Salem, IN (August 6, 2017) – Clio, Michigan racer Kyle Hayden got the hometown victory on Saturday night in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, Miller 100 Presented by JEGS.com at Auto City Speedway. Hayden fought off all challengers to pick up his first ever CRA and JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour victory after trying for several seasons.
“Wow it feels great to finally get a CRA win,” remarked a happy Hayden in victory lane. “We couldn’t ask for a better way to win then here in my hometown, at my home track. I’ve got a lot of family, friends and students here, this is for all them! Got to thank my crew and my car owner, we are one of the small teams in this series, all these guys work hard on this car with me, without them I wouldn’t be here in victory lane!”
Hayden has raced part-time with the series every season since the series’ first Auto City Speedway event in 2012, his previous best series finish at Auto City was a 5th place finish in 2015. Hayden is a teacher in a local school, and was happy to have several students and family in victory lane with him celebrating his win.
Anthony Danta grabbed the early lead from his pole starting position after Fury Race Cars Fast Qualifier Carson Hocevar drew a nine for the inverted start. Danta quickly pulled way at the drop of the green flag, with Jack Smith and Hayden in tow as the inside line got the early jump. Hayden and Smith battled hard for the second position before Hayden got around to get second and set his sights on Danta. Hayden quickly caught Danta and after pressing him hard for a couple of laps made the pass coming out of turn two on lap 18.
The race went 40 laps before the first caution came out after two lap cars tangled. On the restart Hayden again grabbed the lead but now had to fight off 14 Year old Hocevar, the series Champion Points and VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Year point’s leader, who was now in position to battle Hayden for the lead.
The caution flag would fly five more times, each time Hayden was able to fight of all challengers to get the win including another local favorite Kyle Crump who challenged Hayden on the last restart with 14 laps to go. Hayden would pick up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his pass of Danta to grab the lead. Crump would finish in second, his best ever series finish and picked up the FLUIDYNE Cool Under Pressure Award.
Second in series points Jack Dossey III struggled in practice and was not happy with his 14th place qualifying results. Dossey III’s crew pulled his car out of impound after qualifying and went to work making several changes prior to the race. Those changes worked as Dossey was able to battle through the field to get a third place finish and earn a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Performance Award and the Racing Electronics Hardcharger Award. For their efforts in getting the car much better, Dossey III’s crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award.
Jack Smith had to battle back from an on track incident with a lap car to get a fourth place finish after pitting to make repairs. For his efforts Smith picked up the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award. Hope Hornish came from her 10th place starting position to get a fifth place finish, her career best finish with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. Hornish also earned her first VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Race Award of the season.
Eric Lee would come from his 15th place starting position to finish in sixth place, earning a Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Performance Award. Mandy Chick finished in seventh place, her second series top ten finish of the season. Hocevar would come from the tail after being involved in a caution to finish in eighth place. Rookie Thomas Hufferd finished in ninth with Michael Clancy Jr. in 10th place.
The series next event will be the Dixie 100 Presented by JEGS.com on Friday, August 18th at Birch Run Speedway. More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.
