Lee Jacobs Gets First Win of 2009; Brubaker Redeems Himself In 305s; Maffett Jr. Dominates Late Models
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Confidence is everything in racing. Whether it’s confidence in your car, your crew or even yourself as a driver, it can mean the difference between victory lane or missing the feature. Dalton, Ohio’s Lee Jacobs got a boost of confidence earlier in the week, and it carried him to victory in the 410 sprint feature at Attica Raceway Park on Smith Family Frosted Foods Christmas in July Friday night, July 10.
It was also confidence that helped Helena, Ohio’s Stuart Brubaker overcome a crash a week ago to score his second win of the season in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints.
Confidence in the changes his crew made to his car also propelled Mansfield, Ohio’s Wayne Maffett Jr. to a dominating victory in the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Model feature.
Jacobs used a restart on lap 19, to blast under race-long leader Cole Duncan in turns three and four to grab the lead and then had to hold off the field the last two laps after a lap 28 red, to score his third career Attic victory.
“It’s about darn time! That third place run Tuesday (at Sharon Speedway) did a lot to get our confidence up and Andy Potter gave me another great race car,” said Jacobs beside his Ludwig Propane, Goodyear Tire, Level Performance backed #25.
“I have to thank Dee and Andy Genzman and the whole Genzman family. We threw this team together last minute earlier this season and to get them a win is very special,” added Jacobs.
Brubaker led all 25-laps of the 305 sprint feature, but it wasn’t easy as first Brad Bowman, then Zack Kramer, then D.J. Foos and finally Bowman pressured him. He also had to overcome a lap 24 restart.
“I saw D.J. down there right before that last yellow. I knew I had to go down to block him, but I had to be careful not to open up the top too much to let Brad get a run on me,” said Brubaker beside his Advanced Specialty Contractors, Brubaker Auctions, KS Sales and Service backed #35.
“After I flipped here last week, I was getting very discouraged. Then we got my old crew chief (Joe Laugherty) off the couch and my guys worked their tails off in the shop all week… that really picked up my spirits and my confidence,” added Brubaker of his sixth career Attica victory.
Following a first lap mêlée that involved seven cars, Maffett jumped into the lead of the 25-lap late model feature and never looked back. In fact, he lapped up to sixth place car in the feature and took the checkered a good three-quarters of a lap ahead of the second place car.
“The car just wasn’t that comfortable in the heat and I came in and the crew went to work and changed everything…I had to walk away from it because they made me nervous, but what they did obviously worked,” said Maffett beside his Wright Choice Auto Sales, Rod Eddleblute Garage, Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop backed late model.
The win was Maffett’s second career super late model win at Attica and his 34th overall at the track. He added it was the 145th win of his career.
At the start of the 410 feature, pole-sitter Cole Duncan jumped into the lead with rookie Duane Zablocki racing Byron Reed and Jacobs for second. Once the race settled down, Duncan and Zablocki looked comfortable in the top two spots while Jacobs and Reed waged a great battle for third, with Cap Henry and a closing Caleb Griffith in their tire tracks.
The first caution would fly on lap 12 for Jody Keegan who went off the back stretch. Only two more laps got in when Keegan and Bryan Sebetto spun in turn four. A lap and another caution for Sebetto, John Ivy and Kevin Lee. On the lap 17 restart, Jacobs would fly under Zablocki for second, with Reed moving into third a lap later and Griffith into four on lap 19 before the caution would fly for a Mark Keegan spin.
It was on the ensuing restart that Jacobs would make his move for the lead. A lap later, Griffith would move into second, but Duncan would battle him hard and regain the runner-up position on lap 25. However, Duncan’s great run would end on lap 27 as he spun. Jacobs would pull away on the restart as Griffith battled Reed for second while Brock Mayes moved from his 10th starting spot into fourth and current Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title Championship Series leader Craig Mintz ran fifth.
On lap 28, Todd Kane would make hard contact with the front stretch wall, sending his car into a violent series of flips. Kane was a little banged up, but otherwise was okay.
On the restart, Griffith would try to dive under Jacobs, but “The Snowman” would drive away to the win. Griffith would finish second with Reed, Mayes and Mintz rounding out the top five.
Brubaker would drive into the lead at the drop of the green of the 305 feature from his outside front row starting spot with pole-sitter Brad Bowman battling Shawn Valenti, Paul Weaver and Zack Kramer for second. Brubaker could not pull away from the field, but the battle behind was fantastic, with Weaver moving into third on lap two, with Kramer grabbing the spot a lap later. Following a lap six caution for a Matt Merrill spin, Kramer would drive under Bowman into the runner-up spot on the restart. A lap 9 yellow for Tim Kern and Dustin Stroup would bunch the field dup and Kramer drove under Brubaker to challenge for the lead.
Bowman regained his composure and caught the top two on lap 12 and made it a three-car battle up front before the action would grind to a half when Dustin Dinan made hard contact with the wall exiting turn four, sending him upside down. After Dinan was checked out he was okay, and the racing resumed with the running order Brubaker, Kramer, Bowman and a hard-charging D.J. Foos. Bowman would regain the second spot on lap 16, with Foos nabbing third a lap later.
Brubaker was able to pull away slightly while Bowman and Foos battled each other hard for second. Foos would drive under Bowman for the second spot on lap 22 and was closing fast on Brubaker when the yellow would fly for a Kramer spin on lap 24. Brubaker guessed right on the restart, blocking Foos, allowing Bowman to drive into second as the checkered fell. Valenti would fight back to finish fourth while Steve Rando rounded out the top five.
Despite the fact Maffett drove off and hid in the 25-lap late model feature, the action behind him was good as Larry Kingseed, John Mayes Jr., Ernie Haynes, Brandon Perkins and Ryan Missler battled hard. When Maffett hit lapped traffic on lap 12, he had a straight-away advantage over Haynes, Mayes, Missler and Jeff Esbenshade. Missler would move into third on lap 18 and would race right on Haynes bumper the rest of the way.
As Maffett took the checkered, Haynes would hold off Missler for second while Mays and Esbenshade would round out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, July 17, as Underground Utilities and Bazell Race Fuels present the UMP late models, 305 sprint and dirt trucks for just $10 general admission. Thanks to Ludwig Propane, the late models will battle for $1,500 to win ($200 to start).
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 7/10/2009
Smith Family Frosted Foods Night
410 Sprints
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 11B-Brock Mayes; 2. 25-Lee Jacobs; 3. X-Mark Keegan; 4. 78-Todd Kane; 5. 60-Jody Keegan; 6. 27-Scott Euler; 7. 3J-Kevin Lee; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. O9-Craig Mintz; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 15C-Chris Andrews; 4. 11M-Brandon Martin; 5. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild; 6. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 7. 40-Mark Imler; 8. 91-Aaron Middaugh
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. O4-Cap Henry; 2. 12-Caleb Griffith; 3. 97-Dean Jacobs; 4. 48S-Andy Shammo; 5. 312-Mike Linder; 6. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 7. 45-Brian Lay
Heat 4 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 22-Cole Duncan; 2. 4K-Kody Kinser; 3. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 4. 53-John Ivy; 5. 5T-Travis Philo; 6. 69-Scott Curren; 7. 2+-Brian Smith
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 60-Jody Keegan; 2. 312-Mike Linder; 3. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 4. 3J-Kevin Lee; 5. 27-Scott Euler; 6. 45-Brian Lay; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 9. 40-Mark Imler; 10. 69-Scott Curren; 11. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild; 12. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 13. 5T-Travis Philo; 14. 2+-Brian Smith
A-Main – (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 25-Lee Jacobs[5]; 2. 12-Caleb Griffith[8]; 3. 5R-Byron Reed[3]; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes[10]; 5. O9-Craig Mintz[12]; 6. 11M-Brandon Martin[14]; 7. 53-John Ivy[16]; 8. 15C-Chris Andrews[9]; 9. 3J-Kevin Lee[20]; 10. X-Mark Keegan[7]; 11. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[2]; 12. 4K-Kody Kinser[11]; 13. O4-Cap Henry[4]; 14. 22-Cole Duncan[1]; 15. 78-Todd Kane[13]; 16. 48S-Andy Shammo[15]; 17. 312-Mike Linder[18]; 18. 97-Dean Jacobs[6]; 19. 16-Bryan Sebetto[19]; 20. 60-Jody Keegan[17]
Fremont Fence 305 Sprints
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver; 2. 14-Chad Wilson; 3. 10X-Dustin Stroup; 4. 28-Shawn Valenti; 5. 1-Nate Dussel; 6. M28-Josh Muntz; 7. 22D-Dan Hammond; 8. 72C-John Bartlome; 9. 99X-Tim Buchanan
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 2. 51-Brad Bowman; 3. 8K-Zack Kramer; 4. 11F-D.J. Foos; 5. 41-Dustin Dinan; 6. 49-Coty Runion; 7. 39-Matt Merrill; 8. 13-Junior Felver; 9. 2-Tim Kern
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. 10-Brad Haudenschild; 3. 19R-Steve Rando; 4. 29-Chris Lang; 5. 312-Rich Farmer; 6. 65-Mark Lang; 7. 83X-Nate Reeser; 8. 71-Bill Kraylek
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 49-Coty Runion; 2. M28-Josh Muntz; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond; 4. 39-Matt Merrill; 5. 2-Tim Kern; 6. 65-Mark Lang; 7. 83X-Nate Reeser; 8. 71-Bill Kraylek; 9. 72C-John Bartlome; 10. 99X-Tim Buchanan
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2]; 2. 51-Brad Bowman[1]; 3. 11F-D.J. Foos[11]; 4. 28-Shawn Valenti[4]; 5. 19R-Steve Rando[7]; 6. 1W-Paul Weaver[3]; 7. 40-Bobby Clark[10]; 8. 14-Chad Wilson[6]; 9. 1-Nate Dussel[13]; 10. M28-Josh Muntz[15]; 11. 22D-Dan Hammond[18]; 12. 49-Coty Runion[16]; 13. 39-Matt Merrill[17]; 14. 10X-Dustin Stroup[9]; 15. 2-Tim Kern[20]; 16. 8K-Zack Kramer[5]; 17. 10-Brad Haudenschild[8]; 18. 312-Rich Farmer[19]; 19. 29-Chris Lang[12]; 20. 41-Dustin Dinan[14]
Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop UMP Late Models
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 40WD-Dusty Moore; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler; 3. 92-Brandon Perkins; 4. 21-Larry Kingseed; 5. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade; 6. 99-Steve Sabo; 7. 33-Bryan Koebbe; 8. 41-Randy Pollock; 9. 48-John Bores
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 15B-Mike Bores; 2. 27-Ken Hahn; 3. 69-John Mayes Jr.; 4. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth; 5. 12-Michael Stiltner; 6. 101-Chester Fitch; 7. 83-Noah Wagner; 8. 77C-Craig Corfman
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 2. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 3. 51-Devin Schields; 4. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 5. O3-Jim Gingery; 6. 12M-Bobby Michaels; 7. 29-Nate Potts; 8. 84-Tim Sabo
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 101-Chester Fitch; 2. 84-Tim Sabo; 3. 33-Bryan Koebbe; 4. 29-Nate Potts; 5. 83-Noah Wagner; 6. 41-Randy Pollock; 7. 99-Steve Sabo; 8. 48-John Bores; 9. 77C-Craig Corfman; 10. 12M-Bobby Michaels
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[4]; 2. 5H-Ernie Haynes[9]; 3. 50Y-Ryan Missler[7]; 4. 69-John Mayes Jr.[3]; 5. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade[13]; 6. 27-Ken Hahn[12]; 7. 21-Larry Kingseed[2]; 8. 51-Devin Schields[8]; 9. 3R-Chuck Roelle[1]; 10. O3-Jim Gingery[15]; 11. 92-Brandon Perkins[6]; 12. 12-Michael Stiltner[14]; 13. 29-Nate Potts[19]; 14. 15B-Mike Bores[5]; 15. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth[10]; 16. 40WD-Dusty Moore[11]; 17. 101-Chester Fitch[16]; 18. 84-Tim Sabo[17]; 19. 33-Bryan Koebbe[18]; 20. 83-Noah Wagner[20]