Eagle Raceway
Anderson claims $3,000 victory at Eagle Raceway
By David Smith Jr.
National Championship Racing AssociationEAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 3) — John Anderson of Omaha, Neb., took advantage of race-long leader Jesse Stovall's misfortune midway through Friday night's caution-filled Rumble in the Bull Ring feature at Eagle Raceway and raced to a $3,000 victory at the quarter-mile oval. | Slideshow
Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla., finished second in the event that was co-sanctioned by the National Championship Racing Association presented by Precise Racing Products and the MARS DIRTcar Series. Two-time NCRA champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., finished third after advancing from the 12th starting spot with Corey Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., and Craig Preble of Yutan, Neb., rounding out the top five.
Tony Jackson, Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., started on the pole for the 40-lap feature but it was Stovall of Galena, Mo., taking the lead from the outside of the front row as the race went green. Anderson moved into the runner-up position from his third starting spot and watched as the current MARS points leader opened up a 10-car length lead.
Lapped traffic first came into play on lap four, and several lapped cars blocked Stovall’s way two laps later. Those lapped cars would prove to be the downfall for Jackson as he tangled with one in turn four and spun to bring out the first of the many cautions that plagued the event.
Several yellow flags dotted the next several laps, including the first of two red-flag periods coming when Brandon Morton, Dean Moore, Jackson and Justin Asplin all tangled down the backstretch causing Morton to go upside-down on lap 19. Morton was uninjured but done for the night.
Anderson was hot on the Stovall’s rear bumper on the restart, and after another caution fell on lap 23, Anderson used a strong high-side run to pull alongside the leader. The winning pass was made easier when Stovall slowed with a flat right-rear tire to bring out another caution.
Anderson led the way for the restart with fourth-starting Weder riding second. Weder showed his front bumper to the high-riding Anderson a number of times during the run to the finish. But despite several more cautions, including the last with five laps remaining, Anderson held on to claim his first NCRA victory of the year by six car lengths.
Notes: Anderson’s Greg Junghans-owned MasterSbilt Race Car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Shop Quik Convenience Stores, Turbo Car Wash, Allstar Performance and the FAITH Youth Team. … The victory is Anderson’s second of the season in a MARS-sanctioned event and first on the NCRA tour. … Anderson has five overall victories on the season. … Current NCRA Series point leader Gary Gorby had a rough night. He started ninth and was caught up in a couple cautions that eventually sent him to the pits and a 21st-place finish. … The two tour tours will combine for another co-sanctioned event Saturday night at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan.
Rumble in the Bull Ring: (1) John Anderson, (2) Tommy Weder, Jr., (3) Kyle Berck, (4) Corey Zeitner, (5) Craig Preble, (6) Chase Junghans, (7) Ben Sukup, (8) Leroy Johnson, (9) Don Battoglia, (10) Chris Avery, (11) Michael Leal, (12) Jesse Stovall, (13) Matt Johnson, (14) Clinton Benson, (15) Alonzo Grosse, (16) Dean Moore, (17) Tony Jackson, Jr., (18) Brandon Morton, (19) Justin Asplin, (20) Scott Koskovich, (21) Gary Gorby, (22) Colton Leal. Did not start: Brian Kenkel. Heat race winners: Weder, Johnson, Jackson.
