Mike Riddle Jr. Captures 56th Best Way Disposal National Crown; Phipps, Jones Also Earn Wins

By Kyle Larson
Public Relations Director

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Mike Riddle Jr. captured the biggest victory of his career on Saturday, July 23 at Anderson Speedway, winning the 56th Best Way Disposal National Crown with the Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8 division at Anderson Speedway. Other feature winners during the final night of the MAX/WLBC Listener Appreciation Weekend included New Castle’s Mark Jones in the Ed Martin Auto Group SuperTrucks and Rod Phipps in the Terry’s RV Sales & Service Street Stocks.

Defending National Crown winner Ronnie Rose began the event with claiming the pole position after turning a lap of 20.251 seconds. At the initial start of the 50-lap event, outside front-row starter Curtis Chapman got the jump on Rose, grabbing the point. Then after the leaders moved through the cross-over, Rose spun and nearly made contact with the wall, bringing out the caution. That forced a complete restart.

Rose had a great start on the second try and paced the National Crown in the early stages over Curtis Chapman and Riddle. The top three cars battled fiercely in the opening laps with Riddle able to work his way up to first on the lap five. Rose returned to the top of the leader board on the sixth go-around.

On lap 15, after a lot of near misses in the cross-over, leader Rose couldn’t avoid Paris Swallows Jr. as the two made heavy contact. Both drivers were eliminated from competition and were okay after the collision.

That handed the lead back to Riddle on the 16th circuit. During the remainder of the event, Riddle received pressure from Curtis Chapman as the two drivers battled for the most prestigious victory in Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8 racing. Towards the conclusion of the race, Riddle was able to pull away. Chapman grabbed runner-up honors with Mark Goettman finishing third. Fourth was Jason Pitts with Rod Phipps claiming fifth.

Scoring his first career division victory, New Castle’s Mark Jones was the winner of the Ed Martin Auto Group SuperTruck feature. The 40-lap event began with David Brown pacing the opening circuit and then he dropped out of contention with mechanical problems. Jones then charged to the first position.

On the fifth go-around, point’s leader Tony Broyles advanced to the runner-up position and began to close the gap on Jones. For the next 30 laps, the battle for the victory between Broyles and Jones provided some great racing. As Jones continued to pace the field, Ronnie Rose pulled behind Broyles and the two began racing side-by-side for second place.

As Broyles and Rose were waging their battle for second, Jones began to edge away. Rose completed the pass for second on the 36th lap. Jones was able to hold off a hard-charging Rose at the checkered flag with Broyles in third position. Joe Beaver and Robert Lemen completed the top five.

Rose grabbed top qualifying honors with a time of 13.591 seconds. He timed in just 0.050 seconds quicker than Tony Broyles. In heat race action, Broyles and Josh Poore visited the Texas Roadhouse Winner’s Circle.

Anderson’s Rod Phipps recorded his third feature win of the season in the Terry’s RV Sales & Service Street Stocks with a dramatic pass right before the finish line on Danny Acrey. The 30-lap feature began with veteran Bruce McFall grabbing the lead at the drop of the green flag. McFall paced the opening nine circuits.

On the 10th circuit, Bret Miles Jr. sailed into first position and led the until lap 16, when former division champion Danny Acrey ll moved to the top spot. As it appeared that Acrey would claim the checkered flag, he was forced to slow down to avoid a lapped car on the final lap, when Phipps charged by to grab the win. Acrey was second with Ryan Buckner, Randy Hoppes and McFall completing the top five.

Randy Hoppes claimed the first heat race with McFall earning top honors in the second heat. In qualifying, Rich Boyer posted the best time with an official clocking of 14.013 seconds to earn his ninth quick time.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action with the Insight Double Thunder Power Weekend. On Friday, July 29, the MAX/WLBC Friday Night Summer Series will showcase Limited Late Models, Insight ThunderCars in Oval and Figure 8 racing along with Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drives in Oval and Figure 8 action.

On Saturday, July 30, The Star Press Saturday Night Series features the Insight ThunderCar Enduro 200. The Ed Martin Auto Group SuperTrucks and Terry’s RV Sales & Service Street Stocks will also be showcased on the world’s fastest quarter-mile oval.

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