Brian Ross Makes Himself At Home With CRA Late Model Sportsman Competitors At Winchester Speedway
Two-Time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Makes the Most of Rare Appearance
Winchester, Indiana (September 2, 2013) – The Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model
Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS kicked off the Labor Day Monday portion of the
famed World Stock Car Festival at the legendary 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval
of Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana with the running of the Winchester 40
on September 2nd. A familiar face in Champion Racing Association (CRA) Powered by
JEGS history made the most of a rare appearance in this particular series and at the end
of 40 laps, would be standing in victory lane.
Plymouth, Indiana veteran, Brian Ross, a former Two-Time ARCA/CRA Super Series
Powered by JEGS Champion and amongst the all-time statistical leaders in most
categories in that series' 17-year history, steered the Bobby Blount owned #16 Jim
Blount's Auto Salvage / Chevrolet to victory lane in only his fourth career CRA Late Model
Sportsman Series start, started on the pole and led all 40 laps en route to his first
triumph the CRA support division.
"That was a lot of fun. I really need to thank Bobby Blount for letting me drive the car this
weekend. I've been fortunate enough to be able to drive his Outlaw Super Late Model this
season and we decided to bring out this car. I'm glad we did." The 51-year-old remarked
after his win. "I think this is about the sixth different type of car that I've been able to win
a race with here at this track. Winchester has been very good to me over the years, but
we hadn't won here since about 2004. So this feels real good." He added.
Billy Van Meter crossed the start / finish line in second, but was DQ'ed in post-race tech, giving Derrick Griffin, another driver with success in the ARCA/CRA Super Series as the 21-year-old was the 2011 Series Champion and Rookie of the Year, finished in the runner-up spot in his first CRA Late Model Sportsman Series appearance wheeling the #53 Milliser Auto Service / Chevrolet as the South Bend, Indiana driver fought his way up to second from his seventh starting spot.
Current Points Leader, Mark Lambert earned a hard fought third place finish after having to pit with 24 laps to go to change a flat left front tire while the field was stopped for a red flag. He clawed his way back to the podium in his #18 NAPA of Westfield & Noblesville / Chevrolet earning the 20-year-old the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his efforts and extend his points lead in the process.
14-year-old J.J. Haley, tied a career high showing in his #99 Braun Ability / Chevrolet as the Winamac, Indiana teenager finished fourth with Defending Series Champion, K.C. Spillers, driving the #38 Pro Star of Fort Wayne / Chevrolet to a top five finish with a fifth as the Fort Wayne, Indiana veteran kept pace with Lambert in the points chase as he is second in the standings as he looks to defend his championship.
Bret Miles Jr., a former CRA Street Stocks Series Champion (2008), making his first CRA Late Model Sportsman Series start of 2013 was sixth as David Campbell picked up the Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Award with his seventh place finish. 15-year-old Christopher Brann was eighth as he scored the Hedman Hedders Husler Award while 17-year-old rookie, T.K. Whitman was ninth ahead of Robert Amos Jr., who completed the top 10.
CRA Street Stocks Series competitor, Rich Segvich, a former regular in the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series and making his first start of the season in his old stomping grounds, dropped out early, but did pick up the Hinchman Racing Uniforms Hard-Luck Award. Van Meter didn't leave Eastern Indiana entirely empty handed as he still collected his third Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Award of the season with a 17.439 which averages out to 103.217mph.
The Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS will make their fifth and final appearance of the 2013 racing season at the home track for the series, the fast 1/4 (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval of Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana on Saturday, September 14th. Their counterparts in the Stealth Trailers CRA Street Stocks Series Powered by JEGS will join them in the running of the Anderson Twin 50s.
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 Anderson Speedway, the host facility for the ninth race of the 2013 season for the Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.andersonspeedway.com
