Winchester, IN (September 6, 2005) – Eddie Van Meter took the lead from the start of the McGunegill Engine Performance 100 and led for the next 75 laps, until Chuck Barnes, Jr. caught him to take the lead and win his first CRA Super Series presented by Spray Power race of 2005 on Labor Day. The 2004 series champion has only competed in three series events so far this season, this was his first series race since being involved with Roush Racings Gong Show. Van Meter started on the outside of the front row, and early in the race seemed to have the car to beat. Barnes started on the inside of the third row, (after qualifying second) worked his way through the traffic before taking the lead on lap 76 and cruised to his third overall CRA Super Series victory.

"It feels really great to get a win here at Winchester Speedway," remarked Barnes in victory lane. "I thought I was going to win the race here in May, but I ended up with a totaled racecar that day. I set the car up to be good in the second half of the race and it worked, I just saved my tires for the last half of the race, when everyone else started slowing down we just went by underneath them. I want to thank Jeff Manning of Manning Service for helping us out with today’s race."

Eddie Van Meter finished second, again. "To finish second here is great. We usually run well here, but we do not finish well here. The 55 car was a great car today and my hat is off to them," stated Van Meter. Van Meter won the Kingen Interstate Express Halfway Leader Award by leading lap 50.

Jeff Lane continued his hot streak starting outside the second row after qualifying third and finishing third. This is the seventh race in a row that Lane has finished in the Top 5, helping move him from seventh in the point championship chase to first in the Driver’s point championship and second in the Owner Point Championship by only 16 points behind leader Eddie Hoffman. Lane also drove in the Outlaw Late Model race. He was that events fast qualifier and race winner.

Current Owners Points leader, Eddie Hoffman, had a streak of Top 10 finishes broken when he was involved in an accident with Scott Hantz in the third turn. Hantz was running loose throughout the race, while searching for a line to tighten up the car, he was very close to the wall when he got loose and made contact with the wall. He then cut a tire on the bent body sending him into the wall hard in the third turn, as he slid down the track Hoffman was caught up in the accident and forced out of the race coming home 18^th.

Chris Gabehart came home fourth holding off a hard charging Tommy St. John. St. John, the leading Finishline Fabricating/Cometic Gasket Rookie Of the Year contender, finished fifth, his first CRA Super Series Top 5 finish. This finish earned St. John the Cometic Gasket Top Rookie of the race award. He also earned a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award, the Racing Electronics Most Improved Award and the ISKY Racing Cams/Lane Automotive Hard Charger Award gaining eight spots from his 13^th place starting position.

Rick Turner earned the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award when he kept his car out of the wall after getting tagged by Lane in the fourth turn early in the event during a bump and run pass by Lane. Johnny Belott III earned a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award with his 8^th place finish. Chuck Barnes, Sr. was awarded the Marvel Mystery Oil Mechanic Of The Race Award.

Bobby Parsley was the Bicycle Clay Poker Chips/Menards Fast Qualifier Award winner, his fourth such award of the season to lead all series contenders. Early in the race Parsley came in during a yellow flag to check a tire he thought was going flat, he restarted on the tail and worked his way back up to ninth to remain in contention for the series championship with four races remaining.

The next CRA Super Series event will be the Mansfield 100 at Mansfield Motor Speedway, located in Mansfield, Ohio this Sunday, September 11th. For more information click here.