Hutson Gets Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Win at Fall Brawl
Salem, IN (October 1, 2018) – 2007 Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS Champion Billy Hutson took a car that was heavily damaged in the series last event at Anderson Speedway to victory lane in Sunday’s 40 lap series feature with the 2018 CRA Fall Brawl at Lucas Oil Raceway. With the win Hutson locked himself into the series Chase for the Championship season finally Championship event at Winchester Speedway on Saturday, October 13th.
“Man this is just awesome, “remarked Hutson in victory lane. “We hit the wall hard at our last race at Anderson two weeks ago. My crew and myself worked our tails off getting this car fixed and ready to race this weekend. It was fast right out of the box. It’s great to win this race and get the boxing gloves and now we can go to Winchester and race for our second Championship! Thanks to all my crew for their hard work. Thanks to Chris Shannon for racing me clean all the way to the finish!”
Veteran CRA competitor Jeff Lane grabbed the early lead from his pole starting position after Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Chris Shannon drew a five for the events inverted start. Lane was driving a car for owner Dave Duncan and looked like he might be the car to beat until the car started to slow on lap seven when Hutson made his move around Lane and grabbed the lead. Lane would pull his car to the pits on lap nine with engine problems.
Hutson would pull out to a sizable lead until the caution flag flew on lap 22 after Buddy Davis made hard contact with the wall. Shannon had worked his way to second from his fifth place starting position and was ready to battle Hutson for the win on the lap 23 restart.
Hutson would get the jump at the drop of the green on the restart, but Shannon would fight for the win all the way to the finish, never letting Hutson get much of a lead. Shannon moved to the inside several times trying to make the pass, but just couldn’t get by Hutson, who made no mistakes over the last 17 laps to get the win by only .103 of a second over Shannon.
Hutson picked up the Racer Parts Wholesale Sweet Move of the Race Award for holding off Shannon to get the win, his third all-time series victory. The win locked Hutson into the series season Championship event, he was the only driver in the final four Chase drivers to get a victory during the three race playoff.
Series DGR-CROSLEY Rookie of the Year point’s leader Shannon’s second place finish was his series best and locked him into a chance to win the series Season Championship at Winchester by points. Shannon picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his clean battle with Hutson during the last 17 laps of the event.
Series veteran Tony Brutti came from his eighth place starting position to finish in third and also locked himself into a chance to race for the series Championship at Winchester, also by points. Series 2008 Champion Tony Dager finished in fourth place. Baer Field Motorsports Park regular Brian Janes finished in fifth place.
T.J. Flynn came from his 13th place starting position to finish in sixth and earned the Spillers Towing Hardcharger Award. Brandon Varney finished in seventh and was the fourth and final driver to lock himself into the final four drivers who will race for the series Championship by points.
Rookie Zachary Tinkle and Neil McClelland were the only other Chase drivers trying to race to get into the final four to race for the series Championship at Winchester, both came up short on points, but both raced hard all season to make the Chase and try for the series Championship.
The next Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman event will be the Season Championship 50 lap event on Saturday, October 13th at Winchester Speedway as one of the events with the Winchester 400 Weekend. Information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
