Hutson Gets Back to Victory Lane with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman at Angola
Salem, IN (July 11, 2021) – Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Billy Hutson swept the day in winning the Shepherd Auto Group 75 at Angola Motor Speedway, Saturday night with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS. The two-time series Champion led the final 39 laps to grab the win. The series and CRA last raced at Angola Motor Speedway in 2014, the tricky 3/8’s mile track featured great racing through out the 75 lap event for all positions Saturday night.
“It feels really good to get back to victory lane, especially at this track so close to home,” remarked Hutson in victory lane. “We won the Championship last year without getting a win all season, this is the first win since Winchester in 2019, I hope there are more to come the rest of the season. The car was great from the time we unloaded it. This is a tough place to race and pass, I knew my chance was on that restart, I just worked the outside and got around Wallen and then had to work through a couple of restarts, but the car was good throughout the race. I have to thank all my crew for their hard work and my fans and sponsors for their support!”
Cassten Everidge took advantage of his outside pole starting position after Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Hutson drew a six for the events inverted start to grab the early lead. Everidge’s lead did not last long as pole sitter Jeremy Wallen made the pass to take the lead on lap 4 using the inside.
Wallen would lead until the events first caution on lap 35 for a spinning Elliott Castle. On the restart Hutson used the outside groove to get around Wallen and grab the lead.
Hutson had built a straight away lead and looked to be on his way to an easy victory when the second caution flew on lap 62 for the spinning car of three-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Scott Hantz. Hutson again fought off Everidge and Wallen to keep the lead on the restart.
The caution flew again on lap 66 for a spin involving Brent Jack and Jason Timmerman in tricky turns three and four. Hutson again fought off all challengers to keep the lead. The fourth and final caution flew on lap 70 when Evan Park and Jack got together with Jack going off the back stretch. Jack was okay and managed to get back into the race.
Again, Hutson fought off Everidge and Wallen, even though Everidge stayed with Hutson for a couple of laps before he pulled away to win by almost two seconds. It was Hudson’s first win of the 2021 season with the series and his fifth all-time series win. With the win Hutson is now locked into the series 2021 Chase for the Championship as he seeks his third series Championship. Hutson picked up a $200 cash bonus from Shepherd Auto Group for his win.
With his second-place finish, Everidge will keep his points lead with the series. Wallen would finish in third place. Hantz would fight back to get a fourth-place finish. Brandon Barcus would race his way to a hard fought fifth place finish. Jason Timmerman would fight back after being involved in the lap 66 caution and get a sixth-place finish and was awarded the KRJ Race Products Sweet Move of the Race Award.
Park would finish in seventh. Former Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Model teenager Nash Engdahl would come from his 18th place starting position to finish eighth and earned the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award. Jack would finish in ninth with series rookie Kyle Worley rounding out the top 10.
The next Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman event will be the Bobby Jacks Memorial 71 on Sunday, July 25th at Kil-Kare Raceway. Information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
Photo – John Lund
