Winchester, IN (July 23, 2007) – On a day with weather truly fit for a king, Shane Butler put on a show to win the third addition of the King Of The Wings, Winged Sprint Car Challenge Presented By Pier-Mac Plastics Sunday afternoon on the High-Banks of Winchester Speedway. On a day when it didn’t pay to be an early leader in all three feature events, fans were treated to some great racing and some spectacular finishes at the famous ½ mile oval located in Winchester, Indiana.

The day started with everyone knowing that someone new would wear the crown in victory lane for the third addition King Of The Wings, Winged Sprint Car Challenge Presented By Pier-Mac Plastics after Cameron Dodson, who had dominated the previous two events, was not able to find a ride for the third addition.

Troy Underwood would start out the day’s winged sprint car racing with a victory in the 10 lap last chance race, which finalized the contestants for the 26-car feature field. In all 30 cars showed up to try and make the race, including the #50 Dick Myers owned car piloted by Dodson in his two previous victories, which didn’t make the show because of mechanical problems.

The feature event did not make a complete lap before the field was stopped by a wreck that took out top competitors Kevin Feeney, Jason Blonde and Ryan Litt. After a lengthy clean up, and repairs to several cars, the event took the green flag with Jeff Bloom grapping the early lead with Jimmy McCune in second and Mike Ling in third. Shane Butler, who was put to the back of the field for work being done to his car on the track during the accident clean up, had started working his way to the front.

On lap 18, Bloom suddenly slowed and rolled to pit lane with a left rear flat, that ended his day, McCune grabbed the lead, but for only a lap when his car suddenly slowed and coasted to pit lane with mechanical problems handing the lead to Canadian Mike Ling. Ling pulled away from the field until the red number 55 of Shane Butler, who had made his way to second, suddenly began to catch Ling with the laps winding down. Ling’s car got very loose allowing Butler to close on his tail. Both cars almost wrecked going into turn one on lap 28, with Butler able to make the pass on a sideways Ling coming out of turn two coming to the white flag. Butler would cruise to victory with Ling maintaining control of his car to get second, veteran Hank Lower finished in third, Tim Cox in fourth and Brian Lay in fifth.

"This is awesome," exclaimed a very happy Butler in victory lane. "I was shocked and upset at first when they put us to the tail, but I calmed down, I knew I had a good car and could get back to the front. I just set my sights on catching the #99. I knew I had a chance especially when Bloom and McCune fell out. Things worked out great for us today, this was a great win!"

The Howe CRA Sportsman Astral 40 was an exciting event that saw Steve Blair, winner of the series previous event at Anderson Speedway, jump out to the early lead with Rick Rinehart working his way quickly into second. Rinehart was closing on the leader when Blair’s car suddenly slowed and pulled into the pits with ignition problems, handing the lead to Rinehart on lap 12. Rinehart looked to have things in hand until fast qualifier Charlie Hanna finally worked his way around Billy Hutson and Quay Gregory to move into second place. With the laps winding down Hanna closed on Rinehart’s bumper putting the pressure on as Hanna tried to get his first series victory. Hanna would give it a great shot, making a move on lap 39 to go low and try to pass Rinehart. The cars made slight contact coming out of turn four, but Rinehart was able to hold on and get the victory, his second with the series and second at Winchester Speedway.

"I knew Charlie was back there and worked to keep him back, but he made a move and I just raced him to the line."  Rinehart stated. 

Hanna recorded his best finish ever with the series, having to overcome so bad luck this season with two blown motors.

" I want to thank my owner Tom Fisel, he puts his heart and soul into this car, we’ve had a lot of bad luck earlier this season, but we made it back today," remarked Hanna. "Now we just need to get to victory lane, which we will soon!"

Gregory would hold off point’s leader Hutson for third with Hutson in fourth. Tim Greene finished in fifth. Rinehart and Greene were victorious in the 10 lap heat races.

The 40 lap MAX Rocks CRA Street Stock feature was another event that was not decided until the end. Jacob Owens jumped out to the early lead pacing the field for the first 21 laps, before contact while trying to pass to cars battling for position on the tail of the field resulted in a flat tire, the caution flew at the same time for a spinning Rich Boyer. Dean Baker took over the lead with Beau Mitchell running in second. The caution flew again on lap 36 for a spinning Bobby Murany in turn 4.

The leaders had just taken the caution when Chuck Cook’s car failed to slow down making contact with Joe Beaver and crashing into Baker in turn one. The crash took out Baker and Cook, and forced Beaver and Larry Matillo to the pits for repairs. Mitchell took the green flag in first place on the restart with Jeff Perry in second, after coming through the field after pitting for a flat tire and adjustments earlier in the event. Mitchell’s car got very loose on the restart, Mitchell was able to hold off Perry until the cars came out of turn four to complete lap 37 when Perry got by Mitchell who again almost spun out. Perry would go on to get his first ever CRA Street Stock win while Mitchell slowed and went to the pits.

"This is awesome, to win my first feature ever here at Winchester is the greatest," remarked Perry. "I want to dedicate this race to my wife who just had a baby girl a few weeks ago. I have to thank all these guys behind me, with out there help this wouldn’t have happened."

Rich Boyer ended up second after his earlier spin. 16-year-old rookie competitor Winston Wood finished in third, his best ever finish with the series. Larry Matillo came in fourth with Bobby Murany in fifth. Calvin Parham, driving the #21 Steve Davis owned machine, was the days fast qualifier, but the series owner points leaders car fell out of the event on lap 23. Joe Beaver, Perry and Randy Hoppes won the 10 lap heat races.

The next Winchester Speedway event will be on Sunday, August 12^th when the Bollhoff Rivnut Super Pro Late Models will make their first ever appearance at Winchester Speedway. Also racing that day will be the American Modifieds, Howe CRA Sportsman and the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts. That event will also feature a performance by the Stuntmetal Extreme Street Bikes. More information is available at www.winchesterspeedway.com.