Racing
early on Sunday morning was not in Brian Hopkins plans, he had planned
on racing Saturday night and he and the rest of the EDCO Welding CRA
Street
Stocks
did start. The last race scheduled for Saturday night started with a
bang when an accident occurred on the second lap. During the caution
period the lights on the front stretch went out. After a long delay it
was determined the lights could not be fixed and the race was
postponed until the next morning at 10 am, before the pre-race
festivities for the Winchester 400.
JJ Schafer started on the pole and took off
to the lead on the first lap before the overnight delay. On the
restart on Sunday a sliding car in the front of the field as the team
entered the first turn caused a multi-car accident that knocked out
eight of the 23 cars that started and damaged many more. After a
lengthy red flag clean-up the planned 50 laps was shortened to 40
laps. Josh Myers overtook Schafer for the lead as the race again
restarted.
Myers would lead until the seventh lap when
Hopkins passed him for the lead. In the meantime fast qualifier Jason
Thompson hunted down Hopkins for first on the 18th lap. A
loose wheel caused the second and last caution of the day, third of
the race. Hopkins took the lead on the restart and never trailed
again. Thompson finished second on the track, but refused a protest
following the race and was disqualified. Jimmy Kirby was credited was
second, Danny Smith third, Calvin Parham fourth and Myers fifth.
"
This
is definitely the earliest in the day I have ever won a race. I am
usually not even up by this time." Hopkins said with a large smile.
The 2011 EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks
Championship was also finalized at Winchester Speedway. Jeff Lane is
the new Champion, after a dominating year that included four wins and
a record nine Allstar Performance Fast Qualifier Awards. During the
Friday practice Lane would develop an engine problem and was unable to
race.
This was the last race of
2011 for the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks. The next event will be
the Champion Racing Association Banquet honoring the Champions from
all divisions. For more information about any CRA division see:
Jason Thompson turned a lap of 18.451 seconds to set fast time for the
EDCO Welding CRA Street Stocks Winchester 50. Frank Kimmell II
was second at 18.554 seconds, Carl Muffley third, Tom Gossar fourth
and Danny Smith fifth. Thompson then drew a 12 for the invert
putting JJ Schafer on the pole and Josh Myers on the outside of the
front row.
Jason Thompson was quickest in the EDCO Welding CRA Street Stock
practice with a lap of 18.945 seconds, Kyle Hadley was second at
19.139. Frank Kimmell II was third, Brian hopkins fourth and
Carl Muffley fifth.
Jeff Lane was the fastest in practice and then took the car home to
work on it as he developed an engine problem. His time of 18.865
seconds in the first session was faster than Carl Muffley's of 18.972
seconds in the second practice session. Jason Thompson was third
fast on the day, Jimmy Kirby fourth and Kyle Hadley fifth.
Stocks
did start. The last race scheduled for Saturday night started with a
bang when an accident occurred on the second lap. During the caution
period the lights on the front stretch went out. After a long delay it
was determined the lights could not be fixed and the race was
postponed until the next morning at 10 am, before the pre-race
festivities for the Winchester 400.