Martinsville driver Danny Trent used a veteran move to climb from fourth place to the lead in the first 10 laps to capture the McGunegill Engine Performance Late Model feature at Anderson Speedway on Saturday, April 19.
Trent made his first visit to the Tim Thompson Nationwide Insurance Winner’s Circle on Madison County Storm Water Partnership night at the races.
Jared Thomas took the lead at the start chased by Billy VanMeter, fast qualifier Jack Dossey III, Trent and Jon Heck.
Six laps into the feature Trent lightly tapped the rear end of first Dossey’s ride and then VanMeter’s coming off the corners to move up to the second spot. On lap nine Trent got Thomas loose coming off the fourth corner and completed the pass entering turn one.
VanMeter moved up to the second spot and stayed glued to Trent’s rear bumper until lap 29 when he brushed the back straight wall and a lap later was unable to turn entering turn four and made contact with the outside wall. VanMeter suffered a stuck throttle while racing down the back straight.
Before racing action could resume, Jon Heck cracked an oil pan while he was running third.
Dossey pressed Trent for the final five laps but was unable to get to the inside line coming off the corners. Kent Baledge came home in third followed by Thomas and Jon Watson.
Trent was competing in a brand new race car and said the car was good all night.
“On the last restart I hit the oil dry and pushed up the track,” he said of forcing Dossey toward the wall. “I like coming here, I love this track.”
In the Front Wheel Drive Oval feature, Jared Keller appeared to be on his way to victory when he tangled with two lapped cars on the next to last lap coming off the fourth corner.
Keller’s misfortune gave the lead to Jerry Dane with Adam Lee, Kevin Henson and Austin McKinney left to battle for the win with one lap remaining.
Dane got the jump on the restart to record his third consecutive win of the year with Lee coming home in second and a three-wide finish for third with Henson claiming the position over Austin McKinney and Ryan Claborn.
Up until the incident with the lapped traffic, Keller could drive his car anywhere on the quarter-mile oval without losing any momentum.
Defending NASH Thunder Car champion Curtis Chapman got the jump on a restart to take the lead from Jeff Marcum and recorded the victory.
Fast qualifier Robby Wyman got past Marcum on lap 10 with an outside move on the front straight to finish second. Wyman stayed in close contact with Chapman the entire distance, but couldn’t get close enough to try and make the past.
Marcum finished third with Austin Russell and Lonny Burton rounding out the top five.
Anderson Speedway returns to action with a huge double header next weekend showcasing Super Late Models and Sprint Cars. On Saturday, April 26, the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models return for the Anderson Properties 125 presented by Great Deals Savings Magazine. The Thunder Roadsters and Front Wheel Drives Oval will also be part of the Saturday program.
On Sunday afternoon, the 14th Annual Glen Niebel Classic will feature the USSA Sprint Car Challenge Series Built by the UAW. The USSA Mel Kenyon Midgets will be part of the Sunday event.
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