Nuckles, Riall, Rose, Harmon and Tharp Earn Friday Night Victories

Story By Tom Hammond

Click to View:  Results

A couple of runaway victories and a wild Insight ThunderCar feature highlighted the opening night of the Chappy’s Rent to Own Weekend of Events at Anderson Speedway on Friday, August 25. On the MAX/WLBC Night at the Races, fans enjoyed the action on a beautiful late summer night on the World’s Fastest Quarter Mile Oval.

Bryan Nuckles made the three-hour trip from Columbus, Ohio, a good one as he won the Newco Metals Legends feature. Nuckles took the lead from fellow Buckeye state driver Jeff Denney on the 5th of 25 laps following a restart from an early race caution. Nuckles was able to hold off Albany’s Daniel Russell through the middle stages of the race and then pulled away for a comfortable win. Russell ended up second followed by Frankton’s John Robbins, J.D. Trenary III of Bunker Hill, West Virginia and Indianapolis’s Rodney Smith.

Denney won the first Legend heat, while Pendleton’s Mark Dietzen was victorious in the second heat. Smith paced qualifying with a time of 14.120 seconds.

Alexandria’s Alice Riall scored her fifth feature win of the season in the Insight ThunderCar feature. Riall inherited the lead on the 19th of 20 laps when race leader Jeff Dick and the third place car of Lonny Burton, spun in the turn 4. Riall, who was running second, took over the top spot and then held off Anderson’s Dustin Burge for the victory. Nick Warner finished third followed by Noblesville’s Katie Beaver and Anderson’s Tim Dick.

Darryl Rogers won the first ThunderCar heat while Anderson’s Jeff Eytchison grabbed the winning hardware in the second heat. Warner led qualifying with a time of 15.235 seconds.

Ronnie Rose went behind the wheel of the No. 17 machine normally driven by Riall and roared to a commanding win in the Insight ThunderCar Pro feature. Rose took the lead from Anderson’s Shane Cullen on the 4th of 20 laps and quickly built a comfortable margin. Cullen finished second followed by Chesterfield’s Brandon Leisure and Anderson drivers Chris Bair Sr. and Rod Phipps. Cullen picked up the win in the ThunderCar Pro heat while Leisure led qualifying with a time of 15.019 seconds.

Alexandria’s Kevin Harmon bolted to the lead early and then turned the 15-lap Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval feature into a runaway. The best battle was for second as Owen moved around Indianapolis’ Brian Lewis on the next-to-last lap to take the position. Lewis ended up third followed by Morris, and Alexandria’s Tony Crum.

Jerry Smith took the checkered flag in the first Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Oval heat while Anderson’s Rickie Craig won the second heat.

Noblesville’s Rickie Tharp scored the victory in the Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive Figure 8 feature. Tharp jumped to the lead from the start and cruised to a comfortable win over Mt. Summit’s Keith Morris. Anderson’s Ryan O’Bryant finished a strong third followed by fellow Anderson drivers Randy Owen and Allen Wagner.

Anderson Speedway returns to racing action on Saturday, August 26, with the Night of Thrills. The exciting lineup includes School Bus Figure 8’s, Roll-Over Contest, Mattress Race, Cork Screw Race, Powder Puff Front Wheel Drives along with Chappy’s Rent to Own Front Wheel Drive in Oval and Figure 8 action. The Boss Hogg Catering & Jerky Figure 8’s will also make a special appearance on Saturday Night.

On Saturday Night, spectator gates open at 5 p.m. with the racing beginning at 8. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for kids ages 6-12. Children five and under get in free.

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