MISC: Anderson Speedway report 96-07-20

• dhascall@trader.com (Dave Hascall)
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Sun Jul 21 21:15:51 EDT 1996

LEMON TAKES FIRST 'NATIONAL CROWN;' HELLIS AND LEMEN TAKE OTHER BIG WINS

By Dave Hascall

 ANDERSON, Ind. (July 20) The Anderson Speedway's 46th annual "National
Crown," the oldest continuously ran stock car race in the country,
saw a first time victor Saturday night. Tim Lemon became the third
second generation driver to visit victory lane, in the 25 lap Big Lots -
National Crown for the Figure-8 cars.

 Lemon started his night off right by taking the first qualifying
heat, over fast timer Joe Beaver. This put Lemon on the pole for the
25 lap "Crown" feature race. He jumped ahead of Herb Rose, Rich Boyer,
Beaver and Mike Cain at the start. The race was stopped once when Terry
Malone's car "stalled" at the crossover. The stall appeared intentional,
and Malone was warned. When the race restarted, intense pressure was
applied at the front but no changes. Lemon won his first "Crown" over
Rose, Boyer, Beaver and Cain. Lemon and Rose won the heats. Beaver lost
in his attempt to win three in a row. Dick and Randy Hinshaw were the
first father-son to win "Crowns" followed by Bob and Rick Fields. Of the
four, Rick Fields is the only active participant. He blew his engine
in hot laps, and could not compete. Tim's father Bill won the event in
1963, 196 and 1969. Indy's Herschel White won the 1950 event.

 The 25 lap Hoosier Park Late Models got off to a rocky start as Ray
Skillman spun on the first lap for the fifth straight week. Several cars
were involved, with Wes Russell, Jr. going to the pits. On the restart,
Vic Hellis drove around Brian Rievley but action stopped again as Al
Grogg and Billy Boyer, Jr. tangling off turn two. Russell rejoined, one
lap down. Hellis took the lead on the third start and drove to the win.
Brian Rievley was on top of Vic the entire way for third as was Tim Neal
for third. Bobby Fields and Jim Cooper were
4-5, locked into their own duel.  Cooper and Rick Fields won heats.

 Street Stock driver Bob Lemen (pronounced like Nat'l Crown winner
Lemon) has been getting better and better each week. Tonight he took
the lead on lap nine of the 20 lap "A" main from Brian McVey and looked
headed to an easy victory. McVey and Rob Hazelbaker ran side by side,
keeping the faster cars of Wayne Young and Chris Bair from challenging.
Although Lemen made it look easy, he offered another opinion, "I thought
that the pack was right behind me. I was running it hard, all out."
Lemen had to work as hard off the track, however. A practice crash,
the result of a broken axle, forced fast repairs. He was the last to
qualify, but finished second in the fast heat. Predictably on lap 17
several cars piled up, resulting in a yellow. Lemen's lead looked
doomed. On the restart, however, McVey and Hazelbaker held up Young and
Bair just long enough. Lemen took his first ever win, of any kind over
Young, Bair, Hazelbaker and McVey. Mark Wyman took the "B" main over
John Rose and Neil Huddleston. Benny Blevins, Jr., Terry Malone, Wyman
and Steve Schwartz won heat races. Schwartz's win was his first in only
four attempts.

RESULTS: Big Lots Figure-8 Cars: First Qualifying Heat: 1. Tim Lemon
(Markleville) 2. Joe Beaver (Noblesville) 3. Mike Cain (Noblesville)

Second Qualifying Heat: 1. Herb Rose (Anderson) 2. Rich Boyer (Anderson)
3. Gene Huston (Anderson)

46th Annual National Crown (25 Lap Figure-8 Feature): 1. Lemon 2. Rose
3. Boyer

Hoosier Park Late Models: Fast Heat: 1. Jim Cooper (Anderson) 2. Wes
Russell, Jr. (Muncie) 3. Bobby Fields (Willow Branch) Second Heat: 1.
Rick Fields (Willow Branch) 2. William Mefford (Knightstown) 3. Ray
Fullen (Anderson)

25 Lap Feature: 1. Vic Hellis (Selma) 2. Brian Rievley (Daleville) 3.
Tim Neal (Honey Creek)

T&H Parts Houses Street Stocks: Fast Heat: 1. Benny Blevins,
Jr. (Anderson) 2. Bob Lemen (Indianapolis) 3. Larry Southerland
(Noblesville)

2nd Heat: 1. Terry Malone (Anderson) 2. Mike Craft (Noblesville) 3.
Don Cain (Fortville)

3rd Heat: 1. Mark Wyman (Muncie) 2. Deanna Schwartz (Noblesville) 3.
Gary Moore (Anderson)

4th Heat: 1. Steve Schwartz (Noblesville) 2. Dennis Wallen (Pendleton)
3. Todd Neal (Muncie)

20 Lap A Main: 1. Lemen 2. Wayne Young (Anderson) 3. Chris Bair
(Anderson)

15 Lap B Main: 1. Wyman 2. John Rose (Anderson) 3. Neil Huddleston
(Maxwell)