Zachary Tinkle got a full four days of track time in this past weekend’s Winchester 400 Presented by JEGS event on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway, a track that holds deep family roots in the Tinkle and Darr families. Zachary would compete in two events on the same weekend, on Friday was the Season Championship event for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance and on Sunday he made his first ever start in the Winchester 400 Presented by JEGS, one of the premier stock car racing events in the Mid-west and an event with tradition like no other in the state of Indiana.
Zachary and his team started the weekend participating in the open practice on Thursday. Zachary focused on his JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour car preparing it for the Season Championship event. In last seasons Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Season Championship event at Winchester, Zachary would lead all 40 laps to get his first Winchester feature win and claimed the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Championship.
Zachary’s crew and Crew Chief Gary Estes had his race car prepared and ready for Friday’s race on a beautiful warm fall day. The team had two 45-minute practice sessions were the team dialed the car in looking for a good run and possibly Zachary’s first ever JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win.
Zachary would qualify in 15th out of the 24 cars on hand for the event. The event had a very talented group of racers including multi-time series Champion Cody Coughlin, Florida Ace Stephen Nasse, two-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Travis Braden, 2018 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Josh Brock, Jennerstown Speedway 2020 Champion Albert Francis, ARCA/CRA Super Series veteran Rick Turner and former Columbus Motor Speedway Champion Kyle Jones.
Zachary raced with the best on Friday and came away with a ninth-place finish, bringing the car home in one piece, which is a huge accomplishment at Winchester Speedway.
On Saturday, Zachary had two practice sessions in his ARCA/CRA Super Series Super Late Model the family had purchased a week prior to the running of the 400. Zachary’s goal for the 400 was to make as many laps as possible, it would be an event to learn and pre-pare him for longer multi-lap racing events in the future.
After qualifying 27th, Zachary’s 400 debut began with the drop of the green flag on Sunday afternoon in front of a packed grandstand. After an early spin, Zachary would soldier on and continue making laps around Winchester, racing against many of the best Super Late Model racers in the country.
Zachary’s Winchester 400 would end on lap 295 when the car had overheating issues. Zachry would still garner a 15th place finish in the event, even after having to drop out just short of lap 300.
“What a wild four days at Winchester Speedway with a double header weekend,” remarked Zachary. “We raced Friday in the last JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour points race of the season. Then, I raced on Sunday in my first Winchester 400 in the ARCA/CRA Super Series. We survived both races with the cars in one piece, that is a win in itself at this track. I cannot thank the team enough for working so hard on a grueling long weekend. It’s appreciated more than I could ever say!”
Next Event: All American 100 with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour on Sunday, November 1 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as part of the famous All American 400.