Indianapolis, IN (January 6, 2018) – The 2017 Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS Awards Banquet, which was presented by Shepherd Insurance, was held Friday night at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown at Union Station. The top 10 in 2017 ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS points, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance points, Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS points and Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS points were all honored at the banquet along with several special awards.
A new format to determine a series champion was used in all CRA divisions in 2017. Similar to the top levels of racing now and all major sports, CRA utilized a regular season of events to determine those who were eligible to compete in the post season for the championship. The final four scheduled races were utilized as the playoffs or Chase. Prior to the start of the final four races, the top 8 teams in Wins (then Points) that have attended 75% of the events were eligible for the Chase. Prior to the season’s final Championship event, the top 4 Chase Teams in Wins (then points) during the Chase and were at all Chase events, raced for the season’s championship in each division, with the highest finishing team in that event declared the season’s champion.
Logan Runyon was officially crowned the 2017 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion and the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year, becoming only the fourth driver to win both the Championship and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. Scott Hantz was the first to win both in 2000. Derrick Griffin was the second to win both in 2011. Grant Quinlan won both awards in 2015.
Johnny VanDoorn was the 2017 Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman of the Year Award winner for the ARCA/CRA Super Series. Long time CRA Competitor, then Car Owner and Crew Chief Scott Neal was honored as the winner of the 2017 Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for his dedication to CRA since the ARCA/CRA Super Series first event on April 26, 1997.Championship runner-up Dalton Armstrong was the winner of the Speed51.com Most Popular Driver award for the series, for the second year in a row. Butch VanDoorn, Crew Chief for his brother in the T.K. Racing #71, was awarded the Outerwears Crew Chief of the Year Award, the team finished third in the Championship and won three series events in 2017.
Jack Dossey III was officially crowned the 2017 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion, in his sophomore season with the series. Dossey III was the series Rookie of the Year in 2016.
Carson Hocevar was honored as the Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year Presented by VanDoorn Racing Development Award winner. Hocevar had a record breaking rookie season including claiming a rookie record three victories. Veteran CRA competitor Thomas Woodin was the 2017 Sunoco Race Fuel Sportsman of the Year Award winner for the series, his second Sportsman Award with that series. Jimmy Smith, Crew Chief at Durobyte Motorsports, was honored as the winner of the 2017 series Dedication Award for all the hard work and dedication he has put in with several different drivers over the past several seasons and for his positive promotion of the series. Dossey III was the winner of the Speed51.com Most Popular Driver Award with the series for the second season in a row.
Jason Neal was honored as the 2017 Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Owners Champion, as well as the series Rookie of the Year. Veteran CRA competitor K.C. Spillers was honored as the 2017 Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Drivers Champion, which he claimed by winning the series Championship event at Winchester Speedway. It was Spillers second series Championship, he also won in 2012.
Spillers was honored as the series PGG Sportsman of the Year Award winner. Car Owner Doug Tarman was awarded the series 2017 Dedication Award for his dedication to finishing the 2017 season even after his driver quit mid-season, Shawn Amor jumped in the car and got Tarman’s first ever CRA win at Mt. Lawn Speedway. Jason Neal was the winner of the series Speed51.com Most Popular Driver Award.
Colby Lane was honored as the 2017 Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stock Champion, his first ever CRA Championship, but not the first in his family. Colby’s father, veteran CRA competitor Jeff Lane, was the ARCA/CRA Super Series Drivers Champion in 2005 and the CRA Street Stock Champion in 2011. Tory Lutz was awarded the 2017 Rookie of the Year Award for the series. James Kirby III was awarded the 2017 PGG Sportsman of the Year Award. Series Car Owner Dave Stewart Racing was awarded the series 2017 Dedication Award, for fielding two teams at every series event during the 2017 season for Danny Adams and Corey Adams.
In all over $114,000 in cash and product awards were distributed to the 40 CRA teams at the 2017 CRA Awards Banquet Presented by Shepherd Insurance.
More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
