Anderson Is A #1 In SUPR Late Model Finale

John Anderson started on the pole, took the lead on lap 1 and from there it was all over but battle for second. The Nebraska native, led from green to checkers to take home the top prize in the 22-car SUPR Late Model Championship feature event.

At the drop of the green, Anderson showed his strength grabbing the point going into turn 1. Wendall Wallace followed in second with two and three wide racing in the pack. Last year’s winner, Rob Litton saw his troubles continue after he looped his mount in turn 2, but was able to keep going. Anderson and Wallace then eased away from Keith Craft, Ray Moore jr and Allen Tippen. Friday night feature winner Kelly Boen, made his way into the top ten on lap 5 after being relegated to one of the last chance qualifiers to make the show. Tippen got around Moore on lap 6 for fourth, while Wallace was putting some heat on Anderson for the lead. NASCAR Veteran, Ken Schrader got tagged by Billy Melton on lap 7 and spun around.

On the restart, Anderson jumped into a big lead, while Boen picked up another spot going by Delbert Smith for ninth. A lap later Boen grabbed eighth from Charles Randolph, but his progress would stall there for many laps. Anderson and Wallace built a full straightaway lead over Craft, Tippen and Moore by lap 13 until Billy Melton brought out the caution on lap 14 to rebunch the field.

Anderson and Wallace again took off on green with Tippen getting by Craft for third. At the halfway point it was Anderson, Wallace, Tippen, Craft and Moore in the top five. In the pack Jon Mitchell got past Randolph for sixth, leaving Boen looking low for a way around Randolph too. Tippen began to slowly reel in the lead duo on lap 25 with Mitchell taking fifth from Moore.

With ten laps to go, the lead trio caught the back of field with everyone running the same line. The top three maintained their lead of nearly a half track on Craft despite being slowed by traffic. Boen finally picked off another position taking seventh from Randolph with five to go.

Just as looked like Anderson would be an easy victor, Patrik Daniel pulled up lame in turn 3 to bring out a yellow and set up a five lap shoot-out to the finish. Once back to green, Anderson jumped ahead, while Boen was looking low on Moore for sixth. Anderson got a 8-car margin, leaving Wallace and Tippen to battle for second. As the checkers waved for Anderson in the Shop Quick Racing, Pat and Greg Junghans, Quality Tire, Jim Rowe Auto, Marcorp Electric, Jay Dickens Motors, Mastersbilt Chassis by Ronnie Stuckey, Tippen eked by Wallace at the line by about six inches to snare second. “A win at this event is huge! ” replied Anderson. “ It’s a lot of hard work from all my guys. We had a good draw in the heat and it(the car) was pretty fast. We got to start on the pole and under these conditions it worked out well for us. This is a new car for us to try. I haven’t driven a car of this type before. We took some good notes in practice and put a set up in it that worked out” “I kept an eye out for Kelly(Boen). He’s a good friend of mine. We travel all over the place and I saw what he did in the Last Chance Qualifier. I knew he’d be tough. Wendall Wallace was behind us and he’s always tough, too. So I knew I had my work cut out for me. I just tried to hit my marks and get through the corners. ” “When you’re leading you really don’t know how hard to push it. My guys were telling me that I had a little lead. When we ran up on the lap cars that was the tricky part. During the last five laps I told myself I wasn’t going to losing the race and did everything I could to get the win. I don’t have much tire left right now. ”

SUPR 40 Late Model A-main

1. 2 John Anderson, Omaha, Ne.

2. 71a Allen Tippen, Minden, La.

3. 88w Wendall Wallace, Batesville, Ark.

4. 8c Keith Craft, Arkadelphia, Ark.

5. 5 Jon Mitchell, Nash, Tx.

6. 07 Kelly Boen, Henderson, Colo.

7. 93 Ray Moore, Shreveport, La.

8. 99 Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo.

9. 88R Ronnie Warman, Wichita, Kan.

10. 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Tx.

11. c28 Kenny Merchant, Ruston, La.

12. 6x Rob Litton, Alexandria, La.

13. 9R Charles Randolph, Muskogee, Ok.

14. R25 Ryan Plaisance, Marrero, La.

15. 92 Delbert Smith, Wichita, Kan.

16. 75 Patrik Daniel, Wills Point, Tx.

17. 12m Billy Melton, Longview, Tx.

18. 11c Jeff Chandler, Minden, La.

19. 4x Brock Williams, Denham Springs, La.

20. 12D Scott Drake, Webb City, Mo.

21. 21 Lee Davis, Greenwood, La.

22. 91b Shawn Brassfield,