Winchester, IN – As the checkered flag fell on Friday night at Winchester Speedway for the Chevrolet Performance 100 for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, the curtain also closed on the 2023 campaign for the JEGS Tour; a season largely controlled by Lapeer, Michigan’s Chase Burda. The former CRA Junior Late Model Champion went from collecting his first career Pro Late Model win to his first career Pro Late Model Championship all in the same season. Plus, two wins at Winchester to help seal the deal.
After setting fast time in group qualifying, Burda rolled from the grid in the fourth spot behind Dylan Stovall and Kevin Cremonesi. Cremonesi jumped out the early lead, pacing the field for the first six rotations before Burda put his No.18 car to the point. Following Burda to the front of the field was the fifth place starting Michael Hinde, the very driver who battled with Burda during the World Stock Car Festival in September.
The pair spent the rest of the race at the front of the field with the real battle going on for third between Cremonesi and Barrett Polhemus. They led the forward charge to be in the top five with James Krueger and Stovall in tow as well. The first and only caution of the Chevrolet Performance 100 came as a competition caution after the first 50 consecutive green flag laps. Very few drivers elected to come down pit road to make adjustments which left Hinde and Burda to battle it out once again for another Winchester win.
Burda settled back into a roughly one-second advantage over Hinde, a time stamp that rarely changed throughout the course of the race. Burda held on to go back-to-back this season at Winchester Speedway. Burda’s win is the fourth of the season, tying him with Brian Campbell for second on the Most Wins in a Single Season list. Daniel Hemrick won an unprecedented 8 of 14 in 2012.
Burda was also officially crowned the 2023 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion. He’ll be recognized and awarded during the Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet in January 2024.
The 52nd Winchester 400 weekend continues today (Saturday) with the conclusion of the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS and CRA Street Stock Powered by JEGS season. Plus, ASA STARS National Tour Practice and Qualifying, Midwest Modifieds Tour Run for the Gun 50, and Crown Vics. Then, the 52nd Running of the Winchester 400 is Sunday at 2:00 PM ET.
For more information, log onto www.cra-racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on Twitter.
