Story by Ken de la Bastide
Photo by Dave Sink

(April 7, 2013) -  Keith Sterkowitz used the classic bump and run on lap 19 to win the opening night of action for the McGunegill Engine Performance Late Models at Anderson Speedway.

Ronnie Rose took the early lead and had built up a comfortable margin when the only caution waved on lap 17 when fast qualifier Chet Fillip spun in turn two.

On the restart Sterkowitz lined up outside of Rose and after challenging for a lap, slipped back into the second position. One lap later he bumped Rose just enough entering turn three to claim the low groove and the lead.

Several times Rose looked to return the favor but was unable to move Sterkowitz out of the preferred racing line. Sterkowitz went on to win by 1.3-seconds after Rose slipped on the final lap.

“I tried to run him clean on the outside and we bumped a little,” Sterkowitz said.  “He went to protect the outside groove and I was able to get underneath.”

Sterkowitz credited his crew for working hard on the car after he tangled with Chris Hacker on the first lap of the opening heat race.

Rob Allman finished third followed by Jeff Marcum and Ronnie Phipps.

Hacker, the 13-year-old driver from Noblesville, started on the front row, fell back to sixth after two laps. He worked his way back to fifth, but spun on the back straight on the final circuit and finished eighth.

In the first of two heat races, the start was aborted when Hacker spun the tires on his car coming to the green and went down from the outside line collecting Sterkowitz.

Sterkowitz’s car suffered front end damage and was unable to continue.

Jeff Marcum led the entire distance to record the victory follow Rose less than a second back with Fillip rounding out the top three.

Ronnie Phipps slipped inside of Jeff Williams entering turn three on the second circuit of the other heat race and went on to win. Allman and Williams rounded out the podium finishers.

Fillip set fast time during qualifications at 13.151-seconds followed by Bret Miles at 13.22-seconds and Marcum with a time of 13.259-seconds.

For additional information on Anderson Speedway contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.