ANDERSON – Although he has always been a contender for a victory with the 500 Sprint Car Tour, Bobby Santos III finally made his return to the winner’s circle.
500 Sprint Car Tour – Gene Nolen Classic
Santos last won a 500 Sprint Car Tour event in October, 2022 at Anderson Speedway.
Kody Swanson looking to repeat in the Gene Nolen Classic set fast time and started fourth as a result of the redraw. Santos and Shane Butler started on the front row for the 100-lap race with Butler grabbing the lead at the start chased by Santos and Shane Hollingsworth.
Swanson’s night ended on lap eight with an apparent flat tire, which will have implications in the point standings. Butler’s car started smoking from the right rear and Santos took the lead on lap 15 and with Butler calling it a night.
The moved Hollingsworth into the second spot with 2023 rookie of the year Jackson Macenko running third with Billy Wease and Donnie Adams Jr. rounding out the top five. The driver on the move was Kyle O’Gara who started 13th in the field and was running fifth on lap 39 when he made contact with the outside retaining wall in turn three and Adams rolled to a stop on the front straight.
For the next 61 laps Santos, Hollingsworth, Macenko and Wease ran in a tight pack lap after lap with Joe Liguori moving into fifth on lap 67 with a pass of Nathan Byrd. Hollingsworth repeatedly looked for a way inside of Santos while being threatened by Macenko for the second spot.
At the checkers Santos won by 1.2-seconds over Hollingsworth with Macenko coming home a career best third followed by Wease and Liguori.
Kenyon Midget Series – Don & Mel Kenyon Classic
In a classic hard fought battle two veteran competitors with the Kenyon Midget Series delighted fans.
Clayton Gaines took the lead at the start from the front row following the redraw chased by Evan Hammond and Dameron Taylor.
Taylor moved into the second spot on lap 3 and for the next 72 laps the two competitors battled for the victory in the Don and Mel Kenyon Classic.
On lap 40 Taylor was able to get inside of Gaines briefly in turn two but Gaines made a nifty move back to the inside coming off the corner to retain the lead.
Taylor finally moved to the front in lapped traffic on lap 46 on the back straight. The final caution flag waved on lap 70 when Trisdon Brown spun on the front straight.
Taylor was able to withstand a last effort by Gaines to win by a tenth of a second with Landon Brown scoring his first podium finish followed by Petty and Trisdon Brown.
It was Taylor’s second win the Don & Mel Kenyon Classic having won the inaugural event in 2017.
Sam Johnson passed Xavier King with five laps remaining to win the Legends race for the second consecutive time.
King took the lead from Ashton Murello on the fifth lap and was able to stay on the point until a final restart came on lap 20.
Alan Edsall finished third followed by John Robbins and Murello.
Robbins scored his second Thunder Roadster victory of the year with Doug Dugger and Brad Kendall rounding out the top three.
