Winchester Speedway is set to kick off its 2007 racing schedule with the season opener this Sunday, April 22. High Bank racing fans will get a double treat as the USAC National Sprint Cars come to compete in the Rich Vogler Classic and the CRA Super Series late models in the Manning Service 100 along with action from the MAX 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks and Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA FWD Compacts.
With last weekends cold and rainy weather canceling the two opening USAC National Sprint Car events, Sunday’s Rich Vogler Classic will be the second event of the season after this Saturday night’s season opening event in Lawrenceburg and will be the first pavement event of the season. A young 16-year-old Bryon Clauson claimed the victory in last season’s Rich Vogler Classic in his first ever race at Winchester Speedway. Clauson showed no fear in grabbing the early lead from his pole position-starting place over outside started Levi Jones as Eleanor Vogler, mother of Rich Vogler, waved the green flag to start the race that honors her son. Clauson was in awe when he arrived at the track that is known for it’s High Banks and overall speed in a Sprint Car, but showed a steady hand in leading all 30 laps to get the victory over his best friend Darren Hagen, who finished in second holding off veteran open wheel racer Dave Steele who finished in third.
Byron Clauson has moved on to attempt a career in stock cars as a Development Driver for Chip Ganassi, but Sunday’s field will have no shortage of talent lead by Dave Steele a two-time winner of the Rich Vogler Classic in 1999 and 2002. 2005 winner Dave Darland is also entered as well as New Castle, Indiana native Tracy Hines who will drive the entire 2007 season for Tony Stewart Racing as a teammate to Levi Jones, who finished second in season points in 2006 to teammate Josh Wise, who has also moved on to race stock cars. Other notable entries to date include Darren Hagen, Eric Gordon, Brian Gerster, Daron Clayton, Brady Short, Mat Neely, Damon Gardner and two time King Of The Wings Champion Cameron Dodson.
Veteran open wheel driver Ron Gregory will do double duty driving a USAC Sprint Car and making his first ever start with the CRA Super Series. The only other driver to do double duty in a USAC Sprint Car and a CRA Super Series late model on the same day was Chet Fillip in June of 1998 at Winchester Speedway. Fillip broke in the Sprint car event but won the 100-lap CRA Super Series event, a feat that brought the open wheel and stock car fans to their feet cheering his victory. In all there are 26 cars entered to date for Sunday’s Rich Vogler Classic.
| 
|