Landis Captures CRA Super Series Event

By Tom Hammond
Staff Writer

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The first warm night of the young season brought a big crowd and some great racing to Anderson Speedway. The CRA Super Series marked its first season appearance on the world’s fastest quarter-mile oval during the Anderson 125 presented by Great Deals and Computer Renaissance. The Lampco Federal Credit Union Street Stocks and the Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8 cars filled out The Star Press Saturday Night Racing Series program on April 15.

Ohio’s Jack Landis scored his second career win in the CRA Super Series when he took the lead from Michigan’s Andy Ponstein on the 65th lap. Ponstein commanded the early stages of the race, only to see Landis’ stronger car continue to close the gap by the mid-stages of the event.

Ponstein had a shot at Landis the final three laps after a restart following the race’s 11th and final caution period. Chris Gabehart of Indianapolis, Greenfield’s Kenny Tweedy and Eddie Van Meter of Indianapolis rounded out the top five. Landis led qualifying with a time of 12.005 seconds at 74.969 mph.

In other racing action, Anderson drivers Mike Riddle Jr. and Rod Phipps staged a dandy two-car battle in the Lampco Federal Credit Union Street Stock feature. The two ran nose-to-tail over the final eight laps. Phipps gained a slight advantage on the backstretch on the 30th and final lap, but Riddle was able to pull back ahead and captured the win by just 0.065 seconds.

Arcadia’s Mike Cain, Anderson’s Ryan Buckner and Alexandria’s Willy DeHart completed the top five.

Street stock heat events went to Phipps and Elwood’s Bruce McFall. Muncie’s Derrick Layne topped the qualifying charts with a time of 13.899 seconds at 64.753 mph.

2004 Champion Jeff Swinford had a big night in the Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8 division. Swinford set a new track record of 19.012 seconds in qualifying. He drew a straight-up start for the feature and then cruised to the win after prevailing from an early race battle with Elliott McKinney.

Following the race winner were Anderson’s Ronnie Rose, Middletown’s Elliott McKinney with Michael Phipps and Curtis Chapman completing the top five. Heat race victories were claimed by Michael Phipps and Joe Hart.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action on Saturday, April 22 with the Night of Thrills presented by The Herald Bulletin. The Star Press Saturday Night Series will showcase School Bus Figure 8’s, Roll Over Contest, Cork Screw Race, Spectator Races, Powder Puff Front Wheel Drives, Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drives in Oval and Figure 8 and Powder Puff School Bus Figure 8’s.

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