Trackside Now: Circle Track Nationals @ IRP

Trackside Now: Circle Track Nationals @ IRP- Friday

Evan Jackson Wins Pole For CRA Super Late Models

Friday, 10:00pm ET - Following up the earlier red flag that occured during the Last Chance race... Kenny Tweedy was transported to a local hospital complaining of shoulder pain. He will have further tests at the hospital. Josh Krug was checked and released from the Infield Care Center.

Friday, 9:50pm ET - Brian Reivley led all 25 laps and won the CRA Super Late

Model Last Chance race on Friday night to conclude the first day of the Circle Track Nationals. A sporty Johnny Brazier finished a strong second.

The biggest action came when Keith Gardner, Matt Merrell and Jason Dietsch went three-wide racing for the final transfer spot coming out of turn four. The three all spun in unison, with Merrell slamming into the inside wall on the front stretch while the other two continued on with no damage. Merrell got out of his car and showed his displeasure to Dietsch.

Gardner was able to continue on after his spin and held onto third, with Jeff Cannon grabbing the last transfer spot. Everyone else will have a shot at two more spots in Saturday night's second and final Last Chance event.

That is the last on-track action and thus, will wrap up Trackside Now from IRP. We hope you enjoyed the special "bonus" coverage.

Saturday's schedule includes practice for all divisions, as well as more Last Chance races. Racing will begin at 7:30 local time, with Sportsman for 40 laps, Modifieds for 50 laps, Super Late Models for 100 laps and Street Stocks for 40 laps.

CRA Last Chance Race Results

1 Brian Reivley (transfer)

2 Johnny Brazier (transfer)

3 Keith Gardner (transfer)

4 Jeff Cannon (transfer)

5 Sean Matthuis

6 Jeff Berg

7 Ray Mooi

8 Jason Dietsch

9 Robert Maynor

10 Matt Merrell

11 Kenny Tweedy

12 Josh Krug

13 Scott Whitehouse

14 Jeep Pflum

Friday, 9:20pm ET - The Last Chance race has been red-flagged for a while for an accident involving Josh Krug and Kenny Tweedy. The cars, racing for sixth, got together going into turn one with Krug hitting the wall nearly head on and Tweedy's car momentarily catching on fire. Both drivers got out of their cars, but Tweedy collapsed on the ground. Tweedy was loaded onto a strecher and taken, along with Krug, to the Infield Care Center. Both drivers are awake and alert, but just being checked out. Speed51.com will have more on each driver as their conditions become available.

Currently, Brian Rievely has led every lap. The race is on lap 12. Keith Gardner is running second, with Matt Merrell and Johnny Brazier holding down the current transfer spots.

Jeff Cannon is running fifth and looking to get a transfer spot.

Friday, 8:55pm ET - IRP is such a great facility, there is always something going on. There wasn't only racing going on on the oval today, but there was also test-and-tune drag racing going on right behind the oval, featuring some pretty cool cars.

Friday, 8:50pm ET - The CRA Last Chance race is lining up now to round out the first night of the Circle Track Nationals. But there are a lot of other races going on tonight here at IRP, including heat races, dash races and last chance races. Here are the top-three from some of those.

Modified Dash

1. Joe Axsom

2. Jeff Weston

3. Damon Breedlove

Modified Heat

1. Tim Taylor

2. Harold Scott

3. Rick Sibila

Modified Last Chance (top four qualified)

1. John Gearhart

2. Scott Coe

3. Scott Tomasik

4. Tim Burkett

Sportsman Heat 1

1. Gabe Cerny

2. David Fretz

3. Matt Norem

Sportsman Heat 2

1. Stuart Quakenbush

2. Tim Fulford

3. Keith Lyons

Street Stock Heat 1

1. Rich Boyer

2. Steve Blair

3. Chuck Barnes Sr

Street Stock Heat 2

1. Johnny Magee

2. Larry Matillo

3. Winston Wood

Friday, 8:20pm ET - Here is the lineup for tonight's Super Late Model last chance race. The top-four cars will qualify for tomorrow's feature. Jason Shively, Scott Hantz, Jack Smith and Terry Fisher Jr. grabbed provisionals.

SLM Last Chance Race Lineup

1. Brian Reivley

2. Keith Gardner

3. Matt Merrell

4. Johnny Brazier

5. Jeep Pflum

6. Kenny Tweedy

7. Josh Krug

8. Jeff Cannon

9. Sean Matthuis

10. Scott Whitehouse

11. Jeff Berg

12. Jason Dietsch

13. Robert Maynor

14. Ray Mooi

Friday, 8:15pm ET - There is a lot of old ASA folks walking the pits here at the Circle Track Nationals, and a lot in the CRA Super Series, with names like Robbie Pyle, Butch Miller, Deon Deneau and Casey Smith.

But there is some old ASA names in the other divisions as well.

Tim Taylor, one of the biggest "underdogs" in the ASA National Tours final years, is back behind the wheel of a racecar this weekend. Taylor is driving his own #28 Modified in the USA Modified division.

Taylor hasn't lost a step either, as he took the win in his heat race after qualifying seventh.

Friday, 8:00pm ET - We've just gotten word that the Busch East Series event at Dover is all done. Sean Caisse won the final event of the season, and after finishing second, Joey Logano become the 2007 Busch East Series Champion. Logano becomes the youngest champion of the series. Jeffrey Earnhardt won the pole and finished third. Jesus Hernandez placed fourth, followed by Tim McCreadie.

Friday, 7:45pm ET - Qualifying for the Super Late Models is all over and Evan Jackson grabbed the pole. Jackson set a new track record in the process. Jackson, who is a former CRA winner, is not running full-time this season. A total of 16 drivers broke the old IRP track record.

CRA Super Series Qualifying

1. Evan Jackson 21.284 (new track record)

2. John Van Doorn 21.297

3. Andy Hanson 21.385

4. Chris Gabehart 21.407

5. Chuck Barnes, Jr. 21.425

6. Jeff Fultz 21.432

7. Eddie Mercer 21.444

8. Dennis Schoenfield 21.446

9. Butch Miller 21.455

10. Rick Turner 21.467

11. Tommy St. John 21.491

12. Casey Smith 21.503

13. Justin Drawdy 21.529

14. Boris Jurkovic 21.566

15. Robbie Pyle 21.578

16. Jeff Lane 21.602

17. Hunter Robbins 21.650

18. Heath Hindman 21.657

19. Doug Mahlik 21.664

20. Grant Enfinger 21.682

21. Brian Reivley 21.704

22. Keith Gardner 21.705

23. Matt Merrell 21.763

24. Jason Shively 21.767

25. Scott Hantz 21.779

26. Johnny Brazier 21.807

27. Jeep Pflum 21.828

28. Kenny Tweedy 21.862

29. Jack Smith 21.888

30. Josh Krug 21.899

31. Jeff Cannon 21.909

32. Sean Matthuis 21.970

33. Scott Whitehouse 22.033

34. Terry Fisher Jr 22.065

35. Jeff Berg 22.069

36. Jason Dietsch 22.155

37. Robert Maynor 22.604

38. Ray Mooi 22.633

Friday, 6:25pm ET - There were 45-plus entries on the pre entry list for "The 100" here at the Circle Track Nationals for the CRA Super Late Models. But only 38 cars showed up, and that has surprised many. The race pays a impressive $10,000-to-win, with anyone starting guaranteed at least $1,000. The race is only 100 laps long and pit stops and tire changes are not needed, making it a four-tire event.

So the fact that only 38 cars showed up has surprised many. But there are some big names at the track, including non-CRA regulars Jeff Fultz, Eddie Mercer, Hunter Robbins, Johnny Brazier, Casey Smith, Justin Drawdy, Grant Enfinger, Heath Hindman and Robbie Pyle. And there are some names back in the seat, like Chuck Barnes Jr., Butch Miller and Evan Jackson.

But there are some missing noteable names as well, including Nathan Haseleu, who is racing locally in Wisconsin. No Stanley Smith. No Ryan Lawler. No Josh Vadnais. No Eddie Hoffman.

Friday, 6:15pm ET - The USA Modifieds are done qualifying. Jeff Weston is on the pole.

Modified Qualifying Top Five

1. Jeff Weston 23.807

2. Bob Curry 23.963

3. Joe Axsom 23.986

4. Damon Breedlove 23.987

5. Kyle Jones 24.025

Friday, 6:00pm ET - Computer problems have been giving us fits, but we hope to have them all resolved here now. Street Stocks and Sportsman have qualified, while

the USA Modifieds are on the track now. CRA Super Late Models will qualify at 7pm.

Chuck Barnes Sr. is on the pole for the Street Stock race, while Charlie Hanna won the pole for the Sportsman.

Sportsman Qualifying Top Five

1. Charlie Hanna 24.498

2. Rick Tackman Jr. 24.772

3. Keith Sterkowitz 24.974

4. Dean Baker 25.018

5. Justin Alsip 25.023

Street Stock Qualifying Top Five

1. Chuck Barnes Sr 27.340

2. Bobby Murany 27.579

3. Calvin Parham 27.941

4. Joe Williamson 27.972

5. Eric Evans 27.981

Friday, 4:45pm ET - The Street Stocks are out on the track practicing now, and the Sportsman are up next, with Modifieds following. The CRA cars will qualify at 7pm, with racing to follow after that.

CRA Qualifying Order

1. Terry Fisher Jr.

2. Robert . Maynor

3. Dennis Schoenfeld

4. Jason Shively

5. Heath Hindman

6. Scott Hantz

7. Jason Dietsch

8. Hunter Robbins

9. Jack Smith

10. Andy Hanson

11. Chuck Barnes Jr.

12. Jeff Lane

13. Doug Mahlik

14. Rick Turner

15. Justin Drawdy

16. Butch Miller

17. Sean Matthuis ®

18. Keith Gardner

19. Evan Jackson

20. John Van Doorn ®

21. Jeff Cannon

22. Josh Krug

23. Johnny Brazier

24. Tommy St. John

25. Jeff Berg

26. Eddie Mercer

27. Matt Merrell

28. Jeep Pflum

29. Robbie Pyle

30. Brian Rievley

31. Kenny Tweedy

32. Ray Mooi ®

33. Casey Smith

34. Chris Gabehart

35. Scott Whitehouse

36. Grant Enfinger

37. Jeff Fultz

38. Boris Jurkovic

Friday, 4:30pm ET - The first two practices for the CRA Super Late Models is in the books. Justin Drawdy, who came up to Indy all the way from Florida, led the first practice session. In the second session, two former ASA National Tour winners, Robbie Pyle and Butch Miller, led practice.

Practice 2

1. Robbie Pyle 21.866

2. Butch Miller 21.908

3. John Van Doorn 22.040

4..Casey Smith 22.057

5. Boris Jurkovic 22.061

6. Chris Gabehart 22.180

7. Eddie Mercer 22.193

8. Andy Hanson 22.228

9. Scott Hantz 22.260

10. Tommy St. John 22.328

11. Jeff Lane 22.340

12. Johnny Brazier 22.379

13. Dennis Schoenfield 22.411

14. Justin Drawdy 22.436

15. Jack Smith 22.478

16. Josh Krug 22.533

17. Heath Hindman 22.559

18. Hunter Robbins 22.591

19. Chuck Barnes, Jr. 22.616

20. Doug Mahlik 22.642

21. Terry Fisher Jr 22.721

22. Jason Shively 22.998

23. Jeep Pflum 23.018

24. Sean Matthuis 23.191

25. Jeff Berg 23.240

26. Ray Mooi 23.453

27. Robert Maynor 23.800

28. Scott Whitehouse 25.217

Practice 1

1 Justin Drawdy 21.991

2 Evan Jackson 22.166

3 Butch Miller 22.180

4 Tommy St. John 22.192

5 Jeff Lane 22.228

6 Andy Hanson 22.232

7 Rick Turner 22.266

8 Casey Smith 22.273

9 Doug Mahlik 22.274

10 Jeff Fultz 22.313

11 John Van Doorn 22.313

12 Keith Gardner 22.362

13 Matt Merrell 22.381

14 Heath Hindman 22.382

15 Robbie Pyle 22.401

16 Josh Krug 22.406

17 Boris Jurkovic 22.414

18 Chuck Barnes, Jr 22.497

19 Hunter Robbins 22.498

20 Dennis Schoenfield 22.503

21 Chris Gabehart 22.517

22 Brian Reivley 22.568

23 Grant Enfinger 22.591

24 Jason Dietsch 22.604

25 Kenny Tweedy 22.615

26 Eddie Mercer 22.618

27 Scott Hantz 22.629

28 Jeep Pflum 22.646

29 Jeff Cannon 22.678

30 Jason Shively 22.682

31 Johnny Brazier 22.737

32 Jeff Berg 22.763

33 Terry Fisher, Jr 22.779

34 Jack Smith 23.112

35 Sean Matthuis 23.268

36 Robert Maynor 23.454

37 Ray Mooi 23.475

38 Scott Whitehouse 24.038

Friday, 4:15pm ET - Welcome to the second day of the Circle Track Nationals here at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, IN. We here at Speed51.com are giving the fans a special treat today, with bonos Trackside Now coverage from here at the track. The beautiful Central Indiana short track has recently been renamed, but this reporter will continue to call it IRP (not that ugly ORP) out of tradition and personal stubborness.

Thursday, the CRA Super Series, along with the other divisions in attendance (CRA Street Stocks,CRA Sportsman and the USA Modifieds), had an open practice session.

On Friday, things officially got underway. All divisions will practice and qualify, as well as run heats, dashes and last chance races on Friday night. Saturday, the cars will run more practice, more Last Chance Races and the features.

The feature for the CRA Super Late Models will be 100 laps, with no pit stops required. The purse for the event is impressive, with $10,000 going to the winner and $1,000 guarenteed to start.

The Modifieds will race for 50 laps, and the Street Stocks and Sportsman each running 40 laps.