10/9/2024
Winchester Speedway
First Time JEGS Tour Champion Likely to be Crowned Friday at Winchester
Winchester, IN – In the final points-paying event of the 2024 season for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, three drivers remain mathematically in contention for the Season Championship. Standing between Chase Burda and a back-to-back title are 54 points, Chase Pinsonneault, Blake Rowe, and a field of over 20 competitors who hope to capture victory at the famed half mile. The Winchester 100 on Friday, October 11th brings seven intense months of racing to a close with history likely to be made.
The scenario for Burda to take the championship requires perfection from Qualifying to the end of the race, and a series of unfortunate luck for Rowe. If Burda can set fast time and win the race, which he did in the fall of 2023, Rowe can finish no worse than 23rd to wrap up the championship without taking any qualifying points. Rowe, however, is most worried about Pinsonneault heading to Winchester. Just 19 points separate the top two drivers in the standings. Pinsonneault can make things difficult for Rowe by setting Fast Time and collecting the win for the No.14. That would force Rowe to finish 4th or better (if Rowe doesn’t collect qualifying points) to win the title. Four times this season Rowe or Pinsonneault has collected qualifying points while the other hasn’t, which means the importance of laying down a good lap during qualifying is even higher on Friday night.
But, the Championship hopefuls have more than just each other to worry about on Friday night. Outside talent are hoping to steal the spotlight with performances that lead to victory lane. Michael Hinde may be one of the favorites to spoil the party. Twice in 2023, Hinde finished second at Winchester Speedway in the JEGS Tour once after getting passed inside of five to go after leading from the drop of the green flag. Dylan Stovall also showed consistent Winchester speed last season, finishing 6th and 4th in September and October respectively. Kevin Cremonesi, who has a career-best finish of third on the JEGS Tour, matched that effort in October of 2023 putting him on the radar for a big performance on Friday.
Some names on the Entry List fans only get to see occasionally on the JEGS Tour, and they’re also looking to spoil the party for the JEGS Tour faithful. Chris Shannon’s story for Winchester 400 weekend has been well documented – the Michigan native is planning on racing over 500 laps this weekend after completing the Winchester 100 on Friday, the Winchester 40 with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman on Saturday, and the 53rd Running of the Winchester 400 on Sunday. In two starts with the JEGS Tour this season, Shannon has been in the top five each time; however, a crash late in the Owosso Nationals 150 took him out of contention for a strong finish.
Albert Francis is poised to join many drivers in pulling off the Friday/Sunday double. The Painesville, OH native will race in the JEGS Tour for the first time since 2022 before attempting to make his fifth Winchester 400 start on Sunday. Carson Brown will make his second career JEGS Tour start on Friday. The North Carolina native made his debut during the Masters of the Pros 185 and was in contention to battle for a win late in the race when a suspension failure took him out with just 9 laps to go.
Other notables include Kyle Crump who will pilot the EDCO Racing No.23 for the VanMeter family; the same car the Crump took to Owosso Speedway Victory Lane in September’s Owosso Nationals 150. Brandon Varney, who three times in the past has attempted to race the JEGS Tour, Late Model Sportsman, and the 400 – this season they’ll turn all their attention to gaining his second JEGS Tour win of the season and first at Winchester. Austin Hull will make his 7th start of the season on Friday after his second top-five of the season a few weeks ago at Owosso.
The Winchester 100 for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is Friday, October 11th at Winchester Speedway. Qualifying is set to begin at 5:00 PM followed by the redraw and an on-track autograph session. Pre-race ceremonies begin at 6:30 PM with the green flag set to wave at 7:00 PM. For tickets and more information, visit CRA-Racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on Twitter.
Submitted By: Adam Mackey
