The race started with everyone trying to gain positions early and then see where they were at the end. VLR_Shock was the outside pole sitter along side WFO Stealth, but he struggled all night with mechanical issues. This allowed VLR_18, making his first start of the season in the VLR Crates, to quickly dip under Shock for second place during the first three laps.

Stealth and VLR_18 were battling hard for the top spot early one. Lap eight was the first time a driver slipped up, as third running VLR_Shock tried to use the high line with his lesser-powered Crate car, and slammed the right rear into the wall, in turn allowing eighth starting VLR_McGee and WFO_ICE to take over third and fourth place, respectively. By lap ten the running order looked like this: 1. WFO_Stealth 2. VLR_18 3. VLR_McGee 4. WFO_ICE 5. VLR_Shock 6. VLR_Jsn 7. TXR_41 8. VLR_4 9. TXR_72 and 10. XRT_34.

18 and Stealth were dead locked in a side by side battle for the top position, as the action was heating up all over the track. WFO_ICE and VLR_Shock were also in a good race for fifth. Things got scary on the next lap, with VLR_Shock going off into turn one too hard and clipping the left rear of ICE. Shock came to a stop to try to prevent ICE from spinning, and both got going again, and the momentum of the #0 VLR_Shock was killed and he lost spots to VLR_Jsn and TXR_41 to fall to 7th.

During the same time this was happening, VLR_18 made a nifty move to pass the #1 car of WFO_Stealth to take over the top spot, with the fans coming to their feet. The crowd was watching two of the best drivers in the game swap spots several times over the next few laps. This was great for the fans, and even better for VLR_McGee and WFO_ICE who were closing in quickly on the leaders.

With ten laps to go VLR_18 and WFO_Stealth were still battling dead even for the point, but VLR_McGee got his Ford Fusion hooked up and was right with them, and the fans were still on their feet. The running order on lap 30 of 40 was: 1. WFO_Stealth 2. VLR_18 3. VLR_McGee 4. WFO_ICE 5. VLR_Jsn 6. VLR_Shock 7. TXR_41 8. TXR_72 9. XRT_34 10. VLR_4

Only five laps to go, and VLR_18 and WFO_Stealth were trading paint as many times as they were trading positions in what had now become a four car battle for the lead, with just a handful of laps left. That almost changed, though, as with three laps left WFO_ICE got into the back of VLR_McGee shooting him up the track to take over third. VLR_McGee returned the favor in the next corner but was unable to get back by the #97 machine.

There was action all over the place, and the fans were set to see a thrilling finish. However, probably none of them expected what they would see on the final lap of the 40 laps main event.

Heading into turn one VLR_18 had a run on WFO_Stealth and did a crossover on him to try and take the lead. The two would meet, though, and VLR_18 slammed into the left side door of Stealth's machine, sending him sideways. This pulled WFO_ICE right up there with the leaders but as Stealth began sliding down the track ICE had no choice but to T-bone him, preventing Stealth from being able to regain control of the car.

The 23,000 fans were shocked at the end result, and WFO_ICE nearly used a turn four pass to pick up his third win in a row in the Crates series, but VLR_18 held him off in a nearly side by side finish at the line. VLR_McGee was able to cross the line in third place. VLR_Jsn picked up a very nice fourth place finish after holding off a determined VLR_Shock on the last lap. TXR_41 had another good run this week with a sixth place finish. TXR_72 and XRT_34 took home seventh and eighth, and it was WFO_Stealth who's night ended in a bad way coming home ninth. VLR_4 had a fast car but seemed to find all the problems and didn't finish the race.

After the race we were able to catch up with the winner VLR_18 and ask him about his car and what happened with Stealth on the final lap.

"I offered him the spot but he didn't want to stay to talk about it I guess", said 18. "I just asked myself how would he drive me if it was on the last lap and I answered it. I just meant to give him a little bump up the track but I got into him too hard and then ICE hit him it looked like. I'd like to thank NOS Energy, US Army and our troops for the support."

WFO_ICE let us know what he was thinking in the closing laps as well.

“I don't know what happened up there with those guys, but Shock got into me early on which costed us a little time, but it looked like it fell into place there at the end, we had a good shot to win but didn't want to take out anyone in doing it. I just seen 18 get into Stealth there and I tried to miss it. We almost got us three in a row but I'm not fond of this track so second place is good for us here."

VLR_McGee picked up third and interrupted WFO_ICE's interview to chat about the incident these two had in the later part of the race.

VLR_Jsn! also spoke with the cameras after recording his best finish of the season with a fourth place run.

"Shock and I had a great race there for the spot. We bumped and banged a couple times but that's what racing is all about. Shock was bumping me there a few times on the straights which helped speed us up because we definitely didn't have the best car, but we worked together and got a good finish out of it."

Shock also talked about his night that went bad quickly after starting on the outside pole. "I think we had a pretty good car, just not many laps at all. I just found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time it seemed like, and nights like that happen a lot. We need to pick up the pace, though if we're going to be in contention for a championship at the end. It could have been a lot worse than fifth, though, and Jason and I had a good race at the end so I'm not to worried. Can't wait for Brownstown next week."

Completing the top ten were TXR_41, TXR_72, XRT_34, WFO_Stealth, and VLR_4.

Next week the Crate Late Models will held to the most grueling race of the season, the 100 lap VLR Crate Nationals at the Brownstown Speedway in Indiana which is still being worked on as of this writing. Should be another great race!

For more information on the Team VLR Crates series, visit www.crates.teamvlr.com.

Top 10 results of VLR Crates Series ‘Summer Showdown 40’ (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed): 

1. (3) VLR_18/40

2. (5) WFO_ICE/40

3. (8) VLR_McGee/40

4. (4) VLR_Jsn!/40

5. (2) VLR_Shock/40

6. (6) TXR_41/40

7. (10) TXR_72/40

8. (9) XRT_34/40

9. (1) WFO_Stealth/8

10. (7) VLR_4/5

Rookie of the Race: TXR_41