Linder, Foos, Maffett, Ward Get Attica Wins; Reed, Brubaker, Deisenroth, Ward Take Championships
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Mike Linder described his 2008 season as “miserable,” but the Fremont, Ohio driver can find two bright spots – 410 sprint feature wins at Attica Raceway Park, including Saturday, Aug. 23, on Kistler Race Engines Night.
While Linder won the battle, Byron Reed won the war, claiming his fourth straight track championship with a second place run in the feature.
“I’m happy for my crew…they’ve had to work their tails off because of all he crashes,” said Linder beside his Linder’s Speed Equipment, R&R Used Auto Sales, State Street Consignment sponsored #312. “I’m happy to win on Kistler night…Paul builds us one heck of an engine.”
“You can’t find any better racing than Attica and Fremont on a weekly basis. My family loves coming here and that’s special to me. It’s hard to believe we’ve won four championships in a row,” said Byron Reed about the fifth track title in the last six years at Ohio’s Finest Racing speedplant.
Rookie D.J. Foos is looking like a seasoned veteran as the 18-year-old won his second 305 sprint feature of the season, battling hard throughout the 25-lap affair with Benny Bowman and Duane Zablocki.
“I just can’t believe we have won two of these. Coming into the season I would have been happy just to make the feature,” said Foos beside his Burger King, Fremont Auto Parts, Linder’s Speed Equipment backed #11F.
Stuart Brubaker came from the back of the pack to finish sixth and claim his first track championship in the 305 sprints. The Helena, Ohio driver won four features at Attica in 2008…the first of his career.
“I have to give credit to Joe Laugherty for all the hard work he has put into this team. I can’t believe the season we’ve had. To win four features here against this competition is unbelievable. And to get a track championship….wow! We’ll be back next year to defend this title and we’re going to win more races,” said Brubaker beside his Brubaker Auction Services backed #35.
ImageMansfield’s Wayne Maffett Jr. battled Ken Hahn and Curtis Deisenroth the last 12 laps of the Service Drive Solutions Attica Late Model feature before edging out Hahn for his 32nd career Attica win and the third of the season.
“This is the greatest track in Ohio…this is home to me,” said Maffett beside his Wright Choice Auto Sales, Lucas Day Racing, Fultz Fabrications & Speedshop backed #40. “That was one heck of a race. That was good clean, side-by-side racing with the right outcome.”
Another driver that had a dream season is 22-year-old Curtis Deisenroth of Oak Harbor with his third place finish in the feature, he wrapped up the 2008 Attica track title in the late model division.
“We got our first two wins here and then to get the track championship is a dream come true. I can’t thank my sponsors B2B Racing Zeller Towing, Z-Graphics, Riverside Machine and everyone who helps out,” said Deisenroth.
Sandusky’s Cory Ward put all doubts about the Attica championship in the dirt trucks to rest with his sixth feature win of the season.
“I know everyone else has said it has been a dream season, but it truly is for me. I have to thank my dad, my grandpa and my uncle Jeff, my wife and kids and all the sponsors,” said Ward of his first track title beside his T.J. Hosang Construction, Budweiser, Excuses Lounge backed #18w.
ImageIn the 30-lap 410 sprint feature, Linder jumped out to a big lead from his pole starting spot, setting a blistering pace that saw him hit lapped traffic by the fifth circuit. The battle was for second between Mike Dussel, Byron Reed and Troy Vaccaro. Linder’s fast pace slowed significantly due to heavy lapped traffic racing two and sometimes three wide in front of him. He had to slice his way through carefully allowing Reed and Dussel to close.
Once free of some of the traffic, Linder continued to hold about a 10-car length advantage of Reed who had pulled away from Dussel who had to battle Vaccaro. As the laps ticked by, the car on the move was David Harrison who climbed from his ninth starting spot to fourth at the half way mark.
The only halt to the action came on lap 27 when Dussel and Harrison got together on the front stretch while battling for third, sending Harrison flipping (he was okay) and Dussel to the work area with suspension damage.For the second straight week, the car on the move late in the race was John Ivy who once again came from 18th to third with the elimination of Dussel and Harrison.
Attica’s rules put all lapped machines to the tail so fans can see a shoot out among the top runners.However, Linder pulled away easily for the win with Reed, Ivy, 12th starter Phil Gressman and Vaccaro rounding out the top five.
“That lapped traffic was crazy…it seemed we ran the entire race in traffic and it was a lot of work,” said Linder of his 9th career Attica win. “I’m not a big fan of sending the lapped cars to the tail…it probably has cost us two or three features this season. But, I can see how it creates excitement for the fans and they are spending their hard-earned bucks to come here so I guess it’s not all bad. But when that red came out I knew that five car (Reed) had to be behind me. I saw my brother (Steven) signal to keep digging so I just kept driving her as hard as I could.”
ImageThe start of the 25-lap 305 sprint feature saw three lead changes in the first three laps between Benny Bowman an Matt Ferrell before Bowman would take a slight lead. Fifth starter Foos would move into third on the second lap and into the runner-up slot by lap five. He would race side by side with Bowman the next five laps before pulling into the lead running the very bottom of the track. Bowman would then have to battle with a hard-charging Zablocki as they stayed within a bumper of Foos.
The first caution would fly on lap 20 with the running order Foos, Zablocki, Bowman, Dustin Dinan and Coty Runion.They were able to get another lap in before the final caution. On the restart Foos would stick to the bottom with Zablocki blasting around the rim. Foos was able to hold on for the win with Zablocki, Bowman, Dinan and Dustin Keegan rounding out the top five.
“I knew I was getting close to those tractor tires in turns one and two…I counted four close calls,” said Foos of his low riding line.
At the drop of the green for the 20-lap late model feature, Deisenroth jumped into the lead but defending track champion Ken Hahn served notice he was going to be a force to reckon with, racing side by side for the top spot. It was a four car battle up front throughout the first half of the race with Ryan Missler and 7th-starter Maffett joining Deisenroth and Hahn.
Hahn would drive under Deisenroth for the lead on lap 13, but Deisenroth fought back to the outside with Maffett sticking his nose under Hahn. Maffett would take second on lap 17 and would get a good bite exiting turn two to take the lead on the next circuit. Maffett would hold off Hahn’s last lap charge for the win with Deisenroth, Jeff McCoy and Missler rounding out the top five.
“We’ve won a lot of races at this place, but that was probably the hardest I’ve had to work for it,” said Maffett.
ImageIn the 15-lap dirt truck feature, Bob Dible grabbed the initial lead and then raced side by side with Ward until driving off the top of the track in turns three and four on lap six. Ward would take the top spot, but wasn’t able to shake 12th-starter Art Ball who raced him side by side from lap eight until Ball spun on lap 11.
Ward could not pull away and took the checkered by less than a truck length over Dave Brewer, Brian Arnold, Dan Hennig and Paul Dymond.
“More and more of these guys are stepping up their game. They are racing me clean and hard,” said Ward.
Attica Raceway Park wraps up the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug 30 as the Baumann Auto Group, Aaron’s Sales & Lease & Ohio CAT Presents the Attica Ambush featuring the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions along with the Attica Late Models and dirt trucks. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing underway at 7:30 p.m.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park (8-23-08)
Kistler Engines Season Championship Night
410 Sprints
Heat 1 – All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 2. 22-Cole Duncan; 3. 9X-Phil Gressman; 4. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 5. 55-John Ivy; 6. 12-Caleb Griffith; 7. 4M-Jamie Miller; 8. 14-Willie Keegan
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 10-David Harrison; 2. 45-Brian Lay; 3. 75-Mike Hogan; 4. O2-Brian Smith; 5. X-Mark Keegan; 6. 5T-Travis Philo; 7. 18-Josh Yenser; 8. 47-Caleb Helms
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 6-Mike Dussel (R); 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 15C-Chris Andrews; 4. 3J-Kevin Lee; 5. O4-Cap Henry; 6. 8K-Scott Curren; 7. 61-Chad Gullett; 8. 91-Aaron Middaugh
Heat 4 – Friendship Food Stores (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 312-Mike Linder; 2. D7-Tony Beaber; 3. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 4. 1-Doug Berryman; 5. 48S-Mke Burkin; 6. 27-Scott Euler; 7. 11-Josh Harrison; 8. 67-Chris Plascak
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 55-John Ivy; 3. O4-Cap Henry; 4. 4M-Jamie Miller; 5. 5T-Travis Philo; 6. 48S-Mke Burkin; 7. 27-Scott Euler; 8. 8K-Scott Curren; 9. 18-Josh Yenser; 10. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 11. 47-Caleb Helms; 12. 67-Chris Plascak; 13. 14-Willie Keegan; 14. 11-Josh Harrison; 15. 12-Caleb Griffith; 16. 61-Chad Gullett
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 312-Mike Linder[1]; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[6]; 3. 55-John Ivy[18]; 4. 9X-Phil Gressman[12]; 5. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[2]; 6. 15C-Chris Andrews[10]; 7. 75-Mike Hogan[5]; 8. 16-Bryan Sebetto[13]; 9. 6-Mike Dussel (R)[4]; 10. O2-Brian Smith[14]; 11. O4-Cap Henry[19]; 12. 22-Cole Duncan[11]; 13. 4M-Jamie Miller[20]; 14. X-Mark Keegan[17]; 15. 98-Bruce Robenalt[7]; 16. 45-Brian Lay[8]; 17. 3J-Kevin Lee[15]; 18. 10-David Harrison[9]; 19. D7-Tony Beaber[3]; 20. 1-Doug Berryman[16]305 Sprints
Heat 1 – All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 55-Benny Bowman; 2. 27-Paige Polyak; 3. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 4. 22D-Dan Hammond; 5. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh; 6. 13-Larry Felver Jr.; 7. 80-Jake Trevino; 8. 71-Bill Kraylek; 9. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 10. 5D-Craig Kays
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 5-Dustin Dinan; 2. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 3. 66L-Brad Bowman; 4. 1-Nate Dussel; 5. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 6. 9-Jimmy Colvin; 7. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 8. 596-Zack Ames (R); 9. 4T-Jim Taddeo; 10. 24X-Tom Nichols
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos (R); 2. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 3. 49-Coty Runion; 4. 3X-Brad Keckler; 5. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 6. 29-Chris Lang; 7. 65-Mark Lang; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 33-Tim Kern; 10. 29D-Steve Daniels
Heat 4 – Friendship Food Stores (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 3. 25P-Mark Pridemore; 4. 19R-Steve Rando; 5. 18-Todd Heuerman; 6. 15H-Mitch Harble; 7. 23-Chaud Laux; 8. 10-Brad Haudenschild; 9. 47-Josh Muntz
B-Main 1 – Computer Man Inc. (8 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 80-Jake Trevino; 2. 9-Jimmy Colvin; 3. 71-Bill Kraylek; 4. 13-Larry Felver Jr.; 5. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 6. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 7. 4T-Jim Taddeo; 8. 24X-Tom Nichols; 9. 5D-Craig Kays; 10. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 11. 596-Zack Ames (R)
B-Main 2 – Computer Man Inc. (8 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 18-Todd Heuerman; 2. 15H-Mitch Harble; 3. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 4. 47-Josh Muntz; 5. 23-Chaud Laux; 6. 65-Mark Lang; 7. 29-Chris Lang; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 29D-Steve Daniels
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 11F-D.J. Foos (R)[5]; 2. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[2]; 3. 55-Benny Bowman[1]; 4. 5-Dustin Dinan[8]; 5. 36X-Dustin Keegan[10]; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[19]; 7. 40-Bobby Clark[12]; 8. 49-Coty Runion[7]; 9. 80-Jake Trevino[15]; 10. 67M-Matt Ferrell[3]; 11. 18-Todd Heuerman[18]; 12. 3X-Brad Keckler[13]; 13. 22D-Dan Hammond[11]; 14. 27-Paige Polyak[6]; 15. 15H-Mitch Harble[20]; 16. 1-Nate Dussel[14]; 17. 66L-Brad Bowman[9]; 18. 25P-Mark Pridemore[4]; 19. 9-Jimmy Colvin[17]; 20. 19R-Steve Rando[16]
Service Drive Solutions UMP Attica Late Models
Heat 1 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 laps)
1. 50-Ryan Missler; 2. 15B-Mike Bores; 3. 1-Jim Fleming; 4. 12-Michael Stiltner; 5. 27-Ken Hahn; 6. 99-Steve Sabo; 7. 83-Noah Wagner (R); 8. 3R-Chuck Rolle (R); 9. 18-Jamie Reed; 10. 30-Nate Potts
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps)
1. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 2. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth; 3. 45-Mike Marteney; 4. 12H-Jeff Mccoy; 5. 48-John Bores; 6. 77C-Craig Corfman; 7. 41-Randy Pollock; 8. 25-Ryan Eddleblute; 9. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 10. 12C-Steve Endicott
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[7]; 2. 27-Ken Hahn[3]; 3. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth[1]; 4. 12H-Jeff Mccoy[10]; 5. 50-Ryan Missler[5]; 6. 99-Steve Sabo[6]; 7. 15B-Mike Bores[8]; 8. 5H-Ernie Haynes[18]; 9. 83-Noah Wagner (R)[13]; 10. 12-Michael Stiltner[11]; 11. 45-Mike Marteney[2]; 12. 3R-Chuck Rolle (R)[15]; 13. 18-Jamie Reed[17]; 14. 48-John Bores[4]; 15. 77C-Craig Corfman[9]; 16. 12C-Steve Endicott[20]; 17. 1-Jim Fleming[12]; 18. 41-Randy Pollock[14]; 19. 30-Nate Potts[19]; 20. 25-Ryan Eddleblute[16]
Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 laps)
1. 17-Bob Dible; 2. 18W-Cory Ward; 3. 33-Brian Arnold; 4. 32H-Dan Hennig; 5. 92-Loren Schwochow; 6. 30-Dave Gibbs; 7. 71-Craig Holland
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps)
1. 88-Dave Brewer; 2. O1-Art Ball; 3. 84-Steve Endicott; 4. 8K-Rob Kramer; 5. 91-Roger Inks; 6. 4X-Brian Sorg
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps)
1. 56-Alex Wiechman; 2. 62-Dave Severs; 3. 1-Paul Dymond; 4. 101-Chester Fitch; 5. 4D-Donald Fitch; 6. O7-John Harmon; 7. P51-Paul Brown Jr.
A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 18W-Cory Ward[4]; 2. 88-Dave Brewer[5]; 3. 33-Brian Arnold[9]; 4. 32H-Dan Hennig[8]; 5. 1-Paul Dymond[11]; 6. O1-Art Ball[12]; 7. 56-Alex Wiechman[3]; 8. 4X-Brian Sorg[17]; 9. 84-Steve Endicott[7]; 10. 91-Roger Inks[14]; 11. 101-Chester Fitch[10]; 12. 62-Dave Severs[2]; 13. O7-John Harmon[18]; 14. 17-Bob Dible[1]; 15. 92-Loren Schwochow[13]; 16. 4D-Donald Fitch[15]; 17. P51-Paul Brown Jr.[20]; 18. 71-Craig Holland[19]; 19. 30-Dave Gibbs[16]; 20. 8K-Rob Kramer[6]