(April
22, 2014) - Anderson Speedway
returns to action this weekend with Late
Model/Open Wheel Weekend planned on
Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27.
On Saturday, the ARCA/CRA Super Series
powered by JEGS.com will compete in the
Anderson Properties 125 presented by Great
Deals Saving Magazine. The Front Wheel
Drives Oval and Thunder Roadsters will also
be part of the racing program.
Anderson Speedway has hosted a total of 54
ARCA/CRA series events to date. Former
two-time series champion Brian Ross is the
all-time series victory leader at Anderson
Speedway with nine victories.
This will be the only opportunity for the
ARCA/CRA Super Series teams to get some
racing on the tight quarter mile prior to
the prestigious Stoops Freightliner Redbud
300, which has been moved for the 2014
season to Saturday, June 14th.
Georgia hot shoe T.J. Reaid is entered and
looks to claim his third straight Anderson
Properties 125 presented by Great Deals
Savings Magazine after winning the event in
2012 and 2013. Series points leader Brian
Campbell tops the list of series regulars
entered for Saturday night’s event. Campbell
was the winner of the series season opener
at Toledo Speedway on April 12 and has 13
career victories.
Reaid and Campbell will have some tough
competition on Saturday, 2012 Redbud 300
winner Ross Kenseth is entered. Kenseth, the
son of NASCAR Champion Matt Kenseth, will
bring the newly formed Boyne Machine Racing
Team to Anderson.
2013 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis
Braden is entered as he looks to defend his
Championship and get his first ever series
victory at Anderson. Braden has former ASA
Series Champion Gary St. Amant turning the
wrenches for him in 2014.
Former Anderson CRA winner Rick Turner is
also entered, Turner has competed with the
series since that first event in 1997 and
looks to get back into victory lane. Outlaw
Late Model standout Tyler Roahrig will
return to series competition and will also
compete in the Glen Niebel Classic on
Sunday.
Other top CRA drivers entered for Saturday’s
event includes 2013 Rookie of the Year Ali
Kern, Brett Robinson, Brandon Oakley,
veteran CRA competitor Eddie Van Meter and
his son Billy, who is a full-time competitor
in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model
Sportsman Series.
The series has a great group of registered
Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year
candidates including former JEGS/CRA
All-Stars Tour competitors Wes Griffith Jr.,
Tom Woodin and Canadian racer Brandon
Watson. Also 2013 Illiana Motor Speedway
Champion Paul Shafer Jr. along with former
USAC Midget competitor and New Castle
resident Dalton Armstrong.
In the Front Wheel Drive Oval division,
Jerry Dane scored his third consecutive
victory last weekend and paces the division
with a 85 point lead over Brandon Cook. The
remainder of the top five includes Jared
Keller, Billy Hooten and Jessie Thomas.
The Thunder Roadsters will make a second
season appearance at Anderson. In the
opening evening, Chris Weddel scored the
victory over James Edsel and John Robbins.
On Saturday, April 26, spectator gates open
at 4 p.m. with the racing beginning at 7.
Admission is $13 for adults and $4 for kids
ages 6-12. Children five and under get in
free.
Sunday’s
Glen Niebel Classic will mark the 14th
edition of this annual event. For the third
consecutive year, the event will be
sanctioned by United States Speed
Association (USSA) and will be the opening
event on the 2014 USSA Sprint Car Challenge
Series built by UAW. The Mel Kenyon Midgets
will also be on the racing card.
In the opening 11 editions of the Glen
Niebel Classic sanctioned by the United
State Auto Club (USAC), 11 different drivers
scored the victory. Aaron Pierce became the
first driver to win multiple events with
earning a dominant victory in the inaugural
USSA event in 2012 and last year increased
his victory total to three.
The event pays tribute to legendary
car/engine builder Glen Niebel. The longtime
Edinburgh, Ind. resident passed away in
1999. Niebel revolutionized pavement sprint
car racing in the mid-1980’s when he
successfully developed a small block Chevy
V-6 that could successfully compete with its
V-8 counterparts.
Niebel’s V-6 engine took to Anderson
Speedway immediately and particularly the
Little 500. With the speedway’s short
straightaways, and its momentum carrying
turns, the engine was perfectly suited for
Anderson Speedway. From 1987 through 1997,
Niebel’s V-6 engine cars won a remarkable
six Little 500’s with drivers Bob Frey and
Bentley Warren. There were also multiple
second-place finishes during this period. In
addition, NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart
claimed the 1995 USAC sprint car
championship aboard a Glen Niebel owned
Chevy V-6.
Aaron Pierce returns this year in search of
his fourth Niebel trophy and attempts to
remain undefeated in USSA action. He has won
the opening five series event.
Third-generation driver Jarett Andretti will
make his Pavement Sprint Car debut in a
Helberg Motorsports prepared machine. Outlaw
Late Model standout Tyler Roahrig will be
aboard the No. 64 Speed Chaser entry while
Chris Neuenschwander looks to improve upon
his third-place finish in the 2013 USSA
final standings.
On Sunday, April 27, spectator gates open at
11:30 a.m. with the racing beginning at 2.
Admission is $12 for adults and $4 for kids
ages 6-12. Children five and under get in
free.
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