Kirby III Wins at Fall Brawl Locks Himself into Winchester Championship Event
Salem, IN (October 2, 2018) – James Kirby III got his second Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS victory of the season in Sunday’s Fall Brawl 40 at Lucas Oil Raceway and in the process locked himself into the final four drivers who will compete for the series Championship at Winchester Speedway on Saturday, October 13th.
“This is awesome,” remarked Kirby III in victory lane. “I have wanted to win this race to get the boxing gloves just like my dad had won before. The car was really fast, I knew if we could stay out front it would be tough for anyone to pass me. Now we get to race for the Championship at Winchester! I want to thank my mom and dad, my crew and all our sponsors, without them I wouldn’t be here racing.”
Former series Champion Jason Atkinson grabbed the early lead at the drop of the green flag from his outside front row starting position after Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Jason Thompson drew a seven for the events inverted start. Jimmy Kirby, James Kirby III’s father, quickly moved from his fourth place starting position to pass Atkinson for the lead on lap two, but James Kirby III wasted no time coming from his sixth place starting position to pass his father on the bottom for the lead on lap three.
From there Kirby III would pull out to a sizable lead before the events first caution fell on lap 12 after the Jesse Opliger car made contact with the turn three and four wall. Kirby III would fight off his father to keep the lead on the lap 13 restart.
While Kirby III was cruising out front, the battle for second through fifth place never stopped, and really got crazy after the lap 30 red flag for a multiple car crash in three and four.
On the lap 31 restart Kirby III again pulled away while his father, Thompson and defending event winner Chuck Barnes Jr., who started 22nd, were three wide battling for second place. Barnes Jr. made the pass on Kirby for second, but didn’t have anything for Kirby III who won by over two seconds. For his pass of his father to take the lead, Kirby III picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award. Kirby III’s win breaks the streak of nine different winners in the series first nine events this season.
Barnes Jr. would finish in second, holding off Kirby throughout he last ten laps. Barnes Jr. started on the tail with no practice and no qualifying after showing up Sunday morning after racing the car in an event at Kentucky Motor Speedway Saturday night. Barnes Jr. picked up the Racer Parts Wholesale Sweet Move of the Race Award and the TCI Automotive Hardcharger Award for gaining 20 positions during the 40 lap race.
Kirby would finish in third place. Thompson would finish ninth fourth. Thomas Skiles came from the back of the field after a late pit stop to finish in fifth place.
With his win on September 15th Atkinson was already locked into the four drivers to race for the series Season championship at Winchester. Joining Kirby III and Atkinson will be Chase for the Championship drivers Jacob McElfresh and J.J. Schafer, who both made it on points. The Chase drivers not making the final four included Justin Oberlin, Danny Adams, Andrew Teepe and Nathan Greene.
The next event for the Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stocks will be the Season Championship event on Saturday, October 13th, part of the Winchester 400 Weekend on the famed High Banks of Winchester Speedway. For more information on all the CRA series go to www.cra-racing.com.
