Flat Rock, MI – With nearly two dozen cars entered for Saturday’s Diversified Excavating 125 with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance at Flat Rock Speedway, the narrative was similar throughout the garage area – adapt to the new surface the best and give yourself a chance to go to Victory Lane.
As expected with a fresh repave, the JEGS Tour track record fell several times throughout the course of qualifying before Billy VanMeter became the official JEGS Tour Track Record holder at Flat Rock Speedway with an 11.952.
After the redraw, Justin Schroeder and Camden Murphy led the field to the green flag, with Flat Rock veteran, Schroeder taking the early race lead. A few minor incidents slowed the race early, but a long green flag run in the first half of the race made things exciting for the leaders. Schroeder, who had been navigating lapped traffic with ease, came upon a group of back markers as that group themselves came upon lapped traffic. The result was a smattering of cars all around the race track, including moments of four-wide competition on the ¼-mile oval in Metro Detroit. Through the madness, Schroeder maintained the lead.
Inside of 50 to go, lapped traffic became a factor again for the leaders and Schroeder’s excellent navigation skills lapsed. Pinsonneault got a good run out of four and was able to put a nose to the inside of Schroeder’s No.4. As Schroeder gave Pinsonneault room, he got out of the groove and fell back to third spot behind Billy VanMeter. In the midst of lapped traffic, Schroeder moved back into second, but couldn’t quite close the gap to Pinsonneault for the lead. Then, with 28 laps to go, a caution flew, setting up a dramatic run to the finish.
After the restart, Schroeder made the move back to the top spot pulling a sizeable gap on the field, but a slew of cautions changed the complexion of the end stages. Two sizeable crashes led to several torn up race cars inside of 20 laps to go. After the track was cleaned and drivers gave the indication that the field was ready to race, a car returning to the track from pit road put fluid down on the track again, resulting in Schroeder spinning in turns one and two on the restart. Officials deemed the caution was for fluid on the track and realigned Schroeder at the front of the field. After the track was cleaned again, Schroeder again spun in turns one and two, while the rest of the field navigated the corner cleanly, resulting in Schroeder going to the tail and Chase Pinsonneault inheriting the lead.
When the final nine laps finally clicked down to zero, Pinsonneault had collected his second career JEGS Tour win with Dylan Stovall, who nearly withdrew from the event after an incident in opening practice, finishing second, a mangled Keegan Sobilo third, Gavin Boschele fourth, and Albert Francis fifth.
The next event for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is Saturday, July 5th for the Fourth Up North 104 at Whittemore Speedway. For more information, log onto CRA-Racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on X.
