16-Year-Old Anderson Bowen Scores Thrilling Victory In 2nd Annual Mercy Masters Of The Pros 144
Lebanon I-44 Speedway hosts richest paying Pro Late Models race in the country in front of an overflow crowd
Lebanon, Missouri (May 17, 2014) – The richest paying event of the 2014 racing season
for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance was on Saturday,
May 17th. The premier template bodied / crate motored touring series in the country
made the long haul to the immaculate 3/8s (0.375) mile progressively banked paved oval
of Lebanon I-44 Speedway, located west of St. Louis in Lebanon, Missouri for the 2nd
Annual Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 Presented by JEGS.com.
Looking to join NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie sensation, Chase Elliott as the second
ever winner of the coveted Green Jacket for winning the prestigious event would be a
stellar field representing 10 different states and one Canadian province. After 144 laps of
thrilling racing action in the Show-Me State, it would be 16-year-old Anderson Bowen who
would emerge victorious and score the biggest win of his young career. The Suwanee,
Georgia driver in his #29 Copper Creek Hardware / Anderson Bowen Racing / Chevrolet
fought off a determined Dave Gentile Jr., over the final 18 laps to secure the victory, the
coveted Green Jacket and a cool $8,000 payday.
"Wow, this is unbelievable. Without a doubt the biggest win of my career. We've went winless last year and we've been so close all year long in the Southern Super Series. I'm just so happy for everyone on this team," The jubilant driver, who was the 2012 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year, stated in his victory lane interview. "We were fast all weekend long and it was really cool to break Chase Elliott's track record. To repeat what he did, fast time and the win, that is really something special and I won't forget it." He added. Bowen's only other JEGS/CRA victory came on October 27, 2012 at Watermelon Capital Speedway (GA) in a non-points race.
After Bowen broke the Track Record in Boyne Machine Company Qualifying, he then drew a five for an inversion which placed Two-Time Daytona 500 Winner, Sterling Marlin and the current points leader in the tracks weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Late Models division, 15-year-old Kaleb Allison brought the star-studded 31-car field to chief starter, Brian Duncan's green flag to begin the extended distance event. Marlin would beat Allison and the rest of the field into the first corner to grab the early lead while the rest of the field settled in behind him.
2013 Track Champion & Rookie of the Year as well as NASCAR Missouri State Champion, 18-year-old Cole Williams quickly moved up into second place and stalked Marlin for the first segment of the race. On lap 18, Williams made the pass for the lead on Marlin and he brought Bowen, who started fifth with him. Bowen would never let Williams stray too far out in front of him as the two drivers stayed glued to each others' bumpers. Williams earned the D.T.S. Drive Train Specialists Halfway Leader Award and would bring the field into the lap 100 break.
As the break came to a close, Williams pulled off of pit road then proceeded to pull off the track due to tire issues at the break, giving the lead to Bowen who then had Dave Gentile Jr., running in second. For the rest of the race, Gentile Jr., sized up the leader as he followed in Bowen's tire tracks until lap 126 when he began his charge against the race leader. Gentile Jr., tried numerous times to make the potential winning pass utilizing the inside lane, but each time, Bowen kept his momentum on the high side to retain the point. Gentile Jr., kept pressuring throughout the rest of the race, but Bowen was up to the challenge and crossed the stripe first for the win.
"My Mom and Dad are the main reason I'm able to do what I'm doing. Without them, my crew chief, Ricky Turner and this whole team all working so hard we wouldn't be here," The appreciative Peach State teenager continued. "This is just great. Definitely makes the long trip home worthwhile. I really appreciate Dave (Gentile Jr.) for racing me as clean as he did. For that much money, he could've taken me out a number of times, but I'm glad he chose not too" He ended. In addition to the $8,000 paycheck and the coveted Green Jacket for winning the race, Bowen also scored the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award in addition to his Boyne Machine Company Fast Qualifier Award.
Dave Gentile Jr., gave the eventual winner, Bowen all he could handle over the final 1/4 of the race, but in the end, the 37-year-old driver of the WMC Incorporated / Ford would have to settle for a career high second place finish. The Joliet, Illinois veteran qualified second quick and started fourth on the grid. He had worked his way to Bowen's back bumper and tried several times to get by Bowen using the inside lane. He wouldn't leave the Show-Me State empty handed as Gentile Jr., would take the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award.
The runner-up the past two seasons in the tracks NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Late Models points standings, Matt Wallace brought home a career high third place showing in his second ever JEGS/CRA start. The 18-year-old aboard his Lucas Oil Products / Chevrolet started 17th on the grid and would earn the first Great Lakes Tire / Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award for his efforts. The driver, originally from St. Louis, Missouri and now calls Concord, North Carolina home is the son of NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran, Mike Wallace.
Chad Finley earned the Hedman Hedders Husler Award after being one of only six drivers to take on tires at the lap 100 break. After restarting 21st, the DeWitt, Michigan driver in his #42 AutoParts2020.com / Chevrolet roared through the pack to finish fourth to also move into a tie for first all-time in career top fives and top 10s in JEGS/CRA history. 13-year-old Harrison Burton picked up the best finish of his brief career in JEGS/CRA racing as the Huntersville, North Carolina teenager in his #12 Dex Imaging / Chevrolet rounded out the top five. He also won the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his valiant efforts in fighting his way back into the top five on numerous occasions throughout the race.
Two-Time Track Champion, Mike Slone earned a career high finish of sixth as well as the second Great Lakes Tire / Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award for his showing. Allison recorded a seventh in his JEGS/CRA debut over 15-year-old Jake Griffin. 16-year-old Cole Rouse won the Howe Racing Enterprises Rookie of the Race Award after finishing ninth. 15-year-old Rookie, J.J. Haley, already the Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year points leader, took over the overall points lead. His day actually started at Toledo Speedway (OH) qualifying for the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards event there. After flying in just after Qualifying, Haley started 21st and completed the top 10. Tony Jackson Jr., collected the Five Star Racecar Bodies Hard-Charger Award for the race after starting 29th and finishing in 13th.
Earlier in the day in Boyne Machine Company Qualifying, Bowen broke the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Track Record with an impressive 14.318 which measured out to 94.287mph. The new record eclipsed the old mark, which was a 14.334, set by Chase Elliott, now a NASCAR Nationwide Series standout, back on May 18th, 2013, by 0.016 seconds. It was Bowen's third career JEGS/CRA Fast Qualifier Award. In the 15-lap Last Chance Race, track regular, Brennon Willard took the win to transfer into the 144-lap main over Joe Ross, Mark Jacobs and Steve Holt who also locked themselves into the show.
The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour teams are right back in action on Saturday, May 24th with the third event of the 2014 racing season; the Agroscapes 100 Presented by SizzleMarine.com. The 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked circular shaped paved oval of Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio will host the series' fourth all-time appearance in the Buckeye State capital. Chad Finley leads the way in all-time wins as the DeWitt, Michigan driver has won the last two JEGS/CRA races at Columbus. Jimmy Carter has the only other victory which came in the tours' first ever race there in 2011.
For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS for the entire 2014 racing season, go to the series website at: www.cra-racing.com You can also follow CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ChampionRacingAssociation and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Columbus Motor Speedway, the host facility for the third points race of the year within the fourth season of JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour action, go to the track website located at: www.columbusspeedway.com
