Event Information – Entry List
Salem, Indiana (Wednesday, June 24, 2014): The ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS will be back in action this Saturday, returning to Columbus Motor Speedway, located in Columbus, Ohio for the Bud St. Amant Memorial 125. This event will once again honor local racing legend Bud St. Amant, who passed away in January, 2014 after a long bout with cancer.
Last year’s inaugural Bud St. Amant Memorial was very special with 2013 and 2014 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis Braden getting the win after an epic battle with Chad Finley. The win was special because Bud’s son, former ASA Racing Series Champion Gary, was Braden’s Crew Chief.
“That win wasn’t about me finishing first or racing for a championship, I was racing my hardest because I knew how much it would mean for so many people”, remarked Braden after the emotional win. “To see Gary in victory lane in the inaugural memorial race for his Father and for him to get to experience that, man I have never seen so many smiles and happy people after a race and that is what topped it all off.”
Braden is entered to defend his win, with Gary St. Amant turning the wrenches again in an effort to get Braden’s first win of the 2015 season. Braden is only racing in selected series events in 2015, while focusing more on progressing to the next level in his racing career.
Current ARCA/CRA Super Series Championship point’s leader and Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year point’s leader Grant Quinlan tops the list of CRA regulars entered, the 16 year old is still seeking his first series win after going to victory lane twice last season with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. Hunter Baize, currently second to Quinlan in both series Championship and Rookie of the year points, is also entered, Baize got his first series win on May 25th at Illiana Motor Speedway under the tutelage of former CRA Champions Johnny and Butch VanDoorn.
Other top CRA drivers entered include Eddie Van Meter, currently third in series points and a series winner at Anderson Speedway in April, also 2013 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion Cody Coughlin, from nearby Delaware, Ohio, who picked up his first series win on Labor Day of last year, along with Beavercreek, Ohio’s Brandon Oakley, who picked up his first series win at Kil-Kare Raceway last September. Other CRA regulars entered include Wes Griffith Jr., Paul Schafer Jr., Nick Gullatta, Brett Robinson, and fellow Senneker Performance rookies Matt Hall, Mark Lambert, Tom Woodin and Jordan Pruitt.
Former JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour winner Corey Deuser is entered along with current JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour rookie competitor Quinnton Bear, another Gary St. Amant protégé. Minnesota racer Joey Miller is entered to make his second start of the season, while Ritchie Wauters Motorsports Development drivers Vinnie Miller from Michigan and Spencer Wauters from North Carolina are entered to make their 2015 series debuts. Indiana’s Jason Neal, is entered to make his series debut for his uncle Scott in the #4 Scott Neal Racing entry.
There are several other local drivers entered including Caledonia, Ohio native Kyle Purvis racing for car owner Jeff Miller and the JVM Racing team out of Lewis Center, Ohio. Purvis got a second place finish in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race at Columbus on May 23rd, he is also competing full-time at Columbus in their Late Model and Modified Divisions. Former CRA regular Justin Alsip of Germantown, Ohio is entered, driving for fellow Germantown native Bill Burba. Cincinnati veteran racer Jeep Pflum is also entered, Pflum is a veteran of many Ohio tracks including Columbus.
There will be an open practice on Friday, pit gates open at 4pm with practice going from 5 to 8pm. On Saturday pit gates will open for the ARCA/CRA Super Series teams at 12:30pm. Practice for the ARCA/CRA Super Series teams will begin at 3pm with qualifying for the series at 6:15pm. The race program will begin at 7pm and will include the Bud St. Amant Memorial 125 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series. Also racing on Saturday night will be the Columbus Late Models, Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Compacts.
Series officials announced earlier this week that there is now additional purse money on the line for this Saturday nights event. With the support of several sponsors for that event, an additional $1500 in purse money has been added, with $300 going to the first through fifth place finishers. The sponsors include Howe Racing Enterprises, Your Custom Graphics, JVM Racing, Pro Tow, Dietsch Sales, Hilary’s Hair Salon, Chocolate Café and Sizzle Marine.
More event and track information is available at www.columbusspeedway.com. More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS is available at www.cra-racing.com.
