Andrews Holds Off Mintz For Attica 410 Sprint Win; Schlenk Gets 3rd Late Model Victory; Clark Takes 305 Sprints; Waltermeier Nabs Trucks
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Last week Chris Andrews was on the verge of quitting. He had wrecked two cars during the Ohio Sprint Speedweek and his confidence was as low as it could be. But, his crew worked all week to repair one of those cars and led all 30 laps to capture his second 410 sprint win of the season at Attica Raceway Park Friday on Kear’s Speed Shop Night.
It wasn’t easy for Andrews, as he had to hold off a late race challenge from 14th starter Craig Mintz to score the victory. Andrews, from Sandusky, Ohio, opened the 2009 season with a victory at Attica.
“This makes it all worth it. We had two really bad nights which ended our speedweek and this makes up for this. You know after that last race I wanted to quit. This just shows if you stick to it and just hold out there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” said Andrews beside his K&N Filters, Lucas Oil, Goofy Golf backed #15c.
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F.A.S.T. 410 – Chris Andrews
“I saw somebody…I pulled a hellacious wheelie on the backstretch. I just wanted to set it down and go,” added Andrews about seeing Mintz pull under him with two laps remaining.
“I have to thank my crew…Craig Stevens and Jimmy Havens who came out to help me. I’ve got the best motor in the pits by Gressman Powersports,” concluded Andrews.
Mintz’s second place run tightens the points battle in the Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title Championship series as he came into the event just nine points behind Byron Reed who finished sixth.
In the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Models, Jackson, Michigan’s Rusty Schlenk took the lead with an ill-fated slide-job on Mike Bores on lap 17, and went on to his third win of the season at ARP. Schlenk made contact with Bores exiting turn four, damaging Bores front and ending his night.
“We had a good car..that slide job was supposed to be clear. I drove it in so hard, when I was on the breaks I actually stalled the car out… and when he hit me it took the car back off…I feel bad for him (Bores),” said Schlenk beside his Micro Armor Lubricants, Complete Truck Repair, Main & Company backed late model. “I like this place…it’s a lot similar to Oak Shade where we run a lot and the competition is real good here too.”
“I got to thank my crew. Dusty’s been with us all week long…we’ve been with the Summer Nationals and this is like our eighth or ninth night of racing in a row so we’re whooped. I have to thank Shawn for showing up…he drove out to Macon (Illinois) last night because we were so beat…he drove five hours to come help,” added Schlenk.
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305 Sprints – Bobby Clark
Fremont, Ohio’s Bobby Clark drove from third into the lead in one lap as he split his nephew Zack Cramer and Josh Muntz on a lap eight restart and went on to score his second win of the season at Attica in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints. It wasn’t easy for Clark, who had a power steering leak that covered him in hot fluid as Kramer pressured him the entire distance.
“I thought I was just old and getting tired but then I felt the heat on my legs so I knew what it was then,” said Clark referring to the power steering fluid leak.
“I got shuffled back on the start so I decided to just settle in and pick off cars. I was real good in one and two and if I could hold my own in three and four I knew I could get them in one and two,” said Clark beside his Fremont Fence, Steve Mapus Tools, Erlin Trader, Al Davis Carpeting backed #40.
The dirt truck feature was another dandy, as three trucks – Dwight Waltermeier, Cory Ward and Art Ball put on a tremendous battle. When the dusty settled, Wayne, Ohio’s Waltermeier edged Ball for his first career Attica victory.
“Finally! I didn’t know if I would ever get on the horse track (victory lane) here. I looked down and saw that 01 (Ball) and I knew if I made a mistake I was done with that guy and then throw in Cory (Ward)…those guys are just so darn good…you can’t make a mistake,” said Waltermeier beside his CA Kustoms, Graham Racing Engines, Machine Control Resources backed truck. “I really like racing here…it’s really fast.”
At the start of the 410 feature, front row starters Andrews and Bryan Sebetto put on a fantastic battle up front with Kevin Lee, Mark Keegan and Caleb Griffith waging a war of their own for third. A red for a Andy Shammo tip over on the third circuit followed by a yellow for a Mike Burkin spin slowed the action, but Andrews and Sebetto picked right back off when the green flew. Andrews was just getting ready to hit lapped traffic on lap nine when Brandon Martin took a nasty ride off turn three, bringing down the catch fence in front of the pits.
Following a brief open red while the track crew repaired the fence. The big crowd was buzzing about the charge by Mintz, who has moved to fifth from his 14th starting spot. On the restart, Andrews, using the extreme top groove of the track, pulled away slightly from Sebetto as the race would go the rest of the way caution free. Keegan would drive under Sebetto on lap 17 to grab the runner-up spot while Mintz would take third a lap later. As Andrews hit lapped traffic with 10 laps to go, the crowed was entertained by the battle for second between Keegan, Mintz, Sebetto, Griffith and Mike Linder. Mintz, using the low line, would battle Keegan for second and grab the spot on lap 22 as he also pulled under Andrews.
Andrews and Mintz would run side-by-side the remaining eight laps, and as Andrews too the white flag, Mintz charged under him. Andrews went to the high side of three and four on the last lap and Mintz tried one last drive under him, but Andrews would hold on for the win. Mintz, Keegan, Linder and Sebetto would round out the top five.
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Late Models – Rusty Schlenk
The start of the 25-lap late model main got off to a rocky start, as three straight yellows slowed the pace. Dave Hornikel would grab the early lead as Mike Bores charged around Ernie Haynes on lap four for second. Bores would drive to the outside of Hornikel to grab the lead on lap six, bringing Ryan Missler into second. The final caution would fly on lap 9 for a stalled Hornikel with the running order Bores, Missler, Dusty Moore and 11th starter Rusty Schlenk.
Bores was able to pull away some what, but Schlenk made a great move on lap 12 to go from fourth to second. With 10 laps remaining, Schlenk was able to pull under Bores as the two raced side-by-side the next three circuits before Schlenk attempted the slide job in turn four on lap 17 and grabbed the lead as he made contact with Bores, who had go pitside with a broken front end and radiator.
Schlenk would pull away, but the battle for second was awesome between Moore, Missler, Ernie Haynes and Justin Chance and that’s the way they would finish.
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Trucks – Dwight Waltermeier
Cory Ward grabbed the early lead of the 15-lap main for the dirt trucks with Waltermeier using the high line to move from his sixth starting spot into second in just two laps while Ball pressured in third and Paul Brown Jr., Bob Dible and Dan Hennig ran in their tire tracks. Ward, Waltermeier and Ball would pull away slightly as they raced each other hard for the lead. Ball would grab second on lap nine, only to see Waltermeier drive by both he and Ward into the lead a lap later. The caution would fly on lap 11 with the running order Waltermier, Ball, Ward, Hennig and Dible.
Ball would drive under Waltermeier each of the remaining four laps, but could not complete the pass as Ward would spin exiting turn four coming to the checkers. Waltermier would take the victory over Ball, Hennig, Dible and Brian Arnold.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, July 10 for Christmas in July presented by Smith Family Frosted Foods with the 410 sprints, UMP Late Models and Fremont Fence 305 Sprints in action. It will be kick off the second half of the season for the Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship series, a separate point fund for the 410 sprints, besides the point fund for both Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 7/3/2009
Kears Speed Shop Night
410 Sprints
Kistler Racing Products Fremont/ Attica Sprint Title (F.A.S.T.) Night #11
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 312-Mike Linder; 2. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 3. 15C-Chris Andrews; 4. 14H-Todd Heller; 5. 48S-Andy Shammo; 6. 53-John Ivy; 7. 25-Lee Jacobs; 8. 27-Scott Euler; 9. 2+-Brian Smith
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes; 3. 12-Caleb Griffith; 4. 11M-Brandon Martin; 5. O9-Craig Mintz; 6. O4-Cap Henry; 7. 10-David Harrison; 8. 48JR-Jimmy Mcgrath; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 3J-Kevin Lee; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 48-Mike Burkin; 4. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 5. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild; 6. 60-Jody Keegan; 7. 69-Scott Curren; 8. O4AU-Matt Butler
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 Transfer)
1. 53-John Ivy; 2. 25-Lee Jacobs; 3. 60-Jody Keegan; 4. O4-Cap Henry; 5. 10-David Harrison; 6. 27-Scott Euler; 7. 69-Scott Curren; 8. O4AU-Matt Butler; 9. 48JR-Jimmy Mcgrath
A-Main – (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 15C-Chris Andrews[1]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[14]; 3. X-Mark Keegan[5]; 4. 312-Mike Linder[8]; 5. 16-Bryan Sebetto[2]; 6. 5R-Byron Reed[7]; 7. 12-Caleb Griffith[6]; 8. 11B-Brock Mayes[9]; 9. 25-Lee Jacobs[17]; 10. O4-Cap Henry[19]; 11. 3J-Kevin Lee[4]; 12. 60-Jody Keegan[18]; 13. 53-John Ivy[16]; 14. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[15]; 15. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[10]; 16. 48-Mike Burkin[3]; 17. 11M-Brandon Martin[11]; 18. 14H-Todd Heller[12]; 19. 48S-Andy Shammo[13]; 20. 10-David Harrison[20]
Fremont Fence 305 Sprints
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps)
1. 8K-Zack Kramer; 2. 71-Bill Kraylek; 3. M28-Josh Muntz; 4. 65-Mark Lang; 5. 913-Junior Felver; 6. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 7. 10X-Dustin Stroup; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps)
1. 2-Tim Kern; 2. 28-Shawn Valenti; 3. 1-Nate Dussel; 4. 9-Jimmy Colvin; 5. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 6. 22D-Dan Hammond; 7. 29-Chris Lang
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos; 2. 51-Brad Bowman; 3. 40-Bobby Clark; 4. 19R-Steve Rando; 5. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 6. 1W-Paul Weaver; 7. 41-Dustin Dinan
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 40-Bobby Clark[3]; 2. 8K-Zack Kramer[6]; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[18]; 4. 11F-D.J. Foos[7]; 5. 19R-Steve Rando[4]; 6. M28-Josh Muntz[1]; 7. 1-Nate Dussel[5]; 8. 9-Jimmy Colvin[8]; 9. 41-Dustin Dinan[21]; 10. 28-Shawn Valenti[12]; 11. 51-Brad Bowman[11]; 12. 2-Tim Kern[10]; 13. 82-Travis Hoffbauer[16]; 14. 10X-Dustin Stroup[19]; 15. 22D-Dan Hammond[17]; 16. 83X-Nate Reeser[22]; 17. 35-Stuart Brubaker[15]; 18. 67M-Matt Ferrell[14]; 19. 71-Bill Kraylek[9]; 20. 65-Mark Lang[2]; 21. 913-Junior Felver[13]; 22. 29-Chris Lang[20]
Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop UMP Late Models
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk; 2. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 3. 1-Jon Henry; 4. 67-Chris Keller; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed; 6. 99-Steve Sabo; 7. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade; 8. O3-Jim Gingery
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 15B-Mike Bores; 2. 71-Dave Hornikel; 3. 83-Noah Wagner; 4. 27-Ken Hahn; 5. 48B-Mike Marteney; 6. 41-Randy Pollock; 7. 12M-Bobby Michaels; 8. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. O1-Justin Chance; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler; 3. 51-Devin Schields; 4. 12-Michael Stiltner; 5. 90-Mark Glassford; 6. 69-John Mayes Jr.; 7. 18-Jamie Reed; 8. 77C-Craig Corfman
Heat 4 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 40WD-Dusty Moore; 2. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 3. 60-Dale Glassford; 4. X3-Dan Wallace; 5. 48-John Bores; 6. 101-Chester Fitch; 7. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 8. 92-Brandon Perkins
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 21-Larry Kingseed; 2. 48-John Bores; 3. 101-Chester Fitch; 4. 48B-Mike Marteney; 5. 41-Randy Pollock; 6. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth; 7. 69-John Mayes Jr.; 8. 92-Brandon Perkins; 9. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 10. 90-Mark Glassford; 11. 18-Jamie Reed; 12. 99-Steve Sabo; 13. 77C-Craig Corfman; 14. 12M-Bobby Michaels; 15. O3-Jim Gingery
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk[11]; 2. 40WD-Dusty Moore[9]; 3. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5]; 4. 5H-Ernie Haynes[1]; 5. O1-Justin Chance[10]; 6. 51-Devin Schields[8]; 7. X3-Dan Wallace[16]; 8. 1-Jon Henry[12]; 9. 21-Larry Kingseed[17]; 10. 101-Chester Fitch[19]; 11. 60-Dale Glassford[6]; 12. 27-Ken Hahn[14]; 13. 67-Chris Keller[13]; 14. 48B-Mike Marteney[20]; 15. 12-Michael Stiltner[15]; 16. 48-John Bores[18]; 17. 83-Noah Wagner[4]; 18. 15B-Mike Bores[3]; 19. 71-Dave Hornikel[2]; 20. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[7]
Computer Man Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps)
1. 39-Dwight Waltermier; 2. O1-Art Ball; 3. 56-Alex Weichman; 4. 17-Bob Dible; 5. 9-Curt Inks; 6. 4-Donald Fitch; 7. 4J-Jeremy Lozano; 8. 30-Dave Gibbs
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps)
1. P51-Paul Brown Jr.; 2. 18W-Cory Ward; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg; 4. 71-Craig Holland; 5. 13S-James Saam; 6. 84-Adam Jones; 7. 8K-Kent Brewer
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps)
1. 32H-Dan Hennig; 2. 33-Brian Arnold; 3. 4X-Brian Sorg; 4. 21R-Dana Frey; 5. 92-Jordan Schwochow; 6. 34K-Kevin Miller; 7. 5F-Skeeter Fitch
A-Main – (15 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 39-Dwight Waltermier[6]; 2. O1-Art Ball[7]; 3. 32H-Dan Hennig[9]; 4. 17-Bob Dible[11]; 5. 33-Brian Arnold[10]; 6. P51-Paul Brown Jr.[8]; 7. 8K-Kent Brewer[20]; 8. 56-Alex Weichman[12]; 9. 71-Craig Holland[4]; 10. 4X-Brian Sorg[5]; 11. 9-Curt Inks[13]; 12. 18W-Cory Ward[1]; 13. 92-Jordan Schwochow[15]; 14. 4S-Keith Sorg[3]; 15. 21R-Dana Frey[2]; 16. 34K-Kevin Miller[18]; 17. 5F-Skeeter Fitch[21]; 18. 84-Adam Jones[17]; 19. 13S-James Saam[14]