Abreu holds of Reutzel for All Star thriller at Attica Raceway Park

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020

Contact: Brian Liskai

[email protected]

By Brian Liskai

ATTICA, Ohio – St. Helena, California’s Rico Abreu and Clute, Texas driver Aaron Reutzel put on a thrilling battle for the $10,000 top prize Saturday, Sept. 5 at Attica Raceway Park. The last 15 laps of the 40 lap Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions feature saw the pair trade sliders inches apart from catastrophe lap after lap. When the checkers flew Abreu took his first ever Attica win on All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Core & Main Night. It was his ninth career All Star victory and came on the 128th appearance of the All Stars at Attica Raceway Park.

“That was so tricky…that’s as slick as it gets for Ohio right there. You know you catch lapped cars and you judge your pace off of theirs. Kemenah was gaining on me on the bottom in front of me and the 11 car was driving away from me on the top. I was just trying to move around. I knew Reutzel or someone was pressuring me… you know you can kind off just sense that. I moved around and I was just way to free on the bottom and I could keep my car really propped up on the top and keep my wing speed up. That gets intense…40 laps and you have to really be patient and know your car will keep coming to you. I kept moving my wing back and it got really cleaned off on the top and I could keep my pace up,” said Abreu beside Curb Records/Whistle Stop Bar and Grill/Selfmade racing/Lucas Oil/ShopRico.com backed #24.

Reutzel, the current All Star point leader, threw everything he could at Abreu but had to settle for a close second. Though it was a huge boost from Friday night when he struggled to a 16^th place finish.

“That was all I had. I didn’t realize it was about to end. I don’t know what more I could have done. I got to where I was running the top really hard and he started getting tight. I was kind of playing with the bottom and I was trying to show him I was down there and make him move down and he did for a little bit but I didn’t capitalize and get a good enough run at the time. Our car was really good at the end. I felt like we were getting better and better. It was just hard to get runs to slide him. There were lapped cars there all the time. I had one good opportunity to slide him where I felt like I had a good run on him. We had the 11 on inside of us and he raced me off in the corner and I couldn’t get all the way to the bottom to slide him. All in all it was a great race. I just needed  to capitalize sooner. I wish I wouldn’t have tried that slider on the last lap. I wish I would have just bombed it in there and try to get a run down the back stretch. It was a lot better run than last night. I thought the track was phenomenal tonight,” said Reutzel beside his Fischer Body Shop/Folkens Brothers Trucking/XXX Chassis/Nattress Construction backed #87.

Attica point leader Cap Henry made a late race charge to finish third.

“I hung the wing in the truck and just went for it. We struggled there really early and we struggled last night. Zack and Brett and Connor and everyone keeps working really hard on it. It’s been a really fun season,” said Henry of his Dragon’s Milk White/Beer Barrel Bourbon/Pro Auto Wraps/FK Rod Ends backed #4.

Fremont, Ohio’s Paul Weaver took the lead from Larry Kingseed Jr. on lap eight and survived a late race caution to claim his sixth 305 sprint feature win of the season at Attica. It was his third straight victory at the track and the 55^th of his career to lead the all-time win list for the division. It was his 10^th overall victory of 2020.

It wasn’t easy for Weaver as his arm restraint got hooked on a piece of equipment in the cockpit and he had to drive one handed for awhile.

“It took a lap and a half or so to get it unhooked….I couldn’t move my arms. This is the most features in a season since my second or third year racing when I had 14 or 15 wins. I’m happy to still be able to do this,” said Weaver beside his B&B Drain Service/Hampshire Racing Engines/M&L Excavating backed #1W.

Trey Jacobs and Abreu brought the field to green for the All Star 40-lap feature with Jacobs gaining the early advantage over Abreu, Cale Thomas, Reutzel and Tim Shaffer. After a lapped was scored a multi-car incident in turn one brought out the yellow. When the green flew again Jacobs and Abreu battled side by side with Shaffer and Reutzel in pursuit.

Abreu was able to take the lead on lap five and began to pull away slightly from Jacobs and Shaffer closed in. Jacobs didn’t throw in the towel and steadily gained ground on Abreu and retook the lead on lap 12 just as the caution flew. On the restart Abreu jumped to the high side of the track and battled with Jacobs again, reclaiming the lead on lap 14 as Shaffer and Reutzel went side by side for third.

Abreu built his lead to over two seconds by lap 22 as Jacobs was locked in a battle for Reutzel with Ian Madsen, Shaffer and Cap Henry trying to close. Reutzel was finally able to wrestle second from Jacobs on lap 25 as Abreu encountered heavy lapped traffic. That allowed Reutzel to close on Abreu and with 10 laps to go the battle was on for the win.

Abreu was able to pull away slightly with seven laps to go but Reutzel hung around as Jacobs was locked in a battle with Madsen and Henry for third. After taking the white flag, Reutzel threw a slider on Abreu as the pair nearly touched but Abreu kept his car on the ragged edge of the narrow cushion to maintain the lead and drove to the win over Reutzel, Henry, Madsen and Jacobs.

At the drop of the green for the 25 lap Fremont Fence 305 feature Larry Kingseed Jr. bolted into the lead over Weaver, Steve Rando, Kyle Peters, Matt Lucius, Matt Foos and Jamie Miller. Kingseed built up a commanding lead before the caution flew on lap five. On the restart Weaver applied all kinds of pressure to the youngster and drove into the lead on lap eight.

Weaver was able to pull away from Kingseed who now had his hands full with Rando and Foos. Rando took the second spot with seven laps to go and a caution with five circuits remaining put him right on Weaver’s rear bumper. Weaver got an excellent restart and drove away for the win as Kingseed rebounded to regain second. Kyle Peters came on strong at the end to garner third with Rando and Foos rounding out the top five.

Attica Raceway Park will wrap up the 2020 season with Kistler Racing Products/Jon Wright’s Custom Chrome Plating Presents the Mark Keegan Classic Championship night for the 410 and 305 sprints and late models. It is also a points night for the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products 410 Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group and for the NAPA of Bryan 305 AFCS presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales.

Keep tabs on the ongoing race schedule at www.atticaracewaypark.com or follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atticaracewaypark and Instagram at attica_raceway_park.

About Core & Main

Core & Main is the Nation’s largest distributor of Waterworks products. Core & Main distributes a complete line of water, sewer, fire protection, and storm drain products to serve the needs of both contractors and municipalities in all aspects of public works and private construction industries. These products are integral to building, repairing and maintaining water systems and serve as part of the basic municipal infrastructure required to support population and economic growth, and residential and commercial construction.

The nearest Core & Main locations are in Ashland and Amherst! Find out more at hdswaterworks.com

About All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads – www.allproheads.com

All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads in Johnstown, Ohio, 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.  See Bob and Suzie Williams and all their great employees for all your racing cylinder head needs.

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Shaffer breaks All Star dry spell with Attica win; Bores earns 1st late model win of 2020

Friday, Sept. 4, 2020

Contact: Brian Liskai

[email protected]

By Brian Liskai

ATTICA, Ohio – It had been since February 2019 since Tim Shaffer stood in victory lane with the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Presented by Mobil 1. The Aliquippa, Pa. driver – a four time series champion – ended that drought Friday, Sept. 4 at Attica Raceway Park, opening the Attica Ambush with his 67^th career All Star win, leading all 40 laps.

The victory was the second on the season at Attica for Shaffer and the 19^th of his career at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speed plant on Murphy Tractor and Equipment/Stillwater Metals/Core & Main Presented by Kistler Racing Products/Kistler Engines Night. Shaffer’s victory aboard the Brian Grove Racing #28 came on the 127^th appearance of the All Stars at Attica Raceway Park.

“It’s been awhile…I haven’t run with them (All Stars) steady. But, we’re building a team. We can only run a limited schedule and boy we have to make it worthwhile when we do. Hats off to my guys, Rider Engines, RPM Chassis, Momentum Shocks…just everybody stepped up and here we are,” said Shaffer beside his Canton Erectors/Rudzik Excavating backed machine.

Shaffer, who pays very close attention to the shock packages on the sprint car he drives, said that is the key to winning.

“You have to pay attention to the shocks. These kids are getting harder and harder to beat so we have to get our car really nice. Actually I have one of Keith (Berner) shocks on the right front and the other three are Momentum. They are just all working together. I got some stuff from Keith for my late model too. It’s all about enjoying yourself and this is about making a living and the late model is for playing,” Shaffer added.

Shaffer had to survive a restart with five laps to go and made a change in his racing line, moving to the high side.

“You have to move around. This is Attica and if you don’t move around you’re going to get your ass handed to you. It definitely changes throughout the night and I just hoped I was doing the right things,” the winner added.

Bixby, Oklahoma’s Shane Stewart gave Shaffer all he could handle late in the race but settled for second in the Indy Race Parts #71.

“We haven’t raced that much together Bernie and I but every time we do this car is fast. I started to fade a little the last 10 laps, I think we were running out of fuel. Hopefully we can make some adjustments and contend again tomorrow,” said Stewart of his Jonestown KOA/Capital Renegade/Indy Race Parts backed machine.

Fairland, Indiana’s Cale Thomas made a late race charge to round out the podium in the Pete Grove Racing #70.

“I feel back to about 10^th at the beginning and I just had to remember this is the Attica I grew up learning to race on from about five or six years ago. I moved the wing back and was able to race the middle of the track,” said Thomas of his Lumber and Things/River City Wood/Lutes Custom Cabinetry, Premier Pallet backed sprint car.

Bellevue, Ohio’s Mike Bores took the lead on lap 18 of the Dirt Nerds Podcast/Propane.com Late Model A-main and withstood a caution with just six laps to go to win his first feature of the season and taking home the $3,000 payday. It was Bores sixth career win at Attica.

“I was nervous when I saw that 79 car (Doug Drown) up to third on that last restart. I was counting the laps down and thought ‘hear comes hammer down Doug Drown.’ I want to thank my wife and little boy, my crew, Noah, Frank, Nick, Brent, Burns Electric, Underground Utilities, Accuforce,  Clements Racing Engines and Roeder Racing,” said Bores in victory lane.

Cale Conley and Jac Haudenschild brought the field to green for the 40-lap All Star feature but the initial start was called back and Conley was moved back a row for jumping. When the green flew again Shaffer bolted into the lead with Haudenschild, Conley, Trey Jacobs, eighth starter Shane Stewart and Cory Eliason giving chase. While Haudenschild hounded Shaffer, Conley and Stewart battled side by side over several laps for third.

A caution with 11 laps in kept Shaffer out of lapped traffic and he again pulled away when the green reappeared while Haudenschild and Stewart battled for second. Stewart took the runner-up spot on lap 18 just before a caution flew at the half-way point.

On the ensuing restart Stewart drove to Shaffer’s outside to challenge but Shaffer hit his marks and began to pull away again, building his lead to nearly a second and half with 14 laps to go. With 10 circuits remaining heavy lapped traffic faced Shaffer with Stewart, Haudenschild, Conley, Eliason and Thomas staying close. At one point Conley, Eliason and Thomas were three wide battling for fourth.

The final caution flew with five laps to go when Conley and Eliason made contact battling for fifth with Eliason stopping with heavy front end damage. When the green flew Shaffer moved his restart marks to the high side of one and two and it paid off as he drove away for the win over Stewart, Thomas, Conley, Paul McMahan and the night’s hard charger Rico Abreu who charged from 23^rd to sixth. Haudenschild, Ian Madsen, Cole Duncan and TJ Michael, who came from last, rounded out the top 10.

Defending Attica late model champion Doug Drown and Jerry Bowersock led the field to green for the 30 lap late feature with Drown grabbing a commanding lead over Rob Anderzack, Bowersock, Dave Hornikel, Devin Shiels and Matt Irey.

Irey worked his way up to second on lap 11 and was closing on Drown when the leader got tangled up with a lapped car and spun. Irey now led Anderzack, Bores, Hornikel and Ryan Missler. Just as Irey was pulling away something broke and he went to the pits, handing the lead to Bores who took second just a half lap earlier.

Bores pulled away on the restart as Anderzack had to deal with Bowersock and Hornikel with Missler, Shiels and Markham in pursuit. With eight laps to go the car on the move was Drown who had worked his way from the tail up to fourth.

A final caution with six laps to go put Anderzack, Bowersock, Drown and Missler right on Bores’ rear bumper. Bores got an excellent restart while Drown blasted into second and started to close on the leader. Bores made no mistakes the final hand full of laps to score the win over Drown, Markham, Anderzack and Bowersock.

Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 5 on Core & Main/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Presented by Kistler Racing Products/Kistler Engines Night. The All Stars will be gunning for $10,000 while the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints will battle for a $1,000 pay day.

Keep tabs on the ongoing race schedule at www.atticaracewaypark.com or follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atticaracewaypark and Instagram at attica_raceway_park.

About Core & Main

Core & Main is the Nation’s largest distributor of Waterworks products. Core & Main distributes a complete line of water, sewer, fire protection, and storm drain products to serve the needs of both contractors and municipalities in all aspects of public works and private construction industries. These products are integral to building, repairing and maintaining water systems and serve as part of the basic municipal infrastructure required to support population and economic growth, and residential and commercial construction.  The nearest Core & Main locations are in Ashland and Amherst! Find out more at hdswaterworks.com

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.

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