Salem, IN (August 14, 2017) – Brian Campbell has now moved into second place on the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS all-time wins list with 23 wins after Saturday night’s triumph in the Level Pebble 125 at Flat Rock Speedway. Campbell was not the flagged winner, all time ARCA/CRA Super Series wins leader Scott Hantz received the checkered flag, but was disqualified from the win after failing post-race inspection.
“It really hasn’t soaked in yet that we got the win tonight, I feel pretty bad for Hantz,” remarked Campbell in the CRA Tech area. “Obviously we’re happy to take the win, but definitely don’t want to win like that. It’s kind of mixed emotions right now. Unfortunately Hantz had something on his car that is no longer allowed in the rules, it’s black and white. We’ll take the win and move on to the next race, but we feel awfully bad.”
“I had a part on the rear suspension that’s no longer allowed, and I guess it was an oversight on my part,” remarked Hantz. “CRA does a good job. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve raced with them so long. I just got caught by an infraction on a suspension piece that I didn’t really realize had changed in the rules for the 2017 season. I don’t think it would’ve changed the outcome of the race, but it’s just totally on me.”
The 125 lap event was one of the most exciting series races in years with eight different lead changes among four drivers. Eric Lee got the jump on the field at the drop of the green flag and led the first 73 laps of the event. Campbell would get around Lee in on a restart and take over the lead on lap 74 with Hantz right behind him.
Hantz would get around Campbell to lead on lap 81 as the two veterans battled side by side. Campbell lead lap 82, with Hantz fighting back to lead laps 83 and 84. Campbell would grab the lead back on lap 85 when Rapheal Lessard joined the battle making a dive on the bottom to grab the lead on lap 94 and 95 before Campbell dived under Lessard to take the lead back on lap 96 and would start to distance himself from the field when the events final caution flew with five laps left to go.
Campbell chose the inside for the restart, while Hantz choose the outside. The two again battled side by side with Campbell leading lap 121. Hantz would then make the outside work barely beating Campbell to the line to lead lap 122, then got out front to take the lead and the checkers.
Campbell picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race for his pass of Lessard to get the lead back on lap 96.
Veteran Michigan racer Harold Fair Jr. made his first ARCA/CRA Super Series start in 17 years in a brand new Senneker Performance chassis and came away with a second place finish and was awarded the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award. Lessard finished in third from his 10th place starting position earning a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the Hamner Racing Engines Hardcharger Award. Chase Purdy finished in fourth place with local Outlaw Late Model veteran Jimmy Theil finishing in fifth place in his first ever start with the series. Theil won the 75 lap OutLaw Late Model event that was ran right after the ARCA/CRA Super Series feature Saturday night.
Hunter Jack finished in sixth place earning his second Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award of the season. Jack’s crew was awarded the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award, the team blew an engine in practice on Tuesday night at Kalamazoo Speedway, they got that engine replaced in time to race Saturday night at Flat Rock, then made several pit stops during the event to make adjustments on the car enabling Jack to get his sixth place finish.
The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be the Battle at Berlin 251 on Saturday, August 26th at Berlin Raceway. More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS is available at www.cra-racing.com.
