Marcum opens 2025 with Late Model victory
ANDERSON – Defending Anderson Speedway champion Jeff Marcum got some luck Saturday to score the victory in Late Model action.
Marcum survived a tangle during the Meldon Spring Fling Showdown with Jason Shively on lap 22 that sent the pair to the tail of the field.
Both drivers advanced to the third and fourth spots just before the two leaders got together on lap 30 in turn three.
JP Crabtree led from the start with fast qualifier Cassten Everidge glued to his rear bumper.
Everidge looked to get inside of Crabtree entering turn three when contact was made resulting in heavy damage to both cars.
Marcum inherited the lead chased by Shively and visiting Ohio driver Matthew Parsons.
Marcum was able to pull away from Shively over the final 11 laps with Parsons holding off fellow Buckeye driver Logan Runyon for the final podium spot.
Marcum was sporting a new number in honor of his brother, Neil, who passed away last year.
“We weren’t the fastest car, but were lucky,” Marcum said in victory lane. “I could see the 99 (Shively) closing in the final laps; his car was getting better and I was losing the handle.”
Marcum said he didn’t mean to make contact with Shively and spun in an attempt to not collect the other car.
Colson Gray scored his first career Figure-8 feature win in the Knapp Supply Ford Division.
Curtis Chapman took the point on the start but pulled off the track on the fourth circuit giving the lead to Gray.
Gray was chased early by Jordan Tharp who made contact with Nathaneal Stoner in the crossover, ending Tharp’s night on lap ten.
From there Gray was pressed by fast qualifier Andrew Evans and Colin Grissom.
Josh Ebbert Jr. the defending Marcum’s Welding Front Wheel Drive champion got off to a strong start in the new season.
Ebbert set a new track record during qualifying and after starting fourth in the feature patiently worked his way to the front of the field.
Dylan Hoppes took the lead at the start and remained on the point until a lap 14 restart saw Ebbert power around in the fourth turn.
Hoppes finished second followed by DonaldVanValkenburg.
James Kirby III led the entire distance to win the season opening race for the Vores Welding & Steel Street Stocks holding off fast qualifier Andrew Cook and Calvin Parham.
