Baker, Smith, Burge, Morris and Bair Victorious on Friday Night

Story By Tom Hammond

Click to View:  Results

A wild finish in the Insight ThunderCar feature and bad luck for the points leader in the American Award Legends highlighted the MAX/WLBC Friday Night Summer Series at Anderson Speedway on August 4

Anderson’s David Baker scored his second-consecutive win and his third of the season in the Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Figure 8 feature. Baker took the lead from Randy Owen a third of the way in to the 15-lap feature and avoided a near-miss with a slower car in the crossover late to score the victory. Owen finished second with Indianapolis’s Derrick Young in third position. Mt. Summit’s Keith Morris and Warner rounded out the top-five finishers. Young paced qualifying with a time of 20.957 seconds.

A seven-car battle down the stretch in the Insight ThunderCar feature produced a last-lap pass for the win, as Anderson’s Dustin Burge emerged from the pack for the win. Jeff Dick took the lead from the pole and held it until the 19th lap when Burge used slower traffic to move around Dick for the victory. Alexandria’s Alice Riall ended up second followed by Dick. The remainder of the top five included Nick Warner and Noblesville’s Katie Beaver. Muncie’s Robbie Wyman appeared to finish second, but was disqualified during a post-race technical inspection.

Burge also captured the first Insight ThunderCar heat, while fellow Anderson driver Tim Dick took top honors in the second heat. Warner led qualifying with a time of 15.243 seconds.

Fairland’s Billy Smith scored his initial victory in the American Awards Legends. Smith took the lead when leader Clark Dietzen spun on the fourth of 25 laps and collected both James Edsall and points leader Daniel Russell. Dietzen was able to continue, but Edsall and Russell were relegated to the pits with terminal damage.

Billy Smith then pulled away for the victory. Greenfield brothers Tony and Paul Holden finished second and third, followed by Frankton’s John Robbins and Rodney Smith.

The first American Awards Legends heat went to Indianapolis’s Tim George. Mark Livesay scored the win in the second heat. Rodney Smith led qualifying with a time of 14.078 seconds.

The Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval feature went to Keith Morris. The points leader fought his way through traffic and passed race leader Jerry Baker two laps from the end of the 15-lap event. Randy Owen and Alexandria’s Kevin Harmon followed suit to finish second and third. Baker and Jerry Smith rounded out the top five.

Derrick Young was victorious in the first Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval heat with Hallie Glover picking up the first heat win of her career in the second heat. Morris led qualifying with a time of 16.384 seconds.

Anderson’s Chris Bair Sr. scored his third win of the season in the Insight ThunderCar Pro feature. Bair went inside Rod Phipps four laps into the 20-lap feature. Chesterfield’s Brandon Leisure used a similar move a lap later to take over the second spot. That’s the way the race ended with Bair on top, followed by Leisure, Phipps, and Anderson drivers Shane Cullen and Josh Myers. Phipps took the checkered flag in the ThunderCar Pro heat. Leisure took qualifying honors with a new track record time of 15.177 seconds.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action on Saturday, August 5, with Lampco Federal Credit Union Night at the Races showcasing Ed Martin Auto Group SuperTrucks, Lampco Federal Credit Union Street Stocks and Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8’s. The Star Press Saturday Night Series will also include Indy URL Stock Cars and Trucks.

On Saturday Night, spectator gates open at 5 p.m. with the racing beginning at 8. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for kids ages 6-12. Children five and under get in free.

Watch the NASCAR races on Friday and Saturday nights on the big screen television provided by Chappy’s Rent to Own.

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