Plymouth, IN (July 25, 2009) - For the first nine laps of the Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Howe 75 at Plymouth Speedway Saturday night, Charlie Hanna and Steve Minich, Jr. raced side by side, with Hanna staying just ahead for each lap on the outside.  On the 10th lap Minich took the lead by about 12 inches and held it for the rest of the race, despite challenges from Terry Fisher, JR. and Hanna never letting Minich get comfortable. The current series point’s leader collected his third series win of the season in front of a packed house at Plymouth Speedway.

"That was a fun race.  Beating Charlie (Hanna) to the lead early was the key.  The first 10 laps was great, we were side by side and never touched."  Minich stated.  "I would race with him like that everyday.  I want to thank Glenn and R.J. and everybody with the CRA, it is a class series, I love running in it."

Hawk Performance DTC Rotor Fast Qualifier Award winner Tony Dager set fast time just .021 of a second from the track record. He then drew an eight for the invert putting Minich and Hanna on the front row. This is the fifth time in six races this Hanna has started from the front row due to the invert draw.

While Hanna and Minich battled for the lead, several drivers behind them were fighting for position. Terry Fisher, Jr. worked his way to second and was challenging Minich for the lead when his car dropped out during a caution on the 73^rd lap, giving second place back to Hanna. Tony Dager started eighth and worked his way up, passing cars on the outside, but ran out of laps as he chased Hanna to attempt to get second. Dager had been trailing Hanna in heavy traffic, but could not complete the pass in the green-white-checker finish.

Local Plymouth Speedway Sportsman competitors Derrick Griffin and Kevin Gunkel finished fourth and fifth in the event. After finishing without a DNF in Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman racing for two years, Rick Rinehart had been plagued with bad luck all year, but put together a run to finish sixth and earn the McGunegill Engine Performance Award.

Keith Sterkowitz moved from his 14^th starting position to finish seventh and earn the Racing Electronics Hard Charger Award. Minich earned the Turn One Most Lap Led Award, The Howe Racing Award, The Pro Shocks Award and the Hawk Performance Award. Eric Barkus and Ken Wilson both came back through the field after early spins to finish eighth and ninth. John Marshall rounded out the top ten.

The next Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman event will be Saturday, August 8 at Anderson Speedway. The CRA Street Stocks will also be racing at Anderson that evening. For more information about Anderson Speedway see: www.andersonspeedway.com. For more about the CRA see www.craracing.net.