CRA Returns to The Bowl for a Memorial Day Holiday Weekend Bash

Champion Racing Association will make a return visit with its ARCA/CRA Super Series and the first ever visit by the CRA Street Stocks to Shadybowl Speedway located just outside Degraff, Ohio this Memorial Day Holiday Weekend.

The CRA Street Stocks will start off the weekend with a 75 lap point’s event on Saturday night. The ARCA/CRA Super Series will compete in a 125 lap event on Monday afternoon, while the CRA Street Stocks will also be in action with a 50 lap non-points event.

Saturday night’s event will be the third event of the 2012 season for the CRA Street Stocks. 2011 Rookie of the Year J.J. Schafer has taken over the series points lead with two top five finishes in the first two events. Brian Hopkins is five points behind Schafer after winning the series season opener at Plymouth Speedway and finishing ninth at Anderson. Rookie Tyler Marsh is third in points with Eddie Wolf in fourth and Craig Amptmeyer in fifth place.

The ARCA/CRA Super Series has had six events at Shadybowl Speedway in the past, with the last event in July of 2004. Jeff Lane is the all-time series wins leader at Shadybowl with two, Bull Baker, Chuck Barnes Jr., Jim Crabtree Jr. and Steve Moenck all have one win apiece. For Barnes Jr., Crabtree Jr. and Moenck, that win was their first ever with CRA. None of the former series winners are entered for Monday’s event.

The entry list for The Bowl 125 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series is topped by former series Champions Scott Hantz, who has three series Championships and Johnny VanDoorn, who has two series Championships, VanDoorn is seeking to tie Hantz with a third Championship is 2012, Hantz will just run selected races in 2012 while Crew Chiefing the late model efforts of 2011 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion Erik Jones this season. Both are seeking their first CRA wins at The Bowl.  

Other series drivers who are entered include North Carolina driver Kenzie Ruston, Jay Niewiek, Terry Fisher Jr., Jason Dietsch, 1997 series Champion Kenny Tweedy, Florida native Steve Dorer, Billy Leslie, Nick Gullatta, Kyle Jones, Justin Alsip, Brent Jack, David Carter and Jeep Pflum. Boyne Machine Company Rookie of the Year point’s leader Travis Braden is entered along with fellow rookies, Nate Caruth, Becca Kasten, Johnny Jenkins and Brett Robinson.

Two of the top racers from the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour are entered for Monday’s race after competing at Columbus Motor Speedway in a series event on Saturday night. Current JEGS Tour wins leader Daniel Hemric will make his first ARCA/CRA Super Series start of the season on Monday, Hemric has won two of the JEGS Tour’s first three events, one at Plymouth Speedway and last Saturday’s exciting event at Illiana Motor Speedway. Leading JEGS Tour rookie of the year candidate 14 year old Anderson Bowen from Suwanne, Georgia will make his Super Late Model debut Monday. Bowen is currently third in overall series points and has had finishes of third, fourth and sixth in the JEGS Tour’s first three events. Both drivers will be trying to get the JEGS Challenge bonus money, which will pay $500, $300, and $200 to the three highest finishing JEGS Tour drivers in Monday’s event that also competed in Saturday night’s event at Columbus.

Pits open on Saturday at 2pm, practice begins at 4pm, with qualifying at 5:30pm. The race program will begin at 7pm and will include a 75 lap feature for the CRA Street Stocks. There will be an open practice for both of Monday’s divisions on Sunday, pits open at 12noon, open practice will go from 2pm to 6pm. Pit gates open at 8:30am Sunday, practice begins at 11am with qualifying at 1:30pm. The race program will begin at 2:30 pm and will include an autograph session with all the ARCA/CRA Super Series drivers, prior to their 125 lap feature. The Street Stocks will have 15 lap heat races and a 50 lap feature.

More event information is available at www.shadybowl.com. More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.craracing.net.