Winchester, IN (October 15, 2007) – Colleyville, Texas native Ryan Lawler put his name in the record books by winning the CRA Super Series sanctioned 36^th Annual Winchester 400 Presented By Ed Martin Auto Group and Renegade on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway this past Sunday afternoon. Lawler got to start the event from the pole after setting a new track record in qualifying, leading a strong group of 40 late models qualifying for the event. Brian Scott got the jump on Lawler at the drop of the green flag leading most of the laps with NASCAR Nextel Cup driver David Stremme until Lawler assumed the lead on lap 311 when the leaders pitted. Lawler had made his final pit stop earlier in the event and had saved his car for the end as no one had anything for the young Texan who cruised to his biggest ever victory.

"This is the awesome, especially with all the history of the Winchester 400, I got to sign the big checkered flag that all the winners hear sign, next year my name will be on the event t-shirt.  This is my favorite track, even after I wrecked the last time I was here I really liked this track."  Lawler commented.  "My crew chief, Robert Hamke was the crew chief for 1998's winner Derrick Gilchrist, and that is pretty cool."

Lawler collected $12,000 for the win, plus another $3,600 bonus for winning the event as a non-regular series competitor. In addition Lawler collected over $2500 in additional monies in event lap leader and series award bonuses.

Stremme and fellow Cup driver Kyle Busch flew to Indiana from Charlotte, North Carolina Sunday morning after competing in Saturday nights NASCAR Nextel Cup event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, were Busch finished third and Stremme ninth, to compete in the Winchester 400. Stremme and Busch started 35^th and 36^th in the event as promoter’s options after missing Saturday’s qualifying. Busch’s day ended on lap 85 after a broken wheel sheared off the wheel studs on the right rear of his #51 late model. It was Busch’s third time running in the Winchester 400.

Stremme lead laps 165 through 215, and then lead again from lap 277 until lap 310, giving the lead to Lawler after making a pit stop. Stremme would hang on to finish third, the last car on the lead lap, even after his car’s handling went away when his left rear wheel started coming loose after losing three lug nuts while charging from the rear of the lead laps cars after pitting. The South bend, Indiana native is a long time friend of Winchester Speedway owner Charlie Shaw, who helped Stremme in his early days of late model racing.

CRA Super Series Rookie Of The Year John VanDoorn pursued Lawler through out the last 80 laps but could never challenge for the lead. The 19 year olds car became very loose after some right side contact with the turn two retaining wall. CRA Super Series veteran Rick Turner finished in fourth place one lap down with series regular Terry Fisher Jr. in fifth place, two laps down. Tommy St. John was sixth, Dennis Schoenfeld was seventh, Jeff Fultz was eighth, Jim Crabtree Jr. was ninth and Andy Hanson tenth.

Chris Gabehart claimed the 2007 CRA Super Series Championship for owner Jim Winters and his Hendricks County Motorsports team by taking the opening green flag of the Winchester 400. Gabehart stayed in contention through out the event until a broken right front hub would end his day on lap 371. Early leader Brian Scott looked to have the car to beat, but he made contact with 2007 Winchester 400 winner Scott Hantz while trying to pass Hantz on his way through the field after pitting, his car and Hantz’s made heavy contact with the inside retaining wall ending both driver’s day.

Winchester 400 Official Results

In Saturday night’s Run For The Gun for the American Modified and the USA Modified Series, veteran Ohio racer Dave Stacy came away with the victory after charging to the front to get an early lead. Stacy would hold off Brad Springer to get the win and the mounted Winchester Rifle Trophy. Scotty Tomasik finished in third, Scott Coe in fourth and Ross Klingelhof in fifth.

Six cars were eliminated in a huge lap six pile-up including Modoc native Don Skaggs. Multi-time Winchester feature winner Mike Stacy, brother of winner Dave Stacy, went to the pits on lap seven with a blown motor. Huntsville, Alabama native Jeff Letson won the 15 lap Last Chance race. Veteran New Castle, Indiana racer Harold Scott was the Fast Qualifier out of 31 cars that took times.

AMS & USA Modifieds "Run for the Gun" 50

Bob Varney was victorious in Saturday nights US PRO Series Sneak Peak 50. Varney took the lead at the drop of the green flag and led all 50 caution free laps to claim his first ever victory at Winchester Speedway. Varney’s early competition Tommy Cook and Michael Gaier both fell out of the event. Gaier on lap 27 and Cook on lap 34. Wes Griffith Jr. would finish in second, Al Cook Jr. in third, Kevin Todd in fourth and Royce Mason II in fifth.

USPRO "Sneak PEEK" 50 Results

In Saturday night’s final event it was CRA Street Stock rookie competitor Jacob Owen getting his first ever series points event victory by winning the Moser Engineering 50, the Season Championship event for the CRA Street Stocks. Owens took full advantage of his outside row one starting position to claim the lead at the drop of the green flag. Owens would hold off veteran Indiana racer Steve Blair to get the victory. Owens won a series non-points event at Winchester Speedway in May.

Carl Muffley would finish in third, with Joe Beaver in fourth, claiming the series Drivers Championship over Rich Boyer who came into the event leading the Drivers Points, but his night ended on lap 14 after his car was forced to the pits smoking heavily. Beaver was the 2006 Drivers Points Champion as well. Jeff Perry would finish in fifth place. Boyer was the Fast Qualifier out of the 26 cars that took times. The #21 car owned by Steve Davis had already clinched the Owners Points Championship prior to Saturday night’s event. Calvin Parham was running in the top five in the #21 when his night ended on lap 21 with mechanical problems.

Moser Engineering 50 Results

In Friday night action the Howe CRA Sportsman had their 50-lap Season Championship event. Flagged winner Bobby Blount, who took the lead on lap 25 from Rick Tackman, was disqualified after failing post race inspection, giving the win to second place finisher Charlie Hanna who had challenged Blount for the lead for several laps before losing his power steering late in the event. Hanna, who was the series Rookie Of The Year, was happy just to finish the race in one piece after nearly crashing when the power steering went away.

Rick Tackman would get a second place finish, Rick Rinehart was third, Bobby Stremme was fourth with Tim Greene in fifth place. The event was marred by a huge lap six wreck that damaged several racecars including series points leader Billy Hutson, who lost his lead at one point in the event to Rick Rinehart who got as high as second before he was forced to pit with a flat tire. With the help of several people, Hutson got his car back on the track to gain enough positions to win the 2007 Howe CRA Sportsman Championship over Rinehart.

Howe CRA Sportsman, Culy Construction 50 Results

The Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts also had their Season Championship event Friday night. Point’s leader Greg De St. Jean charged from his ninth place starting position to grab the lead on lap three and never looked back in claiming the victory and the 2007 series Championship.

"I want to thank the sponsors, Winchester Speedway and Baer Field, the CRA and most of all my wife.  I wanted to run just a few races, but she said no, if you are going to race, run them all," remarked a jubilant De St. Jean in Victory Circle.  "Everybody raced clean all year it was great, I love these high banks compared to the short tracks this is an amazing place, I love it."

Richard Isabell finished in second, Randy Owens was third, Tim Dilq was fourth, and Matt Hall was fifth.

Vore's Welding and Steel 20 Results

Veteran Indiana stock car racer Carl Muffley won the CRA Street Stocks MAX Rocks New Star 25, a non-points event for any series driver who had never won a CRA Street Stock feature points event. Eric Evans grab the early lead from his third place starting position and led the first 10 laps before being black flagged and placed at the tail of the field for breaking out on his lap times, which going a lot faster that his qualifying time or what is commonly referred to as sandbagging to get a better starting position. Muffley took over the lead on lap 11 and held off a hard-charging Steve Blair to get the win. Jacob Owens finished third, Phil Evans fourth and Johnny Magee in fifth.

MAX Rocks New Stars 25 Results

The 2007 racing season at Winchester Speedway has come to an end, owner Charlie Shaw and everyone at Champion Racing Association would like to thank all the sponsors, fans, racers and track workers for their support and help during a great 2007 season. Keep checking back on the track’s web site for announcements on the 2008 season that is currently being planned. Go to www.winchesterspeedway.com for additional information.