Fan Notes from Friday's All Star Stop at Attica

Craig Mintz (Tom Myers) 4-20-2018 – Cold, chilly, windy, cold, chilly, windy, dusty, windy, cold….You get the picture, but WOW, what a feature!

It’s nice when the folks working at the track get to know you. Every time I go to Attica, it’s the same lady at the ticket booth and she knows me by name. I am always greeted with a big smile and a “Hi Tom, good to see you.” The folks at these local tracks really do work hard and try to make sure the fans enjoy themselves and they do a great job at Attica. Tonight, Rex Lejuene pushed the show along and put the All Stars events before the other classes because of the chilly temperatures. Much appreciated, good job Rex!

There were 48 All Star 410 sprints on hand for the Core and Main Spring Nationals at Attica Raceway Park here Friday. Joining the All Star regulars were the FAST series regulars and other notables including Tim Shaffer, Sam Hefertepe, Spencer Bayston, Cole Duncan, Lee Jacobs, Bryon Sebetto, who was filling in for Paul McMahon in the Buch 13, Joe Swanson and Justin Peck. I think some of the racers around the country are migrating this way for the big paying race next weekend here in Ohio.

Max Stambaugh Of the 48 cars on hand only 47 timed as Sam Hefertepe scratched before time trials with motor problems. Also having motor issues was Max McGee, who had to change a motor right after time trials. During timing, the track started to get slick and dusty. Spencer Bayston had the top time followed by Aaron Reutzel, Carson Macedo, Max Stambaugh, Tim Shaffer, Craig Mintz, Stuart Brubaker, who won here last Friday, Cole Duncan, Parker Price Miller and Lee Jacobs. Jac Haudenschild timed 12th.

After time trials, the track crew went to work and after grating and running the road paver, you could see the moisture staring to come back up. The heats were pretty much follow the leader, with afew passes here and there. The track surface just seemed to lack it’s usual grip tonight and I thought that would benefit the FAST racers who race here all the time but the All Stars ended up showing some muscle.

Between the heats and C main, I found myself wandering around the grounds and I don’t know what it was, maybe the cold, I don’t know, but I was really hungry. I had a slice of pizza and then I had to go get a cheeseburger. That warmed me up a little, and I figured that was plenty for the evening. But then I found myself getting a coney dog before the feature! And then I thought about buying a hoodie to wear over the hoodie I was wearing but then I decided against spending the extra money and I just roughed it out.

Lee Jacobs By way of a heat race win and a dash finish, our front row was Jac Haudenschild on the pole with Max Stambaugh on the outside. Lee Jacobs and Carson Macedo made up the second row. Brian Lay scratched from the dash and would not make the A. Chris Andrews, who did make the A, also scratched before the start.

At the start of the feature, Jac dove low in turn 1 and stayed in front of Stambaugh. The track was slippery and hard to grip. No one seemed to be able to get out to a big lead or make space between themselves and those behind. On lap 4, Bryan Broughton did a roll over in turn 4. He was okay but did not return. On the restart, Jac maintains the lead, now with Stambaugh starting to close on Jac. A yellow came out on lap 12 just as the leaders were about to get into traffic. On the restart, Macedo gets past Stambaugh and sets after Jac but another yellow pauses the race on lap 15. The running order is Jac, Macedo, Stambaugh, Jacobs, Kemenah, up from 9th, Mintz, and Blaney.

When action resumed, Jac maintained the lead using the low and middle lines on the turns with Macedo pressuring him on the top side. Carson passed for the lead around lap 20 and then Jac passed him back a few laps later. Then Macedo passed Jac again and stayed in front for the next 5-6 laps or so. Not far behind the leaders, in the same turn as a matter of fact, were Stambaugh and Jacobs and Kemenah and Mintz battling almost side by side.

Jac Haudenschild won Friday's All Star show at Attica As lapped traffic came into play, Jac stayed on Macedo’s bumper and engineered a pass back for the lead around lap 30 or so. Jac went into turn 3 hard and went under Carson at the turn 4 exit. The crowd roared in approval! Then Macedo brought out the final yellow with a RR going down and this was on lap 34. Stambaugh, Jacobs, Kemenah and Minzt were all going at it right behind the leaders. On many of the laps, Jacobs and Stambaugh were on the bumper of Macedo as he tried to stay with Jac. They were all so close together on the track.

At the restart, Lee Jacobs got by Stambaugh and got right on Jac’s bumper but Jac drove masterfully and held on to win. Jacobs was second and Mintz got by Stambaugh for 3rd. That was a great race and intense as I found myself rooting for Jac to hold on lap after lap as he experienced heavy pressure from Macedo and then Jacobs almost on every lap.

Congrats to Jac and thank you to the All Stars and Attica Raceway Park for a great evening, in spite of the cold!