By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) The possibilities of who might show up to compete at the traditional HD Supply Spring Nationals at Attica Raceway Park on Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9 has fans across the Midwest eagerly anticipating the event that will kick off the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions’ Ohio Region.
Some of the drivers are a given, like two-time and defending All Star champion and winner of the 2010 Knoxville Nationals Tim Shaffer. The Steel City Outlaw already has a win with the All Stars at Ocala, Florida, and after his run at Attica’s season opener on April 1 – from 12th starting spot to a fourth place and closing finish – he certainly has to be considered the driver to beat. There’s also two time series’ champion Greg Wilson, who owns wins in the Spring Nationals in 2002, 2003 and 2006, and three-time All Star champion Dale Blaney, who has taken Spring National victories in 1995, 2007 and 2009. Add 2010 Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion David Gravel, who has started the season strong with several top five runs, including against the World of Outlaws, and 2010 All Star Rookie of the Year Cap Henry, and the excitement grows.
Then there’s the tough Attica weekly competitors including six-time track champion Byron Reed, who claimed two All Star wins at the track in 2010 and owns Spring Nationals victories in 2001 and last year. Add Dean Jacobs, who took the track’s opening night feature win, Phil Gressman, who ran consistent top fives against the All Stars in 2010, Craig Mintz, another top five competitor when the All Stars come to town, a veteran like Danny Smith (a 1996 and 2005 Spring Nationals winner) and young guns such as Kyle Sauder, Kevin Lee, Cole Duncan, Brandon Martin and Bryan Sebetto, and the recipe for an epic battle thickens.
And while the All Stars verses the Attica regulars is intriguing, throw in the likes of many-time Knoxville Raceway winner and Nationals victor and former World of Outlaws champion Danny “The Dude” Lasoski; young up-and-comer Mark Dobmeier; Tony Stewart Racing star Jessica Zemken; and Indiana rising star Miranda Throckmorton, who, in 2007 became the first woman to win a non-wing 410 sprint car feature in the country…wow!
But, the list isn’t complete. There’s the possibility of one of the hottest sprint car drivers in the country, former World of Outlaw champion and current All Star point leader Sammy Swindell, who swept the All Star events at Volusia in February and has already posted two World of Outlaw victories this season. Or maybe some Pennsylvania stars like Daryn Pittman, who sits second in the All Star points; Stevie Smith, who owns a win on the tough Central Pennsylvania circuit already in 2011 and is a 2005 Spring Nationals victor; Lance Dewease, also a Pennsylvania winner so far in 2011 and a 2008 Spring Nationals victor; many time Lernerville track champion Ed Lynch Jr.; and 2010 Lernerville titlist young charger Danny Holtgraver.
Then there are the “wild card” possibilities like many-time Knoxville Raceway track champion Terry “T-Mac” McCarl, a 2006 Attica Spring Nationals winner, and Sam Hafertepe Jr., who scored perhaps the biggest win of his young career recently by taking the ASCS Spring Nationals victory at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
“This early in the season, a lot of teams want to get out and see how good they stack up and a two-day show like the HD Supply Spring Nationals gives them a tremendous opportunity,” said Rex LeJeune, Attica Raceway Park’s Director of Operations.
“The Spring Nationals has been one of the most exciting early season races in the country. You have a very strong contingent of local racers, our tough series’ drivers and then you throw in some surprise competitors and it is a ‘must see’ event,” added Guy Webb, President/CEO of the All Stars.
Competing with the All Star sprints on Friday night will be the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Models. Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. with grandstands opening to fans at 5 p.m. and racing underway at 7:45 p.m.
The Fremont Fence 305 Sprints will join the All Stars on Saturday night’s racing card (the late models also if Friday night’s show is rained out). Pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands opening at 4 p.m. and racing underway at 7 p.m.
Previous Attica Spring National winners.
1992: Frank Kerr/Frank Kerr
1993: Mark Keegan/rain
1994: Mark Keegan/Frank Kerr
1995: Dale Blaney/Joey Saldana
1996: Bobby Teeple/Danny Smith
1997: Gary Wright/Butch Schroeder
1998: Jeff Shepard/Frank Kerr
1999: Kenny Jacobs/rain
2000: Craig Dollansky/rain
2001: Byron Reed/Rain
2002: Greg Wilson/Jeff Shepard
2003: Chad Kemenah/Greg Wilson
2004: Chad Kemenah/rain
2005: Stevie Smith/Danny Smith
2006: Terry McCarl/Greg Wilson
2007: Brock Mayes/Dale Blaney
2008: Lance Dewease
2009: Dale Blaney/rain
2010: rain/Byron Reed
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com or www.allstarsprint.com.