Anderson Blasts to Third Ironman Late Model Win
Walsh a Stunner in Modified Go!
By Steve Birmingham
August 7, 2004; Granite City, IL -Justin Anderson set a torrid pace for 25 laps to fight off Tommy Kranel and win his third Dodge Ironman Late Model feature Saturday during Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Racing Series action at Tri-City Speedway.
Anderson set the pace from the drop of the green while Shannon Kuhn, Krankel and Ken Rumble fought like dogs to take the second spot. Within a few laps Steve Meyer, Jr., and Dick Taylor joined the fray soon all five were battling behind Anderson for the runner-up spot. As Anderson and Krankel ran up on lapped traffic the two leaders split a lapped car at the finish of lap 10 with Krankel eeking out a one-foot lead. One lap later Rumble fell out of the battle and Taylor moved to within striking distance. Krankel was finally able to stretch out to a one-length lead but Anderson made an outside pass down the backstretch with three to go and once in front was never headed. Chasing him across the line were Krankel, Taylor, Meyer, Jr., and Kuhn. The qualifying heats were won by Mark Steinwagner and Meyer, Jr.
Former Tri-City champion Ray Walsh made his first regular season appearance in the Budweiser Modified division and turned in the drive of the season. Walsh missed qualifying through his heat and had to run from the back of the Semi to nab the final transfer on the last lap. Starting 18th of 19 cars, Walsh went to the top and bulled his way to the front with several laps to spare to win his first of the year. Trailing in the distance were Bobby Martintoni, Ed Lenhardt, John Stanton and Ricky Huebner. The heats went to Stu Springer, Martintoni and Gary Haynes. Kasey Burch won the Semi.
Defending champion Terry Chester raced to his first Mouintain Dew Sportsman win of the season, besting Marty Kopp, Steve Maisel, Paul Jones and Rick Squires. The heats fell to Squires, Don Patton and Bert Jacoby.
Brandon Hogenson nailed his third Domino's Street Stock victory of the year, racing home ahead of Brad Yotter, Jason Stanton, Josh Jackson and Andy Beavers. The heats were won by Mark Pflueger, Darin Wilson and Brad Gilleland; the Semi went to Darin Patton.
Aaron Wood continued his dominance over the Auto Trader Factory Stock, notching his sixth of the season over David Pulley, Jr., Todd Erickson, Robert Crawford, Jr., and David Smith. Gary Price and Erickson won the heats.