Indianapolis, IN (January 13, 2019) – The 2018 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 2018 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.
Similar to the top levels of racing now and all major sports, CRA utilized a regular season of events again in 2018 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 70% 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.
Josh Brock was officially crowned the 2018 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion during his “Comeback” season, after having to stop racing while leading the points in 2017 because of an illness. Brock also picked up his first ever series win at the May Anderson Speedway event in 2018. Austin Kunert was officially crowned the 2018 Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year, he was second in the series Championship battle and picked up his first ever series win in June at Kil-Kare Raceway.
Hunter Jack was the 2018 Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman of the Year Award winner for the ARCA/CRA Super Series. Championship contender Jon Beach was honored as the winner of the 2018 Allgaier Performance Parts Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for his dedication to CRA during the entire 2018 season and during the Labor Day Weekend event at Winchester Speedway. Jack was the winner of the Speed51.com Most Popular Driver award for the series. Wimmer Motorsports was awarded the 2018 Outerwears Crew Chief of the Year Award, Chris Wimmer and Travis Sauter were the Crew Chiefs for series Champion Josh Brock.
Jack Dossey III was officially crowned the 2018 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion, in his third season with the series. Dossey III became the first driver to win back to back Championships and joined Cody Coughlin as the series only two-time Champions. Mason Keller was honored as the DGR-CROSLEY Rookie of the Year Award winner. The former CRA Street Stock competitor also picked up his first ever series win in 2018 at Winchester Speedway on Labor Day Weekend.
Mandy Chick was the 2018 Sunoco Race Fuel Sportsman of the Year Award winner for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. The Jack Dossey III Racing Team was honored as the winner of the series 2018 Allgaier Performance Parts Dedication Award for coming back from some terrible luck during the 2018 season, including two destroyed race cars, to win the Championship. Dossey III was the winner of the Speed51.com Most Popular Driver Award with the series for the third season in a row. Carson Hocevar was honored as the 2018 JAS Expedited Trucking Michigan Cup Champion.
Tony Brutti was honored as the 2018 Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Champion, his first ever Championship in anything he’s raced in. Chris Shannon was honored as the 2018 DGR-CROSLEY Rookie of the Year Award winner for the series.
Rookie Zachary Tinkle was honored as the CRA Late Model Sportsman PGG Sportsman of the Year Award winner. Varney Brothers Racing, with driver Brandon Varney, were awarded the series 2018 Allgaier Performance Parts Dedication Award for their dedication in battling for the series Championship in their first season competing as regulars with a touring series and overcoming some engine problems. Tinkle was the winner of the series Speed51.com Most Popular Driver Award.
James Kirby III was honored as the 2018 Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stock Champion, his first ever CRA Championship, but not the first in his family. Kirby’s father, veteran CRA competitor Jimmy Kirby, was the CRA Street Stock Champion in 2012. Brandon Tregemboe was awarded the 2018 DGR-CROSLEY Rookie of the Year Award for the series.
2018 Five Crown Champion Jake McElfresh was awarded the 2018 PGG Sportsman of the Year Award for the CRA Street Stocks. Schafer Racing, with driver J.J. Schafer, was awarded the series 2018 Allgaier Performance Parts Dedication Award, for their hard work with the series the past two seasons, finishing runner-up in Championship points both seasons and having one of the best appearing cars at every series event.
In all over $125,000 in cash and product awards were distributed to the 40 CRA teams at the 2018 CRA Awards Banquet Presented by Shepherd Insurance.
More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
