Shaffer Comes On Strong To Take Attica FAST Win
10 min read
By Brian Liskai
(Attica, OH) Tim Shaffer’s sprint car came to life the last half of the race, propelling “The Steel City Outlaw” to his 13th career 410 sprint car win at Attica Raceway Park Friday.
It was the opening night of the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series Presented by KS Sales and Service. The champion of the series between the two tracks will take home $10,000 at year’s end.
Shaffer, a four time UNOH All Star Champion, ran fifth and sixth through the first half of the race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprint feature. He used the bottom of the track to perfection and drove from fifth to third on lap 15 and two laps later moved into second. Shaffer drove under Caleb Griffith for the lead on lap 23 and pulled away.
Shaffer credited his new car owner Bryan Grove and all the guys who showed up to help.
“I was a little too tight early and the track just kept coming to us. Hats off to this team…they’ve been awesome. We got a mixed crowd of guys here tonight…some from back home (Aliquippa, Pa.) and Bryan brought some guys. Scott Gressman (Gressman Powersports) is really helping us out and the J&J Chassis,” said Shaffer beside his Canton Erectors/Butler Built Seats backed #45.
“I can’t say enough about Bryan Grove. He lets me take this thing and do what I think needs to be done and it’s paying off,” continued Shaffer. “The key is we have been putting ourselves in a position to win. The thirds and fourths and fifths…the wins will come. Everything went our way tonight.”
In the Sunoco American Late Model Series feature, Wooster, Ohio’s Doug Drown put on a dominating performance. Last week after experiencing issues in his heat, Drown lapped nearly the entire field in the B-main for the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models and was turning track record times before blowing an engine on the final lap. This week, after battling with Brandon Thirlby early, Drown pulled away and survived a couple of late race cautions for his 6th career Attica win leading the last 27 laps.
“She’s pretty bad ass. That’s pretty much all I can say. Last week…it’s pretty funny…some of these guys laughed about us having some bad luck…look who’s laughing now. The crew obviously did a great job this week. We ran down to Charlotte and got an engine and the thing is phenomenal. A little too much power I think,” said Drown beside his Wheeling Auto Body, DJ Directional Service, Wooster Glass backed #20.
“I have to thank Dave and Michelle Runkle, Rocket Chassis, Integra Shocks…everybody who helped. I’m glad we got one early for TC who we lost right before the race season. I know he definitely would have been here tonight and I know he’s here with everyone in their hearts,” added Drown.
It was also the opening night of the $2,000-to-win JLH General Contractors FAST Championship Series presented by Engine Pro for the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprints. John Ivy held off a tremendous challenge from Steve Rando late in the race to score his second win of the season at Attica. The victory is the 13th of Ivy’s career in the 305 sprints at ARP.
“It got a little tight on me there at the end. I thought by moving up I’d keep it free enough but then I saw him (Rando) and I thought we better give her a whirl so I went down there and I ended up being pretty good,” said Ivy beside his Fremont Fence/B&L Plumbing/Nagy Equipment/Little Bar on the Prairie backed #8i.
“I have to thank Sonny, Joey, my brother Scott, Karen and Kenny Clark,” added Ivy beside the Kistler Engines/Big D’s Pizza/Kear’s Speed Shop sponsored machine.
Chris Andrews and Brandon Wimmer would bring the 410 sprint feature to the green as the two raced side-by-side over the first lap with Wimmer gaining a slight advantage. Andrews would drive into the lead on the second circuit with fourth-starter Caleb Griffith taking second a lap later.
Griffith would execute a slider in turns three and four to take the lead on lap five with Andrews, Craig Mintz, Wimmer, Jody Keegan, Shaffer, Stuart Brubaker, Danny Smith and Chad Kemenah in tow. Griffith raced into heavy lapped traffic by the 10th lap with Andrews and Mintz closing while Keegan, Wimmer and Shaffer gave chase.
The first caution flew on lap 12 for a stalled Travis Philo with the running order Griffith, Andrews, Mintz, Keegan Shaffer, Wimmer and Brubaker. When the green flew so did Griffith as Andrews had his hands full with Mintz while Keegan and Shaffer battled for fourth. Shaffer would drive under Keegan and Mintz for the third spot at the half-way point.
Griffith continued to lead while Shaffer raced under Andrews and into the runner-up spot on lap 17. With 10 laps to go, Shaffer had caught Griffith and was taking a peak on the low side. The action would drive to a half though when Dustin Daggett tumbled in turn one. He was uninjured.
On the restart Griffith and Shaffer resumed their battle with Andrews, Mintz, Keegan, Brubaker, Wimmer Smith and Kemenah in tow. Duane Zablocki would spin on lap 22, setting up an eight lap sprint to the finish. On the restart Shaffer dove under Griffith and took the lead.
Shaffer would pull away slightly the remaining seven laps while Griffith would come home second. Mintz, Andrews and Keegan would round out the top five.
In the 30-lap late model feature, Brandon Thirlby and Eric Spangler paced the field with Thirlby gaining the upper hand when the green flew. Drown, who started fourth, blasted into second on lap two and after a two-lap battle with Thirlby took the lead as Thirlby suffered mechanical woes and went pit side.
Drown would pull away as last week’s winner Jeff Babcock, defending track champion Ryan Missler, opening night feature winner Ryan Markham, Spangler, Jon Henry and Dona Marcoullier gave chase. Drown would encounter heavy lapped traffic by the 11th lap but Babcock could not close as he had his hands full with Missler, Markham and Henry. While Drown was blasting through the back of the pack, the battle for second was very entertaining between Babcock, Missler, Henry, Marcoullier, Markham and Matt Miller.
Miller would coast to a stop on lap 15 to bring out the caution. With a clear track Drown would drive away from the field when the green reappeared. Babcock, Missler, Marcoullier, Henry and Markham resumed their tremendous battle for second. The caution would fly again with nine laps to go for debris with the running order Drown, Babcock, Missler, Marcoullier, Henry, Rusty Schlenk and Markham.
Drown would power away for the win with Missler taking second on the last lap while Babcock, Marcoullier and Schlenk rounding out the top five.
Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints – John Ivy #8i
Ivy and Jordan Ryan brought the 305 sprint field to the green for their 25-lap affair but Dustin Dinan would spin necessitating a complete restart. When the green flew again, Ivy gained the lead over fourth starter Nate Dussel, Ryan, Bobby Clark, Junior Felver, Kyle Capodice and Steve Rando. Dussel would race to Ivy’s outside over the next four laps
Clark’s good run would come to a half on lap 10 when he coasted to a stop. When the green reappeared the field got another lap in before a caution for debris. The running order was Ivy, Dussel, Ryan, Rando, Dinan (from the rear of the field), Tyler Gunn, Felver and Seth Schneider. Rando would take third on lap 15 and would gain the second position a lap later when Dussel suffered a flat right rear tire to bring out the caution.
When the green flew Ivy now led Rando, Ryan, Dinan, Gunn, Schneider and Alvin Roepke. Rando would move to Ivy’s outside to challenge as the pair ran side-by-side over the next four laps. It appeared something was going amiss with Rando’s machine the final five laps as Ivy pulled away. Ryan would sneak by Rando at the checkered for second with Schneider and Roepke rounding out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, April 25 on Tiffin Paper Company/Merrill Lynch Night with the FAST 410 sprints, UMP late models and 305 sprints. Fans will be allowed into the pits to meet the race teams prior to the racing action. For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 4/18/2014
True Value of Woodville Night
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (36 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.614; 2. 55-Brad Bowman, 12.654; 3. 40-Caleb Helms, 12.694; 4. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.765; 5. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 12.766; 6. 63-Chad Kemenah, 12.776; 7. 24H-Brandon Wimmer, 12.784; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 12.811; 9. 22-Cole Duncan, 12.826; 10. 40DD-Caleb Griffith, 12.852; 11. 45-Tim Shaffer, 12.883; 12. 80-Trey Gustin, 12.898; 13. 33M-Bryan Sebetto, 12.925; 14. 5T-Travis Philo, 12.931; 15. 45L-Brian Lay, 12.960; 16. 81-Lee Jacobs, 12.968; 17. 11X-Brandon Martin, 12.970; 18. 9X-Rob Chaney, 12.985; 19. 17-Scott Euler, 13.016; 20. 6M-Max Stambaugh, 13.027; 21. 16-Chris Andrews, 13.031; 22. 4-Danny Smith, 13.050; 23. 60-Jody Keegan, 13.116; 24. 57X-Andrew Palker, 13.128; 25. 2M-Dustin Daggett, 13.146; 26. 46AU-Stuart Williams, 13.164; 27. 15H-Mitch Harble, 13.210; 28. 7-Dean Jacobs, 13.220; 29. 17H-Jarod Horstman, 13.228; 30. O7X-Dain Naida, 13.240; 31. 312-Mike Linder, 13.255; 32. 4K-Kris Spitz, 13.332; 33. 33K-Kyle Patrick, 13.372; 34. 59-Bryan Nuckles, 14.175; 35. 3F-Rick Frahley, 14.482; 36. 53-DJ Foos, 99.000
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[1] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[4] ; 3. 80-Trey Gustin[5] ; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[2] ; 5. 33M-Bryan Sebetto[6] ; 6. 5T-Travis Philo[7] ; 7. 45L-Brian Lay[8] ; 8. 55-Brad Bowman[3]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 35-Stuart Brubaker[1] ; 2. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[3] ; 3. 63-Chad Kemenah[2] ; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs[5] ; 5. 40-Caleb Helms[4] ; 6. 17-Scott Euler[6] ; 7. 312-Mike Linder[9] ; 8. 6M-Max Stambaugh[7] ; 9. 46AU-Stuart Williams[8]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 60-Jody Keegan[2] ; 2. 24H-Brandon Wimmer[4] ; 3. 57X-Andrew Palker[1] ; 4. 9X-Rob Chaney[3] ; 5. 7-Dean Jacobs[6] ; 6. 15H-Mitch Harble[5] ; 7. O7X-Dain Naida[7] ; 8. 59-Bryan Nuckles[8]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 16-Chris Andrews[2] ; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer[3] ; 3. 4-Danny Smith[1] ; 4. 2M-Dustin Daggett[5] ; 5. 4K-Kris Spitz[7] ; 6. 33K-Kyle Patrick[6] ; 7. 17H-Jarod Horstman[4]
B-Main #1 – Computer Man Inc. (8 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 33M-Bryan Sebetto[1] ; 2. 5T-Travis Philo[3] ; 3. 45L-Brian Lay[5] ; 4. 7-Dean Jacobs[2] ; 5. 15H-Mitch Harble[4] ; 6. O7X-Dain Naida[6] ; 7. 55-Brad Bowman[7] ; 8. 59-Bryan Nuckles[8]
B-Main #2 – Computer Man Inc. (8 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Caleb Helms[1] ; 2. 4K-Kris Spitz[2] ; 3. 17H-Jarod Horstman[6] ; 4. 312-Mike Linder[5] ; 5. 33K-Kyle Patrick[4] ; 6. 17-Scott Euler[3] ; 7. 6M-Max Stambaugh[7] ; 8. 46AU-Stuart Williams[8] ; 9. 3F-Rick Frahley[9]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 45-Tim Shaffer[5]; 2. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[4]; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[6]; 4. 16-Chris Andrews[1]; 5. 60-Jody Keegan[8]; 6. 24H-Brandon Wimmer[2]; 7. 35-Stuart Brubaker[3]; 8. 63-Chad Kemenah[10]; 9. 4-Danny Smith[12]; 10. 5R-Byron Reed[13]; 11. 9X-Rob Chaney[15]; 12. 33M-Bryan Sebetto[17]; 13. 57X-Andrew Palker[11]; 14. 81-Lee Jacobs[14]; 15. 40-Caleb Helms[18]; 16. 80-Trey Gustin[9]; 17. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[7]; 18. 2M-Dustin Daggett[16]; 19. 5T-Travis Philo[19]
Hard Charger: 33M-Bryan Sebetto[+5]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (33 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 51-Devin Shiels[1] ; 2. 21-Larry Kingseed[2] ; 3. 15-Jon Henry[9] ; 4. OO-Chris Keller[8] ; 5. 1N-Casey Noonan[6] ; 6. 48-John Bores[3] ; 7. 29-Rocky Owens[5] ; 8. 42S-Bob Mayer[4] ; 9. 12-Kyle Perry[7]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 20-Doug Drown[8] ; 2. 1-Jeff Babcock[5] ; 3. 91-Rusty Schlenk[6] ; 4. 23C-Jeremy Canada[2] ; 5. 92-Cody Scott[1] ; 6. 15A-Phil Ausra[3] ; 7. 5J-Josh Haynes[7] ; 8. 16-Steve Sabo[4]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. M14-Brandon Thirlby[3] ; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler[8] ; 3. 6M-Dona Marcoullier[2] ; 4. 36-Matt Irey[4] ; 5. 49-Brian Ruhlman[5] ; 6. O1-Justin Chance[1] ; 7. 69R-Doug Baird[7] ; 8. 77-Coby Bartram[6]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 27S-Eric Spangler[2] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[7] ; 3. 3-Matt Miller[4] ; 4. 15B-Mike Bores[1] ; 5. 75-Dusty Moore[8] ; 6. 50-Scott Phillips[5] ; 7. 34-Ky Harper[3] ; 8. 45-Nate Potts[6]
B-Main #1 – Computer Man Inc. (8 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 49-Brian Ruhlman[2] ; 2. O1-Justin Chance[4] ; 3. 1N-Casey Noonan[1] ; 4. 29-Rocky Owens[5] ; 5. 48-John Bores[3] ; 6. 42S-Bob Mayer[7] ; 7. 12-Kyle Perry[9] ; 8. 69R-Doug Baird[6] ; 9. 77-Coby Bartram[8]
B-Main #2 – Computer Man Inc. (8 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 92-Cody Scott[1] ; 2. 15A-Phil Ausra[3] ; 3. 75-Dusty Moore[2] ; 4. 50-Scott Phillips[4] ; 5. 34-Ky Harper[6] ; 6. 5J-Josh Haynes[5] ; 7. 16-Steve Sabo[7] ; 8. 45-Nate Potts[8]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 20-Doug Drown[4]; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5]; 3. 1-Jeff Babcock[6]; 4. 6M-Dona Marcoullier[9]; 5. 91-Rusty Schlenk[10]; 6. 15-Jon Henry[7]; 7. 5M-Ryan Markham[8]; 8. 51-Devin Shiels[3]; 9. 36-Matt Irey[13]; 10. 27S-Eric Spangler[2]; 11. 49-Brian Ruhlman[15]; 12. O1-Justin Chance[17]; 13. OO-Chris Keller[11]; 14. 92-Cody Scott[18]; 15. 1N-Casey Noonan[19]; 16. 23C-Jeremy Canada[14]; 17. 75-Dusty Moore[21]; 18. 3-Matt Miller[12]; 19. 15B-Mike Bores[16]; 20. M14-Brandon Thirlby[1]; 21. 15A-Phil Ausra[20]; 22. 21-Larry Kingseed[22]
Hard Charger: 6M-Dona Marcoullier[+5]
Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints (28 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 9-Jimmy Colvin, 13.383 (NTR); 2. 1W-Paul Weaver, 13.479; 3. 1-Nate Dussel, 13.500; 4. 19R-Steve Rando, 13.611; 5. 25-Jason Keckler, 13.646; 6. 913-Junior Felver, 13.663; 7. 6-Dustin Dinan, 13.764; 8. 36-Seth Schneider, 13.824; 9. 5R-Jordan Ryan, 13.908; 10. 8I-John Ivy, 13.928; 11. 4T-Jim Taddeo, 13.938; 12. 22TM-Tyler Moore, 14.086; 13. 13D-Jeremy Duposki, 14.108; 14. 8-Bobby Clark, 14.112; 15. 12-Kyle Capodice, 14.120; 16. 11G-Luke Griffith, 14.143; 17. 7M-Brandon Moore, 14.160; 18. 7A-Alvin Roepke, 14.181; 19. 68G-Tyler Gunn, 14.199; 20. 2-Ricky Peterson, 14.266; 21. 8M-T.J Michael, 14.360; 22. 22M-Dan McCarron, 14.361; 23. 22D-Dan Hammond, 14.448; 24. 32-Dan Hennig, 14.451; 25. 39C-Scott Riley, 14.460; 26. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh, 14.580; 27. 3FX-Dean Kester, 14.855; 28. 3J-Trey Jacobs, 99.000
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[5] ; 2. 913-Junior Felver[2] ; 3. 36-Seth Schneider[1] ; 4. 25-Jason Keckler[3] ; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin[4] ; 6. 3J-Trey Jacobs[7] ; 7. 32-Dan Hennig[6]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8-Bobby Clark[1] ; 2. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[2] ; 3. 19R-Steve Rando[4] ; 4. 11G-Luke Griffith[5] ; 5. 4T-Jim Taddeo[3] ; 6. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[6] ; 7. 3FX-Dean Kester[7]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[3] ; 2. 8I-John Ivy[2] ; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[4] ; 4. 2-Ricky Peterson[5] ; 5. 7M-Brandon Moore[1] ; 6. 8M-T.J Michael[6] ; 7. 22M-Dan McCarron[7]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 6-Dustin Dinan[4] ; 2. 12-Kyle Capodice[2] ; 3. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 4. 7A-Alvin Roepke[1] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[6] ; 6. 22TM-Tyler Moore[3] ; 7. 39C-Scott Riley[7]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9-Jimmy Colvin[1] ; 2. 7M-Brandon Moore[3] ; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond[4] ; 4. 4T-Jim Taddeo[2] ; 5. 8M-T.J Michael[7] ; 6. 22TM-Tyler Moore[8] ; 7. 22M-Dan McCarron[11] ; 8. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[6] ; 9. 3J-Trey Jacobs[5] ; 10. 32-Dan Hennig[9] ; 11. 39C-Scott Riley[12] ; 12. 3FX-Dean Kester[10]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 8I-John Ivy[1]; 2. 5R-Jordan Ryan[2]; 3. 19R-Steve Rando[10]; 4. 36-Seth Schneider[9]; 5. 7A-Alvin Roepke[16]; 6. 6-Dustin Dinan[5]; 7. 68G-Tyler Gunn[12]; 8. 9-Jimmy Colvin[17]; 9. 913-Junior Felver[3]; 10. 25-Jason Keckler[13]; 11. 12-Kyle Capodice[8]; 12. 2-Ricky Peterson[15]; 13. 11G-Luke Griffith[14]; 14. 22D-Dan Hammond[19]; 15. 4T-Jim Taddeo[20]; 16. 1-Nate Dussel[4]; 17. 8-Bobby Clark[6]; 18. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[7]; 19. 1W-Paul Weaver[11]; 20. 7M-Brandon Moore[18]
Hard Charger: 7A-Alvin Roepke[+11]
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