James Takes Wild North-South Shootout 125

Concord, NC (November 6, 2010) – The CRA Super Series North-South Shootout 125 presented by WearCrete Diamond Concrete Polishing at Concord Speedway had a little of everything – a car on its top on the second lap and another on lap 106, the leader running out of fuel during a caution with only 14 laps left and a first time CRA Super Series winner, Colt James.

Bobby Measmer, Jr. WearCrete Racing with Jeff Fultz Fast Qualifier set fast time during qualifying on Friday evening with a time of 15.688 seconds, just ahead of Jimmy Weller who turned a lap of 15.700, putting Measmer on the pole for the start. The heat races used to set the lineup for 10th through 20th for the North/South Shootout 125 were cancelled due to inclement weather when rain settled in for the evening. The lineups were then set using qualifying times only.

The CRA portion of the North-South Shootout started just after the sun set on a cool night at Concord Speedway following a very exciting day that included a portion of the back stretch fence being torn down by a car in the first feature of the day.

Jimmy Weller jumped to the early lead when Measmer spun his tires on the start of the race. On the second lap, the first of 13 caution flags flew due to a spin. On the restart Ryan Blaney slipped high sending Matt Brooks into the wall. Brooks car climbed the wall sliding along the front stretch with the bottom of the car facing the crowd before ending up on his top in the first turn, tearing the crossover gate off the front stretch wall.

During the ensuing lengthy red flag Blaney’s crew worked to repair his heavily damaged machine as he tried to get back on the track to preserve his CRA Super Series Southern Six-Pack Championship. For their hard work Blaney’s crew was awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.

As the race restarted Jeff Fultz stalked Weller as Fultz attempted to overtake Blaney for the Championship trophy himself. Fultz took the lead on the sixth lap and seemed to be the car to beat for the several laps as he ran away from the field.

As the leaders made their mandatory pit stop at the caution on the 56th lap pit road became a hornet’s nest of activity. Fultz came out last as his crew looked under the hood and the lead fell to Mark Reedy.

Dennis Schoenfeld took the lead from Reedy on the 59th lap only to have pole sitter, Measmer take it from him on lap 63. Measmer then spun out by himself coming out of the first turn after taking the lead.

During the caution Fultz pulled into the pits where the crew determined his lower control arm was broken and he was forced to retire from the race, giving the Championship to Blaney.

Schoenfeld retook the lead on the restart and held it until the 102nd lap when he spun his tires on a restart allowing Michael Pilla to run out front before Ross Kenseth took over following another caution.

Then disaster struck for Blaney. The car of Cody Humphries spun in turn four throwing up a huge cloud of smoke. Blaney drove in blind trying to get past but clipped Weller and flipped over to end up on his top on the 106th lap.

Another caution flew on the 111th lap caused by a spin. On the backstretch as the field came to the green Kenseth ran out of fuel causing the caution to be extended and giving the lead to Pilla, and with Kenseth in seventh after pitting for fuel.

On the last restart Colt James took the lead when Pilla spun his tires. James then held the lead for the last five laps, with Kenseth coming on hard. Kenseth finished second less than a second behind James.

"I ran good all night, and I knew that last restart was my last chance to take the lead."  James stated.  "For me it was a good night."

James picked up a couple of nices bonuses, $500 from Ford Racing for winning the event with a Ford Engine and $500 for the Scott Performance Wire North Carolina Challenge for being the best overall finisher between Saturday’s event and the series event at Hickory Motor Speedway in May. He also picked up the $250 bonus for being the highest finishing non CRA and PASS Series car.

Kenseth picked up the $250 CRA Highest Finsher bonus while Grant Davidson picked up the $250 PASS Series Higehst Finisher bonus. The DMR Hardcharger Award went to Kevin Love for moving up to seventh from his 22nd starting position. Schoenfeld took the RaceTrailerSales.com Halfway Leader Award. Love and Pilla earned the Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Awards.

This completes the CRA Super Series 2010 Season. The next event will be the CRA Banquet on January 8th at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, IN. The next racing event will by 2011 SpeedFest at Lanier National Speedway in Brazleton, GA on January 28-30. For more information see www.craracing.net.

 

Blaney Fastest in Saturday Warm-up Session

 

The Saturday warm-up session for the CRA Super Series North-South Shootout 125 Presented by WearCrete Diamond Concrete Polishing only saw 21 of the 28 cars scheduled to start come out to practice.  Ryan Blaney was the fastest with a time of 15.977 seconds, just ahead of Ross Kenseth at 15.986.  Preston Peltier was third, Jeff Fultz fourth with Colt James rounding out the top five. 

Warm-Up Session Results

 

Inclement Weather Claims Heat Races

 

Due to inclement weather the heat races have been cancelled.  The feature race will be set using qualifying times.

Feature Lineup

 

Measmer On the Pole

 

Despite being only the ninth fastest in practice Bobby Measmer, Jr. found over a half second for qualifying to set fast time for the CRA Super Series North-South Shootout 125 Presented by WearCrete Diamond Concrete Polishing. Measmer turned a lap of 15.688 seconds with Jimmy Weller close behind at 15.700.  Colt James was third, Ryan Blaney fourth and Jeff Fultz fifth.

Qualifying Results

 

Peltier Quickest in Final Practice

 

As CRA Super Series drivers and teams and teams prepare for the North-South Shootout 125 Presented by WearCrete Diamond Concrete Polishing Preston Peltier turned the quickest lap with a time of 15.819 seconds in the final practice session.  Jimmy Weller was second at 15.884 seconds, Ross Kenseth third, Colt James fourth and Ryan Blaney fifth. 

Practice #2 Results

 

James Fastest in First Practice

 

Colt James set fast time in the first practice with a time of 15.959 seconds.  Roger Lee Newton was second at 16.006 with Ross Kenseth third, Matt Brooks fourth, and Jimmy Weller fifth. The next practice for the Super Series Cars will be at 3:35.  A few cars went out with their transponders on the car so there are no times listed for them.  Catch all the action as it happens on Speed51.com with Trackside Now. 

Practice Results

 

Humphreys to Lead Off Qualifying

 

In his first CRA Super Series race Cody Humphreys will lead off qualifying for the North-South Shootout 125 Presented by WearCrete Diamond Concrete Polishing.  Dennis Schoenfeld will take off second, Bobby Measmer, Jr. third, Chris Lawson fourth and Jason Dietsch fifth.   For this race the top 10 after qualifying will be locked into the feature.  The rest of the cars will be divided in two heats and race for starting position. 

Qualifying Order

 

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