Junction Motor Speedway
Anderson's fifth MLRA victory pays $3,000
By Trenton Berry
RacinDirt.com
John Anderson celebrates his $3,000 victory. (fasttrackphotos.net)
McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (Aug. 11) — After a third-place effort during Friday night’s opening round of Junction Motor Speedway's two-race King of the Hill weekend, John Anderson only needed a little rest to improve his finish by two spots in Saturday's event.
Recovering from a slight illness that hampered his efforts the previous night, Anderson of Omaha, Neb., raced to a flag-to-flag victory in Saturday night’s 30-lapper, earning a $3,000 victory co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association and the National Championship Racing Association. | Slideshow
"We had a pretty good car all weekend; I was just under the weather last night,” said Anderson, the MLRA points leader who earned his fifth series victory of the season. “I got a good night's sleep and everything went well. All the guys worked hard and that's why we're here."
The pole-starting Anderson led a top-three finish that was the same from the previous night’s race, only inverted. Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., scored his second runner-up finish of the weekend, while Friday’s winner, Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., finished third. Bill Leighton of Omaha, Neb., finished fourth with Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Neb., rounding out the top five.
Stovall closed in on Anderson late in the race as the final 17 laps ran caution free. He came up just short in settling for the second spot.
"It's always good to finish up in the top three," commented Stovall. "I feel like if you're in the top three you're in the hunt."
Climbing as high as second, Berck flirted with the front before letting Stovall slip by him late in the race.
"John had the best car and that was obvious," Berck said. "Early on we thought we could run him down and deal with him. The longer the race went the worse we got."
Notes: Anderson’s Greg Junghans-owned MasterSbilt Race Car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Shop Quik Convenience Stores, Turbo Car Wash, Allstar Performance and the FAITH Youth Team. … Anderson last won at Junction Motor Speedway in 2008. … Four cautions slowed the race, none for major accidents. … Anderson posted the fastest lap during the feature with a lap of 18.1 seconds during the early going. … NCRA point leader Tommy Weder, Jr. padded his point lead with a seventh-place finish, setting up a showdown with Gary Gorby in the series finale Sept. 7 at Belleville (Kan.) High Banks.
King of the Hill: (1) John Anderson, (2) Jesse Stovall, (3) Kyle Berck, (4) Bill Leighton Jr., (5) Tad Pospisil, (6) Mark Dotson, (7) Tommy Weder Jr., (8) Travis Dickes, (9) Bill Koons, (10) Jason Bodenhamer, (11) Allen Murray, (12) Gary Gorby, (13) Chase Junghans, (14) Mike Collins, (15) Corey Zeitner, (16) Chad Dolan, (17) Andrew Kosiski, (18) Robbie Andersen, (19) Dustin Walker, (20) Justin Gregg, (21) Scott Koskovich, (22) Mollee Collins, (23) Chris Avery, (24) Steve Kempt. Heat race winners (among 29 cars): Anderson, Dotson, Stovall.
