Ft. Wayne, IN (May 24, 2011) - Three CRA divisions were in action at Baer Field Speedway on Sunday, May 22 featuring the CRA Super Series, EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks and Vore’s Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts in close racing on a very warm and emotional day for many at the track.

Campbell crosses the line to win.  CGPhotos.net

As the laps wound down in the Asphalt Wars 100, CRA Super Series race at Baer Field Speedway Scott Hantz could feel his car going away some, and Brian Campbell felt his coming to him.  Campbell slipped by with five laps to go to win.  Hantz was second, Jeff Lane finished third, Derrick Griffin was fourth and Terry Fisher, Jr. fifth.

"This car did much better on the long runs, and each time we had a caution, I thought, not again." Campbell stated.  "I did not like those cautions."

Fisher started on the pole and ran out to an early lead working the high side of the track for lap after lap leaving the inside open, if anyone could catch him. Hantz got past on a restart on the 31^st lap with Fisher running close behind. After the halfway point Fisher’s car started to get very tight, and he fought to hold onto his position ending up fifth.

Campbell meanwhile had worked his way up to challenge Hantz, patiently picking off cars through out the field until he was running right in second tightly behind Hantz. With only five laps to go, he passed Hantz and then ran out to the win.

Lane had another strong showing coming off his first win since 2008, he moved from eighth to third in the last 15 laps passing on both the inside and the outside as he ran to the front closing on Hantz at the end. "We just ran out of laps there at the end." Lane stated. He earned the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race for his run through the field. Lane also took home a Hoosier Racing Tire Award, the other Hoosier Award went to Damon Ecoff.

The EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award went to Hantz. He also took the Kingen Interstate Express Halfway Leader Award. Hantz led the most laps to earn the Turn One Performance Steering Lap Leader Award. Derrick Griffin took the Rookie of the Race Award, the VDL Fuel Systems Rookie Award and the K&N Filters Rookie Award.

33 cars took qualifying times, with a last chance race necessary to pare the field down to the 28 cars that took the green flag. Ecoff took the lead from his fifth starting place in the Last Chance race moving inside of the leader in the fourth turn and held on to win.  Justin Alsip finished second for the second transfer spot.  The point’s provisionals went to Colin Nickolai and Jay Niewiek as last years point’s final was used per CRA Super Series rules due to this being the second race of the year.   Promoter’s options were the third and fourth place cars in the Last Chance race, Joe Beaver and Tommy Cook.  Two additional starters were also added, the next fastest qualifier not in the race, Matt Hall and the next car in the Last Chance race, Robert Maynor. 

The Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award went to Robert Maynor for moving from his 28^th place starting spot to finish 15^th. He also took home the Racing Electronics Hardcharger Award. Fisher earned the VDL Hot Lap of the Race Award for turning the fastest lap during the race.

Hopkins crosses the line to win.  CGPhotos.net

Saturday night at Anderson Speedway the CRA racing family lost one of their own when driver William Mefford passed away after an accident while racing.  This hit home particularly hard for many of the drivers who have raced against him and with him for many, many years.  Brian Hopkins was one of those drivers. He took the lead of the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stock event on the 34th lap, and ran off for the win over Josh Poore.  David Bice finished third, Chad Poorman fourth and Mark Mason fifth. 

"This one's for Willie! He won a lot of races, and we raced together a long time." An emotional Hopkins stated following the race. "We had a bad first lap of qualifying today, so we worked on it and made it better for the race."

Jeff Lane doing double duty in both the CRA Super Series and the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks set fast time with a lap of 19.938 seconds to take the Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Award.  Shawn Amor was second fast, Brian Hopkins third, Dave Bice fourth and Mark Mason fifth. Lane then drew an eight for the invert putting Josh Poore on the pole.

Poole was coming off the win at Anderson Speedway on April 23 took off and seemed to be heading for second straight win. Hopkins moved from his sixth starting position, narrowly avoiding a spin by Mark Mason on the second lap. Hopkins took home the Crumrine Buckle Manufacturing Award, the McGunegill Engine Performance Award, the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award and the Landrum Performance Springs Award.

Poore chased Hopkins until the end, finishing in second as both cars negotiated the lap cars as they came to the line. By finishing second Poore has now finished in either first or second in all three EDCO Welding CRA Street Stock races this season. He also earned the Turn One High Performance Steering Award for leading the most laps, as well his second Taylor Cable Products Award this year.

Rick James celebrates his win.  CGPhotos.net

Jeff Shelmadine had his way with the field for most of the Vore's Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts 25 lap feature race after inheriting the lead when Cary Abrell was put to the tail for over running his qualifying time by more than .300 for three consecutive laps. 

Then as the race was winding down Rick James made a great move to slip past Shelmadine to grab the lead with three laps to go.  James then weaved through lapped traffic to hold on and win.  Kyle Crump finished second moving up from his 14th starting spot, Shelmadine third, Justin Brown fourth and Bob Smith fifth.

"I love racing against all these guys."  James exclaimed.  "Racing against this many cars is a lot more fun."

The next event for the CRA Super Series will be the BPS 125 at Columbus Motor Speedway as part of the Memorial Weekend 250 on May 30. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts will be racing at Columbus Motor Speedway on May 28 as part of the weekend also. The EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks will be back in action on Sunday, May 29 with the Sullivan RV CRA Late Model Sportsman at Angola Motor Speedway. The next Vore’s Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts event scheduled is June 11 & 12 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, IN. For more about all of the Champion Racing Association divisions see www.craracing.net.