Chad Finley Battles Back For Second JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Triumph Of The Season; First In His Home State
Outlasts Current Points Leader, Cody Coughlin to Win at Springport Motor Speedway
Springport, Michigan (September 14, 2013) – The Springport Fall Brawl 100 Presented by
JEGS.com for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance was
held at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved oval of Springport Motor Speedway,
located north of Jackson and south of Lansing in Springport, Michigan on September
14th. This event was rained out from its' original date of April 28th and for Chad Finley,
the wait was worth it as the 21-year-old from near-by DeWitt, Michigan scored a thrilling
victory to the delight of the home state crowd.
The win didn't come easy for the driver of the #42 AutoParts2020.com / Chevrolet as he
would be forced to go to the rear of the field after a lap four incident. Finley would then
proceed to charge through the field, slicing and dicing through traffic before briefly taking
the lead on lap 51 from current points leader, Cody Coughlin. While Coughlin regained the
lead two laps later, Finley never let the 17-year-old, who earlier in the evening, won the
Boyne Machine Company Fast Qualifier Award, stray too far out in front of him.
As Finley regrouped, he pulled along-side of Coughlin in an effort to retake the lead and
inched out ahead of him on lap 84 when the caution flag flew moments later and Finley
would be deemed the race leader. From there, Finley made no mistake the rest of the
way as Coughlin faded towards the end. Chris Koslek got past Coughlin and made a late
charge at Finley, but the race leader wasn't too be denied and the black #42 would
emerge victorious.
“I was so determined to win this race for my Grandpa Joe, and I am so glad that we were
able to pull it off. I am hoping he is going to get well."The emotional driver stated after the race. "When we got sent to the back early in the race, I knew I still had quite a while to make it back up to the front. When we made it up to second, I knew Cody [Coughlin] would be tough to pass." He continued.
"We worked back and forth for a lot of laps, and thankfully we had the lead by just enough when that last caution came out." He continued. "An awesome night to say the least. I'm so proud of my team and thankful for our partners who are a part of this program. It says a lot about the team to come here and win at a race track where I have really struggled at in the past. We didn't decide to run this race until Tuesday morning." He ended.
With his second win of the season and third of his career, Finley, who is at least in the top six in every major statistical category in JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour history, moved up to fourth all-time in the wins column as well as second by himself in all-time laps led as well as top five finishes. He also moved into a three-way tie for second all-time in top 10s. Finley also collected the first Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award as well as the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award
Koslek's efforts were rewarded as the Grand Rapids, Michigan driver, who led briefly on lap five and six, rebounded by tying a career high finish with his runner-up showing in his #23 West Michigan Tool & Accessories / Ford earning the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award while Coughlin ended up third when the checkered flag flew in his #1 JEGS.com / Chevrolet as he led the most laps in the event with 58 laps. The Delaware, Ohio teenager also picked up the D.T.S. Drive Train Specialists Halfway Leader Award and with his showing, the 17-year-old extended his points lead to a very comfortable 75 markers with just two point's races left.
14-year-old Jake Griffin collected the Howe Racing Enterprises Rookie of the Race Award as well as the VDL Fuel Systems Rookie of the Race Award for the Quincy, Illinois teenagers' fourth place finish in his #08 Green Smart Buildings / Chevrolet as he gained some ground in the chase for the Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year title. Jerrod Foley finished a season high fifth after a season of hard luck for the Williamsburg, Kentucky driver in his #04 Quality Care Auto / Chevrolet.
Kyle Hayden picked up a career high sixth place showing and picked up the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award as 15-year-old Corey Deuser, the Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points Leader was seventh and moved up to second overall in the points chase. Leo Smith grabbed a career high eighth place finish with Brandon Hermiller finishing ninth over 18-year-old rookie, Dominique Van Wieringen, who completed the top 10.
Early race leader, Eric Lee, who paced the field for the first four laps, picked up the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race award while Jimmy Novak, driving for 2012 Championship Winning Car Owner & Crew Chief, Scott Neal for the weekend, picked up the Five Star Racecar Bodies and the Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Award for his 24th to 11th place run while Marc Jacobs scored the Hedman Hedders Husler Award as he finished 12th after starting 25th. 14-year-old Kody Evans would receive the Hinchman Racing Uniforms Hard-Luck Award.
Coughlin's second Boyne Machine Company Fast Qualifier Award of the season was a 15.175 which equals out to 88.962mph as his mark was just 0.066 seconds off of the JEGS/CRA Track Record set back on July 1, 2012 when Daniel Hemric went a 15.109.
The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance will be a part of the McGunegill Engine Performance CRA Fall Brawl 2013 Presented by P.A.D.D. (People Against Distracted Driving) on Saturday-Sunday, September 21-22nd at the immaculate Lucas Oil Raceway, located west of Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana for the running of the P.A.D.D. 100 Presented by Chevrolet Performance & T.J. Racing Lubricants.
For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS, go to the CRA website at: www.cra-racing.com You can also follow along with CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and search for "Champion Racing Association" as well as on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Lucas Oil Raceway, the host facility for the 11th race of the 2013 season for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, go to the track website at: www.lucasoilraceway.com
