Classic Street Stock Duel Highlights The Star Press Saturday Night Action

By Tom Hammond

Rod Phipps and Rich Boyer staged a one-two battle to the finish in the Terry’s RV Sales and Service Street Stock feature during The Star Press Saturday Night Series at Anderson Speedway on April 9.

Phipps, of Anderson, jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag as Boyer made his way through the pack. The two gradually pulled away from the rest of the field as the race progressed. Two-time division champion, Boyer, appeared to take the lead in traffic with a backstretch pass on the 23rd lap. However, as the cars went four-wide, a spin forced a yellow flag and the standings returned to the previously-completed lap.

Phipps then pulled away on the restart and held off Boyer by three car-lengths. Ronnie Phipps placed third filling in for Darwin Blankenship. Fast qualifier Dennis Moser placed fourth with Bruce McFall rounding out the top five.

Phipps was a gracious winner in the Texas Roadhouse Winner’s Circle. “I’m glad to see a friend behind me race me clean,” said Phipps. “I owe him one,” added the driver of the Optical Communication Street Stock owned by Dave Hacker.

2004 points champion Josh Burton picked up his first win of 2005 in the Ed Martin Auto Group SuperTrucks. Burton started from the pole and led flag-to-flag, building a comfortable straightaway lead by the finish.

Indianapolis’ Robert Lemen continued his fast start to the season, crossing the finish line in second position. Tom Miller, Tony Broyles and Scott Broyles filled out the top five finishers.

“I barely worked up a sweat,” said Burton as he reversed his fortunes from opening night. Burton blamed the slow start a week earlier on an ill-handling truck.

Thirty-three Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive cars jammed the Anderson Speedway pits for both Oval and Figure 8 action. Anderson’s Nick Warner became the first driver to score a Figure 8 feature victory in a race that counted toward the points standings. Randy Owen gave him a battle but ended up second. “I figured Randy would be up a lot closer than he was,” Warner said.

Keith Morris earned third-place honors with Anderson’s Jeffrey Reichardt and David Baker completing the top five.

The high car count also led to two Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval features. Anderson’s Kreigh Leever scored the victory in the first feature after winning the first heat race earlier in the racing program. In the feature, Leever took the lead on the 13th of 15 laps. The remainder of the top five included Dustin Burge, Sam Folsom, Travis Erhart and Nick Warner.

The second feature went to Anderson’s Gregg Wiley in a wild 15-lap event. Wiley emerged from a three-wide pack on the backstretch to take the lead on the eight circuit of the world’s fastest quarter-mile oval. “I just saw the lead and I wanted it,” Wiley said.

Kevin Harmon placed second with Bobby Sanders, Tom Thomas and Stephanie Antrim comprising the top five performers.

Anderson’s Ronnie Rose and Noblesville’s Jeff Swinford staged a memorable battle in the Boss Hogg Jerky and Catering Figure 8 feature. Rose, the 2003 Figure 8 points champion and Swinford, the 2004 title holder, started the race first and second.

Swinford jumped to the lead and held off Rose the entire way, with Rod Phipps placing third. “That was great,” Swinford said about the tight racing. “He drove me clean.”

Former division champions Mike Riddle Jr. and Ronnie Phipps completed the top five.

On Sunday, the 6th Annual Glen Niebel Classic brings the USAC National Sprints to the World’s Fastest Quarter-Mile Oval. They’ll be joined by the Insight Thunder Cars in Figure 8 action and the Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive car in oval action. Admission is $15 for adults, $4 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids five and under.

On Sunday, spectator gates open at 11 a.m. with racing beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $4 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids five and under

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