Burge, Chapman, Acrey, Rose and Stevens Score New Year's Day Wins

By Tom Hammond

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An Anderson Speedway tradition continued Sunday with the 8th Annual New Year’s Day Bash presented by Yellow Book. A solid crowd enjoyed five divisions of cars under cloudy skies and temperatures above normal for early January in the mid 40’s.

The Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Figure 8 feature was the first main event of the afternoon, with Anderson’s Travis Burge picking up where he left off to close out the 2005 season. Burge dominated the race much like he did the final weeks of last year. At the checkers, Donnie Ellis Jr. was second with Chris Jennings, Tim Tharp and Josh Shepherd completing the top five.

The Insight ThunderCar 25-lap feature was a dandy as Curtis Chapman won by inches over Rob Allman. The two were side-by-side heading into the fourth turn on the final lap, with Chapman barely beating Allman across the finish line. Allman was later disqualified for changing his tires before going through post-race technical inspection. Larry Sargent was listed in second position with Rod Phipps in third place. Roy Grissom Sr. and Jack Taylor rounded out the top five.

In preliminary action, Larry Sargent and William Coffman scored Thunder Car heat wins.

New Castle’s Danny Acrey II picked up the win in the Open Street Stock feature. He took the lead on the fifth lap after several cars vied for position early. Rod Phipps looked to be in position to challenge for the win, only to have his right rear tire come off the car on the final lap. Phipps still held on for fourth. Bruce McFall finished in second behind Acrey. Third was Frankie Oakes with Phipps and Curtis Chapman completing the top five.

Acrey was also victorious in the first Open Street Stock heat. Phipps took top honors in the second heat.

Anderson’s Ronnie Rose drove to the win in the Figure 8 feature in dominating fashion, even though he was forced through the track exit gate and into the pits on the first start of the race. He was able to continue and put on a spectacular performance. Anderson’s Ronnie Phipps and Middletown’s Elliott McKinney also scored top-three finishes. William Coffman and James Peterson were fourth and fifth at the finish.

Phipps took the checkered flag in the first Figure 8 heat. Anderson’s Rob Allman visited the Texas Roadhouse Winner’s Circle in the second heat.

The final event of the afternoon was also a dandy as Anderson’s Brad Stevens took the lead on the last turn of the final lap to win the Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval feature. Stevens and race leader Daniel Pierce tangled in turns three and four, with Stevens claiming the victory and Brian Harmon in second. Pierce recovered for third with Chris Jennings and Brad Brooks filling out the top five.

Brian Harmon also won the first Front Wheel Drive Oval heat after his brother Kevin was disqualified for not going to post-race inspection. Fairmount’s Billy Beard scored the win in the second heat.