By Brian Liskai: (Attica, OH) — Attica Raceway Park wrapped up its 19th season by crowning its champions at a gala banquet Saturday, Nov. 11.
Winning the crowns were Monclova’s Byron Reed (410 sprints); Sandusky’s Chris Andrews and Milbury’s Andy Shammo shared the 305 sprint title; Sandusky’s Larry Kingseed (limited late models) and Tiffin’s Art Ball (dirt trucks.
Reed, the 2003 and 2005 Attica champ, was the only driver to compete in all 17 A-mains run in 2006. Reed recorded an incredible 13 top 10 finishes, including a remarkable 10 top 5 runs. He opened the season with his 17th career Attica feature win and recorded four runner-up finishes and a pair of thirds. His average A-main finishing position was 7th.
“Last year it seemed I was the one passing for the lead late in the race and this year it happened to me,” said Reed. “I have to thank my family for all of their support and my sponsors, Reebar Diecasting, Black Swamp Graphics and Paul Kistler…he builds a heck of a motor, we didn’t have one engine issue all year.”
Shammo competed in all 14 A-mains in 2006 finishing out of the top 10 only once, a 16th place showing on April 28. He never finished worse than 7th in any of the other 13 features. He scored an incredible 11 top five finishes, including a win on Aug. 19. He scored runner-up finishes three times and a pair of thirds. His average A-main finishing position was a remarkable 4.7.
Andrews, the 2004 co-rookie of the year, also competed in all 14 A-mains in 2006, never finishing out of the top 10! He recorded 7 top five finishes, including three feature wins – April 28, May 5 and Aug. 18. He also picked up a second and three thirds. His average A-main finishing position was 5th.
“We were in the hunt every week and you can’t complain about that,” said Shammo of his first sprint car championship. “I have to thank Lamar and Yvonne Burkin for all they do to keep us racing, and my wife and all my family for their support. I want to thank Matt Tille Enterprises, Fort Ball Pizza, Applebee’s, and all my sponsors.”
“We had a lot of help setting the car up this year and it showed. I want to thank my parents and all my sponsors – Blue Chip, Spill Tech, Goofy Golf and everyone that made this year so special,” said Andrews, who announced he was moving up to a 410 sprint in 2007.
Kingseed – the 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2005 Attica champion – never finished out of the top 8 in all 13 limited late model A-mains in 2006. He recorded a remarkable 11 top five finishes. His worst finish was an eighth on June 9. Kingseed scored five feature wins in 2006 to move his career mark to 21 and into fifth on the all-time stock car win list, just nine behind Wayme Maffett Sr. Kingseed’s average A-main finishing position was an incredible third!
“When they announced the rules change allowing aluminum blocks last year I didn’t know what to expect. But, our steel block motor was up to the challenge,” said Kingseed.
Age doesn’t seem to slow down Art Ball. The 67-year-old driver – who earned the 1996 and 1997 limited late model champion – only had one dirt truck feature finish out of the top 6 – an 11th on June 16. He picked up a victory on July 28 and scored a runner-up finish and a pair of thirds. His average A-main finishing position was 4.3.
“I want to dedicate this to Roy Pierce….we lost him this year and he is responsible for keeping me racing all these 45 years. When I got fired, he bought a car and put me in it and we’ve been together ever since. I want to thank his son and the rest of the family and all my crew for all their hard work. I want to thank Magers Lumber, Kear’s Speedshop and all the sponsors…without them we couldn’t do this,” said Ball, who announced he would give up the limited late model driving chores next year to concentrate on the trucks.
The rest of the top 10 in each division were:
410 Sprints:
2nd – Mike Linder: Mike, the 1996, 1997 and 1998 Attica 305 sprint champion, competed in 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2006, missing only the May 31 and July 21 National Sprint Tour features. He scored 9 top 10 finishes, including 7 top five runs. He scored a pair of runner-up finishes and 3 third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was 8.5.
Tied for 3rd – Bryan Scott and Lee Jacobs.
Scott, the 2001 and 2002 Attica 305 champion, is the 2006 410 Rookie of the Year. He competed in 13 of the 17 A-mains in 2006, picking up 9 top 10 finishes and 4 top fives. He scored his first 410 feature triumph on June 9. He also had a pair of third place runs. His average A-main feature finishing position was 9th.
Jacobs competed in 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2006, missing only the April 28 and May 5 features. He picked up 9 top 10 finishes and 5 top fives. Lee scored his first career feature victory on Aug. 19. He also had a runner-up finish on July 7 and a third on June 9. Lee’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.
5th – Craig Mintz: Craig made 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2006, missing only the June 25 Speedweek show and the July 21 NST feature. He scored 8 top 10 finishes, including a season-best 2nd on Aug. 4. Craig’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.
6th – Mark Keegan: Mark, who has won 12 track titles in 19 years, made 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2006, missing only the June 25 Speedweek show and the Aug. 4 feature. Mark scored 11 top 10 runs, including 7 top five finishes. Mark picked up career wins 53 and 54 on July 7 and Aug. 26. His average A-main feature finishing position was 7.5.
7th – David Harrison: David competed in 13 of the 17 A-mains in 2006. He recorded 7 top 10 finishes including a season-best 5th on July 28. He also had three 7th place runs.His average A-main finishing position was 11th.
8th – Roger Shammo: A rookie in the 410 sprints, Roger competed in 6 of the 17 A-mains. He recorded a season best 12th place finish on Aug. 4.
9th – Caleb Griffith: Caleb, the 2003 Attica 305 sprint champion and 2004 rookie of the year in the 410 sprints, competed in 11 of the 17 A-mains in 2006. He recorded five top 10 finishes, including a season best 3rd on July 28 and a 4th on Aug. 19.
10th – Bruce Robenalt: Bruce competed in 8 of the 17 A-mains in 2006. He recorded a season best 11th place finish on July 7.
Other 410 sprint notes: Phil Gressman picks up $125 from Ramsey Trucking for winning the most first t heats in 2006 (2), while Mike Linder takes home $125 from Ramsey Trucking for winning the most second heats (tied with Bryan Scott and Mark Keegan with 2 wins each, but finishes higher in points); David Harrison pickes up an extra $125 from Ramsey Trucking for winning the most third heats (3); and Craig Mintz gets $125 for winning the most fourth heats (tying Jamie Martin and Brandon Martin with a win each, but finishes higher in points).
305 Sprints:
3rd – Scott Kraylek: Scott competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the May 5 feature. He scored 10 top 10 finishes and 6 top five runs. He wrapped up the year hot, finishing no worse than sixth in the last 6 shows. He scored career wins #8 and #9 on July 21 make-up and Aug. 4. He also recorded a runner up finish and a pair of thirds. His average A-main finishing position was 7th.
4th – Stuart Brubaker: Stuart competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the July 7 feature. He scored 9 top 10 finishes, including a season best third. He opened the season hot, finishing no worse than 10th through June 16. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
5th – Bill Kraylek: Bill competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the July 7 feature. He picked up 5 top 10 runs, including a season best pair of 4th place runs. Bill’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.
6th – Kevin Lee: Kevin – the 2004 co-rookie of the year at Attica – competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains in 2006, missing only the July 28 feature. He scored 9 top 10 runs, including 5 top five runs. He opened the season with 7 straight top 10 runs. He picked up a runner-up finish along with a third. His average A-main finishing position was 8th.
7th – Brad Bowman: Brad competed in 11 of the 14 A-mains in 2006. He scored 6 top 10 finishes, including a season best fourth on May 5 and a 5th on April 28. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
8th – Duane Zablocki: Duane competed in 11 of the 14 A-mains in 2006. He scored 7 top 10 finishes, including a season-best 4th on Aug. 18. His average A-main finishing position was 11th.
9th – Dustin Dinan: Dustin compated in 12 of the 14 A-mains in 2006, missing only the April 15 and May 5 features. He scored 7 top 10 finishes. He scored a season-best pair of third place showings. His average A-main finishing position was 9th.
10th – Mark Pridemore – 3,010 points: Mark competed in 10 of the 14 A-mains in 2006, including scoring a pair of 9th place finishes.
Other notes: 2006 Rookie of the Year was Clyde’s Shawn Colvin who finished 12th in season-long points. He competed in 7 of the 14 A-mains and scored a career best eighth place finish on June 9.
Andrews received a $1,000 gift certificate from Griff’s Engines for recording the most heat race wins in 2006 – 7 (he tied with Paul Weaver, but won the tie-breaker by finishing higher in points.
Limited Late Models:
2nd – Jeff McCoy: In all 13 A-mains he competed in in 2006, Jeff only finished worse than 8th once – a 17th place showing on Aug. 4. Besides his 12 top 8 runs, he scored 7 top five finishes. Jeff picked up career wins #18 and #19 on June 25 and July 28. He also scored a pair of runner-up finishes. His average A-main finishing position was an incredible 5th.
3rd – Ryan Missler: Ryan – the 2005 rookie of the year – competed in all 13 A-mains in 2006, recording 11 top 10 finishes. He marked up 10 top five runs, including finishing no worse than sixth in the last 8 shows. He wrapped up the year by claiming his first career Attica feature win on Aug. 26. He also racked up a second and a pair of thirds. His average feature finishing position was 5th.
4th – Mike Bores: Mike competed in all 13 A-mains in 2006. He recorded 9 top 10 finishes, including four top fives. He picked up his third career win on May 31 and also scored a pair of runner-up finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 8th.
5th – Mike Marteney: Mike – the 2001 Attica champion – competed in all 13 A-mains in 2006. He recorded 6 top 10 finishes, including five top fives. He scored career wins #18 and #19 on June 16 and July 7, and picked up a runner-up finish on Aug. 26. Mike’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.
6th – Brandon Perkins: Brandon competed in 12 of the 13 A-mains in 2006, missing only the June 16 feature. He scored 8 top 10 finishes and five top five runs. His season-best was a runner-up finish on June 9. His average A-main finishing position was 8th.
7th – Chester Fitch: Chester – the 2004 Attica champion – competed in 11 of the 13 A-mains in 2006, missing the May 31 and July 21 shows. He scored 9 top 10 finishes, including a season-best second on opening night and a third on April 14. His average A-main finishing position was 7th.
8th – John Bores: When not busy supervising track preparation, John competed in 12 of the 13 A-mains, missing only the July 28 feature. He scored 3 top 10 runs, including a season-best pair of 7ths on May 5 and July 21. His average feature finishing position was 13th.
9th – Steve Sabo: Steve competed in 12 of the 13 A-mains, missing only the Aug. 4 feature. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes. He scored a season-best 6th on May 5. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
10th – Art Ball: Art – the 1996 and 1997 Attica champion – competed in 12 of the 13 A-mains in 2006, missing only the Aug. 4 show. He scored four top 10 finishes, including a season best fifth on July 7. His average A-main finishing position was 13th.
Other notes: Craig Corfman of Fremont was the 2006 Rookie of the Year. He ran 7 A-mains in 2006 with a career best finish of 9th in the make-up feature from July 21. He also scored a 10th on July 7.
Ryan Missler picks up a $650 gift certificate from Griff’s Engines for winning the most heats in 2006 – 6.
Dirt Trucks:
2nd – Bob Dible: Bob never finished out of the top 10. He picked up a win on July 17. His average A-main finishing position was 5th.
3rd – Brian Arnold: Brian scored four top five finishes, including a pair of runner-up showins and a pair of thirds. His average A-main finishing position was 6th.
4th – Steve Endicott: Steve had only one finish out of the top five – a 21st on Aug. 4. He recorded a runner-up finish on June 16 and three fourth place showings. His average feature finishing position was 7th.
Tied for 5th – Paul Dymond and Eric DeVanna.
Dymond scored four top 10 finishes out of the 6 A-mains, including a season best 4th and a fifth.
DeVanna also scored four top 10 finishes, including a season best fifth and a sixth.
7th – Brian Sorg: In the 6 features in 2006, Brian scored a pair of eighths and a ninth.
8th – Ron Kepling: In the 6 A-mains in 2006, Ron ended the year hot, scoring a fifth and a third.
9th – Aaron Schatzinger: In the 6 features he ran in, he scored a season best 7th and a 10th.
10th – Greg Harmon: In the 6 features he competed in, Greg scored a season best pair of 13th place showings.
Other notes: Shawn Valenti was the 2006 Rookie of the Year. He competed in 5 of the 6 A-mains, never finishing worse than 9th. He scored a runner-up finish on Aug. 26. His average A-main finishing position was 6th.