Published: January 15, 2008 11:12 pm            

de la BASTIDE: Super late model series showing promise

Toyota faring well in NASCAR testing

By KEN de la BASTIDE —

Eleven years ago a super late model series was formed in Indiana. The Champion Racing Association continues to grow and there remains reason to be optimistic that success will flourish.

It started with races at Anderson, Winchester and Salem speedways and at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Since that start the CRA has allowed the opportunity to teams on limited budgets and experience levels to take the next step and compete in a touring series.

Since its start with late models, CRA has added touring series competition for Street Stock, Sportsman and Front Wheel Drive teams to get a taste of what it’s like to race at a variety of race tracks.

Last weekend the CRA conducted its annual banquet in Anderson and the list of associate sponsors is now too numerous to list. The only thing missing is the lack of a title sponsor for the late model series ever since Sunoco pulled out.

The CRA Super Series for late models would be a perfect fit for a company that wants to become involved in high-caliber racing at a national level. The series now competes regularly in Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio as well as Indiana.

A lot of credit needs to go to Glen Luckett and R.J. Scott for guiding the CRA to a prominent place in late model racing, particularly in the Midwest. The high points for the series is the Speedfest race at USA International Speedway in Florida, the Anderson 400, the Winchester 400 and the All American 400 at the Music City Motorplex in Nashville.

This is not to downgrade the excellent racing the series presents at Salem Speedway, Berlin Raceway in Michigan, Angola and Illiana speedways.

Many of these tracks helped develop some of the talent that is now competing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup such as Jimmie Johnson, Reed Sorenson, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin and David Stremme with the former American Speed Association national tour that ceased operations in 2006.

The CRA will look to crown a new champion in 2008 with the announcement at the banquet that Chris Gabehart is looking to advance his career to the next level. But that leaves plenty of quality teams looking to fill that gap such as Scott Hantz, Jeff Lane, Rick Turner, John Van Doorn, Jason Shively and Eddie Van Meter.

Van Dorn is my favorite to win the championship after capturing rookie of the year honors and winning the All American 400 to end the 2007 season. With veteran crew chief Chip Caputo calling the shots, Van Doorn should be strong all season long in the Chevrolet owned by Tim Steele.

Last year in 14 races there were 11 different winners, a good performance for any traveling series. At the marquee events drivers from around the country come to compete with the regulars like David Stremme, Busch, Eddie Mercer, Jason Hogan, Ryan Lawler and Justin Drawdy.

The first Indiana race is scheduled for April 12 at Anderson Speedway following the non-points race in Florida and the season opening 150-lap event at the Music City Motorplex. Fans of late model racing that haven’t taken in a CRA event in the past, have to mark one in on their 2008 calendar.

In other racing news

Toyota which struggled during its first year in Sprint (Nextel) Cup competition appears to have put all the pieces in place for 2008.

During the second round of testing for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, Camry’s have claimed eight of the 10 fastest times. Dale Jarrett and Dave Blaney led the Toyota bunch during the first session on Monday in the second session.

Indiana driver Tony Stewart posted the fifth- and sixth-best times in his first appearance in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., making his first appearance in a Hendrick Motorsports car, posted the second quick time during both of the testing sessions. This could be a sign of good things to come for NASCAR’s most popular driver.

Dario Franchitti, the Indy 500 and Indy Racing League champion, was in the top 10 during both sessions in a Dodge prepared by Ganassi Racing. The day didn’t fare as well for fellow IRL transplant Sam Hornish Jr., who was no better than 40th quick.

David Gilliland, 14th fastest during both test sessions, drove the fastest Ford on Monday

Ken de la Bastide may be reached at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com or (765) 454 -8580.

        

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