The Chase for the Championship is coming to the midwestern-based CRA Super Series.
Kind of.
Champion Racing Association officials announced on Tuesday morning a new championship format that borrows heavily from the spirit of those used in the top three NASCAR divisions. Like the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the the CRA will now utilize a regular season to determine eight entrants followed by a four-race playoff to decide its ultimate champion.
Prior to the start of the final four races, the top-eight teams in victories (then Points) that have attended 75 percent of the events are eligible for the playoff. Prior to the season’s final regular season event, the top-four playoff teams in Wins (then points) during the Chase and competed in each of the four events, will then race for the season championship.
Like in NASCAR, the highest finishing playoff in the Winchester 400 will be declared the CRA season champion.
“Our new championship format brings more value to winning during the regular season,” CRA co-owner and Series Director Glenn Luckett said. “And it will create great excitement down the stretch. The new championship format will also provide more opportunities to win a championship to more teams.
“We floated the idea to a number of different people before deciding to go this route, and while everyone noted it was very different for short track racing, every one of them was excited about its implementation. The final weeks and the final event of the season will have so much energy and buzz. We’re excited to have fans and racers alike experience that excitement. We think this is going to be great for short track racing.”
The complete CRA Championship Schedule can be viewed below.
Sat./Sun Jan. 28-29 Speedfest 200 at Watermelon Capital Speedway
Fri./Sat April 7-8 Music City 125 at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville
Sat Apr 22 Toledo 100
Sat May 6 Anderson 125
Sat/Sun May 20-12 Bristol U.S. Nationals 100
Sat Jun 10 Baer Field Motorsports Park 100
Sat Jun 24 Red Bud 400 at Anderson Speedway
Fri July 21 Lucas Oil Indianapolis 100
Sun July 30 Kil-Kare 125
Wed Aug 9 Kalamazoo Klash 125
Sat Aug 12 Flat Rock 125
-CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE BEGINS –
Sat Aug 26 Battle at Berlin 251 at Berlin Raceway
Sun/ Mon Sep. 3-4 Winchester 100 at Winchester Speedway
Saturday Sep 16 Toledo 100
-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE-
Sat/Sun Oct. 7-8 Winchester 400
