Dossey III Wins ARCA/CRA Super Series Season Opener at Anderson Speedway
Salem, IN (April 7, 2019) – Jack Dossey III’s team made big changes prior to the 2019 season, and it all paid off with his first ever CRA win in Saturday night’s Mitch Smith Auto Service 125 Presented by Perfecto Tool at Anderson Speedway, the 2019 season points opener for the series.
“I am just so happy to get this win,” remarked a jubilant Dossey III in victory lane. “This is my home track, this is the perfect place to get this win. I knew I had a great car, and if things played out right, we would be able to battle for the win, and that’s exactly what happened. It was a tough race against a bunch of good drivers, it feels really good standing here in victory lane tonight!”
Brett Robinson started on the pole for the event after Hamke Race Cars/Rowdy Manufacturing Fast Qualifier and two-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis Braden drew a five for the events invert. 2016 series Champion Cody Coughlin was scheduled to start on the pole after the invert, but his team elected to pull their car out of impound to make it better for the race, regulating Coughlin to the tail of the field to start the event.
Robinson took full advantage of his pole starting position to grab the early lead with Braden and Dossey in hot pursuit. The event went yellow on lap 10 when Hunter Jack’s car erupted in flames after a broken fuel line. Jack was able to get out the car safely, the team made hasty repairs and were able to get back in the race losing only three laps.
Robinson kept the lead on the lap 11 restart with Braden in tow. Braden made contact with Robinson at the end of the backstretch running Robinson up the track on lap 35, but Robinson dived back under Braden when Braden washed up the track in turn four, Braden led that lap, but Robinson completed the pass to retake the lead.
Dossey III then started his run to the front, first getting buy Braden for second, then chased down Robinson to close on his bumper. Dossey III tried to make the pass on the inside before making contact with Robinson’s back bumper, sending him up the track, opening the bottom for Dossey III to make the pass and grab the lead on lap 95.
The race was slowed for the second time when Ryan Issacs went around in turn two by himself. Dossey would keep the lead on the restart and go ahead and get the win by a little over three seconds.
“That’s not normally not the way I race,” Dossey added. “I really got into him more than I intended to. I meant it as kind of to let him know, hey I’m here, and I ended up going in a little too hot and slipping the brake pedal. Luckily, he gathered it back up and the yellow didn’t come out. Brett and I have raced together for many years and we’ve ran pretty good with each other. It’s just another racing thing; a little short track, it’s what the fans like. It feels good to get this win in my first race as my own crew chief and is a great way to start off our rookie season in the series!”
Dossey III’s team picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award for all their hard work in helping get their car ready to compete on Saturday night and getting the victory. Dossey was the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award winner. With the win Dossey III becomes the first driver locked into the ARCA/CRA Super Series Chase for the Championship as long as he runs in 70% of the races.
Braden would finish in second and picked up the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award. Robinson finished in third and picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his crossover move on Braden. Scott Tomasik finished in fourth place after starting eighth. 2018 series Champion Josh Brock came from his 10th starting position to finish in fifth place picking up a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the Progressive Racing Engines Hardcharger Award.
Austin Kunert would survive some heavy front-end damage to get a sixth-place finish. Coughlin would come back from a lap down to finish in seventh place. 2017 series Champion Logan Runyon finished in eighth after starting 12th, he picked up a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Greg Van Alst finished in ninth, Hunter Jack would finish in 10th place.
The next event for the ARCA/CRA Super Series is the Ross Mortgage 200 Presented PNC Bank at Toledo Speedway on Saturday, April 20th. More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series can be found at www.cra-racing.com.
