Winchester, IN – The opening day of racing for the 54th Running of the Winchester 400 weekend was Friday, featuring the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance. Just shy of two dozen cars unloaded with dreams of going to Winchester Speedway Victory Lane, but the struggles for the field came early and often.
The first heartbreak of the day was during the opening practice session when the engine in the RMD Racing No.131 expired, ending Kyle Crump’s day. The issue marks the third blown engine in the last four JEGS Tour races for Crump and the No.131. Chris Shannon also had his second engine failure in three races under the hood of his No.32. Unlike the Crump ride, Shannon was able to get the engine changed in time for Qualifying ahead of the Winchester 100. An engine problem also spelled the end of the day for Sam Johnson and his No.24.
Regardless, the day continued for 17 other drivers, including Carson Brown, who set fast time during Qualifying. After the redraw, Brown rolled off from the 8th spot, while Chase Pinsonneault and Kasey Kleyn brought the field to the green flag.
Pinsonneault jumped out to the early lead in his US 131 Motorsports Park No.14, and it was clear he had one of the best cars in the field. Behind him, Kleyn, Billy VanMeter, and Albert Francis were racing in close quarters. In turn one, Francis got loose on the inside of VanMeter and spun to the bottom of turn two, nearly clipping Steven Nasse’s No.51 as he went by.
On lap 18, the day came to an end for Kleyn when he and VanMeter made contact in turn three, which pancaked Kleyn into the outside wall. The next caution of the race flew when Carson Brown slowed after a suspension failure on his No.81 eventually ending his night. On the restart, Chris Shannon and Brandon Oakley made contact in turn two, resulting in the end of the night for Oakley after contact with the wall.
The race did have a long green flag run, the longest possible under JEGS Tour rules, a 50-lap stretch until 15 laps to go when the competition caution flew, setting up a wild run to the finish. Chase Pinsonneault had lead every lap up to that point with no real challengers. The restart after the competition yellow was no issue, but with 8 laps to go, James Krueger bounced off of the outside wall and the inside wall. While under caution for that incident, Pinsonneault ran out of fuel from the lead and was pushed to pit road, rejoining the field after they went green.
That handed things over to Albert Francis, who held off VanMeter and JP Crabtree to collect his first career JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win. Meanwhile, Billy VanMeter was crowned the 2025 JEGS Tour Champion, his first championship of his career.
The Winchester 400 weekend continues on Saturday with racing for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman and CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS, plus Pole Qualifying for the ASA STARS National Tour and the Run for the Gun 50 for the Midwest Modifieds Tour. Racing begins at 5:00 PM on Saturday and the 54th Running of the Winchester 400 goes green on Sunday afternoon.
