By Brian Liskai
ATTICA, Ohio – The 2016 racing season at Attica Raceway Park was filled with huge events but highlighted by the some of the regions toughest weekly competition. When the final checkered flags flew, Monclova, Ohio’s Byron Reed earned his eighth 410 sprint car track championship, Mansfield, Ohio’s Matt Irey scored his first career late model track title and Fremont, Ohio’s Paul Weaver capped off arguably his best career year with his second championship in the 305 sprints.
Attica Raceway Park will kick off the 2017 racing season on Friday, March 24. For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Following are the season recaps for each division’s top 10 in points along with the season’s rookies of the year:
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints
Champion – Byron Reed, Monclova, Ohio
Reed claimed his eighth Attica championship. Byron racked up four wins in 2016, running his career total to 35; he sits second on the track’s all-time 410 sprint win list. Beside his four wins he also recorded four runner-up finishes on route to 11 top five finishes in 15 feature events. Byron recorded 13 top 10 finishes and never finished out of the top two spots in the final six events of the year. His average A-main finishing position was fourth!
2nd – Chris Andrews, Sandusky, Ohio
Andrews competed in 14 of the 15 A-mains, missing only the World of Outlaws event on July 12. The track’s 2006 305 champion and 2009 410 champion recorded six top five finishes including his 7th career Attica win on May 13. Andrews scored 9 top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
3rd-Travis Philo, Waterville, Ohio
Philo competed in all 15 A-mains in 2016, recording six top 10 finishes including a season-best runner-up finish on July 1. He scored 11 top 10 finishes including finishing not worst than sixth in the last five races of the year. Philo’s average A-main finishing position was eighth.
4th – Stuart Brubaker, Gibsonburg, Ohio
Brubaker competed in 14 A-mains in 2016 including the non-wing event. He missed the June 10th and World of Outlaw feature in July. Attica’s 2008 305 sprint track champion scored his fifth career Attica 410 sprint win on Aug. 1 and recorded three top five finishes and eight top 10 runs. Brubaker’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.
5th – Brian Lay, Genoa, Ohio
Lay competed in 13 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, missing only the All Star shows on May 27 and June 17. He scored his third career 410 sprint win at Attica on May 20th. Lay recorded three top five finishes and seven top 10 runs. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
6th – Duane Zablocki, Tiffin, Ohio
Zablocki competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, posting three top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.
7th – Caleb Griffith, Sandusky, Ohio
Attica’s 2014 410 sprint champion competed in 11 of the 15 A-mains in 2016. He recorded his second career 410 sprint win on opening night and posted four top five finishes and 10 top 10 runs. The track’s 2003 305 sprint champion posted an average A-main finishing position of seventh.
8th – Jordan Ryan, Castalia, Ohio
Attica’s 305 sprint champion the past two seasons competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, recording a season-best fourth place run on May 13 among his three top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.
9th-D.J. Foos, Fremont, Ohio
Attica’s 2010 305 sprint champion competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains. He recorded a season-best third on May 13 on route to scoring five top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.
10th – Tyler Gunn, Napoleon, Ohio
Gunn competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, scoring a pair of top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.
Rookie of the Year – Trey Jacobs, Wooster, Ohio
Jacobs finished 13th in the Attica point standings and competed in 9 of the 15 A-mains in 2016. He recorded a season best fifth on July 1 and scored six top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models
Champion – Matt Irey, Mansfield, Ohio
Irey scored his first Attica track championship. He competed in all 15 A-mains in 2016 recording an incredible 12 top five finishes including his second career feature win on May 6th. He also racked up four runner-up finishes. Irey only finished out of the top 10 twice in 2016! His average A-main finishing position was fifth.
2nd – Ryan Markham, Ashland, Ohio.
Markham, who claimed his second Attica-Wayne County Speedway Late Model Series Championship in 2016, competed in all 15 A-mains this season. He scored three victories – July 8, July 29 (ALMS) and Sept. 3 – to run his career total to 10 to be ranked fifth on Attica’s all-time win list for the super late models. Besides his three wins he also scored three runner-up finishes on route to recording 10 top five finishes and 11 top 10 runs. Markham’s average A-main finishing position was sixth.
3rd – Devin Shiels, Britton, Mich.
Shiels competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, never finishing out of the top 10. He racked up 9 top five finishes including a season best runner-up finish on May 6th to go with three third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was fifth.
4th – Mathew Chapmen, Tecumseh, Mich.
Attica’s rookie of the year competed in 14 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, missing only the year-end event. He recorded 7 top 10 finishes including a season-best pair of sixth place finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.
5th – Mike Bores, Bellevue, Ohio
Bores competed in 14 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, missing only the June 17 event. He opened the season recording his second career super late model win at Attica. He recorded four top five finishes and 9 top 10 runs. Bores’ average A-main finishing position was ninth.
6th – Rick Bond, Mansfield, Ohio
Bond competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, recording 10 top 10 finishes including a pair of season-best fifth place finishes . His average A-main finishing position was ninth.
7th – Doug Drown, Wooster, Ohio
Attica’s 2015 late model champion competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016. He scored a remarkable 7 wins – April 15, May 13, May 20, May 27, June 17, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26 – to run his career total to 20 leaving him second on the track’s all-time win list. Besides the wins (including 4 in a row), Drown also posted 8 top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes. In fact his worst finish of the year was a 12th. Drown’s average A-main finishing position was an incredible third!
8th – Dave Hornikel, Mansfield, Ohio
Hornikel competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains at Attica in 2016. He racked up 7 top 10 finishes including a season-best third during the ALMS event on July 29th. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.
9th – Kent Brewer, Fostoria, Ohio
Competing in his rookie season in a super late model, Brewer raced in 10 of the 15 A-mains. He recorded a season-best eighth on Aug. 19th. Brewer’s average A-main finishing position was 14th.
10th – Cody Scott, Ontario, Ohio
Scott competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains at Attica in 2016. He recorded five top five finishes including his second career win on July 1st. Scott also posted 9 top 10 finishes on route to an average A-main finishing position of seventh.
Fremont Fence 305 Sprints
CHAMPION – Paul Weaver, Fremont, Ohio
Weaver, Attica’s 2009 305 sprint champion, competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only the season ending event. He never finished worst than eighth all season, posting 9 top five runs along the way. Weaver, the 2016 FAST champion, recorded a pair of wins in 2016 – May 6th and May 20th – along with a pair of runner-up finishes and three third place runs. Weaver now has 35 career 305 sprint wins at Attica to sit atop the division’s all-time win list. His average A-main finishing position was an incredible fourth.
2nd – Kyle Capodice, Sandusky, Ohio
Capodice competed in all 14 A-mains in 2016, posting 7 top five finishes and 12 top 10 runs. He posted his first two career wins at Attica – April 15 and July 1 – and a pair of runner-up finishes. His average A-main finishing position was seventh.
3rd – Ricky Peterson, Rawson, Ohio
Peterson competed in all 14 A-mains in 2016. He recorded 6 top five finishes and 10 top 10 finishes. His best result was a pair of runner-up runs and a pair of third place showings. His average A-main finishing position was eighth.
4th – Dan McCarron, Dundee, Mich.
McCarron competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the season-ending event. He racked up four top five finishes including his first career Attica win on July 22. McCarron recorded 10 top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was ninth.
5th – Jamie Miller, Fremont, Ohio
Miller, Attica’s 2005 305 sprint champion, competed in 12 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only opening night and Aug. 19th. He racked up 8 top five finishes including wins on July 8, July 29 and Aug. 26 to run his career total at Attica to 15. Miller’s average A-main finishing position was fifth.
6th – John Ivy, Fremont, Ohio
Attica’s 1993 305 sprint champion and 2000 410 sprint track champion competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the season-ending event. He recorded four top five finishes and seven top 10 runs. Ivy’s average A-main finishing position was ninth.
7th – Tyler Street, Ashland, Ohio.
Attica’s 305 sprint rookie of the year in 2016 competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only the April 15 event. Street posted three top five finishes and seven top 10 runs including a season-best runner-up finish on July 22 and an opening night third place finish. Street’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.
8th Tie – Jason Keckler, Fremont, Ohio
Keckler competed in all 14 A-mains at Attica in 2016. Keckler posted a pair of wins – March 26 and May 27 – to run his career total at the track to three. His average A-main finishing position was 11th.
8th Tie- Steve Rando, Lindsey, Ohio
Rando competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the July 8th event at Attica. He posted three top five finishes including a season-best 2nd on May 13th. Rando scored 10 top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was ninth.
10th – Dustin Dinan, Fremont, Ohio
Dinan competed in 12 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only the May 20th and May 27th events. He recorded five top five runs and eight top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
Rookie of the Year – Trevor Bake, Shreve, Ohio
Baker finished 14th in the track’s points. He competed in 9 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, recording a pair of top 10 finishes including a season-best 7th on the final night or racing. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.