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Lundy Makes Anderson Speedway History; Seven Champions Crowned
(October
8, 2011) –
Alexandria’s Hannah Lundy made Anderson Speedway history becoming
the first woman to win a point championship capturing the WMDH ThunderCar
Division title.
Lundy’s closest pursuer Lonny Burton had transmission problems during the
practice session on Ed Martin Toyota Championship night. He was able to make
repairs but his night ended on lap 16 when smoke poured from the back of his
car.
Lundy, 20, the Herald Bulletin fast qualifier, led the entire distance
chased by Rob Allman. When Burton pulled to the infield it allowed Frankie
Oakes to finish third followed by Rob Wyman and David McConnell.
It was Lundy’s third victory of the season and her seventh quick time. She
never finished outside the top five all season.
In a true sign of sportsmanship, Burton was the first one to congratulate
Lundy in victory lane.
As has become tradition, Lundy climbed on the roof of her car and celebrated
the championship.
“This is pretty awesome,” she said. “My dad worked hard for this.”
Lundy admitted to being nervous during the race, after having to wait two
weeks after championship night was postponed for two weeks because of rain
on Sept. 24.
In a wild Figure-8 championship race, Curtis Chapman captured the title by
finishing two positions ahead of Josh Tharp in the feature.
Both Tharp and Chapman were sent to the tail after two aborted starts on lap
three. Tharp then suffered body damage in a lap three altercation in turn
one.
With Ronnie Rose leading chased by Jeff Swinford, Chapman got tangled up
with Ranny Hinton and suffered a flat tire. After returning to the track,
Chapman drove to a fourth place finish with Tharp coming home in sixth.
Rose went on to win followed by Swinford and Nick Warner.
Tharp had won five of the previous seven feature events and entered the
final night of action with a nine point lead over Chapman. Whichever driver
finished ahead of the other would be the champion. Chapman won the title in
2005.
Joe Liguori led the final 17 laps holding off Ray Seach to win the Kenyon
Midget feature with Jessica Bean becoming the first women champion in the
history of the series, now under the sanction of the United States Speed
Association.
Bean struggled during qualifications and in the feature she was running
fourth when she spun in turn two on lap 20. Over the final ten laps she
gained several spots to finish fourth.
“This is just awesome,” Bean said.
New Castle’s Terry Cater put an exclamation point on his season by winning
the final feature for the Late Model division and locked up the track
championship. It was Cater’s third win of the year.
Cater set fast time and led the entire 40-lap distance, but Danny Trent
turned up the pressure over the course of the final 22 laps. Trent who
started sixth in the field climbed steadily toward the front and looked for
a way around Cater. In the final few laps Trent looked to the high groove to
make the pass for the lead but was unable to find the needed grip.
Anderson’s Josh Poore captured the championship in the EDCO Welding Street
Stock division with his second place finish.
Josh Myers led from start to finish to record his first win of the season.
Myers was chased by a tight pack of cars battling for position. He was
followed by Poore, Jimmy Kirby, Ronnie Rose and Tyler Marsh.
For most of the second half of the race the five front runners ran nose to
tail, but with two laps remaining Marsh made a bold move on the outside down
the back straight passing both Rose and Kirby to finish third. On the final
lap Poore made a last attempt to get inside of Myers but came up short
exiting turn four.
Jeff Williams captured the Front Wheel Drive oval championship and Chris
Teepe was crowned the Front Wheel Drive Figure-8 title.
Racing action returns to Anderson Speedway on Saturday, October 15th with
the Night of Thrills presented by U.S. Air Forced. The exciting program will
include IOFS Outlaw Figure 8’s, School Bus Figure 8’s, Culver’s Trailer
Race, Roll Over Contest, Front Wheel Drive Figure 8’s and Mini Cups.
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