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Henderson visits Victory Lane at Talladega in emotional win

Matt Henderson picked up his fourth and by far most meaningful victory of the 2021 season on Friday night at Talladega Short Track. He piloted his Stanco Equipment Co. No. 17 Vineyard Lawn / CVR Race Car / Hendren Racing Engine Late Model to the $2,000 Crate Racin’ USA victory on a night where heavy hearts were all around. (Brian McLeod photo | Dirt Scenes)

The win came just a few days after Henderson’s close friend and racing supporter, Luke Crass, lost his 17-and-19 year-old sons.

“It’s unbelievable the way this stuff works out sometimes,” Henderson said. “It’s almost like this victory was supposed to happen, and they were riding with me. All the way down here, I kept thinking, ‘Man, if there’s just some way I can win this thing for those guys’, and we had put that sticker on there after Adam Ahl designed and printed it for us. It was like I could almost feel their presence.”

“I was miserable coming down here, because Luke [Crass] is back home and has lost his two sons who meant the world to him, and he’s facing a horrible reality that is never, ever going to leave his memory. That family’s normal existence will never be the same again. Then here I am out here racing while he’s going through that. It’s terrible, and it didn’t seem right for me to be here, but he called before we left and told me to go win the race for his boys. Somehow, we did that. Luke is holding up well and helping to support his wife during these hard times, and I’m sure it’ll take some time for him to get it all sorted out mentally, but he told me that racing is like his safe place, and where he’s most comfortable. He said he feels like he’s got to get back to racing, because that would be the best thing for him.”

Matt Henderson entered Crate Racin’ USA action on Friday evening at Talladega Short Track (Eastaboga, Ala.), behind the wheel of the CVR Race Cars No. 17 house car. With 32 Late Models on hand, Henderson laid down the fastest time in his group, which locked him on the front row for the feature. Blasting into the lead on the opening circuit, Matt led flag-to-flag in the 30-lapper to capture his fourth win of the season and $2,000 prize. He finished ahead of Cody Overton, Jason Welshan, Jake Knowles, and Austin Horton.

For more information on this event, please visit www.CrateRacinUSA.com.

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