CRA: Winchester Speedway 2006 schedule

Winchester Speedway Releases Impressive 2006 Schedule
ARCA RE/MAX Series and Winchester 400 return

Winchester, IN (January 5, 2006) -- Officials from Winchester Speedway and track promoters Champion Racing Association (CRA) have released the 2006 schedule for the legendary high banked ½ mile track in Indiana. Speedway owner Charlie Shaw has secured CRA to promote and manage the Speedway again in 2006 after a very successful 2005 Re-grand Opening season. CRA leaders R. J. Scott and Glenn Luckett have prepared a diverse and entertaining eight-race schedule based on the successful events in 2005 and bringing back two traditions to Winchester Speedway, the ARCA RE Max Series and the Winchester 400.

The Sunday, April 23rd season opening event will feature a mix of the best in open wheel and stock car racing with the USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series Rich Vogler Classic and the CRA Super Series Late Models. Last season's rescheduled Rich Vogler Classic on October 16th saw Lincoln, Indiana's Dave Darland come away with the victory, his first ever at Winchester Speedway. A packed house cheered Darland on to victory on a beautiful fall afternoon. The CRA Super Series ran two exciting events at Winchester Speedway in 2005 with Chris Gabehart getting his first ever series victory in the May event while Chuck Barnes Jr. made a late charge through the field to get the victory on Labor Day Weekend. The season opener will also feature the return of the CRA Street Stocks to the high-banks after a very successful inaugural season in 2005.

The ARCA RE/MAX Series will make a welcome return to Winchester Speedway on Sunday, May 7th in a 200-lap event. Winchester Speedway had been a regular stop for the big league stock cars for several seasons with some of the most exciting racing events ever on the historic high-banks. Seven time series Champion Frank Kimmel looks to get championship number 8 in 2006, and is always a threat to win on the high-banked tracks. Kimmel won the last ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Winchester Speedway in 2003. Kimmel will have plenty of competition, last season the ARCA RE/MAX Series averaged 48 cars a show, a record high for the most versatile stock car series. The CRA Street Stocks will also race on Sunday, May 7th.

The USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series will return on Sunday, June 11th for the Kenny Irwin Memorial, an event that was unfortunately canceled in 2005 because of rain. Both racers and local fans look forward to this event that is dedicated to the memory one of one USAC's best ever racers. The event will also feature action from the CRA Street Stocks and the first of three CRA Sportsman events.

The "King Of The Wings" Sprint Car Challenge will return on Sunday, July 23rd featuring the country's top Winged Sprint Car drivers from the Auto Value Super Sprints and HOSS plus many others. When it was all said and done it was very easy to determine who the "King Of The Wings" was in last seasons inaugural event. Greenfield, Indiana's Cameron Dodson raced his way into history, first by breaking Hank Lowers track record in qualifying, and then dominated the King Of the Wings Sprint Car Challenge by leading 28 of the 30 laps. The 16 year old put on an impressive display of racing ability by taking his car all over the racetrack to pass cars. Dodson lapped everyone but second place finisher Dave Steele, he even used the flat of the track in turn one to make a pass on two slower cars, the move brought the entire grandstand to it's feet as Cameron showed no fear of the "High Banks" of Winchester Speedway. The American Modified Series and CRA Sportsman will also race on that day.

The fifth event of the year will take place on Sunday, August 13th. The CRA Outlaw Late Models will burn up the track along with the ARCA Lincoln Welders Trucks and the CRA Street Stocks. Scott Hantz and Jeff Lane both won Outlaw Late Model events at Winchester Speedway in 2005, both events featured exciting side by side racing action in the ultra fast made for speed racecars. 2005 ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series Champion Brett Rowe got the victory in last seasons race for the fast six cylinder trucks in one of the best feature events of the season.

The historic World Stock Car Festival is scheduled on Labor Day Weekend after a very successful return in 2005 and will once again feature a great combination of racing, camping, music and parties. Saturday, September 2nd will be an open practice day for all cars and the grandstands will be free to the public. Sunday and Monday, September 3rd & 4th will see at six different stock car divisions compete for their World Stock Car Festival crown. The CRA Super Series Late Models will headline the action, along with the CRA Outlaw Late Models. The weekend will also include racing for the American Modified Series, CRA Sportsman, CRA Street Stocks and the return of the FWD Mini's on Sunday only. The other five groups will practice, qualify and race in qualifying races (where applicable) on Sunday to set the fields for "Features Only" on Labor Day, Monday, September 4th.

CRA Street Stocks will take the main stage on Sunday, September 17th in a 200 lap, $5000 to win race that is expected to see 50 to 75 cars take the green flag for one of the most exciting races of the season. Last years 200 lapper featured some of the best racing of the year as the CRA Street Stock drivers showed their talent and ability to race a long distance race on the high banks. CRA Super Series 2005 Champion Jeff Lane came from his dead last starting position to get the victory in 2005's event. Lane did not have the fastest car, but bad luck struck early leaders Chuck Barnes Jr., Bret Miles and Rich Boyer opening the door for Lane to patiently work his way to the front to get the victory.

On Sunday, October 15th Winchester Speedway will bring back one of the most historic stock cars race events in the country, the 35th Annual Winchester 400. This event was the most popular series of stock car events ever held at Winchester Speedway. The ASA, NASCAR and the CRA Super Series have sanctioned the event in the past, the CRA Super Series will pick up the pieces and restart this legendary event again in 2006.

The event has seen some of the best stock car drivers in history in it's victory lane including Bob Senneker, a record 8 time event winner, 3 time winner Mike Cope, a two time winners Dave Sorg, Mike Eddy, Mark Martin, Butch Miller, and Gary St. Amant, with other drivers such as Rusty Wallace, Ted Musgrave, Tim Steele, Denny Miles and Brian Ross with single event victories. The CRA Super Series first sanctioned the event in 1999 when NASCAR left the event. Two-time CRA Super Series Champion Brian Ross beat his brother Scott to get the victory in that event. The series came back again to sanction the event in 2003 when ASA left the event. Bobby Parsley put his name in the history books getting the victory in that event and clinching the 2003 CRA Super Series Championship.

The Winchester 400 Weekend will start off on Friday, October 13th with open practice for all cars and Round 1 qualifying for the Winchester 400. Saturday, October 14th will feature Winchester 400 practice and Round 2 Qualifying plus practice, qualifying and features for the CRA Outlaw Late Models and CRA Street Stocks and the Winchester Shoot Out between the American Modified Series and the USA Modifieds. Sunday will start with a huge autograph session then 400 laps of exciting high banks stock car action with the CRA Super Series in the 35th Annual Winchester 400.

Details on season tickets and rules for the CRA Street Stocks, CRA Outlaw Late Models and CRA Sportsman will be posted on the Winchester Speedway and CRA websites. For more information about the Speedway please visit www.winchesterspeedway.com or call 812-883-0455.

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