Salem, IN (September 20, 2016) – Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS have released some of the drivers names already entered for the upcoming 45th Annual Winchester 400, that will be contested on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway on Sunday, October 9th. This event, sanctioned by the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, is one of the premier super late model events in the country and the entries received to date reflect that, with a very talented group of drivers already set to compete in that event.
Current ARCA/CRA Super Series point’s leader Cody Coughlin leads a strong group of CRA competitors entered for the 45th Annual Winchester 400. Coughlin drove to victory lane in the series last event on Labor Day Weekend on the High Banks of Winchester Speedway, it was Coughlin’s series leading fourth win so far this season. Coughlin finished second to Erik Jones in last year’s Winchester 400 and looks to be one of the early favorites to claim the famous Winchester Rifle Trophy for winning the Winchester 400.
The Winchester 400 is the final leg in the JEGS/CRA $100,000 Super Late Model Triple Crown. By winning the 50th Annual Redbud 300, Dalton Armstrong, who has filed an entry for the Winchester 400, is the only driver with a chance to win a $10,000 bonus for winning two of the JEGS/CRA $100,000 Super Late Model Triple Crown events. If no driver wins two of the Triple Crown events, the driver who accumulates the most points during those three events will receive a $5,000 bonus and the title of Champion of the JEGS/CRA $100,000 Super Late Model Triple Crown. Bubba Pollard leads the Triple Crown points, Armstrong is second, Steve Dorer is in third.
Kyle Busch Motorsports has two teams entered including NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points leader William Byron, who has won five NASCAR Truck Events so far this season. Fellow Truck Series competitor Christopher Bell will be in the second KBM entry. Bell won the Winchester 100 on Labor Day last year and had one of the fastest cars on the track when he passed then leader Erik Jones in last year’s 400, but contact with the wall ended his day shortly after taking the lead.
Oklahoma’s Donnie Wilson is entered, he got a third place finish in the 2014 400. Wilson won the last Southern Super Series event at Montgomery Speedway on September 11th and clinched the series 2016 Championship with that win.
Current CARS Super Late Model Tour points leader Rapheal Lessard from Canada is entered to compete in his first ever 400. Lessard picked up his third CARS Tour win of the season last Saturday at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Lessard made his CRA debut at Lucas Oil Raceway on July 22nd were he came away with a third place finish.
Las Vegas racer Noah Gragson is entered to make his CRA and Winchester debut at the Winchester 400. Gragson will have famed crew chief Ritchie Wauters turning the wrenches. Gragson picked up his second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory of the season last Saturday on the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
North Carolina’s Jeff Fultz is also entered, Fultz is a two-time winner of the series Labor Day Weekend event at Winchester. Two other drivers from North Carolina are entered, Trevor Noles, who finished second in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Masters of the Pro’s 144 and the Bud St. Amant Memorial 125 is entered along with Garrett Jones a winner in the Lee Fields Memorial Southern Super Series event at Mobile Speedway on August 20th.
Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor Mason Mingus is entered. Florida competitor Stephen Nasse is entered and will do double duty by also competing in the 100 lap JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event on Friday, October 7th. Alabama racer Bret Holmes is entered, Holmes picked up the Five Flags Speedway Pro Late Model Championship this past Sunday.
Several other talented CRA competitors are entered including former series Winchester winner Rick Turner, Labor Day Weekend Winchester JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event winner Brandon Oakley, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Rookie Points Leader Jack Dossey III, Wes Griffith Jr., Jon Beach and Hunter Jack.
The Winchester 400 is 400 laps counting cautions with live pit stops with a possible starting field of up to 38 cars. It is a 12 tire maximum race. The event will pay $15,000 to win plus bonuses, which includes $10,000 in lap leader money, which is $25 per lap lead, plus bonuses of $1000, $600 and $400 to the top three finishing traveling non-regular CRA teams and a $1000 bonus to the highest finishing Crate Engine car. EDCO Welding will pay a $400 bonus to the events Fast Qualifier. Hamner Racing Engines will pay a $200 bonus to the driver who advances the most positions.
More entries for the Winchester 400 are expected to come in over the next couple of weeks leading up to the show. Teams not entered yet are reminded that this Sunday, September 25th is the last day teams can enter in advance, entries after that date will have to pay an additional $50 for a late entry fee.
Things begin for the Winchester 400 Weekend with an optional load in, hauler parking and pit pass purchases on Thursday, October 6th from 3 to 7pm. Pits open on Friday, October 7th at 9am with rotating practice for all divisions beginning at 1pm. The ARCA/CRA Super Series teams will have a one hour practice session at 2pm and a 45 minute practice session at 4:40pm on Friday. Pits open on Saturday, October 8th at 8:30am, rotating practice for all divisions will begin at 11am. The ARCA/CRA Super Series teams will have a 45 minute practice session beginning at 11am and a 45 minute final practice session at 1:15pm on Saturday. EDCO Welding Pole Qualifying for the Winchester 400 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series will begin at 4:15pm on Saturday.
On Sunday, October 9th the pits will open at 9am. There will be an on track autograph session with all the Winchester 400 drivers starting at 12:30. Opening ceremonies will begin at 1:30 pm with the 45th Annual Winchester 400 taking the green flag at 2pm.
Additional track and event information can be found at www.winchesterspeedway.com.
More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS is available at www.cra-racing.com.
