Monday, October 4, 2010

Reaid Squeezes Out A Win in Nashville

Reaid Squeezes Out A Win in Nashville Nashville, TN (October 3, 2010) - After leading the CRA Super Series portion of the All American 400 at the Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville for 199 laps, never by more than 10 cars lengths T.J. Reaid won the biggest race of his short career so far by just a fender length over another young driver, 14 year old Chase Elliott, winning by just .082 seconds. Ross Kenseth took third with veteran Jeff Fultz in fourth and Brian Campbell in fifth. Starting on the outside of the front row, Reaid took the lead on the first lap and never looked back as he ran out to a small lead at the start over pole sitter Brian Campbell. Campbell came back to challenge Reaid but could not get past. After the halfway break Campbell continued to challenge Reaid until he slipped and allowed Chase Elliot and Ross Kenseth to get past. Elliott would challenge until a caution flag would fly and Reaid, who was very good on restarts all night would run out ahead. Elliott would reel him in and patiently waited on him to make a mistake. Reaid never did, but as the cars came to the white flag Elliott tried to go under Reaid, and Reaid slammed that door shut in the fourth turn. Then as the young drivers came to the checkered flag Elliott dove under Reaid in the fourth turn and nearly pulled off the win as they crossed the line. "This is the biggest race I have ever won." An elated Reaid stated in Victory Lane. "My crew chief, Chris Gabehart, won the last All American race here and we get to keep the guitar in the same house. They gave me a really good car, everybody worked hard, they deserved this win." Billed as the last race at the historic speedway the night was filled with emotion as each winner accepted his guitar trophy they each stated they hoped a way to save the speedway could be found. During the CRA Super Series driver meeting NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin stated he was going to file a lawsuit aimed at stopping the City of Nashville and the Mayor from closing the track. Donnie Wilson took the EDCO Welding/WearCrete Racing Fast Qualifier Award with a lap of 18.243 seconds, just faster than Barnes who turned in a lap of 18.246 seconds. Wilson then drew a five for the invert putting Campbell on the pole. The 200 lap race featured a break at the halfway point for the drivers to service their cars. At CRA Super Series races with a halfway break drivers are lined up after the break in the order they finished in, with the exception that drivers who take no tires are aligned in front of those that took, who are in front of those that took two, who are in front of those that took three, etc. As the competitors moved back to the track six drivers had elected to take less then four tires, moving Johnny VanDoorn and Tommy St. John to the top six. Jeff Fultz was the first car in line that took four tires restarting in seventh place. Fultz moved up to finish fourth. For his moves to get back to the front he earned the AR Bodies “Cool Move” of the Race Award. Kris Kelly started the race as an additional starter in 34th place. He moved up to 13th place and finished on the lead lap without using a Lucky Dog. By moving up 21 places he earned the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award. The Perfect Circle Racecars Rookie of the Race Award went to Jay Niewiek who finished 21st. The VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award for turning the fastest lap during the race went to Brian Campbell. At Toledo Speedway Derrick Griffin led the charge in the Howe CRA Late Model Sportsman Series leading the final 36 circuits in the R&M Recycling 50-lap main event. The CRA division served as the companion race for this year's Glass City 200.

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