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Crabtree
Holds Off Kromer at Ona to Become First Repeat Winner Of 2013
A
final restart late in the race resulted in a thrilling battle right
to the finish of Saturday’s Hughes Motorsports 100 at Ona Speedway
presented by Xtreme Trophies.
Muncie,
Indiana’s Jim Crabtree Jr. was one of the fastest Super Cup Stock
Car Series cars throughout the day, but it was Renick, West
Virginia’s Jody Harrison who topped him by less than
five-hundredths of a second for his third straight pole award with a
time of 19.145 seconds. The
softer tire compound the series runs this year resulted in faster
lap times on the worn out track surface compared to previous years.
As
it has in the past, the invert played a major role in the 100 lap
race. Jody Harrison drew
a six, which would put Todd Peck on the pole for the third straight
race with Kevin Kromer alongside.
Peck
pulled ahead into the early lead over Kromer, but the race would be
slowed for the first time five laps in for an altercation among some
of the drivers trying to move toward the front.
Jody Harrison dove below Codie Rohrbaugh and contact ensued
resulting in both drivers having significant damage to the front of
their cars. Brian
Harrison was also collected and received enough damage to his
Chevrolet to knock him out of contention.
While Jody admitted to getting a little overanxious so early
into the race, he pointed out the damage to the right rear of his
Ford where he felt Rohrbaugh came down and made contact which
ultimately sent him along for the ride coming out of turn one.
After
several attempts at another restart, Peck jumped out to a
comfortable lead and appeared to be on his way to a flag-to-flag
victory much like in 2008 at the same West Virginia track.
However, Crabtree Jr. began inching his way toward the front
and worked past Kromer for second.
By
the time the drivers reached halfway, Peck’s car began getting
“evil loose” as he described it later on and Crabtree maneuvered
by for the lead on the 51st lap.
Crabtree began to pull ahead and put his son J.P. Crabtree
III a lap down, which left only three cars on the lead lap.
Meanwhile, Peck continued attempting to hold off Kromer for
second as the race reached its closing stages.
It
turned out to be a rough night for the entire Harrison family.
With Jody and Brian already in the pit area, Harvey Harrison
slowed with overheating issues at this point in the race while
running in the top five. Brandon
Harrison, making his first start of the season, ran out of fuel with
a handful of laps remaining.
The
long green flag run came to an end with 17 laps to go when Peck lost
control coming out of turn four and spun around.
Peck rejoined the field and managed to hold on for a third
place finish.
On
the final restart, Kromer stuck with Crabtree and continued to
pressure him throughout the closing laps.
During the last lap, Kromer worked his way to the outside of
Crabtree and held his line, but came up short at the stripe.
Just
about all of the cars remaining on the track had some sort of
handling issue by lap 100, which Crabtree noted in victory lane.
“There
at the end, I’m sure glad that was over because I don’t think I
could hold him (Kromer) off much longer.
I just wore my stuff out early on.
I’m happy for everybody:
got to thank my wife and my kids, car owner Don Gnatt, my mom
and my dad and all my crew who put a lot of hard work in.”
Crabtree
also dedicated his win in memory of longtime Indiana racing team
owner Blaine Miller and Miller’s grandson and racer Jeff
Shelmadine, who lost their lives in a tragic accident when a semi
struck a vehicle they were fixing off the side of the road.
Rounding
out the top five were the hard chargers of the race J.P. Crabtree
III and Brent Nelson. Both
drivers struggled with their cars throughout practice and
qualifying, but stayed out of trouble and continued to make up
positions on the race track.
The
top rookie of the race was Jeff Zillweger, who finished a career
best sixth. Zillweger
ran as high as fourth, but got his left side tires in the grass
during the long green flag run and lost a lap and track position.
Nevertheless, it turned out to be a great result for a track
he was visiting for the first time.
With
the lead change of the race not taking place until after the halfway
point, Peck got the all-important five bonus points for leading at
the crossed flags as well as credit and bonus points for leading the
most laps along with Crabtree. Peck
now extends his point lead with Crabtree leapfrogging Kromer for
second, and the top five remain separated by less than 100 points
with two races left on the schedule.
The
series now has a four week break before they go to Midvale Speedway
in Ohio. Follow the Super Cup Stock Car Series Facebook page (facebook.com/SCSCSRacing),
and visit www.supercupstockcarseries.com
for updates and information leading up to the event.
Click
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