ANDERSON – Indiana driver Dakoda Armstrong defended his victory in the 9th annual Tony Elliott Classic, but was not elated in victory lane.
Armstrong prevailed in the penultimate race for the 500 Sprint Car Tour at Anderson Speedway, but felt bad for how he won over Billy Wease.
Wease had taken over the point Saturday when early race leader Kyle O’Gara’s night ended on lap 40 with a mechanical issue.
O’Gara started from the pole position after the top six qualifiers led by Chris Neuenschwander set fast time.
Wease was changing O’Gara from the start with Armstrong running third and point leader Kody Swanson holding down the fourth spot.
Neuenschwander’s night ended on lap 21.
The race was red-flagged on lap 45 when Cole Sink broke a rear axle on the front straight and collected the sixth place running car of Jackson Macenko.
For the next 31 laps Armstrong kept the pressure on Wease looking for a way to take the lead with Swanson, Bobby Santos III and Tyler Roahrig rounding out the top five.
On lap 77 Armstrong made contact with the rear nerf bar of Wease’s car causing the leader to spin in turn three.
From there Armstrong survived one additional restart on lap 89 when David Goodwill spun to claim the victory over Swanson and Santos. Roahrig came home in fourth and Wease recovered to finish fifth.
“He was doing such a good job of holding the bottom,” Armstrong said of Wease in the Riley & Sons Victory Lane. “I just wanted to move him up off the bottom and got into him a little too hard.”
Armstrong said he had a car good enough to win
Swanson said the team made progress throughout the day as he goes for a second 500 Sprint Car Tour championship on Oct. 19 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“The main purpose was to come out of this race in good shape for the final race,” he said. “I’ve struggled at Raceway Park in a sprint car and look forward to the race.”
Santos, who started eighth in the field, said his car was capable of winning.
“A typical Anderson race, it’s difficult to pass,” he said. “Track position is important. Winning the Tony Elliott Classic is important; we couldn’t get it done today but maybe next year.”
