Outside pole sitter, Don O’Neal grabbed the lead at the start of the 100 lap main event with John Anderson coming from fourth to second in the early going. Brian Birkhofer who started from the pole fell to third with series points leader, Billy Moyer running fourth followed by Steve Shaver.
Those five stayed in the same running order as three grooves were very distinctive at the start of the race. Shaver would make the first pass inside the top five when he went around Moyer on lap eight. Traffic started to play a part in the race with O’Neal catching the tail end of the field by the ninth circuit. The first caution of the race came out on lap 13 for a spinning Michael England.
On the restart O’Neal was still on the point with Birkhofer gaining the second slot from Anderson who slipped back to third at this point in the event. The top three were neck and neck for the lead with O’Neal, Birkhofer and Anderson going three wide for the race lead on lap 18. Anderson would storm to the lead by the 19th circuit passing both O’Neal and Birkhofer on the same lap.
Anderson then started to sprint away from O’Neal and Birkhofer with a spirited side by side duel between Batesville, AR residents Billy Moyer and Wendell Wallace taking place. Anderson stretched his lead to ten car lengths with O’Neal going to the inside of the rim riding O’Neal on lap 30 to take over second place.
Anderson continued to maintain a torrid pace but his lead was quickly gone when the caution came out for a slowing Jeremy Payne on lap 34. On the restart however Anderson would quickly pull away from as O’Neal regained the second spot from Birkhofer on the restart.
After the caution Anderson would gain a seven car length advantage over the field as O’Neal and Birkhofer would again race side by side this time for three laps until Birkhofer was able to forge in front of O’Neal in the tight battle for second. Birkhofer then started to close rapidly on Anderson as he sliced Anderson’s lead from seven lengths to just two.
Shaver would then start to chase down the leaders as he nabbed the third spot on lap 45 getting past O’Neal. Wendell Wallace then moved up from his ninth starting spot into the top five. All eyes were on the race for the lead with Birkhofer gaining the lead over Anderson on lap 45.
As the cars took the halfway signal Birkhofer was starting to enter lapped traffic with Anderson, Shaver, O’Neal and Wallace in the thick of things. Birkhofer however was good in traffic as he cleared at least three lapped cars putting them between himself and Anderson.
The fourth caution on lap 57 for a slowing Freddy Smith would tighten the field once more with Birkhofer still holding the point. On the restart Birkhofer gained a five car length that quickly spread to almost a straightaway lead over Anderson and Shaver.
As the track became a low line track Birkhofer would again encounter more lapped traffic as Anderson was able to close on him with 20 laps remaining. Birkhofer was able to put two lapped cars between himself and Anderson as the laps were winding down. Shaver started to close in on the two frontrunners with Birkhofer’s lead fading to a car length with less than ten laps to go.
The fifth and final caution would come out for Justin Rattliff in turn two with laps left. Anderson had closed right on Birkhofer’s bumper as he was trying an avenue to get by. On the restart Birkhofer would hold his line on the track as he would take his car to the checkers and take the victory by two car lengths. Anderson was second followed by Shaver, O’Neal and Wallace.
In victory lane Birkhofer was presented a champion’s ring by Zales. “I told O’Neal and the other guys that started up front that they might check on me early, but I’ll try to hang around, ” said the winner afterward. “Obviously this place has been good to me winning here last year and I especially want to thank Bill Schlieper of Pro Power Engines, Jeff Daufeldt of Daufeldt Transport and Johnny Johnson of J&J Steel for all of their help. “
Completing the top ten were Steve Casebolt, Dan Schlieper, Billy Moyer, Darren Miller and Donnie Moran.
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