Rookies show promise at season opener

By Ken de la Bastide

Of the eight rookies at the season opening Dick Jordan Classic at Anderson Speedway, six were able to finish in the top ten.

Dezi Pedregon making his fourth start and second at the high banked quarter-mile oval took advantage of the inversion to lead the first four laps of the event. Pedregon jumped into the lead from the pole position with Tanner Tecco along side. He led until the fourth circuit following a restart when eventual race winner Dameron Taylor and runner-up Aryton Houk were able to slip past on the back straight. Pedregon went on to record a sixth place finish.

Although considered a rookie with the Kenyon Midget Series, many time Anderson Speedway champion John Robbins qualified third but a problem during his heat race had him starting ninth in the feature. Robbins would drive to a fifth place finish in the feature.

True rookies Cash Wyke and Jeff Hill started in the fourth row and that's where they finished on the night. Wyke finished fourth in the first heat race and finished eighth in the feature. Hill also finished fourth in his heat race and drove to a 7th place showing.

In their first event the father and son team of Phil and Landon Brown both finished in the top ten.

Evan Hammond battled mechanical problems on the night finishing fifth in the second heat race and 14th in the feature.

Buddy Hollmeyer turning his first laps in a Kenyon Midget brushed the wall during a practice session and was unable to compete with a broken suspension.

Pedregon is leading the Redline Ace Rookie of the Year after one event with a four-point lead over Robbins with Jeff Hill in third, 15 points back of the point leader.

Pedregon is fourth in the overall points, Robbins is 6th, Hill in 7th, Wyke in the 8th spot and Landon Brown in tenth.

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Photos by Aaron Skillman