Winchester, IN (February 15, 2008) – CRA/Winchester Speedway officials are pleased to announce that Manning Service will once again sponsor the 100 lap CRA Super Series feature with the 2008 Opening Weekend at Winchester Speedway on Sunday, April 20. That event will also feature the Rich Vogler Classic for the USAC National Sprint Car Series that honors the memory of former USAC National Champion Rich Vogler.
“We are excited to be a sponsor with Winchester Speedway again in 2008,” remarked Jeff Manning, owner and operator of Manning Service. “This will be our 60th Anniversary of being in business, we look forward to celebrating that at our annual event at Winchester Speedway. This track means a lot to the economy of this area, it has so much history and so many great drivers have raced here, I hope everyone will continue to support this great racing facility. ”
Merritt Manning, selling gas and performing mechanical repairs on cars, trucks and farm equipment, founded Manning Service, Inc., located in Saratoga, Indiana, in 1948. Today, Manning Service is renowned as a world leader in portable kerosene heaters, wicks and parts. Specializing in hard to find items and accessories, Manning Service has shipped products all over the world and is still continuing to grow. The Manning Service local retail store in Saratoga, offers patrons a variety of things from fresh Hunts Brothers Pizza to Mini-Storage Units. The business also features automotive, residential and commercial window tinting.
Manning Service started its involvement in Motorsports by owning there own racecar at the famed Eldora Speedway back in the 1950’s. They have also been involved in Go-Kart Racing and sponsored 2004 CRA Super Series Champion Chuck Barnes Jr. in the two CRA Super Series events at Winchester Speedway in 2005, including his victory in the Labor Day World Stock Car Festival 100 lap CRA Super Series event. More information on Manning Service is available at www.manningservice.com.
“It’s great to have the support of Manning Service again in 2008,” remarked Winchester Speedway’s Glenn Luckett. “It ‘s people like Jeff Manning that helped make the last three seasons successful ones for Winchester Speedway and owner Charlie Shaw. Winchester Speedway needs both the local sponsor support and fan support to continue to be successful each season.”
Tommy St. John has developed a knack for being fast at High Banked racetracks, and he showed that last season in winning the third addition of the Manning Service 100 CRA Super Series event on April 22, 2007. St. John started the day by being the events Appleton Rack & Pinion Fast Qualifier, then powered by Scott Hantz from his fourth starting position to take the lead on Lap 5, to lead the rest of the way. Jeff Lane would make a late charge to the front almost catching St. John, whose car slowed over the last 5 laps, but St. John held on to get the victory, his second with the CRA Super Series, the first came on Labor Day Weekend at Winchester Speedway in 2006.
More information on Winchester Speedway is available on line at www.winchesterspeedway.com.
2006 2ND ANNUAL "MANNING SERVICE 100"
Winchester, IN (April 24, 2006) – A beautiful bright sunny spring day welcomed the standing room only crowd to the 2006 Winchester Speedway season opener as fans got there money’s worth with three exciting feature events. 16-year-old Bryan Clauson got the victory in the USAC National Sprint Car Series Rich Vogler Classic, Knightstown, Indiana’s Jeff Lane got his first CRA Super Series victory at Winchester Speedway in the "Manning Service 100" and Beau Mitchell made his long haul from Owensboro, Kentucky worth it with a daring turns 3 & 4 outside pass to get the MAX 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks victory in the MAX 40.
The young 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 in the Rich Vogler Classic. Clauson’s best friend young Darren Hagen finished in second holding off veteran open wheel racer Dave Steele who finished in third. New Castle, Indiana native Tracy Hines finished in fourth with Levi Jones, with car owner Tony Stewart in attendance, finished in fifth with teammate Josh Wise in sixth. Veteran Eric Gordon finished in seventh, Bud Kaeding was eighth, Marc Jessup in ninth with fast qualifier Jay Drake in tenth. Last years Rich Vogler Classic winner Dave Darland had “one of those days” losing a motor in practice and then suffered more mechanical problems in the race after charging into the top ten from his last place starting position.
Veteran racer Jeff Lane had been victorious at Winchester Speedway in a Modified, an Outlaw Late Model and a Street Stock, but the 2005 CRA Super Series Drivers Champion had not found victory lane with the CRA Super Series until Sunday afternoon. Lane took full advantage of his pole starting position, bolting to the early lead over outside pole sitter JR Roahrig bring Chris Gabehart with him. Lane never looked back in leading all 100 laps of the "Manning Service 100". Gabehart would mount a charge in the middle of the race, but used up his tires early and had to fight off the hard-charging Brian Rievley to get second. The very popular Rievley, racing for the first time in over two years, made the most of his start for Muller Motorsports passing the most cars of anyone in the event coming from his thirteenth place starting position to get a hard earned third place finish. Zach Taylor finished in fourth with Tommy St. John in fifth.
Beau Mitchell has gotten a well-deserved reputation as a fearless hard racing Street Stock competitor and he showed it again Sunday making a daring outside pass for the lead in turns 3 and 4 around Brian Hopkins without touching the outside retaining wall or Hopkins. Mitchell never looked back in getting the win in the MAX 40 for the MAX 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks. Brian Hopkins would finish second, fast qualifier Joe Baever in third, current points leader Rich Boyer in fourth with Rod Phipps in fifth.
Racing action will return to historic Winchester Speedway on Sunday, May 7th as the ARCA RE/MAX Series stock cars will return for the first time since the 2003 season for the ARCA 200 Presented By Construct Corps. Over 40 cars are expected for the event including 7-time champion Frank Kimmel who claimed the last series Winchester victory in 2003. The MAX 93.5/96.7 CRA Street Stocks will also be in action that Sunday. Go to www.winchesterspeedway.com for more information or to order advanced tickets.
2005 INAUGURAL "MANNING SERVICE 100"
Chris Gabehart Wins His First CRA Super Series Race
Winchester, IN (May 22, 2005) - Chris Gabehart started
on the pole, and led 99 of
100
laps to win the Manning Service 100 Presented By Spray Power Sunday at the Grand
Re-opening of the Famed Winchester Speedway (
www.winchesterspeedway.com ) . Gabehart started the day with an
accident during practice, but repaired the car, qualified third and won the
event, his first CRA Super Series Presented By Spray Power victory.
"We started today in way we did not like, but we came back worked hard, got a hot lap down in qualifications, got a great draw and stayed clean to get the win." A very happy Gabehart stated.
Eddie Hoffman started 16th and ran through the field to finish second, Scott Hantz finished third and led briefly on lap 50, 15 year old Landon Cassill finished a career best fourth with Jim Crabtree, Jr. rounding out the top five.
Hoffman commented, "Our times stayed the same the whole time, everyone else slowed down, our car had so much grip, we got better while others got slower… we were lucky to finish second so we will not complain."
Hantz
started second and pushed Gabehart through the early part of the race leading
the 50th lap before Gabehart took back over to lead lap 51. On lap 60
Hantz slipped in an oil spot in turn 4 and was nearly sideways in heavy traffic
before recovering and continuing on. That recovery earned Hantz the Sweet
Manufacturing Sweet Move of the Race Award.
Chuck Barnes, Jr. ( www.chuckbarnesjr.com ) then moved into second and pushed Gabehart getting beside him but not able to get around. Then tragedy struck Barnes, in his first CRA race as a driver in 2005. On lap 95 Barnes and Terry Fisher, Jr. collided sliding toward the wall in turns 1-2. Tommy St. John was following closely and after hitting the wall ended up sitting atop Barnes car. No one was seriously injured, although St. John was taken to hospital, but he later returned to the track.
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