| LAPPED TRAFFIC PROVIDES ANDERSON BREAK IN GATORADE ALL PRO SERIES | by Thom Watson
(KNS)LAKELAND, FL: Usually when the leader is lapping traffic it’s a good thing. It means the car is fast and the driver is doing all the right things. There is one instance when lapping traffic can be a bad thing. Saturday night late in the race, Billy Bigley, Jr. found out the hard way how it can be a bad thing to get into the lapped cars. After being dogged by Wildwood’s Wayne Anderson for 40 laps, Bigley went down low in turn one and got caught behind the car of Brian Smith. This slowed him down just enough for Anderson to shoot to the outside and take the lead on lap 183. Anderson then went on to take the win in the Discount Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Gatorade All Pro series at USA International Speedway.
In the season’s third race, last weeks winner in Nashville, Wayne Anderson, started on the front row. Jeff Fultz took the outside pole. Bigley started the 200-lap race in fifth and quickly moved into third by lap three. On lap 12, Billy Mills and Jody Lavender went for a synchronized spin at opposite ends of the speedway. During the caution laps, and with the pits still closed, Casey Yunik came down pit road with fire under the hood and spreading to the cockpit. The fire was quickly brought under control and Yunik was able to return to the race.
On the ensuing restart, Fast Eddie Mercer, developed engine problems coming off turn four and coasted all the way around the track and pulled behind the wall. Mercer, who had won a Late Model Race at Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway on Friday night, was out of contention, although he did return later. Bigley finally got around Fultz and into second place. While Bigley was breathing hard on Fultz’ rear bumper, Anderson was building a six car length lead and getting into lapped traffic. Fultz and the lapped car of Lakeland’s Chris Fontaine tangled in turn three and Fultz was done for the evening.
On lap 50, a nine-car pile-up in turn blocked most of the track, but only the car of Darrell Brown was unable to continue under power. Brown hit the inside wall, then shot hard into the turn one wall hard. Brown was able to get out of his car and appeared ok, but understandably shaken. A red flag was thrown because of all the debris and speedy dry on the track.
Anderson and Bigley continued to pull away form the field and only the caution flags kept everyone else close to them. On lap 93, Brian Smith’s spin in turn four brought out the yellow. All the leaders came down pit road for tires. David Reutimann, who had pitted and taken on four tires on a lap 42 pit stop inherited the lead and was the leader at the halfway mark. On fresh tires, it took three more laps for the Anderson and Bigley show to get into the top five.
Reutimann was able to build an eight-car length lead, but Anderson and Bigley were on the move. On lap 119, Ladson Gordon spun in turn four to bring out the caution. On the restart, Anderson and Bigley passed Reutimann and the race was on. Bigley took the lead on lap 144 and was able to hold on until he got caught in lapped traffic and Anderson passed him 17 laps from the finish. Anderson built up a five car lead and looked well on his way to a second straight win, but a lap 195 spin by Brian Hoppe brought out a caution and set up a green-white-checker finish. Anderson got a great jump and Bigley was not able to mount a threat for the win.
“Was that a great race between me and Billy or what”? yelled Wayne Anderson as he was interviewed in victory lane. “I’m glad Billy is in the truck series, he will do us proud, coming out of the All Pro Series” continued Anderson. Billy Bigley was asked how he liked coming in second to Anderson. “Well I know how to spell Janni-King really well now’, said Bigley.
With the win, Wayne Anderson ties Freddie Query for the all time lead in wins with 17. The NASCAR Gatorade All Pro Series heads to Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, South Carolina on April 28.
1. ( 1) Wayne Anderson, Chevrolet, 203, $9,400
2. ( 5) Billy Bigley Jr., Chevrolet, 203, $5,525
3. ( 6) Scott Carlson, Chevrolet, 203, $3,025
4. (13) David Reutimann, Chevrolet, 203, $2,700
5. (10) Shane Sieg, Chevrolet, 203, $2,250
6. ( 7) Randy Gentry, Chevrolet, 203, $1,900
7. ( 3) Kevin Prince, Chevrolet, 203, $1,800
8. (15) Jody Ridley, Ford, 203, $1,100
9. (22) Jody Lavender, Chevrolet, 203, $1,330
10. (29) Stanley Smith, Chevrolet, 203, $1,100
11. (25) Chad Bland, Chevrolet, 203, $1,330
12. ( 8) Ryan Crane, Chevrolet, 202, $1,400
13. (26) Ray Skillman, Ford, 202, $950
14. (28) Richie Beasley, Chevrolet, 202, $950
15. (27) Wayne Bowen, Chevrolet, 202, $800
16. (19) John Gerstner, Chevrolet, 199, Suspension, $1,050
17. (32) Casey Yunick, Chevrolet, 196, $1,230
18. (20) Brian Hoppe, Chevrolet, 195, Accident, $700
19. ( 4) Brjan Smith, Chevrolet, 190, $1,280
20. (30) Greg Pope, Chevrolet, 177, $1,060
21. (21) Ken Weaver, Chevrolet, 167, $1,140
22. ( 9) Eddie Mercer, Chevrolet, 154, RearEnd, $620
23. (18) Steven Howard, Chevrolet, 152, RearEnd, $1,000
24. (14) Conrad Burr, Chevrolet, 145, Accident, $580
25. (16) A. J. Frank, Chevrolet, 144, $1,070
26. (31) Chris Fontaine, Chevrolet, 121, Accident, $610
27. (17) Benny Gordon, Pontiac, 1117, RearEnd, $1,050
28. (11) Charlie Bradberry, Chevrolet, 80, Overheating, $540
29. (36) Michael Britt, Chevrolet, 67, Accident, $530
30. (24) Larry Raines, Chevrolet, 63, Engine, $520
31. (23) Shane Sawyer, Chevrolet, 62, Overhearing, $510
32. (12) Darrell Brown, Chevrolet, 50, Accient, $500
33. (34) Kevin Bryant, Chevrolet, 50, Accident, $800
34. ( 2) Jeff Fultz, Chevrolet, 39, Accident, $1,200
35. (33) Billy Mills, Chevrolet, 11, Accident, $800
36. (35) Allen Karnes, Chevrolet, 0, $500
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