Brown Defends Vores 100-Lap Race Victory at Anderson Speedway
Anderson, Indiana – Before the start of Saturday night’s 100-lap Vores Compact Touring Series feature at Anderson Speedway, defending race winner Justin Brown was cautiously optimistic.
That confidence proved to be well placed.
Brown, who won the 100-lap event at the high-banked quarter-mile oval a year ago and also visited Victory Lane when the series returned earlier this season, backed up his previous success by winning the Madison County Celebrates America 250 event.
Brown set fast time in qualifying and, following the invert, started fourth alongside second-fast qualifier Tom Gossar, who started from the pole.
Gossar grabbed the early lead, but Brown quickly moved to the front, taking the lead by lap three. He was chased by Gossar and 2024 100-lap winner Jake Albright.
The complexion of the race changed on lap 30 when Gossar made contact with the Turn 2 wall, ending his night and moving Albright into second. Derek Simon moved into third.
By the time the final caution appeared on lap 48 for a two-car incident in Turn 2, Brown had established himself as the car to beat.
Brown pulled away over the second half of the race and crossed the finish line nearly six seconds ahead of Albright. Ron Sagers, Trent Gossar and Simon completed the top five.
“I have so many people to thank for putting me here tonight,” Brown said in Hoosier Lottery Victory Lane. “Definitely not my first rodeo. I’ve always loved the long endurance races. We put a car together that likes the long runs.”
Albright said he was able to close the gap at times but struggled to work his way through lapped traffic.
“I just tried to work my way to the front,” Albright said. “In a race like this, you have to take care and get into a rhythm.”
As part of the Madison County Celebrates America 250 festivities, each feature winner received an America 250 watch from McIntyre Jewelers, inscribed with the date and division of their victory.
Sage Holds Off VanAlst in HRA Sportsman Late Models
Ohio driver Josh Sage took the lead from Caleb Reschar on lap 10 of the HRA Sportsman Late Model 75-lap feature and held off a late charge from fast qualifier Ryder VanAlst to claim the victory.
The race went caution-free, with VanAlst moving into second on lap 46 after passing Eddie Fosnight. By that point, VanAlst trailed Sage by more than six seconds but began steadily closing the gap.
Sage held on to win by less than a second over VanAlst, with Cassten Everidge finishing third.
“I knew they (VanAlst and Everidge) were behind me and coming,” Sage said. “I love this place and the fans.”
VanAlst said it took several laps to work his way around Fosnight, but he wasn’t willing to risk damaging his race car in the process.
“If there had been five more laps, I think I would have caught him,” VanAlst said.
Skiles Scores HRA Street Stock Victory
HRA Street Stock season points leader Thomas Skiles took the lead from Duane Damon on lap 20 and never looked back.
Fast qualifier Josh Ebbert Jr. moved into second on lap 40 after battling with Damon, Andrew Teepe and Joe Muldoon during the middle stages of the race.
Skiles went on to win by 4.9 seconds over Ebbert, with Damon finishing third.
Robbins Goes Back-to-Back in Legends
Beaver Contracting Legends points champion John Robbins made it two consecutive victories in the division after a hard-fought 25-lap battle with front-row starter Derik Gacom.
Gacom led the opening laps, but Robbins took control on lap 16 following a restart caused by the second of four Community Hospital of Anderson cautions.
Robbins then survived two additional restarts to secure the victory by just .28 seconds over Gacom. Nathan Franklin finished third.
Saturday’s racing provided another action-packed night at Anderson Speedway as the Vores Compact Touring Series, HRA Sportsman Late Models, HRA Street Stocks and Beaver Contracting Legends took to the High Banks.
