by Chris Fobbe – Owosso Speedway
Despite cold and rainy conditions earlier in the day, the Owosso Speedway crew persevered, making use of all available equipment to get the track dried as promptly as possible. This was great news for diehard fans who came out to witness the inaugural visit of the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman who would run head to head with the M&K Truck Centers Late Model Sportsman of the Owosso Speedway.
The 75-lap Owosso Showdown would be the penultimate race of the night with 23 cars lining up on the grid, a season high for the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series. Douglas Litogot and Chris Munson would lead the field down to the green. Munson would jump out to the early lead, holding the advantage for a large chunk of the first stages of the race. He would be forced to give way to former ASA/CRA Super Series Champion Hunter Jack. Hunter would hold the point until a restart in which he lined up alongside Buddy Head. Head had won the opening event of the season for the M&K Truck Centers Late Model Sportsman and was looking to go back to back, but would get caught up in a spin when Hunter Jack, unknowingly battling a tire losing air, slid up the track colliding with Head. Hunter’s brother Tanner would get caught up as well. This would set the stage for an epic battle for the victory. Defending Track Champion Jon Beach and Brandon Barcus. The two drivers would beat and bang as they furiously fought to reach the line, but as the checkered fell it was Barcus taking the hard fought victory. Beach would settle for second, while Douglas Litogot had a career night in third. Buddy Head would rebound from his spin to finish fourth over Greg Stilwell Jr. Beach would establish the track record for CRA Late Model Sportsman with a lap of 15.076.
The next event for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman is Sunday, May 26th at Corrigan Oil Speedway in Mason, Michigan. It’s another first time stop for the Late Model Sportsman in the final trip to Michigan in 2024. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is at Owosso Speedway on Saturday, May 25th for the $10,000 to win Big O Classic 100.
For more information on the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman or Champion Racing Association, log onto CRA-Racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on X.
