18-Year-Old Billy Van Meter Inherits First Ever CRA Late Model Sportsman Win At Winchester Speedway
Vore's Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS take on the historic high-banks in Eastern Indiana
Winchester, Indiana (September 1, 2014) – The Vore's Welding CRA Late Model
Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS was part of the prestigious Labor Day Weekend
World Stock Car Festival at the legendary 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of
Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana on Sunday-Monday, August 31-September
1st. The teams joined their CRA counterparts within the ARCA/CRA Super Series
Powered by JEGS, the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance
and Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stock Series Powered by JEGS over the Weekend.
In the CRA Late Model Sportsman Feature that was part of the Labor Day Holiday
Weekend, the Vore's Welding 40 saw a thrilling event under bright sunny skies on a
Monday afternoon. When the checkered flag flew it was 18-year-old rookie, Quinnton
Bear who would cross the start / finish line first. Unfortunately, in post-race tech, an
infraction was found and he was relegated to the rear of the field. This gave the victory to
another 18-year-old, Billy Van Meter. The Indianapolis, Indiana driver in his #23 EDCO
Welding / Two Little Bees Auto Parts / Chevrolet who would inherit his first career win.
"I just hate it for Quinnton (Bear). He was definitely the fastest car all weekend. I first
want to thank God for all the blessings and opportunities I have." Van Meter offered after
hearing the news that he was declared the winner. "Also I have to thank my biggest fans; my Dad and Mom and Grandpa Bill Skiles, my Crew Chief Jeff Lane, who works hard for me every week, and also Bobby Blount who built this beast for me over the winter." He added.
It would be Bret Miles Jr., the 2008 CRA Street Stock Series Champion and 18-year-old rookie, J.P. Crabtree bringing the field out of turn four to start the 40-lap main, which kicked off the racing action on Labor Day Monday. Crabtree rolled around the outside and used his momentum in the high lane to take the early lead from Miles Jr., as Bear followed suit from his outside second row starting spot. As the two freshman pulled away, Bear made his move around Crabtree to take the lead for himself on lap five and slowly began to pull away from the rest of the pack.
The lone caution of the race flew on lap nine bunching up the field for the last time. On the restart, Bear took the outside lane and shot around turns one and two to immediately pull away again from the rest of the pack. Bear would then proceed to put on a dominating performance and would cross the stripe first by nearly six seconds for seemingly his first career victory. Unfortunately after post-race inspection, an infraction was found, thus giving the win to the original second place finisher, Van Meter, who would pick up his first career triumph.
Van Meter then added; "I really need to thank my crew guys my sponsors, EDCO Welding, McGunegill Engine Performance, Irrigation Plus, Norton Transport, PGG Welding supplies and Special Thanks to Jack Neal and Motion Motors for always helping me with parts and supporting me from my early beginnings in sportsman cars. Also my fans, my spotter Brian Blackmore and photographer Mark Schatzer, just everyone who is a part of this." He ended.
Van Meter collected the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his pass for second place on Crabtree, which turned out to be the race winning pass. He also closes to within 22 points of the points lead with just three races remaining on the schedule. Current Rookie of the Year Points Leader, 15-year-old Jack Dossey III left the high-banks with his career high finish in CRA Late Model Sportsman competition. The Indianapolis, Indiana teenager in his #20 Hart's Auto Center / Chevrolet scored the runner-up showing and picked up the Racing Electronics Second to None Award for his efforts.
Outside front row starter, Miles Jr., did manage to stay in the top five throughout the event and picked up a season high finish of a third in his #52 Top Cherry Mufflers / Chevrolet. The 26-year-old from near-by Muncie, Indiana has made limited appearances in 2014 in the CRA Late Model Sportsman and was the winner of a special 200-lap CRA Street Stock Series event at near-by Anderson Speedway (IN) back in June. Current Points Leader, Greg Van Alst in his #35 Top Choice Fence & Deck / Chevrolet would take over fourth spot as the 33-year-old did lose a little bit of his lead in the standings to Dossey III as he will carry a slim five-point advantage into the final three races of the season.
Robert Amos Jr., picked up the Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Award by finishing fifth after starting in 11th while a pair of 18-year-olds were next with Thomas Hufferd Jr., who scored a career high finish with a sixth place showing after starting in 10th in only his fourth career start in a Late Model. T.K. Whitman's first start of the season resulted in a seventh place finish while Crabtree hung on to finish in eighth over Larry Swinford, in his first career CRA Late Model Sportsman Series start. Dave Duncan completed the final top 10.
The previous day in Allstar Performance Qualifying, Jason Atkinson won his second Fast Qualifier Award of the season and 11th of his career, tops amongst all drivers all-time in the series' 10-year history. Atkinson's quick time was a 16.916 which equals out to an impressive 106.408mph. Scott Neal still holds down the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Track Record on the famed high-banks with a 16.728 he set back on September 5th, 2010. Whitman and Amos Jr., were the Heat Race Winners from the night before.
The CRA Late Model Sportsman Series will return to their adoptive home track for the fifth and final time in 2014 as the fast 1/4 (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval of Anderson Speedway (IN) in Anderson, Indiana serves as hosts of the PGG Enterprises 100 Presented by Thompson Builders on Saturday, September 13th. The race will pay $2,000 to the winner of the extended distance event. Jason Atkinson has the most victories in Central Indiana with six career wins including one this season, within the 26-all-time appearances at the track. Two-Time series champion (2011 & 2006) Keith Sterkowitz is next on the list with four total victories.
Chris Hacker and Trey Craig each have two trips to victory lane including one each this season while another two-time series champion (2010 & 2009); Charlie Hanna and the late Al Cook Jr., both have two wins each as well. Current points leader, Greg Van Alst as well as 2008 series champion, Tony Dager both have single victories each amongst the eight competitors who all have one win apiece.
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.com You 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 Anderson Speedway, the host facility for the eighth race of the 10th anniversary 2014 racing season for the Vore's Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.andersonspeedway.com
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 Anderson Speedway, the host facility for the eighth race of the 10th anniversary 2014 racing season for the Vore's Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.andersonspeedway.com
