Salem, IN (October 17, 2005) – The 2^nd Annual CRA Salem Speedfest will take place this Sunday at Salem Speedway located in Salem, Indiana. The days racing program will include five great features from five different divisions headlined by the CRA Super Series in the Salem 100 Presented By Spray Power All Purpose Cleaner. Current CRA Super Series points leader Jeff Lane heads up a strong group of CRA Super Series drivers that will battle on the High Banks of Salem Speedway against a tough group of local drivers. Lane has managed to pull a head in the closest series points battle ever over the last two series events with only two points events left on the 2005 schedule. Eddie Van Meter is in second 33 points behind, Shepherdsville, Kentucky driver Bobby Parsley is in third 37 points behind, Eddie Hoffman is in fourth 58 points behind, all four drivers are entered for the event along with top ten drivers Chris Gabehart, J.R. Roahrig, Scott Hantz, Kenny Tweedy and Tommy St. John.

2004 and 2005 Salem Speedway Late Model Champion Keith Gardner leads a strong group of local drivers that look to make there mark against the CRA Super Series regulars. The Louisville, Kentucky driver finished third in last years Salem Speedfest CRA Super Series event, the highest finishing Salem Speedway regular in the event. Fairdale, Kentucky’s Brad Craven, runner-up to Gardner in Salem Speedway points this season has entered along with 2002 and 2003 Salem Speedway Late Model Champion Joe Williamson. Other top Salem Speedway Late Model drivers that have entered include 1996 Salem Speedway Late Model Champion Pete Mayden, Kyle Hadley and Chris Harmon. The highest finishing Salem Speedway Late Model driver in the 2005 top ten in points will receive a $300 bonus and the second highest finishing will receive a $200 bonus from Mid-Southern Saving Bank located in Salem and Paoli, Indiana.

2004 CRA Super Series Champion Chuck Barnes Jr. has entered the event. The Louisville, Kentucky native has run a limited schedule of CRA Super Series and Salem Speedway Late Model events in 2005, including a win in the Salem Speedway Season Championship Late Model event on October 8^th.

The CRA Street Stocks will decide their inaugural Champion in a 40-lap event on Sunday. Modoc, Indiana’s Dean Baker comes into the event as the point’s leader by 6points over Anderson, Indiana’s Rich Boyer. Bret Miles is in third 24 points behind, Mike Riddle Jr. is in fourth 31 points behind and Bret Miles Jr. is in fifth 52 points behind. Salem Speedway’s all time victory leader Chuck Barnes Sr. and three time Salem Speedway Street Stock Champion John Collins lead a strong group of local drivers who will also compete in the CRA Street Stock event on Sunday. Other local drivers entered for the event include Beau Hendrich, Bubba Trinkle, Doug Miller, and Roscoe Thompson. Current CRA Super Series point’s leader Jeff Lane is also entered, Lane is coming off a big $5000 victory in the CRA Street Stock 200 at Winchester Speedway on September 18^th.

The 2^nd Annual CRA Salem Speedfest will also include a 40-lap feature for Midwest Modifieds, the SuperTruck Challenge with the best drivers from both the Anderson Speedway SuperTrucks and I-URL Truck Series competing against each other for 40 laps, and a 25 lap I-URL Stock Car Series feature event.

The weekend event will kick off with an open practice this Saturday, October 22, pit gates open at 12noon Indiana time, practice will run from 2:30pm until 5:30pm, there will be no charge for grandstand seating on Saturday. Pit gates will open on Sunday, October 23 at 7:30am, spectator gates open and practice will begin at 10:30am, qualifying will begin at 12noon. The 2^nd Annual CRA Salem Speedfest race program will begin at 2pm. The first 500 fans entering the racetrack on Sunday will receive a die-cast Bicycle Playing Cards racecar and fans can enter drawings for 4 Bicycle Playing Cards Masters Poker sets. Tickets for the event can be purchased on Sunday or by contacting Salem Speedway at 812-883-6504. Competitor information is available by contacting the CRA office at 812-883-0455. More event information is available at www.salemspeedway.com or here.