Salem, Indiana (August 24, 2020): 12 year old New Baltimore, Michigan racer Keegan Sobilo became the third different winner in three Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Models events in 2020, in Saturday night’s 25 lap series feature event at Anderson Speedway after apparent winner Jordon Riddick’s car failed post-race inspection. The event was only the third race of the season for the series after COVID-19 pandemic caused several series events to be postponed or cancelled
The Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Models is in their second season focusing on a youth movement for short track stock car racing that saw 10 to 15-year-old drivers compete amongst themselves for both experience and recognition in full size late models with an economical drive train and suspension alternatives.
The Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Models teams participated in two practice sessions on Saturday with 13-year-old Katie Hettinger the fastest in both practices. The teams then hit the track for their group qualifying session where Hettinger claimed her second MPM Marketing Fast Qualifier Award of the season.
After the four-car inverted start 14-year-old Jordon Riddick grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag from his outside pole starting position with 13-year-old Kody King in second, Sobilo in third and Hettinger in fourth. Hettinger made contact with Sobilo racing hard for third place, Sobilo made a great save to right his car and not create a yellow flag. For his great save Sobilo was awarded the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award.
With Riddick leading Hettinger made a great run to catch King as the laps started to wind down and started to work on getting second place from him. Hettinger made contact with King going into turn one on lap 19, King’s car got sideways in turn two with Hettinger running over the front of King’s car and making heavy contact with the outside retaining wall creating the events only stoppage with a red flag. Hettinger’s car sustained heavy damage, King’s car was also damaged, both cars were done for the night, but both drovers were okay. Riddick would lead the final six laps.
Sobilo becomes the second VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Year competitor to go to victory lane in 2020 along with Riddick, who won the series first event of the season at Anderson Speedway. Hettinger was the series other winner at the Indianapolis Speedrome.
14-year-old Evan Varney finished in second, he picked up a win in one of the eight lap heat races. 13-year-old Michael Brooks had a highly successful series and late model debut on Saturday with a third-place finish in the feature and got the win in the second eight lap heat race. 12-year-old Dawson Knaul finished in fourth with 13-year-old rookie Nash Engdahl in fifth place.
The next scheduled Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Models event is on September 19th at Toledo Speedway.
