Rookie
contender Kyle Crump finished the 2011 Vore’s Welding and Steel CRA
FWD Compacts season winning his second race in a row and the third out
of the last four competitions. The Vore’s Welding and Steel 25
featured close racing, with the first three finishers rookie racers.
At the start of the night Jeff Shelmadine
and Justin Brown were only 11 points apart in the Championship battle
with Shelmadine holding the edge. Crump was just 16 points behind
Brown. During practice, Brown’s car developed an engine problem,
forcing him to move into his teammate’s car for the day.
Crump set fast time with a
lap of 21.063 seconds on Friday night to kick off the Winchester 400
Weekend.
Chad Richardson was second at 21.256 seconds. The next
three qualifiers were rookies Brain Martin in third, Jacob Wyman
fourth and Rick James fifth. Crump gained 10 points on both the
leader.
The heat races featured very close racing
with James beating Crump by less only .048 seconds and Brian Martin
only .384 seconds behind. JR Vester took home the second heat over
Brent Downey and Steve Vore. Crump gained another eight points on
Brown and four on Shelmadine.
Then the rains came, forcing
the feature to be postponed until Saturday.
Because of the rain delaying the race overnight there
were several racers that could not make it to the track on Saturday.
Brown started on the pole and took the lead
on the first lap. Martin moved past Brown to lead the fourth lap.
Brown started to drop back. Crump meanwhile was working his way
through the field catching Martin with each lap.
On the 14th lap, Vester spun to
bring out the only caution of the race. Crump restated beside Martin
as they came to the green. Crump took the lead with Wyman moving to
second. Wyman would look high and low for a way to get past Crump,
even peeking at an attempt to go three wide in the second turn around
a lap car. But he was not able to get past Crump as he came in for the
win. Wyman finished second, Martin third, Shelmadine fourth and Brown
fifth.
With his fourth place finish
Shelmadine sealed his first
Vore’s Welding and Steel CRA FWD
Compacts Championship. "This is great, I have to thank my family, and
sponsors for helping me this year." Shelmadine stated.
This was the last race of
2011 for the Vore’s Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts. The next event
will be the Champion Racing Association Banquet honoring the Champions
from all divisions. For more information about any CRA division see:
Rick James and JR Vester each claimed a win in
the
Vore's Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts heat races. In the
first heat Jeff Shelmadine finished fifth giving him 4 precious points
in the championship race and putting him 15 points ahead of Justin
Brown. Brown is in a back up car after his car broke during
practice and he finished ninth in his heat race.
Kyle Crump set fast time in qualifying for Vore's Welding and Steel
CRA FWD Compacts with a lap of 21.063 seconds. Chad Richardson
was second at 21.256 seconds. Brain Martin was third, Jacob
Wyman fourth and Rick James fifth.
Vore's Welding and Steel CRA FWD Compacts track record holder Kyle
Crump set fast time in practice with a lap of 20.928 seconds. Chad
Richardson was second at 21.178 seconds. Brian Martin was third,
Jacob Wyman fourth and Rick James fifth.
