Tinkle Family Racing, with driver Zachary Tinkle, headed to Lucas Oil Raceway this past weekend to compete in the second 2019 Chase for the Championship event with the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman series in the 2019 Fall Brawl. Lucas Oil Raceway is the largest track that CRA competes on and is famous for its rich racing history with NASCAR and USAC events and is Zachary’s “home track”, the closest to the families Speedway, Indiana home.
The team participated in Friday night’s open practice to dial the car in for Saturday and Sunday. Crew Chief Danny Trent had given Zachary a good car and the extra practice showed it.
In Saturday’s practice sessions Zachary was looking to gain confidence and experience on the tricky .686 mile oval, but slight contact with the outside turn four wall when another competitor forced Zachary to go high resulted in some extra work for Danny and the crew, but they were able to get Zachary’s car ready for qualifying. Zachary qualified seventh out of the 21 cars on hand for the event. The inverted start for the event was a five.
The 40 lap Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman series was the first feature of Sunday’s 2019 Fall Brawl event. Zachary started in the seventh position and was soon closing in on the top five competitors.
A lap 25 caution for a blown engine from another competitor brought the field back together giving Zachary the opportunity to move up. Zachary avoided tragedy when several cars spun on the next restart resulting in the events second caution. Zachary was able to get a good start on the next green flag start and was ready to start his move to the front. As Zachary was racing in the top five the car suddenly spun with two laps two go in the backstretch. The car made significant contact with the inside retaining wall bringing out the event third caution. Zachary was okay but the car was damaged too much to continue ending Zachary’s day with a 13th place finish.
“Well, this race did not go as we hoped,” remarked Zachary. “The team gave me a car capable of running in the Top 5 in race trim at Lucas Oil Raceway in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Fall Brawl event. With a couple laps to go, I came around turn 2, spun, and hit the back end of the car on the wall. It actually went up on the wall. There’s significant damage even though the body looks ok. This one’s totally on me. I’m sorry for letting down my team and all the people rooting for me. We don’t yet know how things will shake out with the car, but we’ll keep you posted. One way or another, we hope to be at Anderson Speedway on Championship night.”
Zachary is still in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman 2019 Chase for the Championship with one more Chase event left at Anderson Speedway on September 28th 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 the Season Championship event left on Saturday, September 21st.
Next Event: MEP Late Model Series Season Championship event at Anderson Speedway on Saturday, September 21st.
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.