Shannon Picks up First Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Victory at Winchester Speedway
Hudson Gets Third Series Championship
Salem, IN (October 19, 2021) – Lawton, Michigan veteran racer Chris Shannon picked up his first ever Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS victory Saturday night in the Vore’s Welding & Steel 40, the series Season Championship event on the High Banks of Winchester Speedway as part of the Lucas Oil 50th Winchester 400 Weekend. The win was Shannon’s first with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman and his first at Winchester Speedway.
“It’s an honor to win here at Winchester Speedway and put my name in the history books as a winner at this historic track,” remarked Shannon. “Being my first win in Indiana and my first CRA win coming at Winchester just makes it that much more special. I would really like to thank the people that made it possible, CB Fabricating, SNK transmissions, Spike’s Service, FLF Racecars and my mom and dad as well everyone that helps me get to the track!”
With Saturday’s tight schedule, after Friday night’s events had to be added, the series only received a 15-minute practice session, then they group qualified with series Chase for the Championship competitor JP Crabtree setting Allstar Performance Fast Time and drew an eight for the events inverted start, putting fellow Chase competitor Kyle Worley on the pole and Evan Varney on the outside pole.
Varney took full advantage of his outside pole to grab the lead at the drop of the green flag in his second series start and second ever start at Winchester Speedway.
The first of five cautions flew on lap four when Jeff Smith had mechanical issues and stopped on the track.
Varney was able to keep the lead on the restart with Shannon working his way through the field from his sixth place starting position to begin challenging Varney for the lead.
Shannon was able to get by Varney to grab the lead on lap 14, and then had to hold off all challengers on several restarts, including a late restart after a yellow flag when Chase for the Championship competitor Cassten Everidge, who was in position to win his first ever Championship, was hit from behind by Crabtree while battling for the second position coming to checkers. Both drivers continued but had to restart at the back of the field.
Shannon would hold off Jonathan Martin and Chad Richardson on the last green, white, checkers restart to get the win by a little less than a second. Shannon’s team lost an engine at Thursday’s open practice. Shannon’s father Kevin drove back to Kalamazoo, Michigan to get another engine, the team used former ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Greg Van Alst’s shop in Anderson, Indiana to swap engines to be back at the track for Saturday’s races. For the teams efforts in replacing the engine and getting the win, they were awarded the KRJ Race Products Sweet Move of the Race Award. Shannon also earned a $300 winners bonus put up by Vore’s Welding & Steel for Saturday’s event.
Martin would finish in second, a series best finish for him. Richardson would finish in third place after starting 10th. Lucas Oil Raceway series event winner Jake Hinton finished in fourth place.
Billy Hutson would finish in 5th place, the highest of the series’ Chase for the Championship drivers, earning Hutson his record third Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Championship. Hutson also won the Championship in 2007 and 2020 and is the only driver with three series Championships.
Worley would finish in sixth place, second of the Chase drivers, he was also the series’ 2021 Rookie of the Year. Everidge would finish eight in the race, which put him third in the Chase. Crabtree would finish 11th in the race and in fourth in the Chase.
Information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
Photo by John Lund – CRA
