Georgia driver TJ Reaid made it a three-peat in the annual spring visit of the CRA Super Series winning the Anderson Properties 125 on Saturday at Anderson Speedway.
Reaid has captured the traditional tune-up for the Stoops Freightliner Red Bud 300 in 2013 and 2012. The Red Bud 300 will take place at Anderson Speedway on June 14.
Reaid in the Mitch Smith Auto Service sponsored Chevrolet posted the fast time during qualifications and started sixth in the 125-lap feature event taking the lead from Brett Robinson by slipping inside coming off the second corner.
Robinson lost the second spot to Ross Kenseth during a restart on lap 48 when the Wisconsin driver got inside entering turn three.
Kenseth challenged Reaid for the lead on a restart on lap 97, but was unable to complete the pass in the high groove.
Brian Campbell claimed the second spot from Kenseth on lap 109 with an inside pass going down the back straight and started to close on Reaid.
Kenseth finished third, Canadian rookie of the year contender Brandon Watson finished fourth and Anderson’s Dustin Burge, making his first start in a super late model finished an impressive fifth after starting 14th in the field.
Robinson took the early lead from the outside of the front row, but it was Campbell that was putting on an impressive drive running early by driving the high groove.
Using the high line Campbell passed Kenseth, Watson and pole sitter Ali Kern by lap 14.
Campbell again used the high groove on lap 21 to get around Robinson to take the lead. The first of four caution flags waved on lap 46 when Thomas Woodin spun in turn two.
Campbell decided to start on the outside which allowed Robinson to reclaim the point with Campbell dropping back to third. Campbell spun his rear tires on the restart and in turn one, Robinson rode him high in the corner.
Reaid patiently worked his way to the front and took the lead from Robinson on lap 48.
“This is awesome,” Reaid said. “I got a little worried because the car wasn’t as good as in the past. We had bad luck earlier in the year, so we needed to get a win to turn the season around.”
Burge, the CRA and Anderson Speedway Street Stock champion in 2013 was provided the opportunity run a super late model as part of the CRA title.
“This was better than winning the championship,” Burge said. “I’ll have to win the championship again so I can do this again.”
New Castle driver Dalton Armstrong finished 13th after being involved in an incident on lap 47 and collecting the turn one wall.
Twelve cars finished on the lead lap. There were four cautions and four lead changes among three drivers.
