The odds-on favorite heading into the NHRA Circle Track Challenge Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway was former USAC champion Doug Kalitta.
Kalitta had much more experience on ovals than any of the other NHRA all-stars in the event - and he had already had plenty of success at Thunder Valley, having won three Top Fuel titles at Bristol Dragway. So it came as no surprise to see him in victory lane at the end of the 12-lap segment of the Circle Track Challenge.
In other Saturday Spectacular races at BMS last night, 16-year-old Matt DiBenedetto of Hickory, N.C. bested the field to lay claim to the Thompson Metal 150 UARA event. Finishing second was Alex Yontz, followed by Cliff Daniels, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and Caleb Holman.
Terry Horak of Myrtle Beach, S.C. won the 30-lap Pro Challenge race while Mitch Gibson of Coeburn, Va., was the 20-lap Charger race winner.
Kalitta, who started ninth in the 15-car field of NHRA all-stars, took the lead from Greeneville's Allen Johnson on lap 10 after stalking him for several laps around the .533-mile oval.
"I tell you, it was tough out there," he said. "I had to work hard out there but I had a lot of fun. I really appreciate the fact that I had the opportunity to do this.
"I had to get up in the wall a little to get past Allen and I tell you, it was so much fun. I was just glad to be able to get around these guys at the end."
Kalitta's partner in the race was Castlewood's Jeff Counts. Counts finished up the 25-lap race up front after inheriting a lead given to him by Kalitta.
"I've been racing since back in 80s," Counts said. "I took break last year to raise my daughter. This first time could join me in victory lane so God has just blessed us.
"Doug helped me so much by driving the car and telling me which line to run. As you can tell I learned by watching him."
Ron Capps finished second in the NHRA portion of the race, followed by Antron Brown and Greg Anderson. Both Capps and Brown had round track experience. Last night's race was Anderson's first on an oval.
Capps, who started seventh, knew there would be plenty of tight racing.
"That was awesome," said the Funny Car driver. "I knew there would be sparks and there was plenty of sparks. I knew it would be amazing and it was. I had a great time out there."
Anderson started 12th and patiently made his way to the front after Justin Humphreys and Gary Scelzi found trouble in the early laps. For the Pro Stock legend, driving on a circle track proved to be a lot of fun.
"That was just great," he said. "I drove over Scelzi's driveshaft and I nearly hit (polesitter) Jack Beckman... I guess it's like Cole Trickle... I just aimed for the wrecks. It was exciting. It was like nothing I've ever done before. It was really a lot of fun."
Other NHRA stars taking part in the Circle Track Challenge were Beckman, Johnson, Justin Humphreys, Jeg Coughlin, Gary Scelzi, Jason Line, Cory McClenathan, J.R. Todd, Kurt Johnson and Tony Schumacher.
