A collection of shots from track photographers Elaine & Jim Collum of Action Photos. See more of their shots here: actionphotosfremont.smugmug.com
Area Auto Racing News & National Speed Sport News photographer Rick Sherer
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) There were several cautions – what you might expect on opening night – but once the action got going, the racing at Attica Raceway Park on Friday, March 27, was exciting. Sandusky, Ohio’s Chris Andrews scored his first 410 sprint win while Whitehouse, Ohio’s Matt Miller took the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP late model victory. McCutchenville, Ohio’s Travis Hoffbauer tangled with Zack Kramer exiting turn four on the last lap with Kramer ending up on his lid and Hoffbauer taking the win in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints.
There were 34 of the 410 sprints, 32 UMP late models and 30 305 sprints signed into Attica’s pits on Columbus Equipment Night to kick off Ohio’s racing season.
ImageAndrews, behind the wheel of his Lucas Oil, K&N Filters #15c, used a lap 14 restart to dive under Greg Wilson to take the lead. After several early race cautions, the race would go the last 16 laps under green with Wilson closing on Andrews in lapped traffic with nine laps remaining. In the closing laps, defending Attica champion Byron Reed would make it a three-car battle for the lead.
Andrews would use the high side to perfection to take the victory with Wilson, Reed, Mark Keegan and Brock Mayes rounding out the top five.
“I knew I had to make a move on that restart… if I didn’t do it then, I knew I wouldn’t get around Greg Wilson,” said Andrews, the 2007 national 410 winged sprint car rookie of the year. “This is so great to get that first win with my new sponsors Lucas Oil and K&N Filters.”
“I got a little concerned when we got into lapped traffic because Greg and Byron are so good at that and I’m still learning. But, the car was just so good…my crew did a fantastic job…I just had to hit the cushion and stay on the gas,” said Andrews.
ImageThe Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Model feature also got off to a shaky start with three yellows before a lap could be completed. Wayne Maffett would lead the first 11 laps before Wayne Chinn would steal the top spot, bringing Miller into second and Steve Casebolt into third. A lap later, Casebolt would take second, but Miller would return the favor on lap 15. Following a pair of cautions, Chinn and Miller would race side-by-side – often making slight contact – the next two circuits. On the next caution, Chinn went low to block Miller in turn one on the restart and Miller drove by on the outside to take the lead. He would take the checkered ahead of Casebolt, Chinn, Maffett and Jon Henry.
“I kind of set Wayne up. He was racing in my line and I couldn’t get around him. So, I stuck my nose under him on the bottom and he drove down there on that restart to block and that opened up my groove,” said Miller of his third career Attica victory. “I have to thank McCullough racing, M&W Auto Body, Gressman Powersports and Banshee Graphics and everyone on this car. I also want to thank my family and crew for all their support and hard work.”
The Fremont Fence 305 sprint feature also started with several cautions, with Josh Muntz grabbing the early lead while Bobby Clark, his nephew Zack Kramer and Brad Bowman battled for second. Kramer would move into second on lap 10 and chased down Muntz by lap 14. Muntz and Kramer would race side by side until Kramer executed a slide job for the lead exiting turn two on lap 16. Hoffbauer, who fell back a little at the start, was starting to come on, moving into third by lap 12 and into second on lap 17. Muntz brought out the final caution on lap 20 when he tagged the front stretch wall while running third. Kramer and Hoffbauer were putting on an exciting show as they traded slide jobs the last five laps, with Kramer better in turns one and two and Hoffbauer using the bottom to his advantage in three and four. On the last lap, Hoffbauer got a run on Kramer in turn three and exiting turn four, made contact with the leader, sending him upside down. Behind Hoffbauer at the finish was Clark, 12th place starter Dustin Dinan, 14th starter Paul Weaver and defending track champion Stuart Brubaker.
Image”We were racing each other hard for the win. I thought I had him cleared on the last lap, but apparently I didn’t. I’m sorry it ended that way,” said Hoffbauer of his first career Attica victory beside his Spanky’s Pizza, Jim Gucker Attorney, Hoffbauer Construction #82.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, April 3 for Northern Ohio Truck Center Night with the 410 sprints, Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Models and Fremont Fence 305 Sprints. There is a raindate of Saturday, April 4.
Coming to Attica Friday and Saturday, April 10 and 11, the HD Supply Spring Nationals featuring the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions. NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kasey Kahne has said he will be behind the wheel of a sprint car at Attica both nights.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 3/27/2009
Columbus Equipment Night
410 Sprints
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 5R-Byron Reed; 2. 16-Brian Sebetto; 3. 312-Mike Linder; 4. 27-Scott Euler; 5. 5T-Travis Philo; 6. 23-Jamie Miller; 7. 40-Mark Imler; 8. 83-Tim Schaffer
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 15C-Chris Andrews; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes; 3. X-Mark Keegan; 4. O9-Craig Mintz; 5. 3J-Kevin Lee; 6. 53-Cole Duncan; 7. 15H-Mitch Harble; 8. 24-Jeremy Keegan; 9. 51-Aaron Higgins
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 60-Jody Keegan; 2. 4-Danny Smith; 3. 2+-Brian Smith; 4. 9X-Phil Gressman; 5. 3C-Cale Conley; 6. O4-Cap Henry; 7. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 8. 20X-Craig Keel
Heat 4 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 11M-Brandon Martin; 3. 10-David Harrison; 4. 48S-Andy Shammo; 5. 48-Mike Burkin; 6. 22-Mikey Kuemper; 7. 12B-Mike Baker; 8. 1A-Mark Aldrich
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 3J-Kevin Lee; 2. 83-Tim Schaffer; 3. 3C-Cale Conley; 4. 5T-Travis Philo; 5. 53-Cole Duncan; 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. 15H-Mitch Harble; 8. 22-Mikey Kuemper; 9. O4-Cap Henry; 10. 51-Aaron Higgins; 11. 40-Mark Imler; 12. 24-Jeremy Keegan; 13. 12B-Mike Baker; 14. 23-Jamie Miller; 15. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 16. 91-Aaron Middaugh
A-Main – (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 15C-Chris Andrews[4]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson[1]; 3. 5R-Byron Reed[6]; 4. X-Mark Keegan[12]; 5. 11B-Brock Mayes[8]; 6. 11M-Brandon Martin[10]; 7. 4-Danny Smith[11]; 8. 3C-Cale Conley[19]; 9. 9X-Phil Gressman[15]; 10. 3J-Kevin Lee[17]; 11. 60-Jody Keegan[7]; 12. 27-Scott Euler[13]; 13. 2+-Brian Smith[2]; 14. O9-Craig Mintz[14]; 15. 16-Brian Sebetto[5]; 16. 10-David Harrison[3]; 17. 312-Mike Linder[9]; 18. 48S-Andy Shammo[16]; 19. 83-Tim Schaffer[18]; 20. 5T-Travis Philo[20]Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop – UMP Late Models
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. C9-Steve Casebolt; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler; 3. 5M-Ryan Markham; 4. 18-Alvie Haynes; 5. 23C-Jeremy Canada; 6. 69-John Mayes Jr.; 7. 21L-George Lee; 8. 9R-Curtis Roberts
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 40D-Dusty Moore; 2. 1C-Wayne Chinn; 3. OO7-Rick Bond; 4. 21-Larry Kingseed; 5. 92-J.R. Gentry; 6. 48B-John Bores; 7. 83-Noah Wagner
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk; 2. 7-Matt Miller; 3. 3R-Chuck Roelle; 4. 27-Ken Hahn; 5. 15B-Mike Bores; 6. 18R-Jamie Reed; 7. 12H-Bobby Michaels; 8. 99-John Mayes Sr.
Heat 4 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 1-Jon Henry; 2. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.; 3. 55-Chuck Hummer; 4. 29-Rocky Owens; 5. 51-Devin Schields; 6. 77-Steve Kester; 7. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 8. 12-Michael Stiltner
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 21L-George Lee; 2. 15B-Mike Bores; 3. 51-Devin Schields; 4. 48B-John Bores; 5. 23C-Jeremy Canada; 6. 12-Michael Stiltner; 7. 5H-Ernie Haynes; 8. 77-Steve Kester; 9. 83-Noah Wagner; 10. 69-John Mayes Jr.; 11. 12H-Bobby Michaels; 12. 18R-Jamie Reed; 13. 92-J.R. Gentry
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 7-Matt Miller[10]; 2. C9-Steve Casebolt[9]; 3. 1C-Wayne Chinn[5]; 4. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[2]; 5. 1-Jon Henry[1]; 6. 91-Rusty Schlenk[7]; 7. 29-Rocky Owens[16]; 8. 21L-George Lee[17]; 9. 18-Alvie Haynes[13]; 10. OO7-Rick Bond[4]; 11. 50Y-Ryan Missler[3]; 12. 27-Ken Hahn[15]; 13. 55-Chuck Hummer[11]; 14. 3R-Chuck Roelle[6]; 15. 40D-Dusty Moore[8]; 16. 51-Devin Schields[19]; 17. 48B-John Bores[20]; 18. 15B-Mike Bores[18]; 19. 21-Larry Kingseed[14]; 20. 5M-Ryan Markham[12]
Fremont Fence – 305 Sprints
Heat 1 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 2. 55-Benny Bowman; 3. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 4. 80-Jake Trevino; 5. 14-Chad Wilson; 6. 83X-Nate Reeser; 7. 47-Josh Burdette; 8. 13-Junior Felver
Heat 2 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 19R-Steve Rando; 2. 1-Nate Dussel; 3. 8K-Zack Kramer; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver; 5. 71-Bill Kraylek; 6. 28-Shawn Valenti; 7. 67M-Matt Ferrell
Heat 3 – Friendship Food Stores (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos; 2. 10-Brad Haudenschild; 3. 41-Dustin Dinan; 4. 10X-Dustin Stroup; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond; 6. 31-Chuck Wilson; 7. 65-Mark Lang
Heat 4 – Tin Lizzy Collision (8 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 51-Brad Bowman; 2. 40-Bobby Clark; 3. M28-Josh Muntz; 4. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 5. 18-Todd Heuerman; 6. 29-Chris Lang; 7. 99-Tom Nichols
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer)
1. 71-Bill Kraylek; 2. 18-Todd Heuerman; 3. 14-Chad Wilson; 4. 28-Shawn Valenti; 5. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 6. 29-Chris Lang; 7. 13-Junior Felver; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 47-Josh Burdette; 10. 22D-Dan Hammond; 11. 65-Mark Lang; 12. 99-Tom Nichols
A-Main – (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 82-Travis Hoffbauer[5]; 2. 40-Bobby Clark[3]; 3. 41-Dustin Dinan[12]; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver[14]; 5. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10]; 6. 19R-Steve Rando[11]; 7. 10-Brad Haudenschild[4]; 8. 1-Nate Dussel[7]; 9. 51-Brad Bowman[1]; 10. 36X-Dustin Keegan[16]; 11. 28-Shawn Valenti[20]; 12. 10X-Dustin Stroup[15]; 13. 14-Chad Wilson[19]; 14. 8K-Zack Kramer[6]; 15. M28-Josh Muntz[2]; 16. 18-Todd Heuerman[18]; 17. 80-Jake Trevino[13]; 18. 71-Bill Kraylek[17]; 19. 11F-D.J. Foos[8]; 20. 55-Benny Bowman[9]
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) A new and exiting webcast will begin Monday, March 23, that will focus on the great racing in Northwest Ohio. The return of The Last Lap will hit cyberspace with hosts Scott Barman and Brian Liskai, from 6-7 p.m. each Monday.
Race fans can tune in at www.dirtvision.com or go to ww.fastondirt.com or the two track’s web sites to listen in as Barman and Liskai interview the talented drivers who compete each Friday at Attica and Saturday at Fremont.
“We’re excited to bring the focus on these two great tracks and the huge talent pool of drivers they share. We hope to give fans more insight into the racing and the drivers. This is an opportunity to tell the world about the exciting, entertaining racing we have,” said Liskai, who is the announcer and public relations person at both Attica and Fremont.
“This is going to be one of the most exciting seasons ever at both tracks. There’s a lot of young talent coming up and enough veterans to make the racing interesting and entertaining. Then, you throw in the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title)… the tradition is growing and we want to be a part of promoting that,” said Barman.
Eight years ago a radio show began at a Fremont radio station to promote the great racing at Fremont Speedway and Attica Raceway Park. Hosts Scott Barman, his son, Andrew, and Brian Liskai interviewed the talented drivers from those dirt tracks during the weekly broadcast that was known as “The Last Lap.” Soon after, sprint driver Mike Linder was added to the mix. Four years later, the station took the show in a different direction as it became known as The Buckeye Speedzone, with drivers, promoters and other racing personalities from across the country coming on the show.
Scott Barman, a long-time fan who has volunteered at Fremont and Attica tracks in various capacities, felt something focusing on the local scene needed to return. When he was approached about helping to promote the FAST plans in 2009, he jumped at the opportunity.
“FAST has the potential to create a special bond between the tracks, the drivers and the fans… it is fan driven. Bryan Autullo and Scott Porter (FAST organizers) are fans who wanted to do something, so they rolled up their sleeves and went to work and put together a pretty impressive point fund that will pay the 410 sprint champion $10,000 in money and prizes. Not only that, but if that driver also wins the separate points at both Attica and Fremont, it could be a pretty impressive payday,” said Barman. “I wanted to do what I could to promote that and let everyone know how exciting this is going to be. Besides, I missed the fun, Brian (Liskai) and I used to have with the drivers and fans.”
FAST will award points to 410 sprint drivers from 11 races at Fremont and 11 races at Attica in 2009. The FAST Kistler Cup will go to the overall champion. Both tracks will also crown their own individual champions based on their own point systems.
Autullo and Porter had been working on the Last Lap webcast for sometime and are also excited about the possibilities.
“We have great plans for this down the road including live video of the show and video clips and the possibility of adding radio broadcasting to the mix. All of us are doing this for one reason – to promote the great racing we have in our backyard. We all grew up at these tracks and we want to do what we can to keep it growing for future generations,” said Autullo.
“None of this would be possible without the support of John Bores and Rex LeJeune at Attica and Rich Farmer and Andy James at Fremont. We also have to thank the good folks at DirtVision for their encouragement and help and of course, all of the great sponsors of FAST and at both tracks and the fans,” added Porter.
Joining Liskai and Barman on the Last Lap will be Andrew Barman running the mixing boards and technical support provided by Ross Paulson of Computer Man Inc. of Fremont.
Stop out this weekend to see several winged warriors of the 410 & 305 Sprint Car Divisions and UMP Late Models that plan to tear up the clay at Attica Raceway Park and other tracks around ‘The Buckeye State’ in 2009. Over 30 beautiful race cars & karts are on display this weekend at this free event inside the Tiffin Mall in Tiffin, Ohio. Steve “Scoop” Hartzel enters his 7th year of promoting the Northern Ohio Sprint Car Show and hasn’t disappointed the loyal racing community with this year’s edition.
Fans can stop by the Attica Raceway Park display and talked with Rex LeJeune about the upcoming season and pick up a copy of the action packed 2009 schedule.
Several big events are on tap for Saturday, March 28th including a Bean Bag Tournament presented by Hoserville Ohio at 10 am. The afternoon is capped off with the 6th Annual Hoserville Ohio Benefit Auction at 2 pm. All the proceeds from these events go towards the Hoserville Ohio Injuried Drivers Benevolent Fund. Also get behind the wheel of one of Tim’s Dirt Track Simulators and compete against others in a weekend tournament with a championship showdown slated for Sunday. The awards ceremony honoring the best in show for the race cars will take place on Sunday, March 29th at 4:30 pm.
Drivers please stop by the Attica Raceway Park display and fill out your 1099 Tax Forms and Driver Regristration Forms to cross one more thing off your off-season to do list. Don’t forget to purchase a 1-way radio for the upcoming season as well in order to compete at Attica.
By Brian Liskai:(Attica, OH) Attica Raceway Park has announced adjustments to the 2009 purse structure for the weekly divisions.
The 410 sprint A-main purse will be $10,930 for the 20-car field with $2,200 to win and $225 to start. The Fultz Fabrications & Speedshop UMP Late Models will vie for $1,000 to win the A-main and $160 to start the 20-car A-main. The A-main purses for the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints and dirt trucks will not change from 2008 levels.
“Entering our fourth season at Attica Raceway Park we felt the adjustments are necessary to continue to build our strong weekly program,” said John Bores, ARP Promoter, and Rex LeJeune, ARP Operations Manager.
“We know things are tough for everyone, but this will enable Attica to provide the fans with great racing in all four divisions in 2009,” added Bores.
The biggest adjustment in purse structure came in the 14 weekly feature events for the 410 winged sprints. LeJeune said the good news is the 410 sprints will compete in five big shows in 2009, including the World of Outlaws and four O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champion events for a total A-main purses of over $300,000 for the season.
“Add in the 11 races toward the Kistler Race Products FAST (Fremont/Attica Sprint Title) Cup and the 410 sprint racing remains very strong in 2009,” said LeJeune.
The complete purse structures can be found at www.atticaracewaypark.com