David Smith, Jr.
NCRA Public Relations
(405) 740-4769
[email protected]
Rookie Edwards Claims NCRA Sport Mod Hutch Nationals Victory!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Hutchinson, Kansas – July 14, 2012 - Current series rookie of the year points leader Caleb Edwards held off challenges from his younger brother and over came several restarts to claim his first career Bob Howard PDC and Mopar National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products southern sport modified feature Saturday night during the 56th annual Hutchinson Grand Nationals, atop the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Caleb started on the pole for the fifteen lap feature and jumped out into the lead as the green flag fell. Third starting Robert Elliott fell into the runner up position but would fall back into third when eighth starting Kinzer Edwards passed Elliott for the runner up position one lap later.
Caleb, aboard the G&P Motorsports #99 C&P Racing Supply/Mudvein Racing sponsored southern sport mod, would open up a five car length lead before the first of four caution flags fell on lap three when defending series champion Chad McNamara came to a stop at the top of turns three and four with a flat right front tire. It was during this time that the top two drivers in the current series point standings, Travis Johnson and Todd Decker, would also come pit side to change tires.
After another minor caution appeared one lap after the restart, Caleb again motored out front while behind him, K. Edwards and Elliott battled for the runner up position. Elliott would make a strong move for second on lap eight driving underneath K. Edwards entering turn two with both drivers making contact. Elliott got the worst end of the deal and would slide to a stop at the top of turn three with a flat right front tire.
A couple more cautions would slow the pace of the feature event but after the final caution would wave on lap nine, the last half of the $1000 to win feature finale would go none stop as C. Edwards continued to set the pace.
The current C&P Racing Supply rookie of the year points leader kept a three to five car length advantage over K. Edwards, who finished fourth last year in this event as a rookie, and would keep the pace the rest of the race to claim his first career series feature victory and lay claim as the third driver to become Hutchinson Grand Nationals champion in southern sport modified competition.
"Hutch Nationals has such a long history being one of the biggest races to win and is definitely the biggest win of my career, hands down," said an elated Caleb. While other drivers found the big fairgrounds half mile hard on their motors, his stayed consistent. "Our Shinook Racing Engines stayed at 200 degrees and wasn't a factor. I have to also thank my Papa, Dad and Kinzer for all their help this year."
Fellow rookie contender Mark Harrison finally found the good luck charm and came from his seventh starting position to finish third. Johnson, who twice went pit side under caution to change flat tires, would rebound to claim fourth to retain his points lead while tenth starting Ross McCartney came home a strong fifth.
Heat races for the twenty-two car field were won by Joe Adams, Elliott and C. Edwards while Decker claimed the six lap "B" feature.
The Bob Howard PDC and Mopar NCRA southern sport modified tour will take a much needed month off before hitting the track for the five races remaining on the 2012 race season, kicking off on Saturday night, August 18th at 81 Speedway in Park City.
The National Championship Racing Association would like to thank the following for their support of the southern sport modified division for the 2012 race season: Bob Howard PDC and Mopar, Park City, Kansas, Precise Racing Products, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires and C&P Racing Supply.
NCRA Southern Sport Modifieds
Kansas State Fairgrounds/Hutchinson, Kansas
07/14/12
22 Cars
1st Heat: 1) Joe Adams 2) Cleo Adams 3) Ross McCartney 4) Todd Decker 5) Bryan LaRivere 6) Chad McNamara 7) Bobby McGehee 8) Ross McCartney
2nd Heat: 1) Robert Elliott 2) Kinzer Edwards 3) Travis Johnson 4) Chris Lyons 5) Cole Traugott 6) Bobby Fiest 7) Andy Deterding
3rd Heat: 1) Caleb Edwards 2) Landon Maddox 3) Mark Harrison 4) Greg Deterding 5) J.D. Choate 6) Andrew Wallace 7) Thomas Andsager
B Feature: 1) Todd Decker 2) Bryan LaRivere 3) J.D. Choate 4) Chris Lyons 5) Chad McNamara 6) Cole Traugott 7) Bobby McGehee 8) Andrew Wallace 9) Courtney McCartney 10) Thomas Andsager DNS: Bobby Fiest, Andy Deterding
A Feature: 1) Caleb Edwards 2) Kinzer Edwards 3) Mark Harrison 4) Travis Johnson 5) Ross McCartney 6) Chad McNamara 7) Bryan LaRivere 8) Todd Decker 9) Cole Traugott 10) Joe Adams 11) Chris Lyons 12) J.D. Choate 13) Cleo Adams 14) Andrew Wallace 15) Courtney McCartney 16) Thomas Andsager 17) Bobby McGehee 18) Greg Deterding 19) Robert Elliott 20) Landon Maddox
