours to get this car ready, and he is 76 years old!  ”  Parham exclaimed.  “We really did not know how it was going to run until we got here and then it was great to drive.”

The race was spirited from the beginning with six lead changes and five different leaders.  Evans led from the opening flag for the 27 laps, before giving up the lead to Danny Acrey II who held the lead to lap 56.  Jake McElfresh took the lead on lap 57 but was only able to hold onto it for two laps before fast qualifier Beau Mitchell worked his way past him for the lead.

Mitchell was running well when contact with a car he was lapping caused him to spin giving the lead back to McLlfresh who held it for 10 laps before Evans was able to claim it again and keep it until Parham passed him with six laps to go.  Hopkins finished second, Joe Beaver third, Carl Muffley fourth and Jacob Owens fifth. 

Dan Discepoli brought his car from Greensboro, NC to race at the high banks of Anderson Speedway and had an eighth place finish making him the street stock driver with the longest haul home, among several drivers from different states including Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio.

For additional information on Anderson Speedway, visit www.andersonspeedway.com or contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.