Eliason finally finds victory lane at Attica; Horstman wraps up 6th NRA title with GLSS win; Foos earns third 305 victory

Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022

By Brian Liskai

 

ATTICA, Ohio – Cory Eliason has had a “love/hate” relationship with Attica Raceway Park. The Visalia, California driver has finished on the podium several times over the past couple of years at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” track but just couldn’t seem to find victory lane. That came to an end Saturday, Sept. 2 to wrap up the Attica Ambush weekend as he dominated the 35-lap 410 sprint feature for a $7,000 pay off on Great Lakes Truck Centers/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Night.

Eliason, who parted ways a few weeks ago with his All Star Circuit of Champions team, drove the Bernie and Betsy Stuebgen owned Indy Race Parts backed #71 to a convincing win, even surviving a restart with just four laps to go. Eliason joked in the past he was going to get to Attica early to have a talk with the track for better results.

“We got here at 4:30…maybe I was doing it all wrong, maybe I got here early and tried to talk to it and just made it mad…just needed to let do its thing. It’s a good feeling…this place eluded me. We’ve had two or three speedweek times where we’ve run second and just ran second earlier this year. I can’t thank Bernie and Betsy enough for giving me this opportunity. It’s been a tough season and it’s a good feeling to know I can still get the job done and do it for them. We couldn’t come out yesterday because Bernie has a business and he has work to do…he has to stay and work to pay the bills,” said Eliason.

“I got to lapped traffic and the track got dirtier and I kind of started searching and I knew I wasn’t as quick as I was in clean air. I didn’t know how big a lead I had. I knew Tim (Shaffer) was quick in the heat race and I had a good battle with him for quite awhile and I knew he was going to be coming. I just kept going as hard as I could. I’m thankful for those yellows. That last one I had gotten to three lapped cars racing middle, top and bottom and I didn’t really know where to go. I haven’t really gotten along with this place over the years but it goes to show if you keep pursuing it it will get better,” added Eliason.

With his sixth place finish Cole Macedo pads his lead in the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group heading into the championship weekend.

After a tremendous battle early with Tyler Rankin, Cloverdale, Ohio’s Jared Horstman took the lead for good on lap 13 of the 25-lap Great Lakes Super Sprints feature and drove to his second career 360 win at Attica. The victory wrapped up the sixth championship of the Ohio Logistics National Racing Alliance Sprint Invaders and was worth $3,000.  Also, Elida, Ohio’s Max Stambaugh came home third and claimed the 2022 Great Lakes Super Sprints title.

“The guys back in the pits did a heck of a job putting this thing together. Tyler (Rankin) was good on the top and we crossed slide jobs a few times there and got together down the back stretch…didn’t mean for that to happen. The car was good and can’t complain a bit. This is good tight racing. A good group here with the NRA and GLSS coming together…a fantastic field and great to see this program building,” said Horstman beside his M&W Construction, Miller Construction, T&D Interiors, Scott Miller Trucking backed #17.

Fremont, Ohio’s Matt Foos, Attica’s 2015 dirt truck track champion, took the lead  with just six laps to go in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprint feature and held off a charging Paul Weaver who had started 17^th, to claim his third victory of the season at Attica and the seventh of his career at the track.

“What a weekend. We will take a second (Friday) and a win! We were all racing hard there and when that caution came out (with four laps to go) I really didn’t even know I was in the lead. This old car carries some torch marks from Tony Beaber and still runs fantastic,” said Foos beside his Level Performance, Mitten Painting, Fremont Fence, Rohr Total Lawn Care, DJ Johnson & Family, M&L Excavating, Level Utilities, Chuck’s Budget Brakes, The Car Spa, Berryman Racing Shocks, Kear’s Speed Shop, 818 Club backed #12.

Weaver’s big run to second pads his point lead in the NAPA of Bryan AFCS presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales heading to championship weekend.

In the 35-lap Callie’s Performance Products 410 Sprint feature, Eliason grabbed the early lead over Byron Reed, Zeth Sabo, Friday night’s winner Tim Shaffer, Cole Macedo and Travis Philo. After a lap one caution, Shaffer took third and pressured Reed for second as Eliason pulled away.

Just as Eliason got to lapped traffic on lap eight a caution flew as he led Reed, Shaffer, Sabo, Philo, Cole Macedo and Cale Thomas. When the race resumed Eliason again pulled away from Reed and Shaffer and Thomas vaulted into the fourth spot.

As Eliason prepared to enter heavy lapped traffic again on lap 16 the caution flew followed by a red as Philo spun battling for fourth with DJ Foos with no place to go, flipping off turn two (he was not injured).

Once again on the restart Eliason pulled away from Reed as Shaffer and Trey Jacobs battled for thirds. With four laps to go Jacobs would spin setting up a four lap battle to the checkers. Eliason got a great restart and drove away to the win over Shaffer, Reed, Thomas and Chris Andrews.

Tylar Rankin jumped into the lead of the GLSS feature over Stambaugh, Horstman Zane DeVault, Dan McCarron and Hud Horton. Horstman began pressuring Stambaugh for second on lap five right before a red on lap seven for a flipping Dustin Daggett who was uninjured.

On the restart Horstman took second and drove to Rankin’s inside for the lead as the pair made heavy contact down the back stretch but kept rolling. Rankin and Horstman traded sliders lap after lap until there were 12 to go when Horstman solidified his position at the front. A red for a tip over by Bryan Sebetto on lap 14 kept the field close.

On the ensuing restart McCarron took second from Rankin but Horstman was pulling away. McCarron closed the final four laps but Horstman drove to the win. Stambaugh, Phil Gressman and Rankin rounded out the top five.

Matt Lucius grabbed the early lead of the 25-lap 305 sprint A-main over Kody Brewer, Mike Keegan, Kasey Jedrzejek and Steve Rando. A caution on lap three saw the restart order of Lucius, Keegan, Brewer and Jedrzejek who took third a circuit later. Keegan took the lead on lap 12 but had a challenge from Lucius and Jedrzejek

With 10 laps to go it was a great four car battle for the lead involving Keegan, Jedrzejek, Jamie Miller and Foos who had started eighth. Jedrzejek, who won his first Attica feature the previous Friday, grabbed the top spot on lap 17 only to see Foos use lapped traffic to seize the top spot on lap 19.

After a caution for second running Jedrzejek with four laps to go, the restart would see Foos lead Weaver who drove through the pack from his 17^th starting position. Foos was not to be denied as he took the checkers over Weaver, Keegan, Miller and Brewer.

Attica Raceway Park will wrap up the 2022 season on Friday, Sept. 9 for Kistler Racing Products/Jon Wright’s Custom Chrome Plating presents the Mark Keegan Classic Season Championship Night (rain date of Sept. 16). The AFCS 410 sprints will pay $4,000 to win while the UMP late models will battle for $2,000 to win and the AFCS 305 sprints going for $1,000 to win.

 

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.comor follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atticaracewaypark and Instagram at attica_raceway_park.

About All Pro Heads – www.allproheads.com

All Pro Heads is based in Johnstown, Ohio and is owned by Bob and Suzie Williams. All Pro is the industry leader in small block Chevy aluminum cylinder heads, catering to the hard core racer always looking for the perfect design for a specific application. Whether it’s Sprints, Super Late Models, Drag Racing, Off-Road, Marine or Road Racing, you can count on All Pro.  For engine builders and racers seeking a distinct advantage give All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads a call!

About Great Lakes Truck Centers – https://www.greatlakestruckcenters.com/

Great Lakes Truck Centers is a wholly owned subsidiary of Valley Truck Centers since 1964 and serves more than 35 counties throughout Ohio. Great Lakes Truck Centers takes pride in serving their customers and taking care of their Freightliner and Western Star needs. Great Lakes Truck Centers also services Detroit, Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, CAT, Cummins, Allison, Eaton, Eaton Fuller, and Meritor equipped units. Fully stocked parts shelves at Great Lakes Truck Centers feature Alliance all-makes parts, Freightliner, Detroit, Western Star, Cummins, Eaton Fuller, Caterpillar, CAT, and any part for your fleet to ensure uptime! There are Great Lakes Truck Centers in Monroeville, Cleveland, Akron, Mansfield, Toledo and Monroe.

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Shaffer honors late Trevor Baker with Attica Ambush win; Missler gets thrilling late model win; Weaver earns last corner last lap 305 victory

Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022

By Brian Liskai

 

ATTICA, Ohio – A little over a week ago Ohio sprint driver Trevor Baker – whose cheerful personality made him many friends in the racing community – lost his life in a vehicle crash in Florida. Tim Shaffer and his car owner Bryan Grove paid tribute to Baker Friday, Sept. 2 at Attica Raceway Park, as the Steel City Outlaw and hall of fame driver put the #45 in victory lane to kick off the Attica Ambush on Stillwater Metals/Murphy Tractor and Equipment/Great Lakes Truck Centers/Griff’s Engines and Machine Night.

Because Grove made his sprint car look like Baker’s to honor the Shreve, Ohio driver, many felt Baker’s presence at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speedplant, including Shaffer.

“That yellow flag helped me out. I had to move around in lapped traffic and I finally messed with the wing. I put it on the high side where Trevor liked to run….he was definitely with us tonight. So cool for Bryan Grove to honor Trevor. This one is for the Baker family,” said Shaffer beside his Canton Erectors/Ron Jacobs Trucking/RPM Chassis backed machine.

It was Shaffer’s 20^th career Attica win placing the four time All Star champion fifth on the all-time 410 sprint win list at the track. Though he led all 30 laps for the $5,000 payday, it wasn’t easy as traffic allowed Jordan Ryan to close and challenge at the half-way point before a caution on lap 18 gave Shaffer a clear track. Shaffer pulled away for the win with DJ Foos getting around Ryan on the white flag lap to earn a second place finish while Ryan, Trey Jacobs and 12^th starter Ricky Peterson rounded out the top five.

By finishing second Foos, the defending All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group champion, closes the game on Cole Macedo.

The 30 lap Sunoco American Late Model Series feature was a dandy as four to five cars battled for the top spot nearly the entire way before Bellevue, Ohio’s Ryan Missler secured his second win of the season at Attica, and it was worth $5,000.

“We were really coming up there about half way…I feel we had the best car out there. It’s a shame something happened to Ryan Markham but I think we had something for him before he broke. It’s great to defend the home turf against a stout field,” said Missler beside his Weekley Electric, MGZX Technologies, HAFTAL, Kepling Flooring, Jackson Farms, Rocket Chassis, Handy Graphics, York Fabrication, Stakt Products, Big D’s Pizza, Elite Motorsports, Accuforce, SCS Gearbox, Maga Lifts, Missler’s Sweets #50.

Defending and three time track champion Devin Shiels led the first 12 laps before Markham got by and pulled away from a tremendous battle for second involving Shiels, Devin Moran, Missler and Collin Shipley. A caution on lap 21 put Shiels, Missler and Moran right on Markham’s rear bumper. Three laps later Markham experienced engine woes and went to the pits, handing the lead to Missler. Moran moved into second with four to go and was closing on Missler, but the five time Attica champion was able to negotiate through traffic for his 18^th career Attica win over Moran, Shiels, Mike Bores and Shipley.

Just like the previous week, the Fremont Fence 305 Sprint feature came down to the last corner of the last lap. Last week it was Kasey Jedrzejek who grabbed the dramatic win. This Friday it was veteran Paul Weaver who drove under Jedrzejek coming to the checkers to steal his fourth win of the season and 68^th of his career in the division. The victory was worth $1,500.

“That’s just youth. He must have heard me because he began to drive harder and made one mistake. I just went where he wasn’t,” said Weaver beside his Steve Brown’s B&B Drain Service/M&L Excavating/Hampshire Engines backed #31.

The win gives Weaver a little more breathing room in his quest to win his third straight NAPA of Bryan AFCS presented Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales title.

Night #2 of the Attica Ambush will feature the AFCS 410 sprints going for $7,000 to win; the AFCS 305s going for $1,500 to win and the 360 Ohio Logistics NRA Sprints battling for $3,000 to win.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.comor follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atticaracewaypark and Instagram at attica_raceway_park.

 

About Stillwater Metal  – www.stillwater-metal.com

Stillwater Metal is located in Kenton, Ohio and handles all of your steel siding and roofing needs.

 

About Murphy Tractor and Equipment – www.murphytractor.com

Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co., Inc., one of John Deere’s largest North American construction equipment dealer organizations, was founded in 1982. Headquartered in Park City, Kansas, the organization has 29 locations throughout the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Staffed by over 650 employees, each location has a full complement of equipment and parts inventories, service technicians and field service capabilities. As one of John Deere’s largest North American construction equipment dealers, Murphy Tractor is committed to being the product and support supplier of first choice by customers in the markets that use the products we represent.

 

About Great Lakes Truck Centers – https://www.greatlakestruckcenters.com/

Great Lakes Truck Centers is a wholly owned subsidiary of Valley Truck Centers since 1964 and serves more than 35 counties throughout Ohio. Great Lakes Truck Centers takes pride in serving their customers and taking care of their Freightliner and Western Star needs. Great Lakes Truck Centers also services Detroit, Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, CAT, Cummins, Allison, Eaton, Eaton Fuller, and Meritor equipped units. Fully stocked parts shelves at Great Lakes Truck Centers feature Alliance all-makes parts, Freightliner, Detroit, Western Star, Cummins, Eaton Fuller, Caterpillar, CAT, and any part for your fleet to ensure uptime! There are Great Lakes Truck Centers in Monroeville, Cleveland, Akron, Mansfield, Toledo and Monroe.

About Griff’s Engines

Griff’s Engine & Machine is located at 710 Erie St, in Sandusky, Ohio. Griff’s specializes in racing and marine engines and has been in business since 1968.

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