Night of Thrills offers big spills

By Adam Wire

Fri, May 16 2008

— ANDERSON — Anderson Speedway’s twice-annual Night of Thrills has delivered its share of collisions and near misses through the years. Saturday night’s action, according to School Bus Figure-8 winner Danny Stanley Jr., did a little better.
“Tonight, it was crazy,” the Anderson resident said, shortly after winning one of the event’s more popular features. “It’s a fun night. You know you’re going to see something crazy.”
From multiple school bus collisions to obliterated trailers, the estimated crowd of 3,500 still managed to see some racing, and some victories as well.
It was a night Rhonda Carr isn’t likely to forget anytime soon. The Anderson resident won the Powder Puff Front-Wheel Drive Feature, in only her second race at the track.
For Carr, whose father, David Sr., and son, David Jr., have been racing fanatics, the night was a special one.
“It’s a family thing,” Carr said. “I used to tell my dad and brother that I’d race. They laughed at me, but now they’re not.”
Carr edged Carrie Gibson, Anderson, to take the eight-lap feature. Stanley held off Mike Day, Anderson, and Jake Owens, Anderson, to take the school bus feature.
In the Trailer Race, Mike Warrell, Muncie, won in a field that was nearly empty by race’s end. He held off the only two remaining competitors, Nathan Burgess, Muncie, and Casey Smith, Muncie to win the night’s next-to-last feature. The rollover contest ended too late for publication.
David Moyes III, Cottontown, Tenn., won the Newco Metal Legends feature, one of the few regular events that took place Saturday. He defeated Alex Arelano, Frankfort, Ill., to win the 25-lap feature.
Robin Cullen, Anderson, won the Powder Puff School Bus Feature, which produced arguably the night’s wildest crash. Two buses collided in the figure-8 on the fifth lap, and their momentum carried them into the retaining wall at the start-finish line, mangling the stand on which the flag-waver stands in the process. No one was hurt in the collision.
Stanley intended to use one of the buses involved in the collision in the men’s race, but won with a different bus.
He said the number and intensity of collisions were due in part to the number of participants. He said the event normally is conducted in two divisions, but nine buses ran in one heat this time. Ten buses started the Powder Puff School Bus Feature.
“You’ve just got to go, and hope you don’t roll,” Stanley said.
Ronnie Phipps, Middletown, added to his list of Anderson Speedway victories by cruising to a title in the Cork Screw race. Nick Warner, Anderson, was second, followed by Mark Dulworth, Middletown.
Dave Looper won The Herald Bulletin Paper Drop, in which drivers raced to a THB newspaper tube and attempted to insert a paper. Those who missed the tube were assessed a five-second penalty. Josh Walker was second, and Josh Ebbert was third.

Night of Thrills
Anderson Speedway
Saturday
Top three finishers in each event
Powder Puff FWD Feature
1. Rhonda Carr
2. Carrie Gibson
3. Dixie Rumler
Powder Puff School Bus Feature
1. Robin Cullen
2. Teresa Dowden
3. Bobbi Jo Elliott
Cork Screw Race
1. Ronnie Phipps
2. Nick Warner
3. Mark Dulworth
The Herald Bulletin Paper Drop
1. Dave Looper
2. Josh Walker
3. Josh Ebbert
Newco Metal Legends
1. David Moyes III
2. Alex Arelano
3. Craig Haack
School Bus Feature
1. Danny Stanley Jr.
2. Mike Day
3. Jake Owens
Trailor Races
1. Mike Warrell
2. Nathan Burgess
3. Casey Smith

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