Attica Raceway Park

Griffith Wins 305/360 Sprint Challenge at Attica; Schlenk Tops Late Model Field; Roepke Tames Trucks

By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Caleb Griffith used his knowledge of Attica Raceway Park to hold of Butch Schroeder to claim the first ever University of Northwestern Ohio 305/360 Sprint Challenge on Friday night.

Griffith, a former Attica 305 sprint champion, drove to the high side of Schroeder on lap eight to take the lead and then navigated through lapped traffic to claim his first career 360 sprint win aboard the Al Davis #40.

“The cushion here isn’t like it used to be and if you don’t paint the corner coming off…it’s like the same way at Fremont and I smoked the fence on the last lap of the feature last week. I was up there trying to find something,” said Griffith beside his Young’s Batter Mix/McDonald’s Restaurant/Crown Batter/JLH General Contractors/EZ Shop backed machine.

“On the first start we were junk. I rolled down into the first corner and was getting passed on both sides and I thought we were done. I reached over and grabbed a handful of wing and just jerked it all the way back and I figured we’d get by Butch at the beginning but he would be coming at the end. Especially the way the lappers were racing…man that was intense,” continued Griffith of his Meggitt Farms/Griff’s Engines/Tackle Box 2/B&L Heating/Sheluke’s Bar/Fremont Roofing sponsored #40.

Weston, Ohio’s Rusty Schlenk got the cautions when he needed them to keep him out of heavy lapped traffic, and held off Chris Keller to score his 15th career late model win at Attica.

“I could see it as we were racing it was just crumbs from the middle up and once we got to lapped traffic and they wouldn’t get off the bottom I didn’t know what to do. I was just trying to stay behind them and hope for a caution and it worked out,” said Schlenk beside his Doubty Fabrication/Zeller Automotive/Lazer Chassis and Bernheiser Race cars/Micro Armor Lubricants. “I don’t know how many races we’ve lead this year and I ended up with three or four seconds…it’s good to finally win won.”

After an early battle with Dustin Keegan, Woodville, Ohio’s Dan Roepke Jr. would survive a couple of late race cautions to win his fourth career dirt truck feature.

“There wasn’t much left up top…I tried it up there and it was pretty slick. So I moved down and kept ahead of Dustin,” said Roepke beside his Perkins Tree Service/Village of Elmore/Johnny’s Electric/Vision Quest backed truck.

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UNOH 305/360 Challenge – Caleb Griffith #40
Todd Heuerman, who holds the track record at Attica for 305 sprints, and Dain Naida would bring the sprint car feature to the green, but defending 305 sprint champion Nate Dussel, who holds two wins at the track this season, would get upside down, necessitating a complete restart. When the green came back out, it was fourth place starter Butch Schroeder, who holds the 410 sprint qualifying record at Attica, who would drive into the lead.

While Schroeder lead Naida it was fifth starter Griffith who moved into third and would use the high groove to race into second on lap four with Naida battling Heuerman, Greg Dalman and Andy Teunessen for third. Ryan Ruhl would spin on lap six and on the restart Heuerman would loop his machine. When the green came back out, Schroeder went to the bottom groove while Griffith rocketed off the high side to challenge. Coming to complete lap 8, Griffith would sling shot off the cushion in turn four to grab the lead.

Griffith would start to pull away from Schroeder as Dalman continued to battle Naida, Teunessen, Dustin Daggett and 305 driver Jason Keckler. Griffith caught the back of the pack on lap 17, allowing Schroeder to eat into his lead while Dalman, Naida and Teunessen continued to battle for third. Griffith used patience to pick off the lapped cars one by one and once again began to pull away.

Griffith bounced hard into and over the cushion in turns three and four several times, giving his fans quite a scare, but was able to gather his car back up. Griffith would drive to the win over Schroeder, Naida, Dalman and Daggett. The highest finishing 305 sprint was Keckler who came home eighth.

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Summit UMP Late Models – Rusty Schlenk #91
In the 25-lap feature for the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models, Matt Irey and Schlenk brought the field to the green with Schlenk gaining the advantage. Schlenk stayed glued to the bottom as he pulled away from Irey who was locked in a great battle for second with Devin Shiels, Ryan Missler and Chris Keller.

While Schlenk led, Irey, Missler, Keller and Shiels put on a terrific show for second, with Keller moving into second on lap 8, bringing Shiels into third. Schlenk would catch lapped traffic on lap 15 and Keller began to reel him in when the caution flew on lap 16 for Shiels who experienced mechanical woes.

On the restart Schlenk used the clear track to pull away from Keller with Irey battling 15th place starter Wayne Maffett Jr. for third with Cody Scott and Casey Noonan closing. A multi-car pile-up in turn four on lap 20 brought the caution out again. Another caution for a Coby Bartram spin on the restart before the field would race the final five laps under green.

Schlenk would drive to the win over Keller, Maffett, Scott and Irey.

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BMS Dirt Trucks – Dan Roepke Jr. #88
In the 15-lap Bob’s Machine Shop/BMS Engines Dirt Truck feature, Roepke and Brian Melnek would pace the field, but Dana Fry would get turned around to necessitate a complete restart. Roepke would grab the lead when the green came back out over Dustin Keegan, Cory Ward and Melnek. Keegan would drive under Roepke for the lead on lap two just before the caution flew for a Dwight Waltermeier spin. A lap and another caution for a James Saam spin.

On the restart Roepke pulled to the inside of Keegan as they battled for the lead while Ward, Kyle Cline, Melnek and Jeremy Dickerson stayed close. Roepke would lead lap five as the caution flew a lap later for debris. Roepke would not budge from the bottom groove as he began to pull away from Keegan, Ward, Cline and Dickerson.

As the white flag flew, Brian Arnold would spin in turn four to set up a one lap dash to the finish. Roepke would drive to the win over Keegan, Ward, Cline and Melnek as Dickerson flipped violently after taking the checkered. He was not injured.

Attica Raceway Park will be back in action on Friday, May 10 for Sutton Bank Night with all kids and scout leaders who wear their uniforms getting in free. It is a Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series night for the winged 410 sprints and a JLH General Contractors FAST Championship Series Night for the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprints with the late models also in action.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com

Attica Raceway Park – 5/3/2013
University of Northwestern Ohio Night

Foster Auto Body 305 vs 360 Sprints (44 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 31-Andy Teunessen[2] ; 2. 7C-Max Stambaugh[5] ; 3. 16-Ryan Ruhl[7] ; 4. 22D-Dan Hammond[1] ; 5. 35R-Ronnie Blair[8] ; 6. 31N-Greg Nicholas[3] ; 7. 26-Bill Griffith[9] ; 8. 2-Ricky Peterson[6] ; 9. 22R-Kevin Roberts Jr.[4]

Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2M-Dustin Daggett[2] ; 2. 49T-Gregg Dalman[1] ; 3. 17-Jarrod Horstman[6] ; 4. 6S-JR Stewart[4] ; 5. 7-Darren Long[8] ; 6. 28H-Hud Horton[3] ; 7. 5R-Jordan Ryan[9] ; 8. 8J-Jess Stiger[7] ; 9. 83X-Nate Reeser[5]

Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 18-Todd Heurman[2] ; 2. 10X-Dustin Stroup[3] ; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[7] ; 4. 23-Devin Dobie[4] ; 5. 560-Ross Moore[8] ; 6. 11-Tim Allison[9] ; 7. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[6] ; 9. 22DY-Dennis Yoakam[1]

Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. B20-Butch Schroeder[1] ; 2. 07X-Dain Naida[3] ; 3. 27-Beau Stewart[4] ; 4. 29-DJ Foos[6] ; 5. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[7] ; 6. 23M-Jack Miller[2] ; 7. 99-Nick Roberts[9] ; 8. 34-Eric Duposki[5] ; 9. 2C-Chad McInturuff[8]

Heat 5 – Heat 5 (10 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 25-Jason Keckler[3] ; 2. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[4] ; 3. 6-Dustin Dinan[1] ; 4. 49-Shawn Dancer[5] ; 5. 2S-Kyle Sauder[2] ; 6. 22M-Dan McCarron[7] ; 7. 27K-Ryan Kirkendall[6] ; 8. 1W-Paul Weaver[8]

B-Main #1 – Computer Man Inc. (12 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 49-Shawn Dancer[3] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[13] ; 3. 23-Devin Dobie[2] ; 4. 7-Darren Long[4] ; 5. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[5] ; 6. 2-Ricky Peterson[11] ; 7. 11-Tim Allison[7] ; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[12] ; 9. 22D-Dan Hammond[1] ; 10. 83X-Nate Reeser[14] ; 11. 22M-Dan McCarron[8] ; 12. 99-Nick Roberts[10] ; 13. 31N-Greg Nicholas[6]

B-Main #2 – Computer Man Inc. (12 Laps – Top 3 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-DJ Foos[2] ; 2. 6S-JR Stewart[1] ; 3. 2S-Kyle Sauder[5] ; 4. 35R-Ronnie Blair[3] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[9] ; 6. 22DY-Dennis Yoakam[14] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[11] ; 8. 28H-Hud Horton[6] ; 9. 27K-Ryan Kirkendall[10] ; 10. 23M-Jack Miller[7] ; 11. 26-Bill Griffith[8] ; 12. 560-Ross Moore[4] ; 13. 34-Eric Duposki[12] ; 14. 22R-Kevin Roberts Jr.[13]

A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[5]; 2. B20-Butch Schroeder[4]; 3. 07X-Dain Naida[2]; 4. 49T-Gregg Dalman[6]; 5. 2M-Dustin Daggett[7]; 6. 31-Andy Teunessen[3]; 7. 17-Jarrod Horstman[12]; 8. 25-Jason Keckler[8]; 9. 29-DJ Foos[17]; 10. 27-Beau Stewart[14]; 11. 1W-Paul Weaver[18]; 12. 6S-JR Stewart[19]; 13. 16-Ryan Ruhl[11]; 14. 7C-Max Stambaugh[9]; 15. 10X-Dustin Stroup[10]; 16. 49-Shawn Dancer[16]; 17. 2S-Kyle Sauder[21]; 18. 18-Todd Heurman[1]; 19. 23-Devin Dobie[20]; 20. 1-Nate Dussel[13]; 21. 6-Dustin Dinan[15]

Hard Charger: 29-DJ Foos[+8]

Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (25 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 27-Ken Hahn[3] ; 2. 48-John Bores[7] ; 3. 91-Rusty Schlenk[6] ; 4. 69-John Mayes Jr.[8] ; 5. 99-Steve Sabo[2] ; 6. 77-Coby Bartram[4] ; 7. 26-Sid Danals[1]

Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 36-Matt Irey[7] ; 2. 1N-Casey Noonan[6] ; 3. 51-Devin Shiels[5] ; 4. 56-B.J. Gregory[8] ; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[1] ; 6. 98-Tim Sabo[3] ; 7. O3-Jim Gingery[2] ; 8. 66-Bobby Hutchins[4]

Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 92-Cody Scott[2] ; 2. 15B-Mike Bores[1] ; 3. OO-Chris Keller[3] ; 4. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5] ; 5. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[7] ; 6. 75-Dusty Moore[6] ; 7. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth[8] ; 8. 2-Justin Chance[9] ; 9. 30-Nate Potts[4]

B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 77-Coby Bartram[1] ; 2. 75-Dusty Moore[3] ; 3. 98-Tim Sabo[2] ; 4. 2-Justin Chance[8] ; 5. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth[6] ; 6. O3-Jim Gingery[5] ; 7. 66-Bobby Hutchins[7] ; 8. 30-Nate Potts[9]

A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk[2]; 2. OO-Chris Keller[6]; 3. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[15]; 4. 92-Cody Scott[11]; 5. 36-Matt Irey[1]; 6. 1N-Casey Noonan[10]; 7. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5]; 8. 56-B.J. Gregory[7]; 9. 2-Justin Chance[19]; 10. 27-Ken Hahn[9]; 11. 69-John Mayes Jr.[8]; 12. 48-John Bores[12]; 13. 21-Larry Kingseed[14]; 14. 99-Steve Sabo[13]; 15. 15B-Mike Bores[4]; 16. 77-Coby Bartram[16]; 17. 75-Dusty Moore[17]; 18. 51-Devin Shiels[3]; 19. 98-Tim Sabo[18]; 20. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth[20]

Hard Charger: 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[+12]

Bob Machine Shop Dirt Trucks (19 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. D1-Dustin Keegan[6] ; 2. 18W-Cory Ward[1] ; 3. 7-Dana Frey[3] ; 4. 44-Todd Keegan[4] ; 5. 95-Keith Sorg[7] ; 6. OO-Kelsey Ivy[5] ; 7. 1S-James Saam[2]

Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[2] ; 2. 25S-Tony Siferd[4] ; 3. O1-Art Ball[5] ; 4. 37-Eric Devanna[6] ; 5. 9-Curt Inks[1] ; 6. O-Andy Keegan[3]

Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 33C-Kyle Cline[6] ; 2. 39-Dwight Waltermier[2] ; 3. 44D-Jeremy Dickerson[5] ; 4. 45-Brian Melnek[1] ; 5. 2-Brian Sorg[4] ; 6. 33-Brian Arnold[3]

A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[1]; 2. D1-Dustin Keegan[3]; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[4]; 4. 33C-Kyle Cline[5]; 5. 45-Brian Melnek[2]; 6. 25S-Tony Siferd[12]; 7. 2-Brian Sorg[15]; 8. 37-Eric Devanna[7]; 9. OO-Kelsey Ivy[16]; 10. 44D-Jeremy Dickerson[9]; 11. 44-Todd Keegan[6]; 12. 7-Dana Frey[8]; 13. 39-Dwight Waltermier[10]; 14. 9-Curt Inks[14]; 15. 33-Brian Arnold[18]; 16. 1S-James Saam[19]; 17. 95-Keith Sorg[13]

Hard Charger: 2-Brian Sorg[+8]