Chapman Claims National Crown; Neal Wins Late Model Event
For 60 laps the top four cars ran in a conga line, but after repeated efforts to take the lead in the Best Way Disposal National Crown, Curtis Chapman slipped inside of Josh Tharp to claim the title at Anderson Speedway on Saturday.

Tharp set fast time and led the first 60 laps with Chapman, Rob Allman and Rod Phipps strung together around the figure-8 course. Several times Chapman looked for a way to get around Tharp to no avail. He was finally able to grab the inside line going down the back straight and completed the pass in turn three. Tharp slowed to a stop.

It was Chapman’s second win in the Best Way Disposal National Crown, winning the crown in 2001.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Chapman said following the win.

Behind the leaders there was plenty of action. First Mark Goettman and James Peterson tangled in the cross over on lap 16. Then on lap 27 Ronnie Rose, who made a strong run from the back of the field to run sixth, collected Josh Tharp in turn three.

On lap 36 Shawn Cullen lost an engine while running sixth and three laps later Nick Warner suffered a flat tire.

Following Chapman to the checkers was Allman and Rod Phipps, the only other drivers on the lead lap.

Sulphur Springs driver Scott Neal took advantage of a restart on lap 24 to use the outside line to pass Terry Cater to go on to the victory in the Motion Motors Late Model feature

Neal got a great jump on the restart to pass Cater entering turn one. On one final restart on lap 38, Neal was able to maintain the advantage for the victory.

Cater took the lead on lap nine with a pass of Josh Poore with an outside pass on the front straight. Cater, the fast qualifier started eighth in the 50-lap feature and was running third after just two laps.

Neal, who started seventh, moved into the top five after five laps and was running second after twelve circuits.

After taking the lead, Neal was pressed by Cater for the remainder of the race. Ryan Amonett ran a close third.

There was a good battle for fourth between Poore, Scott Knepley and Bill Mefford for most of the second half of the race. On lap 42 Poore and Knepley traded paint coming off the second corner with Poore suffering a flat right rear tire.

Alexandria’s Jeff Williams got his first feature win of the season in the Front Wheel Drive Oval Division taking the lead from Brad Bell on the fifth lap with an inside pass down the back straight.

While Williams was pulling away from the field, Bell and Paul Phipps battled for the second position with Phipps making the pass coming off the final corner on the last lap to take the spot.Ken Schrader, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott join the stars of the Champion Racing Association Late Models for the Wilson & Welch Motorsports Red Bud 300 next Monday. Gates open at 4 p.m. with the race starting at 7:30 p.m.