By Ken de la Bastide

(October 29, 2013) - Don Gallaher outdueled veteran Anderson Speedway driver Nick Warner to record his first career win at the track in the Front Wheel Drive 100.

The two drivers started on the front row after qualifying one-two which set up the battle in the biggest event of the year for the Front Wheel Drive Oval Division.

Warner led the first 40 laps before he got trapped by slower traffic which allowed Gallaher and Paul Phipps to slip inside coming off the fourth corner.

The on-track action was slowed only three times by caution flags through the first 15 laps which was followed by a green-flag run of 44 circuits.

The final caution flag waved on lap 59 for debris on the back straight. Gallaher held off Phipps, Warner and Josh Tharp, the only drivers on the lead lap, on the Aerco Heating & Cooling restart.

The three front-runners ran in a tight pack until lap 75 when Warner used the high line to pass Phipps in turn three.

From that point Gallaher and Warner pulled away from Phipps, Josh Tharp and Ron Phipps.

For the final 25 laps Warner stayed glued to the rear bumper of Gallaher waiting for a break to retake the lead. At the finish Gallaher won by .221-seconds over Warner with Paul Phipps, Tharp and Ron Phipps rounding out the top five.

During the closing laps Gallaher said he had to hold his car in gear to be able to hold off Warner.

“Last year I ran this race and ended up with a torn up race car,” Gallaher said following the win in the Tim Thompson Nationwide Insurance Winner’s Circle. “I love racing at this track, the competition is tough. You can race here side by side and everyone races you clean.”