Anderson Completes LateModelRacer.com Central Rankings Championship With a Win

After dominating the competition during the inaugural Latemodelracer.com (LMR) Gary Jacob Memorial Central Rankings campaign over the summer season, John Anderson towed eight hours south to Enid Speedway Park in north central Oklahoma to participate in one of the final GJM Central Rankings events of the 2007 racing season.

Despite the long tow, the Omaha, Nebraska driver was fresh and ready to race as he surprised no one by winning the Sunday afternoon O'Reilly NCRA season finale leading flag to flag at the 3/8-mile fairgrounds oval. The victory was the Manhattan, KS based Shop Quik Racing Team's 14th win ($2,000 to win or more) of the year in the Central U.S. Region and put an 'extra' exclamation point on an impressive 2007 championship effort.

Anderson's steady dose of wins and top fives throughout the season kept him on the top of the Rankings for nearly the entire course of the racing calendar. He opened the Central Region on Saturday night March 3rd with a $3,000 O'Reilly SUPR Late Model sanctioned victory at the Pro-Cuts Texas World Dirt Track Championship at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Anderson was dominant in the victory, leading all 40 laps over Allen Tippen, and Wendell Wallace before an estimated crowd of 8,000 at TMS.

TMS was the first of 14 victories and incredible 32 top five finishes in the Latemodelracer.com Central Region.

"I have to say that Texas Dirt Track World Championship win had to be the most important race of the year. It was our first win as a team. The boss man (Greg Junghans) and the team were happy, maybe even surprised! I kept reminding them I have superior driving talent but they don't buy into it!" joked Anderson.

Over the course of the summer, Anderson went on to win five MLRA Thunder Tour events, four NCRA Late Model events, three TORA races and one WDRL Polydome Late Model Series event that spanned five states including Kansas (6), Nebraska (3), Missouri (2), Oklahoma (2) and Texas. The team also captured a runner-up finish in the inaugural $25,000 to win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 1st Annual SuperChips 'Diamond Nationals' at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO and a second place trophy at the prestigious Yankee Dirt Classic at Farley (IA) Speedway.

The team's impressive showing in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national competition in May also produced a memorable moment for the first year team. While running away with second position, Anderson reeled leader Brian Birkhofer in with ten laps remaining in the 100 lap main event, but after a final caution and restart Birkhofer would hold his line on the track and take his car to the $25,000 checkered flag with Anderson settling for second.

Anderson takes it all in stride.

"Finishing second to Birky at the Diamond Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway was pretty cool. We led a while and had a great chance to win but just came up a little short! Dang it!"

The team did not focus on a touring series championship during 2007, yet the phenomenal season saw the #2 Shop Quick Convenience Stores sponsored Chevrolet finish second in the final NCRA standings, third in the TORA standings and ninth in the final MLRA tally.

Plans for the 2008 season have yet to be determined.

"As far as running for points next year, were not sure yet. Actually I'm not even sure if I have a job... Boss you reading this?" laughed Anderson. "We
kinda liked running whenever wherever it fit our schedules. There is a lot of work that goes into this team and we liked to have the time to be prepared."

Anderson finished with 203 points and his 14 race wins doubled the efforts of his nearest regional competitors as Shannon Babb, Kelly Boen, Dennis Erb Jr and Brian Birkhofer each closed the Central Region with seven wins.

"Kelly (Boen) is a great competitor and we all helped each other at the track." Anderson referred to his season-long competition. "Pretty much who had the better starting position. Al Purkey, Terry Phillips. man, I just wanna have an easy competitive race, but not with those two. They never give-up and are way more competitive than I am! I like watching all three of those guys myself, it's crazy racing them and with 50 others."

The team had a good time following the LMR Central Rankings and also the National Rankings this year. The season is still not complete as the team will try it's hand in the Western United States during the month of November. Anderson currently sits 17th in the GJM National Rankings (out of 594) and will have three events in Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona to better his National points position.

"Oh yeah, our team followed it, Boss called me every update! It is a great system to see how we stack up. Good bragging rites anyway. Of course. Boss still thinks we need to be credited with Sedalia, Mo. (Rain out with the win awarded to Anderson based on starting position).

"I tell him don't worry the t-shirt at next years event will have us as the winners! We take them anyway you get them you may not ever win again!"

The Latemodelracer.com Gary Jacob Memorial Central Rankings record all Super Late Model events in the Central U.S. that pays a minimum of $2,000 to start. Two hundred thirteen (213) races meeting these guidelines were hosted in the region during the 2007 season with 294 drivers qualifying for Rankings points. Each event awards the top six finishers points (9-6-4-3-2-1) in the Central Rankings.

National Rankings leader Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR finished second (121 points) in the Central Rankings. The 'Outlaw' had just three wins in his home Central Region but has collected 25 top five performances. Moyer scored a $10,000 Lucas Oil Series win at Tri City (IL) Speedway and also topped a tough UMP Summernationals contingent at Poplar Bluff (MO) Speedway.

Babb and Purkey finished the region out with 114 points a piece but Babb's seven regional wins clinched the third position in the Central Rankings.

The Moweaqua, IL driver captured a World of Outlaws win at Farmer City (IL) Raceway and a $10,000 Fed Ex 50 victory at Tri City (IL) Speedway along with 5 major UMP sanctioned event wins in the region. Seven wins was good enough to tie for second most wins and Babb scored 18 top five finishes in limited Central Region appearances

Purkey of Coffeyville, KS posted a regional third best 24 top five finishes during the 2007 tour while racing MARS, MLRA, NCRA and TORA. The APR team posted just two wins (MARS and TORA) on the season but backed them up with a region leading 10 runner-up finishes.

Kelly Boen of Henderson, CO rounded out the inaugural Central Rankings top five. The NCRA Late Model Champion posted seven wins and 17 top five finishes in the region. Six of the Colorado driver's win came on the 2007 O'Reilly NCRA Championship trail after opening the region with a win at the two-day Pro Cuts Texas World Championships at Texas Motor Speedway.

The final 2007 Latemodelracer.com Gary Jacob Memorial Central Rankings compiled on October 29. For a full rundown of the Central Rankings please visit http://www.latemodelracer.com/2007central .

1 1 2 John Anderson Omaha, NE 203.00 14 9 5 4
2 2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 121.00 3 7 7 5 3
3 3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 114.00 7 4 2 3 2
4 8 33 Al Purkey Coffeyville, KS 114.00 2 10 3 6 3
5 4 07 Kelly Boen Henderson, CO 113.00 7 5 4 1
6 5 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 111.00 4 9 1 3 3
7 6 28 Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 109.00 6 6 2 2 1
8 7 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL 108.00 7 3 3 2 4
9 9 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 102.00 7 3 3 1 2
10 10 J1 Wes Steidinger Fairbury, IL 94.00 6 3 3 3
11 11 85 John Kaanta Elk Mound, WI 92.00 4 4 2 2 6
12 12 66 Bill Frye Greenbriar, AR 90.00 6 3 2 1 3
13 13 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 90.00 6 2 2 2 5
14 14 51 Joel Crydermann Thunder Bay, ONT 83.00 4 5 1 3 1
15 15 00 Randy Korte Highland, IL 76.00 4 1 4 4 3
16 16 21H Brian Harris Davenport, IA 70.00 3 3 3 2 2
17 17 74 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO 69.00 1 5 4 3 2
18 18 32D Darren Miller Chadwick, IL 66.00 3 4 2 2
19 19 50 Denny Eckrich Tiffen, IA 65.00 2 5 2 4
20 20 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 63.00 3 5 2 4

Latemodelracer.com (LMR) is an internet publication providing daily news and information for the United States and International Dirt Late Model racing world. LMR is presented by Fast Undercar. LMR sponsors include Bartels Harley Davidson; Russ Wernimont Designs; Ocean Speedway; Bakersfield Speedway; RealFast.tv; the Southwest Dirt Racing Association, Little Darlings Child Care; Keizer Wheels, Mike Johnson Racing; and CallSource.