CONCORD, N.C. :: While other races still try to carry the moniker, the real North versus South Civil War on Wheels is actually taking place this weekend at Winchester Speedway in Indiana for the Winchester 400.
The entry list for the 43rd running of the Super Late Model special is beginning to take shape with drivers from all over the country set to participate in arguably the most grueling short track test of the season. Champions from multiple sanctioning bodies and backgrounds have recognized this event, alongside the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, as one of the two remaining super-shows for SLM competition.
Tasked with protecting their home turf, the Winchester 400 is also the season finale for the ARCA\CRA Super Series regulars, an impressive list that includes championship leaders Travis Braden, Ross Kenseth and Wes Griffith, as well as perennial winners Brian Campbell, Johnny VanDoorn and Cody Coughlin.
The invaders are impressive as they are numerous, spearheaded by the entire top-5 of the Southern Super Series championship standings in Bubba Pollard, Daniel Hemric, Anderson Bowen, Augie Grill and Donnie Wilson. Hemric has already won three CRA races alone this season, including the prestigious Redbud 300 at Anderson while Pollard and Bowen have ran near the front in their CRA starts as well.
Read More: Southern Super Series targets Winchester 400
From the Northeast come drivers like eight-time American Canadian Tour champion Brian Hoar and former ARCA race winner Austin Theriault. Hoar returned to Super Late Model competition in August with an impressive run in the World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park while Theriault finished seventh in the 400 a year ago.
The race even draws from out of the country, of sorts, as Florida-native and ex-European formula racing prospect Dalton Sergeant will also make his debut in the chase for the famous Winchester rifle.
The most notable entrant is perhaps the defending race winner as Erik Jones and his and his Kyle Busch Motorsports group is looking to become the first back-to-back winners since Mike Cope achieved the feat in 1996.
So while another race claims to have the premiere North versus South short track extravaganza, the Winchester 400 truly has the most spectacular field of short trackers in the county and the winner will have defeated the best of the best in the discipline.
The current (but still expanding) entry list can be viewed below.
- Cody Coughlin
- Jon Beach
- Travis Braden
- Donnie Wilson
- Scott Neal
- Matt Hall
- Dalton Sargeant
- Will Gallaher
- Paul Shafer Jr.
- Tommy Cook
- Brandon Watson
- Cole Rouse
- Eddie Van Meter
- Rick Turner
- Bubba Pollard
- Jack Smith
- Anderson Bowen
- Tommy St. John
- Wes Griffith Jr.
- Brian Hoar
- Allen Karnes
- Brandon Oakley
- Erik Jones
- Stephen Nasse
- Jeff Fultz
- Austin Theriault
- Johnny VanDoorn
- Ross Kenseth
- Terry Fisher Jr.
- Daniel Hemric
- Mason Mingus
- JJ Haley
- Augie Grill
- Brett Robinson
Additional Information:
ARCA/CRA Purse: 1) $15,000, 2) 7,500, 3) 4,000, 4) 3,000, 5) 2,500, 6) 2,400, 7) 2,300, 8) 2,200, 9) 2,100, 10) 2,000, 11) 1,900, 12) 1,800, 13) 1,700, 14) 1,600, 15) 1,500, 16) 1,400, 17) 1,350, 18) 1,300, 19) 1,250, 20) 1,200, 21) 1,150, 22) 1,100, 23) 1,050, 24-38) 1,000
ARCA/CRA Starting Positions: 1-26 from Qualifying, 27-32 Top-Six (6) finishers from Last Chance Race, 33-36 (2) from 2014 ARCA/CRA Owner Points, 37-38 promoters options