ANDERSON — For the next consecutive 12 months, Kyle O’Gara captured the yearly working of the Glen Niebel Classic at Anderson Speedway.
O’Gara led all 75 laps Saturday all around the higher-banked quarter-mile oval, pulling into the Peterman Brother’s Victory Lane for the opener of the 500 Sprint Auto Tour presented by Car Benefit Bumper to Bumper Elements Merchants.
Kody Swanson was the swiftest of the 26 non-wing dash vehicles, with the invert putting O’Gara and Taylor Ferns on the front row.
O’Gara, hunting for a repeat of his 2022 get, jumped into the direct at the start off chased by Ferns, Billy Wease, Dakoda Armstrong and Swanson.
The prime eight autos ran in a restricted bunch with the to start with caution flag waving on Lap 27 for a spin by Isaac Chapple.
O’Gara was in a position to manage the guide around Ferns, who was looking for an possibility to make an inside move.
The final warning flag waved on Lap 37 when Jacob McElfresh created get hold of with the back straight wall.
O’Gara’s car or truck acquired stronger as the laps continued to tick off, with Tyler Roahrig searching for a way to get around Swanson for fifth.
At the checkers, it was O’Gara profitable by 3.6 seconds over Ferns with Armstrong nipping Wease for third.
“We had a seriously excellent auto tonight,” O’Gara mentioned. “It showed in apply, but we did not get the qualifying run we wished. I fell into the invert really superior.
“The workforce worked all wintertime on this auto. We’re here to earn.”
O’Gara explained he modified on the motor vehicle during the race, and right after Lap 50 “we seriously stepped up” and were being capable to make the change.
Ferns stated it was a make a difference of which driver obtained the gain at the start out.
“We know how Anderson is,” she reported. “I understood at the commencing it was going to be who bought out front to start with. He saved producing a bunch of errors, but I was not in a position to capitalize.
“Wish we could have received but to start out the year solid.”
Armstrong said lapped visitors performed a part in the final result.
“We ended up coming up to lapped website traffic it seemed like just about every four laps,” he mentioned. “I obtained a fantastic adequate operate at the end to capture Billy (Wease) at the line. I consider we experienced a automobile fantastic plenty of to contend but just couldn’t get there.”
Justin Harper took manage of the B-Principal on the remaining lap when early leader Jim Sheets spun in Flip 2.
Defending Kenyon Midget champion Dameron Taylor opened the 2023 campaign with a repeat get in the Dick Jordan Classic.
Dezi Pedregon and Tanner Tecco begun on the entrance row following the 6-car invert with Pedregon having the early guide chased by Ryan Huggler and Taylor.
Taylor moved into the 2nd spot on the 2nd circuit, and the race was pink-flagged a lap later when Huggler’s automobile went up in a ball of flames and gathered Tecco. Neither driver was injured.
Pursuing the restart, Taylor and quick-qualifier Ayrton Houk was able to slip inside of Pedregon on the again straight.
The driver on the shift was Clayton Gaines who picked up three places concerning Lap 7 and 12 to be working third right before the midway place.
Taylor went on to earn by 1.3 seconds about Houk with Gaines, Kyle Ford and John Robbins rounding out the best 5.
Speedy-qualifier Noah Allison worked his way by means of the discipline of the Classic Wrench Crown Vic Division, getting the direct with two laps remaining to seize the function.
Adam Lee, Rickie Tharp II, Colson Gray and TJ Moore rounded out the top rated five.
Observe Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or get in touch with 765-640-4863.
