Winchester, IN (September 23, 2012) – Close finishes, drivers fighting for close point championships were every position counts, a driver solidifying an already strong point lead and racing that proved again Winchester Speedway can be unforgiving were the results from the rain delayed makeup of the World Stock Car Festival on Sunday. Originally scheduled for Labor Day Weekend Winchester Speedway hosted five series on September 23 including the ARCA/CRA Super Series, Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman, and CRA Street Stocks.
Two time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Johnny VanDoorn came into the Winchester 100 tied for the most Super Series wins at Winchester Speedway with three and a commanding lead in the season point championship as he is racing to tie Scott Hantz for the most Championships. Setting second fast time and starting third on the grid VanDoorn wasted no time in getting to the front taking the lead on the fourth lap, he raced to a strong lead while other drivers worked their way to the front also.
A caution on the 20th lap bunched up the field. During the caution caused by a spinning car Kenzie Ruston, second in the point’s race and Joe Beaver were collected, ending both their days. Following the caution VanDoorn outraced EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Rick Turner to maintain the lead. Throughout the race VanDoorn was never able to pull away from the other racers as Hantz and late in the race Jeff Fultz chased him and stayed close.
As the laps wound down, VanDoorn developed a vibration, Fultz worked to get beside VanDoorn. Fultz could not get past him despite getting to his rear quarter panel. Hantz finished third, Rookie Travis Braden fourth and Nick Gullatta fifth.
“Last year was a really tough for us, we had some people involved who were there for the wrong reasons. This year everyone is pulling together and we are really doing well.” VanDoorn stated. “There toward the end the car developed a vibration, and with (Jeff) Fultz coming up I knew we had to keep going strong.”
Fultz earned a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his daring moves to get to second and almost taking the win.
Mark Lambert earned the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award, the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award, the Racing Electronics Hardcharger Award for moving up from his 22nd starting position to finish 10th.
KC Spillers and Jason Atkinson are engaged in a very tight battle for the Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman championship with Spillers entering the day only four points ahead of Atkinson with just three events left.
Atkinson set the tone for the day taking the All Star Performance Fast Qualifier Award. He then drew a ten for the invert. Spillers started sixth on the grid, with Eddie Van Meter on the pole. Van Meter took off with the lead. Spillers fought through the traffic to overtake Van Meter on the 18th lap but could not get away from several challengers, including Van Meter’s son Billy who earned the AR Bodies Cool Move Award when he passed several cars at once (including his father) on the backstretch coming into the third turn.
While Spiller led, Atkinson worked to second, but ran out of race to pass Spillers finishing just .186 of a second behind. With the win Spillers gained three points on Atkinson with just two races left in the 2012 season. Billy Van Meter was third, Eddie Van Meter fourth and Shawn Amor fifth.
“I have to thank my crew, my fans who follow me from track to track every week and Jason (Atkinson) for racing me clean.” An excited Spillers exclaimed. “We have finished second here so many times it sure feels good to win one.”
The CRA Street Stocks season champion race also started the day with only four points difference between the top two, with Brian Hopkins just behind Jimmy Kirby.
Hopkins day started poorly when he was forced to pit under the first caution due to a flat tire. Kirby however raced to the front following All Star Performance Fast Qualifier Jason Thompson. Jim Crabtree, Jr. started on the pole, and took the lead.
Thompson caught Crabtree, but with Crabtree driving a perfect line for speed on the track Thompson took several laps to pass, while fighting off Kirby and Bret Miles, Jr. Thompson passed Crabtree to take the lead on lap 24, pulling Kirby, Miles and Dustin Burge with him.
“There were some wrecks there early and we missed them.” Thompson commented. “I have got to thank Jimmy Kirby for racing me clean, it let me get a chance to work on (Jim) Crabtree and get around him.”
Kirby could not pass Thompson for the lead and settled for second, Miles finished third, Burge fourth and Crabtree fifth. Hopkins recovered from his restarting at the tail to finish sixth, earning the AR Bodies Cool Move Award for his run through the field.
With only two points races left for the season the next race for the all CRA divisions will be the MEP Fall Brawl Presented by Ultra Cool Brake Fans at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, IN on September 30th. The weekend will start with practice and qualifying on September 29th, Saturday will be free to the public to watch. Sunday’s events will include any last chance races and four features. The ARCA/CRA Super Series Jack Links 100 presented by Assembly Products and Great Deals, the JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts will race in the Commonwealth Engineers 100 presented by JEGS and Great Deals. The Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Models and CRA Street Stocks will be racing in 40 lap features also. For more information see www.craracing.net.