MISC: Anderson Speedway report 96-09-07

• Dave Hascall
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Tue Sep 10 21:07:59 EDT 1996

FULLEN WINS BATTLE AND HALF OF THE WAR,
JIM COOPER REPEATS AS LM DRIVERS CHAMP

By Dave Hascall

ANDERSON, Ind. (September 7)---Saturday night saw the Anderson Speedway’s 
final Hoosier Park Late Model race of the season, with the points coming 
down to final race.  Defending points champ Jim Cooper had a moderate 
lead in the drivers points standings but a precarious one on the owners 
side.  Fast timer Tim Neal jumped ahead at the start of the 50 lap 
feature.  Don Bickford fell into second but his mount began to slip back. 
 Vic Hellis, third in points, slowed on lap eight.  He was trying to coax 
his mount to a finish but scattered a motor one lap later.  During that 
yellow, Neal pulled pitside with a flat.  He rejoined from the tail, but 
parked it a few laps later.  Fullen led the next 38 laps to score the 
win.  Cooper placed second with teammate Rick Rhonemus in third.  Rick 
Fields was fourth over Brian Rievley.  Unofficially Fullen won the owners 
point title by a scant point over Cooper.  Cooper did take the drivers 
points title, for the second straight year.  Next week the outlaw Late 
Models will compete in the annual “Outlaw 100.”

Rich Boyer led every lap to win the Big Lots Figure-8 feature.  Second 
running Herb Rose clinched the Figure-8 points title.  This is Rose’s 
fifth Figure-8 title but his most recent crown was 32 years ago!  Mike 
Cain escaped injury when his mount went head-on into the wall, just past 
the start-finish line.  He was racing side-by-side with Ronnie Phipps 
when the pair hit oil in the turn.  Rick Tharp got into the oil - from 
Gene Huston’s mount - and finished Cain off.  Phipps was able to soldier 
on.  Behind Boyer and Rose were Rod Phipps, Doug Riddle and Joe McKinney. 
 Terry Malone and Tharp won the heats.

Street Stock points leader Wayne Young set on the pole of the 40 lap main 
and never looked back.  Defending points champ Chris Bair tried to get by 
on the start but there wasn’t room.  Bair never strayed far from Young’s 
bumper as the pair worked through traffic.  8 more cars than normal 
started the main.  A lap 34 restart saw Young simply motor away from Bair 
and the pack.  Bair took second over Benny Blevins, Jr., Steve Jackson, 
Larry Southerland and Don Cain.  Cain had to transfer through the consi. 
 Rose won the 20 lap consi over Gary Moore and Cain.  Young, Bair, Danny 
Whitaker and Blevins won the qualifying heats.

SUMMARY:
Hoosier Park Late Models:
Fast Time: Tim Neal (Honey Creek) 
50 Lap Feature: 1. Ray Fullen (Anderson) 2. Jim Cooper (Anderson) 3. Rick 
Rhonemus (Desoto)
1996 Drivers Champion: Cooper
1996 Owners Champion: Fullen

Big Lots Figure-8:
First Heat: 1. Terry Malone (Anderson) 2. Chris Bair (Anderson) 3. Doug 
Riddle (Anderson)
Second Heat: 1. Rick Tharp (Anderson) 2. Mike Cain (Noblesville) 3. Joe 
Wright (Anderson)
25 Lap  Figure-8 Feature: 1. Rich Boyer (Anderson) 2. Herb Rose 
(Anderson) 3. Rod Phipps (Anderson)
Rose clinches points title.

Street Stocks:
First Heat: 1. Wayne Young (Anderson) 2. Steve Jackson (Muncie) 3. James 
Gann (Muncie)
Second Heat: 1. Chris Bair (Anderson) 2. Larry Southerland (Noblesville) 
3. Brian McVey (Anderson)
Third Heat: 1. Danny Whitaker (Knightstown) 2. Dennis Wallen (Pendleton) 
 3. Rob Hazelbaker (Anderson)
Fourth Heat: 1. Benny Blevins, Jr. (Anderson) 2. Ronnie Rose (Anderson) 
3. Neil Huddleston (Maxwell) 
20 Lap Consi: 1. John Rose (Fairmount) 2. Gary Moore (Anderson) 3. Don 
Cain (Fortville)
40 Lap Feature: 1. Young 2. Bair 3. Blevins
Young has a nearly insurmountable points lead