Owosso, MI (September 3,
2011) - For 72 laps Chad Finley looked like
he might earn his first JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by GM
Performance Parts win as he paced the field in the Big O Classic 100
presented by JEGS.com.
Then
a flat tire while the field was under caution after an extended red
flag to fix the track lights forced Finley to give up the lead to Josh
Nelms. Nelms took the lead after the caution, with Robbie Pyle in
second and Erik Jones in third. Jones drove past Pyle in front of his
hometown crowd to take second, quickly caught Nelms and slipped under
him to take the lead for good to officially lead the 83rd lap. He
would not be caught as he drove away from the field. Finley meanwhile
restarted 19th on the 72 lap raced his way up to finish third, Pyle
finished fourth and rookie points leader Cody Coughlin was fifth.
"That was a hard earned
win!" Jones stated. "Chad (Finley) had that flat, but a couple of
weeks ago I was leading and I had one go down, it is racing. I have
a fantastic crew and family helping me get here. Thanks to all of
them."
Jones earned his fifth Keyser Manufacturing
Fast Qualifier Award then drew a five for the invert putting Finley on
the pole. Jones also took over the lead in the for the first JEGS/CRA
All Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts championship.
Coughlin took home the Howe Racing Rookie of
the Race Award with his fifth place finish. This despite a harrowing
ride off the backstretch into the grass when he was forced high off
the track. Coughlin came back on the track and held on to the car
never stopping earning the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.
Nelms started 11th and charged to
hold the lead before finishing second. For moving up nine positions he
earne the Five Start Stock Car Bodies Hardcharger Award. He also took
home one of the Great Lakes Tire/Hoosier Racing Tire Performance
Awards with the second going to Eddie Hoffman.
The next event for the
JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts will also be
in Michigan at Berlin Raceway on September 10. For more information
see
Jones Earns Fifth Keyser Manufacturing Fast
Qualifier Award
Draws a
Five for Invert
Erik Jones
has a hold on the Keyser Manufacturing Fast Qualifier Award as the
winner of five total including the last three in a row. His time
of 15.531 seconds beat Brent Downey who had a time of 15.595 seconds.
Cody Coughlin was third, Robbie Pyle fourth and Chad Finley fifth.
Drawing a
five for the invert puts Chad Finley on the pole with Robbie Pyle on
the outside of the front row.
With a lap of 15.742 seconds, Robbie Pyle was at
the top of the speed chart for practice for the first trip to
Owosso Speedway by the JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts for the Big O Classic 100 presented by JEGS.com. Erik Jones was just .004
seconds slower, with a speed of 15.746 seconds. Chad Finley was
third, Claude Plante, Jr. fourth and Cody Coughlin will be fifth.
By drawing
the number one qualifying position Jeff Roethlisberger will lead off
qualifying for the Big O Classic 100 presented by JEGS.com and he also
will receive the Great Lakes Tire Award of one free Hoosier Racing
Tire given to the first qualifier. Chad Finley will be the
second qualifier, Cody Coughlin who currently leads the JEGS/CRA All
Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts Rookie points chase will
be third, Brandon Watson fourth and David McManus will be fifth.
