Presented by Fraza June 18, 2022

Saturday’s race will be one of the few shows that will feature both a 125-lap feature for the template super late models and a 75-lap main event for the track’s weekly ARCA Moran Chevrolet Outlaw Super Late Models.   The CRA portion of the night will include drivers from both the ARCA/CRA and the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour.  the two divisions will have different engine requirements and each series will have a winner declared.

As of Wednesday afternoon 22 ARCA/CRA Super Series & CRA All-Stars Tour teams have pre-registered.

 A driver whose name was new to me, but I believe  will be making big waves in racing in the Midwest the remainder of this year and into next year is Brenton Thornton

Brenton Thornton took the time out of his busy day of testing yesterday to answer a few questions for me so that we can get to know him.

TLC:  Please tell me a little bit about your racing history and how you decided to start racing:

 BT:  My career started when I was young. At the tender age of 37 lol, I’ve been in motorsports for about 25-30 years. I started in go-karts, winning almost 2 dozen trophies. At 16, I moved into a 4-cylinder series and had my first-ever start at Flat Rock Speedway in a rent-a-ride deal. The first ride was a Dodge Neon. I then graduated to street stocks and late models. I was blessed enough to do development driving for some well-known teams in the Carolinas, getting NASCAR Approved in 2007. I have been traveling the Midwest and doing late models shows ever since.

TLC:  What are your plans for the remainder of the year and on to 2023?

 BT:  I’m excited to get back to Flat Rock where my passion really took off. 2022, we have a 6 race plan, including some travel with the ARCA Midwest Touring Series and some B Mod racing in Missouri as well as some dirt racing. 2023, we plan to run the entire Jeg All-Stars Tour and also field a build a car for the CRA Super Series for the larger events. My day-to-day job is working on track development for the big 3 as a test engineer.

TLC:  How do you expect your past experience at the track to translate to today’s race? 

BT:  I have a lot of experience on road courses so the technical side will definitely translate as I hone my skills on asphalt.

Not new to CRA racing by any means, but making his first start of the season is Brian Demland. Brian is looking for luck to turn his way Saturday.  A wreck at Anderson Speedway put him on the sidelines last year for a few races.  After getting the car back together and in race shape Brian traveled to Berlin Raceway and had an engine failure which ended his 2021 racing season.  

The off-season was not any easier for Brian and his family as his sister fought COVID for several months, wondering if she was going to make it through that battle.  After 165 days in the hospital, and on her birthday Misty was released from the hospital.  As a reminder of how strong she is, and how strong, resilient and special she is, Brian has dedicated the hood of his car to his sister with a yellow rose and the phrase ‘My Sister My Hero’.

After a long off-season, Brian was ready to get the racing season started at Salem Speedway.  Before running a single lap in the race the team had to pack the car up and head home as he had again lost a motor.

Someone at the track, either intentionally or by some strange twist of fate, left a silicone bracelet by Brian’s car at Salem.  It reads “Never Give Up.  You Are Stronger Than You Know’. Words that we all need a gentle reminder of.

Car Driver

4 Justin Schroeder – is a  Flat Rock regular & has 2 Flat Rock Titles 

09 Brenton Thornton

10 Steve Dorer

13 Nick Egan is the current JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour points leader 

15 Brian Demland 

17 Ali Kern Dukeshire in her first race since 2016, scored a 13th place at Jennerstown

20 Ethan Stadniczuk has wins in ARCA Factory Enduro/Factory Stocks and Street Stocks at Flat Rock 

20V Jeff Vrsek  has 2 wins at Flat Rock 

22 Jimmy Tucker was the Flat Rock 2016 Enduro champion 

22S Evan Shotko  2022 Alan Kulwicki Driver Development finalist

23 Eddie Van Meter is the current ARCA/CRA Super Series points leader 

23B Billy Van Meter

28 Kevin Cremonesi

28L David Liaeff has a pair of Street Stock wins at Flat Rock

41 Hunter Jack – 2021 ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion

47 Dakota Stroup

61 Brandon Varney 

61V Evan Varney

63 Cassten Everidge

104 Max Fair is a 4th generation driver and has a Street Stock win at Flat Rock

111 Eric Lee is the Outlaw Super Late Model points leader and defending champion, and is pulling double duty Saturday

131 Kyle Crump Jennerstown ARCA/CRA Super Series winner JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Birch Run/first event of Triple Crown winner

Also racing Saturday;

Vault ARCA Factory Stock

This is the 5th ARCA/CRA Super Series  points race in 2022, and the previous winners were: 

Anderson April 9 Eddie Van Meter

Salem Speedway April 24 Casey Roderick

Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway May 7 William Byron

Jennerstown Speedway May 7 Kyle Crump – followed by Stephen Nasse  Casey Roderick Logan Bearden and Albert Francis

This is the 4th JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour points event in 2022 and the previous winners were:

Salem Speedway April 24 Casey Roderick

Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway May 7 Dylan Fetcho

Birch Run Speedway May 14 Kyle Crump – followed byShotko Dakota Stroup Nick Egan ® and Albert Francis

Watch on RAcing America.