NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Star, Kyle Busch Holds Off Johnny VanDoorn To Win Boyne Machine Company 100
ARCA/CRA Super Series' First Appearance at Kalamazoo Speedway since 2006 part of Kalamazoo Klash XXII
Kalamazoo, Michigan (August 13, 2014) – For the first time in eight years, the ARCA/CRA
Super Series Powered by JEGS returned to the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved
oval of Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan as part of the prestigious
Kalamazoo Klash XXII. The Boyne Machine Company 100 for the premiere template
bodied Super Late Model series in the country was held in conjunction with one of the
biggest events for Outlaw Super Late Models in the country. A standing room only crowd
converged onto the Southwest Michigan speed plant and witnessed an epic night of
racing.
In a star studded night of racing, two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars (Kyle Busch &
David Ragan) took on the cars and stars of the ARCA/CRA Super Series. For the 10th
time in 20 career ARCA/CRA starts, Kyle Busch would emerge victorious as the Las
Vegas, Nevada superstar in his #51 Rheem Comfort Products / Young Supply Company /
Toyota took the lead from three-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion, Johnny
VanDoorn on lap 52 and from there, the 29-year-old held back the constant efforts of
VanDoorn to secure his second ARCA/CRA win of the 2014 season in two starts.
“That was a lot of fun racing with Johnny (VanDoorn). I don’t think we touched one time.
That’s a true testament to the racer Johnny is. I had a blast here tonight." The elated
driver stated in victory lane after the win. "It’s cool to come here to a new racetrack and succeed in front of all these fans. Wow, what a crowd here. I just love racing with the ARCA/CRA Super Series. These guys have got good stuff and fast racecars. It was fun to race him that's for sure and to do that in front of all these people; That's what it's all about." He added.
After Busch shattered the ARCA/CRA Super Series Track Record in EDCO Welding
Qualifying, he drew a nine for an inversion which placed Jay Niewiek and Chris Koslek on
the front row for the Boyne Machine Company 100. Niewiek would beat Koslek and the
rest of the field to the first corner to take the lead. For the first time in his ARCA/CRA
career, the three-time Cometic Gasket Hard-Charger of the Year Award winner would lead
laps as he paced the field for the first 14 circuits until Koslek regrouped and got past the
early race leader.
Koslek's lead didn't last long as on lap 18, both VanDoorn and Busch drove by to take
over the first two spot on the track and the battle would begin between the two standouts.
The first of only two cautions flew on lap 31 when 18-year-old T.K. Whitman spun in turn
four and collected Brandon Hermiller. Whitman was able to come back out laps down
while Hermiller's night was over. On the restart, Busch began his charge using the
outside lane and finally on lap 52, he would clear VanDoorn for the lead.
The last caution came out on lap 71 setting up a final showdown between Busch and
VanDoorn. On the restart, VanDoorn stayed glued to Busch's door as the two battled
side by side. Busch was able to inch away from VanDoorn with every passing lap and
despite the constant threats by VanDoorn to slide past, Busch was up to the challenge
and would hang on to keep his ARCA/CRA career winning percentage at 50% by winning
his 10th ARCA/CRA race of his career to move into sole possession of seventh all-time,
breaking the tie he was in with Eddie Hoffman at nine wins.
"We were searching, trying to find something besides the top lane and I kept letting
Johnny get to my inside, but there was nothing left to go for it,” Explained Busch amidst
the herd of media outlets surrounding him after the victory. "I couldn’t really find anything
that was any faster so I could pull away. He could've dumped me anytime he wanted too,
but he didn't. I love racing these Super Late Models when I get the chance to do so. I
just wish I could do this more. But with races like this during week, we'll make the trip
every time." He ended.
In addition to picking up the $5,000 paycheck and the multiple trophies that went with
winning the Boyne Machine Company 100, Busch also would collect the Team
Construction Clean Sweep Award for winning the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award
and then going on to win the race for a $300 bonus. He also AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award or his winning pass on VanDoorn on lap 52.
After leading for 34 laps, VanDoorn would settle for second in his #71 LisaThomasSalon.com / Ford. In his bid to break his tie for third in all-time career wins at 18 with Canadian Legend, Junior Hanley, the 26-year-old fought tooth and nail with eventual winner Busch after he was passed on lap 52. For the remainder of the race, the three-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion tried desperately to pass the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series invader, but in the end, finished second. The Coopersville, Michigan driver did collect the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award as well as the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award for his efforts.
Rounding out the podium finishers would be defending ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion and current point's leader, Travis Braden. The 20-year-old from Wheeling, West Virginia started 13th and advanced 10 positions to collect the first Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award with his third place showing. The pilot of the #01 West Virginia University / Chevrolet did maintain his points lead over Ross Kenseth going into the next race at Flat Rock Speedway (MI) on August 16th, but that advantage is smaller, going from 14 to just eight markers.
As for Ross Kenseth, the Little Chute, Wisconsin driver, the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star, Matt Kenseth, just nipped Chad Finley at the line to score a fourth place finish in his #77 Boyne Machine Company / Ford. The 21-year-old picked up six points on Braden in the fight for the 2014 ARCA/CRA Super Series Championship after losing the points lead in the previous race at Columbus Motor Speedway (OH) on August 2nd. Finley's #42 AutoParts2020.com / Chevrolet completed the top five as the 22-year-old was just edged across the finish line at the checkered flag by a mere 0.002 seconds. Nevertheless it was Finley's fourth top five finish in the last five events for the DeWitt, Michigan driver.
Alec Carll finished in the sixth spot ahead of 14-year-old Todd Gilliland, the son of another NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, David Gilliland, who finished a career high seventh in only his second ever start. Wes Griffith Jr., collected his fourth Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award and extended his lead in the 2014 freshman title chase with an eighth place finish. Veteran Joe Bush would collect the C.V. Racing Products Hard-Charger Award as well as the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award with his 20th to ninth place run. 2013 Rookie of the Year, Ali Kern rounded out the top 10 after pitting during both cautions for multiple adjustments and roaring back into the top 10 each time. She earned the Hedman Hedders Husler Award as well as the VanDoorn Racing Development Fastest Practice Lap Award.
In EDCO Welding Qualifying, 31 cars timed in as Busch shattered the Track Record by a whopping 0.448 seconds with a blistering 12.527, which equals out to a fast 107.767mph. The old record was set back on July 28th, 2006 by Brian Campbell who went a 12.975. In the 15-Lap Last Chance Race, Justin Claucherty led every lap from the pole to transfer into the 100-lap main. Canadian, Jordan Sims also transferred in as well.
The ARCA/CRA Super Series teams will stay in the Great Lakes State and head East across the state on Saturday, August 16th. The fast 1/4 (0.250) mile semi-banked paved oval of Flat Rock Speedway, located south of Detroit and north of Toledo, Ohio in Flat Rock, Michigan hosts the 7-Up 125. This event is the third straight appearance in three seasons to the Southeast corner of the state. In two previous races, three-time series champion, Scott Hantz has recorded the wins and will make an infrequent appearance once again in an attempt to 'three-peat' in Southeast Michigan. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star, David Ragan will stay in the Great Lakes State after competing at Kalamazoo, where he finished 11th and will compete once again against the ARCA/CRA cars and stars.
In addition, the 7-Up 125 will close out the Inaugural Boyne Machine Company Michigan Challenge Series. A $10,000 bonus was put up by Boyne if a driver could sweep all four Michigan based events during the 2014 season. Brian Campbell won the first race at Berlin Raceway back on May 31st while Johnny VanDoorn claimed the win in the Battle at Berlin on July 19th. Kyle Busch won on August 13th at Kalamazoo Speedway. Since there will be no sweep, Boyne will still pay a $1,000 bonus to the driver earning the most points in the four Michigan based series events.
Heading into the 7-Up 125 at Flat Rock, Travis Braden is the Boyne Machine Company Michigan Challenge Series points leader by a comfortable 32 point margin over Wes Griffith Jr., and Ross Kenseth, who are tied for second (288-256-256). Braden merely needs to finish 15th or better at Flat Rock and he will clinch the inaugural title.
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 Finally for more information about Flat Rock Speedway, the host facility for the 10th points race within the 18th season of ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS racing, go to the track website located at: www.flatrockspeedway.com
Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in four professional touring series and local weekly events including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards as well as the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, the ARCA Midwest Tour and the ARCA Trucks Series. In addition, weekly racing is held at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.
