Salem, IN (July 9, 2019) – Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Austin Coe, turned around a season beginning streak of bad luck to get his first ever Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman powered by JEGS win Saturday night at Baer Field Motorsports Park. Coe had a battery go dead in the series season opener at Anderson Speedway, then had a suspension part break at Mt. Lawn Speedway on June 30th putting him in the turn one wall causing heavy damage to his car. The team rolled out the backup car Saturday and it was the class of the field getting the win in the Crown Jewel 75.
“It feels really good to end the bad luck we have been having with a win here at my home track,” remarked Coe in Victory Lane. “The car was good in practice and I knew it would be good in the feature. To beat Tommy Cook here is always an accomplishment, he’s tough! I have to thank my dad and my whole team for all their hard work. I also want to thank Coe nation, we have a great group of fans who support us, it makes this win even more special with them here!”
After an afternoon shower, single car qualifying was cancelled for the series and practice results from earlier in the day were used to set the line-up. Coe was fastest in practice and drew a five for the invert putting Brian Janes and Cory Setzer on the front row. Setzer was able to use the outside line to grab the early lead after he and Janes raced side by side at the drop of the green flag. Cook and Coe quickly moved to the front with Cook taking the lead from Setzer on lap five.
Coe took second from Setzer and started to track down Cook. Coe caught Cook and made the inside pass to take the lead on lap 17, as his car stuck in the bottom groove on the 3/8’s mile track at Baer Field better than anyone else. Coe continued to stretch out his lead until the caution flew on lap 47 for a huge wreck in turn one that ended the day for Tanner Jack, Clay Curts and Neal Richardson.
Coe was able hold off Cook on the restart and go on to grab his first Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman win by almost four seconds over Cook. Coe picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race for his winning pass of Cook. With his win Coe joins series Mt. Lawn Speedway event winner Zachary Tinkle as drivers locked into the series 2019 Chase for the Championship, as long as they compete in 70% of the series races leading up to the Chase.
Janes dropped back several positions at the start of the race but came back through the field to pass Cook and get a second-place finish. Cook finished in third. 2007 series Champion Billy Hutson came from his 12th place starting position after mechanical issues in practice to finish in fourth earning both the KRJ Race Products Sweet Move of the Race Award and the Spillers Towing Hardcharger Award. Local racer John Gatton Jr. finished in fifth place.
Setzer finished in sixth with series Rookie of the Year competitor Brian Demland in seventh, giving Fort Wayne natives the top seven finishing positions. Jeremy Wallen, a late addition to the field, finished in eighth.
The Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman return to Baer Field Motorsports Park for their next event on Saturday, July 20th for the second event of the series Triple Crown, which will be contested on the ½ mile track. More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
