Defending CRA Street Stocks Series Champion, Jimmy Kirby Scores Second Straight Win; First At Lucas Oil Raceway
Still has ground to make up to catch Points Leader, Dustin Burge with One Points Race Remaining
Clermont, Indiana (September 22, 2013) – IDefending Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stocks
Series Powered by JEGS Champion, Jimmy Kirby knows he has his work cut out for him
if he has any hopes of repeating as champion in the premier touring series for Street
Stock-type machines in the country. The Indianapolis, Indiana veteran is letting the rest of
the field know that he will not go down without a fight after picking up his second straight
victory in the series, this one coming at the immaculate Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont,
Indiana.
The Two Men and a Truck 40 was a part of the McGunegill Engine Performance CRA Fall
Brawl 2013 Presented by P.A.D.D. (People Against Distracted Driving) as Kirby would
start sixth on the grid and quickly worked his way towards the front. Frank Kimmel Street
Stock Nationals competitor, Roger Williams started on the pole and led the first six laps
before A.J. Ridner would take the lead on lap seven. Five laps later, Kirby got past Ridner
to take over the lead, earning the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award in the process.
From there, would hold off a late charge from Jason Thompson and CRA veteran, Jim
Crabtree Jr., to pick up his second consecutive win of the year to go with his triumph a
week earlier at near-by Anderson (IN) Speedway. This was also his third career trip to
victory lane in a CRA Street Stocks Series event and first checkered flag outside of his
home track of Anderson.
"It was a nice run for us, feels good to win again, especially here. The other two wins in this series both came at Anderson, so this one is pretty special," The elated driver of the #11 USA Tires / Chevrolet stated after an impressive burn out before parking his ride in victory lane. "We're not out of this title fight yet. I know it's an uphill climb for us, but anything can happen, and usually does, at Winchester." The 40-year-old added.
Thompson, who the previous day won his second Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Award of the season, started 10th after the inversion draw, worked his way up to the runner-up spot and tried in vain to get around Kirby, but in the end the Shirley, Indiana driver in his #28 Insulators18.org / Chevrolet would settle for second in only his second appearance of the year. His previous start was a win at Winchester.
Crabtree Jr., a full-time competitor in the ARCA/CRA Super Series from 1998-2004, where he scored two career victories and part-time in that series until 2011 before running in the CRA Street Stocks Series the past three seasons as well as traveling with the Super Cup Stock Car Series, picked up a third place finish aboard his #163 Jim's Automotive / Chevrolet.
Current Points Leader, Dustin Burge finished in the fourth position after starting 13th to pick up the Hedman Hedders Husler Award in his #63 S&B Racing / Chevrolet and is now in prime position to clinch his first career CRA Street Stocks Series Championship. The Anderson, Indiana driver needs to only finish 22nd or better in the 2013 season finale for the series; the Winchester 50 at Winchester Speedway on October 12th and he will clinch the 2013 series title.
CRA Veteran, Jeff Lane would finish off the top five in his #21 Hilltop Drive-In / Chevrolet as he bested Jason Atkinson, who earlier in the day won the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series race, finished sixth in his Street Stock over another Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals driver, Phil Jenkins who finished in seventh. 19-year-old Tyler Marsh recorded an eighth place run over Jake Hinton, who finished ninth in his CRA Street Stocks Series debut.
J.J. Schafer completed the final top 10 after starting 21st to collect the T.C.I. Automotive Hard-Charger Award for the event. Jeff Albright had a rough weekend as he would pick up the Hinchman Racing Uniforms Hard-Luck Award. Thompson's Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Award lap was measured at a 26.344 which averages out to 93.744mph. He also earned a bonus from Van Hoy Oil as part of the accolades for setting fast time over the weekend.
The Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stocks Series Powered by JEGS will be an integral part of the 42nd running of the Winchester 400 weekend on Friday-Saturday, October 11-12th at the famed 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana as on Friday the 11th, is a non-points 'New Stars' special event for the series while the headlining race and final event of the 2013 campaign for the tour, the Winchester 50 is a full show on Saturday, October 12th.
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 Winchester Speedway, the host facility for the special 'New Stars' non-points race as well as the ninth race and final race of the 2013 season for the Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stocks Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.winchesterspeedway.com
