CORDELE, Ga. — The JEGS / CRA All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance, kicked off its 2025 season at Cordele Motor Speedway Friday night with Ben Maier claiming victory as part of the Protect Your Melon Buckle Up Speedfest.
Originally slated for Saturday, inclement weather pushed the green flag to Friday, as 26 Pro Late Models took to the track.
Tristan McKee and Brandon Lopez led the field to green as the action would quickly pick up around the track. Tyler Reif was forced three wide forcing the pack to bunch up while McKee set sail leading the first 12 laps.
The first caution waved with Richard Land blowing an engine and setting up a restart. Luke Baldwin took the race lead and hold it for the longevity of the race. Caution flew again on lap 17 for Carter Whalen then again on lap 38 for front-runner McKee as his engine let loose.
A long green-flag run would be set up as Baldwin, Bulger and Maier sat top three. Michael Hinde and Stephen Nasse made up positions as they ran fourth and sixth. The caution would fly on lap 78 with Aiden Potter and Zach Johnson spun around in turn four.
On the restart, Baldwin continued to show his speed and became the favorite to win but with multiple cautions being thrown for incidents allowed Bulger and others to try new ways to gain an advantage. On lap 91, Bulger moved Baldwin for the lead yet it wasn’t enough to keep the 15 away. On lap 92, the unthinkable occurred when the leaders made contact, taking each other out of contention. Baldwin would be able to continue but the speed he once had ceased to show as Bulger’s day would end.
A couple of cautions would fly again after restarts with single-car spins sizing up a three-lap dash for the win. Maier, Nasse, Michael Hinde and Seth Christensen led the field to green for the final time as Nasse held wheel to wheel with Maier.
No driver seemed to find an advance as the white flag waved. Final time into turn two, Christensen tagged Nasse sparking the big one as Ben Maier would claim victory in the Speedfest 100.
The finish:
Ben Maier, Michael Hinde, T.J. DeCaire, Stephen nasse, Harrison Halder, Luke Baldwin, Zach Johnson, Heath Hindman, Tyler Reif, Cole Butcher, Seth Christensen, Brandon Lopez, Garrett, Gumm, Luke Yarbrough, Cale Hall, Avery Demland, Hudson Bulger, Isaac Kitzmiller, Stuart Dutton, Aiden Potter, Blaise Rutherford, Travis Roland, Rafe Slate, Tristan McKee, Carter Whalen, Richard Land.
