Salem, IN (October 26, 2007) – Not since the 2000 season has the CRA Super Series seen such an impressive rookie season like the one John Van Doorn had with the series during the 2007 season. In 2000 Scott Hantz captured both the CRA Super Series Championship and the Rookie Of The Year title. If it were not for 2007 series Champion Chris Gabehart’s spectacular season, Van Doorn would have also pulled off the double titles in 2007. The 19 year old showed the racing skills of a seasoned veteran during his 2007 season with the CRA Super Series and in several Outlaw Super Late Model events.

Van Doorn had planned on competing for rookie honors during the 2006 season, but decided to compete in the maximum six events to gain experience for a run in a full season in 2007 since the team had limited funding for 2006. Van Doorn showed his skills early getting four top 10 finishes in the six starts, his other finishes were 13^th and 14^th. Three of his four top 10 finishes that season were at his first ever races at three of the series toughest tracks including Anderson Speedway, Winchester Speedway and O’Reilly Raceway Park.

Van Doorn announced his intent to run his family owned #121 Port City Monte Carlo for the rookie title way before the 2007 season started, little did he know the break out season he was going to have and the help he was going to get during the season. His worse finish this year was at the season opener at the Music City Motorplex on March 31^st were he finished 23^rd after being involved in an accident, it would be his only DNF of the season.

The team headed to Winchester Speedway on April 22^nd, were Van Doorn would finish 11^th, it would be his last finish outside the top ten and it earned him his first RV Performance Rookie Of The Race Award of the 2007 season, an award he would go on to take in each of the remaining 11 point events during the 2007 season. Van Doorn took over the Team Full Throttle Driver Development Services Rookie Of The Year points, he would never lose that lead the remainder of the season.

The team traveled to Baer Field Speedway on May 20^th were they would get an eighth place finish, the first of 11 straight top 10 finishes. Next up was Toledo Speedway were Van Doorn would finish in fifth place, his first of eight top five finishes during the season, he also lead the first 16 laps of that event, his first laps lead with the series. The next stop was the tricky oval at Columbus Motor Speedway were Van Doorn would get his best series finish to date, a second to winner Robbie Pyle, a former multi time champion at that track. The team then went to the rescheduled Anderson Speedway event on June 9^th were Van Doorn would finish sixth, bettering his ninth place finish there in 2006.

Van Doorn’s 2007 season took a serious change just before the Angola Motor Speedway event on June 30^th. Former ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion Tim Steele, a native of Coopersville, Michigan, the same hometown as Van Doorn, decided to retire from driving and became a car owner. He had his eye on the talented teenager from down the street and was impressed with how he was progressing. Steele put Van Doorn in his Outlaw Late Model, were Van Doorn was instantly a contender at every event. Steele then decided to buy out Van Doorn’s fathers CRA Super Series team, thus becoming the car owner for Van Doorn. The HS Motorsports team made a drastic switch in car colors and car number, debuting the famed red #16 that Steele had made famous in his ASA and ARCA days. Van Doorn did not disappoint his new owner as he earned a fourth place finish at the tricky Angola oval after leading the first 22 laps of the event, taking the lead from his outside front row starting position at the drop of the opening green flag.

After a month off the series headed back to Anderson Speedway for the Budweiser 250 on August 4^th. Van Doorn got to start that event on the pole after Fast Qualifier Chris Gabehart drew a seven for the invert. Wisconsin ace Brad Mueller grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag from his outside row one starting position and would lead the first 124 laps before Van Doorn would take over at halfway on lap 125. The HS Motorsports team had decided to not make a pit stop, opting for track position, a move that would pay off later in the race.

Van Doorn continued to lead but looked like a sitting duck for Jack Smith who had come through the field to Van Doorn’s bumper when disaster almost struck for Van Doorn on lap 245. The caution came out on lap 244 for Chris Gabehart’s spin in turn two, Van Doorn was just coming out of turn 4 when the caution flew and he slowed, Smith did not slow as fast and made contact with the back of Van Doorn’s car. The contact put Smith into the front-stretch wall ending his night, Van Doorn had spun to the inside avoiding both contact with any walls and any other cars, and since the yellow was out for Gabehart, he got his race leader spot back.

Van Doorn would hold off 1998 series Champion Brian Rievley to get the victory, a masterful race using track position, patience, and saving his car through out the event to get his first CRA Super Series victory and Steele’s first victory as a car owner with the CRA Super Series. Van Doorn could barely stand in victory lane after being sick most of the day, but stayed in the seat long enough to get the win.

The team would then get a fifth place finish on August 11^th at Illiana Motor Speedway and return to Winchester for a 7^th place finish on Labor Day. The team then came home for the Boyne Machine 125 at Berlin Raceway on September15th, Van Doorn’s former stomping grounds. Van Doorn got to start the event on the pole after Fast Qualifier Brian Campbell drew a five for the invert. Van Doorn would blast off grabbing the early lead at the drop of the green flag. Van Doorn’s lead grew to a straightaway very soon and he looked like he may cruise right on to victory lane, but ten-time track Champion Fred Campbell was coming.

A lap 104 caution brought Campbell right to Van Doorn’s bumper, Campbell would them jump to the inside and get by Van Doorn to grab the lead on lap 105. Campbell would go on to get the victory with Van Doorn finishing second, it was Campbell’s seventh series victory and his third with the series at Berlin. With his second place finish, Van Doorn claimed the Team Full Throttle Driver Development Services Rookie Of The Year title, with two point races left in the 2007 season.

The first event of the Triple Crown was up next at O’Reilly Raceway Park on September 22^nd, a $10,000 to win 100-lap event. Van Doorn would finish second for the second straight race to winner Chris Gabehart, as the front of the pack saw little passing through out the event. With the win, Van Doorn saw his chances of catching Gabehart for the Season Championship slip away, he had done everything he could do to be in position to win it, but Gabehart’s dream season was about to end with the Championship, all he had to do was start the Winchester 400 to claim it.

The HS Motorsports team headed to Winchester Speedway for the October 14^th Winchester 400, the second leg in the Triple Crown, another high paying, prestigious event, with no pressure on Van Doorn for points, he could go for the win. Again Van Doorn looked like a seasoned veteran through out the event, patiently working his way to the front, making great pit stops, saving the car for the end, unfortunately for Van Doorn, Ryan Lawler, who had been fast all weekend, including setting a new track record in qualifying, was not to be denied getting the victory by just over two seconds over Van Doorn, who got his third straight second place finish to close out the 2007 CRA Super Series points season.

Van Doorn would finish 39 points behind Gabehart in series Championship points, most of that difference was in qualifying points Gabehart earned at almost every series event. Van Doorn finished the season with one win, along with four-second place finishes, eight top five finishes, and 11 top ten finishes with only one DNF, a tribute to a great driver and a great team. He won the rookie title by 250 points over runner–up Sean Matthuis, the largest margin of victory for a rookie since the adjusted points system was put into place. He also won four Outlaw Super Late Model races, one for his dad’s team in May at Berlin Raceway, and three for HS Motorsports, one at Toledo Speedway and two at Dixie Speedway.

"It was a good season, that started out slow, but got better through out the year," remarked Van Doorn. "We thought we had a chance to get both titles, but Chris was just to consistent through the whole season. It was really neat how we both ran so competitive, it seemed like every race we were both up front. I really enjoyed racing with Chris this season, it was a good learning year for me!"

"The Outlaw win at Berlin in May was a good one, it had been a while since I had won a race. It was great to win it in our car, we had worked hard on getting our set-ups better and it just came together for that race. It was also neat to win one at Berlin Raceway my home track! The win at Anderson was also big, I wish we could have won a couple more CRA races this year, but we were right there, we just needed a little more luck!"

"I owe a big thank you to my own team that started the season for me and the HS Motorsports team and Tim Steele. We were at a point in June were we didn’t know if we would have the funds to finish the year, Tim came along and gave me a great opportunity. In the early part of the season I was running our team, I was doing most of the work and being my own Crew Chief. Tim took all that pressure off me, he ran the team, he had great mechanics to work on the cars, plus his experience at many of the tracks we ran was a big plus. He helped me with my line at many tracks, especially Winchester. I think our results, especially in the second half of the season, show the difference that the HS Motorsports team made!"

With his Rookie Of The Year title, Van Doorn will receive at the 2007 series awards a $500 bonus from Full Throttle Driver Development Services, a race ready Carburetor from VDL Fuel Systems, a complete ABC Body from Five Star Racecar Bodies, a complete website with hosting and domain registration as well as maintenance for the entire 2008 season from Speed Media, a $500 Product Certificate towards a racing uniform from Hinchman Racing Uniforms, a $200 Product Certificate from Cometic Gasket, a $200 Product Certificate from Tex Racing, a set of Restraint Belts from Impact Racing, a $100 Product Certificate from PitStopUSA.com, a $100 Product Certificate from Hawk Performance, a $100 Product Certificate from AFCO Racing Equipment, and a $100 Product Certificate from AP Racing Brakes.