Bryan Clauson Scores USAC National Midget Victory; Riddle and Smith Also Grab Feature Wins

Racing action returned to Anderson Speedway on Saturday, September 15, with the return of the USAC National Midgets. The racing program also showcased Newco Metals Legends and ImmediaDent Figure 8’s.

Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. led all 30 laps to win the USAC National Midget. Driving the Keith Kunz Advanced Racing/Sanders Engineering Beast/Esslinger Ford, Clauson got the jump on Dakoda Armstrong and was never challenged the remainder of the event. Fast qualifier Bobby East advanced from his sixth starting position to cross the finish line in third position. Dave Darland and series point leader Jerry Coons Jr. completed the top-five finishers.

Jason Leffler won the non-qualifiers race with heat race victories going to Stephanie Mockler, James Robertson, Marc Jessup and Marion Marietta. The Semi race victory went to Coons.

Defending division champion Rodney Smith recorded a division leading sixth feature victory of the Newco Metals Legends season. Smith grabbed the lead at the start, but lost first position just prior to the 10th lap mark when Wisconsin racer Blake Brown made an outside pass to take the lead.

Once Brown grabbed first position, he then constructed a sizeable margin with building a nearly half lap margin over Smith. Then with three laps remaining, while Brown was passing Eric Black to put him one lap down, the two drivers made contact and both went spinning..

That propelled Smith to first position with Brown being forced to restart fifth. Smith then held off current points leader John Robbins for the victory. Brown placed third with Alex Arelano and Billy Smith completing the top-five finishers.

Brown turned in the top qualifying lap with a time of 14.020 seconds. Heat race victories were claimed by Brown and Mark Dietzen.

Anderson’s Mike Riddle Jr. continued his recent hot streak in the ImmediaDent Figure 8’s, winning his fourth consecutive feature event and the sixth of the 2007 season. Riddle and Ranny Hinton battled for the top spot of the initial start with Riddle spinning in turn 3 and then several cars tangling, which caused a complete restart. On the second start, Riddle grabbed the lead and then was able to gradually pull away from Hinton en route to the feature.

For much of the event, Hinton was forced to fend off consistent challenges from Rod Phipps. The two remainder in that finishing order. Ronnie Phipps made late-race pass on his father Herb Rose for fourth place with Herb Rose grabbing fifth-place honors.

Michael Phipps recorded his first victory in the Figure 8’s Oval heat race. He finished ahead of a hard-charging Rod Phipps with Dustin Burge crossing the finish line in third position.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action on Friday, September 21 with the WLBC / MAX Friday Night Summer Series featuring UMRA Midgets, Newco Metals Legends, ImmediaDent ThunderCars along with Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drives in Oval an Figure 8 racing.

On Saturday, September 22, the racing program includes Ed Martin Auto Group SuperTrucks, Lampco Federal Credit Union Street Stocks, ImmediaDent Figure 8’s and Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drives in Oval an Figure 8 racing.

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