Salem, IN (January 27, 2016) – Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS will be heading South for SpeedFest 2016 this weekend to kick off its 2016 racing season at beautiful Crisp Motorsports Park, the home of Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia. This will be the 12th straight year CRA has sanctioned the SpeedFest event. The USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida hosted the event from 2005 through 2008, it was contested at Lanier National Speedway in Brazelton, Georgia from 2009 through 2011 and has been at Watermelon Capital Speedway since the 2012 season.
SpeedFest 2016 will consist of a 200 lap ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Model special non-points event and a 125 lap JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Pro Late Model special non-points event. The SpeedFest 200 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series will have a break at lap 100 and will count yellow flag laps up to lap 175. The SpeedFest 125 for JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Pro Late Models will be a four tire only event and will count yellow flag laps up to lap 100.
The event will see some of the best racers in the country competing in the 325 laps of feature racing action. Some of the top entries for this weekend’s events include 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor Brennen Poole, 2015 NASCAR K & N East Series Champion William Byron, Brandon Setzer, son of former NASCAR competitor Dennis Setzer, Harrison Burton, son of former NASCAR great Jeff Burton, plus many of the nation’s top late model drivers including Bubba Pollard, Cole Anderson, Ty Majeski, Zane Smith, Steve Dorer, Donnie Wilson, Casey Roderick, and Scott Hantz.
There are currently 35 cars entered for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Model event and 23 cars entered for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Pro Late Model event.
The weekend will kick off with an open practice on Friday, pits will open at 10am with hauler parking. The track will be open for practice from 12noon until 6pm, with alternating 30 minutes sessions for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Pro Late Models and the ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Models.
Pits will open on Saturday at 8:30am, practice will begin at 12noon. JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Pro Late Model Qualifying for the SpeedFest 125 will begin at 4:15pm. ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Model qualifying for the SpeedFest 200 will follow at 5pm.
Pits will open at 7:30am on Sunday. All haulers must be removed from inside the track by 10am. Spectator gates will open at 11am. There will be a Chapel Service at 11:30am. All the drivers competing in the SpeedFest 2016 will be part of an on track autograph session beginning at 12:30pm, open to all the fans attending Sunday’s event. Driver’s introductions will begin at 1:30pm on Sunday. Nashville recording artist Megan Fowler will be on hand to sing the National Anthem. The SpeedFest 125 for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Pro Late Models is scheduled to take the green flag at 2pm. The SpeedFest 200 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Models will hit the track immediately after the SpeedFest 125.
For those fans who cannot attend, a live pay-per-view broadcast of both SpeedFest 2016 events will be available on Speed 51 TV. Order your pay-per-view ticket today by visiting Speed51.com.
Track and SpeedFest 2016 information, including purchasing advance tickets, can be found at www.crispmotorsportspark.com.
All information on CRA, including the 2016 rules, license forms and schedules can be found at www.cra-racing.com.
– Kim Kemperman Photo
