Campbell Wins Wild 7 Up 100
Toledo, OH (April 29, 2012) - On a cool day at Toledo Speedway the sun shined bright and the ARCA/CRA Super Series drivers put on a wild show that featured hard racing up front with Brian Campbell and Johnny VanDoorn racing for the lead for over 80 laps for the 7 Up 100. Behind them things were more traumatic with numerous cautions and a red flag for a ten car pileup that ended with a driver on his top on the 89th lap, with no one injured.
VanDoorn was the fastest in practice nearly eclipsing his own track record of 15.437 seconds by turning a lap of 15.446. Brian Campbell in a glimpse of what was to come was a close second, setting up a battle that was to rage between the friends all day to be the fastest on the track.
Campbell set a new track record to take the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award with a lap of 15.370 seconds, Chad Finley was second at 15.646 seconds with VanDoorn third, Eddie Van Meter fourth and Terry Fisher, Jr. fifth. Campbell then drew a five for the invert putting Fisher on the pole. Jeff Lane, driving for an injured Joe Beaver, won the last chance race leading every lap after just missing being the 20th qualifier and locked into the field.
Fisher took off early leading the first four laps, before Van Meter roared past to lead a few laps. As they battled up front, VanDoorn starting directly in front of Campbell stormed to the front pulling Campbell with him. VanDoorn took the lead on the eighth lap with Campbell behind him. Campbell took over for two laps on lap 14.
VanDoorn drove back past him on the 16th lap in a bold move getting the jump on Campbell as they exited the second turn and drove hard into the third turn. The move earned him the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award. VanDoorn held the lead until lap 62, when Campbell came back past after a caution. From there VanDoorn would pull up beside Campbell, even showing signs he could get around him, but Campbell held him off to get the win, surviving four restarts in the last 11 laps, each with VanDoorn nearly getting past him. Boris Jurkovic passed VanDoorn on the last lap to finish second after VanDoorn was unsuccessful in attempting to pass Campbell from his outside position on the restart. VanDoorn finished third, Alec Carll fourth and Becca Kasten earned her way in from the last chance race to finish fifth.
"This car was phenomenal on long runs." Campbell commented. "It had a hard time refiring after the cautions. The crew did a great job of getting this car ready."
Behind them things were a little more interesting with numerous cautions as drivers fought for every position. The red flag flew for a 10 car pileup on the 89th lap. As the drivers restarted from a caution caused by a spin, Kenzie Ruston slid up the track as cars on the bottom slid higher coming out of the fourth turn. The car got loose, and as she started to slip, then came in contact with Nate Caruth. Both cars then slid down the track into traffic. In the ensuing melee Chad Finely was completely sideways on the track as Steve Dorer caught him in the right side door as the cars slid Finley’s car tipped up on its side and ended up on its top. Finley climbed out uninjured to the cheers of the large crowd.
Campbell took home the Team Construction Clean Sweep Award for earning both the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award and the win. He also earned the Ford Racing Award for winning using a Ford engine, and the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award for turning the fastest lap during the race.
VanDoorn earned the Turn One Lap Leader Award for leading the most laps and the RaceTrailerSales.com Hallfway Leader Award.
For moving from her 25th starting position to finish fifth Becca Kasten earned the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award and one of the Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Awards. Kasten also earned the Boyne Machine Company Rookie of the Race Award as the highest finishing Rookie. Steve Dorer started 20th as last driver locked in through qualifying and finished ninth despite being involved in the accident on lap 89 to earn the second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.
The next event for the ARCA/CRA Super Series will be the Berlin 125 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, MI. The .400 mile track has been host to some very close racing for the ARCA/CRA Super Series with the father son team of Fred and Brian Campbell leading all drivers in wins at the track. Each has three wins for a total of six of the 13 ARCA/CRA Super Series races. A strong field is expected as drivers get tuned up for the Rowdy 251 scheduled at Berlin Raceway in June. For more information about the ARCA/CRA Super Series see www.craracing.net. To learn more about Berlin Raceway see www.berlinraceway.com.
