Braden Makes it Three in a Row With Win at Kalamazoo
Salem, IN (August 10, 2017) – Two time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis Braden did not have the best car in Wednesday night’s Kalamazoo Klash 125 at Kalamazoo Speedway, but took full advantage of a restart on lap 121 to use the outside to pass race leader Johnny VanDoorn to get his third straight ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS win in front of a packed house to watch the Toyota Kalamazoo Klash XXV Featuring Kyle Busch.
“It feels great to get this win,” remarked Braden. “We wouldn’t have had a chance if that caution had not come out with four to go. Johnny was gone, nobody was going to catch him, we got lucky to have that opportunity. It was a gamble by Johnny on taking the top or the bottom for that restart. I wasn’t sure the top would work, but it did, we got a great jump and used the momentum to get the lead and the win. This car has been awesome, it’s really cool to get three wins in a row for this team!”
Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year candidate Kyle Crump got the early lead over VanDoorn at the drop of the green flag after EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Braden drew a five for the inverted start. Crump lead until VanDoorn managed to get by on lap six. Braden steadily worked his way to second and started to chase down VanDoorn. A caution brought the two together for a restart. Braden was able to work by on the outside after several laps of racing side by side for the lead.
Braden lead from lap 50 through lap 85 when VanDoorn got around Braden after several laps of very hard racing between the two. VanDoorn looked to be on his way to his third victory of the season when the caution flag flew on lap 121 setting up the last four lap shootout were Braden got the jump and the win.
With the win Braden picked up the $5000 first place check and picked up the $1200 Team Construction Clean Sweep Award and was awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his pass on the outside to get the win. VanDoorn would finish in second and picked up the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award for his lap 86 pass of Braden.
“Just made a bad call,” VanDoorn remarked, “choosing the bottom; it’s my own fault. You always go with your gut and I should’ve gone with my gut. You just couldn’t get going on the bottom. The guys gave me an awesome car. It was a fun race, just a bad call on my end.”
Crump would battle in the top five throughout the race and got a third place finish. Crump picked up the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award and the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award. Berlin Raceway regular Jordan Dahlke came from his ninth place starting position to finish in fourth, using the outside groove on the last restart to gain several positions and pick up a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour points leader Carson Hocevar finished in fifth place in his ARCA/CRA Super Series debut. The 14 year old also made up several positions on the last restart.
Brian Campbell would finish in sixth place. Series rookie Logan Runyon continued his string of top ten finishes with a seventh place finish and will take over the series Championship points lead. Phil Bozell came from his 19th place starting position to finish in eighth place, earning a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the Hamner Racing Engines Hardcharger Award. Rapheal Lessard and Steve Dorer finished in ninth and tenth.
NASCAR star Kyle Busch was on hand to compete in both races with the Kalamazoo Klash XXV. Busch started in sixth place in the ARCA/CRA Super Series race, but struggled with the cars handling, even making a late pit stop to try and make adjustments, but ended up with a 13th place finish after some slight contact with the outside wall.
The ARCA/CRA Super Series has a quick turn around with its next event being this Saturday, August 12th at Flat Rock Speedway, located in Flat Rock, Michigan, the last regular season event before the series begins is Championship Chase. More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS is available at www.cra-racing.com.
