Hantz, Muffley and Charles Get CRA
Wins At Winchester Speedway
By: Glenn Luckett
Winchester, IN (April 27, 2008) – Scott Hantz, Carl Muffley and Bill Charles
all came away with CRA victories on Sunday afternoon on the High
Banks of Winchester Speedway in the rescheduled season opener
for all three series that was originally scheduled for last Sunday,
but was postponed by a week because of rain. A large crowd came
back out to see the event, which included the USAC Sprint Car
Series in the Rich Vogler Classic. The CRA Super Series finally
got their season opening event in after weather had postponed
their first three scheduled events of 2008.
Two time CRA Super Series Champion Scott
Hantz got the victory in Sunday's Manning Service 100, a hard
earned victory for the driver of the Dick Poe owned team out
of Angola, Indiana. Appleton Rack & Pinion Fast Qualifier
Rick Turner drew a four for the event's invert putting Hantz
on the pole, but it was veteran Jeff Lane getting the lead at
the drop of the green from his outside starting position. Lane
would lead the first 47 laps before slowing slightly anticipating
a possible caution when A.J. Ganino spun off the track in turn
two, but Ganino never stopped so no caution was thrown, but the
hesitation by Lane allowed Hantz to power by after the two had
raced side by side for several laps. Lane dropped out of the
event on lap 96 with a bad vibration.
Hantz would go on and get the victory
while a battle ensued behind him for the other top five finishing
positions. Boris Jurkovic looked to be the car that would possibly
be able to challenge Hantz for the lead as he worked his way
from his ninth starting position to second making several passes
using the lower groove in the closing laps. A late caution put
Jurkovic on Hantz's bumper on a restart with only four laps to
go, but fate dealt Jurkovic a bad blow as a broken transmission
left him lagging behind as the other lead laps cars passed him
all battling for position until the checkered flag fell.
"This is the best car I have ever
had here," Hantz remarked. "I was just biding my time
trying to past Jeff on the inside, but Jeff has the experience
here so I had to wait. I just didn't want to make a mistake."
1997 series Champion Kenny Tweedy finished
in second in his first event for new car owner Ken Muller. Jason
Dietsch survived a tough mid race battle with Jurkovic and JR
Roahrig to get third, which earned him the ARP Bodies Cool Move
Of The Race Award. Roahrig would hold on to get fourth with series
rookie Zach Taylor finishing in fifth. Muncie, Indiana native
Aaron Pierce finished in sixth after finishing 14th in the Rich
Vogler Classic. Jurkovic held on to finish seventh, Terry Fisher
Jr. finished eighth, the last car on the lead lap. Sean Matthuis
finished in ninth and Jason Shively tenth.
Hantz 's victory was his 19th with the
CRA Super Series, which now puts him in second place on the series
all time victory list, Brian Ross is the all time leader in series
victories with 22 wins. Hantz had been tied for second with Canadian
legend Junior Hanley. It was Hantz's second victory at Winchester,
his first came in the 2006 Winchester 400.
Zach Taylor was the K & N Filters
Rookie Of The Race Award winner with his fifth place finish,
he also earned a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Fellow
rookie competitor Aaron Pierce was the ISKY Racing Cams/Lane
Automotive Hardcharger Award winner for advancing eight positions
during the Manning Service 100, he also earned a Hoosier Racing
Tire Performance Award.
Hantz was won the Holley Performance
Award, the Kingen Interstate Express Halfway Leader Bonus, as
well as the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap Of The Race Award winner.
Rick Turner was awarded the EMF Corp That's Racing Award after
his car suffered extensive damage after hitting the front stretch
wall after contact with another car on lap 13. Donald Karr Jr.
was the Leaf Racewear Hard Luck Award winner after his day ended
after a crash also on lap 13.
Plymouth, Indiana veteran racer Carl
Muffley held off a hard charging Jake Owens to get his first
CRA Street Stock points victory in the MAX 40, the season opener
for the CRA Street Stocks. Muffley charged to the lead from his
seventh place starting position with Owens charging right behind.
Owens followed Muffley for several laps waiting for the right
time to make a move for the lead. Muffley's far started smoking
over the final five laps, but Muffley was able to hold on and
get the win with Owens in second, Brian Hopkins in third, Joe
Beaver in fourth and Jeff Perry in fifth. Beaver was the day's
fast qualifier while Muffley and Josh Burton won the heats races.
Derrick Layne was the TCI Automotive Harcharger Of The Race Award
winner.
"We were not very good this morning,
but we kept working at and finally found what we needed. My guys
really worked hard, we tried several things and found the right
one. It was great to win." Muffley said from Victory Lane.
Bill Charles took the lead on lap number
two and held off several challenges to get the victory in the
Vore's Welding & Steel 20 for the Vore's Welding & Steel
CRA FWD Compacts. Richard Isbell finished in second, Justin Kelly
in third, Randy Owen in fourth and Bobby Sanders in fifth. Jonathon
Pitts originally finished second in the event, but he failed
post-race inspection.
Next up for the CRA Super Series will
be the CRA Super Sunday 100 Presented By Dietsch Sales &
Service and Klotz Lubricants on Sunday, May 18th at Baer Field
Speedway in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The CRA Street Stocks will return
to action this Sunday in the MAX Rocks 100 at Winchester Speedway,
which will pay the winner $2500 and $100 to start. The Vore's
Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts and Howe CRA Sportman will
also be in action this Sunday at Winchester Speedway. More information
is available at www.craracing.net.
Photos by Ron Harner
April 27, 2008
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