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| Anderson Holds Off Morris To Take S.A.R.A. Late Model Win | by Rick Anges
(KNS) Twenty cars took time in qualifying for the one hundred lap Southern Automobile Racing Association’s second race of the young season at Charlotte County Speedway. While several cars made were able to break into the fifteen second range it was local Late Model driver Mike Hovis #29 making it around the quickest stopping the clocks with a 15:528 second lap to take the fast qualifier spot.
The first six rows were inverted by a roll of the dice, which put Jeff Dufresne #34 and #5 Joe Boyd on the front row. Boyd had been having a tough time getting his car hooked up to the tough Charlotte surface and commented “ I feel like John Force going down the straights” referring to the long burn-outs Force does in his Funny Car.
With a great crowd on hand, the drivers took the green flag but the caution flew before a lap could be completed as three cars tangled coming out of tough turn three. One of the cars involved in the fray was Mike Hovis #29 who sustained damage. He dove in the pits and came back out on the tail end of the field for the complete re-start.
Dufresne and Boyd led the field back to the green with Boyd trying the outside line to take the early lead but Dufresne hung tough and Boyd was stuck on the outside and faded back in the pack. Dufresne appeared to have mechanical problems and lost quite a few positions before picking up speed again. This put the #95 of Richie Anderson on the point ahead of Brent Oneil #60.
Local fan favorite Brad Barkis in the #10x took it a little to hot trying to get by the #36 of Al Fredette coming out of turn two and brought out the yellow as looped the fast machine. Brads car was damaged beyond repair and he retired for the night on lap 10. Fredette make a quick dive into the pits and was able to continue. Meanwhile the other #10 of Steve Dorer who is tied for the points lead with Joe Boyd and who won the first S.A.R.A. race at DeSoto Speedway was making steady strides through the field towards the front-runners.
Boyd’s night wasn’t going as good as he was caught up in a wreck with Kendrick Gomez #21 trying to avoid the spinning Chad Allman #12. Boyd’s rear suspension suffered some severe damage. His crew eventually got him back out on the track and Boyd was able to salvage a seventeenth place finish.
Oniel was still giving Anderson all he could handle but tapped the rear bumper of the #95 car and slid high allowing short track ace Wayne Morris #56 slide by and take the second spot. Dan Crowe spun bringing out a yellow, Anderson and Morris were able to get by but the #60 of Oneil was not so lucky plowing into the rear of another car ending his night after a good run.
Anderson was a master of re-starts in the caution filled race “ I could see he (Morris) was getting a jump on me on the starts so I just waited until the cone to fire” said the crafty Anderson. Morris tried everything he could to get around the #95 but it was to no avail as Anderson took a solid victory at his home track. Morris crossed the line in the second, point’s leader Steve Dorer #10 was third, Hovis took fourth and rounding out the top five was the #12s of Joe Sumansky.
Al Fredette #36 gave everyone a scare as on the last lap he slammed into the turn 3 wall hard and his car burst into flames. The fast acting safety crew was right on top of the situation and had the fire out and driver safely away from the car avoiding a near tragedy.
Pos. car# Driver
1. 95 Richie Anderson
2. 56 Wayne Morris
3. 10 Steve Dorer
4. 29 Mike Hovis
5. 12s Joe Sumansky
6. 57 Joe Winchell
7. 75 Martin Pierce
8. 34 Jeff Dufresne
9. 88 Randy Fox
10. 74 Richie Henry
11. 21 Kendrick Gomez
12. 36 Al Fredette
13. 94 Chuck Wolfe
14. 26 Dan Crowe
15. 12 Chad Allman
16. 2 Kevin Brickley
17. 5 Joe Boyd
18. 60 Brent Oneill
19. 62 Buzz Martin
20. 10x Brad Barkis
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