Angola, IN – (Sunday September 5th, 2010) — Chris Neuenschwander finally broke through for his first career sprint car feature victory Sunday night at Angola Speedway with the Hoosier Outlaws Sprint Series. Neuenschwander made a daring inside pass of early leader Dave Baumgartner and set a blistering pace through lapped traffic.
“I have to thank my Mom and Dad and all of my sponsors, this has been a long time coming,” said Neuenschwander in victory lane. “I didn’t have the car to pass him on the top or bottom coming off, so I had to do it going in. I hate to do that, but it’s what we had.”
Baumgartner and Jimmy McCune started on the front row for the 30-lap feature with Baumgartner leading the field into turn one. Only one lap was completed when Jeff Bloom and local favorite Hank Lower tangled. A seven car pileup ensued with Dorman Snyder taking a wild flip in turn two. Sam Davis, Ron Kohler, Jim Sheets and Chris Jagger were also caught up in the incident. Everyone was uninjured, but only Davis, and Sheets were able to restart.
Baumgartner continued to lead after the restart while Neuenschwander battled McCune for second position wheel to wheel for several laps before Neuenschwander took the position off of turn four on lap three. McCune then had to deal with Tim and Jason Cox challenging for third.
After a caution for E.J. Calloway’s spin off of turn three on lap seven Baumgartner and Neuenschwander pulled away from the field. Jason Cox disposed of his father for fourth spot and then ran several laps side by side challenging McCune for third.
Neuenschwander looked high and low, but could not find a way by Baumgartner until lap 14 when Neuenschwander dove to the bottom of turn one and threw a huge slide job on Baumgartner to take the lead. From there Neuenschwander pulled away and disposed of slower traffic with ease in route to the checkered flag. Baumgartner held on for second while Jason Cox, McCune, and Tim Cox rounded out the top five.
During qualifications Jason Cox set quick time just a few hundredths of a second off of Cameron Dodson’s all time track record over the 24 car field. Tom Tobert, Jerry Caryer, and Neuenschwander won heat race events. Atkinson won the B-Main event.