The Herald Bulletin

Morning Update

Sports

Discussion

May 16, 2010

Kenseth wins CRA race at Winchester

By Ken de la Bastide CNHI News Service

WINCHESTER, Ind. — It turned out to be an interesting first visit to Winchester Speedway for Ross Kenseth as he came away with a victory at the historic track Sunday in the Manning Service 100.

Kenseth led only one lap in the Champion Racing Association Super Late Model feature, but it was the money lap.

It didn’t look like a win was in the cards for the son of NASCAR star Matt Kenseth halfway through the event.

Kenseth was the fast qualifier and started the 100-lap feature fourth following the inversion of the fastest four qualifiers.

At the start, Indianapolis driver Tommy St. John jumped into the lead chased by defending CRA champion John VanDoorn, Scott Hantz, Kenseth and Jason Shively.

Kenseth passed Hantz on the sixth lap, got inside of VanDoorn after 22 laps and set his sights on St. John.

For the next 28 laps, Kenseth ran in St. John’s tire tracks and several times looked to get underneath to make the pass.

The complexion of the race changed on Lap 51 when Kenseth came off Turn 4 and clipped the left rear of St. John’s car. The result was St. John making hard contact with the inside front straight wall and Kenseth being sent to the tail of the field.

That gave the lead to Hantz, who was being chased by VanDoorn and Jeff Lane. Kenseth started climbing through the field and, with 21 laps remaining, was running in the third position when the sixth caution flag flew.

On the restart, Jeff Lane, losing pressure in a rear tire, pulled to the inside and let Kenseth move into the second position. The seventh and final caution flag waved when Lane’s tire let go and he made contact with the Turn 1 wall.

The question was would Kenseth be able to pass Hantz, a two-time CRA champion, with 18 laps remaining? Several times Kenseth attempted to get a run on Hantz coming off the fourth corner but would back out and fall into line, obviously not wanting a repeat of the incident with St. John.

Just when it appeared Hantz was going to hold on for the victory, Kenseth made an inside move coming off the fourth corner on Lap 99. There was slight contact, but both drivers continued in the throttle.

Entering Turn 1, Hantz didn’t protect the high line, which allowed Kenseth to use the preferred groove to get the advantage on the back straight.

At the checkers, Kenseth won by .3 seconds over Hantz with JR Roahrig, who started 17th in the 29-car field, claiming third, followed by Rick Turner and Eddie Van Meter.

“First I want to apologize to the 14 (St. John),” Kenseth said following the win. “It was all my fault. I got a little free in the corner, and the car pushed up.”

Kenseth said Winchester is a really fast place to run, and it took some adjusting to the unusual line used at the track. He said most tracks you try to run the low groove, and Winchester is just the opposite.

Hantz said there was one lap too many in seeking his fourth career win at the track.

“The fastest car doesn’t always win, but today it did,” he said. “Kenseth did a good job.”

Ohio driver Jack Smith, who had mechanical problems prior to qualifications, started last in the field and drove to a seventh-place finish.

Text Only
Sports
  • tom brady 2001.jpg Brady's long road to success

    Even 10 years later, it’s arguably the most iconic image of Tom Brady’s remarkable career.
    In just his second season in the league, and his first as a starting quarterback, Brady had just led the New England Patriots to an upset victory against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. As confetti fell from the top of the Superdome in New Orleans, Brady put both hands on his head and shook it back and forth in wonder.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • DSC_2179.JPG Madison-Grant outlasts Alex

    Jeremy Johnson was mad, and John Irwin was glad.
    After being demoted from the starting lineup, Johnson took out his frustrations on Central Indiana Conference leader Alexandria, scoring a career-high 27 points, including the game-winner, as Madison-Grant defeated the Tigers 58-56 on Friday night in Fairmount.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0128 sports phhs vs greenfield 038.jpg Arabians roll over Tigers for HHC title

    Pendleton Heights reportedly didn’t miss many shots in practice this week.
    The Arabians likely missed even fewer Friday night at Yorktown.
    In a de facto Hoosier Heritage Conference championship game, the visitors made 24 of 34 attempts from the field and rolled to a 64-26 victory against the Tigers.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0203 sports anderson wrestling 013.jpg Indians excel at exceeding expectations

    In the field for today’s Pendleton Heights Wrestling Regional are 21 wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in their respective weight classes by IndianaMat.com. Four of those are 21 are recognized as the No. 1-rated wrestler in their division by the state’s top website for high school wrestling.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0303 spts frankton aaron korn.JPG Korn’s 34 leads Frankton to victory over Mississinewa

    Frankton had a near-perfect first quarter and parlayed that and Aaron Korn’s 34 points into a Central Indiana Conference win here Friday.
    The Eagles survived 35 3-point attempts by Mississinewa to defeat the Indians 80-66. Frankton is now 8-7 and 4-1 in the CIC.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0304 Lapel gibson.jpg Bulldogs stomp Faubion, Lutheran

    It was Samaritan’s Feet night on Friday as Lapel faced Indianapolis Lutheran in an Indiana Crossroads Conference battle.
    Both coaching staffs went sans shoes to raise awareness and to provide money for shoes for the less fortunate.  
    It didn’t stop the Bulldogs from stomping on the Saints.  
    Lutheran’s J.C. Faubion was averaging 25 points per game heading into Friday’s matchup, but Lapel wasn’t intimidated. The Bulldogs held the Saints sharpshooter to 12 points, crushing their opponents 62-37.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0115 sports ahs vs jeff bbb 043.jpg Richmond bedevils Anderson

    Quinten Hunter scored 11 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, Kristian Rodriquez and Joel Okafor each netted 15 and the Richmond Red Devils moved to 3-1 in the North Central Conference with Friday’s 69-62 win against the Anderson Indians at Tiernan Center

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Super Bowl Football_goodell.jpg Goodell impressed

    It didn’t take long during NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s annual state of the game address for the topic to turn to the question on everybody in the host city’s mind.
    Is it possible Indianapolis will be considered to host future Super Bowls?

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • gronkowski 2.jpg Patriots notebook: Belichick leaves no stone unturned

    New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is famous for his attention to detail.
    But practicing halftime?
    That’s exactly what Belichick did Wednesday with his team.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Giants Front Four Foo_Brem.jpg Giants notebook: Team likes practice facility at U of Indy

    The New York Giants have been working out all week in a practice bubble on the University of Indianapolis campus.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo