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 LEBANON,
TN (November 25) -- After starting 22nd in the starting grid, Eddie
Hoffman charged into the lead for the third and final time on lap 114,
in capturing the 150-lap NASCAR Gatorade All Pro Series MBNA All
American Thanksgiving Classic at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday.
Hoffman collected $24,350 for the checkered flag finish. While Wayne
Anderson entered the series' season ending event needing only to
finish 26th or better to secure the $30,000 All Pro Championship.
Anderson finished 24th after losing a motor on lap 76. But that was
good enough for the 1999 series champion to capture his second series
crown in the Hoosier-shod Jani King Chevrolet #86. Anderson won 6 of
the series' 16 events in 2001, he also stakes his claim as the
all-time winningest driver in series history with 21 wins.
With
qualifying washed out at the 1.3-mile concrete track, the 38-car
starting grid was set by driver points entering the event. Wayne
Anderson was on the pole with Randy Gentry joining him in the front
row. Gentry, the series number two man in points, would need a top
finish and trouble to beset Anderson for his championship hopes to be
realized. The second row consisted of Jeff Fultz and David Reutimann. When
the green flag dropped starting the 150-lap event, it was Anderson, in
the Jani King Chevrolet Monte Carlo #86, holding off Gentry for early
race leader status. A position Anderson maintained until lap 19, when
Jeff Fultz moved into the race lead. Anderson took over the
race lead again on lap 26, and held it until lap 40, when Cecil Chunn
took a turn as race leader. Chunn and Anderson would swap the lead
again before Eddie Hoffman took his first of three turns leading the
event on lap 64, after starting 22nd. On lap 76, Wayne Anderson was
forced out of the race when his motor failed. The question now was,
where would Randy Gentry finish. On lap 77, Ray Skillman took
over the race lead. A lead he would hold for 26 laps until Eddie
Hoffman regained the lead for the second time. Randy Gentry's answer
as to whether he would post a top finish and challenge Anderson for
the series title was answered on lap 104, when he was involved in an
accident that ended his day and dashed his title hopes. On lap
109, Scott Hansen took over the lead, a lead he would hold for 5
circuits before Hoffman regained the lead on lap 114. Hoffman would
lead the remaining 37 laps en route to the victory. All totaled,
Hoffman collected $24,350 for the day. Finishing in second
place was Erik Darnell after starting 31st. Darnell pocketed $11,425
for his finish. Benny Gordon took third place honors after starting
tenth. Gordon earned $7,075 for the final podium slot. Rounding out
the list of lead lap finishers was Jeff Fultz in fourth, Terry Mason,
Jr. in fifth, Charlie Bradberry, Roger Parker and Ronnie Sanders in
sixth through eighth. The NASCAR Gatorade All Pro Series concludes
with Wayne Anderson finishing at the top of the final point standings
with 2432 points. Randy Gentry ends his excellent season runner-up
with 2350 points. Finishing in third place was Jeff Fultz with 2341
points. David Reutimann and Eddie Mercer rounded out the positions
four and five in the final season standings. Congratulations to all
the competitors. Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. was proud to be the
exclusive tire supplier to the NASCAR Gatorade All Pro Series during
the exciting 2001 season. We also look forward to supplying all the
series' tire needs in the upcoming 2002 season. |
