By Ken de la Bastide
Muncie’s Tyler Marsh grabbed the lead with 11 laps remaining and then survived three restarts to capture the Champion Racing Association’s 75-lap Street Stock feature at Anderson Speedway.
For almost 50 laps Jason Atkinson was dominating the race but suddenly slowed on lap 63, which propelled Marsh into the lead.
After taking the lead Marsh had to hold off Calvin Parham for his first career CRA win in the series final appearance of 2014 at Anderson Speedway.
Mason Keller brought out the fifth and final caution of the night when he rubbed fenders with Parham and suffered a flat tire while running third.
On the final restart fast qualifier James Kirby III was able to get inside of Parham coming off the second corner to claim the runner-up spot. Andrew Cook, Nick Warner and Phil Jenkins rounded out the top five.
It was Marsh’s first career CRA victory.
Atkinson inherited the lead when Dustin Burge crashed on lap 18.
Burge had a throttle stick and made hard contact with the turn one wall. Burge was looking for his second consecutive win at Anderson Speedway.
Burge took the lead from Andrew Cook on lap five with an inside move entering turn one in a three-way battle with Calvin Parham, who was passed by Marsh exiting turn two.
Curtis Chapman used an outside move on race leader Robbie Wyman on a restart on lap five and went on to record his third feature win in the NASH-FM Thunder Car division.
Wyman took the lead from Brian Lewis with an outside move that saw Chapman also make the pass as the two front runners in the season championship fight battled for the lead.
Wyman was passed by Lonny Burton on lap eight to come home in second followed by Wyman, Lewis and Randy Hoppes.
Fast qualifier Ryan Claborn took the lead from Chris Teepe with an outside move entering turn three to score the victory in the Pro Compact division.
Teepe led from the waving of the green flag, but got loose in turn two which cost him all his momentum.
Following Claborn and Teepe to the checkered flag were Jeff Williams, Rodney Sutton and Jerry Dane.
On Saturday, September 13, racing action resumes at Anderson Speedway with McGunegill Engine Performance/CRA Late Model Sportsman in the PGG 100 presented by Thompson Builders. The WOFS Outlaw Figure 8’s and Thunder Roadsters will also be part of the racing program.
For additional information on Anderson Speedway, visit www.andersonspeedway.com or contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.
