Calvin Parham Scores Second Consecutive CRA Street Stock Series Winchester 400 Weekend Victory
Jason Atkinson locks up 2014 Championship while 14-year-old James Kirby III grabs Rookie of the Year title
Winchester, Indiana (October 11, 2014) – The 10th anniversary 2014 racing season
for the Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stock Series Powered by JEGS concluded during
the 43rd running of the Winchester 400 Weekend on Saturday, October 11. The
CRA Street Stock Series teams were a part of the prestigious weekend at the
legendary 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Winchester Speedway, located
west of the Indiana / Ohio state line and east of Muncie in Winchester, Indiana with
the running of the Stealth Trailers 50 as the 2014 Series Champion and Rookie of
the Year titles were officially determined.
The 41st all-time appearance by the series on the famed high-banks already had one
title decided when Jason Atkinson clinched the championship in the previous race at
Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) on September 28th. In the 50-lap main during 400 Weekend,
Knightstown, Indiana veteran, Calvin Parham overcame a lengthy dual with 2010
Series Champion Jeff Lane before the weekends Fast Qualifier slowed with
mechanical problems. This gave Parham's teammate, rookie Brandon Mefford a shot
at Parham's #33 NMC Companies / Stanley Show Pigs / Chevrolet, but Parham
would hang on for his first Feature Win of the season and fourth of his CRA Street
Stock Series career.
"We had a really good car tonight, probably the best I've ever had here at
Winchester. I didn't know though if I could've held off Jeff (Lane) or not, but when he
dropped out, I still couldn't relax with Brandon (Mefford) right there," The 40-year-old
driver said in victory lane. "This place is just so special. To win here at all means
everything, but to also win here during Winchester 400 Weekend with people from
all over the country. This is a really big deal for us Street Stock guys to be able to
race on this weekend. To win this two years in a row, what a way to end the year."
He added.
New Castle, Indiana veteran, Jason Atkinson had already clinched the 2014 CRA
Street Stock Series Championship the race before at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) on
September 28th. On this night, after a grinding crash at the end of the CRA Late
Model Sportsman Series race on the checkered flag lap where he finished second,
the 37-year-old could relax knowing he had already secured the title in his #73
Accelerator Racecars / Richmond Performance / Chevrolet. He finished 11th in the
50-lap main, but with the title already his, Atkinson was all smiles during post-race
ceremonies.
"I'm really proud to give Danny Acrey a second championship in this division (Jeff
Lane drove for the Car Owner Acrey during his 2011 title run) he and this whole team deserve it for all the hard work that they all put into this car." Atkinson remarked as he officially accepted the trophy for his title, the first of his career after several years of also competing in the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series. "We had a pretty good year in both cars, but the main thing is we finally got a championship in CRA. Pretty proud of that." He ended.
It was on the final night of the season when 14-year-old James Kirby III took over the Rookie of the Year points lead and the Indianapolis, Indiana teenager waited until the best possible time to do so in his #12 USA Tires / T.J. Racing Lubricants / Chevrolet. When rookie points leader, Jeff Johnson dropped out after the first lap due to engine woes, Kirby III had to finish at least 15th or better to take over the rookie points lead and lock up the title. When another car dropped out with 13 laps to go, the freshman title was Kirby III's. In addition, he also became the youngest driver in CRA's 18-year history, including 10 years of CRA Street Stock Series racing, to do so. He would finish sixth in the race.
In the 50-Lap Feature, Fast Qualifier Jeff Lane pulled a seven for an inversion which meant that Rookie Brandon Mefford and Buckeye State invader, Josh Sage would bring the field to the green. Mefford edged Sage going into the first corner to take the lead while the rest of the field would sort themselves out behind him. Parham, who started fourth, quickly motored his way into second spot and on the back bumper of his teammate, Mefford as the two would proceed to check out away from the rest of the field.
Parham made his winning pass, which was also the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award winner, on lap eight and began to leave the field behind him, building up to as much as a full straightaway lead on the pack. Lane, who started seventh began reeling in Parham and would get to his back bumper with 10 laps to go. Unfortunately for Lane, his car suddenly slowed with seven laps to go and a lap later, Sage slammed the turn four wall to bring out the caution. On the final restart Parham quickly got away from Mefford and sailed to his second straight Winchester 400 Weekend win.
The 29-year-old Mefford scored a career high second place finish in his #83 Sunnyside Motors / Chevrolet as the Knightstown, Indiana driver completed his first full season in the CRA Street Stock Series by finishing third in the rookie points and seventh overall despite missing one race. 14-year-old Mason Keller who completed his second season of CRA competition, backed up his first ever Feature Win from the night before in the New Stars race to post a career high third place showing in his #29 Steve Keller Tri-Axle Trucking / Chevrolet. The Indianapolis, Indiana teen's showing leap-frogged him into the final top five in the points standings as he will finish fifth in the final tallies.
J.J. Schafer would score a solid fourth place effort in his #68 Bremen CarQuest / Chevrolet. The 21-year-old has competed on a part-time basis in 2014 within the CRA Street Stock Series. The Bremen, Indiana pilot, despite missing almost half the season, has made the most of those appearances and will finish 11th in the points. Jake McElfresh completed the top five in his #3 W.C. Signs / Chevrolet. After scoring a career high finish of fourth in the previous event at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN), the 25-year-old from Elwood, Indiana backed it up with his second straight top five.
Kirby III scored a sixth place finish and celebrated his 2014 Rookie of the Year title while Ron Landis was seventh and also collected the Van Hoy Oil Farthest Traveler Award after making the trip from Schoolcraft, Michigan. 2013 Rookie of the Year Josh Lank locked up the 2014 Runner-Up honors in the CRA Street Stock Series for the season with an eighth place effort as Brian Stocker posted a ninth place finish. After starting in 22nd position, Brian Janes earned the T.C.I. Automotive Hard-Charger Award by completing the top 10.
Earlier in the day in Allstar Performance / Van Hoy Oil Qualifying, Lane came within 0.004 seconds of his own Track Record as he went an impressive 18.105 which averages out to 99.420mph. It was his fourth FQ Award of the season and a whopping 23rd of his career in the CRA Street Stocks. Far and away the most all-time in series history. The CRA Street Stock Series Track Record remains with Lane who back on October 13, 2012 turned in an 18.101.
The night before in the CRA Street Stock Series New Stars Feature, 14-year-old Mason Keller scored the victory for his first ever trip to victory lane. He held off Colby Lane to take home the trophy. Lane settled for second while Josh Lank finish third ahead of Nick Pressler and Ron Landis who completed the top five. The Van Hoy Oil Fast Qualifier was Lane who went an 18.606.
There is still one event remaining which will officially conclude the 2014 racing season; the 2014 Champion Racing Association (CRA) Powered by JEGS Awards Banquet. On Saturday, January 3, 2015 the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown at Union Station located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana will host the gala event. The event will honor the top 10 teams in 2014 points from the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS and the Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stocks Series Powered by JEGS.
More information about the 2014 CRA Awards Banquet will be released soon. For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS, please go to the series website at: www.cra-racing.comYou can also follow along with all of CRA's touring series' all season long on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ChampionRacingAssociation and on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/CRAracing
