18-Year-Old Billy Van Meter Scores Biggest Win Of His Career In CRA Late Model Sportsman At LOR
Circle City speed plant hosts series for the second time in 2014
Brownsburg, Indiana (September 28, 2014) – The Vore's Welding CRA Late Model
Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS was a part of the prestigious McGunegill
Engine Performance CRA Fall Brawl 2014 Presented by EDCO Welding over the
weekend of September 27-28th. The immaculate 0.686 mile semi-banked paved oval
of Lucas Oil Raceway, located west of Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Indiana was the
site of the Reynolds Body Shop 40 on the biggest track the series races on each
season. The race would also mark the 11th all-time appearance for the series at the
Circle City oval.
The CRA LMS 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 40-lap Feature which kicked off the
racing action under bright sunny skies on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, 18-year-old
Billy Van Meter took the lead from the drop of the green flag. He would then hold off
all-time series wins leader, Jason Atkinson for all 40 laps for his second career
victory and first triumph that included the accolades of celebrating in victory lane on
the front stretch.
"My Dad (ARCA/CRA Super Series veteran, Eddie Van Meter) told me that once I
get that first one, they get much easier," The elated driver of the #23 EDCO Welding
/ Lawrence Towing / Chevrolet stated in victory lane surrounded by his crew, family
and friends. "The first win in this series wasn't the way we wanted our first one to go
with the DQ and all of that. This one is special. We battled so hard with (second
place finisher) Jason (Atkinson) and to win here at Lucas Oil Raceway, to get this
trophy and these boxing gloves, man what a great day." He added.
It would be Atkinson and Van Meter leading the massive 29-car field to the green flag
and it would be Van Meter beating Atkinson and the rest of the pack to the first
corner to take the early lead. Van Meter paced the field with Atkinson consistently
in tow throughout the race that would see four yellow flags fly. The first caution flew
for a spinning Dave Duncan in turn four on lap 11. Two cautions flew on lap 22 with
the second one seeing 18-year-old rookie, Quinnton Bear suddenly slowing as the
field was coming to green. Reigning series champion, Mark Lambert spun to avoid
the carnage in front of him when Quay Gregory slammed into the back end of his
machine. Both drivers were ok.
Lambert did manage to come back out and turn more laps, but eventually pulled in.
All the while, Van Meter led Atkinson and the rest of the field when one more caution
flew on lap 30 setting up a 10-lap shootout. Van Meter was up to the challenge on
the final restart and held off Atkinson to score the biggest win of his career at his
home track while also scoring the coveted CRA Fall Brawl Boxing Gloves and Five-
Foot Trophy. In addition, he also picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for getting passed Atkinson on the initial start, which turned out to be the
winning pass.
Atkinson's #7 Oak Motors / Ford came home in second place to keep his slim championship hopes alive in the chase for the 2014 CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Championship. The New Castle, Indiana veteran later in the evening would clinch the 2014 CRA Street Stock Series Championship with one race to go giving the 37-year-old his first career CRA title. He didn't leave LOR empty-handed though as he scored the Racing Electronics Second to None Award for his efforts.
17-year-old Trey Craig, the winner at LOR in the spring back on April 6th during the Cabin Fever Weekend grabbed the final podium position of third in his #15 DCI General Contractors / Chevrolet. The Louisville, Kentucky driver, who was doing double-duty over the weekend by also competing in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour portion of the CRA Fall Brawl Weekend, had a very successful weekend with a career high fourth place in the JEGS/CRA race, which was held right after the CRA LMS event.
North Vernon, Indiana teenager, Jared Thomas, in just his third career start in a Late Model, brought home a career high fourth place finish in his #96 Jennings Parts-NAPA / Chevrolet. The 16-year-old started 10th and was as high as third at one point before the Hoosier State teenager, who plans on a full schedule in 2015, posted his career high showing. 19-year-old rookie, J.P. Crabtree III picked up an impressive fifth place finish, tops amongst all 2014 Rookie of the Year title contenders in his #83 Jim's Automotive / Chevrolet. With his second top five of the season, Crabtree III's slim chance at catching Jack Dossey III for the freshman title remain alive heading into the final race of the year.
18-year-old Thomas Hufferd Jr., scored a career high finish of sixth ahead of current points leader, Greg Van Alst who scored a seventh place showing to put himself in good position, points wise heading into the final race. If the Anderson, Indiana veteran finishes 10th or better in the final race, he will win the 2014 CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Championship. Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier, Shawn Amor overcame a mid-race incident to post an eighth place finish while 14-year-old Hunter Jack finished ninth in his second career start in the series. Veteran Chad Richardson made his first start of the season and earned the Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Award with his 18th to 10th place run.
In the chase for the 2014 Rookie of the Year title, 15-year-old Jack Dossey III, who also has a chance at catching Van Alst for the overall title, needs to only finish 23rd or better in the final race to clinch the Freshman title. The day before in Allstar Performance Qualifying, Amor out-qualified the 29-car field with a 23.562 which measures out to 104.813mph, for his second award of the season. The CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Track Record remains in the possession of Amor who turned in a 23.097 back on April 6th of this season during the 2014 Cabin Fever Spring Championships.
The 10th anniversary 2014 racing season for the Vore's Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS concludes during the 43rd running of the Winchester 400 Weekend on Friday-Saturday, October 10-11th. The CRA Late Model Sportsman teams will compete twice over 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.
On Friday, October 10th, the popular New Stars 25, a non-points race for the series will start things off before the teams return on Saturday, October 11th with the Vore's Welding 50 which will crown the 2014 Series Champion and Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 50-lap Feature. The CRA Late Model Sportsman have raced at the famed high-banks on 34 previous occasions with Two-Time Series Champion Keith Sterkowitz leading the way with four trips to victory lane including the last two races for the series during 400 weekend in 2012 and 2013.
Another Two-Time Series Champion Charlie Hanna as well as Rick Rinehart each have three wins apiece while Justin Alsip, Steve Blair, Tommy Cook, Terry Jones and Scott Neal have two victories. 13 other competitors all have single wins including the most recent winner on September 1st, 18-year-old Billy Van Meter. 2013 Series Champion Mark Lambert, 2012 Series Champion K.C. Spillers, 2008 Series Champion Tony Dager and 2007 Series Champion Billy Hutson all have won on the high-banks.
Former ARCA/CRA Super Series Champions, Brian Ross and Derrick Griffin have gone to victory lane in CRA Late Model Sportsman Series competition and so has the late Al Cook Jr. More winners who have scored wins at the famed facility are Damon Ecoff, Terry Fisher Jr., Derrick Griffin, Mark Parker, Stuart Quakenbush and Bob Sibila Jr. All have had the privilege to visit victory lane in Eastern Indiana
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 Winchester Speedway, the host facility for the 10th and final 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.winchesterspeedway.com
