(Tom Myers) May 28, 2016 - Finally, we are getting some good weather in Ohio and the good weather welcomed the All Star Super Sprints to Attica Raceway Park Friday evening. It was warm and breezy, just right for watching the races, not too hot, not too cold.
Pops and I arrived at the track much later than we wanted and we missed time trials. The track was already dry by the time we got a seat but they started watering it and the surface was ready for the heat races. The first thing I noticed when approaching the track from the parking lot was the TV Camera lifts, towering above turn 1 and turn 4. There were also two located behind the grandstands. That was pretty cool to see. The new TV deal for the All Stars is in full swing it appears. I also noticed Brad Doty Classic posters all over the place. Brad's race is World of Outlaws sanctioned and is returning to Attica on July 12th this year. Brad was in attendance this evening, meeting with folks and talking up the race and being the great ambassador for the sport that he is. In addition to the Brad Doty Classic, Attica is hosting a round of the Dirt Classic, Wednesday, August 3rd, with a $10,000 to win meet, and those tickets were on pre-sale.
Not long after we got seated, I saw Rico Abreau riding his ATV around the pits and then I saw Brady Bacon on the walking path behind the grandstands. Aaron Ruetzel was also here as well as James McFadden from Australia, driving the black Gaerte Engines sponsored 3 car that he piloted last year for Sprint Speed week. Carson Macedo was also racing tonight as was Caleb Armstrong....who is your pole sitter for this year's Little 500! I also learned that Jac Haudenschild was here tonight too. I really enjoy watching Jac race. He is a one man show!
On the horse track between the front straight and the stands, and before heat races started, the track announcer informed the crowd that Shirley Kear, and Dale Blaney, were to be inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame this year. Pretty cool. In response to comments the announcer made about selling racing parts, Shirley stated that in the 40 plus years running Kear's Speed Shop, she has always received payment from the race teams and has not once had a racing customer not pay her. I thought that was really cool!
46 All Star Super Sprints were in the pits, a great number. With the names that were here, it felt like a Speed Week event. One racer I missed seeing tonight was Tim Shaffer. It didn't feel right with Tim not competing. He has been a mainstay on this tour for many years garnering 5 All Star championships. Cole Duncan was not here either....I understand he was racing in Charlotte with the Outlaws. Speaking of the Outlaws, Greg Wilson, a fan favorite around these parts in Ohio, won the World of Outlaws race at Charlotte last night. Good job Greg!
Heat 1 saw Broc Martin take the checker followed by Chris Andrews, Dale Blaney, Danny Holtrgaver and Rob Chaney. Jac started on the first row but couldn't get it going. As he struggled to find the fastest line, he faded back. A couple of times in turns 3 and 4, while trying to pass, Jac hit the greasy patch in the middle of the turn and lost ground. Jac then put it on the cushion, which was starting to get a ledge. While fighting for the transfer spot, and furiously throwing his car into the turns, Jac hooked the cushion in turn two and barrel rolled before he went end over end about 4 times, landing outside the track at the exit of turn 2. He was okay. I thought he was done for the night but he came out for the B-main and ended up making the feature.
Heat 2 finished with Cap Henry taking the first spot, followed by Chad Kemenah, Brady Bacon, Carson Macedo, and Caleb Armstrong. Kraig Kinser got shuffled back on the start and finished 9th.
In Heat 3, Rico Abreau was running the same line that Jac did, really leaning on the cushion, trying to keep momentum. Near the end of the heat, with Rico in 2nd spot, he blew a right rear entering turn 3....in spectacular style. A large chunk of the tire went soaring high into the air. It went up and up and then it slowly started it's decent into the turn four track entrance area. This chunk of tire had serious hang time as it seemed it would never fall back to earth! The finish was Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Caleb Helms, Stuart Brubaker and Howard. Abreau finished 8th.
Heat 4 finished with James McFadden in front, Andrew Paulker, Byron Reed, Sheldon Haudenschild and Dean Jacobs following in that order. Sheldon could have finished a few spots higher, but he made contact with the turn 3 tire on lap 3, upsetting the car and causing him to lose two spots.
In the dash, the top 7 finishers were Broc Martin, Brady Bacon, Cap Henry, Chad Kemenah, James McFadden, Chris Andrews and Dale Blaney. Chad Helped himself out by moving up a few spots for the feature start.
The B main top four were Rico Abreau, Jac Haudenschild, Aaron Reutzel and Lee Jacobs....Kraig Kinser did not transfer, but he used a provisional to start on the tail of the main event.
The feature was a good one, the TV cameras will like it! Broc Martin started out front and had the lead thru the first 3 or so circuits as Bacon followed. Trey Jacobs had nosed up to third for a lap but fell back as Cap Henry and James McFadden and Chad Kemenah all started battling for 3rd. Kemenah was flying around the top against the cushion and quickly took second and then he had the lead. Kemenah cruised out to a straightaway lead as McFadden passed Martin and Bacon. As traffic started to come into play, McFadden closed the gap and was going to put pressure on the leader....but then Kemenah would pull away. After a restart, Cap Henry started to heat up, and he passed McFadden and came after Kemenah. Meanwhile, Dale Blaney had quietly creeped up to 4th. McFadden and Blaney waged a fierce battle for third, exchanging slide jobs until McFadden went over the turn 4 cushion on about lap 25. Bummer. McFadden is an awesome racer and has been in contention to win almost every time I see him race. On the restart, Kemenah got a good start and a good lead as Henry and Blaney and Byron Reed, up from mid pack, followed hard. On a lap 32 restart, Kemenah again got out to a decent lead as Blaney got around Henry for second. It looked as if Kemenah ad the win, but another yellow on lap 35 halted Chad's momentum. By this time, as tires and the track surfaced were getting used up, drivers were switching up their lines trying to find something to grip. Kemenah had moved down into the low groove in turns 1 and 2 but kept it high in 3 and 4. On the last restart, Blaney got a good run and swept around the top up against the cushion in 1 and 2 and passed Kemenah for the win. Reed then passed Kemenah for second. Henry then passed Kemenah for third in the last corner but Chad regained the spot at the checker. Kraig Kinser made his way from the back to finish 8th.
Wow, what a race! That was a fun evening. Lots of dicing and racing behind the leader 2nd through the 5th position, all feature long. And then there was Dale Blaney again....in victory lane. Chad has been putting pressure on Dale in the points battle this year. Tonight was more of the same. If this keeps up, and I hope it does, it will be a fun summer to watch these guys. Sheldon Haud and Cap Henry are not too far behind...if they can get more consistency.
Now on to Wayne County tonight!