8.21.15 Results NBC Toledo Channel 24 Night

Reed takes advantage of Andrews’s last lap woes for 1st Attica win of 2015

By Brian Liskai

ATTICA, Ohio – Byron Reed has had races taken from him on the last lap and has won races on the last lap. For Reed it was the later on Friday in dramatic fashion at Attica Raceway Park on NBC Toledo WNWO Channel 24 Night.

Chris Andrews seemed to have the race in hand as he and Reed raced to the checkers of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprint feature. But, Tyler Gunn spun in turn four right in front of Andrews who had to check up and Reed scooted by on the bottom to collect his first win of the year at Attica.

For Reed, a six time track champion, it was his 31st career victory at Attica as he sits second on the track’s all-time win list.

“Probably shouldn’t have won. I started on the pole and that’s nice. I’d rather start on the pole than the tail all the time. That’s racing. He’s taken some away from me so I got one back tonight. We’ve been as good as anyone during the races here all season. But we have struggled on the starts. Hopefully we’ve turned that around,” said Reed beside his Crown Battery, Kistler Engines, Fremont Auto Parts backed #5.

In a caution plagued Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature, Wooster, Ohio’s Doug Drown continued his phenomenal summer as he scored his seventh win of the year at Attica. Drown also has 8 wins at Wayne County Speedway and his victory Friday at Attica all but assures him the $1,500 Attica Wayne County Speedway Late Model Series title. The victory is the 13th of his career at Attica and moves him into a tie with Jon Henry for second on the track’s all-time win list behind Rusty Schlenk.

“I actually gambled out there. Nobody has ever run a hard tire on the right front and I did tonight. I had my hands full and that’s why I kept driving it off the race track because it wasn’t gripping. I was nervous…probably the most nervous I’ve been. And then all those cautions when you have hard tires on…it’s nerve racking,” said Drown beside his Hall’s Auto Sales, Malcuit Racing Engines, Nationwide Vehicle Protection, Wooster Glass, Kar Konnections backed #240.

“I made a mistake there in three and four. If I hadn’t done that I was pulling away. That’s what happens…when you make mistakes you’d better recover quickly. I’m very thankful and blessed that I’ve had this opportunity. It’s been a rough year. We’ve had crew members come and go but we keep after it. A lot of people don’t see the behind the scenes things. This is a team that keeps working hard. Hopefully when the big boys (Lucas Oil Late Model Series) we’ll have something for them and represent Attica and the local guys well,” added Drown.

In the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprint feature it looked like rookie teenager Tyler Street was going to pick up his first sprint car win. But, Steve Rando utilized the track’s extreme outside lane to drive into the lead with three laps to go and scored his first win of the year at Attica and the fourth of his career at the track. It’s the second straight win for Rando who won last Saturday at Fremont Speedway.

“Last week at Fremont and tonight seems like we’re on a roll. That’s a good thing. We’ve went through three frames in the last three weeks so we’ve been pretty busy. But, it all paid off in the end. We haven’t won here since last year,” said Rando beside his Davis Fabricators, Westway Farms, North Coast Sealing, North Coast Asphalt, Attitudes Hair Salon, Thornbahn Woodworking backed #19R.

Kansas, Ohio’s Eric Devanna has been close to a win all season in the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks. It finally all came together for him Friday…but barely. Devanna held off a charging Brian Arnold to record his first career racing victory – by a front bumper.

“That was a long race for me. We had a lot of motor issues to start the season out. Thank you to Cory my teammate for introducing me to Dave Dickens and getting us a hell of a motor. I want to thank everyone on the truck for all their help,” said Devanna beside his Hammer Farms, Crown Battery, Kear’s Speed Shop, A&D Auto Parts and Repair, Blue Eagle Inn, Walsh Farms, Same day Signs backed machine.

In the 30 lap 410 sprint feature Reed and Caleb Griffith would bring the field to green with Reed gaining the upper hand over Griffith, Max Stambaugh, D.J. Foos, Andrews, Stuart Brubaker and T.J. Michael. Reed would pull away slightly over Griffith and Stambaugh with Foos, Andrews and Michael in a tremendous battle for fourth.

Rob Chaney would bring out the caution after three laps were scored. Two laps later Mark Coleman would spin for another yellow with the running order Reed, Griffith, Stambaugh, Andrews, Michael, Foos, Brubaker, Dean Jacobs, Nate Dussel and Tyler Gunn.

Andrews would drive into third on lap seven as both Stambaugh and Michael challenged. Foos would stop in turn four on lap 9 to bring out the final caution of the feature. On the restart Andrews would drive around Griffith into second and closed quickly on Reed. The two would race side by side over the next three laps before Andrews gained the slight advantage.

As the leaders raced into lapped traffic on lap 18, the running order was Andrews, Reed, Griffith, Brubaker, Stambaugh, Michael, Jacobs, Dussel, Gunn, Duane Zablocki and Parker Price Miller. Reed began to inch closer to Andrews as he was better using the high line in three and four and Andrews was better using the low line in turns one and two.

With seven laps to go Reed raced to Andrews outside for the lead with Griffith, Brubaker, Stambaugh, Michael and Jacobs in tow. Andrews went high in three and four a couple of laps to get around slower traffic and actually pulled away slightly from Reed.

After taking the white flag, Andrews and Reed raced nose to tail down the back stretch. Andrews went high to get around a lapped car and Reed went low. Gunn would spin right in front of Andrews who slowed to avoid hitting him and Reed drove by on the bottom to the checkers.

Behind Reed were Andrews, Griffith, Brubaker and Stambaugh.

Matt Irey and Drown would bring the field to green for the 25 lap late model feature but before a lap could be recorded a multi-car crash took place. When the green flew so did Drown but he could not build a lead as several cautions kept the competition close.

After a yellow with two laps in, Irey would drive into the lead but by lap four Drown was back in command over Irey, Mike Bores, Devin Shiels and Ryan Markham. Cautions on lap five and lap 7 kept Irey close with the race for third entertaining between Bores, Shiels and Markham.

A caution for one of the infield tractor tires being pushed on the track on lap 10 saw the running order Drown, Irey, Shiels, Bores, Markham, Larry Kingseed, Chris Keller and Ryan Missler. A spat of three cautions on lap 12 – one for a spin and the other two for crashes on restarts – would keep the field close. When the green flew Irey again challenged Drown as Markham moved into third with Shiels, Keller and Missler staying close.

Shiels would drive into second on lap 15 as Drown pulled away. Shiels, Irey and Markham waged a tremendous battle for second over the next hand full of laps before Josh Haynes brought out the final yellow with seven laps to go. On the restart Markham would drive into second but Drown pulled away slightly.

As the laps ticked off, Markham gained on Drown and when they took the white flag Markham raced to Drown’s inside. It was a drag race off turn four to the checkers and Drown scored the win over Markham, Shiels, Irey and Keller.

In the 25 lap 305 sprint feature John Ivy and Tyler Street would pace the field but before a lap could be scored Kyle Peters would win. On the ensuing restart Ivy would gain the upper hand over Street with Rando charging from sixth to third while Bobby Clark and Dustin Dinan gave chase.

After two laps were scored the caution flew for a multi-car incident with the running order Ivy, Rando, Street, Clark, Dinan and Dan McCarron. When the green reappeared Ivy would lead while Street drove under Rando for second. Street would then challenge Ivy for the lead as the two raced side by side over the next four laps before Street would take the lead on lap eight.

Just as Street was going to have to figure out what to do with lapped cars racing in his bottom groove the caution would fly for a Kyle Capodice spin on lap 11. On the restart Paul Weaver would stop for another caution. With a clear track, Street would pull away when the green flew again as Ivy and Rando battled for second. Rando would take the runner-up spot on lap 14 and began to eat away at Street’s lead.

With five laps to go Dustin Stroup would spin and that would put Rando right on Street’s rear bumper. When the green flew Rando charged to Street’s outside. The pair raced wing to wing over the next two laps before Rando would blast off turn four to grab the top spot on lap 23.

Rando would pull away for the victory with Bobby Clark edging Street for second at the checkers while Ivy and Jordan Ryan rounded out the top five.

Devanna and Keith Sorg battled for the lead early in the 15-lap dirt truck feature with Sorg holding the lead the first two laps before the caution flew for Randy Ryan, Brad Keckler and Norm Van Ness. On the restart Sorg and Devanna picked right back up on their battle with Dustin Keegan, Brian Arnold and Matt Foos in tow.

Devanna would take the lead on lap five just before the caution flew for Foos who coasted to a stop in turn one. When the green flew Devanna would pull away from Sorg with Keegan and Arnold locked in a battle for third.

With two laps to go the truck on the move was Arnold as he took second. As Devanna took the white flag Arnold was glued to his rear bumper. The pair drove side by side into turns three and four and it was a drag race to the checkers with Devanna literally winning by a front bumper over Arnold, Sorg, Curt Inks and Keegan.

Attica Raceway Park will be back in action on Friday, Aug. 28 as Ohio Logistics and Kistler Racing Products Presents the Mark Keegan Classic Season Championship Night. Double points are on the line to determine who wears the coveted Attica Raceway Park crowns for all four divisions.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com

Attica Raceway Park
WNWO NBC Channel 24 Night
Friday, Aug. 21, 2015
Starting position [*]

O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (18 cars)

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps, top 9 to A)
1. 5R-Byron Reed[5] ; 2. 19-Chris Andrews[9] ; 3. 9x-Rob Chaney[2] ; 4. 8M-TJ Michael[4] ; 5. 60-Jody Keegan[3] ; 6. 83X-Nate Reeser[8] ; 7. 68G-Tyler Gunn[7] ; 8. 9P-Parker Price-Miller[6] ; 9. 53-Cap Henry[1]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2 – (8 Laps, top 9 to A)
1. 16-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 2. 33M-Caleb Griffith[4] ; 3. 6M-Max Stambaugh[1] ; 4. 21-DJ Foos[7] ; 5. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[3] ; 6. 97-Dean Jacobs[9] ; 7. 40DD-Nate Dussel[5] ; 8. 9-Jimmy Colvin[8] ; 9. 37-Mark Coleman[6]

A-Main 1 – (30 Laps)
1. 5R-Byron Reed[1] ; 2. 19-Chris Andrews[3] ; 3. 33M-Caleb Griffith[2] ; 4. 16-Stuart Brubaker[8] ; 5. 6M-Max Stambaugh[5] ; 6. 8M-TJ Michael[6] ; 7. 97-Dean Jacobs[12] ; 8. 40DD-Nate Dussel[14] ; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[10] ; 10. 9P-Parker Price-Miller[15] ; 11. 21-DJ Foos[4] ; 12. 9-Jimmy Colvin[16] ; 13. 68G-Tyler Gunn[13] ; 14. 37-Mark Coleman[18] ; 15. 83X-Nate Reeser[11] ; 16. 60-Jody Keegan[9] ; 17. 9x-Rob Chaney[7]
Hard Charger: Nate Dussel +6

Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprints (27 cars)

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[1] ; 2. 77I-John Ivy[3] ; 3. 3J-Trey Jacobs[2] ; 4. 22M-Dan McCarron[9] ; 5. 4T-James Taddeo[7] ; 6. 24-Alex Paden[4] ; 7. 8J-AJ Sleek[8] ; 8. 42-Kevin Shirey[6] ; 9. 32H-Dan Hennig[5]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2 – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[3] ; 2. 8-Bobby Clark[2] ; 3. 1X-Dustin Dinan[6] ; 4. 11G-Luke Griffith[8] ; 5. 39-Jamie Miller[9] ; 6. 97-Kyle Peters[4] ; 7. 87-Brian Gibbs[1] ; 8. 9R-Dustin Rall[7] ; 9. 75-Jerry Dahms[5]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3 – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 2-Ricky Peterson[2] ; 2. 4*-Tyler Street[6] ; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[8] ; 4. 12-Kyle Capodice[5] ; 5. 10X-Dustin Stroup[9] ; 6. 2L-Landon LaLonde[1] ; 7. 7S-Thomas Schinderle[4] ; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[7] ; 9. 18-Frank Neill[3]

Computer Man B-Main 1 – (10 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 24-Alex Paden[1] ; 2. 7S-Thomas Schinderle[6] ; 3. 97-Kyle Peters[2] ; 4. 36-Seth Schneider[9] ; 5. 18-Frank Neill[12] ; 6. 87-Brian Gibbs[5] ; 7. 9R-Dustin Rall[8] ; 8. 75-Jerry Dahms[11] ; 9. 42-Kevin Shirey[7] ; 10. 2L-Landon LaLonde[3] ; 11. 32H-Dan Hennig[10] ; 12. 8J-AJ Sleek[4]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[6] ; 2. 8-Bobby Clark[3] ; 3. 4*-Tyler Street[2] ; 4. 77I-John Ivy[1] ; 5. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7] ; 6. 39-Jamie Miller[14] ; 7. 22M-Dan McCarron[4] ; 8. 7S-Thomas Schinderle[17] ; 9. 3J-Trey Jacobs[11] ; 10. 2-Ricky Peterson[10] ; 11. 36-Seth Schneider[19] ; 12. 24-Alex Paden[16] ; 13. 12-Kyle Capodice[9] ; 14. 11G-Luke Griffith[5] ; 15. 18-Frank Neill[20] ; 16. 1X-Dustin Dinan[8] ; 17. 4T-James Taddeo[13] ; 18. 97-Kyle Peters[18] ; 19. 10X-Dustin Stroup[15] ; 20. 1W-Paul Weaver[12]
Hard Charger: Thomas Schinderle +9

Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models (22 cars)

Qualifying
1.240-Doug Drown, 14.625; 2.50Y-Ryan Missler, 15.041; 3.00-Chris Keller, 15.088; 4.00G-BJ Gregory, 15.147; 5.5M-Ryan Markham, 15.163; 6.15B-Mike Bores, 15.274; 7.21-Larry Kingseed, 15.288; 8.71I-Matt Irey, 15.300; 9.51-Devin Shiels, 15.307; 10.2*-Kyle Moore, 15.316; 11.9C-Troy Cattarene, 15.432; 12.59-Larry Bellman, 15.435; 13.92-Cody Scott, 15.572; 14.27L-Lauren Longbrake, 15.611; 15.03-Jim Gingery, 15.690; 16.27-Ken Hahn, 15.741; 17.30-Nate Potts, 15.806; 18.5J-Josh Haynes, 15.842; 19.1-Ben Mott, 15.847; 20.69R-Doug Baird, 16.989; 21.12-Kent Brewer, 17.238; 22.6-Graeme Short, 17.574;

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps, top 8 to A)
1. 21-Larry Kingseed[3] ; 2. 2*-Kyle Moore[2] ; 3. 1-Ben Mott[7] ; 4. 59-Larry Bellman[5] ; 5. 27L-Lauren Longbrake[6] ; 6. 50Y-Ryan Missler[4] ; 7. 9C-Troy Cattarene[1] ; 8. 6-Graeme Short[8]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps, top 7 to A)
1. 71I-Matt Irey[2] ; 2. 15B-Mike Bores[3] ; 3. 27-Ken Hahn[5] ; 4. 00G-BJ Gregory[4] ; 5. 30-Nate Potts[6] ; 6. 03-Jim Gingery[1] ; 7. 12-Kent Brewer[7]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps, top 7 to A)
1. 5M-Ryan Markham[2] ; 2. 51-Devin Shiels[1] ; 3. 240-Doug Drown[4] ; 4. 00-Chris Keller[3] ; 5. 5J-Josh Haynes[6] ; 6. 92-Cody Scott[5] ; 7. 69R-Doug Baird[7]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 240-Doug Drown[2] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[6] ; 3. 51-Devin Shiels[3] ; 4. 71I-Matt Irey[1] ; 5. 00-Chris Keller[12] ; 6. 50Y-Ryan Missler[16] ; 7. 21-Larry Kingseed[8] ; 8. 92-Cody Scott[18] ; 9. 00G-BJ Gregory[11] ; 10. 27L-Lauren Longbrake[13] ; 11. 03-Jim Gingery[17] ; 12. 12-Kent Brewer[20] ; 13. 69R-Doug Baird[21] ; 14. 5J-Josh Haynes[15] ; 15. 15B-Mike Bores[7] ; 16. 27-Ken Hahn[5] ; 17. 30-Nate Potts[14] ; 18. 1-Ben Mott[9] ; 19. 59-Larry Bellman[10] ; 20. 6-Graeme Short[22] ; 21. 2*-Kyle Moore[4]
Hard Charger: Ryan Missler +10

Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks (12 trucks)

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 2-Matt Foos[1] ; 2. 17X-Dustin Keegan[2] ; 3. P51-Brad Keckler[3] ; 4. 33-Brian Arnold[5] ; 5. 9-Curt Inks[4] ; 6. 16-Brandon Leighton[6]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2 – (8 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 37-Eric Devanna[2] ; 2. 4S-Keith Sorg[1] ; 3. 7F-Dana Frey[4] ; 4. 88-Norm VanNess[3] ; 5. 13-Len Benyak[5] ; 6. 25-Randy Ryan[6]

A-Main 1 – (15 Laps)
1. 37-Eric Devanna[1] ; 2. 33-Brian Arnold[7] ; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg[2] ; 4. 9-Curt Inks[9] ; 5. 17X-Dustin Keegan[6] ; 6. 16-Brandon Leighton[11] ; 7. P51-Brad Keckler[3] ; 8. 13-Len Benyak[10] ; 9. 25-Randy Ryan[12] ; 10. 2-Matt Foos[4] ; 11. 88-Norm VanNess[8]
Hard Charger: Brian Arnold +5

Attica Raceway Park Puts it in Overdrive

Attica Raceway Park puts it in overdrive
Drivers, crew and fans delight in area dirt track racing

By Zach Baker
Sports Editor
[email protected]

ATTICA – There isn’t much pay in it, and Chris Andrews knows it.
For him, driving open wheeled sprint cars at Attica Raceway Park is part of a passion, one that has consumed him much of his life.
“Raising hell at 7, 8 years old,” said Andrews, a former 305 sprints champion and northwest Ohio native. “Young in life, I developed a need for speed.”
That need has persisted. Andrews stood beside his No. 19 green sprint car, about an hour before taking the track on a sunny August evening. As he talked, a number of men and women crowded around the car. Some were mechanics tinkering with the parts, repairing and remapping it in order to get every last ounce of speed and torque out of his car. Others were passionate racing fans, who stopped by to say hello or get a good look at the car.
“This is part of my life, part of everybody’s life,” Andrews said. “We probably see each here more than we do our own family members. It’s just a really neat deal I probably couldn’t live without.”
Steven Linder, who along with his brother Michael was identified by Andrews as his crew chiefs, agreed.
“None of us collect paychecks,” Linder said. “We do this ‘cause we love racing. That’s it.”
And they’re not the only ones. Attica Raceway Park has been drawing scores of racing fans for years, and Rex LeJeune, the director of operations at the park, said the facility has had a good summer.
“Crowds have been pretty good, based on how the weather has been,” LeJeune said. “We had a rain delay (the last weekend of July), and sometimes that hurts. But we have our loyal fanbase that come every week, and for our specials, we get everywhere, people from 55 counties in the state of Ohio, to 17 states and Canada.”
The park itself hosts between 400-500 cars a season. In order to get a sense of the flavor of the event, and the passion of those involved in it, The A-T talked to members of one racing team.
‘This is what I love’
Andrews won titles in 2006 and 2009.
“It’s been a few years, but it just shows you how tough this deal is,” Andrews said. “We missed out on two championships last year, both on the last nights … nonetheless, this is probably one of the toughest areas for sprint cars in the country.”
This year, he changed cars, now driving for Les Mintz out of Gibsonburg. He said there’s been a bit of an adjustment.
“Chemistry’s a huge part,” he said. “You can take the best parts money can buy, and the best crew chiefs, and you might not run good. With this deal, we’ve got the best of everything, and it’s taken a little bit to gel. But we’re getting some speed here towards the end of the year, trying some different things, and there’s nobody in the pit area that tries as hard as we do.”
Linder said every driver, and every car, is different.
“Every driver has their own little thing they like to feel,” Linder said. “That may be hard to understand for some, it’s crazy what goes on in the seat of these race cars when these guys are racing. We’re trying to find the things Chris likes to feel, which puts him in the best position for him to maximize.”
Andrews was asked what makes driving a sprint car different from other kinds of race vehicles.
“Definitely the control, the power, the insanity,” he said. “You get in a stock car, it might be 800 horsepower, but it’s 3,500 pounds, and the reaction is almost seconds. These cars, you get on the gas, and all you see is a bolt of lightning. Just pretty much the control issue and keeping the car underneath you.”
Eventually, the Sandusky native said he hopes to race NASCAR trucks. But he said he expects to continue to race sprint cars.
“We definitely don’t do this for money There are some people that do, but obviously I don’t make anything off of this,” Andrews said. “It’s part of my life. This is what I’m here to do. This is what I love.”

‘I’m not much of a race fan. I’m a competitive guy.’
Ask Steven Linder what he does to prepare a car for Friday nights in Attica, and he’ll start listing what he does each day.
Sunday is motor maintenance. Monday through Wednesday is routine maintenance.
“Thursday night is our load up night, we get the race car out to the trailer, get the trailer back loaded up with supplies, towels, grease, parts cleaner,” Linder says. “All the tools we may have took out of the trailer during the week. Load that stuff up, load the race car up, and then Friday we get off work, leave work, go to the shop and go.”
So, Friday’s a day to watch the race an see the results, right?
Well, no.
“I’m not much of a race fan, I’m a competitive guy,” he said. “When Chris is out on the race track, or I happen to be watching Craig [Mintz, the team’s other driver] at the time, I don’t actually watch the race itself. I’m not watching the guys that are passing each other, I’m watching, what is the race car doing on the race track, what is the driver doing on the track.”
And then the race ends. But the work does not.
“Every race we run, we’re collecting information from what we watch in the pits or from the stands,” Linder said, “and then we always have a debriefing with our driver afterwards, and try to learn as much as we can.”
None of this dedication surprises Andrews. He’s just happy Linder, and his brother Michael are on his side.
“They’ve raced for years, sometimes they build their own cars,” Andrews said. “Steve and Michael Linder, they’re basically my crew chiefs, and they pretty much run the stable of this car, they treat this as a second job, putting in 30 to 40 hours a week.”
Steven Linder has been doing this a while. But the pairing of his family and Andrews is relatively new.
“I’ve been working on race cars for probably 22 years, and 20 of those were with my brother, Michael, when he raced,” Linder said. “And then I spent the last two seasons working with Craig Mintz, and then over the winter we decided to put a second team together, and Chris was our first choice.”
Linder also enjoys working at Attica Raceway Park.
“This place is clean, racer friendly,” he said. “There’s lots of room in the pits. The racing surface is very consistent. That means it’s driver-, mechanic-friendly. You can come to the racetrack and know that the preparation for the track is the same as the week previous. That’s hard for a racetrack to do that.”

‘It’s the next game or the next race …,’
Craig Mintz is competitive.
No, strike that.
Craig Mintz is ultra competitive,
He grew up around racing; his father Les drove in motor cross. But racing doesn’t define him. If you look for Mintz on a winter evening, you’ll find him not with a car, but in court.
A basketball court.
Mintz is an assistant girls basketball coach at Lakota High School.
And, yes, Mintz said he falls back on his driving to get through to his players.
“All the time,” Mintz said. “I try to let them know that we do this for fun, too, and we‘re good at it. Me being a younger coach, sometimes I need to (assure) them that I know what I’m doing, as far as building people around us and enjoying the sport. You have to enjoy the sport to be good at it. With racing and basketball, I try to mix those two together, and the girls come to my races; that’s kind of cool too.”
And what draws Mintz to racing is the same thing that drove him into sprint car driving: Competition.
“Anything from racing to (basketball) to Monopoly with my kids,” he said. “I love to win.”
But Mintz likes something else about the atmosphere at Attica Raceway Park: The community.
“A lot of people don’t realize how close-knit everyone is in the pits,” Mintz said. “If something goes wrong, someone gets hurt, someone gets a car torn up like last week, we had four or five teams down there putting us back together. And for kids to see that, and for my family to see other people care about us that much, to put a car together they’re going to go compete against as well. It’s huge.”
Later that night, Mintz, a two-time track champion, scored his first win of the season in Attica, taking the 410 sprint feature.

8.7.15 Results Edward Jones of Clyde Night / Mike Neill Financial Advisor

By Brian Liskai Attica, Ohio – It’s often said in dirt track racing it takes a lot of things falling your way to end up in victory lane. Such was the case for Gibsonburg’s Craig Mintz on Friday at Attica Raceway Park on Edward Jones of Clyde/Mike Neill Financial Advisor Night.

The two time track champion benefitted from a good pill draw to start on the pole of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprint feature, and then the caution flags fell at opportune times as he led all 30 laps for his first win of the season at Attica. It was win #13 in Mintz’ career and times him for eighth on the track’s all time win list with Tim Shaffer and Frankie Kerr.

The win also puts him in position for a top three finish in the Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title (FAST) Championship Series Presented by KS Sales and Service. With his fourth place finish, coupled with problems for Cap Henry, Byron Reed is set to earn an unprecedented third Kistler Cup and its $10,000 pay day.

Also, with his second place finish, former track champion Dean Jacobs gained more valuable points in his quest for the $10,000 Attica track title with only two point races left.

“I wish my wife and my baby girl were here. But work is first…wife had to work. My crew…if it wasn’t for them it would take a long time for us to be here. Stuart Williams gave us a trailer to use. My dad, Kevin, Hoagie, Sam and Rich….they do all the work, I just drive the race car,” said Mintz of his Real Geese Decoys, Design Graphics Group, Sennebogen backed #09.

“I saw someone coming out of four on the last lap. I was struggling…I was bleeding bad. The shorter runs helped. The bleeders came in and knocked some air out of the tires. I was good for about two laps and after that I was just trying to get a good run and not miss the top. I knew Dean (Jacobs) was coming…he’s probably the best driver I’ve seen on the bottom. Things fell right for us tonight,” added Mintz, thanking other sponsors, KS Sales and Service, Linder’s Speed Equipment, GF1 Chassis, Dave Story Equipment Repair, Erie Shore Propane, and Kistler Engines.

Doug Drown continued his awesome season, taking the lead from Rocky Owens with an outside move on a restart with two laps to go and driving to his sixth win of the season at Attica in the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models. Coupled with his six wins at Wayne County Speedway, he not only sits atop the Attica point standings but Wayne County and the Attica Raceway Park/Wayne County Speedway Late Model Series Championship points. Drown now has 12 career wins at Attica and sits third on the track’s all time win list.

“He (Owens) was leaving just enough room…man it was getting hairy…it was great tight racing. I know the fans had to enjoy that. I was sweating up a storm. I was wiping sweat out of my eyes and on that caution with two to go and said it’s time to get up on the wheel and cowboy it up,” said Drown of his Halls Auto Sales, Malcuit Racing Engines, Nationwide Vehicle Protection, Wooster Glass, Kar Konnections backed #240.

“Leroy Hall gave me a great opportunity and with all my family support…we had the whole family here to night and that makes it fun,” added Drown.

Bobby Clark inherited the lead when Jamie Miller jumped the cushion and flipped on lap six, and then survived a late race charge by Kyle Capodice to claim his third straight win in the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprints. The victory is the ninth overall of the season for Clark and essentially wraps up the JLH General Contractor 305 FAST Championship presented by Engine Pro. Clark now has 19 career 305 sprint wins at Attica and is fourth on the track’s all-time win list

“I knew once I caught traffic…everyone was right on the bottom. I figured who ever was behind me was there. Our hope coming into here tonight was to wrap up the FAST championship with a win,” said Clark beside his Fremont Fence, Kear’s Speed Shop, Kistler Engines, Nagy Equipment, Big D’s Pizza, Schiets Motorsports, Miller Rigging, Shelluke’s Bar, Willey’s Towing, B&L Plumbing, backed #8.

In the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks, Fremont’s Matt Foos would take the lead when Dustin Keegan had mechanical woes on lap four, and would cruise to his second straight win and the fourth of the season at Attica. It was his sixth overall victory of 2015. Foos now has six career victories at Attica.

“It’s pretty cool I get to have my son in victory lane. The last time he was here we blew up leading. We thought we had an engine problem earlier in the week, but a lot of hard work, sweat and blood and here we are. It was actually the flex plate bolts backed out…that was a relief,” said Foos of his Fremont Fence, Level Performance, Pitstop Carryout, Automatic Fire Protection, D&R Transmissions, M&L Excavating backed #2.

Mintz and Jimmy Colvin brought the field to green for the 30 lap 410 sprint feature with Mintz gaining the advantage as third starter Jacobs jumped into second. Chris Andrews would bolt into third on lap three and took second a lap later.

The action would grind to a halt on lap four when Tyler Gunn flipped, ending his night. On the restart Mintz pulled away slightly from Andrews with Jacobs, Stuart Brubaker, Byron Reed and Rob Chaney in tow. The top three of Mintz, Andrews and Jacobs put some distance between themselves and a tremendous battle for fourth between Brubaker, Reed, and Chaney with Caleb Griffith and T.J. Michael staying close.

With 10 laps scored, Andrews was gaining on Mintz but the caution would fall for DJ Foos. Mintz got a great restart to hold the lead over Andrews, Jacobs, Brubaker, Reed and Chaney. At the halfway point the running order was Mintz, Andrews, Jacobs, Brubaker, Chaney, Reed, Michael and Cap Henry.

Just as Mintz was set to hit heavy lapped traffic on lap 18, the caution came out for Bryan Nuckles. Again when the green flew Mintz got a tremendous restart as Andrews and Jacobs battled for second. Fourth place running Brubaker would experience mechanical woes on lap 20 and would retire to the pits.

Mintz could not escape Jacobs and Andrews with Chaney, Reed and Michael locked in a fun battle for fourth. As the laps ticked off, Jacobs utilized the bottom groove to edge closer to Mintz. As the white flew Jacobs was racing to the leader’s inside as fifth place Chaney went pit side with issues. As they raced out of turn four to the checkers, Jacobs was beside Mintz, but Mintz kept up his momentum and drove to the win. Jacobs, Andrews, Reed and Michael would round out the top five.

Chris Keller and Rocky Owens paced the field for the 25 lap late model feature with Owens gaining the advantage over Keller, Ryan Markham, Rusty Schlenk, Drown and Ryan Missler. As Owens pulled away slightly, the battle for second was outstanding involving Schlenk, Keller, Markham and Drown.

After a lap two caution for Josh Haynes and Nate Potts, Owens would again pull away while Keller, Markham, Drown and Missler battled for second as Schlenk slid off the track, losing several positions. Owens drove into lapped traffic by the eighth circuit as Markham battled with Keller, Drown and Mike Bores. Keller would take second on lap nine with Drown edging out Markham for third.

Ben Mott would spin on lap 13 with the running order Owens, Keller, Drown, Markham, Bores, Missler and Larry Kingseed. When the green flew Owens again maintained his advantage as Keller, Markham and Drown continued the battle for second. With 10 laps to go the running order was Owens, Keller, Markham, Bores, Drown, Kingseed and Missler.

Drown would utilize the high line to take third on lap 19 just before the caution flew again for Mott. When the green flew Keller and Drown challenged Owens with Kingseed taking fourth. Kent Brewer would bring out the final caution on lap 23 setting up a two lap shoot out.

When the green flew Owens went to the bottom of turns one and two and Drown blasted away at the cushion and rocked into the lead. Owens would drive away to the win over Owens, Keller, Markham and Kingseed.

In the 25 lap 305 sprint feature, Capodice and Clark brought the field to green, with Clark taking the lead. The car on the move was Jamie Miller who used the high line to grab second on lap three and then blasted around Clark for the lead on lap five. But, that cushion would bite Miller a lap later as he jumped the ledge and flipped.

Clark would pull away on the restart over Capodice, Jordan Ryan, Dustin Rall, Ricky Peterson, Alex Paden, Steve Rando and a charging Dustin Dinan. Dan Hennig would stop with suspension damage on lap eight with the restart order Clark, Capodice, Ryan, Rall, Peterson, Rando and Dinan. The race would go caution free the remaining laps.

With 10 laps to go the car on the move was Peterson who took fourth and a lap later drove around Ryan for third as the leaders raced into lapped traffic. Capodice began eating way at Clark’s lead with Peterson and Ryan locked in a good battle for third.

With three laps to go Capodice was beside Clark but as they flew into turn one, Capodice bobbled, doing a 360 spin and losing several spots. Clark would hold off Peterson for the win with Rando, Ryan and Capodice rounding out the top five.

In the 15 lap dirt truck feature, Foos and Dustin Keegan would bring the field to green and the pair would race side by side the first four laps with Keegan holding the slight advantage. But, Keegan would stop on the track with four laps recorded, ending his night.

The only thing to slow Foos down the remainder of the race was a caution on lap 8 for second place running Brad Keckler. When the green flew, Foos did as well and drove to the win over Eric Devanna, Keith Sorg, Curt Inks and Len Benyak.

Attica Raceway Park will not be racing on Friday, Aug. 14 due to the Attica Fair. Racing will resume Friday, Aug. 21st on WNWO Channel 24 NBC Night with the 410 sprints running for $3,000 to win along with another Attica/Wayne County Late Model Series point event with the 305 sprints and dirt trucks also in action.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com and follow the track on Twitter and like Attica Raceway Park on Facebook.

Attica Raceway Park
Edward Jones of Clyde/Mike Neill Financial Advisor Night
Friday, August 7, 2015
Starting position [*]

O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (19 cars)

Qualifying
1.19-Chris Andrews, 12.392; 2.21-DJ Foos, 12.544; 3.53-Cap Henry, 12.576; 4.16-Stuart Brubaker, 12.602; 5.9x-Rob Chaney, 12.604; 6.97-Dean Jacobs, 12.653; 7.22-Cole Duncan, 12.681; 8.09-Craig Mintz, 12.704; 9.9R-Jordan Ryan, 12.739; 10.33M-Caleb Griffith, 12.766; 11.83M-Broc Martin, 12.807; 12.9-Jimmy Colvin, 12.840; 13.5R-Byron Reed, 12.881; 14.8M-TJ Michael, 12.910; 15.68G-Tyler Gunn, 12.925; 16.9Z-Duane Zablocki, 12.946; 17.59-Bryan Nuckles, 13.015; 18.40DD-Nate Dussel, 13.071; 19.96AU-Bruce White, 13.611;

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps, top 7 to A)
1. 5R-Byron Reed[1] ; 2. 09-Craig Mintz[3] ; 3. 33M-Caleb Griffith[2] ; 4. 53-Cap Henry[4] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 6. 40DD-Nate Dussel[6] ; 7. 96AU-Bruce White[7]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 97-Dean Jacobs[3] ; 2. 16-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 3. 9-Jimmy Colvin[5] ; 4. 9R-Jordan Ryan[1] ; 5. 59-Bryan Nuckles[6] ; 6. 22-Cole Duncan[2]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 83M-Broc Martin[1] ; 2. 19-Chris Andrews[4] ; 3. 9x-Rob Chaney[2] ; 4. 8M-TJ Michael[5] ; 5. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[6] ; 6. 21-DJ Foos[3]

A-Main 1 – (30 Laps)
1. 09-Craig Mintz[1] ; 2. 97-Dean Jacobs[3] ; 3. 19-Chris Andrews[4] ; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[9] ; 5. 8M-TJ Michael[12] ; 6. 22-Cole Duncan[17] ; 7. 33M-Caleb Griffith[7] ; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[15] ; 9. 9-Jimmy Colvin[2] ; 10. 83M-Broc Martin[6] ; 11. 21-DJ Foos[18] ; 12. 9R-Jordan Ryan[11] ; 13. 40DD-Nate Dussel[16] ; 14. 9x-Rob Chaney[5] ; 15. 16-Stuart Brubaker[8] ; 16. 53-Cap Henry[10] ; 17. 59-Bryan Nuckles[14] ; 18. 96AU-Bruce White[19] ; 19. 68G-Tyler Gunn[13]
Hard Charger: Cole Duncan +11

Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprints (30 cars)

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 5-Jordan Ryan[1] ; 2. 12-Kyle Capodice[4] ; 3. 8J-AJ Sleek[6] ; 4. 77I-John Ivy[7] ; 5. 11G-Luke Griffith[8] ; 6. 87-Brian Gibbs[3] ; 7. 75-Jerry Dahms[5] ; 8. 25-Jason Keckler[2]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2 – (8 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 2-Ricky Peterson[1] ; 2. 39-Jamie Miller[6] ; 3. 8-Bobby Clark[3] ; 4. 4T-James Taddeo[2] ; 5. 99-Alvin Roepke[8] ; 6. 32H-Dan Hennig[4] ; 7. 18N-Frank Neill[5] ; 8. 4*-Tyler Street[7]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3 – (8 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 2. 9R-Dustin Rall[2] ; 3. 22M-Dan McCarron[7] ; 4. 97-Kyle Peters[3] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[4] ; 6. 3J-Trey Jacobs[6] ; 7. 94K-Kurt Huber[5]

Rock Auto.com Heat 4 – (8 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[6] ; 2. 15-Gary Benjamin[1] ; 3. 24-Alex Paden[2] ; 4. 13-Jeremy Duposki[5] ; 5. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[3] ; 6. 42-Kevin Shirey[7] ; 7. 1X-Dustin Dinan[4]

Computer Man B-Main 1 – (10 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 99-Alvin Roepke[2] ; 2. 1X-Dustin Dinan[12] ; 3. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 4. 3J-Trey Jacobs[7] ; 5. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[4] ; 6. 32H-Dan Hennig[6] ; 7. 4*-Tyler Street[14] ; 8. 87-Brian Gibbs[5] ; 9. 75-Jerry Dahms[9] ; 10. 94K-Kurt Huber[11] ; 11. 42-Kevin Shirey[8] ; 12. 11G-Luke Griffith[1] ; 13. 25-Jason Keckler[13] ; 14. 18N-Frank Neill[10]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 8-Bobby Clark[2] ; 2. 2-Ricky Peterson[12] ; 3. 19R-Steve Rando[9] ; 4. 5-Jordan Ryan[3] ; 5. 12-Kyle Capodice[1] ; 6. 1X-Dustin Dinan[18] ; 7. 77I-John Ivy[13] ; 8. 1W-Paul Weaver[10] ; 9. 9R-Dustin Rall[4] ; 10. 24-Alex Paden[7] ; 11. 99-Alvin Roepke[17] ; 12. 3J-Trey Jacobs[20] ; 13. 22M-Dan McCarron[11] ; 14. 4T-James Taddeo[14] ; 15. 15-Gary Benjamin[5] ; 16. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[21] ; 17. 13-Jeremy Duposki[16] ; 18. 36-Seth Schneider[19] ; 19. 97-Kyle Peters[15] ; 20. 8J-AJ Sleek[8] ; 21. 32H-Dan Hennig[22] ; 22. 39-Jamie Miller[6]
Hard Charger: Dustin Dinan +12

Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (19 cars)

Qualifying
1.00-Chris Keller, 14.708; 2.240-Doug Drown, 14.902; 3.5M-Ryan Markham, 15.024; 4.15B-Mike Bores, 15.102; 5.21-Larry Kingseed, 15.117; 6.29-Rocky Owens, 15.238; 7.50Y-Ryan Missler, 15.271; 8.51-Devin Shiels, 15.393; 9.27-Rusty Schlenk, 15.402; 10.03-Jim Gingery, 15.494; 11.92-Cody Scott, 15.539; 12.61-George Lee, 15.637; 13.1-Ben Mott, 15.826; 14.30-Nate Potts, 16.102; 15.12-Kent Brewer, 16.601; 16.69R-Doug Baird, 16.790; 17.5Z-Josh Haynes, 18.088; 18.00G-BJ Gregory, 99.800; 19.36-Matt Irey, 99.990;

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps, top 7 to A)
1. 240-Doug Drown[3] ; 2. 00-Chris Keller[4] ; 3. 27-Rusty Schlenk[2] ; 4. 03-Jim Gingery[1] ; 5. 61-George Lee[5] ; 6. 00G-BJ Gregory[7] ; 7. 30-Nate Potts[6]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 51-Devin Shiels[2] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[4] ; 3. 15B-Mike Bores[3] ; 4. 92-Cody Scott[1] ; 5. 12-Kent Brewer[5] ; 6. 36-Matt Irey[6]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps, top 6 to A)
1. 50Y-Ryan Missler[2] ; 2. 21-Larry Kingseed[4] ; 3. 29-Rocky Owens[3] ; 4. 1-Ben Mott[1] ; 5. 69R-Doug Baird[5] ; 6. 5Z-Josh Haynes[6]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 240-Doug Drown[6] ; 2. 29-Rocky Owens[2] ; 3. 00-Chris Keller[1] ; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[3] ; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[9] ; 6. 15B-Mike Bores[7] ; 7. 27-Rusty Schlenk[4] ; 8. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5] ; 9. 51-Devin Shiels[8] ; 10. 92-Cody Scott[11] ; 11. 03-Jim Gingery[10] ; 12. 30-Nate Potts[19] ; 13. 12-Kent Brewer[14] ; 14. 69R-Doug Baird[15] ; 15. 61-George Lee[13] ; 16. 1-Ben Mott[12] ; 17. 00G-BJ Gregory[16] ; 18. 5Z-Josh Haynes[18]
Hard Charger: Nate Potts +7

Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks –

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
1. 17X-Dustin Keegan[4] ; 2. 2-Matt Foos[1] ; 3. P51-Brad Keckler[8] ; 4. 4S-Keith Sorg[5] ; 5. 9-Curt Inks[2] ; 6. 37-Eric Devanna[7] ; 7. 22-Brandon Leighton[6] ; 8. 13-Len Benyak[9]

A-Main 1 (15 Laps)
1. 2-Matt Foos[1] ; 2. 37-Eric Devanna[6] ; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg[3] ; 4. 9-Curt Inks[5] ; 5. 13-Len Benyak[8] ; 6. 22-Brandon Leighton[7] ; 7. P51-Brad Keckler[4] ; 8. 17X-Dustin Keegan[2]
Hard Charger: Eric Devanna +4