ANDERSON, Ind. – Audio and recap by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman – Chris Seelman photo –

It’s been said for many years at Anderson Speedway that races are won and lost on restarts.

In Saturday night’s Must See Racing 50 at the famed quarter-mile high-banks, series points leader Jimmy McCune saw the winning side of that adage play out in his favor, while Grant Galloway swallowed the bitter pill of defeat.

McCune took advantage after Galloway spun his tires on a lap 31 restart and charged around the outside in turn three, taking the lead and opening up a half-straightaway advantage over the final 20 laps en route to his second-consecutive Anderson victory in MSR competition.

The win is McCune’s second of the season and extends his points margin over nephew Anthony with just two months remaining before the series’ 2015 finale on October 24.

McCune used a lap 31 restart to blow past Galloway on the outside -- a rare move at Anderson Speedway. (Chris Seelman photo)
McCune (88) used a lap 31 restart to blow past Galloway (12) on the outside — a rare move at Anderson Speedway.
(Chris Seelman photo)

“I couldn’t see a whole lot [out the front of the car], but I was determined that I was going to get around [Galloway] on that restart and that was how it was going to be,” McCune explained in Engine Pro Victory Lane. “I didn’t care what it took. It was just about laying the gas pedal to the mat and going. I knew the car was pretty good, and when it stuck on the outside I just said, ‘Okay, let’s go.’”

The race was dicey from the drop of the green flag, as polesitter and three-time Pay Less Little 500 champion Jeff Bloom darted away from the pack to lead the first seven laps before becoming the meat in a three-wide sandwich and losing the top spot to Galloway on lap eight.

Galloway used the clean air to open a near-straightaway advantage on Jimmy McCune before the race’s first caution, brought out on lap 18 when Kevin Blue made hard contact with the turn one wall.

While Blue was uninjured in the crash, the yelllow put the elder McCune right on Galloway’s tailtank for the restart. Despite the track position, McCune was unable to capitalize until the second and final caution of the night flew with 20 laps to go – caused by a stack-up on the backstretch after Chris Neuenschwander cut down a right rear tire while running third in his Koehler Motorsports No. 10.

That set up the game-changing restart, and after Galloway’s stumble coming to the green flag, he could only watch as McCune powered to the top side and off into the Indiana night.

“Unfortunately there, I just came out of four and spun my tires a little bit,” said Galloway, who ultimately finished nine-tenths of a second behind McCune at the checkered flag. “That gave him enough of a jump to get outside of me. I gotta give him a lot of credit, he raced me clean – I almost got him back there in lap traffic – but next time it’ll be ours.”

Jeff Bloom held McCune off on the final lap to come home third as the last car on the lead lap. Brad Wyatt finished one lap down in fourth and Anthony McCune tied his career-best MSR finish in fifth.

In preliminary action, McCune kicked off the night by setting quick time around the quarter-mile oval with a lap of 10.614 seconds (84.794 mph). McCune’s 18-year old nephew Anthony and Bloom won their respective heat races.

For more info on Must See Racing including live updates, log onto www.mustseeracing.com.

 

Audio with race winner Jimmy McCune:

Audio with runner-up Grant Galloway:

Audio with third-place Jeff Bloom:

Audio with fifth-place Anthony McCune:

 

RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Anderson Speedway; Anderson, Ind.; August 15, 2015

Time Trials:  1. #88 – Jimmy McCune, 10.614 (84.794 mph); 2. #10 – Chris Neuenschwander, 10.928 (82.357); 3. #12 – Grant Galloway, 10.984 (81.937); 4. #0 – Brad Wyatt, 10.995 (81.855); 5. #35 – Derek Bischak, 11.130 (80.862); 6. #26 – Jeff Bloom, 11.158 (80.660); 7. #44 – Anthony McCune, 11.342 (79.4); 8. #71 – Brian Vaughn, 793 (76.3); 9. #0K – Christian Koehler, 11.829 (76.1); 10. #6 – Kevin Blue, 11.895 (75.7); 11. #1X – Ron Koehler, 14.050 (64.1); 12. #43 – Sam Davis, No Time (No Speed)

Melling Select Performance Heat Race #1:  Anthony McCune, Grant Galloway, Derek Bischak, Jimmy McCune, Christian Koehler, Ron Koehler.

Mahle Heat Race #2:  Jeff Bloom, Chris Neuenschwander, Brian Vaughn, Brad Wyatt, Kevin Blue, Sam Davis.

 

Must See Racing 50 at Anderson Speedway A-Main (50 laps):

  1. #88 – Jimmy McCune, Toledo, OH
  2. #12 – Grant Galloway, Lakeville, IN
  3. #26 – Jeff Bloom, Bangor, MI
  4. #0 – Brad Wyatt, Brownstown, MI
  5. #44 – Anthony McCune, Sylvania, OH
  6. #71 – Brian Vaughn, Shirley, IN
  7. #0K – Christian Koehler, South Bend, IN
  8. #43 – Sam Davis, Bourbon, IN
  9. #1X – Ron Koehler, South Bend, IN
  10. #35 – Derek Bischak, Indianapolis, IN
  11. #10 – Chris Neuenschwander, Ft. Wayne, IN
  12. #6 – Kevin Blue, City, Franklin, IN

 

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s. He is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

Email Jacob at: [email protected]

Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77

Jacob Seelman

Jacob Seelman, 24, is the founder and managing editor of 77 Sports Media and a major contributing writer for SPEED SPORT Magazine. He is studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. and also serves as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

View all posts by Jacob Seelman
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