ANDERSON – Dalton Conner did something not done before at Anderson Speedway by winning both 150-lap CRA Street Stock events.
Conner qualified 11th for the Tom Wood Honda 150 on Saturday but cracked into the top five within 30 laps of the start.
Andrew Teepe took the lead from early race leader Alan Williams on lap 60 when Williams started to deal with a brake problem which also allowed Conner to move into the second spot.
Just two laps before the mid-race break, Conner was able to get inside of Teepe on the front straight.
Following the break, Conner was able to maintain the top spot while Teepe lost several positions on the restart.
Williams recovered to be running second to Conner by lap 100 with Jacob McElfresh, Andrew Cook and Jamie Sites rounding out the top five.
The only caution flag of the night waved on lap 100 when JP Crabtree, subbing for Mike Crisp spun coming offf the fourth corner.
McElfresh moved into the second spot on the restart as several strong cars fell out of contention including Cook and Josh Ebbert Jr.
Conner went on to win by 2.797-seconds over McELfresh with Williams coming home in third to claim the 4 Crown title. Sites came home fourth followed by Teepe.
“The car was definitely on a rail,” Conner said in the Hoosier Lottery Victory Lane. “I knew I had to go before the break because I knew he (Teepe) would be strong after making adjustments.
“I had to pull the trigger there,” he said. “Always fun racing with these guys.”
McElfresh started 10th in the field and didn’t break into the top five until after the break.
“I was really saving my stuff in the first half,” he said. “I didn’t have enough for Dalton; I had enough for everybody else.”
Williams said he lost his brakes while leading during the first brake and the crew was able to make repairs.
“Break is the key work,” Williams said. “We lost the rear brakes with about 15 laps to go, just riding it out.”
He said the brakes went out at the close of the race.
James Kirby sent quick time but his car started billowing smoke before the break and was only able to complete four more circuits.
Josh Poore ran with the leaders early but his night ended at the break with a rear end malfunction.
Race statistics: Time of race, 1:04:37.817; Winning Margin, 2.797-seconds; Lead changes, 2 among 3 drivers; Lap Leaders, Alan Williams 1-60, Andrew Teepe, 61-72, Dalton Conner, 73-150; Cautions: 1
