By Ken de la Bastide
(July
12, 2014) – New Castle’s Jason
Atkinson appeared headed to a dominating win
Saturday night at Anderson Speedway in the
CRA Street Stock feature.
But that comfortable lead was wiped out on
Herald Bulletin Cow Appreciation Night when
two caution flags waved with just ten laps
remaining in the 75-lap feature event.
Atkinson took the lead from Mason Keller
with an outside pass going down the back
straight on lap 24. Behind Atkinson there
was a battle for the second spot between
Keller, Dustin Burge, Jimmy Kirby and Josh
Poore.
The caution flag waved for the fifth time on
lap 29 when Rickie Tharp and Brandon Mefford
got together in turn two while battling for
the sixth position.
After that it appeared the race was going to
run to the finish with Atkinson pulling away
from the pack with Burge holding down the
second spot with Keller holding off Poore
and Kirby.
But the caution flag waved on lap 65 when
Colby Lane spun in turn two, wiping out
Atkinson’s lead. He held off Burge on the
restart, but the race was slowed a lap later
when Jeff Lane appeared to break a
suspension part and hit the turn one wall.
On the final restart Burge was able to run
side by side with Atkinson for several laps
before the New Castle driver again took
control of the race.
For Atkinson it was his second CRA Street
Stock feature win, having recorded the
victory in April at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Burge finished second followed by Poore,
Keller and Kirby.
With the win Atkinson was able to protect
his point lead over Burge and Kirby, who
entered the race 67 points back.
Following the race Burge said he was able to
race with Atkinson for about five laps and
then his car would fall off.
As expected Atkinson said he didn’t want to
see the late race cautions and he
anticipated Burge making a strong run for
the win.
Lane started last in the 21-car field and
methodically marched his way to the front,
running in the sixth spot when disaster
struck on lap 66. He didn’t make a
qualifying run because the team was waiting
for a rear-end to be delivered to the track.
Lafayette’s Josh Lank turned in an
impressive run finishing seventh after
starting 17th . Jacob McElfresh driving a
car built last winter recorded a sixth place
finish running in the top ten for the entire
distance.
The CRA Stealth Trailer Street Stock’s
return to Anderson Speedway for the last
time on Sept. 6.
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