CRA Stalwarts Continue to Rewrite the Record Book with Each Race
Salem, Indiana (Wednesday, August 7, 2013): There’s one statistic within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS that shows the true definition of dedication and perseverance to the premier series within CRA; Out of 822 drivers that have made at least one start in the 17-year history of the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, Rick Turner and Kenny Tweedy are the only two competitors to have made at least one start every season of the series’ existence.
From that very first season in 1997 as the Kendall Indiana Late Model Series, to the Sunoco Super Series, to the CRA Super Series and now in its’ current form, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, Turner and Tweedy have been the one constant through it all. Now they’ll help write a new chapter in the Salem, Indiana based series’ history books while proudly displaying the colors and battle flag of CRA.
The eighth race of the 2013 racing season will see the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS teams travel West to go head to head with the ARCA Midwest Tour Presented by SCAG Power Equipment & Lester Buildings in the running of Border Wars 150 Part II on Sunday, August 11th at the fast 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Madison International Speedway, located south of Madison in Oregon, Wisconsin.
Three-Time & Reigning Series Champion, Johnny VanDoorn won Border Wars Part I back on April 20th at Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio in the first ever combo race between the two organizations. This event will also be the first ever appearance by Champion Racing Association (CRA) Powered by JEGS in the state of Wisconsin in the series’ 17-year history. While VanDoorn is not entered in the Wisconsin event, Tweedy and/or Turner, as well as the rest of the CRA contingent look to bring the trophy back home to Indiana.
“CRA is very fortunate to have the support of great racers like Kenny Tweedy and Rick Turner. They have been there since the series first began in 1997.” CRA Series Director, Glenn Luckett stated. “We greatly appreciate the commitment they have had to our series, without people like them, CRA would never have been a success. We wish them luck this weekend in our first ever event in the state of Wisconsin and throughout the remaining 2013 season!” He added.
“These guys are so special for a number of reasons, but for me personally, I came up in racing with these guys.” Added CRA Managing Partner, R. J. Scott. “As young racers Tweedy and I battled on the track back in the late 80’s and the early 90’s. While all the newer drivers are great additions to everything we do, walking through the pits and seeing Turner and Tweedy always makes it feel comfortable and familiar. They are really like family in a lot of ways and just like family, we can argue like brothers and turn right around and feel the high of celebrating their successes. I hope they are still racing with us into their 60’s.” Scott stated.
The 55-year-old Turner, affectionately known as the “Y-Town Hustler” who calls Yorktown, Indiana home and the 47-year-old Tweedy, who resides in Greenfield, Indiana are at, or near, the top of nearly every statistical category in CRA’s 17-year history. Tweedy has the honor of being the Inaugural Series Champion in that first year in 1997 while Turner’s best finish in the Points Standings was a runner-up showing during the 2008 campaign.
“I’m pretty excited about making the trip up to Wisconsin for the second combo race. I’ve raced against a lot of those guys at one time or another, but to have them all together for the same race made it a real tough field to race against,” Tweedy remarked as he and his Crew prepare the familiar white #2 Muller Waste Equipment Sales / Muller Motorsports / Chevrolet for the road trip north and then West. “This race should be a lot of fun and hopefully one of us CRA guys can bring the trophy back East with us.” He added.
Both Hoosier State veterans are enjoying a resurgence this season as they are currently second and third in the chase for the 2013 ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS Championship. While 19-year-old Travis Braden is the current points leader in the ARCA/CRA Super Series and will headline the CRA Stars invasion of the Cheese State, he’ll have back up in the form of Tweedy and Turner who both have a knack for adapting to new tracks very quickly
“I’m always excited to go to new tracks and meet new people. I’ve always wanted to race in Wisconsin and the closest we’ve came in CRA is Rockford back when we were running the National Short Track Championships,” Added Turner who’s popular black #26 T.J Racing Lubricants/ McGunegill Engine Performance / Ford is always a threat and has enjoyed success over the years at other bigger facilities like Salem, Toledo and Winchester. “We’ve been competitive all year long, but this or that has happened and our results haven’t shown what we’re capable of. Maybe this Wisconsin trip will do us some good.” He ended.
Overall in their CRA careers, the numbers are impressive and their accomplishments and longevity have made both drivers the most respected in the pit area. In their careers, Tweedy has eight career victories in the series and is tied for eighth all-time with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star, Kyle Busch in that stat. His last victory however came 10 years ago, when the tour was still known as the Sunoco Super Series back on August 30, 2003 at what is now Angola Motorsport Speedway in Angola, Indiana.
Turner has three career victories over his CRA career and his last win was more recent as it came on September 1, 2008 at the famed high-banks of Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana. Tweedy leads all drivers in Career Starts with 216 and continues to add to that total with every race he takes the green flag while Turner is fourth with 207.
Sitting second all-time in Career Fast Qualifier Awards, Tweedy has 15 such awards, just three out of the lead with his most recent coming in 2011 at M-40 Speedway in Jones, Michigan. Turner is in a three-way tie for 10th all-time in the same category as he scored the Fast Qualifier Award in the 2012 Winchester 400 in celebration of his 200th career start as he was honored with a plaque by CRA Officials.
Tweedy is fifth all-time in Career Top Five’s while Turner is tied for 14th. They’re third and fourth all-time in Career Top 10s as Tweedy leads Turner in that statistic 99-80. At least a top 10 at Madison would be Tweedy’s 100th career. Despite Tweedy leading Turner in Career Starts, Turner is the one who has the advantage over the Inaugural Series Champion in Career Laps and by completing at least 117 of the scheduled 150 at Madison, Turner will move into second place All-Time in Laps turned in CRA competition as Tweedy stands fourth in that list. Both drivers are third and fourth currently in Percentage of Laps completed as well.
Yet despite all of the accolades and laurels for their accomplishments, both drivers still have that desire to win. Both would love nothing more than to make the long trip to Wisconsin worthwhile and bring home the trophy and paycheck back home while flying the colors of CRA for winning Border Wars Part II.
For more information about all four touring series’ within Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS, please go to the series website at: www.cra-racing.com You can also follow CRA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and search for “Champion Racing Association” as well as Twitter at www.twitter.com/CRAracing Finally for more information about Madison International Speedway, the host facility for the eighth race of the 2013 season for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, go to the track website at: www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com
