By Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
(Attica, OH) Traditionally a home for open-wheel racing, the high-banked, one-third-mile oval will become a full-fender haven on Wednesday night (July 25) when the World of Outlaws Late Model Series makes its first-ever visit. World Auto Parts of Huron & Cleveland will present the evening’s 40-lap, $7,000-to-win event, which is being touted as the biggest dirt Late Model show in the history of Attica Raceway Park.
“We normally have about three or four Sunoco American Late Model Series races a year,” said Rex LeJeune, the operations manager of Attica Raceway Park. “We usually get a great field of cars for every show, so we thought it might be time to run a few more Late Model races.”
With ARP already the host of a World of Outlaws Sprint Car event in 2007, it was a natural fit for the track to add the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to its schedule as well. Serving as the opener of the well-known national Late Model tour’s four-race ‘National Interstate Speedweek’ was a bonus that gives the inaugural event a little more cache.
“We think this race will be one of the most exciting events in the 20- year of Attica Raceway Park,” said LeJeune.
The star-studded field of dirt Late Model racers expected for Wednesday’s action is what has fans talking. The pit area will be filled with more talent than any dirt Late Model event has ever attracted to Attica.
Points leader Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., will lead the WoO LMS contingent to Attica. He holds a slim 32-point lead on Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who finished second in weekend series events at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway and Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.
Other WoO LMS travelers expected include Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., who won his second feature of the season on Friday night at Virginia Motor Speedway; Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who enters Wednesday’s program riding a two-race win streak; Rick Eckert of York, Pa.; Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; Rookie of the Year contenders Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., and Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.; and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., whose four wins in 2007 is tied with Frank for the most on the tour.
Returning to the WoO LMS for a special appearance at Attica will be 2004 tour champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who has never before competed at the central Ohio track. He has two big-time WoO LMS victories this season – the $50,000 Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., and the $30,000 Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
Other featured drivers at Attica will be the ‘Million Dollar Man’ Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., who won last month’s UMP DIRTcar Racing-sanctioned $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
A strong group of drivers have announced plans to make Attica their first stop in an assault on the entire National Interstate Speedweek.
The list includes Moran; Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., who won two Sunoco ALMS events at Attica last year; Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio; Steve Shaver of Vienna, W.Va.; Aaron Scott of Newark, Ohio; Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, W.Va.; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.; Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa.; and Chad Ruhlman of Bemus Point, N.Y.
One driver who will get plenty of attention is Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., who swept a pair of ALMS events on June 22 at Attica.
Drivers and teams from the Buckeye State will be attracted to the event by the incentive program made available to them by National Interstate Insurance, the Richfield, Ohio-headquartered company that is the title sponsor of the WoO LMS Speedweek activities.
The three highest-finishing Ohio-based drivers or teams in each Speedweek event will receive bonuses of $500, $300 and $200, respectively, for their efforts, and an additional $1,000 bonus will be presented to the Ohio-based driver or team that finishes highest in the Speedweek points standings.
In addition, all drivers who are not ranked among the top 12 in the current WoO LMS points standings and have never won a WoO LMS A-Main will be eligible to collect the WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ at Attica. A $500 check goes to the highest-finishing driver who fits the criteria.
Attica Raceway Park’s pit gates will open at 4 p.m. and grandstand gates at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, with racing at 8 p.m. The dirt Late Models will be the only division on the program.
Adult general admission is $25, with students (11-15) $15 and kids 10 and under admitted free. Pit passes cost $35.
For more information, call the track office at 419-680-5606 or visit atticaracewaypark.com.