Salem, IN (December2, 2006) – Officials from Champion Racing Association (CRA) are putting the final touches on the year-end awards ceremony, and in the process have reviewed their total point fund pay out for the 2006 season. The end result is an almost 30 percent increase in total payout to the Late Model teams over the 2005 season. CRA Super Series Late Model teams took part in a new point fund program in 2006 that redistributed the year end award money and paid the bulk of it during the season at each event.

The "Point Fund Challenge Bonus" paid bonus money following each event to all teams that had competed in at least 75 percent of the events and were at the previous event. Additionally, teams in the top 15 of the late model point standings will receive 4 free banquet tickets, as well as the remaining point fund money at the banquet.

"We’re pretty proud of the increased total point fund package for the racers, considering the tough economic times and not having a title sponsor for the series," commented series founder R. J. Scott. "Not many series could say they increased the point fund in that environment." A per event comparison (there was one less event in 2006 than 2005) showed that the total point fund payout for the season was over 28 percent more than the previous year, and even with one less event, the total was over 20 percent greater.

Series Director and Partner Glenn Luckett noted, "It is a tough grind for the teams during the year and we felt like they could use the money more during the season than during the winter, and it seemed to work very well."

The remaining point fund distribution, in addition to other special awards will be made at the CRA Annual Awards Banquet January 6^th at the Holiday Inn in Anderson, IN. Awards will also be distributed to the top 10 in the CRA Street Stocks and Sportsman as well. Guest will be honoring the three CRA Champions: Super Series Champion Scott Hantz, Street Stock Champion Joe Beaver and Sportsman Champion Keith Sterkowitz.

For more information on the CRA Annual Awards Banquet, interested parties click here.