Salem, IN (August 28, 2012) – The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance will head back to Michigan for the Big O Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com at Owosso Speedway located in Ovid, Michigan this Saturday, September 1st. Saturday’s race at the 3/8’s mile progressively banked oval will be the 12th race in the 14 race 2012 schedule for the template bodied crate motor late model series sanctioned by Champion Racing Association.
All the top JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour drivers will be there on Saturday including current series point’s leader Daniel Hemric, who has now won seven series features and has finished second in two others in the 11 series events contested to date for the Scott Neal Racing Team. Hemric was the winner of the series last event at Auto City Speedway on Thursday, August 16th where he was presented the winner’s trophy for the Brad 100 Presented by JEGS.com by NASCAR Star Brad Kesolowski, the Grand Marshall of the event named in his honor.
Hemric comes into Saturday’s event with a commanding 92 point lead over second place Brent Downey, who finished second in the Auto City event after leading most of the laps. 14 year old Anderson Bowen, the leader in the series Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year points presented by Howe Racing, is third in points, he is 31 points behind Downey. Chad Finley and Josh Nelms are now tied for fourth place in series points, they are 58 points behind Bowen. Finley is the only other driver in the top five who has won a series race this year. He went to victory lane at the series Columbus Motor Speedway event in May. Other top series drivers who are entered include Jerrod Foley, Tom Woodin, Wes Griffith Jr., Brandon Hermiller Ali Kern, Tommy Cook, Dan Leeck, Mike Staszak, Tyler Strickland, Todd Crump and Brandon Oakley, who will make his first series start with new Crew Chief Gary St. Amant.
There will be plenty of competition for the series regulars at Owosso Speedway on Saturday night, topping the list is the defending event winner Erik Jones, who has driven in selected series events in 2012 while also competing in selected ARCA Racing Series and ARCA/CRA Super Series events. Jones drove past Nelms on lap 83 of last year’s event to take the lead and cruise to the win in front of his home track fans on his way to claiming the inaugural JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Championship.
Multi time CRA winner Brian Campbell has entered Saturday night’s event as he looks to pick up his first JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win of 2012. Campbell’s car owner Mike Bursley jumped behind the wheel of the car normally piloted by Campbell at the series event at Berlin and went on to win that event.
Local area hot shoe Johnny Belott will jump behind the wheel of Joe Johnson’s car Saturday night. Belott is a former CRA winner in the ARCA/CRA Super Series at Toledo Speedway. Richmond, Michigan veteran racer Bob Varney will also jump back behind the wheel to race Saturday night after not racing the past couple of seasons. Varney will compete in Pat Zorn’s #43 car. Illinois competitor Dave Gentile has also entered to compete in Saturday night’s race.
Pit gates will open on Saturday at 12noon. Practice will begin for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour at 2:30pm with qualifying for the series starting at 6:15pm. The race program will begin at 7pm and will include an on track Autograph Session and the Big O Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance. The Owosso Speedway Sport Stocks, Sportsman and Pure Stocks will also be in action with heat races and features. More event information can be found at www.owossospeedway.com.
More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.craracing.net.