Salem, IN. (September 10, 2017) – Brighton, Michigan racer Kyle Crump used his experience at Owosso Speedway to claim his first JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance win Saturday night in the Big O Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com. The family owned team has raced with CRA for several seasons, as well as the Owosso Speedway Pro Late Model division, getting a series best second place finish at Auto City Speedway in August, but bettered that with a much deserved victory Saturday night.
“It feels really great to be in victory lane here at Owosso,” remarked an elated Crump in victory Lane. “We’ve raced with this series for a while, especially at these Michigan tracks. We’ve gotten better over the past couple of seasons, we put it all together tonight to get our first CRA win! Have to thank my mom and dad who have supported me for all my racing and my crew and friends and family who came out tonight to support us!”
Auto City Speedway event winner Kyle Hayden took full advantage of his pole starting position after Fury Race Cars Fast Qualifier Carson Hocevar drew an eight for the events inverted start. Hayden was able to hold off Jack Dossey III to grab the early lead, but Crump was already headed to the front using both the inside and the outside groove from his seventh place starting position.
After a lengthy red flag for a huge oil spill clean-up from Lonnie Saumier, the field took the green flag on a lap 12 restart. Hayden and Crump battled for several laps side by side on the progressively banked 3/8’s mile track, before Crump was able to make the pass and grab the lead on lap 14. Crump’s night never got any easier until the end of the race, having to fight off several different competitors over numerous restarts throughout the event.
The events final caution flew on lap 62 putting Crump on the front row with Dossey III for the restart. Crump was able to hold off Dossey III to keep the lead on that restart and the eventual win, as the event went the last 38 laps caution free. Crump picked up several awards including a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award and the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his winning pass of Hayden. Crumps family owned team picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award for all their efforts to help get Crump to victory lane for his first ever CRA win.
There were furious battles for positions throughout the field during the whole event. Dossey III equaled his best ever series finish with a second place finish and put himself in great shape points wise for the series Championship Chase final four, with only one event left until the series season Championship event on October 6th at Winchester Speedway. Dossey III picked up the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award.
Hayden would finish in third place. Series Championship points and Van Doorn Racing Development Rookie points leader Carson Hocevar finished in fourth place and was the Van Doorn Racing Development Rookie of the Race Award winner. Hocevar is already locked into the season Championship Chase final four with his series win last Sunday at Winchester Speedway.
Florida racer Steve Dorer would battle back from the tail of the field to finish in fifth place and earn the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award. Michael Clancy Jr. would finish in sixth and also earn valuable Championship Chase points. David Carter finished in seventh. Tyler Rycenga would finish in eighth place in his series debut. Anthony Danta would pick up a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award, coming from his 15th place starting potion to finish in ninth place. Eric Lee rounded out the top 10.
The series next event will be the third race of the series Championship Chase at Lucas Oil Raceway on Sunday, September 24th, as part of the CRA Fall Brawl Presented by EDCO Welding. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.
