Beaver, Ellis and Mitchell Score Victories on Saturday Night

Photo by DAVID SINK PHOTOS

A warm clear day that settled into a pleasant night led to some close racing on the track as the CRA Street Stocks, Ed Martin Chevrolet SuperTrucks, and Quick Auto Front Wheel Drive Pro divisions all featured close racing.

Doing double duty on Saturday night, Joe Beaver got his night off to a great start setting fast time for the Ed Martin SuperTrucks and finishing second in the heat. The veteran drivers then won the feature after slipping low around Ronnie Rose, who kept Beaver behind him for many laps before being passed on the 37th lap of the 40 lap race. Josh Poore finished third, heat winner Rod Phipps finished fourth and Jerry Faucett finished fifth.

Donnie Ellis, Jr. took the Quick Auto Front Wheel Drive Pro feature over Randy Hoppes. “I didn’t know where the 24 car was, so I just drove the wheels of it to stay in front.” Ellis commented from Victory Lane. Gary Bragg set fast time and drew a half invert to start 10th, with Ellis starting in seventh before marching through the field to take the lead before the half way make and never look back. Jerry Baker finished third, Tony Torres fourth, and Jeff Williams fifth. Hoppes and Torres won the heat races.

Beau Mitchell jumped out to the lead from the pole position to take the lead of the CRA Street Stock 200 presented by Alexandria School of Scientific Therapeutics, and was dogged for 76 laps by CRA Super Series Late Model veteran Jeff Lane before Lane drove past him on a restart to take the lead. Lane then led until the scheduled halfway break, with Mitchell close behind and Joe Beaver in third.

Following the break, the engine on Lane's car locked up while they were lining cars up ending his night before the green flag fell. Mitchell took over the lead again and was chased by Anderson legend, Joe Beaver who came close several times but could not catch Mitchell to pass. Carl Muffley finished third, Bret Miles, Jr. fourth and Josh Burton fifth as the last car on the lead lap.

"It was tough out there, the track got slick and you have to calm yourself and keep it under control. I kind of got happy feet there and had to calm myself. That last caution was good for me, it allowed to regain my focus and get ready for the last few laps." A happy Mitchell stated following the race.

The evening was highlighted with National Guard specialist, Donald Marlow, at home for leave before returning to Iraq on Monday, was the special guest at the track, giving the command to start your engines. “My father Freddie won the first Figure 8 race here at Anderson, I raced here, my brother also races, and kids can’t wait until they get to race.” The New Castle, Ind. native stated. “I still have a street stock at my house, and when this deployment is done, I will be back out here racing, I love this track.”

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