Blonde Puts “Classroom” Knowledge To Use With Attica All Star Win
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Chad Blonde went back to school this spring, and its paying off for the Litchfield, Mich., driver. He battled Stevie Smith throughout the 40-lap feature Saturday night to take his first ever O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions victory at Attica Raceway Park on Baumann Auto Group Night to close out the track’s 20th season of racing.
Blonde and Smith waged a torrid battle for the lead the last half of the race before the 2006 All Star Rookie of the Year would grab his third All Star win of the season and his first at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue.
“I decided to take the early part of the year off and I went to work for Scott Benic and his USAC team. I learned a lot about car set-up and how to operate a professional organization and that’s paying off now,” said Blonde beside his TLC Auto Collision, Wesmar Engine, Hendrixson Trucking baked sprinter.
Image”I’ve finished second here a lot..to finally get a win here and have it be an All Star win is really special in front of this huge crowd. Stevie Smith raced me harder than I’ve ever been raced before. He’s such a professional. That was a lot of fun,” continued Blonde.
It was outside front row starter Dean Jacobs who grabbed he initial lead from pole-sitter Stevie Smith. But, after one lap in the books, the yellow would fly for a Brian Paulus, Rod George, Caleb Griffith crash. After another yellow on the ensuing lap for Paulus and John Ivy, Jacobs would set sail with Smith and Mark Keegan racing him hard for the lead. Another caution on lap five for Jamie Miller would see the runing order Jacobs, Smith, Keegan, Blonde, and fast qualifier Rob Chaney.
The race when then heat up when the green came back out, with Jacobs leading, but a great battle between Smith, Keegan and Blonde behind. Blonde would dive under Keegan and Smith to grab the runner-up spot on lap 8 and would begin putting pressure on Jacobs a circuit later. Blonde would drive under Jacobs for the lead exiting turn 4 on lap 10 and would encounter lapped traffic on lap 13. Smith would drive under Jacobs for second on lap 15 with Jacobs fighting back to his outside. While Blonde negotiated lapped traffic, Smith, Jacobs and Keegan would battle hard until the final yellow would fly on lap 19 for Brock Mayes.
Blonde had a pair of lapped machines back to second running Smith, with Jacobs, Keegan and 10th-starter Greg Wilson. On lap 23, Smith had cleared the lapped traffic and was once again putting pressure on Blonde. Smith would drive around the high side of Blonde and into the lad on lap 24, as Wilson moved into third. Blonde would fight back and regain the lead on lap 27 as the large crowd rose to their feet.
Blonde continued a torrid pace, dicing his way through lapped traffic as Smith worked to get close. A late race bobble in lapped traffic for Smith would see Blonde pull away for the the victory. Smith, Wilson, Keegan and Dale Blaney would round out the top five.
“That was a lot of fun. I love this race track…it’s always been good to me. We’ll take a win last night (Friday at Lernerville) and a good second tonight. The fans got to see one hell of a race tonight,” said Smith beside is Race Against the Abuse of Children Everywhere backed sprinter.
“Points…what points? We didn’t come here to race for points…we came here to win. If we continue to race like we did tonight, the points will take care of themselves. Veryl (Warnimont) and Sabrina continue to give us the best equipment out there to get another All Star championship,” said Wilson of his All Star Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning backed sprinter, which sits second in the All Star point standings, closing in on leader Danny Smith.
ImageIn the Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop Attica Late Models, Bellevue’s Ryan Missler picked up his fourth win of the season, while 2007 Attica track champion Art Ball scored his fifth win of the year as well in the dirt trucks.
Missler grabbed the lead from Mike Bores on lap 9 and ran away with the victory aboard his Missler Industries, Taze DJ & Karaoke backed late model. Ryan Eddleblute, 2007 track Champion Ken Hahn, Michael Stiltner and Bores would round out the top five.
“We improved on last year…and that’s our goal, to keep improving,” said Missler beside his McElwain Construction backed late model. “I have to thank all our sponsors and all the fans who stayed out here to watch us race tonight.
ImageBall grabbed the lead from the get-go in the dirt truck feature, though Bob Dible hounded him the entire distance. Ball would take the victory with Dible, Aaron Schatzinger, Brian Arnold and Jim Keegan rounding out the top five.
“Bob got under my rear end a couple of times. He was fast, but I knew he would have to drive under me to get by and he couldn’t. What a way to finish off the year,” said the 68-year-old Ball beside his Mager’s Lumber, Clouse Construction backed dirt truck.
“John Bores and the rest of the staff at Attica Raceway Park would like to thank the drivers, teams, fans and sponsors for such a great 2007 season. We look forward to more exciting racing in 2008,” said ARP Operations Director
Rex LeJeune
Attica Raceway Park (9-1-07)
O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions
Baumann Auto Group Night
Qualifying – Huggins Cams
1. 24H-Rob Chaney, 11.990; 2. 11M-Brandon Martin, 12.048; 3. 5B-Chad Blonde, 12.090; 4. X-Mark Keegan, 12.091; 5. 7K-Dean Jacobs, 12.114; 6. 19-Stevie Smith, 12.116; 7. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.121; 8. 11B-Brock Mayes, 12.122; 9. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.175; 10. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.181; 11. 16-Lee Jacobs, 12.188; 12. 4-Danny Smith, 12.217; 13. 28-Brian Paulus, 12.259; 14. 71M-Paul May, 12.259; 15. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 12.338; 16. OO-Nick Nabor, 12.371; 17. 75-Kenny Jacobs, 12.375; 18. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.382; 19. 10-David Harrison, 12.404; 20. 27-Scott Euler, 12.421; 21. O-Gus Wasson, 12.462; 22. 4M-Jamie Miller, 12.472; 23. 51-John Ivy, 12.492; 24. 3L-Mike Linder, 12.511; 25. 48S-Andy Shammo, 12.539; 26. 3T-Tony Beaber, 12.579; 27. M20-Chris Andrews, 12.592; 28. 12-Caleb Griffith, 12.618; 29. 4G-Rod George, 12.738; 30. 56R-Ryan Myers, 12.746; 31. 4H-Todd Hestor, 12.988; 32. 98-Bruce Robenalt, 13.051; 33. 22D-Josh Davis, 13.238; 34. 22-Jimmy Stinson, 13.328; 35. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 13.440; 36. 10S-Roger Shammo, 13.656; 37. 40-Mark Imler, 13.752; 38. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.858; 39. O6-Brandy Bower, 13.974; 40. 69-Scott Curren, NT
Heat 1 – Crown Battery (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 24H-Rob Chaney; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. O-Gus Wasson; 4. 28-Brian Paulus; 5. 7K-Dean Jacobs; 6. 4G-Rod George; 7. 48S-Andy Shammo; 8. 22D-Josh Davis; 9. 75-Kenny Jacobs; 10. 40-Mark Imler
Heat 2 – Hoosier Racing Tire (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 4M-Jamie Miller; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 11M-Brandon Martin; 4. 19-Stevie Smith; 5. 71M-Paul May; 6. O9-Craig Mintz; 7. 22-Jimmy Stinson; 8. 3T-Tony Beaber; 9. 56R-Ryan Myers; 10. 5T-Travis Philo
Heat 3 – Engler Machine & Tool (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 10-David Harrison; 2. 16-Lee Jacobs; 3. 2-Dale Blaney; 4. 5B-Chad Blonde; 5. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 6. 51-John Ivy; 7. M20-Chris Andrews; 8. 4H-Todd Hestor; 9. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 10. O6-Brandy Bower
Heat 4 – Taylor Wings (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 27-Scott Euler; 3. 3L-Mike Linder; 4. 4-Danny Smith; 5. 11B-Brock Mayes; 6. 12-Caleb Griffith; 7. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 8. OO-Nick Nabor; 9. 10S-Roger Shammo; 10. 69-Scott Curren
Dash – Haulmark (6 laps)
1. 11B-Brock Mayes; 2. 2-Dale Blaney; 3. 11M-Brandon Martin; 4. 24H-Rob Chaney; 5. W20-Greg Wilson; 6. 4-Danny Smith
B-Main – University of Northwest Ohio (12 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 51-John Ivy; 2. 12-Caleb Griffith; 3. 4G-Rod George; 4. O9-Craig Mintz; 5. M20-Chris Andrews; 6. 48S-Andy Shammo; 7. 3T-Tony Beaber; 8. 10S-Roger Shammo; 9. 22-Jimmy Stinson; 10. 56R-Ryan Myers; 11. 22D-Josh Davis; 12. OO-Nick Nabor; 13. O6-Brandy Bower; 14. 40-Mark Imler; 15. 4H-Todd Hestor; 16. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 17. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 18. 69-Scott Curren; 19. 5T-Travis Philo
A-Main – MSD Ignition (40 Laps) Starting Position [#]
1. 5B-Chad Blonde[4]; 2. 19-Stevie Smith[1]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[10]; 4. X-Mark Keegan[3]; 5. 2-Dale Blaney[7]; 6. 7K-Dean Jacobs[2]; 7. 24H-Rob Chaney[6]; 8. 11M-Brandon Martin[5]; 9. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[15]; 10. 5R-Byron Reed[9]; 11. 4-Danny Smith[12]; 12. O-Gus Wasson[19]; 13. 4G-Rod George[24]; 14. O9-Craig Mintz[16]; 15. 16-Lee Jacobs[11]; 16. 51-John Ivy[21]; 17. 71M-Paul May[14]; 18. 10-David Harrison[17]; 19. 27-Scott Euler[18]; 20. 11B-Brock Mayes[8]; 21. 3L-Mike Linder[22]; 22. 4M-Jamie Miller[20]; 23. 28-Brian Paulus[13]; 24. 12-Caleb Griffith[23]
Fultz Fabrications & Speed Shop Late Models
Heat 1 – Bell Helmets (8 laps)
1. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 2. 1-Jim Fleming; 3. 41-Randy Pollock; 4. 50-Ryan Missler; 5. 12-Michael Stiltner; 6. 15B-Mike Bores; 7. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 8. 77C-Craig Corfman; 9. 101-Chester Fitch
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps)
1. 48-John Bores; 2. 45-Mike Marteney; 3. 25-Ryan Eddleblute; 4. 27-Ken Hahn; 5. 12P-Jeff Pelton; 6. 69X-Jim Batsole; 7. 29-Matt Potts; 8. 99-Steve Sabo
A-Main (25 Laps) Starting Position [#]
1. 50-Ryan Missler[7]; 2. 25-Ryan Eddleblute[6]; 3. 27-Ken Hahn[4]; 4. 12-Michael Stiltner[3]; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[1]; 6. 41-Randy Pollock[2]; 7. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[12]; 8. 45-Mike Marteney[8]; 9. 69-John Mayes Jr.[15]; 10. 48-John Bores[10]; 11. 5H-Ernie Haynes[11]; 12. 99-Steve Sabo[16]; 13. 12P-Jeff Pelton[5]; 14. 77C-Craig Corfman[13]; 15. 12S-Joe Hartlaub[18]; 16. 1-Jim Fleming[9]; 17. 69X-Jim Batsole[17]; 18. 29-Matt Potts[14]; 19. 101-Chester Fitch[19]
Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 – Bell Helmets (8 laps)
1. 8-Steve Endicott; 2. O1-Art Ball; 3. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 4. 34-Aaron Schatzinger; 5. 4-Donald Fitch; 6. 56-Alex Wiechman; 7. X-Tim Keegan
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps)
1. 17-Bob Dible; 2. 33-Brian Arnold; 3. 28-Tim Kern; 4. O-Jim Keegan; 5. O7-Roger Inks; 6. 18W-Corey Ward; 7. P51-Paul Brown Jr.; 8. 4X-Brian Sorg
A-Main (15 Laps) Starting Position [#]
1. O1-Art Ball[2]; 2. 17-Bob Dible[1]; 3. 34-Aaron Schatzinger[3]; 4. 33-Brian Arnold[9]; 5. O-Jim Keegan[5]; 6. 56-Alex Wiechman[8]; 7. 18W-Corey Ward[12]; 8. 3R-Chuck Roelle[10]; 9. O7-Roger Inks[4]; 10. 4-Donald Fitch[7]; 11. X-Tim Keegan[11]; 12. 28-Tim Kern[6]