Winchester, IN (April 15, 2009) – Winchester Speedway is set to kick off its 2009 racing schedule with the season opener this Sunday, April 19. High Bank racing fans will get a double treat as the USAC National Sprint Cars come to compete in the Rich Vogler Classic and the CRA Super Series late models in the Manning Service 100 along with action from the CRA Street Stocks and Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts.

Sunday’s Rich Vogler Classic will be the first pavement event of the season for the USAC National Sprint Cars who are scheduled to compete on the dirt at Gas City on Friday and Saturday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Darren Hagen gave car owner Keith Kunz his third consecutive Rich Vogler Classic USAC National Sprint Car victory in last years Rich Vogler Classic by leading the final 25 laps. The Riverside, Calif. driver nearly didn’t make it to the checkered flag. On lap 24 Chris Windom was pressuring Hagen for the lead when the two cars made contact exiting turn four. Both cars slid to the inside of the front straightaway and while Windom slid to a stop sideways at the end of the straightaway after making contact with the inside retaining wall, Windom’s day was done, but Hagen was able to continue on as the leader. On the restart he pulled away, then withstood a strong challenge from veterans Tracy Hines and Dave Darland on another restart with two laps to go to get the victory.

Hagen will not have a chance to defend his win, he was injured last weekend after his Sprint car flipped violently at Eldora Speedway. Hagen suffered injuries that will keep him out of a racecar for a while. The Keith Kuntz Motorsports Team has not announced a driver yet for that car for Sunday’s event but teammates Cole Witt and Chris Windom could be the ones to watch with the recent dominance the Kuntz cars have shown in this event and on the High Banked pavement tracks.

Former Rich Vogler Classic winners Dave Darland and New Castle’s Tracy Hines top a list of talented drivers who look to get a victory on the challenging High Banks of Winchester Speedway. Other top drivers entered include Hines’s Tony Stewart Racing teammate Levi Jones, Brad Sweet in the Kasey Kahne Racing entry, Jerry Coons Jr. behind the wheel of the famous #69 Hoffman Sprinter along with talented Bobby East. Other notable entries include New Castle youngster Dakota Armstrong, Jacob Wilson, Brian Gerster, Jim Swain, Mike Lichty, Damion Gardner and former NASCAR competitor Shane Hmiel.

The CRA Super Series will return to action at Winchester Speedway with the Manning Service 100 on Sunday afternoon. 2008 series Champion Scott Hantz started his record breaking 2008 season with a win in last season’s Manning Service 100, passing Jeff Lane on lap 47 for the lead. Boris Jukovic came through the field and looked to challenge Hantz late in the event for the lead before being sidelined with a broken transmission. Hantz would go on to get the win, Kenny Tweedy was second, Jason Dietsch third, JR Roahrig was fourth and Zach Taylor fifth.

Hantz and current series point’s leader Jurkovic lead the list of entries for Sunday’s Manning Service 100. Other series notables entered includes last season’s Labor Day Winchester winner Rick Turner, last weeks series season opener winner John VanDoorn, Tweedy, Roahrig, Dietsch, Jeff Lane, Jason Shively, Tommy St. John, Terry Fisher Jr., Aaron Pierce, John Heck, Eddie Van Meter, Adam Purdy and 2006 series Rookie of the Year Danny Jackson. A strong 2009 Rookie class will test the High Banks on Sunday, with current rookie point’s leader Justin Matson, Tyler Roahrig, Zach Hulvey, Damon Ecoff, Brandon Fagin and Nick Lay all entered

Several non-regular series teams are using this event as a tune-up for the Winchester 400 including the Kyle Busch Motorsports team with 2007 Winchester 400 winner Ryan Lawler behind the wheel. Also Florida’s Justin Drawdy and Alabama’s Stanley Smith have entered.

The CRA Street Stocks will have their season opener this Sunday at Winchester Speedway were a strong group of drivers is expected including 2008 series Champion Bret Miles Jr. and last seasons series win leader Carl Muffley. The Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts will also have their first event of the season after a very successful second season of competition in 2008 that featured some of the best racing of the season on the High Banks. A great field of cars is expected for that division on Sunday including 2008 series Champion Rex Zimmerman.

There will be an open practice on Saturday at Winchester Speedway, pits open at 9am, practice will run from 1pm until 5pm. Pit gates will open on Sunday at 8am, spectator gates at 9:30 am with practice beginning at 10am. Qualifying will follow at 12:15pm. The race program will begin at 2pm with heat races from the USAC National Sprint Cars and CRA Street Stocks followed by the 40 lap Rich Vogler Classic for the USAC National Sprint Cars, the Manning Service 100 for the CRA Super Series late models, the MAX 40 for the CRA Street Stocks and the Vores Welding & Steel 20 for the Vores Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts. Advanced tickets can be purchased on line at www.winchesterspeedway.com.