Mark Lambert Wins Winchester!
Extends Championship Points Lead for CRA Late Model Sportsman Series
Winchester, Indiana (August 18, 2013) – Lambert gets the win in his first appearance at
Winchester Speedway in the Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman
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With a tight battle in the points chase, all the drivers would have to be on their games at
the famed oval. The ominous sign at the infield entrance certainly sets the tone for the
challenge at hand, “Through these gates pass the bravest drivers in the world”. Known as
the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile" the track's 37 degree banking is one of the steepest in
motorsports. From the inside of Turn 2, where the CRA cars were pitted, it looks more
like a wall of asphalt.
Billy Van Meter would set the pace with a time of 17.305 for the pole position. Lambert
just .02 back would be 2nd. Rounding out the Top 5 would be Kevin Claborn, Jacob
Garrigus, and Jason Atkinson.
Heat races where next on the schedule and with the invert, K.C. Spillers who is 2nd in the
Championship Points battle and qualified 6th would start the first heat race on the pole.
While the heat races do not affect the qualifying order, they do provide valuable points. The
ten lap heat race was action packed in the field with several close calls, but Spillers would
lead flag-to-flag and gain 4 points on Lambert.
Heading into the race, the nerves for the racers where certainly up. With the invert of the
top four for the race, Garrigus would start on the pole. Lambert would start in 3rd right
behind P2 Claborn with Atkinson and K.C. Spillers, both who are plenty quick, right around
him.
With the wave of green, the pack dove into the first turn, bumper-to-bumper throughout the
field. Garrigus didn’t get up to speed very quickly, so as the packed moved out, Lambert
jumped into line in 5th. The front pack remained tight and the first caution came when
Spillers and Van Meter got together up front on Lap 6. Spillers was able to continue and
maintain position, however Van Meter would call it a day. Claborn, who took the lead from
Lap 1 was still looking great out front.
On the restart, Lambert would be in 4th but on the outside. Picking and choosing his
moments, he managed to find perfect timing and got pass Atkinson and Spillers for P2.
Lambert commented, “It was busy for a while, trying to work on the 17 car (Claborn) and
hold off the 7 (Atkinson) and the 38 (Spillers).”
Just as Lambert got to the inside of Claborn, Claborn had an issue and lost power. Lambert, once in the lead on Lap 22, seemingly never looked back. From Lambert’s perspective, “my car was really working well and I just stayed focused. I had a wiggle in Turn 4 and at that point Atkinson really gained on me – but a few laps later he did the same thing. After that my spotter Greg (Van Alst) told me where Atkinson was at his best, so I adjusted my line a little and then just stretched it out for the win!”
Lambert stretched out the lead to win by .519 seconds. Jason Atkinson and K.C. Spillers rounded out the Top 3. Lambert retains the Championship Points lead, now up by 12 points over Spillers.
With his first win of the season there was much rejoicing. Lambert’s first comment over the radio, “Dad, Can I do a burn out?” Moments later the AAA Insurance green #18 was smokin’ hot and leaving Lambert’s victory signature on the banks of Winchester!
Next Up for the CRA Late Model Sportsman: Back to Winchester. September 1 – 2.
