By Ken de la Bastide
Photo by David Sink

(May 12, 2014) - Martinsville driver Danny Trent made it two consecutive wins in Sportsman Late Model action at Anderson Speedway on Saturday.

Trent started on the pole position thanks to an inversion of the eight fastest qualifiers and led all 75 laps to win the CRA/McGunegill Engine Performance feature.

To record his victory Trent had to turn back a number of challengers over the course of 10 restarts. He was challenged early by defending track champion Ronnie Rose, Jeff Marcum and finally Trey Craig.

Trent went on to win by almost one second over Craig with Marcum, JP Crabtree and Greg VanAlst rounding out the top five.

“It was very long,” Trent said of the race. “I was hoping for long green runs. I had a slew of great drivers behind me, but everyone raced me clean.”

There were six caution periods and two red laps in the first third of the race which didn’t allow the drivers to develop a rhythm.

Billy VanMeter, who set a new CRA track record during qualifying, was caught up in an incident with Jared Thomas on lap 18. Thomas got loose coming down the back straight making contact with VanMeter.

Craig moved into the second spot on lap 35 with an inside pass of Rose on lap 35 entering turn one. Rose fell out of the five by lap 50 when Marcum, VanAlst and Crabtree making inside passes.

The final caution flag waved on lap 57 when Josh Cave spun on the back straight.

With Craig to his outside, Trent was able to maintain the lead and went on to the victory.

“On that last restart, I knew (Trey) Craig had a strong car,” Trent said. “It gave me a chance to see what we really had.”

Two of the youngest drivers in the field tangled on the back straight on the final lap while battling for positions. Jack Dossey III and Chris Hacker made heave contact coming off the second corner.