Travis Braden won the ARCA\CRA Super Series championship on Sunday afternoon during the Winchester 400, defeating Ross Kenseth by 56 points to win his second-consecutive CRA season crown.
Despite the accolades, Braden feels as though the CRA doesn’t get enough respect nationally, especially given marquee events like Winchester, the Redbud 300 at Anderson (IN) and races at Lucas Oil Raceway. Combine that with talented stars like himself, Kenseth, Johnny VanDoorn and Brian Campbell and the case could be made that the CRA does not get the attention that it likely should.
With his championship and bonus money from a portion of the CRA Triple Crown, Braden has targeted the Snowball Derby in December at Pensacola Five Flags Speedway as a chance to represent the CRA in the most prestigious Super Late Model race in the country.
“Every once and awhile, I feel like there is not enough credit given to the CRA regulars on a national basis,” Braden said. “And obviously, this was the most competitive race of the year, if not the second behind the Snowball Derby. And that kind of reminds me, with the money from the JEGS Triple Crown, we’re going to try to go down to the Snowball this year.”
Braden won two races this season in CRA competition, at Flat Rock and Columbus, and while he came up a position short in the Winchester 400, winning another championship is a tremendous source of pride for the 20-year-old prospect.
“This is what I wanted,” Braden said upon climbing out his car after the 400. “I really wanted to get to (Erik Jones) one more time just to see what I could do but this championship is really what I wanted and I’m really proud to be the champion in this series.”
The attempt would be the West Virginian’s first attempt in the Snowball Derby — a race that routinely sees over 60 drivers attempt to qualify for the field of 37. Kenseth is also committed to running the Derby as is multiple-time American Canadian Champion Brian Hoar.
The inclusion of Braden, now a two-time CRA champion, would truly give the Derby an all-star event feel and decide who is the best-of-the-best in the Super Late Model discipline.
