WINCHESTER, Ind. — Texan Ryan Lawler started from the pole and out-dueled NASCAR Nextel Cup regular David Stremme to cruise to victory in Saturday’s CRA Super Series-sanctioned 36th-annual Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway.
Lawler, who had set a new track record on his qualifying run, collected $12,000 for the victory and added a $3,600 bonus for winning the event as a non-series competitor and another $2,500 in additional lap-leader and award bonuses.
“This is awesome, especially with all the history of the Winchester 400,” said Lawler. “I got to sign the big checkered flag that all the winners here sign. Next year, my name will be on the event t-shirt.”
CRA Super Series Rookie of the Year John VanDoorn gave chase to Lawler over the last 80 laps but was never able to seriously challenge for the lead.
Stremme, who charged from his 35th-starting spot, finished third after leading laps 165-215 and 277-310 before handing Lawler the lead when he made a pit stop. Lawler had pitted earlier and was able to hold onto the lead the rest of the way.
Despite an ill-handling car and a loose rear tire thanks to lost lug nuts, Stremme held on and was the final car on the lead lap. Kyle Busch, who flew to Winchester after Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 in Concord, N.C., finished 36th after a broken wheel sheared off the wheel studs on his left rear, ending his race on lap 85.
Needing only to start the race, Chris Gabehart claimed the 2007 CRA Super Series Championship for his Hendricks County Motorsports team and car owner Jim Winters. Gabehart finished 13th.
The finish:
Ryan Lawler, John Van Doorn, David Stremme, Rick Turner, Terry Fisher, Jr., Tommy St. John, Dennis Schoenfield, Jeff Futz, Jim Crabtree, Jr., Andy Hanson, Jason Dietsch, Robert Maynor, Chris Gabehart, Sean Matthuis, Rich Segvich, Donald Karr, Jr., Scott Hantz, Brian Scott, Tommy Cook, Danny Jackson, Chet Blanton, Augie Grill, Brian Reivley, Jeff Lane, Justin Drawdy, Bull Baker, Justin Alsip, Scott Whitehouse, Robbie Pyle, Adam Purdy, J.R. Roahrig, Stanley Smith, Boris Jurkovic, Jack Smith, Jay Middleton, Kyle Busch, Johnny Bellott III, Dave Wilson, Kenny Tweedy, Jason Shively.