Chapman, Phipps, Boyer, Frye and Warner Earn Bush Trophy Case New Year's Day Victories

By Tom Hammond

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The 2005 Anderson Speedway season began on a great note on Saturday, January 1, with the 7th annual Bush Trophy Case & Embroidery New Year’s Day Bash. Over 120 cars appeared in four divisions of racing and a big crowd braved temperatures in the low 40’s along with a rain shower just as racing began.

Two-time defending Terry’s RV Sales & Service Street Stock Champion Rich Boyer took top honors in the Open Street Stock event with Curtis Chapman winning the Insight ThunderCar Oval feature and Rod Phipps the Insight ThunderCar Figure 8 victory. Nick Warner captured both the Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval and Figure 8 main events with Scott Fyre collecting the hardware in the Mini-Stock feature.

Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8 veteran Curtis Chapman started from the pole in the Insight ThunderCar Figure 8 race and was challenged the entire distance by fellow Anderson racer Rod Phipps. The tide turned on the 14th lap as Phipps made a big move one lap from the end to grab leadership honors.

At the checkered flag, Phipps held on for the victory. Ronnie Phipps placed second with Chapman crossing the line in third position. Noblesville’s Jeff Swinford and Shawn Cullen rounded out the top-five finishes.

Chapman made up for his Figure 8 disappointment with winning the Insight ThunderCar oval feature. He drove his No. 8 Chapman Construction car into the first position on the second circuit, passing a spinning Josh Poore. Once out front, Chapman faced a stiff challenge from Rod Phipps. With one circuit remaining, Phipps was forced into the fourth turn wall by a lapped car, shaking up the running order.

At the finish, Chapman was followed by Tim Dick and 2004 ThunderCar Oval runner-up Jack Taylor. Fourth place was Rod Phipps with David Byrd in fifth position.

Insight ThunderCar heat race victories were earned by Jeff Shackelford and Scott Keith.

Rich Boyer dominated the Open Street Stock main event. The Anderson resident wheeled his No. 33 Tim’s Heating & Cooling car from fourth to first on a lap five restart. He was briefly challenged by Rod Phipps on the 10th circuit, but was able to pull away for the victory in the 30-lap event.

Rod Phipps finished second with Bret Clark earning third-place honors. Completing the top-five finishers were Robert Scarrette and Frankie Oakes. Heat races were won by Lapel’s Dennis Moser and Paul Pardo.

Scot Frye earned the victory in the 10-lap Mini-Stock feature. He held off a hard-charging Tim Whitcomb to grab top honors. Jeff Smith was third with Mike Mayes and Jim Graber rounding out the top five.

The Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive division appeared in both Oval and Figure 8 features with Anderson’s Nick Warner scoring victories in both events. In the Figure 8 feature, Warner took the lead from Randy Owen on the fourth lap.

Chasing Warner and Owen across the finish line were Elliott McKinney, Scott Wessels and 2004 Front Wheel Drive champion Chris Teepe.

Warner also took top honors in the Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval feature. He drove into the first position at the drop of the green flag and went on to score the victory over his teammate Brad Stevens in the 15-lap event. Andy Jennings was third with Sam Folsom and Dustin Burge completing the top-five finishers.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action with March Madness on Saturday, March 12. Open Street Stocks, McCrocklin Ford & Mobility Legends, Insight ThunderCars in Oval and Figure 8 racing and Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drives in Oval and Oval 8 action will be featured in the racing program.

For additional information contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.