Tinkle Family Racing, with driver Zachary Tinkle, headed to Winchester Speedway this past weekend to compete in the first 2019 Chase for the Championship event with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman series in the World Stock Car Festival, on the legendary High Banks of Winchester Speedway, a track that has a lot of great history for Zachary and his family.
The team participated in Saturday’s open practice to dial the car in for Sunday and Monday. Rain showers halted the practice for about two hours. The team ended up getting out on the track in two sessions and the team was happy with their car and had high hopes for the rest of the weekend.
In Sunday’s one practice session, Zachary was fifth fastest. The team had to wait through three different rain delays before finally getting to qualify. Zachary qualified fifth out of the 16 cars on hand for the event. Sunday night also featured the first heat races of the season for the series. Zachary finished fourth in the Fast Heat, doing his best to save his car for Monday’s all important feature.
The 40 lap Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman series was the second feature of Monday’s World Stock Car Festival. Zachary started on the inside pole, but the preferred positioning is on the outside on the fast High Banks of Winchester Speedway. Zachary fell back a few spots at the drop of the green flag before settling into fourth place.
Zachary then started to make his move back to the front, passing for third just past halfway in the event and was setting his sights on first and second when he suddenly spun in turns three and four. Zachary managed to keep his car off the wall and all his fellow competitors racing behind him did a great job of avoiding him after he spun. Zachary took his car back to the pit area were crew chief Danny Trent and his crew found he had a hole in a hose and had spun in his own oil. The team tried to make repairs to return to the track and complete the race, but they ran out of time. The teams Hawaiian shirts and wrap on the race car were a hit in the pits and on the track!
“Well, we were running third and closing in on the race leaders when an engine hose had a hole rub through it from friction,” remarked Zachary. “I spun in turns 3 and 4, but was able to keep a hold of the car, but the oil dumped out onto the track and we just couldn’t get back onto the track. You could say we were hosed by a hose – lol. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the team. They did everything they could. Time wasn’t on our side. I especially want to thank Josh Nelms for running over and jumping in to work on the car. Let’s get ’em next time!”
Zachary is still in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman 2019 Chase for the Championship with two more Chase events left before the series Season Championship event on Saturday, October 12th of Winchester 400 Weekend. Zachary also leads the Anderson Speedway MEP Late Model points with two victories, with just the Season Championship event left on Saturday, September 21st.
Next Event: Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series second Chase for the Championship event at Lucas Oil Raceway on Sunday, September 15th.
About Zachary Tinkle:
In his 2018 rookie season in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman series, Zachary Tinkle was named PGG Sportsman of the Year and voted Most Popular Driver; finishing 5th in the championship. He was the 2017 Central States Region (CSR) Super Cups and 2016 Rockford Speedway Wild Wednesday Super Cup Champion. In 2015, Tinkle was the Illinois Super Cup State Champion for the Short Track Auto Racing Series (STARS), Rockford Speedway National Short Track Champion for Super Cups, awarded the Rockford Speedway “Lead, Follow, or Get Out Of My Way” award and Most Improved Driver for CSR Super Cups. For 2014, he was Rookie of the Year for CSR. Tinkle currently races a pro late model in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series competing for the series championship and in the McGunegill Engines Late Model series at Anderson Speedway. Tinkle was crowned the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman series 2019 Triple Crown Champion on August 17th.
About the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS:
2019 will be the will be the 13th season of competition for the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS that crowned its first Champion in 2006. Past Champions include Keith Sterkowitz in 2016 and 2011, Billy Hutson in 2007, Tony Dager in 2008, Charlie Hanna in 2009 and 2010, K.C. Spillers in 2012 and was the 2017 Drivers Champion, Mark Lambert in 2013, Greg Van Alst in 2014, Jason Atkinson in 2015, Eddie Van Meter in 2016, Jason Neal was the 2017 Owners Champion, Tony Brutti was the 2018 series Champion.