Indiana Open - Winslow, IN
Heat One
Jamie Eilers, Ben Hadsell, Ed Smith, Matt Welliver, Sam Harbin, Andy Bing, Leo May, Will Murphy, Timmy Barnes, Darrell Andresen, Darryl Lozier, Don Davis
Ben Hadsell (1st Frostbite, Tied-2nd Summer National Derby, 2nd Texas Nationals, 1st Fall Nationals) went from hitting Ed Smith to colliding with Matt Welliver, jarring him enough to force him out very early on with a knock, and Darrell Andresen (4th Indy Nationals, 5th Firecracker Open, 5th Arknsas Derby) has two finals out of the last eight as he and Darryl Lozier tangled leaving the former stalled out.
It's no finals in four and with only three all year Timmy Barnes (12th Spring Fling Derby, 4th Big Apple Smash Up, 8th Bluegrass Derby) endures another hard luck round with five hits against him in quick order, two of them coming from Jamie Eilers, and the fall of the long-term standings leader Darryl Lozier (1st Tampa Open, Jersey Derby, Big Apple, Alamo Derby) continues as his battle with Ed Smith leaves him stalled and unable to re-fire in ninth position. This is the second time in two months he has missed back-to-back finals with only a 10th in the Bluegrass Derby and 4th at Hickory making up his points hauls in that time.
Matt Welliver (1st SidelineStrategy.com Derby, 2nd Golden Gate Invitational, 3rd Fall Nationals) is unable to continue his good form of late where he has four top four finishes in the last seven rounds, Andy Bing finishing with a blindside what Smith started with a double-attack, and then Bing creeps into the consolation heat after Welliver freed him and Harbin from a locked-bumper situation, going on to be crushed by a trio of assailants to take his total of hits against into double figures.
After looking in good form by taking it to five drivers Will Murphy suffered from a terrible miss that ended his heat in a wall, but he moves onto the second chance race along with Leo May who became locked up with Hadsell before Bing freed them, and Don Davis who warred hard with both Bing and Eilers with the latter ending it with a surprise hit after missing an earlier blindside attempt.
It's a fifth final in eight for Ed Smith who only enjoyed a single pointless appearance through the first twenty-two rounds. With eight hits for and only three against he was a repeat visitor to Bing, Welliver and May with two hits each as Hadsell, Lozier and May failed in their attempts to cause enough damage.
Jamie Eilers qualifies for his first final in five as he threw all of his efforts into striking Timmy Barnes, Andy Bing and Don Davis multiple shots on each. Avoiding much of the trouble he eventually ran out of places to hide and the pack descended upon him with Sam Harbin laying on the final hit.
Harbin's ninth final appearance, and first in six weeks, comes after taking his second heat victory this season. Another keen attacker of Andy Bing with three early shots which briefly locked them together Sam Harbin went through Lozier, Davis, May and then Eilers for the win, taking just three hits in the ten minute heat.
Race Result
1. Sam Harbin
2. Jamie Eilers
3. Ed Smith
4. Don Davis
5. Leo May
6. Will Murphy
7. Andy Bing
8. Matt Welliver
9. Darryl Lozier
10. Timmy Barnes
11. Darrell Andresen
12. Ben Hadsell
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