Salem, IN (May 25, 2021) – Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Austin Coe survived a tough battle with multiple racers to get the win in Sunday night’s Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS event at Mt. Lawn Speedway. He first had to survive a late side by side restart battle with Jeff Marcum, then had to hold off a hard charging Billy Hutson to get the win by less then a second as Coe and Hudson raced side by side coming to the checkered flag.
“Wow that was an intense race,” remarked Coe in victory lane.” We had an issue during qualifying with a vibration, it put us back in tenth to start the race. I took my time and worked through the field to second. My crew told me Hutson was having an issue and slowing down, we made the pass, but then the yellow came out setting up that last restart with three laps to go. I knew Marcum would race me hard, we rubbed and traded some paint, which is part of short track racing, but I got by him, then Hutson came from no were as we came to the checkers, it was a tough win, I’m glad we came out on top! I have to thank my whole team for this win, it’s our third in a row for this car at this track.”
RJ Norton Jr. grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag after Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Ronnie Rose, who received a $100 cash bonus in Memory of Gibbo Chew for his fast time, drew a six for the events inverted start. JP Crabtree quickly caught Norton Jr. and began to apply pressure as the two battled lap after lap side by side for the top spot. Crabtree finally made the pass while Billy Hutson and Coe worked there way into the top four.
Hutson caught Crabtree and got by on lap 29 to take the lead and looked like he was on his way to get the win. Hutson’s car started to slow, getting looser and looser each lap as his right rear tire started to go flat. Coe caught Hutson and made the pass for the lead on lap 65 while Hutson continued to fade and finally spun out with seven laps to go in the event.
Hutson got to pit road and replace the tire in time for the next restart while Marcum moved up to challenge Coe on the restart. Coe and Marcum battled hard on the restart, Coe got the initial lead, but Marcum got around Coe, contact from Coe loosened Marcum up enough for Coe to retake the lead before the final caution flew with three laps remaining after Rose spun in the short turn.
That set up the wild last three laps of the event with Coe and Marcum battling hard for position with Hutson making his way to third place and making a hard charge to try and steal the win, but Coe was able to hold him off and take the checkers. The win was Coe’s fourth all time victory with the series. For being able to hold off Hutson, Coe picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.
Hutson would finish in second and earned the KRJ Race Products Sweet Move of the Race Award for his charge back through the field to battle for the win after his bad luck with the flat tire. Marcum would finish in third. Crabtree would finish in fourth with Cassten Everidge rounding out the top five.
The next Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman event will be on Saturday, June 5th on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway. Information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
Photo – Ron Verash
