Great Racing, Wild Finishes At Atomic

By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-“Wow!” was what one race fan said while shaking his head leaving Atomic Speedway Friday night. That response came after a 30-lap green-to-checkered run by Dale Blaney, Hartford, Ohio in the 30-lap, $5,000 to win UNOH All-Star Circuit of Champions feature; and a three-wide finish for the win in the BOSS non-wing sprint series. The BOSS feature saw Landon Simon blitz by both leader Todd Kane and second place Dallas Hewitt on the last lap with Kane narrowly taking the win, and Hewitt flipping wildly end-for-end across the finish line. Bloomington, Indiana’s Kevin Huntley claimed the 305 Racesaver Sprint main.
Night two of the Open Wheel Championship will be Saturday, August 1. Saturday’s program consists of All-Star winged sprints, AMRA Modifieds and Racesaver 305 sprints. Modifieds are $2,000 to win and $200 to start
Dale Blaney has won three in a row. Sheldon Haudenschild jumped into the early lead over the veteran Steve Kinser at the start of the UNOH All-Star A-main.
Haudenschild was impressive in the early going, riding the high-side in Haudenschild fashion. As his mount loosened and the track locked down with rubber, Dale Blaney put his Mainstream Holdings, Inc., backed CH Motorsports Big Game Treestands/Muddy #1 on a rail and marched through the middle of the pack from his seventh place start.
Blaney took the lead just past the halfway point from Haudenschild, then scorched the field in a high-flying fashion.
“We struggled a bit in the dash,” noted winner Dale Blaney. “We learned what not to do and that helped us in the A-main. I knew the track would take a lot of rubber, so I just put it in the middle and drove ahead by several cars. George Fisher (mechanic) is great. He knows what to do on a slick track, and this is his home track. He likes it here and I like it here, so to win means a lot.”
“We have had a really long week. To get out here and run second is definitely a good rebound,” said second place Sheldon Haudenschild. “Congratulations to Dale on the win. You get your confidence up running against Dale and Steve and Chad; it’s a lot of work, but it certainly is worth it to get here (on the podium).”
“We get better and better, but we are not where we want to be,” said third place Chad Kemenah. “Everybody works their tail off on this thing and it pays off. When the track takes rubber, it gets narrow and it is hard to pass so we are glad to get a podium finish and finish third.”
Rounding out the top ten were 1. 1-Dale Blaney[7] ; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[1] ; 3. 10H-Chad Kemenah[3] ; 4. 22-Cole Duncan[4] ; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[14] ; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[6] ; 7. 4X-Jimmy Stinson[5] ; 8. 3G-James McFadden[15] ; 9. 11-Steve Kinser[2] ; and 10. 94-Ryan Smith.
The race that had everyone talking was the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) non-winged main event sponsored by Mo Vaughan Transport. Todd Kane, Delaware, Ohio, who rarely drives without the wing anymore, jumped into the early lead ahead of polesitter Landon Simon.
Simon challenged early, but then it was off to the races for Kane who consumed the field with a healthy lead. The best battle of the night was between Kirk Jeffries, Dallas Hewitt, and Dustin Smith.
For the first ten laps, that trio dueled three-wide with several position changes before Hewitt took third by lap ten when the caution waved for Kent Wolters and Steve Little who made heavy contact in turn three.
Kane throttled up to another healthy lead, while Hewitt and Simon wagered a battle for second. Hewitt secured the spot and went after Kane. Over the last five laps Hewitt put a slide job on the leader, but it just would not hold with Kane retaking the lead.
Hewitt tried the slider again as the battle between the two leaders allowed Simon back into the mix. Hewitt took the lead in one, Kane came back strong out of two as the duo went nose to tail into turn three. Simon bored into turn three to pass both leaders, slid to the top of the track as Hewitt filled the void in the middle and Kane rode the lower groove side by side.
Kane and Hewitt made contact out of the final turn with Hewitt getting into the wall and Simon diving low for a three wide finish. Hewitt flipped by the flag stand into turn one and was initially declared in second, however, a review of the tape by BOSS officials showed that Simon took second by inches, only a foot behind the winning Kane.
As Hewitt climbed from is disabled car, the fans roared with a resounding applause.
Kane said, “I don’t race these cars often, but when I do its fun. What a great finish for the fans. I hate it Dallas got upside down, but we are all right there going for the win and it feels good to get to victory lane.”
“I knew someone was back there, but didn’t know who. I saw the photographers taking a lot of pictures so I figured someone was close. I just tried to run my race and keep up the momentum.”
Rounding out the top ten behind Kane were Landon Simon, Dallas Hewitt, Aaron Middaugh, Kirk Jeffries, Michael Fishchesser, Dustin Smith, Brandon Whited, Cooper Clouse, and Mike Miller.
The 305 Racesaver Sprint cars saw two seasoned veterans leading the pack to the green: veterans Danny Smith and Kevin Huntley. Huntley, 4th on the all-star win list for wins at Atomic, passed Smith on lap three and never looked back. It was only Huntley’s second start in the past seven years. Kendal Ruble came on strong to finish second after a great battle with Smith, however, he was no match for Huntley.
“Huntley said, “It’s great to be back here in the winner’s circle at Atomic.”
“The promoter over at Bloomington wanted to get this class started and asked if I’d put a car together so we did. Many people think these cars are momentum type cars, but they’re not. They are faster than the 410’s were when I started, but in today’s racing just about my speed. That’s not bad for an old man like me (laughed Huntley).”
Rounding out the top ten were Kevin Huntley, Kendall Ruble, Danny Smith, Randy Sterling, Ethan Fleetwood, Derek Hammond, Sean Hosey, Mike Downs, Mike Ebersbach, and Jeff Taylor.
Saturday’s program consists of All-Star winged sprints, AMRA Modifieds and Racesaver 305 sprints. Modifieds are $2,000 to win and $200 to start!
August’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series visit to Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio, has been expanded to two events, setting up an Aug. 21-22 WoO LMS doubleheader at the 3/8-mile track. The additional Atomic event, which replaces a recently canceled race at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., gives the national tour a three-race weekend with Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., set to host the series on Sun., Aug. 23. The weekend opener at Atomic on Fri., Aug. 21 will pay $8,000 to the winner, while the event on Sat., Aug. 22 will pay $10,000.
Sponsors for the OWC are Tim’s Tires, Southern Ohio Equipment Co., Trackside Camping, Downs Construction, Acords Pizza Pub & Sub, Kears Speed Shop, ValleryChevy.com, and Graphic Creations. Also, thanks to all of our great sponsors!
For more information please call 740-703-9749 or visit the Atomic Speedway website at <<< www.atomicspeedway.net >>> Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.
THE SUMMARY:
Open Wheel Championships Night One July 31, 2015
UNOH All-Star Circuit of Chamnpions 410 Sprints (39)
410 Sprints – UNOH
Qualifying
1.10H-Chad Kemenah, 12.142; 2.6M-Jac Haudenschild, 12.380; 3.22-Cole Duncan, 12.393; 4.56R-Ryan Myers, 12.408; 5.1-Dale Blaney, 12.409; 6.45-Tim Shaffer, 12.410; 7.4X-Jimmy Stinson, 12.474; 8.94-Ryan Smith, 12.475; 9.60K-Kory Crabtree, 12.487; 10.97A-Brandon Wimmer, 12.508; 11.89-Cody Darrah, 12.510; 12.11-Steve Kinser, 12.511; 13.4-Danny Smith, 12.523; 14.7C-Caleb Armstrong, 12.555; 15.5T-Travis Philo, 12.569; 16.35R-Ronnie Blair, 12.586; 17.91-Cale Thomas, 12.596; 18.98H-Dave Blaney, 12.598; 19.93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.625; 20.W20-Greg Wilson, 12.713; 21.9x-Rob Chaney, 12.742; 22.3G-James McFadden, 12.755; 23.78-Todd Kane, 12.811; 24.59-Danny Holtgraver, 12.843; 25.81-Lee Jacobs, 12.868; 26.57X-Andrew Palker, 12.912; 27.84-Nathan Skaggs, 12.917; 28.11N-Randy Hannagan, 13.031; 29.9W-Lance Webb, 13.152; 30.59N-Bryan Nuckles, 13.182; 31.22B-Ryan Broughton, 13.184; 32.40-Mark Imler, 13.413; 33.1MC-Wayne McPeek, 13.497; 34.89H-George Hawkins, 13.565; 35.7A-Dave Dickson, 13.695; 36.O8-Brandon Conkel, 13.710; 37.3F-Rick Fraley, 17.847; 38.83X-Nate Reeser, 99.050; 39.22D-Josh Davis, 99.230;
Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
1. 60K-Kory Crabtree[5] ; 2. 4X-Jimmy Stinson[1] ; 3. 56R-Ryan Myers[2] ; 4. W20-Greg Wilson[8] ; 5. 10H-Chad Kemenah[4] ; 6. 97A-Brandon Wimmer[6] ; 7. 6M-Jac Haudenschild[3] ; 8. 4-Danny Smith[7]
Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
1. 11-Steve Kinser[2] ; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer[4] ; 3. 9x-Rob Chaney[1] ; 4. 3G-James McFadden[5] ; 5. 94-Ryan Smith[3] ; 6. 84-Nathan Skaggs[7] ; 7. 22D-Josh Davis[10] ; 8. 57X-Andrew Palker[6] ; 9. O8-Brandon Conkel[9] ; 10. 9W-Lance Webb[8]
Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps)
1. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[1] ; 2. 1-Dale Blaney[4] ; 3. 89-Cody Darrah[3] ; 4. 78-Todd Kane[5] ; 5. 59-Danny Holtgraver[6] ; 6. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[2] ; 7. 59N-Bryan Nuckles[7] ; 8. 7A-Dave Dickson[10] ; 9. 40-Mark Imler[8] ; 10. 1MC-Wayne McPeek[9]
Heat 4, Group D – (8 Laps)
1. 22-Cole Duncan[4] ; 2. 35R-Ronnie Blair[2] ; 3. 91-Cale Thomas[1] ; 4. 98H-Dave Blaney[5] ; 5. 5T-Travis Philo[3] ; 6. 22B-Ryan Broughton[8] ; 7. 81-Lee Jacobs[6] ; 8. 11N-Randy Hannagan[7] ; 9. 89H-George Hawkins[9]
Dash 1 (6 Laps)
1. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[1] ; 2. 11-Steve Kinser[2] ; 3. 10H-Chad Kemenah[6] ; 4. 22-Cole Duncan[9] ; 5. 4X-Jimmy Stinson[4] ; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[5] ; 7. 1-Dale Blaney[3] ; 8. 56R-Ryan Myers[8] ; 9. 60K-Kory Crabtree[10] ; 10. 35R-Ronnie Blair[7]
B-Main 1 – (12 Laps)
1. 97A-Brandon Wimmer[2] ; 2. 11N-Randy Hannagan[8] ; 3. 4-Danny Smith[3] ; 4. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[4] ; 5. 59N-Bryan Nuckles[10] ; 6. 81-Lee Jacobs[5] ; 7. 7A-Dave Dickson[15] ; 8. 22B-Ryan Broughton[11] ; 9. 57X-Andrew Palker[6] ; 10. 22D-Josh Davis[17] ; 11. 1MC-Wayne McPeek[13] ; 12. O8-Brandon Conkel[16] ; 13. 84-Nathan Skaggs[7] ; 14. 40-Mark Imler[12] ; 15. 6M-Jac Haudenschild[1] ; 16. 9W-Lance Webb[9] ; 17. 89H-George Hawkins[14] ; 18. 83X-Nate Reeser[18] ; 19. 3F-Rick Fraley[19]
A-Main 1 – (30 Laps)
1. 1-Dale Blaney[7] ; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[1] ; 3. 10H-Chad Kemenah[3] ; 4. 22-Cole Duncan[4] ; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[14] ; 6. 45-Tim Shaffer[6] ; 7. 4X-Jimmy Stinson[5] ; 8. 3G-James McFadden[15] ; 9. 11-Steve Kinser[2] ; 10. 94-Ryan Smith[18] ; 11. 89-Cody Darrah[12] ; 12. 91-Cale Thomas[13] ; 13. 60K-Kory Crabtree[9] ; 14. 35R-Ronnie Blair[10] ; 15. 11N-Randy Hannagan[22] ; 16. 97A-Brandon Wimmer[21] ; 17. 98H-Dave Blaney[17] ; 18. 9x-Rob Chaney[11] ; 19. 5T-Travis Philo[20] ; 20. 56R-Ryan Myers[8] ; 21. 59-Danny Holtgraver[19] ; 22. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[24] ; 23. 4-Danny Smith[23] ; 24. 57X-Andrew Palker[25] ; 25. 78-Todd Kane[16]
BOSS Sprints Non-wing (29)
Heat One-Dallas Hewitt, Landon Simon, Cody Gardner, Brandon Spithaler, Wayne McPeek , Buddy Lowther, Ryan Myers
Heat Two- Bob McMillan, Kirk Jeffries, Michael Fishchesser, Mike Miller, Randy Fink, Joe Butera, Kory Crabtree
Hoositer Tire Heat Three-Todd Kane, Aaron Middaugh, Chuck Wilson, Jarrett Andretti, Shawn Westerfield, Justin Owen, Kent Wolters
Heat Four-Dustin Smith, Brandon Whited, Chad Wilson, Cooper Clouse, Steve Little, Benny Hickel,
B-Main: Randy Fink, Shawn Westerfield, Steve Little, Kent Wolters, Ryan Myers, Benny Hickel, Justin Owen, Wayne McPeek, Buddy Lowther, Joe Butera, Scott Hardman
Feature: Todd Kane, Landon Simon, Dallas Hewitt, Aaron Middaugh, Kirk Jeffries, Michael Fishchesser, Dustin Smith, Brandon Whited, Cooper Clouse, Mike Miller, Shawn Westerfield, Bob McMillan, Jarrett Andretti, Chad Wilson, Randy Fink, Cody Gardner, Chuck Wilson, Brandon Spithaler, Kent Wolters, Steve Little
Raceceiver 305 Sprint Cars (13)
Heat One-Danny Smith, Randy Sterling, Kendall Ruble, John Bott, Mike Eversbach, Ethan Fleetwood, Sean Hosey
Heat Two-Kevin Huntley, Mike Downs, Jeff Taylor, Andy Hill, Derek Hammond, Tony Broughton
Feature: Kevin Huntley, Kendall Ruble, Danny Smith, Randy Sterling, Ethan Fleetwood, Derek Hammond, Sean Hosey, Mike Downs, Mike Ebersbach, Jeff Taylor, John Bott, Andy Hill, Tony Broughton