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NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series Season Opener: Report

10 February 1998

Barberville, FL -- The NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series opened their
1998 season as a part of Speedweeks 98 at Volusia Speedway Park in
Barberville, FL abd it was Wayne Anderson of Wildwood, FL who put his
Porter Cable Chevrolet into Victory Lane. 

Anderson did not have an easy time of it as he was invlved in a first lap
incident with Freddie Query that forced him to come from the middle of the
pack, on a tough race track to pass on, to get on the point. Once there he
was virtually untouchable as he stretched the lead, working trafiic to
perfection and took an eight car length victory over Freddie Query, Matt
Hagans, Hal Goodson and Steven Christian.

Anderson started the 150 lap event on the pole with fast qualifier Query
sitting on the pole. As the green flew Anderson got a great jump from the
outside and led Query across the start line by almost a car length. As the
two headed into turn one Anderson dropped to the inside and the two made
contact, spinning Anderson and causing minor damage to Query. Query 
emerged with the lead, while Anderson quickly restarted and was running
just outside the top five.

Query would continue to hold the front spot through the first 25 laps and
was soon working his way through lapped traffic. When Conrad Burr and Brian
Sockwell mgot together right in front of Query and spun in turn 2, Query
had to get hard on the brakes to avoid the melee. With cars scattering in
all directions it was Mike Harmon who emerged with the lead. Query held on
to second with Anderson back up to third followed by Steve Mendenhall and
Scott Bramlett.

Harmon was able to fend off the challenges of Query until just before
halfway when Query got under him coming off turn two and retook the lead.
Just past the midpoint Anderson darted to the inside of Query in turn two
and took the lead which he stretched during the green flags runs until the
finish. Query finished in second while Harmon was forced into the pits and
retired with damage when he and a lapped car made contact.

The opening race on a brand new racetrack proved that the 1998 season for
the All-Pro series is going to be an exciting one. There were 46 cars that
attempted to make the 30 car starting field. The new 3/8 mile oval at
Volusia Speedway Park was still a bit on the green side which made for a
virtually one groove race track for everyone except Anderson who was able
to pass high, low and in the middle!