MISC: Anderson Speedway report 96-08-10

• Dave Hascall
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Sun Aug 11 15:38:38 EDT 1996

COOPER WINS WILD NIGHT OF LM RACING AT ANDERSON

By Dave Hascall

ANDERSON, Ind. (August 10)---Jim Cooper survived a wild night of Hoosier
Park Late Model racing to extend his points lead. The action started
early and continued long after the checkers flew. Rick Fields jumped
ahead of the pack in the fast heat, only to be tapped by Ray Skillman.
Both cars crashed into the turns one and two wall. Fields immediately
flew out of his machine and headed for Ray's crippled mount. It was
hard for anyone on the homestretch to see, but Fields apparently either
swung at Skillman or his car. Fields was barred from one week as LM car
owner and driver. Skillman had an injury to his left wrist, maybe from a
flying steering wheel spoke.

Cooper drove away from Rick's brother Bobby to take the lead of the 25
lap main. He never looked back. He won over Bobby Fields, Ray Fullen,
Brian Rievley and Vic Hellis. During the race, fans and drivers were
pelted with "gravel." Later it was discovered it wasn't gravel but it
was buckshot out of a competitors portable weight bag. The car was
re-weighed and found legal.

Hoosier Park LM driver Bret Miles pulled ahead of the 25 lap Hoosier
Legends show. His car handled worse and worse over long green flag runs
and was passed by second generation driver Dane Carter on lap
9.  Carter is the son of former Indy car driver Poncho Carter.  Miles
fell to sixth at the races end. Doug Grieg assumed the point by lap 13
and won over Carter and Dave Osborne. Grieg and Gary Pedigo won the
heats.

Gene Huston smacked the wall hard after his qualifying run in his Big
Lots Figure-8 car. His crew went to work to bring the car back to
competition. He jumped ahead at the drop of the green and easily won
the 15 lap main.  Joe McKinney, subbing for Tim Lemon, took second over
Darwin Blankenship , Terry Malone and Rod Phipps. Points contenders Rich
Boyer and Herb Rose tangled late, forcing Joe Beaver into a spin. Mike
Cain and Mike Riddle, Sr. won the heats.

Is it possible to be divorced before you were ever married? Ask Tim Teal
and pheoncee Deanna Schwartz! They started side-by-side on the front
row of the 20 lap Street Stock A Main. Officials over the radio network
commented, "I wish they were on the front every week, they did a great
job." Tim jumped ahead at the start while Shane Reed moved to second.
Several cars, including points leader Wayne Young were involved in a
crash on lap 4. Deanna was involved but was able to return. Reed was
stuffed into the wall by Rob Hazelbaker on lap 9. Hazelbaker was put on
the trailer for unsportsmanlike driving. Teal was hit from behind on
lap 10 but it was ruled to have occurred after the yellow flew for a
Ronnie Rose stall. They were both given their spots back. Gann hit the
wall late in the race and was finished. Tim won his first ever "A" main
over Danny Whitaker, Benny Blevins, Jr., Chris Bair and Don Cain. Ricky
Lunsford was the class of the 15 lap "B" main but was DQ'ed for too low
of ground clearance. Billy Doggett was awarded the win. Mike Hopkins and
Mike Fredricks trailed. Lunsford also took the second heat, but Steve
Jackson should be awarded that win. Rose, Pat Boyer and Fredricks won
the other heats.

SUMMARY: Hoosier Park Late Models: Fast Heat: 1. Vic Hellis (Selma) 2.
Jim Cooper (Anderson) 3. Rick Rhonemus (Desoto) Second Heat: 1. Al Grogg
(Bluffton) 2. Jerry Stewart (Indianapolis) 3. Jerry Stires (Anderson)
25 Lap Feature: 1. Cooper 2. Bobby Fields (Willow Branch) 3. Ray Fullen
(Anderson)

Legends Cars: First Heat: 1. Doug Grieg (Indianapolis) Second Heat: 1.
Gary Pedigo (Indianapolis)
25 Lap Feature: 1. Grieg 2. Dane Carter (Brownsburg) 3. Dave Osborne
(Indianapolis)

Big Lots Figure-8: Fast Heat: 1. Mike Cain (Noblesville) 2. Darwin
Blankenship (New Castle) 3. Terry Malone (Anderson)
Second Heat: 1. Mike Riddle, Sr. (Anderson) 2. Joe McKinney (Markleville)
3. Gene Huston (Anderson)
15 Lap Figure-8 Feature: 1. Huston 2. McKinney 3. Blankenship

Street Stocks: Fast Heat: 1. Ronnie Rose (Anderson) 2. Larry Southerland
(Noblesville) 3. Benny Blevins, Jr. (Anderson)
Second Heat: 1. Steve Jackson 2. Tim Teal (Noblesville) Ricky Lunsford
DQ'ed Third Heat: 1. Pat Boyer (Anderson) 2. Ryan Cash (Muncie) 3. Brian
McVey (Anderson)
Fourth Heat: 1. Mike Fredricks (Muncie) 2. John Rose (Muncie) 3. Johnny
Bowen (Anderson)
20 Lap A-Main: 1. Teal  2. Danny Whitaker (Knightstown) 3. Blevins
15 Lap B-Main: 1. Billy Doggett (Muncie) 2. Mike Hopkins (Muncie) 3.
Fredricks Ricky Lunsford DQ'ed.