Salem, IN (September 5, 2017) – Billy Van Meter ended the 2016 season with a win in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS season finally at Winchester Speedway, and he picked up the win on Monday in his 2017 series debut on the famous High Banks of Winchester before a great crowd enjoying the Labor Day Weekend World Stock Car Festival, one of the biggest stock car events held each year in Central Indiana.
“It feels good to not race all season and then get a win in our first race back behind the wheel,” remarked the son of CRA veteran racer Eddie Van Meter. “This car loves the High Banks. We had a little incident early with the 42, but went to the back and raced our way to the front, thanks to my whole team and my mom and dad for giving me a great car to race today!”
Van Meter was the event’s Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier, then drew a seven for the events invert, putting former series Champion KC Spillers on the pole. Spillers would take full advantage and grab the lead at the drop of the green flag. Mt. Lawn series winner Shawn Amor quickly worked his way to the front and starting battling Spillers for the lead. Amor got around Spillers to grab the lead on a restart after a yellow that involved Van Meter and series rookie Jason Neal, resulting in both drivers going to the tail of the field.
Amor was setting a torrid pace until mechanical issues took him out of the race on lap 21, handing the lead back to Spillers, but Van Meter and Neal were already stalking the leaders after working their way back through the field. Van Meter was able to close on Spillers and make the race wining pass on lap 26. Neal worked his way to second but never could close on Van Meter who would win by a little over a second.
Van Meter picked up the Spillers Towing Hardcharger $100 cash bonus for gaining six positions to get the win and the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his pass to get the lead and eventually the win.
Neal would finish in second, the highest of the teams in the Championship Chase. Indianapolis veteran racer R.J. Norton Jr. finished in third place, the second highest finishing Championship Chase driver. Former series regular Billy Hutson would finish in fourth place. Austin Coe rounded out the top five with his fifth place finish.
Series Championship Chase Owner and Driver points leader after Winchester, Tony Brutti finished in sixth place, while the other Championship Chase teams finishes included a 10th for Neal McClelland, an 11th place for Spillers after mechanical issues ended his day on lap 34 and Amor who finished 12th for D & R Motorsports.
The Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman will compete next at Lucas Oil Raceway in the CRA Fall Brawl on September 23rd and 24th, which will pay the winner $1,500 thanks to event Presenting Sponsor Lyons Truck & Trailer. That will be the third event of that series Championship Chase and will determine the final four teams and drivers that will compete for the series 2017 Championships. For more information on all the CRA series go to www.cra-racing.com.
