Beaver, Boyer and Rose Earn Wins

By Tom Hammond

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Domination was the rule of the night during The Star Press Saturday Night Series at Anderson Speedway on Saturday, August 20, as three drivers familiar with the world’s fastest quarter-mile oval made appearances in the Texas Roadhouse Winner’s Circle. The night’s action completed the J.D. Byrider Weekend of Power.

Noblesville’s Joe Beaver led from flag-to-flag in capturing the 3rd Annual J.D. Byrider 150 for the Ed Martin SuperTrucks. Beaver started from the pole after leading qualifying with a time of 13.573 seconds and immediately surged out to a comfortable lead. There were six caution periods during the race and Beaver was able to rebuild the lead on every restart.

Beaver held a straightaway lead over Frankton’s Wes Russell Jr. at the finish. New Castle’s Tony Broyles, who currently has a commanding lead in the SuperTruck points chase, finished third. Jake Owens and Robert Lemen of Indianapolis rounded out the top five. The top three trucks were the only ones on the lead lap at the end with Owens one lap down and Lemen two laps behind.

It was a lucky 13 for Anderson’s Rich Boyer in the Terry’s RV Sales and Service Street Stock feature. Boyer passed Markleville’s Randy Hoppes with an outside move in turns one and two and onto the backstretch on the 11th of 30 circuits en route to his 13th feature win of the season.

Anderson’s Rod Phipps then provided a big challenge for Boyer over the final third of the race. Phipps took over second on the 13th lap and quickly closed the distance between himself and Boyer. The two were literally nose-to-tail on the 20th lap but Boyer was able to rebuild a six-car length advantage by the checkered flag. New Castle’s Danny Acrey II finished third, followed by Hoppes and Ryan Buckner to complete the top five.

Phipps was victorious in the first Street Stock heat while Markleville’s Jeff Powers picked up his first heat win of the season in the second Street Stock preliminary. Boyer paced qualifying with a time of 14.020 seconds and drew a half-inversion for the start.

Anderson’s Ronnie Rose won his eighth feature of 2005 in the Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8 main event. The former division champion jumped out to the early lead over pole sitter Josh Tharp of Noblesville. He then held off repeated challenges from Tharp, Mike Riddle Jr. and Curtis Chapman over the 20-lap contest.

Some of the best racing took place during laps 13-16 as three distinct packs of cars developed on the Figure 8 course, creating a lot of crossover traffic and treating fans to gaggles of cars literally going by every 3-4 seconds.

Riddle saw his night come to a premature end three laps from the finish because of mechanical trouble. By that point Rose was pulling away from Chapman and cruised to a comfortable win. Chapman, Tharp, Michael Phipps and Middletown’s Ronnie Phipps completed the top five.

Riddle picked up the win in the first Figure 8 heat while Anderson’s Herb Rose was victorious in the second heat. Tharp paced qualifying for the second consecutive week with a time of 20.494 seconds and drew a straight-up start for the feature event.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action with the Burkhart Advertising Signs of Winning. On Friday, August 26, the MAX/WLBC Friday Night Summer Series will showcase Limited Late Models, Insight ThunderCars in Oval and Figure 8 racing along with Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drives in Oval and Figure 8 action.

On Saturday, August 27, The Star Press Saturday Night Series showcases the Benson Motorcycles Night of Thrills. Featured events include School Bus Figure 8’s, Roll Over Contest, Spectator races along with appearances from the Terry’s RV Sales & Service Street Stocks and Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8’s.

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