Toni McCray Finishes 2nd at ASA Free State 500 in South Africa

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(Toni McCray, of Highland, a main event winner in the Super Late Model and Late Model divisions at Orange Show Speedway in 2009, finished second in Sunday’s (Jan. 31) ASA Transcontinental Free State 500 at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. Her father, Best in the West Racing owner and former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Winston Cup driver Rick McCray, of Highland, had been forced to cancel his trip early last week for business and personal reasons, but decided late in the week to attend. He arrived on Saturday and finished fourth in the 207-lap, 500-kilometer race.) 

Toni McCray, of Highland, the first woman in history to win a Super Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway, backed up her strong showing in the 2009 Best in the West Racing season with a strong second place finish to John Mickel of the United Kingdom in Sunday’s ASA Transcontinental Free State 500 at the 1.5-mile Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. 

McCray, who had qualified sixth, stayed in the top 5 throughout the 207-lap, 500-kilometer race and with just 3 laps to go took the lead when former NASCAR star Geoff Bodine had his 4-second lead erased by engine problems. McCray led into the final lap before Mickel got by and took the checkered flag.

The highlight of the race was watching McCray and her father, former NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Winston Cup driver Rick McCray, swap positions within the top 5 throughout the race, with Rick McCray finishing fourth. The two never had raced each other before and almost didn’t get the opportunity this time. Business and personal reasons had forced Rick McCray to cancel his flight early last week, but the Orange Show Speedway promoter decided late in the week to attend and arrived in South Africa on Saturday.

The top 10:

1. John Mickel, Cambridge, UK, Chevrolet, 207 laps

2. Toni McCray, Highland, Ca., Chevrolet, 207

3. Marc Davis, Silver Springs, Md., Chevrolet, 207

4. Rick McCray, Highland, Ca., Chevrolet, 207

5. Johan Spies, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Chevrolet, 207

6. Gary Lewis, Bothell, Wash., Chevrolet, 207

7. Tiffany Daniels, Smithfield, Va., Toyota, 207

8. Greg Barnhart, Oklahoma City, Okla., Dodge, 206

9. Geoff Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Chevrolet, 206

10. Danie Correia, Welkom, Free State, South Africa, Chevrolet, 204