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| Anderson Starts Florida Pro Series Tilte Defense | by Marty Little
Defending Florida Pro Series champion Dick Anderson started dead last in a borrowed car and ran to the victory in the season opener for the late model tour Saturday night at Columbia Motorsports Park.
Using a second car from the Simmons Motorsports team, Anderson elected to change tires after qualifying and began the 125-lap run on the tail of the 16-car field on the banked half-mile oval.
Pole sitter Michael Faulk led the first 19 laps in the Pierce Ford before engine woes sent him to the sideline and Justin Drawdy, the other front row starter, picked up the top spot. Drawdy's lead was short lived as his mount began to overheat, finally spinning and spewing water all over the fourth turn on lap 23. Fast qualifier Jonny Kay was unable to avoid the liquid and slammed the fourth turn wall to end his night.
Mac Johnson was the new leader and he and challenger Jonathan Brown engaged in a fierce battle before they tangled on lap 43 with Brown's mount sliding off the outside of turn 3. Both were sent to the rear of the field on the restart with Anderson assuming the top spot for the first time on lap 44. Young Jay Middleton took up the challenge of Andeson in the classic veteran vs. the up and comer. Brown had worked his way back to the top five and began to challenge Middleton before the two made contact with Middleton a spin victim. David Browning and Brian Finney had no where to go and both contact with Middleton, ending the night for all three.
On the restart Johnson put his No. 6 in Anderson's shadow and they ran to the checkers in that order. Brown, Eddie Gainey and Kevin Dicks rounded out the top five finishers.
In support division action John Crawford made his comeback successful as he won the 20-lap Florida modified feature over Roger Webb and J.F. McClellan. Tim Conrad ran to a wire to wire win in the 20-lap street stock main over Brad Fiene and Gale Grayer while Marty Wood bested the pure stocks over Matt Stafford and Harry Stickle.
The Florida Pro tour now moves to Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda on April 6.
RESULTS
Florida Pro Series 125: 1. Dick Anderson, 2. Mac Johnson, 3. Jonathan Brown, 4. Eddie Gainey, 5. Kevin Dicks, 6. Brother Simmons, 7. Todd Franz, 8. Jay Middleton, 9. David Browning, 10. Brian Finney, 11. David Hodges Jr., 12. Doyle Boatwright, 13. Sam Clark Jr., 14. Justin Drawdy, 15. Jonny Kay, 16. Michael Faulk.
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