Third Consecutive Third Place Showing For Chad Finley In ARCA/CRA Super Series Competition
Michigan driver ready to return to JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour at Auto City Speedway (Special from Chad Finley Racing)
August 5, 2014
DeWitt, Michigan (August 5, 2014) – A weekend of racing that started in Newton, Iowa
and ended in Columbus, Ohio for Chad Finley didn't produce exactly the results the Chad
Finley Racing Team wanted. But in the end, it turned out to be a weekend where the
things learned can be applied towards future events. Hopefully in turn, future trips to
victory lane no matter what car Finley climbs behind the wheel of.
The race weekend of August 1-2nd started at the Iowa Speedway (IA) for the NASCAR
K&N Pro Series East / West combination race; the Autolite Iridium XP 150. Unfortunately
during Practice, a motor issue forced Finley and the team to withdraw from the event.
“I don’t know what happened to the engine. For some reason she just wouldn’t produce
any RPM's all day." Explained the DeWitt, Michigan driver. "We changed a lot of bolt on
stuff and it didn’t help so we will lick our wounds and take it home and see what is going
on with it. It’s a shame the car was driving really well and I was looking forward to this
race. We really worked on the car from what we have learned the last two races. “
So the planned trip to Columbus Motor Speedway (OH) for the JEGS Bud St. Amant
Memorial 174 Presented by CoughlinCars.com for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS on Saturday, August 2nd occurred a little earlier than scheduled as the team arrived in the Buckeye State late that same night for the race the next day.
After qualifying second quick, Finley would start 11th on the grid and quickly worked his way into the top three by lap 13 and soon into the runner-up spot. An epic battle for the lead with defending series champion, Travis Braden saw the two swap the lead on several different occasions. Finley led twice for a total of 56 laps before Braden took the lead for good with 22 laps to go. Finley, who was then fighting an ill handling car, would hang on to third spot. His third consecutive third place showing in ARCA/CRA.
“That was a lot of fun racing with Travis. I felt we both had good cars and would be a dog fight to the end."The 22-year-old continued. "With 25 to go the car just started pushing really bad all of a sudden and we couldn’t hold the line we had been running. I am bummed for my team as I was hoping to give them a win after a very long weekend. We will take it back to the shop and check things over and see what happened. “
Finley's next race will be closer to home as on Saturday, August 9th, the CFR Team returns to JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour mode at the egg-shaped 0.393 mile oval of Auto City Speedway. The track, located in Clio, Michigan is an hour drive from the CFR race shops in DeWitt, Michigan and the Auto City 100 Presented by JEGS.com is a race that Finley hopes will finally land the team in victory lane in 2014.
“It will be fun to race close home. Mike (Staszak) is racing too for the first time this year, so we're looking forward to that as well." He added. "We need to get a win soon and that’s our mission going there. Going to do the open test on Friday for a few hours then head over to Tri City Motor Speedway and do some dirt racing that night then back to Auto City Saturday. We should have a fun weekend.” He ended.
For the rest of the 2014 racing season, Finley will run in mainly high-profile Super Late Model races throughout the country primarily in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS. He'll also race in events within the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, ARCA Midwest Tour and the Southern Super Series. On some off weekends, Finley will also compete in an Outlaw Bodied Pro Late Model closer to home at Owosso Speedway (MI) and will add some shows on dirt in his new UMP DIRTcar Late Model at select tracks around his home state of Michigan.
All of Finley's #42 entries will carry sponsorship support and decals all year long from Auto Value Parts Stores & Certified Service Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com, The Air Lift Company, XLT Engineering, NorthsideTowing.net, Five Star Racecar Bodies, Bassett Racing Wheels, Affordable Tire & Service, Bosch Spark Plugs, Hyperco Suspension, Superior Racing Images and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Chad Finley Racing and driver Chad Finley, please go to the CFR website located at: www.chadfinleyracing.com You can also follow CFR on Facebook and Twitter as well by going to the following links: www.facebook.com/chadfinleyracing and www.twitter.com/chad_finley and clicking on the “Like” and “Follow” buttons respectively.
