:::CRA Super Series:::

Fisher, Lane and Atkinson Drive to Victory

Angola, IN (July 4, 2011) – Usually it is the fireworks that provide the excitement on July 4th weekend. But this year the racing at Angola Motor Speedway provided the fireworks with side by side racing for the lead for laps at a time, drivers passing throughout the field fighting for positions passing cars one at a time. It also featured the first three time winner in 2011, a driver getting his second victory in 2011, one in two different divisions and a veteran getting his first victory after being close several times over the last few seasons.

The weekend started with the Sullivan RV CRA Late Model Sportsman Stark’s Pack the House 75. This was a special event moved to this date due to rain on Memorial Day weekend, and it was worth waiting on, with three lead changes among four drivers. Tommy Cook took the lead from his pole starting position and held it for the first nine laps before Charlie Hanna competed a pass on a restart from the outside of the front row. Hanna held the lead for only a couple of laps before Keith Sterkowitz drove by and took off.

After good practice sessions, Jason Atkinson knew he had a fast car, but qualifying 16th meant he had to start deep in the field.　 Coming into the night leading the Sullivan RV CRA Late Model Sportsman points chase over Hanna, Atkinson needed to move up through that field to keep his hold on the point’s race.　 And move he did, by the 35th lap he had made his way to second right behind leader Sterkowitz.　 As they battled for the lead, Atkinson could get beside Sterkowitz, but not around him.　 Then on a restart following a caution, Sterkowitz, who's car's engine had been missing for many laps, could not answer for the restart, putting Atkinson on the point, and he never gave it up as he went on for the win.　　

"We had the car really good in practice, then we messed up a little in qualifying, but we got it right for the race." Atkinson stated.　 "I have to thank the guys from Top Speed Fabrication, I broke down on the way here and was stuck for 3 hours on the interstate, before they helped me get it fixed."

Rookie of the Year Contender Lucas Krick made a statement jumping to the top of the speed chart with a time of 15.533 seconds to earn his first Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier over Rick Everidge.　　 Everidge had a time of 15.563 seconds to qualify second. Krick then drew a 10 for the invert.

Atkinson also took home the AR Bodies "Cool Move of the Race" for his many passes to get to the front. While moving to the front he also earned the AFCO Racing Products Hardcharger Award and the Racing Electronics Hard Charger Award. The Turn One High Performance Steering Award for leading the most laps went to Sterkowitz.

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On Sunday the CRA Super Series took the track for the EMF Richard Poe Memorial 125 and the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks turned out for the Top Speed Fabrication 50 in a make up for a rainout earlier in the year.

The CRA Super Series race featured side by side racing for the lead lap after lap, between Terry Fisher, Jr., Jack Landis and Scott Hantz. A very emotional Hantz was racing for the late Richard Poe, the long time owner of his race team who passed away last July. "I'm all in for this race."　 Hantz stated before the race. "Tonight it is either win or take it home in a basket." He made good on that after the draw for the invert put him on the outside of the front row.

Taking the lead on the first lap, Hantz ran out to the early lead with Becca Kasten in her first trip to Angola Motor Speedway following close behind. Veteran Jack Landis ran to second and followed Hantz lap for lap, pulling up beside Hantz several times but was unable to complete the pass until the 40^th lap, when he passed Hantz on a restart to take the point.

While the racing for first was going on up front, the racing for third through the field was hot and heavy. The Top Five traded places frequently through the middle part of the race with Terry Fisher, Jr. ending up in second, as he looked for a way around Landis, often pulling up beside him, on both the top and the bottom. Meanwhile Hantz dropped back as his car’s handling went away.

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On the 82^nd lap Hantz spun in the second turn bringing out the first caution in 42 laps. On the ensuing restart, Fisher and Landis started side by side in the double file restarts now happening in all CRA divisions. They raced side by side for several laps with Fisher taking the lead by a few inches as the cars passed the line on the 86^th lap. Fisher never gave up the lead again.

"It was on rail out there." A very excited Fisher stated.　 "In practice we did not think we had anything for anybody, but we got it ready and it was on a rail during the race.　 This means a great deal to me."　 As Fisher got his first win after 105 CRA Super Series starts.

While Fisher was running out to a lead that at one point stretched to nearly the entire staightaway, the racing for second was heated, as Kasten, Landis and Dorer fought for position, with Dorer coming out in second. He then started to track down Fisher as the laps ran out on the race. Meanwhile Hantz had worked his way back up to have a say in the race for third.

As the cars came through the second turn for the checkered flag Landis spun while fighting for third, with Kasten finishing third, giving Hantz fourth, with Rookie of the Year Contender Derrick Griffin in fifth.

For his moving up through the field from his 15^th starting position to finish second Dorer earned the AR Bodies "Cool Move of the Race" as well as the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award and the Racing Electronics Hard Charger Award. Dorer also earned a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award as did Rookie of the Year Contender Mason Mingus for coming through the field to finish eighth. Nick Gullatta took the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award for the first time. He then drew a five to put Kasten on the pole, with Hantz on the outside of the front row.

In the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier and new track record holder Jeff Lane drew a 10 to start back in the field giving him a tough challenge to get to the front.　Lane took the challenge and ran through the field to take the lead on the 16th lap and never gave it up as he raced to the victory.　 Brian Nester had mechanical problems in qualifying and did not get a time, so he started in the 14th position and despite getting shuffled back in traffic he managed to make his way to second.　 Rookie of the Year contender Mark Mason finished third, Josh Poore fourth and Ryan Ammonett fifth.　

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"A few weeks ago we were here and this car was bad fast."　 Lane stated. "We didn't show how fast until we put the new tires on it to qualify."

This is Lane’s first victory of the year in the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks this year, after he started the 2011 CRA Super Series season with a victory, making him the first driver to have victories in two different divisions in the same season. He also has a win in the Super Series and Street Stocks at Angola Motor Speedway. "I’ve been driving here so long, I think I raced a Studebaker here back in the day." Lane joked after the race.

The Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Award has only been won by two drivers in the CRA Street Stocks this season, Jeff Lane and Josh Poore.　 Lane now has a total of four for the season,　Poore has two.　 Lane's time set a new track record with a lap of 16.247 seconds.　 Chad Poorman worked on his car after reporting it would not be able to continue due to a broken rocker arm in practice to finish second in qualifying with a time of 16.362 seconds. Ryan Amonett was third, Josh Poore fourth and Rich Segvich fifth. Lane then drew a 10 putting Bill Serviss on the pole and Troy Moyer on the outside of the front row.

The next event for the Sullivan RV CRA Late Model Sportsman will be Saturday, July 9^th at M-40 Speedway, with the CRA Super Series racing at M-40 Speedway in Jones, MI on Sunday, July 10^th. Also on Saturday, July 9^th the JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour will be racing at Anderson Speedway in the Anderson 100 presented by JEGS.com. The EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks will be back in action on July 16^th in the Anderson 200 at Anderson Speedway. The Vore’s Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts will also be at Anderson with the Street Stocks. For more information about the any of the CRA Divisions go to www.craracing.net.