WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW THROUGH ANDERSON By Dave Hascall ANDERSON, Ind. (April 5, 1995) --- Gusty winds of change greeted competitor and fans alike, Saturday for a historic night at the Anderson Speedway. New speedway owners, along with a new management style, were ushered in for the 50th anniversary season of the fabled speedplant. Action Entertainment purchased the facility from Trackside Associates, late last season. The new managers, led by Competition Director R. J. Scott, were making every effort to make the transition smooth for everyone. Did they ever succeed. The Hoosier Park Late Models have a new look for the 1997 season. Template bodies, complete with enclosed rear ends and bumpers have replaced the ingenious but often hideous body styles of years past. A fan quipped, "You can actually tell that Rick Turner, for instance is driving a Pontiac." In the past years, fans had no idea as to the make that drivers were competing in. The Late Models also race for 30 lap features, as opposed to 25. William Mefford and Turner comprised the front row of the 30 lap feature. Mefford appropriated the top spot, as defending points champ Jim Cooper moved to second. Visiting USAC driver Jim Keeker and Darrell Draper tangled in turn 3 on lap 7. Both continued. Cooper's night was spoiled two circuits later as Draper slowed off of turn two. Cooper ran upon his stricken machine and spun. He was placed on the tail. Kenny Tweedy moved his new car to second ahead of Scott Neal, Brian Rievley and Bull Baker. Rievley moved to third with Neal slipping to fourth. Neal's night ended on the final circuit as his driveshaft snapped. Mefford took the first win under the new rules over Tweedy, Rievley, Baker and Cooper. Mefford was happy to break his string of bad luck, "You know that we won those two, two years ago but last year we had nothing but bad luck. It's great to get that first one," he added. Mefford also won the fast heat over Cooper and Rick Rhonemus. Al Grogg won the other heat over Keeker and Jerry Stires. 1997 Figure-8 champ Herb Rose started the season out right by snaring the first Figure-8 feature. He survived a heat race crash to take the win. The 57 year old driver received pressure first from Doug Riddle and then from Rod Phipps. Rose announced, "Yeah I felt 'em back there, but just wait, we're building a new car and Ronnie (his son) will be getting this one. It'll be real interesting!" R. Phipps took second over Riddle, Gene Huston and Terry Malone. D. Riddle won the heat ahead of Malone and Mike Riddle, Jr. Larry Southerland jumped ahead of the crowd at the start of the 25 lap Street Stock headliner and led through much of the event. Benny Blevins assumed the lead on lap 20 in a daring pass through lapped traffic. Southerland's night ended one round later with a broken axle. Blevins won the feature with Chris Bair taking second. Cory Seal, Bret Miles and Neil Huddleston completed the top five. Huddleston, Rob Hazelbaker and Rodney Miliner captured the heat wins. ANDERSON SPEEDWAY SUMMARY: HOOSIER PARK LATE MODELS: FAST TIME: Brian Rievley (Daleville) New Track Record (new rules) FAST HEAT: 1. William Mefford (Knightstown) 2. Jim Cooper (Anderson) 3. Rick Rhonemus (Desoto) SECOND HEAT: 1. Al Grogg (Bluffton) 2. Jim Keeker (Cicero) 3. Jerry Stires (Anderson) 30 LAP FEATURE: 1. Mefford (Knightstown) 2. Kenny Tweedy (Greenfield) 3. Brian Rievley (Daleville) FIGURE-8: HEAT: 1. Doug Riddle (Anderson) 2. Terry Malone (Anderson) 3. Mike Riddle, Jr. (Anderson) 15 LAP FEATURE: 1. Herb Rose (Anderson) 2. Rod Phipps (Anderson) 3. D. Riddle STREET STOCKS: FIRST HEAT: 1. Neil Huddleston (Maxwell) 2. Larry Southerland (Noblesville) 3. Benny Blevins, Jr. (Anderson) SECOND HEAT: 1. Rob Hazelbaker (Anderson) 2. Kenneth Nichols, Jr. (Muncie) 3. Danny Vickerey (Muncie) THIRD HEAT: 1. Rodney Milliner (Anderson) 2. Ryan Cash (Muncie) 3. Brian McVey (Anderson) 25 LAP FEATURE: 1. Blevins 2. Chris Bair (Anderson) 3. Cory Seal (Greenfield)