Every year, certain races on my list of events are must-sees during the season.
Along with the Pay Less Little 500 at Anderson Speedway and the All American 400 in Nashville is the annual Winchester 400.
The high-banked half-mile Winchester oval has been one of my favorite racing venues since I moved to Indiana. Back in the day the Winchester 400 was the biggest event of the year for the now defunct American Speed Association national tour.
But in recent years the Champion Racing Association has been restoring the prestige to the event on a national basis. This weekend should be no exception.
NASCAR star Kyle Busch will be returning in his quest to win the Winchester 400. Last year Busch finished second to David Stremme in a classic battle with CRA champion Scott Hantz also in the hunt for the victory.
This year David Reutimann, who raced previously,at Winchester, is returning to the Randolph County track.
Because both Reutimann and Busch are competing in Charlotte on Saturday they will be starting the Winchester 400 toward the middle of the field.
In addition to the CRA regulars that include Hantz, John VanDoorn, Boris Jurkovic, Kenny Tweedy, Rick Turner and Aaron Pierce, there will be a bevy of top competitors from around the country.
Alexandria’s Brian Rievley is entered along with Chase Elliott, son of racing legend Bill Elliott, Joanna Long, Jeff Fultz, Justin Drawdy, Stanley Smith, Donnie Wilson and Robert Maynor.
As of Tuesday, 34 cars were entered in the Winchester 400. It should be a dandy of a race.
There will be plenty of contenders for the victory but I will include as favorites, Busch, Hantz, Fultz and Long.
Action at Winchester Speedway begins Friday with the CRA Front Wheel Drive division, Street Stocks and outlaw late models taking to the track. Saturday there are the CRA Street Stocks, Sportsman and O’Reilly USA Modified and Outlaw Late Models taking to the track along with Winchester 400 qualifying.
Saturday night at Anderson Speedway is the final 200-lap Enduro for the WMDH Thunder Cars. Johnny Magee has won four of the last five Enduro races with Nick Warner breaking his string in August. There is also the Ed Maynard Memorial 100 on tap.
In other racing news:
- The IRL completed the 2009 season in dramatic fashion with Dario Franchitti capturing the final race at Homestead International and Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon rounding out the podium.
As a result of his victory, Franchitti captured the IRL championship. What made the race special is that the three title contenders led 198 of the 200 laps, which were run without a single caution flag.
- Three-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson took over the points lead in NASCAR’s chase for the championship by winning at California.
Ken de la Bastide’s column runs Wednesdays in The Herald Bulletin.
Columns
Ken de la Bastide: Stellar field expected at Winchester
Every year, certain races are must-sees
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