2007 Winchester 400

The thirty-sixth annual Winchester 400 presented By Ed Martin Auto Group and Renegade was held under Champion Racing Association sanction on October 15, 2007, at the Winchester Speedway.

Ryan Lawler of Colleyville, Texas, put his name in the record books by becoming only the sixth driver in 36 tries to win the historic “Winchester 400” on his first try. Lawler joined Dave Sorg (1970), Denny Miles (1971), Bob Senneker (1974), Rusty Wallace (1982), and Bobby Parsley (2003) on an exclusive list of first-year phenoms to conquered one of the premier short track stock car racing events in the nation.

Starting from the pole after setting a new track record in qualifying, Lawler lead a strong field of 40 late models to the start of the 400-lap, 200-mile grind on the world famous high banks. Starting alongside Lawler on the front row, fellow “400” rookie Brian Scott got the jump on Lawler and would lead the first 164 laps of the event. Coming from the tail of the starting field after having someone else qualify his car for him, NASCAR Nextel Cup driver David Stremme took over the lead on lap 165 and would stay there until lap 215. Scott would then reassume the lead and hold it until Stremme went back in front on lap 277. Although within striking distance all day, Lawler finally made his first appearance in the race lead as he passed Stremme for the top spot on lap 311. Once in front, no one had anything for the young Texan who cruised to the biggest victory of his young career.

"This is the awesome, especially with all the history of the “Winchester 400”, I got to sign the big checkered flag that all the winners here sign, next year my name will be on the event t-shirt. This is my favorite track, even after I wrecked the last time I was here I really liked this track." Lawler commented. "My crew chief, Robert Hamke was the crew chief for 1998's winner Derrick Gilchrist, and that is pretty cool." Lawler collected $12,000 for the win, plus another $3,600 bonus for winning the event as a non-regular series competitor. In addition Lawler collected over $2500 in additional monies in event lap leader and series award bonuses.

Stremme and fellow Cup driver Kyle Busch flew to Indiana from Charlotte, North Carolina, raceday morning after competing in previous nights NASCAR Nextel Cup event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, were Busch finished third and Stremme ninth. Stremme and Busch started 35th and 36th in the event as promoter’s options after missing Saturday’s qualifying. Busch’s day ended on lap 85 after a broken wheel sheared off the wheel studs on the right rear of his #51 late model. It was Busch’s third time running in the Winchester 400.

Stremme lead laps 165 through 215, and then lead again from lap 277 until lap 310, giving the lead to Lawler after making a pit stop. Stremme would hang on to finish third, the last car on the lead lap, even after his car’s handling went away when his left rear wheel started coming loose after losing three lug nuts while charging from the rear of the lead laps cars after pitting. The South bend, Indiana native is a long time friend of Winchester Speedway owner Charlie Shaw, who helped Stremme in his early days of late model racing.

CRA Super Series Rookie Of The Year Johnny VanDoorn pursued Lawler throughout the last 80 laps but could never challenge for the lead. VanDoorn’s car became very loose after some right side contact with the turn-two retaining wall. CRA Super Series veteran Rick Turner finished in fourth place one lap down with series regular Terry Fisher Jr. in fifth place, two laps down. Tommy St. John was sixth, Dennis Schoenfeld was seventh, Jeff Fultz was eighth, Jim Crabtree Jr. was ninth and Andy Hanson tenth.

Chris Gabehart claimed the 2007 CRA Super Series Championship for owner Jim Winters and his Hendricks County Motorsports team simply by taking the green flag for the Winchester 400. Gabehart stayed in contention throughout the event, until a broken right front hub would end his day on lap 371. Early leader Brian Scott looked to have the car to beat, but while trying to make his way back through the field after pitting, he made contact with 2007 Scott Hantz which sent both cars crashing heavily into the inside retaining wall and out of the event.

External links

* [http://www.winchesterspeedway.com/ Winchester Speedway website]
* [http://www.craracing.net/ Official CRA Website]