Salem, IN (July 17, 2016) – Dalton Armstrong put on a commanding performance in scoring his biggest victory to date in winning Saturday nights 50th Annual Redbud 300 Presented by Mitch Smith Auto Service and Perfecto at Anderson Speedway. Armstrong took the lead at the drop of the green flag from his outside front row starting position passing Bubba Pollard to grab an early lead, which he extended at times to almost a straight away until the scheduled Halfway Break at lap 150.
Armstrong then surrendered the lead to former event winner and three time ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS Champion Johnny Van Doorn at the start of the second half, Van Doorn only changed two tires at the break, versus Armstrong’s three to get the better starting position, but Armstrong was able to make an outside pass again on a restart to grab the lead for good on lap 185, again building a big lead, but then had to fight off challengers on two late restarts with five laps to go before getting the win.
“This is just a huge win for me and Scott Neal Racing,” commented Armstrong in Victory Lane. “What makes this so special is this is my home track, I got the win in front of a ton of family and friends and now we all get to celebrate! I have to thank my family for their support as well as Scott Neal and the whole team for all their hard work, winning the Redbud is big for me and my whole team!”
The ARCA/CRA Super Series Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year point’s leader was able to tighten up the Season Points Championship battle after points leader Cody Coughlin had his night end early with a broken rear end and drive shaft. Armstrong was the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race, he was also awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his outside pass of Van Doorn to get the lead on lap 185. The Scott Neal Racing team was awarded the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award.
By winning the 50th Annual Redbud 300, Armstrong is the only driver with a chance to win a $10,000 bonus for winning two of the JEGS/CRA $100,000 Super Late Model Triple Crown events. Erik Jones won the first Triple Crown event, the Battle at Berlin 251 at Berlin Raceway, but is not eligible to win any of the Triple Crown bonuses because he races fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and he did not race in the Redbud 300. The final Triple Crown event will be the 45th Annual Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway on October 9th. If no driver wins two of the Triple Crown events, the driver who accumulates the most points during those three events will receive a $5,000 bonus and the title of Champion of the JEGS/CRA $100,000 Super Late Model Triple Crown.
Wes Griffith Jr. got a CRA career high second place finish Saturday night, and was battling Armstrong for the lead on the last two restarts after starting 11th. Griffith Jr. was awarded the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award for keeping his car up front throughout the event while battling some of the biggest names in Late Model Racing.
Steve Dorer came from his 17th place starting position to finish in third place, even with an injured thumb after some contact in one of the late race cautions. Dorer was awarded a Hoosier Tire Performance Award as well as the Hamner Racing Engine Hardcharger Award, which is the second straight race he swept both those awards.
ARCA/CRA Super Series all time starts leader Rick Turner battled from his 16th place starting position to finish in fourth place. Turner was able to overcome an early spin and loss of a lap to be in the hunt at the end of the race. Turner was awarded the Sweet Move of the Race for overcoming the odds and getting the top five finish.
Georgia Hot Shoe Bubba Pollard finished in fifth place, Pollard managed to run in the top three throughout most of the event, but was one of the cars involved in one of the late race cautions which resulted in his fifth place finish.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points leader William Byron finished in sixth place. JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Rookie of the Year contender Jack Dossey III finished in seventh place and was awarded a Hoosier Tire Performance Award. Cole Anderson finished in eighth place. Van Doorn finished in ninth place, he was the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award winner. Eddie Van Meter rounded out the top ten.
The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be this Friday, July 22nd, the Circle City 100 Presented by CSX Play It Safe at Lucas Oil Raceway. Information on all the CRA Series can be found at www.cra-racing.com.