The entry list for Saturday night’s Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300 presented by Great Deals Savings Magazine, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and Racing Electronics at Anderson Speedway contains some very impressive names as this event continues to grow into one of the premier template late model events in the country, sanctioned by the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS.
The 300 lap event will pay $10,000 to win plus bonuses and will be the first event of the JEGS/CRA $100,000 Super Late Model Triple Crown, which will pay a driver $100,000 bonus if a driver can win the Redbud 300, the Berlin 251 at Berlin Raceway on July 19 and the 43rd Annual Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway on October 12. There is a $10,000 bonus if a driver can only win two of the events.
The entry list is led by Johnny VanDoorn, who won last year’s Redbud 300 on his way to claiming two of the Triple Crown events and 2012 Redbud winner Ross Kenseth, son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Matt Kenseth. Both VanDoorn and Kenseth are with new teams for the 2014 season. VanDoorn will team with JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour competitor Hunter Baize in his 2014 season debut, whose cars are fielded by VanDoorn Racing Development. VanDoorn will compete in one of the new chassis’ built by himself and his brother, Butch. Kenseth is now with Boyne Machine Racing out of Jenison, Michigan with crew chief Kelly Bires.
VanDoorn and Kenseth will have plenty of competition from Georgia hot shoes T.J. Reaid and Bubba Pollard. Reaid has won three series events at Anderson the past three seasons, including the series event their earlier this year on April 26. Pollard has more wins than any late model driver in the country so far this year including four wins with the Southern Super Series where he is also the point’s leader as well as four Pro Late Model wins.
Current ARCA/CRA Super Series point’s leader Brian Campbell has also entered. Campbell has had the series points lead since winning the 2014 season opener at Toledo Speedway. Campbell has limited experience at Anderson, but finished second to Reaid in April after leading 20 laps.
North Carolina hot shoe Daniel Hemric is no stranger to CRA fans as he claimed the 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Championship in dominating fashion with a series record eight wins driving for Scott Neal Racing. Hemric went on to claim the Southern Super Series Super Late Model Championship in 2013.
Central Indiana veteran racer Scott Neal will climb back behind the wheel. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Championship winning car owner and crew chief raced in a handful of CRA events last year including the famed Winchester 400 were he was running with the leaders until getting caught up in an accident that ended his day early on lap 346.
2013 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis Braden is looking to better his fifth place finish in last year’s Redbud 300. The West Virginia University Engineering student has teamed with former ASA Racing Series Champion Gary St. Amant to turn the wrenches in 2014 and is currently third in 2014 series points after four events.
Veteran series competitor Rick Turner, who has raced with the series since it began in 1997, has two series wins at Anderson Speedway.
Lakeland, Florida veteran racer Steve Dorer was the 2011 event winner, in one of the most memorable finishes in the history of the Redbud 300. Dorer made a last lap pass on the outside in turns three and four of leader Chase Elliott to claim the exciting win.
Illinois driver Trent Snyder is no stranger to victory lane at Anderson Speedway, he was been the winner of every JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event held at Anderson Speedway, with three straight wins from 2011 through the 2013 seasons.
The father and son team of Eddie and Billy Van Meter have both entered the Redbud 300. Eddie is a veteran campaigner with the ARCA/CRA Super Series, while son Billy has been competing full-time with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman in 2014 were he is sixth in series points..
Other drivers that will be racing include Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year candidates Brandon Watson, Tom Woodlin and Wes Griffith Jr. along with Nick Gullatta, Brett Robinson, Alli Kern, Quinntan Bear, Allen Karnes, Landon Cling, and Ohio’s Brandon Oakley.
The weekend’s events will get kicked off Friday night with the $2,000 to win Motion Motors 100 for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS and McGunegill Engine Performance Late Models.
Chris Hacker is the point’s leader for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman, with one win. Hacker holds a slim two point advantage over surprising rookie Jack Dossey III, who got his first ever Anderson MEP Late Model win two weeks ago. Veteran Jason Atkinson is in third place in points, he is only three points behind Dossey. Fellow rookie J.P. Crabtree is fourth with Greg Van Alst rounding out the top five. Danny Trent got the win in the series last event on May 10 at Anderson Speedway.
Dossey is leading the points in the Anderson MEP Late Models with his win. Billy Van Meter is in second place, with Jeff Marcum, Kent Baledge and Van Alst filling out the top five.
The AMCS Outlaws will also be part of the racing program on Friday night with a 100-lap feature event.
The Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300 Weekend will begin with an open practice on Thursday, June 12. The pit area will open at 4 p.m. with practice going from 5 to 8. On Friday, June 13, pits will open at noon. There will be an open practice for the Redbud 300 cars only from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. Practice for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman will begin at 4:30 with qualifying at 6:15. Friday night’s race program will begin at 7:30 and will include the $2,000 to win Motion Motors 100 for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman/Anderson MEP Late Models and a 100 lap AMCS Outlaw Late Model event.
Pits open on Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m., there will be a two hour practice for the ARCA/CRA Super Series cars from 1 to 3 p.m. with qualifying for the Redbud 300 beginning at 4:15. There will be an on track autograph session with all the drivers starting at 6, the green flag for the Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300 will drop at 7:30.
Two-day adult tickets are available for $30 while two-day kids tickets (6-12) are priced at $12. Single-event tickets for Friday are $15, kids (6-12) $4 and Five and Under Free. Military with ID are admitted free on Friday.
On Saturday, tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for kids (6-12) and free for five and under.
For additional information on Anderson Speedway, visit www.andersonspeedway.com or contact Anderson Speedway at (765) 642-0206.
