Salem, IN (June 19, 2017) – After going win less in 2016, after getting three wins in the final four events of the 2015 season, Ohio veteran racer Jack Smith got back to victory lane with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Saturday night, in the Midwest 100 on the High Banks of Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery. In an event that saw the tough ½ mile take its toll on many of the series competitors, Smith had to hold off a hard-charging Jack Dossey II to get the emotional win.
“This is a very special win for me, I wanted to win this race for my brother Daryl, who’s going through some serious health issues”, remarked Smith in victory lane. “He’s here tonight and I want to dedicate this win to him. I want to thank my car owner Greg Urbine and my family, who supports me whenever I go race. I love these High Banked tracks, it’s great to get a win here at Salem!”
Former series Winchester winner Corey Deuser grabbed the early lead from his outside pole starting position after Fury Race Cars Fast Qualifier Jack Dossey III drew a seven for the events invert. Smith wasted little time coming from his eighth place starting position to close on Deuser’s tail and start applying pressure to Deuser. Smith looked under Deuser several times but was not able to complete the pass before finally getting around him with a power move in turns three and four. Deuser tried to go back under Smith but couldn’t make the pass, then made contact with third place Josh Brock trying to get back behind Smith creating a caution when Deuser and Smith both spun in the back stretch.
Smith officially grabbed the lead on the lap 27 restart and looked like he would cruise to the win until several late event cautions bunched up the field giving several drivers the opportunity to race with Smith and for the top four positions including Austin Kunert, Dossey III, Michael Clancy Jr. and Carson Hocevar. Dossey II was able to stay with Smith and looked to have the faster car as the laps started winding down.
A lap 96 caution bunched up the field for a sprint to the finish. The first restart on lap 96 resulted in a caution when contact between Hocervar and Clancy Jr. resulted in Clancy Jr.’s car hitting the wall hard in turn one ending his night. Smith and Dossey III were side by side as the green flag flew for the final restart with Smith taking full advantage of the top side of the track to grab the lead and the win. Smith was awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race for his last winning restart to pull away and get the win.
Dossey III finished in second, his best ever finish with the series and earned the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award. Kunert finished in third and earned the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award. Hocevar would finish in fourth place and earned his first VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Race Award of the season.
Joe Cooksey would hold on after losing power steering early in the event and come from his 13th place starting position to finish in fifth place. The former ARCA Racing Series veteran picked up a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Performance Award and the Racing Electronics Hardcharger Award. Cooksey’s crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award for their hard work all weekend on Cooksey’s car and getting him back out into race after losing power steering.
Smith and Bristol Motor Speedway event winner Cole Williams are both now locked into the new Chase Championship format, if they compete in at least 75% of the races leading up to the final four Chase events, to crown the 2017 series Champion.
The rescheduled Masters of the Pros 144 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway will be the series next event on Monday, July 3rd. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.