Columbus, OH (May 30, 2011) - There was a
record high temperature over 90 degrees with a bright sun at Columbus
Motor Speedway on Memorial Day, and that was not as hot as the action
on the track in the BPS 125 presented by Howe Racing CRA Super
Series race. Ross Kenseth and Tim Curry battled for the lead
until the last lap. Meanwhile the battle for third through sixth would
not be settled until the last lap either, with drivers going to the
back and blazing through the field to challenge for the Top 5.
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Kenseth in Victory Lane.
Photo
by CGPhotos.com |
Tim Curry took the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award
just beating Brian Campbell by .008 seconds. Then Curry drew a three
for the invert putting Kyle Jones on the pole with Campbell on the
outside of the front row.
Jones charged to the early lead before Curry flew
past to take the lead on a restart following a caution pulling
Campbell with him. Curry and Campbell ran out to a strong lead over
Jeff Lane, who had moved from his ninth starting spot to third quickly
with Gary St. Amant hot on his tail. On lap 39 Campbell went high and
nearly passed Curry, but Curry kept Campbell behind with a strong
move. Campbell dropped back, then started looking high again, but made
an excellent crossover move to slip under Curry and take the lead
coming out of four on the 42 lap.
Campbell ran out to a long lead when the other
leaders were held up trying to pass a lapped car, bunching up Curry,
Lane, Kenseth and St. Amant. But the lead would not hold as Campbell’s
transmission gave out on lap 64 while he was leading, giving the lead
to Kenseth. On the 71st lap Lane was involved with a spin
when he was tagged coming out of the second turn while running fourth,
forcing him to restart on the tail.
On the 100th lap Scott Hantz moved up to
second dogging Kenseth’s every move, until Curry slipped by on a
restart. Curry then took over the chase of Kenseth and finally got
past him on the 116th lap. Kenseth never lost touch with
Curry and drove past him to regain the lead on lap 123 after running
side by side with Curry on the outside for a couple of laps.
"We really struggled a little at the start of
practice but the guys were great and got the car to be really good."
Kenseth stated. "I love to come to race with the CRA. They
are always well run shows, on time and good guys to work and race
with."
While Curry and Kenseth were racing up front Hantz
held onto third, while Kenny Tweedy, Tyler Roahrig and Lane (who had
charged back through the field after the spin) were fighting for the
next few positions in side by side action and each being in the lead
of the group. Tweedy finished fourth, Roahrig fifth and Lane sixth. "I
thought I had him for that fifth spot, but Tyler had more than I
thought he did." An exhausted Lane stated after the race. The heat
took its toll on several drivers as even Curry needed assistance in
Victory Lane following the race and others dropped out due to heat
exhaustion. "I guess I should race more than once every three years."
Curry stated following the race. "I build chassis now, and now I
remember why" he said with a laugh.
The AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award went to
Kenseth for his move to retake the lead with only two to go. He also
earned the Turn One High Performance Steering Systems Lap Leader Award
for leading the most laps.
The Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger
Award went to Colin Nickolai who moved from his 24th
starting position to finish 10th. He also earned one of the
Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Tweedy took the second Hoosier
Award. The Rookie of the Race Award went to Derrick Griffin who also
won the VDL Fuel Systems Rookie Award and the K&N Filters Rookie
award.
Campbell won the Kingen Interstate Express Halfway
Leader Award. He also took home the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the
Race Award.
The next CRA Super Series event will be the
SealWrap 100
Presented by McGunegill Engine Performance at the CRA Circle City
Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway (formerly ORP) in Clermont, IN just
outside Indianapolis on June 12 with an open practice on June 11. Also
racing at this event will be the Sullivan RV CRA Late Model Sportsman
Series in the Dave’s All American Pizza and Eatery 40, the EDCO
Welding Street Stocks in the Definitive Auto Sales 40 and the Vore’s
Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts in the Vore’s Welding & Steel 20
Presented by Definitive Auto Sales. The next event for the JEGS/CRA
All-Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts will be the Anderson
100 on June 4th at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, IN. For
more information about this event or any other CRA event go to
www.craracing.net.
