By: Kevin Ramsell
Current Turn One CRA Pro Series presented by Chevrolet Performance points leader Chas Pinsonneault added to his point lead with a dominating victory in the House of Meats 100 at Toledo Speedway on Sunday.
The young Belle River, Ontario driver took the lead from recent Birch Run winner Billy VanMeter on lap four and would go on to lead the final 96 laps en route to victory.
“I got to try to hold it together here, but if there’s a place I wanted to win, this is the one, in front of really great people,” an emotional Pinsonneault said in victory lane. “I was super thankful for all my guys. I don’t know if I’ve had a raced a car that good, so I’m just super proud. You know, I’ve won at the little bullrings, but winning at a mile or a half mile is a really big deal to me, and just super thankful.”
Pinsonneault’s strong run was slowed three times with the first caution flying on lap 21 for Greg Stillwell Jr.’s stalled car on the front stretch.
The second came on lap 41 when Avery Demland came to a stop in turn three. While Stillwell Jr. brought out the final caution with 33 laps to go.
Behind Pinsonneault, Tyler Lupton got by VanMeter in the late going to cement another podium with his second-place finish.
“I think, you know, coming from 11th, it’s tough, you know? So, I think we burned up a little bit of the right front there, but, uh, overall, I can’t think of VanDoorn Racing Development enough for giving me a great car,” Lupton said. “I mean, this thing was a rocket.”
VanMeter was hoping for two in a row but came up two positions short, but earned another podium finish.
“I just needed a little more raw speed on my end of kind of a talent level, I think.
Um, but it’s a good day for the Van Doorn cars,” VanMeter explained. “Not as good as I was hoping for, but it was a great day, and I’m happy to have a good day at Toledo.”
Blake Rowe came from his 12th starting position to finish fourth. Michael Simko rounded out the top five.
The Turn One CRA Pro Series will get a well-deserved break before heading to Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, PA for the Mountain Motor Masters 150.
Learn more at cra-racing.com
If you would like to watch a replay of today’s race, please visit tracktv.com.