Macenko scores Anderson victory
Darrell Harper photo
By Ken de la Bastide
ANDERSON – After years of waiting for a win at Anderson Speedway, Ohio driver Jackson Macenko accomplished the feat. Macenko the current Kenyon Midget point leader won for the third time this season during the Gene Nolen Classic night presented by the Tin Plate and CB Fabricating.
Kyle Ford set fast time during qualifications for the first time in his career capturing the K&K Marketing Fast Qualifier Award, but with an inversion of four it put Clayton Gaines and Dameron Taylor on the front row.
Gaines took the early lead with Macenko moving into the second spot on the opening lap.
The red flag waved when Jason Fuller got loose in turn two hitting the outside retaining wall and flipping. Fuller was unhurt.
On the restart Macenko grabbed the top spot with an inside pass of Gaines entering turn three and just two laps later Taylor made a similar move.
Macenko opened a comfortable lead until the second red flag of the race came out when Taylor made contact with a slower car and flipped in turn four. Taylor was uninjured.
That put Thomas Schrage on the front row to challenge Macenko for the victory. Macenko pulled away to win by 1.8-seconds over Schrage with Ford, Gaines and Ryan Huggler rounding out the top five.
“I definitely didn't want to see the red flag,” Macenko said in the Riley & Sons Victory Lane. “I was in a good rhythm when the red flag came out. I'm glad Dameron (Taylor) is okay.”
Macenko said he has been close to winning at Anderson in the past.
“It's about time,” he said. “I've been close so many times. I wasn't letting this one slip away. I got a great launch on the final restart.”
Schrage, who won earlier at Anderson, said he expected to challenge for the win on the last restart. “I knew we were fast on the long runs,” Schrage said. “Unfortunately he (Macenko) got a good jump on the start and I had to defend my position.”
Schrage also took home the Advanced Racing Suspensions Hard Charger award finishing second after starting fifth in the field.
Ford said his car was dialed in for the race and it was really quick all night. “It was a good battle at the end,” he said of challenging for the second spot.”
Taylor and Macenko were the winners in the two heat races, both leading the entire distance.