Winchester, IN (September 18, 2006) – Owensboro, Kentucky native Beau Mitchell loves racing on High Bank tracks, he loves it just a little more after his win in the MAX 200 Presented By Pier-Mac Plastics at Winchester Speedway on Sunday afternoon for the Max 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks. Coming into Sunday’s event Mitchell had won three Max 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks events in three tries at Winchester Speedway in 2006, he is now four for four, but this one paid him $5000 to win.

The win did not come easy as Mitchell waged a 200-lap war through out the event with Sellersburg, Indiana native John Collins and avoiding several accidents and dicing through tough lapped traffic The two drivers were never separated by much during the entire 200 laps including the finish were Mitchell was able to hold off Collins to get the win but by only .153 of a second.

"I started to get really hot out there, I do not know how much longer I could have stood it," remarked Mitchell in victory lane. " My legs started getting hot about the 75th lap. Towards the end I poured my water bottle on myself to try to cool off a little.  With the 59 car (Collins) right there, I could not let up, so I just kept going." 

"I tried to get by him clean every way I could," remarked Collins. "I could get up with him by laying back a little and getting a run, but he was too strong today. We had a lot of fun, I really enjoy these type of races!"

Collins took the lead at the start of the event, taking full advantage of his drawn pole starting position and led the first 59 laps. Mitchell passed Collins in lap traffic on lap 60 and lead until lap 80 when Collins got back around. Collins then led until lap 125 when the leaders pitted under caution. Mitchell beat out both Collins and Chuck Cook, but Tim McLaughlin, who had not pitted at that time, had taken over the lead under yellow. McLaughlin’s lead was short lived as he crashed into the turn one wall on the next restart taking second place running Joe Beaver with him, this handed the lead back to Mitchell. Mitchell led for six laps only to have Collins pass for the lead on lap 139, but Mitchell came right back and got the lead on lap 142 for good.

Greensboro, Indiana native Chuck Cook stayed in the lead back through out the event, never getting to lead, but running second and third through out the event. Cook would finish in third only a half second back of Mitchell and Collins. With his good finish Cook moves into second place in CRA Street Stock points behind leader Joe Beaver with one event left in the 2006 season.

"It was a tough race all day," remarked Cook. "I drove my butt off to stay with those guys up front, they were really fast all day. It was a lot of fun I wish a could have had a little more at the end, but were happy with this finish."

Veteran driver Steve Christman from Fort Wayne, Indiana finished in fourth, the last car to complete all 200 laps. Christman fell a lap down during a long green run in the middle of the event, but was able to pass the leaders on a restart to stay at the tail of the lead lap for many laps holding off Collins first then Mitchell until a caution finally flew putting him back behind the lead pack.

"After I got ahead of the leaders to get back on the lead lap I started hoping for a yellow flag, and when it did not come I was just hanging on there," stated Christman.  After we did get a caution I knew I could not pass those guys so I just settled in and finished the race without any trouble."

Salem Speedway veteran driver Chuck Barnes finished in fifth, two laps down, Brian Hopkins was sixth three laps down, Bret Miles Jr. in seventh three laps down, Bubba Trinkle was eighth six laps down, Steve Rapier Jr. in ninth nine laps down and Dennis Moser was tenth also nine laps down. A total of 46 Max 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks were on hand for the event with 41 cars taking the green flag.

In the preliminary events Shirley, Indiana native Jason Thompson got the win in an exciting side-by-side finish with Muncie, Indiana’s Rob Wyman. Thompson got the lead going through lap traffic with two laps to go. Wyman made a last lap charge pulling even with Thompson coming out of turn four. Both cars made contact several times with each other before crossing the finish line with Thompson getting the win by just inches. Caura, Ohio native Bill Charles got the victory in the Front Wheel Drive Mini’s, getting the win over St. Paris, Ohio native Kevin Flynn after leader Rex Zimmerman fell out with mechanical problems.

The next event at Winchester Speedway will be the 35^th Annual Ed Martin Auto Group Winchester 400 Weekend on October 13^th, 14^th and 15^th with racing action on all three days capped off by the 35^th Annual Ed Martin Auto Group Winchester 400, the season championship event for the CRA Super Series Presented By Spray Power. Go to www.winchesterspeedway.com to purchase advanced tickets for that weekend or for more information on the event.