Blonde Shakes Off Jet Lag & Attica Competition; Clark Scores Late Race 305 Win; Haynes, Endicott Get First ARP Wins
(Attica, OH) Chad Blonde made a triumphant return to the United States after racing in Australia all winter, by scoring his second career 410 sprint win at Attica Raceway Park Friday, April 25, on Merrill Lynch Night.
Fremont, Ohio’s Bobby Clark claimed his third career 305 sprint victory at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speedplant, while Risingsun, Ohio’s Ernie Haynes and Steve Endicott claimed their first career wins in the Service Drive Solutions UMP Attica Late Models and dirt trucks respectively.
Blonde, behind the wheel of his TLC Auto Collision, Tuckey Motorsports #5B, picked right up where he left off the 2007 season at Attica – in victory lane. The 2006 All Star Circuit of Champions Rookie of the Year, closed out ARP’s season last year by winning the All Star feature.
“I’m a little tired…I still have some jet lag from coming back from Australia. I’m not used to the time change yet. I got to sleep the three-hour trip here tonight and that helped,” said Blonde, who held off Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws driver Daryn Pittman for the win. “I broke a steering gear in the heat and we thrashed around on that and then had to work on the motor…we didn’t fire until just before the feature, but we’ll take this win.”
ImageClark, aboard the David Bros. Racing, Crown Battery sponsored #40, passed last week’s feature winner, Cap Henry, with two laps to go and went on to the victory.
“Last week I got impatient and hit one of those tractor tires. That went through my mind tonight. I just had to stay cool and waited until lapped traffic. These guys on this car just want to have fun and I fit right in,” said Clark beside the Jenny’s Copper Penny backed sprinter.
Haynes led all 20 laps of the late model feature, but held off a strong early race challenge by Wayne Maffett Jr. and late in the race by last week’s winner Rusty Schlenk.
“Finally…we’ve worked so hard to get here and to finally get a win is awesome. I have to thank Bob Dible and BMS Engines for building me one heck of a motor,” said Haynes.
Another BMS Engines backed racer, Endicott, took the lead from Brian Arnold with an outside move on lap 6 and went on to edge Arnold and Bob Dible in the 15-lap truck feature.
“It’s about time…we’ve led here late only to lose it in the final laps. We’ve had a lot of seconds and thirds here. I have to thank BMS Engines and Stylecrest Products for their support,” said Endicott.
In the 30 lap 410 sprint feature, Blonde jumped out into the lead from his pole starting spot, only to see the action come to a halt when Brian Lay flipped, collecting Byron Reed. Lay was unhurt but was done for the night, with Reed able to make repairs and rejoin the fray.
When the green flew again, Blonde bolted to the lead with David Harrison right on his rear bumper. The caution would fly on lap 5 for a Paul Weaver spin with the running order Blonde, Harrison, 8th starting Pittman, and Lee Jacobs. The running order would remain that way until former NRA 360 champion Mike Dussell would move fourth on lap 9. Harrison and Pittman would battle side-by-side for second on laps 13 and 14, with Pittman taking the spot at the halfway mark.
Blonde had a comfortable four car length advantage until he hit lapped traffic on lap 17. Pittman would close until he too got held up in the back-markers, allowing Blonde to power away for the win. Pittman – for the second straight week would settle for second, with Harrison, Dussell and Jacobs rounding out the top five, while Reed came from the tail to grab sixth.
In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, Cap Henry looked like he would make it two in a row, pulling out to the lead. After a lap 2 caution for a Kevin Lee spin, the action would heat up with Henry holding the bottom groove and Clark powering to his outside in turns 3 and 4. Those two pulled away from the pack, as Duane Zablocki and Dustin Keegan battled for third.
Another yellow on lap 9 would bunch up the field just as Henry was getting to lapped traffic. He would continue to lead with Clark nipping at his rear bumper. The car on the move was 10th starter Stuart Brubaker, who moved into third on lap 11, bringing 15th starter Todd Heuerman with him.
While Clark began to really pressure Henry on lap 17, while Brubaker, Heuerman and now Bryan Sebetto waged a torrid battle behind. Clark would slingshot around the outside of Henry exiting turn 4 on lap 23 and would score the victory, while Brubaker would slip around Henry for the runner-up finish, with Sebetto claiming fourth and Heuerman fifth.
ImageIn the late model 20-lap main, Haynes would grab the lead and held off several early race challenges from defending ARP champion Ken Hahn and Michael Stiltner. Ninth place starter Maffett, who is second on the all-time limited late model win list at Attica, would grab third on lap four and would drive under Hahn for second a lap later. Maffett would run right on Haynes rear bumper the next 11 laps.
Meanwhile, Schlenk, who started 10th, was steadily using the high groove to move around Hahn into third on lap 12. He would drive around Maffett for second on lap 17, but got held up in lapped traffic as Haynes powered to the checkered. Schlenk, Maffett, Hahn and 13th starter Chuck Hummer would round out the top five.
ImageIn the 15-lap truck feature Brian Arnold would grab the lead at the drop of the green, with fourth place starter Endicott getting around Dible on lap 2 for second. Arnold would hug the bottom while Endicott slung around the top as the pair raced side-by-side for the next four laps before Endicott would grab the lead on lap 6. Arnold would hold on for second with Dible and Art Ball (coming from the tail after an early race altercation with another truck) rounding out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, May 2 on Ohio Cat Night with the 410 and 305 sprints, Service Drive Solutions UMP Attica Late Models and dirt trucks in action. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing getting underway at 8 p.m.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park (4-25-08)
Merrill Lynch Night
410 Sprints
Heat 1 – All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 12-Caleb Griffith; 2. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 3. 1R-Brian Lay (R); 4. 6-Mike Dussell (R); 5. X-Mark Keegan; 6. 59-Kirk Jeffries; 7. 4K-Kody Kinser; 8. 75-Mike Hogan; 9. 23-Ben Rutan
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 312-Mike Linder; 2. 48S-Andy Shammo; 3. 10-David Harrison; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver; 5. 16-Lee Jacobs; 6. 69-Scott Curren; 7. 7T-Troy Vaccaro
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 21-Daryn Pittman; 2. 5B-Chad Blonde; 3. 20X-Brian Smith; 4. 5R-Byron Reed; 5. 48-Mike Burkin; 6. 5T-Travis Philo; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews; 8. 91-Aaron Middaugh
B-main – Computer Man Inc. (10 laps, top 6 transfer to A-Main)
1. 69-Scott Curren; 2. 4K-Kody Kinser; 3. 75-Mike Hogan; 4. 59-Kirk Jeffries; 5. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 6. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 7. 5T-Travis Philo; 8. 15C-Chris Andrews
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 5B-Chad Blonde[1]; 2. 21-Daryn Pittman[8]; 3. 10-David Harrison[6]; 4. 6-Mike Dussell (R)[7]; 5. 16-Lee Jacobs[14]; 6. 5R-Byron Reed[5]; 7. X-Mark Keegan[11]; 8. 20X-Brian Smith[12]; 9. 75-Mike Hogan[17]; 10. 15C-Chris Andrews[20]; 11. 12-Caleb Griffith[4]; 12. 4K-Kody Kinser[16]; 13. 48-Mike Burkin[13]; 14. 91-Aaron Middaugh[19]; 15. 48S-Andy Shammo[3]; 16. 1W-Paul Weaver[9]; 17. 69-Scott Curren[15]; 18. 98-Bruce Robenalt[10]; 19. 59-KirkJeffries[18]; 20. 1R-Brian Lay (R)[2]
305 Sprints
Heat 1 – All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. O1-Bryan Sebetto; 2. 5-Dustin Dinan; 3. O4-Cap Henry; 4. M28-Josh Muntz; 5. 71-Bill Kraylek; 6. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 7. 25P-Mark Pridemore; 8. 22D-Dan Hammond; 9. 66L-Brad Bowman
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 2. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 3. 55-Benny Bowman; 4. 49-Coty Runion; 5. 14-Chad Wilson; 6. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 7. 11F-D.J. Foos (R); 8. 15H-Mitch Harble
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 10-Brad Haudenschild; 2. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 3. 65-Mark Lang; 4. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 5. 11-Shawn Colvin; 6. 13-Larry Felver Jr.; 7. 24X-Tom Nichols; 8. 61L-Adam Thacker
Heat 4 – Friendship Food Stores (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. O2-Kevin Lee; 3. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 4. 18-Todd Heuerman; 5. 29-Chris Lang; 6. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 7. 23-Willie Keegan; 8. 3X-Brad Keckler
B-Main #1 – Computer Man Inc. (8 laps, top 3 transfer to A-Main)
1. 71-Bill Kraylek; 2. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 3. 66L-Brad Bowman; 4. 14-Chad Wilson; 5. 25P-Mark Pridemore; 6. 22D-Dan Hammond; 7. 11F-D.J. Foos (R); 8. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 9. 15H-Mitch Harble
B-Main #2 – Computer Man Inc. (8 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 11-Shawn Colvin; 2. 3X-Brad Keckler; 3. 23-Willie Keegan; 4. 29-Chris Lang; 5. 13-Larry Felver Jr.; 6. 24X-Tom Nichols; 7. 61L-Adam Thacker; 8. 67M-Matt Ferrell
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 40-Bobby Clark[5]; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10]; 3. O4-Cap Henry[1]; 4. O1-Bryan Sebetto[8]; 5. 18-Todd Heuerman[15]; 6. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[4]; 7. 36X-Dustin Keegan[2]; 8. 49-Coty Runion[13]; 9. 55-Benny Bowman[7]; 10. 71-Bill Kraylek[16]; 11. 65-Mark Lang[3]; 12. 82-Travis Hoffbauer[6]; 13. 8K-Zack Kramer (R)[18]; 14. M28-Josh Muntz[12]; 15. 3X-Brad Keckler[19]; 16. 66L-Brad Bowman[20]; 17. 11-Shawn Colvin[17]; 18. 5-Dustin Dinan[9]; 19. O2-Kevin Lee[11]; 20. X-Dustin Stroup (R)[14]
Service Drive Solutions UMP Attica Late Models
Heat 1 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 laps)
1. 50-Ryan Missler; 2. 27-Ken Hahn; 3. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 4. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 5. 25-Chuck Hummer; 6. 77-Steve Kester; 7. 48-John Bores; 8. 12C-Bill Clapp Jr.
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps)
1. 1-Tyler Boggs; 2. 51-Devin Shiels; 3. 12-Michael Stiltner; 4. 88D-Larry Kingseed; 5. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth; 6. 15B-Mike Bores; 7. 12H-Joe Hartlaub
(R)
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk; 2. 45-Mike Marteney; 3. 23-Ben Elliott; 4. 99-Steve Sabo; 5. 77C-Craig Corfman; 6. 83-Noah Wagner (R); 7. 3R-Chuck Rolle (R)
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 5H-Ernie Haynes[1]; 2. 91-Rusty Schlenk[10]; 3. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[9]; 4. 27-Ken Hahn[2]; 5. 25-Chuck Hummer[13]; 6. 51-Devin Shiels[6]; 7. 88D-Larry Kingseed[5]; 8. 15B-Mike Bores[17]; 9. 99-Steve Sabo[8]; 10. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth[14]; 11. 50-Ryan Missler[12]; 12. 77C-Craig Corfman[15]; 13. 45-Mike Marteney[4]; 14. 48-John Bores[19]; 15. 12C-Bill Clapp Jr.[22]; 16.12-Michael Stiltner[3]; 17. 3R-Chuck Rolle (R)[21]; 18. 1-Tyler Boggs[11]; 19. 23-Ben Elliott[7]; 20. 77-Steve Kester[16]; 21. 12H-Joe Hartlaub (R)[20]
Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 laps)
1. 8-Steve Endicott; 2. O1-Art Ball; 3. 33-Brian Arnold; 4. 88-Jim Brewer; 5. 30-Dave Gibbs; 6. 4X-Brian Sorg; 7. 84-Russ Stahl; 8. 91-Rick Potts
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps)
1. 17-Bob Dible; 2. 18W-Cory Ward; 3. 56-Alex Wiechman; 4. 92-Loren Schwochow; 5. 55B-Bill Bruen; 6. 69-Mark Warnick; 7. 2R-Ron Kepling; 8. 62-Dave Severs
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 8-Steve Endicott[4]; 2. 33-Brian Arnold[3]; 3. 17-Bob Dible[2]; 4. O1-Art Ball[5]; 5. 18W-Cory Ward[9]; 6. 92-Loren Schwochow[6]; 7. 56-Alex Wiechman[11]; 8. 69-Mark Warnick[10]; 9. 2R-Ron Kepling[14]; 10. 4X-Brian Sorg[12]; 11. 30-Dave Gibbs[8]; 12. 84-Russ Stahl[13]; 13. 62-Dave Severs[16]; 14. 91-Rick Potts[15]; 15. 88-Jim Brewer[7]; 16. 55B-Bill Bruen[1]