CONCORD - 5/18/07
By Matt Kentfield
ANDERSON STAYS HOT
Coming into Friday night’s Legends Pro/Masters Division feature, one Pro Driver, Jordan Anderson, came in with the hot shoe. He’s been pulling away from the rest of the field in points, thanks in large part to his consistent victories in the division so far this spring.
But there were a couple of drivers this night who didn’t want to see Anderson’s #19 back in victory lane. When Anderson checked out at the start of the feature, he looked to be cruising for a second-straight Concord victory. But it didn’t take long for Steven Daniels and Thomas Hartensveld to work their way to Anderson’s back bumper.
Daniels took the lead on Anderson with a move down low into the first turn on lap nine. Anderson started peeking his front bumper around Daniels and took the lead with just five laps to go, bringing Hartensveld with him to second. Then Hartensveld began his pursuit of the lead, but Anderson countered all of Hartensveld’s advances to score the win.
“I was just keeping my pace,” said Anderson. “I knew I had a good car at the beginning of the race, but the car started getting loose on me as the race went along. Once Steven got by me, I just set my sights on him. I had to change my line a little bit and I got by Steven, but Thomas was putting the pressure on me. It was a really fun race.
The recent hot streak has come at just the right time for Anderson.
“This is our sixth win of the year and I’m looking for a lot more. We’ve got an awesome season going in Legends Cars and I had a little bit of an off season in Legends Cars last year. We only ran the 10 races of the Shootout last year. After a full season of Legends Cars this year, I’m hoping to move up to the next level. I need to get my name out there and get more exposure to hopefully get a ride in a Late Model somewhere.”
FRIDDLE REBOUNDS IN MASTERS
Larry Friddle, who had been the man to beat in the Masters, was finally taken off his perch atop the division last week by Charles Kiser. Kiser took advantage when Friddle was involved in an incident and went on to score the triumph.
Fittingly, Friday night’s win came down to the defending Masters National Champion Friddle and Kiser once again. Kiser did his best to hold off Friddle as best he could in the closing laps to hopefully score back-to-back victories, but Friddle had just enough at the checkered flag.
“I was just extremely loose,” said Friddle. “I know that I was holding the guy behind me (Kiser) up. I was lucky to hold him off.
“This is our third win of the year so far. I’ve had some bad luck, but I’ve also had a couple second place finish. I enjoy the track and I have a good time racing here, so hopefully we can get a couple more wins before the season’s out.”
KYLE PIERCE IS BOSS HOG IN CHARGERS
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are known for the sleek appearance, plus plenty of power and handling. With Kyle Pierce’s performance Friday night in the Legends Charger feature, it’s no coincidence that Kyle Pierce’s Legends car is painted up in Harley orange and black.
That’s because Pierce dominated the 25-lap with speed and precision that Harley bikes have been providing for years for motorcycle enthusiasts. Pierce smoked the rest of the Charger field, beating Andrew Lloyd and Josh Turner comfortably.
“I was hoping to have a good car like this tonight. The car loosened up so well. It was good all night.”
With such a good car, Pierce wasn’t worried about what was going on behind him. Rather than look in his mirror and risk a mistake, Pierce put his car on a rail.
“I just rail it and hope for the best. I look in the mirror just to see how far they are behind me, but I’m pretty focused on what’s ahead of me.”
ROSS BRINGS DILLON’S STREAK TO AN END
No win streaks last forever, but it was starting to feel like Ty Dillon’s Legends Semi-Pro streak would go on indefinitely. After winning 13 straight events he entered, Dillon was the brightest star in Legends Car racing.
But when one driver has won 13-straight, the rest of the field get fed up with finishing behind someone like Dillon. When Dillon checked out to the early lead in Friday night’s feature, it looked like he was headed for number-14. By lap six, however, Steven Ross had a good run and looked to take the lead, but a caution for the spun car of Zach Zimmerly negated that run.
Kyle Pierce
Jordan Anderson is getting used to doing victory lane celebrations. (LN Photos)
Dillon held the lead on lap seven before another caution came out. The ensuing restart was just what the doctor ordered for Ross. At the drop of the green flag, Ross jumped low and took the lead from Dillon. Ross then checked out.
“All the restarts we had, it seemed like I’d get him (Dillon) and I’d get on the gas sooner than he would,” said Ross. “We went into one the first time and he blocked me. The next caution came out and on the restart, I feel like we got a little better restart than him and drove it in there in one and he slid up when he overdrove the corner. I just went on from there.
As strong as Dillon was, Ross knows that even if the caution had not come out, he was the man to beat this time around.
Steven Ross's winning #88 machine
“If it went green, we would’ve definitely gotten by him. He was holding me up pretty bad. He was blocking me and it was going to get pretty physical if he didn’t move up. That’s racing and that’s how it goes, so we’re happy to get the win.”
Ross has had an impressive spring season at Concord, and Friday night’s win has increased his points lead. As nice as a championship would be, race wins are what he’s after.
“I haven’t even been racing Legends Cars a year now and all I want to do is win races. I’ve got a good points lead and I knew John Stancill got involved in a little wreck and I knew I was going to help my points lead out too, so I just wanted to win. That’s how I got the points lead, just trying to win.”
Legends Pro Results
1. Jordan Anderson
2. Thomas Hartensveld
3. Steven Daniels
4. Kyle Beattie
5. Tim Craver
6. Ken Harris
7. Danny Kapuscinski
Legends Masters Results
1. Larry Friddle
2. Charles Kiser
3. Todd Spears
4. James Stanton
Legends Semi-Pro Chargers
1. Kyle Pierce
2. Andrew Lloyd
3. Josh Turner
4. Nick Hoffman
5. Devin Layser
6, Robert Marmino
7. Travis Payne
Legends Semi-Pro
1. Steven Ross
2. Justin Lloyd
3. Ty Dillon
4. John Stancill
5. Gene Kirila
6. Ryan Blaney
7. Jamie Smith
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Zack Zimmerly
dns Jonathan Ross
dqh Matt Stover
