Salem, IN (June 27, 2009) - With the temperature holding steady at hot all evening John VanDoorn held his cool, made restarts look easy and ran off to his second CRA Super Series victory of the year in the Touchstone Energy Hoosier Hills 100 at Salem Speedway Saturday night.  Rick Turner took the early lead from the outside of the first row on the original start, but a massive crash behind him involving several of the favorites including fast qualifier Chuck Barnes, Jr. caused a complete restart with six cars unable to answer the bell.  Turner took off again, and led the first 18 laps with VanDoorn following hot on his tail from his second row starting position.  After second fast qualifier VanDoorn slipped under a very loose Turner on the backstretch he never looked back. Scott Hantz, who came to Salem tied with VanDoorn for the series points lead, finished second, Aaron Pierce was third, Jason Shively fourth and JR Roahrig fifth.

"It was a good car, we learned a lot from Winchester, and applied what we learned here, tweaked things a little to make it great." VanDoorn stated.  "My crew worked really hard today in this heat and never complained. They are the best. My spotter kept me up to date, so I could save my tires, and it all came together."

Barnes seemed to have the car to beat throughout practice and qualifying with the fastest time in each practice and winning the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier Award. But on the opening lap sixth place qualifier JR Roahrig and Barnes touched on the backstretch cutting Roahrig’s left front tire going into the third turn and he slide into Barnes causing him to spin. In the ensuing melee several cars banged into each other and Barnes was hit hard while sitting on the track near the wall. Barnes, Safety Solutions Tough Luck Award winner Jim Crabtree, Jr., Rookie Damon Ecoff, EMF That’s Racing Award and Rookie Justin Matson, Jeff Berg and Adam Purdy were unable to return when the race was restarted. Roahrig, and several others were damaged, but were able to return including Rookie Nick Lay. Purdy did make it back out much later but was unable to maintain speed and retired.

After the accident was cleared the race was a complete restart. Turner again jumped out to an early lead from his outside front row starting spot. John VanDoorn followed right behind him, with Hantz falling into third and keeping the pressure on VanDoorn. Turner led the first 18 laps with VanDoorn looking low and high each lap. He then slipped under Turner on the backstretch and took a lead he would not give up. Hantz soon followed, but he then had a surprise.

A chunk of lead shot into his car in traffic coming through just above the hood, under the windshield and into the driver’s compartment. Uninjured, Hantz dropped the lead off at the finish line during next caution. This is the second time Hantz has had items off the track end up in his car in recent years. At Nashville an axel came out of a car, was hit on the track flipped up in the air and landed in the 72 machine of Hantz. He was not injured seriously then either. Prompting his spotter to say after the race "I asked him if the track was clear, or whether he is picking up anything else."

Hantz, Turner and Pierce continued to race for second allowing VanDoorn to run out to a healthy lead. Turner who had been loose all night then spun coming out of four and backed into the wall. After being clipped by a car coming through, he was unable to return with radiator problems.

Jason Shively had mechanical problems in practice and qualifying, but came back to finish fourth earning him a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award, the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hard Charger Award and Racing Electronics Most Improved Positions Award. Tony Conway earned the other Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.

Turner earned the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award for the fastest lap during the race. The K&N Filters Rookie of the Race was Brandon Fagin, he also received the VDL Fuel Systems Top Rookie Award. Zach Hulvey earned the Cometic Gasket Second Highest Finishing Rookie Award. Kenny Tweedy lost an engine during practice and received the Leaf Race Products Hard Luck Award. For his many moves to avoid all the accidents happening around him and moving through the field, Terry Fisher, Jr. earned the ARP Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.

The next event for the CRA Super Series is the EMF 125 at Angola Speedway on July 4^th. The event will also feature 50 lap Modified race, legend cars and FWD’s with Mad Bomber Fireworks. For more information see www.angolamotorspeedway.com. To learn more about the CRA Super Series see www.craracing.net.

Touchstone Energy Hoosier Hills 100 Official Results