By Brian Liskai: ATTICA, Ohi0- Next up for Attica Raceway Park will be the opener of the 33rd Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek Presented by Cometic Gasket featuring the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions on Friday, June 19. The Ohio Cat/UBS Financial Services Night event kicks off nine straight nights of racing across Ohio.
Five time All Star champion Dale Blaney will be the driver to beat. The Low Rider recently scored the World of Outlaws win at Attica and has recorded three All Star wins this season to run his career total to 118. He is the defending and a five time Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion.
The challenge will be stout as four time All Star champion Chad Kemenah recently scored a win at Attica. The last time the All Stars visited Attica in April, up-and-comer Ryan Smith recorded his first career Attica win. And, two time All Star champion Greg Wilson is coming off a series victory a week ago and always does well at Attica.
Several former Attica champions are having very good seasons and will look to defend their home turf. Dean Jacobs has a pair of wins at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue this season and six time track champion Byron Reed has had consistent top five finishes all season. Chris Andrews has wins at Fremont Speedway this year and will look to get his second career All Star win to open speedweek as he did in 2013.
Also, Rob Chaney has a win at Attica and a handful of top five finishes and Stuart Brubaker has really come on as of late, recording several top five finishes.
The Ohio Sprint Speedweek event was rained out at Attica last season but previous winners were:
Year | Winner |
1990 | Sammy Swindell |
1991 | Sammy Swindell |
1992 | Terry Shephard |
1993 | Gary Wright |
1994 | Frank Kerr |
1995 | Mark Keegan |
1996 | Frank Kerr |
1997 | Joey Saldana |
1998 | Dean Jacobs |
1999 | Kenny Jacobs |
2000 | Jeff Shepard |
2001 | Byron Reed |
2002 | Greg Wilson |
2003 | Chad Kemenah |
2004 | Dale Blaney |
2005 | Greg Wilson |
2006 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
2007 | Dale Blaney |
2008 | Rain |
2009 | Rain |
2010 | Byron Reed |
2011 | Tim Shaffer |
2012 | Danny Holtgraver |
2013 | Chris Andrews |
There’s a lot on the line for the 33rd Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek Presented by Cometic Gasket. Cometic Gasket will pay a $25,000 bonus to any driver that can win at least five of the nine speedweek events and will distribute $3,000 to the overall top-10 in points following the conclusion of speedweek.
Last year’s Ohio Sprint Speedweek saw an average of 50 cars per event and it looks like that number could grow this year. The nine-day, nine-event schedule begins on Friday, June 19th at Attica Raceway Park and culminates at Fremont Speedway on Saturday, June 27th. Teams will travel nearly 1,000 miles over the course of the “week” and compete for nearly $250,000 in prize money.
The 33rd Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket also will play a pivotal role in determining who wears the overall UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions crown for 2015. Simply put, speedweek can make or break a team’s championship chances.
Attica Raceway Park will open the gates at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 19 with racing underway at 7:45 p.m. The UMP late models will also be in competition.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com or www.allstarsprint.com