Johnny VanDoorn; One Step Closer To Unprecedented $100,000 Payday After Winning Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300
Three-Time and Reigning Series Champion Collects $10,000 for Win / $10,000 Guaranteed Bonus from JEGS
Anderson, Indiana (July 20, 2013) – It was the second jewel in the $100,000 JEGS Triple Crown Series for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS as the fast 1/4 (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval of Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana hosted the Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300. Three-Time and Reigning ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion, Johnny VanDoorn moved one step closer to an unprecedented $100,000 payday in October as the Coopersville, Michigan driver scored his second consecutive JEGS Triple Crown Series victory and third overall triumph of the 2013 racing season.
"I can't believe this is happening right now. We had no brakes the last 20 laps or so and I knew T.J. (Reaid) was right there behind me." The jubilant 25-year-old stated in victory lane after climbing from his #61 Port City Racecars / Ford. "What an awesome job by the crew today. I know it seems like I get all the credit and all of the glory, but it's all because of this crew who is with me and do all of the hard work needed to make this team successful." He added.
With the win, VanDoorn collected $10,000 for the victory as well as a guaranteed minimum $10,000 bonus from JEGS for winning two of the three scheduled JEGS Triple Crown Series events. Now he's the only driver eligible for a whopping $100,000 bonus from JEGS if he can complete the "hat trick" in the series by winning the 42nd running of the Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana on Sunday, October 13th.
"That's the big one right there. That's the one we want the most. We've won there a few times, but a 400 win has eluded us over the years," VanDoorn continued. "We've been close a few times and I can't wait to get there in October for the race. We've had such a great season in the Super Late Model, we're still learning in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East car, but I know that'll come around too." He stated.
After EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier, T.J. Reaid drew a six for an inversion and after all of
the pomp and circumstance of the pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions, it was
time to race as Defending Race Winner, Ross Kenseth and former Three-Time Stealth
Trailers CRA Street Stocks Series Powered by JEGS Champion, Joe Beaver led the 25-
car field to Chief Starter, Brian Duncan's green flag for the 300-lap main.
Kenseth would set the early pace as Eddie Van Meter, who was out for a little redemption
after crossing the start / finish line first the previous night in the Top Speed Fabrication
CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS portion of the weekend only to get
DQ'ed in post-race tech, skated by Beaver to take over the second spot and firmly plant
himself on Kenseth's back bumper in the early going.
VanDoorn, who started fourth, would also get by Beaver and ride comfortably in third place
clicking off laps in the early going, not letting the two leaders stray too far out in front of
him. Kenseth maintained the point with Van Meter searching every now and then for a
crack in Kenseth's armor. The first of seven cautions of the race didn't fly until lap 41 when
Boyne Machine Company Rookie of the Year title contender, 18-year-old Brandon Oakley
slapped the turn’s one and two wall and as he was coming down the track, he collected
Bubba Pollard, who was running sixth.
Oakley's night was over while Pollard pitted several times to repair damage to his machine and lost three laps on pit road. On the restart, Van Meter's assault on Kenseth began to intensify and on lap 51 he would take the lead from the 2012 Redbud Winner. A lap later, 2011 Redbud Winner, Steve Dorer saw his night end as he tagged the water barrels that surround the track entrance in turn three and stopped in the middle of turns three and four done for the night.
Van Meter would choose the outside lane on the ensuing restart which forced Kenseth to the bottom lane and as the green flag waved. Van Meter got a solid jump on Kenseth and the rest of the field when his momentum was slowed once again for another caution on lap 69 as J.R. Roahrig, making his first ARCA/CRA Super Series start since the 2010 season, collided with JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Points Leader, 17-year-old Cody Coughlin, who was making his ARCA/CRA debut. Both drivers were done for the night.
On the next restart, working on lap 77, Reaid had been quietly following VanDoorn who was riding in third and made the pass for the final podium position. Three laps later both Reaid and VanDoorn slide by Kenseth to take over second and third respectively. On lap 87 VanDoorn would be able to slip by Reaid to take over second and began to stalk the race leader Van Meter.
Several times leading up to the Lap 150 halfway break, VanDoorn would look high and low trying to figure out a way around Van Meter as the two drivers touched several times before slowing, regrouping and continuing on to the break. At the halfway mark, Van Meter led VanDoorn, Reaid, Kenseth and Beaver who were the top five. Strategy came into play as the teams were faced with how many tires to take during the break. The less tires the teams change at the break, the further up in the restart order they will start once they go back to green for lap 151.
Current Points Leader, Travis Braden made the bold move of the race as the 19-year-old didn't take any tires and that would allow him to restart the race as the leader over Beaver who only took two tires. VanDoorn, Reaid, Kenseth and Inaugural Series Champion from the 1997 season, Kenny Tweedy, who changed a motor earlier in the day, missing Qualifying, and in turn had to start the race shotgun on the field in 25th, all changed only three tires and would line up for the restart third through sixth. Everyone else remaining in the field, led by the leader at the break, Van Meter, took four tires.
On the restart, VanDoorn quickly disposed of Beaver and set his sights on Braden for the
lead and it didn't take long for the reigning Three-Time Series Champion to get around the
Wheeling, West Virginia driver as on lap 154 VanDoorn would power his way around
Braden to take over the point. He was soon followed by a hard-charging Van Meter thanks
to four fresh tires, as well as Reaid and Kenseth who also all got by Braden.
Over the next 35 laps, VanDoorn would be able to keep Van Meter a comfortable distance
behind him as he continued to click off laps and continue to get closer to the $10,000
paycheck for winning and the guaranteed $10,000 bonus from JEGS. The next caution
flew on lap 192 when Terry Fisher Jr., got into the back end of 2012 Snowball Derby
Winner, 17-year-old Erik Jones into turn one and again coming out of turn two resulting in
Jones slamming the backstretch wall. He was done for the night while Fisher Jr., was
sent to the rear of the field after being involved in the yellow.
On the next restart working lap 202, VanDoorn would again lead the charge into the first
corner as he utilized the outside lane in the double file restarts, but Van Meter would not
give up and let the West Michigan native know he was right there with him several times.
In the meantime, Reaid and Kenseth rode in third and fourth and on lap 230, both drivers
caught and passed Van Meter for second third and set their sights on VanDoorn.
Reaid would eventually get away from Kenseth and concentrate on VanDoorn and for the remaining 70 laps, VanDoorn would manage to keep the southern invader and winner of the ARCA/CRA Super Series event in Anderson, Indiana back on May 4th, tried every trick in his arsenal to get by VanDoorn, but it would be VanDoorn who was able to fight off every challenge and trick Reaid threw at him as the last 98 laps went green and every lap the red and black #61 would stay out in front to move closer to that unprecedented $100,000 payday on October 13th in Winchester, Indiana.
VanDoorn crossed the start / finish line first to score his 16th career ARCA/CRA Super Series victory, fourth on the All-Time Career Wins list, his fourth career win at Anderson, and second extended distance race of 150 Laps or more at the Central Indiana speed plant. In addition, by leading the last 147 laps, he also moves into second place All-Time in Laps Led in the 17-year history of the series behind only Scott Hantz.
"I owe this victory to my Brother and Crew Chief, Butch VanDoorn. He's the best in the business without a doubt and keeps proving it time and time again," The appreciative winner added. "Butch and this entire team put everything they have into this program. Butch and I have been concentrating a lot on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East deal with Dave Davis Motorsports and we haven't been able to run this car or our Outlaw Super Late Model as much as we'd like too, so we rely on those guys and they keep coming through for us." He ended.
Bringing home a runner-up finish was Reaid as the Acworth, Georgia driver in his #41 RMS Custom Machine / Chevrolet started the day by Winning his second EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier award of the year, but came up one spot short in the 300-lap main. "We just needed to be a little bit better and losing the fender there in that incident didn't help." The 23-year-old said. "Really proud of this whole team, they worked hard. We almost got the track record and almost got the win. We'll get them next time." He ended. Reaid did earn the first Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.
Rounding out the podium finishers was Kenseth who would bring home a third place showing after drawing the pole after the inversion draw in his #25 FarmandFleet.com / Toyota. "It wasn't the results we were looking for, but we'll take it." The Appleton, Wisconsin native who now resides in Mooresville, North Carolina stated. "Congratulations to Johnny and Butch (VanDoorn). They definitely got their stuff together and I'm glad to see them running so well. They're good people." The 20-year-old, who collected the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award for his efforts, added.
Van Meter made the most of his limited appearances in the series as the Indianapolis, Indiana veteran finished fourth while collecting the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award as well as the VR-12 and Holley Carburetors Halfway Leader Awards. He finished ahead of Braden as he completed the top five and picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his bold move of not taking any tires at the halfway break on lap 150.
Tweedy earned the Hedman Hedders Husler Award and the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance award by advancing 19 positions to finish sixth. Fisher Jr., rebounded from his wreck with Jones to pick up a seventh place showing while Robert Maynor earned an eighth place finish as Jason Dietsch and Pollard, who recovered from the lap 41 accident, finished off the top 10.
Ali Kern was awarded the Boyne Machine Company Rookie of the Race Award while Reaid's EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier award winning time over the 25-car field was a 12.924 which measures out to 75.478mph, just 0.002 seconds off the track record currently held by Jeff Lane who set the mark back on August 9, 2008.
The ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS is right back in action on Friday, July 26th at the immaculate Lucas Oil Raceway, located west of Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana for race #6 of the 2013 racing season and the running of the Night of the Stars Twin 100s with their counterparts within the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance as part of the Circle City's Brickyard Speedweeks. NASCAR stars Ken Schrader, David Stremme and Kenny Wallace will all be racing and SPEED TV's Bob Dillner will also be a part of the festivities.
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 CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and search for "Champion Racing Association" as well as Twitter at www.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Lucas Oil Raceway, the host facility for the sixth race of the 2013 season for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.lucasoilraceway.com
