Tinkle Family Racing, with driver Zachary Tinkle had a goal of winning the 2019 Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Triple Crown Championship this past Saturday at Anderson Speedway, after winning the Triple Crown opening event at Mt. Lawn Speedway on June 30th. After some perseverance and focus, they did just that with a fourth-place finish in the Triple Crown 100.
The team participated in Friday’s open practice to dial the car in for Saturday’s race. In Saturday’s two practice sessions, after some early afternoon rain showers, Zachary was second fastest in the first practice and sixth fastest in the second practice. Zachary qualified in third during the Allstar Performance Qualifying and would start the race in third place.
The first quarter of the race went caution free, as Zachary maintained his position saving his tires and car for a late run. Shortly after a restart on lap 46, 2007 series Champion Billy Hutson moved inside Zachary and the two raced side by side until they made contact on lap 47 with Hutson hitting the wall hard. Zachary brought his car to the pits for Danny Trent and his crew to make sure the car was alright. Zachary returned and restarted at the tail.
Zachary was being cautious, wanting to get a good finish to claim the Triple Crown Championship. After dodging a couple of wrecks in front of him, Zachary was able to get to the finish of the race and claim the first of what he hopes will be three Championships during the 2019 season.
“We survived the ups and downs of the Anderson Speedway 100 to get a Top 5 finish,” remarked Zachary. “The best part of the night was winning the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Triple Crown Championship! It was a big goal we had for the year and we did it! I can’t thank the crew enough for this accomplishment. Everyone has worked together to make this an amazing regular season. Now, it’s time for the Chase for the Championship starting with Winchester!”
Zachary had a guaranteed position in the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman 2019 Chase for the Championship with his win at Mt. Lawn Speedway. He will start the Chase at Winchester Speedway over Labor Day Weekend in the World Stock Car Festival as he looks to win his first CRA Championship. 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 first Chase for the Championship event at Winchester Speedway on Monday, September 2nd.
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.
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.
More information on Zachary Tinkle can be found at http://www.zacharytinkle.com.