The World Stock Car Festival at Winchester Speedway is Saturday and Sunday, September 2nd & 3rd for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman and CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS. The weekend also includes racing for Crown Vics on Friday, the JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance on Saturday, the ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, and the Midwest Modifieds Tour on Sunday alongside the CRA LMS and CRA Street Stocks.
Heading into the World Stock Car Festival, both the Late Model Sportsman and the Street Stocks feature an impressive Championship battle with just three points-paying races remaining for the Street Stocks and four left on the schedule for the Late Model Sportsman. Dalton Conner and Caleb Reschar, breakout drivers this season, look to hold on for their first championships, but they’ll have to deal with Winchester Speedway twice en route to the honor.
While he may not be in the championship hunt for the Late Model Sportsman division, JP Crabtree may be a favorite to win the division’s race on Sunday. The Muncie, Indiana driver has had his name on the podium more times than not over the last nine seasons at Winchester Speedway. Crabtree’s first career Late Model Sportsman win came in 2018 at Winchester; a race in which Crabtree crossed the line second, but was awarded the win after Post Race Technical inspection. Since then, Crabtree has gone to Winchester Speedway Victory Lane three times, including sweeping appearances at the Historic High Banks in 2022. In total, Crabtree is a five-time winner with the CRA Late Model Sportsman.
Also on the “ones to watch” list this weekend is Chris Shannon. The Kalamazoo Speedway regular is always in the running for a win at Winchester. Since 2018 when Shannon made his CRA Late Model Sportsman debut, the Lawton, Michigan driver has had five Winchester podiums including a win during Winchester 400 weekend in 2021. The triumph at Winchester is Shannon’s only CRA-sanctioned win.
The Championship contenders are hoping to upset the statistical applecart on Sunday. Caleb Reschar grabbed his first career CRA LMS win earlier this season after a thrilling battle at Anderson Speedway. Prior to the win, Reshar had seen two top-ten finishes at Winchester and did collect a top-five finish in June of 2021. Now, the Xenia, Ohio native has a slim eight-point advantage over Logan Huckeba, the former Legend Cars standout who has a top-five and eight top tens in his career with the Late Model Sportsman. Behind both drivers is former Toledo Speedway Late Model Sportsman Track Champion, Greg Stilwell, Jr. Still within striking distance, Stilwell has the best Winchester record of both drivers ahead of him finishing fourth at this very event in 2022.
CRA Late Model Sportsman fans can also keep an eye on Josh Sage, the winner of the season-opening event at Shadybowl Speedway in April. Cassten Everidge, who is in the running for rookie of the year honors with the ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, has a Winchester win to his credit, plus a win earlier this season at Salem Speedway. Billy Hutson, the six-time CRA Late Model Sportsman winner has a pair of Winchester wins dating back to 2007. Jon Beach, who has a JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win at Winchester to his credit, finished runner-up in both LMS races at Winchester last season.
For more information on the World Stock Car Festival at Winchester Speedway, the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman, or Champion Racing Association, visit www.CRA-Racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on Twitter.
Story – Zach Hiser
Photo – John Lund