A collection of shots from track photographers Elaine & Jim Collum of Action Photos. See more of their shots here: actionphotosfremont.smugmug.com
(Attica, OH) Josh “Kid Rocket” Richards gave his mom, Tina, a great birthday present – his second World of Outlaws Late Model feature win of the season Friday, May 16, at Attica Raceway Park.
Richards, a rising 20-year-old star from Shinnston, W.Va., followed veteran Chub Frank for most of the race, waiting for “Chubzilla” to make a mistake. The opportunity came on lap 44 of the 50-lap feature when Frank went to the bottom of the track to try and block Richards’ advance. Richards drove around the outside exiting turn 4 to grab the lead and the win.
Image”That was one of the funnest races I’ve ran in awhile. My hats off to the crew…they worked hard in the shop this week. They put a new rearend, new transmission and new engine in this car and it paid off,” said Richards beside his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket No. 1.
“This was an awesome trace track…it suits the way I like to drive,” added Richards of the World of Outlaws first ever appearance at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speedplant.
Richards earned $10,150 for his eighth career triumph on the WoO LMS. He became the second repeat winner in 10 tour events this season, joining four-time victor Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. The driver also completed a clean sweep of the night’s action. Earlier in the program he set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 14.587 seconds and won his heat race.
“It was just a great night,” said Richards, whose previous WoO LMS win this season came in the tour’s opener on Feb. 14 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. “We worked hard all week – until midnight a couple nights – trying to get this car dialed in and ready to go. We’ve been experimenting the last couple weeks, and we decided to get back to just bone-stock, old stuff, and it worked out for us all night.”
The 410 sprint feature was just as entertaining and exciting as the late model main. Fremont, Ohio’s Paul Weaver battled with Brock Mayes and Dale Blaney the last 10 laps before prevailing for his third career victory in the 30-lap, non-stop affair.
“I was thinking about hanging it up…we were really struggling this year. But, Andy Potter knows how to get a car hooked up on slick race tracks and here we are. I’ll keep racing if it stays this much fun,” said Weaver beside his Genzman Racing, Ludwig Propane backed sprinter.
ImageAt the start of late model main, Frank grabbed the early lead with Richards, Clint Smith, Shane Clanton and Shannon Babb in tow. The action would slow for the first of three yellow flags on lap 8 with the running order Frank, Richard, Babb, Clanton and Smith.When the race resumed, Frank could not shake Richards, who had his hands full with Babb. The leaders hit lapped traffic by the 16th circuit when the yellow would fly again on lap 17. The top five remained Frank, Richard, Babb, Clanton and Darrell Lanigan.
On the restart, again Frank jumped to the outside cushion with Richards running in his tire tracks and Babb following. Just past the halfway mark, the car on the move was Lanigan as he drove around Babb for third. When the leaders hit lapped traffic again by lap 32, Frank had a slight cushion over Richards, with Lanigan and Babb battling hard for third.
The action up front heated up on lap 38, as lapped traffic held up Frank, allowing Richards to drive under him and race side by side for the lead. The pair of aces raced nip and tuck the next six laps. Then Frank made his mistake. He dove low to try to stop Richards’ momentum exiting turn four on lap 44, alllowing Richards to drive to his outside and into the lead and take the win..
Frank, 46, settled for his second runner-up finish of the season, ending the race 2.113 seconds behind Richards after leading laps 1-43 in his Lester Buildings Rocket car.
“We were probably a little softer on the left-rear tire (than Richards), and I’d say it probably gave up the last eight or 10 laps,” said Frank, whose previous second-place finish in WoO LMS action this season came on Feb. 16 at Volusia Speedway Park. “I tried to run as high as I could in (turns) three and four without getting against the cushion, but I got too tight to drive in there and run the top like he could – and when I tried to move down, I just didn’t have enough traction.
“Josh did a very good job,” he added. “He was very patient. He didn’t do anything that would’ve wrecked either one of us. He took his shots when he thought he had ’em, and when he couldn’t clear me on those ‘sliders’ he got out of the gas and let me go. I think that was very good for him to see that patience sometimes is better than being aggressive.”
Lanigan of Union, Ky., placed third in his gottarace.com Rocket after holding off the late-race challenges of Moweaqua, Ill.’s Babb. It was the best WoO LMS finish of the 2008 season for Lanigan, who has secured consecutive top-five finishes after going without one for the first eight events of the campaign.
Babb crossed the finish line fourth in NASCAR Sprint Cup star Clint Bowyer’s Traeger Grills Rocket, and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., repelled the dogged bids of Wooster, Ohio’s Doug Drown to complete the top five in his RSD Enterprises Rocket.
Echoing Frank’s thoughts, Richards viewed his triumph as a sign of increased maturity behind the wheel.
“The last couple years I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more patient and a lot more comfortable in certain conditions that I hadn’t been before,” said Richards, the 2005 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year. “It’s tough to be patient. You get close to the lead in one of these races and you just want to go for it, but I’ve learned that you just have to stay smooth.”
ImageFinishing in positions 6-10 was Drown, who earned the $500 WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ prize for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a tour A-Main and wasn’t ranked among the top-12 in the points standings; 14th-starter Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va.; defending WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; 2006 tour titlist Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.; and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.
In the 30-lap sprint car main, Weaver would grab the early lead with Brock Mayes, Brandon Martin, Andy Shammo and Byron Reed in tow. Weaver would hit lapped traffic by lap 10, with Mayes in second and eighth place starter Dale Blaney starting to mount a challenge. Just past the halfway mark, Mayes moved to the bottom groove and began to put pressure on Weaver, as Blaneykept them in his sights.
When Weaver crossed the start-finish line to complete the 20th lap, things started to get interesting. Mayes would pull under him on several occasions, only to see Weaver slingshot around the top side to maintain the lead. That allowed Blaney to close on the top two. With just three laps remaining, Blaney would drive under Mayes and Weaver in a daring move, nearly taking all three of them out of the race. Coming to the checkers, Blaney tried one last ditch move, but Weaver diamond off the exit of turn four to slow Blaney’s momentum and take the win. Blaney, Mayes, Martin and Mike Linder would round out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, May 23 for the 305 Engine Builders Challenge, paying the 305 sprint feature winner $1,200. The Service Drive Solutions UMP Attica Late Models will also be running for $1,000 to win and the dirt trucks will battle for $500 for the top spot. Adult general admission is only $10.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Attica Raceway Park
(Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Josh Richards/50 $10,150
2. (2) Chub Frank/50 $5,100
3. (3) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,000
4. (6) Shannon Babb/50 $2,500
5. (4) Shane Clanton/50 $2,000
6. (9) Doug Drown/50 $2,200
7. (14) Tim Dohm/50 $1,400
8. (12) Steve Francis/50 $1,300
9. (7) Tim McCreadie/50 $1,200
10. (5) Clint Smith/50 $1,100
11. (23) Tim Fuller/50 $1,050
12. (8) Donnie Moran/50 $1,000
13. (11) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $950
14. (15) Vic Coffey/50 $1,150
15. (18) John Blankenship/50 $850
16. (17) Jeep VanWormer/49 $800
17. (22) Jerry Bowersock/49 $770
18. (13) Wayne Maffett Jr./49 $750
19. (16) Danny Johnson/49 $730
20. (20) Brian Ruhlman/49 $700
21. (24) Joe Isabell/48 $700
22. (21) Tyler Boggs/47 $700
23. (10) Rick Eckert/16 $700
24. (19) Rocky Owens/16 $700
Time of Race: 24 Mins., 05.014 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.113 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 7, 17, 18)
Lap Leaders: Frank (1-43); Richards (44-50)
Provisional Starters: Fuller, Isabell
Rookie of the Race: Vic Coffey ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Doug Drown ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race ($50): Jimmy Frey (Richards)
Chick Hawk Racing Hot Lap Award (half-off tire warmers): Frank
Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.587
2. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 14.642
3. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 14.685
4. 19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 14.786
5. B4U-Brad Eitniear/Defiance, OH 14.956
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 14.960
7. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 14.997
8. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.015
9. 11-Rusty Schlenk/Jackson, MI 15.021
10. 6T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 15.091
11. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 15.167
12. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 15.186
13. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.224
14. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.238
15. 49-Brian Ruhlman/Clarklake, MI 15.282
16. 27J-Danny Johnson/Phelps, NY 15.335
17. 12-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 15.342
18. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.351
19. 23-John Blankenship/Williamson, WV 15.352
20. 45-Mike Marteney/Bellevue, OH 15.407
21. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 15.435
22. 51-Devin Shiels/Britton, MI 15.440
23. 18R-Chris Ross/Wallaceburg, ONT 15.447
24. 20-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 15.449
25. 34-Ky Harper/Holland, OH 15.495
26. 1-Tyler Boggs/Warsaw, IN 15.501
27. 40-Dusty Moore/Swanton, OH 15.516
28. 1-Casey Noonan/Sylvania, OH 15.563
29. 50-Ryan Missler/Bellevue, OH 15.694
30. 6J-Joe Isabell/Pennellville, NY 15.713
31. 88d-Larry Kingseed/Sandusky, OH 15.768
32. 5M-Ryan Markham/Ashland, OH 15.802
33. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr./Mansfield, OH 15.812
34. 27-Ken Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 15.836
35. 5H-Ernie Haynes/Rising Sun, OH 15.896
36. 48-John Bores/Bellevue, OH 16.041
37. 1-Jim Fleming/Bellevue, OH 16.058
38. 55-Chuck Hummer/Ottawa Lake, MI 16.089
39. 2D-Curtis Deisenroth/Oak Harber, OH 16.113
40. 77-Steve Kester/Holland, OH 16.151
41. 29-Rocky Owens/Mansfield, OH 16.160
42. 93T-Jeff Esbenshade/Ashland, OH 16.202
43. 27-Bill Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 16.340
44. 92-Brandon Perkins/Republic, OH 16.353
45. 12-Michael Stiltner/Green Springs, OH 16.458
46. 25-Ryan Eddleblute/Mansfield, OH 16.508
47. 63-Randy Scott/Mansfield, OH 16.575
48. 3R-Chuck Roelle/Fostoria, OH 16.840
49. 991-Dave Wirt/Fredericksburg, OH 16.943
50. 30-Nate Potts/Bellevue, OH 17.847
51. 32c-Vic Coffey/Leicester, NY 1:50.855
52. 18s-Sean Beardsley/Central Square, NY N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, Frank, Dodd, Maffett, Owens, VanWormer, Eitniear, Harper, Stiltner, Missler, Schlenk, Wirt, Fleming
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Babb, Eckert, Dohm, Boggs, K. Hahn, Esbenshade, Shiels, Hummer, Eddleblute, Isabell, Fuller (DNS) Potts
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Moran, C. Smith, Carrier, Coffey, Blankenship, Ruhlman, Haynes, Moore, Deisenroth, Kingseed, B. Hahn, Scott, Ross
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Clanton, McCreadie, Francis, D. Johnson, Noonan, Bowersock, Marteney, Markham, Kester, Bores, Roelle, Perkins (DNS) Beardsley
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): VanWormer, Owens, Boggs, Esbenshade, Schlenk, Missler, Isabell, K. Hahn, Shiels, Hummer, Wirt, Stiltner, Eddleblute, Harper, Eitniear (DNS) Fleming, Fuller, Potts
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Blankenship, Ruhlman, Bowersock, Noonan, Deisenroth, Haynes, Moore, Marteney, Kester, Kingseed, Ross, Scott, B. Hahn, Bores, Roelle, Perkins, Markham (DNS) Beardsley
410 Sprints
Heat 1 – All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 48S-Andy Shammo; 2. O4-Cap Henry; 3. 15C-Chris Andrews; 4. X-Mark Keegan; 5. 10-David Harrison; 6. 6-Mike Dussell (R); 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. 34-Luke Hall; 9. 75-Mike Hogan; 10. 92V-Mathew Reed; 11. 16S-Lee Stark
Heat 2 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 312-Mike Linder; 2. 16-Lee Jacobs; 3. 11M-Brandon Martin; 4. 2H-Tim Hunter; 5. 12-Caleb Griffith; 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. D7-Tony Beaber; 8. 3J-Kevin Lee; 9. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 10. 9-Chad Goff
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 2-Dale Blaney; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver; 4. 69-Scott Curren; 5. 83-Phil Gressman; 6. 5B-Chad Blonde; 7. O1-Bryan Sebetto; 8. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 9. 97S-Aaron Shaffer; 10. 20X-Brian Smith
Heat 4 – Friendship Food Stores (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 22-Cole Duncan; 4. 2M-Dustin Daggett; 5. 24H-Rob Chaney; 6. 23-Ben Rutan; 7. 59-Kirk Jeffries; 8. 5T-Travis Philo; 9. 28-Hud Horton
C-main – Computer Man Inc.
1. 75-Mike Hogan; 2. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 3. 9-Chad Goff; 4. 20X-Brian Smith; 5. 16S-Lee Stark; 6. 92V-Mathew Reed; 7. 97S-Aaron Shaffer
B-main – Computer Man Inc.
1. 24H-Rob Chaney; 2. 83-Phil Gressman; 3. O1-Bryan Sebetto; 4. 5B-Chad Blonde; 5. 6-Mike Dussell (R); 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. D7-Tony Beaber; 9. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 10. 75-Mike Hogan; 11. 34-Luke Hall; 12. 10-David Harrison; 13. 59-Kirk Jeffries; 14. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 15. 3J-Kevin Lee; 16. 5T-Travis Philo; 17. 23-Ben Rutan; 18. 12-Caleb Griffith
A-main [Starting Position]
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[2]; 2. 2-Dale Blaney[8]; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes[1]; 4. 11M-Brandon Martin[4]; 5. 312-Mike Linder[9]; 6. 48S-Andy Shammo[3]; 7. 16-Lee Jacobs[10]; 8. 5R-Byron Reed[6]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson[11]; 10. 5B-Chad Blonde[20]; 11. 15C-Chris Andrews[7]; 12. X-Mark Keegan[13]; 13. 24H-Rob Chaney[17]; 14. O4-Cap Henry[12]; 15. 22-Cole Duncan[5]; 16. 83-Phil Gressman[18]; 17. O1-Bryan Sebetto[19]; 18. 2M-Dustin Daggett[16]; 19. 2H-Tim Hunter[14]; 20. 69-Scott Curren[15]
By Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR Director
(Attica, OH) Most of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series stars got their first glimpse of Attica Raceway Park last year.
But their first chance to race on the popular one-third-mile clay oval will come this Friday night (May 16) when the barnstorming national tour makes its inaugural visit to the Buckeye State facility for a 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win.
Mother Nature prevented the first attempt by Attica’s management to run a WoO LMS event, washing out last July’s scheduled mid-week date. All of the Outlaws travelers were already parked at the track when the cancellation was made, though – and to a man they were disappointed to miss an opportunity to tackle a speedway they not only had heard so many good things about, but also appeared to be so inviting.
“The first time I ever saw the place was last year in the rain,” said defending WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who enters the Attica program tied for second in the trail points standings and still relishing a $50,000 victory in last month’s Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. “It looked like it could be a real racy track, so I’m looking forward to getting back there.”
Yes, Friday’s stop is one of the most eagerly anticipated shows on this year’s WoO LMS. Attica Raceway Park possesses a well-deserved reputation for producing action-packed competition, and the country’s best dirt Late Model drivers want to experience it for themselves.
Traditionally a home for open-wheel racing, the high-banked oval will continue to build the full-fender side of its program with the visit by the WoO LMS.
“We’re really excited about the World of Outlaws race,” said Rex LeJeune, the operations manager of Attica Raceway Park. “We’re working to bring up our weekly Late Model program and having the World of Outlaws come in here will really get the division some attention.”
Attica has hosted the UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Sunoco American Late Model Series several times per season for the past decade and is back on the tour’s schedule again in 2008. The speedway has also sanctioned its weekly dirt Late Model competition under the UMP DIRTcar Racing banner for the first time this season, helping attract such young Midwestern talents as Tyler Boggs of Warsaw, Ind., and Rusty Schlenk of Jackson, Mich., to early-season events.
Boggs and Schlenk are among the regional standouts expected to challenge the invading WoO LMS stars at Attica, which has not hosted a touring dirt Late Model series event other than the Sunoco ALMS since a 2004 Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series (formerly Renegade/STARS DIRTcar Series) show won by Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio.
The 40-year-old Francis leads the traveling WoO LMS contingent, which features a 2008 driver roster that is arguably the most talented ever to follow the tour. He’s in the early stages of a points battle for the $100,000 tour championship that has the makings of a thriller, with the top-seven drivers separated by a mere 38 points through nine events.
Three-time WoO LMS champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., sits atop the tour’s current points standings, with four victories already to his credit. Francis and Rick Eckert of York, Pa., will tow to Attica tied for second (10 points behind Moyer), followed by Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. (-24), Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (-34) and the dead-locked Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (both -38).
A bit further back in the standings are WoO LMS regulars Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., 2007 Rookie of the Year Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.
Friday’s field is also expected to include 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contenders Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., Danny Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., and Joe Isabell of Pennellville, N.Y.
Joining Boggs and Schlenk on the list of regional standouts planning to enter Friday’s action are 2007 WoO LMS A-Main winner Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., who captured two Sunoco ALMS features at Attica in 2006; defending Sunoco ALMS champion Brian Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich.; and 2006 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.
Friday night’s program will certainly be “a dirt-track race fans dream,” said LeJeune. That’s because Attica’s regular 410 Sprint Car division will run a complete show on the WoO LMS undercard.
Adult general admission for the rare WoO LMS/410 Sprint Car doubleheader is $30 for adults, $15 for students 11-15 and free for kids 10 and under. Pit passes will cost $35.
Pit gates will open on Fri., May 16, at 3:30 p.m., with grandstands gates unlocked at 5 p.m. and racing action heating up at 8 p.m.
The WoO LMS 50-lapper continues the ‘Month of Mayhem’ at Attica Raceway Park, which concludes on Fri., May 30, when the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series visits the track for the 40-lap Kistler Engines Classic.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com or call the track office at 419-680-5606.
Additional info on the WoO LMS can be obtained by visiting www.worldofoutlaws.com.
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) Persistent rains brought an end to the racing action at Attica Raceway Park Friday on American Power Sports Night.
A big field of race cars were on hand and three heat races were in the books in the 410 sprints when the skies opened up. Claiming heat race wins were Lee Jacobs, Chad Kemenah and Brandon Martin.
Fans should keep their ticket stubs and pit pass bans and can use them at any race during the 2008 season – for big shows they need to make up the difference in the admission price.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, May 16, as the best dirt track late model drivers in the world come to town for the first ever appearance of the World of Outlaw Late Models. And sprint fans aren’t being left out either, as the fire-breathing 410 sprints are also on the racing card.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing action heating up at 8 p.m.
Log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com or call 419-680-5606 for more information.
Attica Raceway Park is located northeast of the U.S. 224 and St. Rt. 4 intersection in the Attica Fairgrounds.
By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) The best dirt track late model drivers in the country will make their first ever appearance at Attica Raceway Park when the World of Outlaw Late Models come to town on Friday, May 16th.
See stars Billy Moyer, Josh “Kid Rocket” Richards, Steve Francis, Shannon Babb, Rick Eckert, Chub Frank and many more battle for 50 laps for the $10,000 top prize.
As an added bonus, the highest placing local late model driver in the A-main that has never won a World of Outlaws Late Model feature and is not in the top 12 in the World of Outlaws points, will receive a $500 bonus!
And, if the wheel-hiking action of the late models isn’t enough to wet your appetite, the fire-breathing, mud-slinging 410 winged sprints will also be in action!
“Before the rains came last year, we had between 40 and 50 of the worlds best late model drivers waiting at the pitgates. Fans in northern Ohio don’t get too many opportunities to see the World of Outlaw Late Models compete on a third-mile high-banked track like Attica. Then when you throw in the sprints, its a dirt track race fan’s dream,” said Attica Operations Director Rex LeJeune.
The pit gates will open Friday, May 16, at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands gates opening at 5 p.m. and racing action heating up at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for adults; $15 for teens ages 11-15; and kids 10 and under get in free.
The Month of Mayhem continues on Friday, May 30 when the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaw Sprints will take on the tough Attica regulars during the 40-lap Kistler Engines Classic.
For more information log onto www.atticaracewaypark.com or call 419-680-5606.