Rose Wins Wild Figure 8, Chapman Earns Title

(October 10, 2011) – The fans were on their feet for the Figure-8 championship race that delivered all the action they could have wanted on Ed Martin Toyota Championship Night at Anderson Speedway.

Entering the final point’s race, Josh Tharp held a slim 9-point margin over Curtis Chapman. Tharp has been the hottest driver in the division in recent weeks, capturing five feature wins to take over the point lead.

The action started early when JD Blankenship brought out a caution on the third circuit when he rolled to a stop in turn three. At that moment in time Tharp was leading with Chapman running second followed by Nick Warner, Shawn Cullen and Jeff Swinford.

Tharp and Chapman were sent to the tail of the field after two aborted restarts which gave Warner the point. Warner brought out a caution on the restart when he spun going through the crossover and came to a stop in turn three.

With Rose on the point, the caution flag waved on lap five when Blankenship again stalled, but a tangle of cars made contact in turn one with Tharp’s car suffering heavy body damage, requiring a quick stop in the pits. He returned with the roof taped down to the roll cage.

Fans roared their approval when Tharp returned to the track.

On the restart Swinford took the lead from Rose chased by Warner, Ranny Hinton and Chapman. On lap 14 Hinton got into Chapman in turn three bringing out the fourth and final caution. Both Chapman and Hinton ducked into the pits for a change of flat tires.

Chapman supporters applauded his return to the track. At the restart it was Swinford, Rose, Warner, Cullen, Tharp, Bruce McFall and Chapman.

Rose took the lead from Swinford with an outside pass through turn one and Chapman quickly dispatched McFall and Tharp to move into the top five. On lap 18 Chapman slipped inside of Cullen coming off the second turn.

At the checkers it was Rose winning by 1-second over Swinford followed by Warner, Chapman and Cullen. Tharp drove his disabled car to a seventh place finish.






























 
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