The penultimate round of the ARCA/CRA Super Series’ 20th season is set to commence this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway (LOR), and while a pair of boxing gloves awaits for the winner, it’s the trophy that goes to the series champion in October that’ll be on the minds of both Cody Coughlin and Dalton Armstrong.
The Midwest super late model series heads to Brownsburg, Indiana this weekend for the Wish for Our Heroes 100, a 100-lap feature that headlines CRA’s Fall Brawl, a signature event on the calendar that serves as the final race before the season-ending Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway.
All eyes remain on Coughlin entering the weekend. Driving a bright yellow No. 1 Toyota, Coughlin’s gradual ascent through the CRA ranks has culminated in championship leads in both the Super Series and the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour entering Lucas Oil Raceway with a combined six wins across the two series.
The Ohioan will be busy this weekend, competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday before flying to Indiana to defend his points lead.
While Coughlin may be busy, he can’t afford to lose pace this weekend, because lurking just behind him in the Super Series standings is rookie Dalton Armstrong.
Entering as the defending All-Stars Tour champion, Armstrong’s ridden a consistent season to contend for the championship in his first Super Series season. The Hoosier’s tallied two wins on the year —- a spring triumph at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville and a win in the 50th Annual Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway —- and sits just 26 points back from Coughlin with two races left on the schedule.
While all eyes are on the championship battle, a good race for the victory is bound to emerge as well.
16 teams are currently entered for the Sept. 25 event, including two-time 2016 winner Brian Campbell, third in points Wes Griffith, Jr., and Travis Braden, who claimed a win at LOR in the ARCA Racing Series in 2015.
Entry List, via CRA
The name of the game for the drivers in Sunday’s headliner will be tire management and track position. With 100 laps to complete around the aged .686-mile oval and few chances to come to pit road without sacrificing track position, tire conservation is critical. Teams will have to play the balancing act of choosing between track position and fresh tires, a feat that was proven difficult in July when a hard-charging Campbell proved unable to pass Erik Jones as the Michigan native took the victory.
If the race stays green, managing lapped traffic will also become a factor. LOR is a unique track in that it offers the ability to run multiple lanes, though the outside line is often the fastest way around the track. Being able to utilize the different lanes to maneuver around lapped traffic quickly will prove necessary if the field manages to keep from crashing.
One of the 16 drivers entered in Sunday’s race will play the strategy correctly to earn a win in the Fall Brawl, and with it will earn momentum heading into October’s crown jewel at Winchester. Whether it’s a championship favorite or a series veteran remains to be seen, but regardless of the victor 100 laps at the famed Lucas Oil Raceway, or “Raceway Park” as the track’s longtime fans refer to it, should prove worth watching.
