late model at
Gresham), and driving away with the race to win the first CRA Super
Series event at the newly remodeled track. 14 year old Chase Elliott
was able to get through the field to second behind Grill but could
never get close enough to make a pass and settled for second, his best
ever finish in a CRA sanctioned event. Bubba Pollard finished third;
Jason Hogan, fourth and Mike Garvey fifth.
"At the start my goal was to get to the front
quickly." Grill commented. "I feel safest when I am
leading and I was able to get there quickly and stay there."
Grill drew a three for the invert putting Casey
Roderick and Ryan Lawler on the front row. Lawler jumped to an early
lead, but Grill chased him down and took the lead on the 16th
lap. While Grill was running out to a several second lead,
the battle behind him was growing intense with the drivers constantly
changing positions.
For winning the WearCrete Racing with Jeff Fultz
Fast Qualifier Award and winning the race, Grill earned the Team
Construction Clean Sweep Award, as well as the RaceTrailerSales.com
Halfway Leader Award. He also turned the fasted lap of the race to win
the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award.
Hogan battled an ill handling car during practice
and qualifying, he started 13th and moved through the field
to fourth. "This car really was bad earlier today, and I was thinking
if it rained today I would go home and get my other one." Hogan
stated. "But when we came out for the feature it was working really
well, and was fun to drive." Hogan earned a Hoosier Racing Tire
Performance Award for his run.
Russell Fleeman started 20th and finished
seventh also earning a Hoosier Racing Tire Award as well as the DMR
Motorsports Hardcharger Award and the Racing Electronics Most Improved
Award.
Mike Garvey restated at the tail on the 91st
lap after being involved in another car’s spin. Despite only having 34
laps to work with Garvey moved through the field to take fifth,
earning him the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.
The racers and the series officials were very
impressed by the remodeled track, with new pavement, grandstands,
concession stands and restrooms. "It
is probably one of the most beautiful short tracks in the country. The
folks at Gresham have done an awesome job!" Stated CRA partner RJ
Scott.
This was the first race of the season for the CRA
Southern Six-Pack Tour that will feature six races this year. The next
race in the Southern Six-Pack will be at Tri County Speedway in
Hudson, NC on May 21 with the third event at Hickory Speedway in
Newton, NC on May 22. It will also feature events at Gresham
Motorsports Park in July, The Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville, TN in
October and Concord Speedway, Concord, NC in November. The next event
for the CRA Super Series will be the season opener at Anderson
Speedway on April 17th. For more information about the CRA
Super Series see www.craracing.net.
Official Results
Augie Grill Sets New Super Late Model Record
Augie Grill set fast time for the CRA Super Series event
at the Season Opener at Gresham Motorsports Park with a time of 16.169
seconds. Ryan Lawler was second at 16.335 seconds. Casey
Roderick was third, T.J. Reaid fourth and Chase Elliott, the previous
track record holder was fifth. Grill drew a three for the invert
putting Roderick on the pole.
Qualifying Results
Lineup
Rain Delay
The track has not been idle as vehicles have been
working on drying the track to get ready of CRA Super Series qualifying.
The rain stopped practice about 2:30. The track was just ready
to restart practice when another small shower hit about 4:00, by 4:10 the
drying process had restarted. Qualifying should start shortly, with
the sun shining, helping the track to dry quickly.
Augie Grill Fastest of the Day
Augie Grill set the fastest time of the afternoon so far
with a lap of 16.447 seconds for a speed of 109.442 mph.
Oklahoma's Donnie Wilson was second at 16.555, Jimmy Garmon a third generation Georgia racer was
third with a time of 16.556 seconds. Ryan Lawler fourth and T.J.
Reaid fifth.
Practice #3
Elliott Fastest in First Practice, Pollard in Second
Chase Elliott turned a lap of 17.017 seconds with Johnny
VanDoorn second at 17.238 seconds. The second practice was faster
with Bubba Pollard fastest with a lap of 16.599 seconds. Augie Grill
was second at 16.632, Jeff Fultz third at 16.874.
Practice #1 Results
Practice #2 Results
Johnny VanDoorn to Lead Off Qualifying
Johnny VanDoorn will lead off qualifying after drawing
the number one. Bubba Pollard will go second, Donnie Wilson third,
Scott Smith fourth and Mason Mingus will go fifth.
Qualifying Order
