Tatnell Tops Good Field at Attica; Schlenk Nabs 1st Late Model Win of Year; Brubaker Breaks Into Victory Lane in 305 Sprints
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) A longer than expected meeting with government officials concerning his visa kept Australia’s Brooke Tatnell from racing with the World of Outlaws earlier this week. That, coupled with rainy weather else were, had the Titan Garage Garages and Car Ports team on the road to Attica Raceway Park Friday. It paid off as he collected his first 410 sprint feature win on Custom Chrome Plating Night.
Defending American Late Model Series Champion Rusty Schlenk also broke into the win column for the first time in 2009 in the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Models.
Defending Attica Raceway Park 305 sprint champion Stuart Brubaker came back after crashing his mount last week at Fremont Speedway, to record his first win of 2009 in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints.
Image
F.A.S.T. 410 – Brooke Tatnell
Tatnell overcame a rash of early race cautions and red flags and then held off a charging Chad Kemenah to score the win.
It was night #4 of the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series, and early point leaders suffered problems which should cause a big shake-up in the points. The FAST is a separate point system and point fund from that of both race tracks.
“That is a great field of cars for a ‘regular show.’ You had World of Outlaw caliber drivers, All Star drivers and the locals are very tough here,” said Tatnell. “This was a new car and we needed to come here and learn some things before the Outlaws come here at the end of the month (May 29). Rob Hart and the crew gave me a great race car that got better as the race went on.”
Jackson, Michigan’s Schlenk passed early race leader Tyler Boggs on lap 9 and went on to score the late model win.
“Boy did we need that. We’ve got like 10 second place finishes this year.I tell you what, since they went to the full-blown UMP late models here, this field is as tough as you’ll find,” said Schlenk beside his Micro Armor Lubricants, Complete Truck Repair, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars backed #91.
For Brubaker, the win comes after several top five finishes this season. After a great battle with Brad Haudenschild, Brubaker took the lead on lap 15 and powered away for the win.
“My crew won this one. They worked their tails off in the shop all week to put this car back together after I crashed it last Saturday. Also a big thank-you to Jason Deel. We had motor problems and he came to therescue…if it weren’t for him we wouldn’t be racing tonight,” said Brubaker beside his Brubaker Auction Services, C&L Sanitation and Safeway Barricades backed #35. “I finally get to get a picture in victory lane with my wife (Amanda) and baby daughter (Gracie).”
Tatnell overtook Mike Linder at the drop of the green for the 410 sprint feature. Caleb Griffith, Greg Wilson and Phil Gressman waged a great battle for third. The first of three back-to-back cautions would fly on lap five with Tatnell leading Linder, Wilson, Griffith, Gressman, Chad Kemenah and Brandon Wimmer. Wilson would move around Linder on the restart following the third caution while Griffith would move into third on lap 8.
The action would grind to a halt when defending track champion Byron Reed took a nasty tumble on the front stretch on lap 8. He was okay, but his car was done for the night. On the lap following the restart, Kemenah and Griffith would get together on the front stretch battling for third, sending Griffith flipping, which also collected Linder and Mark Keegan. Everyone was uninjured, but Griffith, Linder and Keegan were done for the night.
The race finally found a rhythm by lap with the running order Tatnell, Wilson, Kemenah, Randy Hannagan and 17th starter Tim Shaffer. Following a lap 16 caution, Kemenah began to pressure Tatnell for the next four laps. Then all of a sudden, Tatnell found more speed and pulled away. The real battle was for third between Wilson, Hannagan, Shaffer and Lee Jacobs.
Tatnell did survive a scare on lap 24 as a lapped machine did a 360 spun right in front of him exiting turn two, but he was able to avoid the crash and went on to score the victory over Kemenah, Wilson, Hannagan and Shaffer.
Image
UMP Late Models – Rusty Schlenk
In the 25-lap late model main, Tyler Boggs grabbed the early lead with Noah Wagner and Schlenk battling hard for second. This feature also had a tough time getting going as there were four caution sin the first four laps. Following a lap 8 restart, Schlenk would dive under Boggs on the bottom of turns three and four to grab the lead. A great race for second was going on behind between Jon Henry, Wagner and Ryan Markham. The final caution would fly on lap 13 with the running order Schlenk, Henry, Boggs, Markham and Wagner.
With 10 laps to go, the car on the move was Dusty Moore, who had worked his way up from 13th to fifth. While Schlenk cruised out front, Henry, Boggs, Markham, Moore, Wagner and Ken Hahn put on a tremendous battle. At the checkered it was Schlenk, Henry, Moore, Boggs and Markham rounding out the top five.
Last week’s winner Brad Haudenschild looked like he might repeat in the 305 sprint feature as he jumped into the lead. The battle for second was fantastic between Steve Rando and Brubaker over the next 10 laps. Brubaker would take the runner-up spot on lap 11, and when the leaders hit lapped traffic on lap 15, Brubaker made his move to drive around Haudenschild in turn four.
Image
305 Sprints – Stuart Brubaker
While Brubaker pulled away, Haudenschild had his hands full with Jake Trevino and a closing John Ivy. Trevino would move into second on lap 20 while Ivy bagged third. Ivy’s great run would end when he looped it out in turn two on lap 23, setting up a two-lap dash to the finish. Brubaker would get the win with Trevino, a resurgent Rando, D.J. Foos and Brad Bowman rounding out the top five.
Earlier in the evening, Attica Raceway Park and Jon Wright’s CustomChrome Plating paid tribute to Mark Keegan, a 12-time sprint champion at Attica and the track’s all-time feature win leader with 55 victories. Keegan was also one of the original founders of Attica Raceway Park 21 years ago. Many friends and family were on hand for the ceremony and the crowd got to listen to the last five laps of the 1995 Ohio Speedweek race at Attica where Keegan passed Steve Kinser to get the biggest win of his career.
One of Keegan’s long-time sponsors, Midwest Transportation and Car and Truck Sales gave an extra $100 to the 410 feature winner and $100 to the fifth and 10th place finishers as well.
It was also announced Attica Raceway Park is putting up a $2,000 bonus if one of the drivers in the top 20 in the track’s points can upset the World of Outlaw drivers on May 29. The highest finishing “Attica regular” – again in the top 20 in points – with the highest feature finish will get a $500 bonus.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, May 22 as the Pepsi 30 Engine Builders Challenge is held, paying the Fremont Fence 305 Sprint feature winner $1,200. The late models and dirt trucks are also on the racing card for the fan appreciation night with general admission only $10.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 5/15/2009
Custom Chrome Plating Presents Mark Keegan Night
410 Sprints (Kistler Racing Products F.A.S.T. Championship Series Night #5)
Heat 1 – Ultra Keegan’s Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 60-Jody Keegan; 2. 25-Lee Jacobs; 3. 27-Scott Euler; 4. 22K-Mikey Kuemper; 5. 5R-Byron Reed; 6. 15H-Mitch Harble; 7. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 8. 3J-Kevin Lee; 9. 12B-Mike Baker
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 9X-Phil Gressman; 2. 11M-Brandon Martin; 3. 63-Chad Kemenah; 4. 10-David Harrison; 5. 83-Tim Shaffer; 6. X-Mark Keegan; 7. 48S-Andy Shammo; 8. 69-Scott Curren; 9. 9-Dean Jacobs
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 21AU-Brooke Tatnell; 2. 312-Mike Linder; 3. O-Brandon Wimmer; 4. 15C-Chris Andrews; 5. 5T-Travis Philo; 6. 23-Ben Rutan; 7. 61-Chad Gullett; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 9. O4-Cap Henry
Heat 4 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 12-Caleb Griffith; 4. 1XL-Matt Linder; 5. 20X-Craig Keel; 6. 53-Cole Duncan; 7. O9-Craig Mintz; 8. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 9. 2+-Brian Smith
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 83-Tim Shaffer; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 20X-Craig Keel; 4. X-Mark Keegan; 5. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 6. 53-Cole Duncan; 7. O9-Craig Mintz; 8. 5T-Travis Philo; 9. 3J-Kevin Lee; 10. 48S-Andy Shammo; 11. 2+-Brian Smith; 12. 23-Ben Rutan; 13. 9-Dean Jacobs; 14. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 15. 61-Chad Gullett; 16. 15H-Mitch Harble; 17. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 18. 12B-Mike Baker; 19. 69-Scott Curren
A-Main – (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 21AU-Brooke Tatnell[1]; 2. 63-Chad Kemenah[10]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[6]; 4. 1X-Randy Hannagan[7]; 5. 83-Tim Shaffer[17]; 6. 25-Lee Jacobs[8]; 7. 11M-Brandon Martin[11]; 8. 20X-Craig Keel[19]; 9. 15C-Chris Andrews[15]; 10. 10-David Harrison[14]; 11. 1XL-Matt Linder[16]; 12. 27-Scott Euler[3]; 13. 22K-Mikey Kuemper[13]; 14. O-Brandon Wimmer[9]; 15. 9X-Phil Gressman[5]; 16. 12-Caleb Griffith[4]; 17. 312-Mike Linder[2]; 18. X-Mark Keegan[20]; 19. 5R-Byron Reed[18]; 20. 60-Jody Keegan[12]
Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop UMP Late Models
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1-Jon Henry; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham; 3. 50Y-Ryan Missler; 4. 27-Ken Hahn; 5. 40WD-Dusty Moore; 6. 99-Steve Sabo; 7. 48B-Mike Bores; 8. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 9. 12M-Bobby Michaels
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk; 2. 3-Rick Delong; 3. 11-Tyler Boggs; 4. 92-Brandon Perkins; 5. 12-Michael Stiltner; 6. 3AM-Dean Anderson; 7. 51-Devin Schields; 8. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 2. 83-Noah Wagner; 3. 99M-John Mayes Sr.; 4. 23C-Jeremy Canada; 5. O1-Justin Chance; 6. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 7. 26-Mike Harger; 8. 48-John Bores; 9. 25-Chuck Hummer
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 48B-Mike Bores; 2. 99-Steve Sabo; 3. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 4. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 5. 51-Devin Schields; 6. 26-Mike Harger; 7. 3AM-Dean Anderson; 8. 48-John Bores; 9. 25-Chuck Hummer; 10. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade; 11. 12M-Bobby Michaels
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk[5]; 2. 1-Jon Henry[7]; 3. 40WD-Dusty Moore[13]; 4. 11-Tyler Boggs[2]; 5. 5M-Ryan Markham[9]; 6. 83-Noah Wagner[1]; 7. 27-Ken Hahn[10]; 8. 3R-Chuck Roelle[19]; 9. 3-Rick Delong[3]; 10. 99-Steve Sabo[17]; 11. 50Y-Ryan Missler[4]; 12. 51-Devin Schields[20]; 13. 92-Brandon Perkins[11]; 14. 12-Michael Stiltner[14]; 15. 99M-John Mayes Sr.[6]; 16. 23C-Jeremy Canada[8]; 17. 48B-Mike Bores[16]; 18. O1-Justin Chance[15]; 19. 5H-Ernie Haynes[18]; 20. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[12]
Fremont Fence – 305 Sprints
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 94-John Ivy; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 3. 10-Brad Haudenschild; 4. 71-Bill Kraylek; 5. 28-Shawn Valenti; 6. M28-Josh Muntz; 7. 3X-Josh Burdette; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 29-Chris Lang; 10. 6-Zack Ames
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos; 2. 80-Jake Trevino; 3. 51-Brad Bowman; 4. 41-Dustin Dinan; 5. 72C-John Bartlome; 6. 65-Mark Lang; 7. 1-Nate Dussel; 8. 13-Junior Felver; 9. 22D-Dan Hammond
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 2-Tim Kern; 2. 19R-Steve Rando; 3. 40-Bobby Clark; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver; 5. 49-Coty Runion; 6. 8K-Zack Kramer; 7. 10X-Dustin Stroup; 8. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 9. 67M-Matt Ferrell
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. M28-Josh Muntz; 2. 3X-Josh Burdette; 3. 8K-Zack Kramer; 4. 13-Junior Felver; 5. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 6. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 7. 10X-Dustin Stroup; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 29-Chris Lang; 10. 6-Zack Ames; 11. 65-Mark Lang
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 35-Stuart Brubaker[4]; 2. 80-Jake Trevino[3]; 3. 19R-Steve Rando[1]; 4. 11F-D.J. Foos[6]; 5. 51-Brad Bowman[7]; 6. 10-Brad Haudenschild[2]; 7. 40-Bobby Clark[10]; 8. 2-Tim Kern[12]; 9. 41-Dustin Dinan[5]; 10. 1W-PaulWeaver[11]; 11. 94-John Ivy[9]; 12. 28-Shawn Valenti[13]; 13. 49-Coty Runion[15]; 14. M28-Josh Muntz[16]; 15. 72C-John Bartlome[14]; 16. 3X-Josh Burdette[17]; 17. 36X-Dustin Keegan[20]; 18. 71-Bill Kraylek[8]; 19. 13-Junior Felver[19]; 20. 8K-Zack Kramer[18]