[STARS Racing]

DEFENDING CHAMP, ANDERSON, STARTS 2012 SEASON WITH WIN
By: Michael J. Guglielmucci

Defending D’Arcy GMC STARS Champion Jimmy Anderson found himself in a familiar place Saturday night, in victory lane to open up the 2012 D’Arcy GMC STARS season. Co-sanctioned with the USAC D1 series, 19 National Midgets filled the pits eyeing down Anderson to knock him off the top. Brad Greenup, last year’s points runner up was the nights fast qualifier. But a mechanical issue prior to the Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash sidelined him for the rest of the night. “It’s definitely not the way we wanted to start our season after setting quick time. Hopefully we can get this fixed and back out here next week”, Greenup stated. Anderson, on the other hand, was fast from the time he rolled out of the trailer. Qualifying second only .008 off of Greenup. He started the 34 lap feature from the seventh spot and quickly made his way to fourth by the completion of lap one. Lap two brought out the nights first caution involving five cars. Anderson didn’t waste any time getting up front after that caution. Four laps later he found himself in second after passing Patrick Wilda Jr. Kyle O’Gara held the top spot until lap 23 when Anderson took that spot away. Leading the final 11 laps, Anderson put his Packard Transport/ Mr. B’s Bar & Grill/Midwest Supplies/Beast/Mopar on cruise control and never had any threat of losing the spot. “It’s been a long off season and this is what we had our minds on the whole time, coming out here the first week and putting this car in victory lane”, said Anderson following the race. Following Anderson at the stripe was Wilda, O’Gara, Travis Young, and Tyler Cottongim.

The Town and Country Lanes Classic Modified series had a different look to its field. The past three champions were not in the lineup for Saturday nights feature. Nick O’Dell, Mike Anderson and Ed Ensor have all moved on and have made way for new and up and coming drivers. Anderson made his midget debut in the Illini Racing Series sportsman division Saturday finishing third. Ensor stepped out of the number 16 classic modified in 2012 to make way for his daughter Erica who finished third in her classic modified debut. Jeff Slayton was the top man of the night picking up the fast qualifier and the 15 lap feature win. It wasn’t an easy night for Slayton, who hails from Michigan. On lap 1 of the heat race he found himself in the turn two wall. Slayton went on to fix his car and pick up his first win of 2012. Trailing Slayton at the line was George Pershey, Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash winner Erica Ensor, Scott Struthers and Ernie McGeorge.

The INEX Legends Series had a familiar face pull into victory lane. 2011 Champion Andy Jones stole the show on Saturday with a margin of victory of over 2 seconds and second place finisher Rachael Pinkerman. Brian Tedeschi came home in third and also picked up the heat race win. Jones took home the Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash and was the night’s fast qualifier. Rounding out the top five was Chris King and Anthony Metallo.

Jaret James was the first winner of 2012 in the CSR Super Cups. James cleaned house picking up fast qualifier, Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash, and heat race wins. Jordan Caskey, Mike Harrold, Jamie Domski and Austin Kunert completed the top five.

Saturday June 9th will be “Baseball at the Track” night at the Grundy County Speedway. Pit Gates open at 2:00 pm with spectator gates opening at 5:00 and the first race beginning at 6:30. For information on the D’Arcy GMC Short Track Auto Racing Series log on to www.stars-racing.com, “Like” them on Facebook www.facebook.com/shorttrackauto, or follow them on Twitter @shorttrackauto.




FINAL RESULTS

QUALIFICATIONS- 1. Brad Greenup, 4G, Greenup- 14.352; 2. Jimmy Anderson, 36, Guess- 14.360; 3. Tyler Cottongim, 28, Cottongim- 14.397; 4. Patrick Wilda Jr., 33, Wilda- 14.401; 5. Aaron Andruskevitch, 5, Domark- 14.464; 6. Kyle O’Gara, 67, SFHR- 14.573; 7. Austin Prock,41, Prock/TSR- 14.589; 8.Travis Young, 11, Young- 14.645; 9. Tom Schnabel, 20s, Schnabel- 14.683; 10. Grant Galloway, 16, Galloway- 14.688; 11. James Robertson, 7k, Irwin- 14.740; 12. Nick Wagner, 93, Wagner- 14.808; 13. Tyler Trainor, 25, Trainor- 14.864; 14. Isaac Chapple, 52c, ICR- 14.886; 15. Robbie Ray, 3r, Raypro- 14.901; 16. Ryan Probst, 99, Probst- 14.934; 17. Terry Ahern, 6T6, Ahern- 15.267; 18. Paul Ballinger, 12, Ballinger- 15.529; 19. Rich Drangmeister, 3d, Drangmeister- 16.670

TROPHY DASH (4 laps)- 1. Wilda 2. Anderson 3. Cottongim 4. Greenup

FIRST HEAT (8 laps) 1. Galloway 2. Wilda 3. Prock 4. Ray 5. Probst 6. Trainor

SECOND HEAT (8 laps) 1. Chapple 2. Young 3. Andruskevitch 4. Anderson 5. Ahern 6. Robertson

THIRD HEAT (8 laps) 1. Cottongim 2. Schnabel 3. Wagner 4. O’Gara 5. Drangmeister 6. Ballinger

FEATURE (34 laps) 1. Jimmy Anderson 2. Patrick Wilda Jr. 3. Kyle O’Gara 4. Travis Young 5. Tyler Cottongim 6. James Robertson 7. Grant Galloway 8. Nick Wagner 9. Terry Ahern 10. Austin Prock 11.Tom Schnabel 12. Tyler Trainor 13. Rich Drangmeister 14. Aaron Andruskevitch 15. Isaac Chapple 16. Robbie Ray 17. Ryan Probst 18. Brad Greenup (DNS) 19. Paul Ballinger (DNS)

[Danny Burton]

That was one nice article on Jim in this month's Sprint Car and Midget.

[Anderson36]

Thanks Danny,

Pat did an awesome job as always. I was honored to receive that phone call months ago that it was going to happen.

Thanks again,
Jimmy Anderson