Anderson, IN – – Jeff Marcum made it three Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS wins in a row Saturday night at Anderson Speedway, getting his seventh total Late Model Sportsman win in a row at that track, including two CRA wins and five Anderson Speedway McGunegill Engine Performance Late Model wins. Marcum also won the series Triple Crown event at Mt. Lawn Speedway on July 1st.
After setting fast time during Allstar Performance qualifications on Edgewater Waters Alzheimer Awareness Night, Marcum started fifth following the invert, which put Dustin Burge and Tony Brutti on the front row. Burge took the lead at the start chased by Brutti, Brandon Varney, Ronnie Rose and Marcum.
The first of five caution flags waved on lap 17 for a spin by Joe Beaver in the second corner and on the restart Varney passed Brutti for the second spot with Marcum getting around Rose.
The caution flag waved after one lap for an incident in turn two involving Zachary Tinkle and Buddy Davis, with both drivers able to continue.
The running order remained unchanged when Rich Segvich got loose coming off the fourth corner on the 36th circuit and made hard contact with a safety barrier on the inside of the track.
Following the restart Marcum passed Brutti for the third spot using the outside line on the front straight. He used the outside groove on lap 48 to pass Varney on the back straight and then took the lead from Burge on the front straight.
A caution flag on lap 66 caused when Burge spun on the back straight, wiped out Marcum’s lead and a final caution came on lap 72 when Rose spun on the back straight. On both final restarts Brutti tried to use the high line to make the pass for the lead, but was never able to clear Marcum’s Chevrolet.
Marcum went on to win by .683-seconds over Brutti with Billy Hutson, Burge and KC Spillers rounding out the top five.
“I closed my eyes and put my foot in it,” Marcum said of the outside pass for the lead in the Star Financial Winner’s Circle. “The competition was really tight and I definitely had to work for the win.”
Marcum said his rear tires were used up toward the end of the race and was concerned Brutti would make the pass. Brutti said the team had a good race car, but just a little bit off.
“Jeff (Marcum) was just a little better on the restarts,” Brutti remarked. “I could run with him for a few laps.”
Hutson said it was the best race car he had at Anderson Speedway for several years.
“We were a lot better than for the 100-lap race a few weeks ago,” he said. “We were still tight in the corners.”
Marcum picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the race for his two outside passes on lap 48 to grab second, then the lead. Marcum also earned the Spillers Towing Hardcharger Award for the event, gaining four positions.
Neil McClelland picked up the Racer Parts Wholesale Sweet Move of the Race Award for overcoming early transmission issues, then a miss in the engine to start last on the field. He finished 12th in the event, two laps down.
The next Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman event will be the final leg of the Triple Crown Series on Saturday, August 18th at Baer Field Speedway. Information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
By: Ken de la Bastide
