Williams Survives Battle to Win the WCIParts.com 100 at Bristol Motor Speedway
Salem, IN (May 22, 2017) – The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance season opener at Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday night was a hard fought battle that saw 35 starters fight each other for each position throughout the event, but in the end it was Southern Indiana hot shoe Cole Williams standing in victory lane with the winners sword in the WCIParts.com 100 and is the first Short Track U.S. Nationals JEGS/Pro Late Model Champion.
“It’s an unreal experience to be able to come here to Bristol, and to have an opportunity like this is just a blessing,” Williams said. “It was really intense at some points, but calm at others. We knew we needed to keep our nose clean, and we knew that would be the goal all along. We ended up finishing on top, so I can’t really complain.”
Early leader Dillon Oliver looked like he would have the dominate car, but several early yellows resulted in numerous restarts and shuffling the line up on each restart. 14 year old Eddie Fatscher worked his way to the front to get past Oliver. Oliver then returned the favor to regain the lead as the two fought hard to keep the lead. Fatscher then made contact with Oliver, resulting in a hard hit for Oliver and enough damage on Fatscher’s car to end his night as the pair ran first and second, handing the lead to third place Williams, who was just biding his time to have an opportunity to be up front.
Williams lead until lap 49 when Nate Walton got around and led the field to the lap 51 break. Williams slipped back another spot on the second half start, but then worked his way back to the front and masterfully used lap traffic to get the lead back on lap 74. Williams had to fight off his contenders over a couple of late restarts before finally getting the win, his first with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour.
Williams picked up the $5000 first place payoff, plus an additional $1000 winners bonus from WCIParts.com. Williams earned the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his move on lap 74 to get the lead and his crew earned the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award for all their hard work all weekend in giving Williams a car to win the event.
Jon Beach used his transfer spot from the B Feature to come from 33rd to finish in second and earn a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the Racing Electronics Hardcharger Award. Jack Smith overcame a pre-race tech infraction that put him at the tail of the field and was sent to the tail again after being involved in a yellow flag, but came back through the field to finish in third, earning him the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award. Austin Kunert overcame a flat tire to get a fourth place finish. Colin Nickolai was also involved in an early caution, but battled back to finish in fifth place.
14 year old Carson Hocevar was the Fury Race Cars Fast Qualifier, besting the 46 teams that took times. 12 year old Harrison Hall was the VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Race Award winner. Eddie Van Meter won the 20 lap B Feature on Saturday night.
The Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway on June 3rd will be the series next event. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.
