The American Crate All Star Series kicked off July 4th weekend by paying a visit to the Crossville Speedway, with Cameron Weaver surviving eight cautions and several challenges from Dillon Brown to wire the field in the J. Smith Paul Memorial and claim the $3,000 check Friday night.
A strong 21 cars signed in at the high banked 1/3 oval to run for top billing including Weaver, Logan Roberson, Zach and Trevor Sise and Eli Beets. Weaver was fastest in qualifying followed by Beets, Trevor Sise and Kyle Courtney. Each of the three heats were taken by Deke Waters, Roberson, and Weaver.
The American Crate All Star Dash saw Weaver take the checkered flag with Beets, Courtney and Trevor Sise (9T) rounding out the top three.
Following a pre-holiday fireworks show in the infield, the field rolled out to tackle the 40-lap feature. Weaver jumped out to the early lead, with Beets hot on his heels followed by the Sise brothers and Kyle Courtney. The first caution of the night flew on lap seven as trouble found Kevin McCaleb (21K), he spun in turn four. On the ensuing restart, Weaver took off again and built up a lead of about half a second before the second caution fell on lap 12 as the z1 of Zack Shannon slowed down the backstretch.
The rash of yellow fever continued, as a pileup in turn two on the ensuing restart, slowed the field and brought out the red flag for a brief cleanup. Drivers involved included Trevor Sise, Terry Poore, Trent Turner, Brandon Miller and Kyle Courtney whose night came to a end. While under caution Zach Sise showed displeasure towards Weaver and the two exchanged sheet metal.
Back under green Weaver pulled away again as the battle for second was between Beets, Trevor Sise and Zach Sise. The field settled in and rode until the yellow flag flew again on lap 22 as Michael Smith cut down a right front. It didn’t take long for the caution to come out again, as on lap 28, Eli Beets slammed the wall after suffering a broken right front ball joint. The field barely got going as another caution came out on lap 29 as Kevin McCaleb spun in turn one.
On the following restart Weaver stretched his lead out once again only to be reigned in by yet another yellow flag as the 66 of Deke Waters appeared to cut a right front and smacked the wall in turn one. Two laps later the eighth and final caution of the night slowed the field as Trevor Sise and Ricky Arms got together off turn four.
From there it was all Cameron Weaver as the Crossville, TN native pulled away and beat Dillon Brown to the finish by half a second. Cameron wasn’t the only Weaver to win Friday evening. His father Randy took the Valvoline Iron Man feature at Boyd’s Speedway. Between the two they took home over $8,000 for a night’s work.
Results:
- Cameron Weaver 16W
- Dillon Brown 6B
- Josh Henry B00
- Carson Ferguson 00
- Logan Roberson 17R
- Jesse Lowe D2
- Zach Sise 9S
- Ricky Arms R4
- Trent Turner 48
- William Blankenship 32
