Blaney Blasts “Rumble In the Hills” Sprints At Atomic

by Scott Wolfe

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-With 139 cars in the pits at Atomic Speedway, fans were blessed with a full evening of high-speed racing at the Midwest’s fastest 3/8 mile high-banked dirt oval where Hartford, Ohio’s Dale Blaney brought home the $4,000 win in the 410 Sprint Car inaugural “Rumble in the Hills”. Drivers from six different states competed in the event.
Veteran Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, Ohio claimed his second feature win in row in 2015 in the 803fire.com AMRA Late Models–a $2,000 payday; Tanner Wilson, Zanesville, Ohio grabbed the loot in the Precision Grading AMRA Modified main, and Jason Cottrill, Chillicothe, Ohio claimed his first-ever win in the C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods. Tim Howard won the Back Burner Smokatorium enduro.
With the All-Stars having an off-night on their racing schedule, many of the touring outlaws were on hand for a shot at the $4,000 to win posted by Brad McCown on Miller/Coors Night at Atomic. D. J. Foos set fast time in the 35-car field, but Fairmount, Indiana driver Brandon Wimmer tried to make it a clean sweep after claiming his heat and leading the first 33 laps of the main event. Lap 34 was a dead-heat between Wimmer and Blaney.
The first 26 laps were caution-free until Chad Kemenah jumped the cushion for the first miscue of the night. Wimmer, aboard one of the John Shewbrooks entries, seemingly had the race well in hand as he worked traffic to perfection.
Blaney, in the newly formed Big Game Treestands mount wrenched by George Fisher started 11th but by lap 12 had cracked the top five. Wimmer and Californian Randy Hannagan dueled early in the main, but Wimmer broke free leaving Blaney–now third– and Hannagan to battle for position.
That duel was a fan-thriller, but Blaney charged on and began to close the gap on Wimmer. For five laps the duo traded positions at least twice per lap until a Blaney crossover move in traffic on lap 33 gave him the lead and the momentum he needed. Wimmer made one last run, but scrubbed off the needed speed to challenge, allowing another hard-charger, Cole Duncan to flash into second. Late race charges by Duncan and Nathan Skaggs shuffled Hannagan back to fifth.
Rounding out the top ten were Blaney, Duncan, Wimmer, Skaggs, Randy Hannagan, Greg Wilson, D.J. Foos, Jimmy Stinson, Kory Crabtree, and Chad Kemenah.
“We missed our mark just a little in the heat and had to start back in the pack for the feature,” noted Blaney. “We knew we had a good race car. It was fast just about anywhere I put it. For this time of year the track was in great shape and racy.”
“Brandon had a great run tonight. On the restart I knew Cole (Duncan) was moving real well on the high side and figured he’d be up there at the start, so I took a little different line. Brandon went low and that gave me the chance I needed.”
About his new ride, Blaney explained, “Right now it’s a little new (team) and a little old. We are just sorting this out, but our new team allowed George and I to stay together and we should have everything all decaled up with the Big Game sponsorship soon.”
Crafty veteran Delmas Conley simply sat in-wait, seeking his prey in the waning moments of the race. His victim? Son “Hot Rod” Conley.
Rod Conley led the first 23-laps of the main with dad Delmas within 4-5 car lengths behind much of the ride. A green-white-checkered restart changed the complexion of the race when the Elder Conley bored it in deep into turn number one forcing Rod to lift and allowing Delmas to win his second feature in a row much in the same fashion as last week.
“I really hated to do it,” jousted Conley, “but I’m here to race and it just happened to be Rod that I passed.”
“The car was good again tonight and the track, besides a couple tricky spots was good. I knew I had to keep the car straight on the pass, then get it to turn and it came around just at the right time. That ‘will’ give us something to talk about at dinner Sunday.”
A barrage of heavy-hitters in the late models battled for position all evening long. Fast Freddie Carpenter, the West Virginia driver and Kryptonite Chassis builder finished a strong third ahead of 2014 champion Greggie Oliver, Duane Chamberlain, Jason Montgomery, J.T. Conley, Jeremy Berwanger, Paul Davis, and Kenneth Howell.
Although Davis was the official hard charger from the original start, Jeremy Berwanger was relegated to the tail of the 20-car main when his car stalled on the first lap. Berwanger blitzed from the tail to eighth.
Tanner Wilson just kept steaming down the old rails, barely bobbling in a smooth, quick run to number one in the AMRA Modified main. With 30 of the best AMRA drivers in the business on hand, the stage was set for a wild rumble. It never developed as Wilson outstaged veteran Chris Stotts on the start and never looked back.
Plenty of action took place back in the pack, but it was Wilson all alone in a flag-to-flag win. Greggie Oliver stormed from 7th to third just ahead of Donnie Miller, who had another good run at the start of 2015. Behind Wilson’s Ford powered Lethal Chassis were Chris Stotts, Greggie Oliver, Donnie Miller, Todd Robinson, Jason Montgomery, Brian Skaggs, Kenny Johnson, Jimmy Lennox, and Brett Kennard. Lennox came from 15th to 9th, but Brett Kennard earned hard-charger honors with a 17th to 10th place run.
Jason Cottrill, tutored over the past few years by father-in-law Bob Crace, Jr., learned his lessons well. Cottrill secured the lead early then was smooth and fast all the way to his very first feature win.
Emily Jordan, the young lady and third heat winner, gave chase throughout the race, but Cottrill had the field covered. Crace came from 8th to third at the finish for a big-time family reunion in victory lane.
Cottrill’s Crace powered Lightning Chassis overpowered Jordan, Bob Crace, Jr., Rick Neace, Tony Seibert, Brennan Bobst, Steve Noble, Harrison Hall, Jimmy Spillman, and Brian Moore.

The Summary: April 11, 2015
Pine Tree Towing and Recovery Sprint Cars (35)
Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association
Fast Time: D.J. Foos 13:215
Heat One: Brandon Wimmer, D.J. Foos, Ryan Broughton, Beau Stewart, Dave Dickson, Ryan Myers, George Hawkins, Eddie Slone, Caleb Helms
Heat Two:Kory Crabtree, Cole Duncan, Nathan Skaggs, Jimmy Stinson, Kody Kinser, Caleb Armstrong, Mark Coleman, Nick Roberts, Jim Nier
Heat Three: Randy Hannagan, Greg Wilson, Dale Blaney, Todd Kane, Dave Smith, Brian Benson, Randy Fink, Brian Nuckles, Mark Imler
Heat Four: Danny Holtgraver, Chad Kemenah, Josh Davis, Danny Smith, Brandy Bower, Nate Reeser, R.J. Perkins, Jesse McCreary
B-Main: Caleb Armstrong, Ryan Myers, Brian Benson, Eddie Slone, George Hawkins, Caleb Helms, R.J. Perkins, Nate Reeser, Brian Nuckles, Randy Fink, Nick Roberts, Jesse McCreary, Mark Imler, Mark Coleman
“Rumble In The Hills” Feature: Dale Blaney, Cole Duncan, Brandon Wimmer, Nathan Skaggs, Randy Hannagan, Greg Wilson, D.J. Foos, Jimmy Stinson, Kory Crabtree, Chad Kemenah, Josh Davis, Todd Kane, Danny Holtgraver, Caleb Armstrong, Brandy Bower, Danny Smith, Ryan Myers, Ryan Broughton, Kody Kinser, David Smith, Dave Dickson, Brian Benson, Eddie Slone, Beau Stewart
Hard Charger: Dale Blaney 11th to 1st; Caleb Armstrong 21st to 14th.
803FIRE.com AMRA Late Models (25)
Fast Time: Delmas Conley 14:921
Heat One:Jason Montgomery, Delmas Conley, Jeremy Berwanger, J.P.Roberts, Mason Combs, Cody Walker, Matt Melvin
Heat Two: Rod Conley, Duane Chamberlain, Kenneth Howell, Dennis Little, Paul Davis, Jake Keeton, Joe Buskirk, Dillon Huron
Heat Three: Freddie Carpenter, Greggie Oliver, J.T. Conley, Mark Frazier, Brian Eaton, Robbie Lewis, Vince Toler, Ronnie Whitt.
B-Main: Matt Melvin, Jake Keeton, Jay Helton, Robbie Lewis, Joe Buskirk, Dillon Huron, Vince Toler, Cody Walker
Feature: Delmas Conley, Rod Conley, Freddie Carpenter, Greggie Oliver, Duane Chamberlain, Jason Montgomery, J.T. Conley, Jeremy Berwanger, Paul Davis, Kenneth Howell, J.P. Roberts, Brian Eaton, Dennis Little, Jay Helton, Jake Keeton, Matt Melvin, Mark Frazier, Robbie Lewis, Mason Combs, Joe Buskirk.
Hard Charger: 14th to 10th , Paul Davis;
Precision Grading AMRA Modifieds (30)
Todd Robinson 16:058
Heat One-Tanner Wilson, Chris Stotts, Greggie Oliver, Todd Robinson, Brandon Oliver, Brett Kennard, Jeff Votaw, Harrison Hall, Gary Park, John Brady
Heat Two-Bobby Kitchen, Kenny Johnson, Bill Pritchard, Frankie Hall, Mike Conkle, Seth Daniels, Brian Wilburn, Rick Shutts, Luke Jordan, Jeff Surber
Heat Three-Donnie Miller, Jason Montgomery, Adam Colley, Jesse Rupe, Jimmy Lennex, Dylan Shafer, Brian Skaggs, Pete Burnton
B-Main: Brian Skaggs, Brett Kennard, Jeff Votaw, Dylan Shafer, Gary Park, Harrison Hall, Jeff Surber, John Brady, Rick Shutts, Luke Jordan, Pete Brunton.
Feature: Tanner Wilson, Chris Stotts, Greggie Oliver, Donnie Miller, Todd Robinson, Jason Montgomery, Brian Skaggs, Kenny Johnson, Jimmy Lennox, Brett Kennard, Bill Pritchard, Jeff Votaw, Jesse Rupe, Brandon Oliver, Frankie Hall, Dylan Shafer, Mike Conkle, Harrison Hall, Adam Colley, Gary Park
Hard Charger: Brett Kennard 17th to 10th
C & M Racing Sport Mods (25)
Heat One-Steve Nobil, Jason Cottrill, Tony Seibert, Harrison Hall, Dwayne Hurley, Jeff Gillman, A.J. Gamino, John Cuckler.
Heat Two-Rick Neace, Derke Davidson, Bob Crace, Jr, Billy Baldridge, Jimmy Spillman, Brian Moore, Harold Meadows,Randy Taylor
Heat Three-Emily Jordan, Mitchell Fields, Jay Dunaway, Billy Bowles, Glenn Keaton, Dustin Presler, Patrick HAyes
Feature: Jason Cottrill, Emily Jordan, Bob Crace, Jr., Rick Neace, Tony Seibert, Brennan Bobst, Steve Noble, Harrison Hall, Jimmy Spillman, Brian Moore, Jay Dunaway, Randy Taylor, Derek Davidson, Billy Baldridge, Mitchell Fields, Jeff Gillman, John Cuckler, Billy Bowles, Harold Meadows, Dwayne Hurley, A.J. Ganimo, Glen Keaton, Dustin Pressler, Patrick Hayes.
Brennan Bobst -15th to sixth.
Back Burner Smokatorium Enduro’s (22)
Feature: Tim Howard, J. D. Broughton, Robert Binder, Craig Edwards