ANDERSON — Eddie VanMeter used patience and experience to his advantage to claim the International Outlaw Figure 8 Series event at Anderson Speedway on Friday night.
It was VanMeter’s first career IOFS victory, and he becomes the third winner in as many events thus far in 2009.
Twenty-three cars were on hand as the series made its first visit of the year to the unofficial home of the IOFS, Anderson Speedway. Current series point leader Gary Bedell was the Edco Welding fast qualifier with a lap of 16.957 seconds. Heat races went to: Johnny Magee, Eddie VanMeter and RJ Norton III.
A 15 pill was drawn just prior to the feature insuring that fans were in for a treat. Fast qualifier Gary Bedell would have to start no less than 15th in the 50-lap IOFS main event.
The front row would find Johnny Magee and Jeff Hizer taking the green flag from starter Ron Sheedy. Jeff Hizer got the jump and led the opening laps. Within seconds, the “X” began to get crowded. The leaders began encountering close calls as they wove through the slower cars. Rick Fenwick was beginning to work his way to the front with VanMeter trailing closely. The two would put on a driving exhibition as they worked around slower cars that were virtually all over the speedway. Fenwick took the lead near the lap 10 mark. Vanmeter began to challenge Fenwick who seemed to be getting around the lapped cars with ease.
Just after the halfway point, Fenwick was forced to the pits with a flat right rear tire. VanMeter now had to contend with Jeff Shackleford, who had started last in a backup car. VanMeter was able to get around lapped cars quickly the final 20 laps, holding on to claim his first-ever IOFS main event.
Local Sports
VanMeter masters high banks
- Local Sports
-
-
Anderson tankers ready for sectional
It has been a long time since the Anderson High School boys’ swim team last dipped its toes into competitive waters. Nearly a month, in fact. That will change when the team travels to Hamilton Southeastern for sectional preliminaries this Thursday.
-
George Bremer: Dunham tied to Arabians
Pendleton Heights senior Kellen Dunham is one of three players widely considered to be the front-runners for this season’s Indiana Mr. Basketball award. The other two — Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris and Park Tudor’s Yogi Ferrell — were named last week as participants in this spring’s McDonald’s All-American Game. Dunham was left out. That doesn’t kill his chances to win the state’s most coveted individual honor, but it does inextricably tie those hopes to the Arabians’ postseason fortunes.
-
Two individuals, one team to bowling state finals
The high school bowling semistate held Saturday at Cooper’s Sport Bowl narrowed down the field of local bowlers, advancing only two individuals and one team to the state finals next weekend.
-
Rick Teverbaugh: Anderson's Carter small but her speed is deadly
There are sometimes very big reasons for a team to win a basketball game.
Sometimes, the reason is very small.
In the case of the Anderson Lady Tribe, they won the Greenfield Sectional championship Saturday night for a very small reason — a 5-foot-4 reason, to be exact. -
Arabians' Todd fulfills promise on mat
Pendleton Heights' Mason Todd improved his season record to 37-0 en route to winning the 120-pound title at the New Castle Fieldhouse. He will be one of four local wrestlers to participate in the Parade of Champions to kick off the 74th IHSAA Individual State Tournament on Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
-
Ravens soar past Grizzlies
The Anderson University men’s basketball team has been in tournament mode for the past three weeks.
But the Ravens took a big step toward the actual postseason Saturday afternoon with a 79-65 victory against Franklin in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play. -
AU women fall to HCAC leaders
The Anderson University women’s basketball team lost to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference leader Franklin College 68-43 on Saturday at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium on Senior Day.
-
Raiders run by Broncos
Daleville surprised almost everyone in Sectional 55 by hanging with Southern Wells (18-6) before bowing out 44-27 in the championship game Saturday at Wes-Del.
-
Lady Tribe captures sectional crown
Photos from the sectional championship between Anderson and Pendleton Heights on Saturday.
-
Indians defeat Arabians in girls basketball sectional final
Anderson held Pendleton Heights to two points in the fourth quarter and brought down the three-time girls basketball sectional champion Arabians 40-38 Saturday.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
