Jim Crabtree Jr. Wins Sunoco 150 For Second Career Sunoco Super Series Win

Anderson, IN (September 19, 2004) – Muncie, Indiana’s Jim Crabtree Jr. took full advantage of his pole starting position in leading every lap of the Sunoco 150 Presented By Great Deals Coupon Magazine Saturday night at Anderson Speedway. Crabtree Jr. had to fight off Bobby Parsley through out the entire event to claim his second career Sunoco Super Series victory, his first since May 5, 2001 at Shadybowl Speedway.

"It’s great to win this one so close to home," commented Crabtree. "It’s been a while since our last one, I was really wondering when we would get another win. I want to thank all my crew and especially my mom and dad for helping me out with my racing!"

Parsley came home with the second place finish, his best so far for the 2004 Sunoco Series season. Parsley, who won three series events last season, pressed Crabtree Jr. hard through out the race trying to get his first win of the 2004 season. Several cautions and two red flags gave Parsley several opportunities, Parsley could get to Crabtree Jr.’s bumper, managing to get Crabtree Jr. loose several times, but was never able to make the pass.

Corteco Fast Qualifier Scott Hantz had the fastest car by far towards the end of the event. Hantz had moved to third using the outside groove from his seventh place starting position when contact from fourth place running Rick Turner, who was trying to correct his car after getting sideways in the backstretch, sent Hantz hard into the third turn wall. Hantz bounced off the wall, slid down the track and then had the rear end of the car taken off by Eddie Van Meter. Thankfully Hantz climbed from his badly wrecked car with no injuries, but saw a chance for a possible third straight series win and an opportunity to really narrow the series point’s battle go away.

The incident on lap 151 with three laps to go involved several other front-runners besides Hantz and Turner. Also involved was fifth place running Steve Moenck, sixth place JR Roahrig, eighth place Eddie Van Meter, and ninth place Frank Kreyer. Turner and Moenck were able to continue but had to go to the tail of the field.

Finishing third in the Sunoco 150 and earning his fourth Backstretch Performance/Blake Carburetion/Reed Cams Rookie Of The Race Award of the season was Chris Gabehart. Junior Hanley finished in fourth, earning the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award. Hanley came from twenty-third to finish fourth, it was the fifth time this season that Hanley has won that award. Hanley’s finish, combined with series points leader Chuck Barnes Jr.’s seventeenth place finish because of mechanical problems, has really tightened up the series points lead with three points events remaining. Barnes Jr. now hold a slim two points lead over Hanley followed by Hantz in third, twenty one points behind and Jeff Lane in fourth, fifty six points behind.

Kenny Tweedy got a fifth place finish in his second start for car owner Floyd Fehl. Tweedy did a masterful job fighting off the challenges of several drivers during the event and avoiding several incident s on the track to earn the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move Of The Race Award. Tom Smith finished sixth, Tim Phillips seventh, Terry Fisher Jr. eighth, Rick Turner ninth, and Jeff Lane tenth.

Jim Crabtree Sr., crew chief for son Jim Crabtree Jr., was the Gladiator GarageWorks Crew Chief Of The Race. Jim Crabtree Jr. claimed the Kingen Interstate Express Halfway Award bonus. Goodyear Performance Awards were awarded to Junior Hanley and Tim Phillips. Scott Hantz was awarded the EMF Corp/Race –Tech Engineering "That’s Racing" Award for the lap 151 incident. Tim Phillips was the winner of the 15 lap last chance race.

The next Sunoco Super Series event will be the NAPA 250 at the 39^th Annual NAPA Short Track Championships Saturday September 25^th and Sunday September 26^th at Rockford Speedway in Rockford, Illinois.