Winchester, IN – The CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS will conclude the 2023 campaign on Saturday of the 52nd Winchester 400 weekend. The scheduled 10 race season has seen eight different winners so far, but two drivers consistently remain atop the chase for a CRA Championship. Dalton Conner and Andrew Teepe are both in the running to potentially grab their first career CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS title after a season largely paced by Conner.
The season began with Conner bouncing back from a bear disaster season opener, when contact from another car took nearly the entire left side of his No.20 machine off the car. After his pit stop, Conner clawed his way back to a podium finish of third. Teepe, who led the early parts of the season opener, settled for fifth, a position good enough to put him squarely in the championship picture.
In the Series’ second event of the season hosted by Anderson Speedway, Conner and Teepe made it clear the Championship would have to come through them. Teepe led the opening 41 laps before a cooling issue took him pitside handing things over to Conner. The Greenfield, IN driver led the final rotations en route to his first career CRA Street Stocks win.
On to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and a host of new drivers broke up the Conner and Teepe show. Chuck Barnes, Jr grabbed the win ahead of Brett Hudson and Conner. Teepe finished the race in 8th behind lap leader and week one winner, Blain Akin. In the Series’ return to Anderson Speedway, Teepe and Conner went back to the battle.
James Kirby led all 150 laps in the Four Crown event, but Conner and Teepe exchanged positions throughout the night before the checkered flag flew. In the end, Teepe brought home third ahead of Conner in fourth. Another big track shook up the points standings after Salem Speedway on July 22nd. Conner again podiumed in third behind both Chuck Barmes, Sr. And Jr., while Teepe again settled for eighth.
Returning to Anderson Speedway again on August 12th, Conner again went back to Victory Lane after multiple stints in the lead. Teepe finished fourth. Labor Day weekend at Winchester Speedway was another chance to mix up the standings as neither Conner or Teepe took home the win. The honors went to Colby Lane, while Conner posted yet another third place finish with Teepe finishing 7th.
The penultimate event of the season again brought Teepe and Conner back toward one another at Anderson Speedway. Cole Baxter collected his first career CRA win, with Conner and Teepe in tow. Thanks to the performance, Teepe is 49 points behind Conner going into the Championship event on Saturday in Winchester. A maximum of 100 points are available with race points only and no qualifying points on the table.
The CRA title would be the first for each driver, with only Teepe having been in this position before. Since 2019, Teepe has finished anywhere from second to fourth in the Championship Standings. As for Conner, he returns to Winchester 400 weekend after winning the 2022 New Stars race.
The Season Finale for the CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS is scheduled for Saturday, October 14th at Winchester Speedway. Fans can get tickets at the gate or catch the action live on RacingAmerica.Tv.
For more information on the CRA Street Stocks or Winchester 400 weekend, log onto www.cra-racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on Twitter.
