Anderson, IN (January 12, 2008) – The 2007 Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet was held this past Saturday night at the Days Inn in Anderson, Indiana. The top 15 in 2007 CRA Super Series points, and the top 10 in the 2007 Howe CRA Sportsman points, CRA Street Stocks points and the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts were all honored at that banquet along with special awards for all four divisions.

The Hendricks County Motorsports Team with driver Chris Gabehart were officially crowned 2007 Champions of the CRA Super Series. It was the second Championship for owner Jim Winters who won the 1998 series championship with driver Brian Rievley. It was the first series Championship for driver Chris Gabehart, capping off a spectacular season that saw him lead every statistical category with the series during the 2007 season.

"We had a great season that a lot of hard work when into," remarked Gabehart. "I have to thank a lot of people including my car owner Jim Winters for taking a chance on me when I didn’t have any other doors opening for me. My spotter Brandon Lines for doing a great job at every race. My family for sticking behind me all these years, and a great crew that have really worked hard to help us get this Championship!"

John Van Doorn was honored as the 2007 Full Throttle Driver Development Services Super Series Rookie Of The Year and runner-up to Gabehart in series Championship points. Jason Shively was the 2007 TDR Screen Graphics Sportsman Of The Year Award winner. Car Owner Dick Poe was honored as the winner of the 2007 Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for his contributions to the series over the past 8 years as a car owner, track owner and series sponsor. Chris Gabehart was awarded the Harris Products Group Lap Leader Award. Jack Smith was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Luck Award while Ray Mooi was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Charger Award.

Billy Hutson was honored as the 2007 Howe CRA Sportsman Champion, a Championship he barely won after being involved in an early wreck in the series final race at Winchester Speedway. Rick Rinehart was the series point’s leader at one point in the event but a flat tire forced him to the pits losing several positions in the event. Several different teams pitched in and helped Hutson get his car back on the track to make enough laps to win the Championship.

"It is a dream come true to be standing up here as a CRA Champion," remarked Hutson. "If it hadn’t been for a lot of peoples help during the season and at that last event I wouldn’t have been able to stand up here and receive this honor."

The "Wisconsin Cowboy" Rick Tackman Jr. was the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award winner for the Howe CRA Sportsman Series while car owner Tom Fisel, for third place finisher Charlie Hanna, was awarded the Dedication Award for the Howe CRA Sportsman. Hanna was the series 2007 Rookie Of The Year.

Steve Davis was honored as the 2007 CRA Street Stock Owners Points Champion. He used two different drivers during the 2007 season, Calvin Parham and Steve Christman, who both got two victories a piece for Davis. Veteran racer Joe Beaver was honored as the 2007 CRA Street Stock Drivers Champion driving for owner Terry Burton. It was the second straight Drivers Championship for Beaver with the CRA Street Stocks, he is the only driver in any CRA division to get back- to-back Championships. Phil Evans was awarded the Rookie Of The Year Award for the CRA Street Stocks. John Weisenauer was awarded the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award and car owner Terry Burton received the Dedication Award for the CRA Street Stocks.

Greg De St. Jean was crowned the inaugural Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts Champion Saturday night. St. Jean won a tight points battle by winning the season championship event at Winchester Speedway, and then proceeding to do a spectacular burn out on the front stretch after the event. Bobby Sanders was awarded the Harris Products Group Sportsman Of The Year Award and Owner/Driver Brian Redmond received the Dedication Award for the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts.

Drawings for prizes were held for all four divisions. The big winners with the CRA Super Series included JR Roahrig who won a complete body from Five Star Racecar Bodies and a racing seat from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems, Rick Turner who won a body from ARP Stock Car Bodies, Chris Gabehart who won a racing helmet from Bell Racing, and John Van Doorn who won a welder from Lincoln Welders.

In the Howe CRA Sportsman Rick Tackman Jr. was a winner getting a complete body from Five Star Racecar Bodies, Rick Rinehart won a body from ARP Stock Car Bodies, Billy Hutson who won a racing helmet from Bell Racing and Tim Green who won a Driving Suit and Racing Shoes from Impact Racing. The CRA Street Stocks big winners were Larry Matillo who won a racing helmet from Bell Racing and Joe Beaver who won a Driving Suit and Racing Shoes from Impact Racing.

The evening was capped off with a 2007 season Highlight Video prepared by Brian Duncan, including the work of photographer Ron Harner.