Salem, IN (September 4, 2022) – Lomira, Wisconsin native Nick Egan made a pass on the high side on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway, on a lap 86 restart, passing leader Brandon Varney, to grab the lead and go on to claim his first ever JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance win in Saturday night’s JEGS 100 on opening night of the Labor Day Weekend World Stock Car Festival.
“Wow, it’s awesome to be sitting here in victory lane at Winchester Speedway,” remarked Egan in victory lane. “This place is so awesome, what a place to race at. I’ve raced at several racetracks, but this place is the most challenging, which makes this win feel so good. To win here is an accomplishment! I was hoping for a late caution to be able to try and race the 61 car for the win, I got a good restart and just stuck it in there and used the high groove to make the pass. I have to thank my dad, my entire crew for all their help. We are a small team, who just work hard. We look forward to coming back here in October to race for the series Championship!”
Teenager William Sawalich grabbed the early lead at the drop of the green flag from his outside pole starting position. Michael Hinde closed to Sawalich’s bumper, but then slowed on a lap 6 restart with a suspension issue that ended his day early.
Sawalich continued to set the pace as Brandon Varney started to make up ground fast on Sawalich. Varney then dove under Sawalich to make the pass on lap 12.
Varney would keep the lead on several restarts while Egan worked his way through the field from his ninth place starting position to grab second place but with a big lead, Varney looked like he would cruise to the win when the caution flag flew after the 23 car of Billy Van Meter spun on lap 85 while battling for a top five position.
On the lap 86 restart Egan was able to make the pass and would go on to get the win by almost a half second over Brandon Varney. For his pass on the restart Egan picked up the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award. Egan is the current series Championship Points leader and will race for the series 2022 Chase for the Championship in the October 14th Season Championship event. Egan has already clinched the series 2022 Rookie of the Year Award.
Brandon Varney would finish in second but failed post-race tech inspection.
Evan Varney would finish in second, his best ever finish with the series. Varney picked up a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award after coming from his 12th place starting position to finish in second. Evan Varney would also get the FLUIDYNE Cool Move of the Race Award for his late race passes to get his best ever finish. Evan Varney’s crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award for their hard work in giving Evan Varney a good race car.
James Krueger would come from his 10th place starting position to finish in third place. Jordan Miller would finish in fourth with Van Meter in fifth place.
The next JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event will be the Triple Crown Championship 100 at Birch Run Speedway on Saturday, September 10th. More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.
-CRA Racing Press Release