By T.J. Buffenbarger
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (April 2, 2017) — Chris Windom opened the 2017 USAC Silver Crown Championship victorious Sunday evening during the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track. Windom, the 2016 Silver Crown champion, took the lead from defending Sumar Classic winner C.J. Leary on lap 50 and then held off Leary’s late race charge for the win.
The victory was Windom’s second USAC victory of the weekend for the Canton, Illinois driver following his USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series victory Saturday at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Leary was the first repeat winner in the Sumar Classic since 1999. The victory also was the first-time car owner Gene Kazmark fielded a car since 2001.
“I don’t even know what to say. It’s amazing to be able to come out here and do this,” said Windom of his victory with a practically new Silver Crown team. “I have to thank Gene Kazmark, Bob Horne, and all those guys for giving me the opportunity to try and come back and defend our title.”
Swanson and Shuman started on the front row for the 100-lap main event. By the time the field came off turn two it was fourth starting Shane Cockrum racing around the outside to the lead. As Cockrum pulled away in the early stages of the event to a full straightaway lead Shuman, Swanson, and defending Sumar Classic winner C.J. Leary racing for the second spot. Swanson slipped high on lap three and allowed Leary to take away the third spot.
By lap four Brady Bacon and Justin Grant also joined the race for second on back. As the quartet of drivers continued to dice for position as Cockrum continued to pull away.
After the first caution for a spin by Johnny Petrozelle, Cockrum’s sizeable lead was erased. Leary took advantage during the restart taking the lead. One lap later Swanson moved by Cockrum for the second spot. As Leary took the lead Shuman pulled to the infield with mechanical issues while running in the top five.
Swanson slowly chipped away at Leary until taking the top spot away on lap 26. Swanson pulled away while Windom worked his way into the top three on lap 28 after starting ninth.
The caution appeared again on lap 31 when Aaron Pierce spun between turns three and four. During the caution period Justin Grant pulled his car to the infield, ending his chance of becoming the first driver to win all three season opening events in the USAC National Divisions.
Swanson opened a large lead after the restart while Windom and Leary raced for the runner up spot. Windom moved into second on lap 38. Windom using the very bottom of the track quickly started to gain on Swanson for the lead. Windom pulled away while Swanson diced with Leary for the second position.
The last caution of the event occurred on lap 83 when Bill Rose came to a stop on the front stretch. Windom pulled away with Leary going into second spot during the restart. Leary then started to close in on Windom with 10 laps to go. Just as Leary was within striking distance Windom picked up his pace and pulled away from Leary.
“You had to really slow down and just not over think it and hit your marks ever lap,” said Windom. “Low and slow around the bottom was the fastest way.”
Over the final five laps Windom pulled away during the bottom of the track for his second win of the weekend. Leary held on for second with Swanson taking the final podium position.
USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: April 2, 2017 – Terre Haute, Indiana – Terre Haute Action Track – “Sumar Classic”
PROSOURCE QUALIFYING: 1. Kody Swanson, 63, DePalma-23.599; 2. Casey Shuman, 55, Bateman-23.794; 3. David Byrne, 40, Byrne-23.881; 4. Shane Cockrum, 71, Hardy-23.925; 5. C.J. Leary, 30, Leary-23.990; 6. Brady Bacon, 48, Martens-24.063; 7. Justin Grant, 91, Carli/Hemelgarn-24.119; 8. Aaron Pierce, 26, Pierce-24.382; 9. Chris Windom, 92, Kazmark-24.809; 10. Steve Buckwalter, 53, SET-24.857; 11. Hunter Schuerenberg, 120, Nolen-24.953; 12. Johnny Petrozelle, 08, Cornell/Petrozelle-25.021; 13. Dakota Jackson, 201, Nolen-25.066; 14. Joe Liguori, 4, Liguori-25.127; 15. Patrick Bruns, 95, Full Throttle-25.148; 16. Jerry Coons Jr., 20, Nolen-25.195; 17. Mark Smith, 54, Lane-25.382; 18. J.C. Bland, 5, Bland-25.509; 19. Bill Rose, 75, Rose-25.551; 20. Dave Berkheimer, 31, Berkheimer-25.565; 21. Shane Cottle, 81, Williams-25.596; 22. Joss Moffatt, 32, Williams/Wright-25.886; 23. Austin Nemire, 16, Lesko-25.981; 24. Dave Darland, 27, Phillips-26.032; 25. Korey Weyant, 99, Weyant-26.064; 26. Terry Babb, 42, Babb-26.323; 27. Damion Gardner, 6, Klatt-26.486; 28. Jacob Wilson, 07, WBR-26.707; 29. Kenny Gentry, 18, Gentry-27.284; 30. Chris Fetter, 89, Fetter-NT; 31. David Shain, 7, Hardy-NT.
LAST CHANCE RACE: (15 laps) 1. Smith, 2. Cottle, 3. Gardner, 4. Darland, 5. Rose, 6. Moffatt, 7. Nemire, 8. Bland, 9. Babb, 10. Wilson, 11. Weyant, 12. Berkheimer, 13. Fetter, 14. Gentry. 5:51.67
FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Chris Windom, 2. C.J. Leary, 3. Kody Swanson, 4. Hunter Schuerenberg, 5. Jerry Coons Jr., 6. Brady Bacon, 7. Dave Darland, 8. Damion Gardner, 9. Dakota Jackson, 10. Joss Moffatt, 11. Johnny Petrozelle, 12. Joe Liguori, 13. Patrick Bruns, 14. David Byrne, 15. Austin Nemire, 16. Bill Rose, 17. Steve Buckwalter, 18. Shane Cockrum, 19. Mark Smith, 20. Aaron Pierce, 21. Shane Cottle, 22. Justin Grant, 23. J.C. Bland, 24. Casey Shuman. NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-18 Cockrum, Laps 19-25 Leary, Laps 26-49 Swanson, Laps 50-100 Windom.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Dave Darland (20th to 7th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Patrick Bruns
NEW USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Windom-70, 2-Swanson-70, 3-Leary-69, 4-Schuerenberg-61, 5-Coons-58, 6-Bacon-56, 7-Darland-52, 8-Gardner-49, 9-Jackson-46, 10-Moffatt-43.
NEXT USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: April 29 – Phoenix (AZ) International Raceway – “Phoenix Copper Cup”