ANDERSON, Ind. — Two of the hottest sprint car drivers matched wits in the 20th running of the Glen Niebel Classic with Kody Swanson emerging as the victor.
Swanson and Tyler Roahrig battled throughout the 125-lap race at Anderson Speedway Saturday for the CB Fabricating Glen Niebel Classic.
Swanson set fast time in qualifying with Caleb Armstrong, Roahrig all in a tight pack. Eleven of the 19 entrants qualified within a half-second of Swanson’s time.
As a result of the invert Billy Wease jumped into the lead chased by Chris Neuenschwander and Roahrig.
By lap 25 Dakoda Armstrong had advanced to third followed by Swanson and Roahrig.
Roahrig made a gutsy outside pass of Swanson on lap 31 coming off the fourth corner and moved into the second spot on lap 41.
The red flag waved when Doug Fitzwater made heavy contact with the turn two outside retaining wall, his second trip into the concrete during the night.
The chess match between Swanson and Roahrig continued on a lap 59 restart when Swanson took advantage of traffic and moved back into the second spot.
At the halfway point Wease’s night came to an end with an apparent suspension problem on the right front. That put Swanson on the point.
For the next 62 circuits around the high banked quarter-mile oval Roahrig ran in the tire tracks of Swanson looking both high and low to make the pass.
The third and final caution flag waved on lap 95 when Jacob McElfresh spun on the back straight following contact with Emerson Axsom.
Roahrig continued to hound Swanson as the leaders tires were starting to falter and he was pushing up in the corners.
Swanson won the Glen Niebel Classic for the second time by .268 seconds over Roahrig with Caleb Armstrong, Bobby Santos III and Kyle O’Gara rounding out the top five.
O’Gara’s run was impressive after starting 11th in the field.
“I appreciate that Tyler (Roahrig) raced me clean,” Swanson said. “I knew he was real close, that’s for sure.”
Roahrig said the racing was hard for the lead.
“I made a mistake early in the race and Kody (Swanson) was able to get around me,” he said. “I’m happy with the finish.”
The finish:
1) Kody Swanson; 2) Tyler Roahrig; 3) Caleb Armstrong; 4) Bobby Santos III; 5) Kyle O’Gara; 6) Emerson Axsom; 7) Chris Neuenschwander; 8) Jacob McElfresh; 9) Dakoda Armstrong; 10) Tom Paterson; 11) Derek Bischak; 12) Mark Hall; 13) Tony Main; 14) Billy Wease; 15) Travis Welpott; 16) Doug Fitzwater; 17) Tim Creech; 18) Brian Vaughn; 19) Gary Dunkle