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Van Meter Wins 63rd Best Way Disposal National Crown
By Ken de la Bastide
(July 15,
2012) -
For the second time this month Eddie Van Meter came back from a flat tire to
win the Best Way Disposal National Crown passing Mike Riddle Jr. with two
laps remaining.
On July 4, Van Meter climbed from the eighth spot after suffering a broken
tie-rod to win a 50-lap International Outlaw Figure-8 Series national event
at Anderson Speedway.
Van Meter started from the pole position and led the first 46 laps when he
surrendered the lead to Riddle after suffering a right front flat tire.
Rejoining the field in fifth, Van Meter slowly climbed back through the
field, moving into the second spot on lap 64 with an inside pass of Chris
Green in turn three.
With leader Riddle trapped behind slower traffic, Van Meter closed on the
leader looking for a way to get back to the front.
Coming off the second corner on lap 74, Riddle got sideways, smoking the
tires and allowing Van Meter to make the pass.
Green, the only other car on the lead lap, finished third followed by Ronnie
Rose and Shawn Cullen.
National point’s leader Jeremy Vanderhoof slowed on lap 59 while running
second and was forced to the pit area.
The race was red-flagged on lap 59 when Jeff Hizer, running seventh at the
time, made contact with the outside retaining wall in turn one hitting a
water barrel and dumping water on the track.
Just before the red flag, Van Meter and Jeff Shackelford tangled on lap 57
coming off the fourth corner while battling for the second position. Both
drivers spun, losing several positions.
During the caution period, Shackelford made contact with Van Meter and
Shackelford was parked for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Defending National Crown champion Josh Tharp saw his bid for back-to-back
titles come to an end on lap 17 with a mechanical problem.
It all started in 1950 when the first National Crown was run at Anderson
Speedway with Herschel White winning the inaugural race.
The race was slowed by four cautions with 12 of the 19 cars that started
running at the finish.
In the 63-year history of the National Crown this is the first time that the
International Outlaw Figure-8 Series sanctioned the race with the high
horsepower winged cars battling for the win.
It was a tough weekend for Michigan driver Robbie Loving who lost an engine
on Saturday night, changed power plants overnight and then lost the second
engine on Sunday.
Preston Maxwell Jr. experienced transmission problems and was unable to
compete.
Anderson’s Ronnie Rose led all 30 laps of the EDCO Welding Street Stock
feature to record his first win of the season.
Rose got the jump at the start on Jimmy Kirby, who made repairs to his car
before the race, with Josh Myers running a close third.
Earlier in the evening Rose scored his first heat win of the year in the
division.
Frankie Oakes slipped past Andrew Cook with an outside pass on the back
straight to claim third.
The G.W. Pierce Front Wheel Drive oval feature was a battle between Ron
Phipps and Jeff Williams for 27 laps with Phipps recording his first win of
the year.
Phipps took the lead from the pole position chased by Mark Allman, but
Williams moved into the second spot by the third lap.
For the rest of the race Williams was glued to the rear bumper looking for a
way to get around Phipps, but couldn’t enough room on the inside to complete
the pass.
The leaders had a close call on lap nine when Phipps made contact with the
lapped car of Michelle Cutsinger, bringing out the caution flag for debris.
On the restart Phipps was able to maintain the lead using the low line with
Williams waiting for him to make a mistake to grab the point. Several times
Williams tapped Phipps in the corners, but was not able to move him from the
preferred racing line.
Allman finished third followed by Marshall Clark Jr. and Paul Phipps.
Anderson Speedway returns to racing action on Friday, July 20 and Saturday,
July 21 with the inaugural Late Model Weekend. On Friday, July 20, the
CRA/JEGS All Star Tour presented by G.M. Performance Parts and McGunegill
Engine Performance Late Models in the 2nd Annual Willy’s Race will be in
action. On Saturday, July 21, the Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300 will take
center featuring the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models.
For additional information on Anderson Speedway, visit
www.andersonspeedway.com or contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.
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