2007 Banquet Preview

By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Attica Raceway Park will honor the top 10 in the final point standings in all four divisions from 2007 at an awards banquet to be held Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Attica Fairgrounds Banquet Hall.

Tickets for the banquet – which includes a delicious buffet dinner – are $25 each and can be obtained by calling the track office at 419-680-5606. There will be no tickets sold at the door. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony starting at approximately 7 p.m.

Not only will the top 10 in points share in prize money, but World Auto Parts of Huron & Cleveland 410 sprint champion Byron Reed will receive a new Eagle Chassis courtesy of Kears Speed Shop, the 305 sprint champion Andy Shammo will receive a new Triple X chassis courtesy of Kears Speed Shop, and 2007 Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop Attica Late Model champion Ken Hahn will receive a new Rayburn chassis thanks to Rayburn Race Cars and Service Drive Solutions.

The four rookies of the year in each division will also be recognized.

The top 10 in the World Auto Parts of Huron/Cleveland 410 Sprints were: 1. Byron Reed; 2. Lee Jacobs; 3. Mike Linder; 4. Paul Weaver; 5. Caleb Griffith; 6. Mark Keegan; 7. Chris Andrews; 8. Bruce Robenalt; 9. Aaron Middaugh; 10. John Ivy. Rookie of the year is Chris Andrews.

The top 10 in the 305 sprints were: 1. Andy Shammo; 2. Bryan Sebetto; 3. Dustin Dinan; 4. Stuart Brubaker; 5. Duane Zablocki, 6 (tie) Dustin Keegan and Coty Runion; 8. Kevin Lee; 9. Cap Henry; 10. Mark Pridemore. Rookie of the year is Cap Henry.

The top 10 in the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop Attica Late Models were: 1. Ken Hahn; 2. Larry Kingseed; 3. Ryan Missler; 4. Mike Marteney; 5. Ernie Haynes; 6. Chuck Hummer; 7. Steve Sabo; 8. John Bores; 9. Jeff Pelton; 10. Mike Bores. Rookie of the year is Jeff Pelton.

The top 10 in the dirt trucks were: 1. Art Ball; 2. Cory Ward; 3. Bob Dible; 4. Shawn Valenti; 5. Steve Endicott; 6. Churck Roelle; 7. Brian Arnold; 8. Eric DeVanna; 9. Donald Fitch; 10. Dave Gibbs; Rookie of the year was Donald Fitch.

Attica Raceway Park would also like to thank the following point fund sponsors for 2007: Friendship Food Stores, Underground Utilities Inc. and the Tiffin Community Business’s – Burns Electric, Jeff Hoyda Dentistry, Schiefer Nationwide Insurance, Quick Dry, Inc by Nick Zeis, Myers & Smith Insurance, Make a Wish Team 33, Reinecke Family Dealerships, Missler Industries.

Attica Prepares For 2008 With Improvements To Facilities

By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) While the roar of engines has been missing from Attica Raceway Park since September, all hasn’t been quiet at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speedplant. Track crews have been busy working on improvements in preparation for the track’s 21st season in 2008.

Heavy equipment has been used to bring in over 100 loads of dirt which has been placed on the third-mile oval “to reshape the track and make it wider to allow for more side-by-side racing and to make it safer,” according to ARP promoter John Bores.

Dirt has also been added to the infield to allow for better drainage.

Plans are to grade and add stone to the pit area including the areas the race cars are parked behind the trailers to make it easier for the crews to work on the cars during the night.

While work takes place on the track and pit areas, the painting team of Brandon “Pork Chop” Smith and ARP Operations Director Rex LeJeune has been busy painting the souvenir/photo building, the beer concession stand, areas of the grandstands and the restrooms. Smith also painted the infield tire markers, front stretch guardrail and the pit concession building.

More improvements are planned in the near future. Visit www.atticaracewaypark.com for more information and photos of the work that has taken place.

9.1.07 Results ALL STAR SPRINTS/ BAUMANN AUTO GROUP NIGHT

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]

Invasion of the OReilly All Star Sprints Set To Close Out Atticas 2007 Season

By Black Swamp Media Group: (Camargo, IL) As the 2007 racing season begins to wind down, the All Stars will heat things up on Labor Day weekend. The 2007 championship points battle is taking shape as defending champion Greg Wilson trails veteran driver Danny Smith by only 32 points. The two have been within striking distance of each other throughout most of the season with third place runner Brian Paulus just waiting for one of them to slip up. Paulus leads the 2007 Rookie of the Year points and would like a crack at the All Star title. Brandon Martin has been consistent all season long and sits solidly in fourth place going into the weekend. Paul May rounds out the Top 5 as these heavyweight contenders are set to enter the ring and duke it out for three rounds during the All Star Labor Day “Fall Brawl” weekend.

On Saturday September 1st, the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will make their fourth and final appearance of the season at Attica Raceway Park to close out the 20th year of racing at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue . Brock Mayes nipped Byron Reed at the line to collect his first career All Star feature win and Dale Blaney picked up the other two races contested so far, including opening night of the 25th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek in June. The Attica regulars will provide tough competition for the traveling series as 2007 Track Champion Byron Reed leads a tough contingent that compete weekly at Attica. Along with local stars such as Mark Keegan and John Ivy in the ring, the All Stars will need to be fast on their feet and keep swinging until the checkered flag falls on the 30 lap affair.

Join the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions on Labor Day weekend as 24 heavyweight contenders enter the ring and duke it out for points and prize money with the $50,000 to win season points championship on the line. The excitement builds with only a few races left on the 2007 schedule. Will Greg Wilson repeat as champion? Will Danny Smith prevail? Will Brian Paulus find a way to pounce on them both? Can Brandon Martin or Paul May catch them all and wear the 2007 crown? Be there to see all the action for yourself as the All Stars and local stars meet. For more information on the All Star series, visit www.allstarsprint.com.

Pit gates will open at 4:00 pm with the main gates set to open at 4:30 pm. Racing will start at 7:30 pm. Tickets cost are $20 for Adults, $18 Seniors, $15 Ages 11-5, Free for Ages 10 & under. Pit passes are $30.