WILD OPENING NIGHT AT ANDERSON

By Dave Hascall

	ANDERSON, Ind. (April 13)  The Anderson Speedway's opener last
Saturday night was as wild and strange as any night in recent history.
Blown engines, questionable driving and chilling to-the-bone wind were
the bill affair for the evening..  

	Action began early, as a practice disaster set the tone for the night.
Jeff Hizer was leading a group of practicing Hoosier Park Late Models
when his racer got into the third turn fence.  Second year LM driver
Jim Crabtree sailed into turn three and the throttle stuck.  He hit
Hizer's mount and the pair knocked the boiler plate wall from its
mounting.  The steel poles that support the wall are buried three feet
deep.  The pair pulled two of them out of the ground.  Repairs took
over one hour with track owner John Hellis and crew welding the wall.


	The 25 lap Hoosier Park LM feature was a rough affair.  Defending
points champ Jim Cooper and Ray Fullen touched down the homestretch as
the field got the green.  Cooper was through but Fullen returned for
the restart.  Billy Boyer, Jr. jumped ahead at the restart over
polesitter Orie Parkhurst.  Boyer pulled in on lap 3, giving the lead
to Bobby Fields.  This was Fields' first LM race after his horrendous
crash last April.  Bobby's brother Rick moved to second with Fullen
third.  Rick pressured Bobby a bit too much and got into the leader on
lap 10.  Bobby spun with Fullen crashing into the rear of Rick's
mount.  Fullen appeared to have punctured an oil cooler in the wreck,
and was out for the night.  Rick assumed the lead on the restart.  Vic
Hellis, who like B. Fields, was injured last spring also made his
comeback but spun while in fifth and locked up the oil pump.  Rick
took the win over Ray Skillman, Parkhurst, Herb Rose and B. Fields.
Bobby let Rick know how he felt, after the victory photos were taken.
Tim Neal and R. Fields won heats, while Fullen set fast time.

	Tim Lemon took the lead at the start of the 15 lap Figure-8 main.
Rick Fields, fresh from his LM win, took the lead on lap 5 and was
looking to go four for four, on the night.  Rich Boyer caught up Rick
in lapped traffic and took the lead on lap 12.  Boyer defeated Fields,
Rod Phipps, Ronnie Rose and Terry Burton.  Fields and Ronnie Phipps
won heat races with Joe Beaver nailing quick time.

	Opening night usually offers up small car counts but 51 street stocks
jammed the pit area.  James Gann led early but was overhauled by Neil
Huddleston on lap 3.  Fast drivers Wayne Young and Chris Bair moved to
the front by lap 14.  With two circuits to go, Young began shoving
Huddleston down the straightaways.  Young turned Neil's mount around
in turn three on the last lap.  Young took the controversial win over
Dennis Wallen. Bair, Benny Blevins, Jr. and Keith Barnes.  The
"boo-birds" were out as fans responded to Young's driving.  Huddleston
also let Young know his feelings after the race.  Pat Boyer won the
wild "B" mail after leader Jerry Swinford, Jr. was spun by a lapped
car.  Jamie Williams, Steve Jackson, Steve Harrick and Rich Goodwin
won heats.

RESULTS: April 14

HOOSIER PARK LATE MODELS:
Fast Heat: 1. Tim Neal (Honey Creek) 2. Jim Cooper (Anderson) 3. Bobby
Fields (Willow Branch) 
2nd Heat: 1. Rick Fields (Willow Branch) 2. Jerry Stires (Anderson) 3.
Tom Flynn (Yorktown)
25 Lap Feature: 1. R, Fields 2. Ray Skillman (Greenwood) 3. Orie
Parkhurst (Anderson)

BIG LOTS FIGURE-8's:
Fast Heat: 1. Rick Fields (Willow Branch)  2. Joe Beaver (Noblesville)
3. Ronnie Rose (Anderson)
2nd Heat: 1. Ronnie Phipps (Anderson) 2. Gene Huston (Anderson) 3.
Bruce McFall (Elwood)
15 lap Figure-8 Feature: 1. Rich Boyer (Anderson) 2. Fields 3. Rod
Phipps (Anderson)

STREET STOCKS:
Fast Heat: 1. Jamie Williams (Alexandria) 2. Michael Stewart (Carmel)
3. Benny Blevins, Jr. (Anderson)
2nd Heat: 1. Steve Jackson (Anderson) 2. Keith Barnes (Gaston) 3. Neil
Huddleston (Maxwell) 
3rd Heat: 1. Steve Harrick (Anderson) 2. Jerry Swinford, Jr.
(Noblesville) 3. Todd Neal (Frankton)
4th Heat: 1. Rich Goodwin (Noblesville) 2. Jeff Cravens (Muncie) 3.
Sean Ellis (Pendleton)
15 lap B-Main: 1. Pat Boyer (Anderson) 2. Harrick 3. Swinford, Jr.
20 lap A-Main: 1. Wayne Young (Anderson) 2. Dennis Wallen (Pendleton)
3. Chris Bair (Anderson)