Salem, IN. (September 6, 2016) – ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS points leader Cody Coughlin made a couple of big statements on Monday after noon, he won the Winchester 100, his second series win on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway putting him as one of the favorites to win next month’s 45th Annual Winchester 400 and increased his points lead as he seeks his first series Championship with only two events remaining on the 2016 schedule.
Unlike his first win at Winchester in this event in 2014 were he led the entire race, Coughlin had to work a little harder for this win. Coughlin was the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier and drew a six for the invert. Dalton Sargeant took advantage of his pole starting position to take the early lead while Coughlin settled in to fourth place. Sargeant continued to lead with the racing stopped several times in the first 50 laps for cautions. Coughlin would stay in third or fourth place after each restart, saving his car and tires for a late run to the front. A caution on lap 65 saw Coughlin in second and a chance to go for the lead, which he did, powering under Sargeant in turn two to take the lead after some slight contact between the two racers as they raced side by side in turn two. Coughlin would keep that lead even on a lap 87 restart to get the win, his series leading fourth win of the season.
“I really wasn’t thinking about points today, I just wanted to win,” remarked Coughlin in victory lane. “I love racing at this track, to win here is always special. I think will have a good car for the 400 next month, that’s a win I really want to get. We increased our points lead with only two races to go, I think we are in a good position to win both the ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Series Championship and the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Championship, that’s something that nobody has ever done!”
With the win Coughlin claimed the Team Construction Clean Sweep Award bonus of $1,200, that award had not been claimed since September of 2015. With his pass for the lead, Coughlin was also awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award and he received a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.
Sargeant would finish in second and picked up the Fluidyne High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award and the VanDoorn Racing Development Lap Leader Award. 2013 and 2014 series Champion Travis Braden finished in third place. Dalton Armstrong came back from a backstretch spin after contact from another car to finish in fourth place, he received the Sweet Move of the Race Award for being able to keep his car in one piece after the spin and earned the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award. Three time series Champion Scott Hantz finished in fifth place.
Wes Griffith Jr. came from his 20th starting position to finish in seventh after making several pit stops with his crew making adjustments each time. Griffith picked up several awards including a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the Hamner Racing Engines Hardcharger Award. Griffith’s crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award.
The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be on Sunday, September 25th with the Wish For Our Heroes Fall Brawl at Lucas Oil Raceway. More information on all the CRA series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
