Anderson Opener Heartbreaker for the
81 team and Elation for the 51 Crew

By Maddox Long

Race fans can rejoice as racing returns at the famed Anderson Motor
Speedway on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Race fans rolled into Anderson
Motor Speedway just after noon to see the racecars of the south battle it
out on asphalt under a sun-kissed day. 
The eleven-car field lined up to race in the limited late model 75-lap feature
for the 2025 season. The green flag was waving, and the 2025 Limited Late
Model 75 lap feature was underway at Anderson Motor Speedway! As the
cars dash into turn 1, they become inches apart at blistering speeds.
Chandler Gallman had the speed and was making the high side work into
turn one on lap 2. Coming out of turn two, Gallman remained on the outside
but was squeezed up into no man’s land when the 98 of Chase Pollard and
Gallman made contact, sending the 81 hard into the outside wall.  Gallman
takes a brutal hit into the outside wall, climbs the wall, comes back down off
the wall, clips Chase Pollard, gathers the 18 car of Caleb Heady, and
comes to a stop backward, resting against the inside wall on the back
straightaway. It was a scary incident, but Gallman was able to climb out on his own
to inspect the damage to the car. As the damaged 81 is returned to the
pits, the remaining drivers have a brief red flag stop on the front stretch.
Unfortunately, the damage to the 81 car was too severe, and Gallman

could not return to the track. The cars involved in this incident
were the driver of the 98 car Chase Pollard, the 18 car of Caleb Heady, and
the 7 car of Richie Crowley, who retired later in the race due to damage
from the incident on lap 2. 
After a brief red flag stop, the green flag was flown, and the race
resumed.  The leader of Justin Southerlin and the second-place car of
Tanner Carter restarted side by side. The 2s car of Southerlin maintains the
lead, but the 51 car of Carter shows speed constantly on the bumper of
Southerlin. They stay this way for 20 laps when disaster strikes. The 2s car

of Southerlin has a problem! He starts smoking and soon must pit. It is later
determined that Southerlin will not return to the track due to suspension
problems. After a brief caution, we are back to green, and the leaders begin
to slowly track down lapped traffic. The 88 car of Gary Greenwood Jr. takes
the lead but with a mirror full of the 51 car. Then, on lap 51, Tanner Carter
takes the lead with a pass on the inside coming out of turn 4. Now, around
lap 55, the 51 car begins to open up the gap to the 88 car. With only 14 to
go in the race, the 88 car soon begins to track down the 51 car. Then, with
just 5 laps to go, the 88 car is just two car lengths away from the 51 car.
Despite the constant pressure, the 51 holds on to win at Anderson Motor
Speedway for the season opener! Rounding out the top 5 are Tanner
Carter in the 51, Gary Greenwood Jr. in the 88 car, Eric Wallace in the 12
car, Archie Adams in the 17 car, and Ralph Carnes in the 2 car.

It was a tough night for the 81 team, but they are no stranger to hard work. Don’t worry, friends; you will see #81 back and ready for the next race at AMS!