FAST Titles Up For Grabs After Exciting Night At Attica
12 min read
By Brian Liskai
(Attica, OH) The coveted Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship for the 410 sprints and JLH General Contractor FAST Championship for the 305 sprints is coming right down to the wire after an exciting night of action Friday at Attica Raceway Park.
Castalia, Ohio’s Caleb Griffith passed race-long leader Greg Wilson on the last lap to score his first ever O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 sprint win at Attica on Ohio Logistics Night. The win moved Griffith into second in the $10,000-to-win FAST points with a hand full of events left in 2014. Chris Andrews came into the night leading the FAST and Attica points and stormed from his 12th starting spot for a third place finish to maintain the point leads but by just 14 markers over Griffith.
“The restart previous to the last one (with two to go) I kind of spun the tires so I knew I had to do something different. We weren’t getting a good run like he (Wilson) was down through the bottom. I got such a good run off the top I thought I’d have to slide him because if I got stuck in the middle coming off of four…I didn’t want to see someone dive bomb both of us and pass us coming off of four. I thought he would double turn me and come underneath me,” said Griffith of his winning move aboard the Al David Carpet/McDonald’s Restaurants/JLH General Contractor/Shelluke’s Bar/Crown Battery/Fremont Fence/B&L Plumbing/Griff’s Engines/Donny Atkinson/Erlin Trader/Bethesda Care Center/Ballville EZ Shop backed machine.
The night looked bleak for Griffith early as he experienced mechanical woes during qualifying.
“The Lord really blessed us tonight. We doused two mag boxes with power steering fluid and found some plugged nozzle lines. It was an uphill battle since we unloaded tonight. My guys are some of the oldest in the pits but no one works harder,” added Griffith of his Tackle Box 2/Williams & Son Masonry/Fremont Roofing/Meggit Farms/Chuck’s Lawn care/Fremont Athletic Supply/Precision Machine Ship/Burns Petroleum/Vickery Transportation/Rod End Supply/OC Shocks sponsored car.
For the third time this season the Wood County Connection came through – three drivers who live within 10 miles of one another all won features in their respective divisions at Attica. Wayne, Ohio’s Jeff Babcock would win a thriller in the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models while Bradner, Ohio’s Nate Dussel would take the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprint win and Risingsun, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti would get the exciting Fremont Fence Dirt Truck victory.
The Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models put on a whale of a show with Jeff Babcock and Rusty Schlenk battling side by side the last 14 laps before Babcock prevailed for his fourth win of the year at Attica. It was his eighth career victory and moves him into fourth on the track’s all-time win list for the division.
“That’s normal for the 91 and the 1… we just run into each other,” said Babcock surviving the crumpled up right rear fender of his Best Performance Motorsports/Bulk Material Lift.com/Professional Drywall/Craig Miller Trucking backed #1.
“It was a pretty exciting race from inside the seat…I can imagine what the fans got to see. That’s pretty awesome,” continued Babcock. “I was trying to save my tires because it was slicker than I actually thought it was. So I trying to conserve them and then that old 91 went sailing by and I was like I’d better find something here. We’ve struggled the past two months. We started off good and had a bad spell so it’s good to finally get a win.”
In the 305 sprint feature Nate Dussel would grab the lead from Paul Weaver on lap two and pulled away on a late race restart to record his third win of the season at Attica. It is the defending track champion’s 14th career victory at the track, moving him into a tie with Bobby Clark for 7th in the division’s all-time win list.
“Jordan (Ryan) has been lights out this year and he’s a hell of a race car driver and I knew he was going to be down there. Man the second lap there on that restart (with 10 laps to go) I missed it bad. And I thought there goes the 5R but he didn’t. I really concentrated on hitting my marks. I’m sure the brake rotor had to be glowing…my left foot hurts…I was on the brake more than I was the gas,” said Dussel beside his Berrier Fabrication/Gressman Powersports/Kistler Racing Products/Design Graphics Group/Dussel Welding/Conrad Transport backed machine.
Not to be outdone, Valenti, Kent Brewer and Dan Roepke Jr. battled for the lead from lap 2 to the end before Valenti won by half a truck length over Brewer. The victory is the fourth on the year at Attica for Valenti who has 14 total in 2014. It was his eighth career victory in the dirt trucks at Attica.
“Kent is one tough competitor. He snuck by me on the bottom and I decided to go into protect mode. I know it wasn’t the prettiest thing but we have four wins here in one season. I can’t say enough about the guy who puts me in this thing (Jeff Babcock),” said Valenti beside his Craig Miller Trucking/Best Performance Motorsports/Conrad Transport/Day Dream and Memories Crafts and Antiques/KS Sales and Service/JP Enterprises/Gressman Powersports backed truck.
In the 30-lap 410 sprint feature Duane Zablocki and Greg Wilson brought the field to green with Wilson gaining the advantage. Wilson would pull away from Zablocki with Brian Lay, Caleb Helms, Rob Chaney, Byron Reed, Griffith, Travis Philo and Craig Mintz in tow. Helms would spin on lap four to bring out the caution.
On the restart Wilson again pulled away with Zablocki holding off Lay for second with a wild battle for fourth between Chaney, Reed, Griffith, Chris Andrews and Mintz. Chaney would take third on lap six but could not close on Zablocki as Wilson held a comfortable lead. The battle for fourth continued between Lay, Griffith, Reed, Andrews and Mintz.
Helms would tumble in turn four on lap 11 to bring the action to a halt. He was unharmed but done for the night. The restart was wild with Wilson leading Zablocki while Chaney got crossed up and fell back four spots. Griffith now ran third with Lay, Reed, Andrews, Chaney and Mintz in pursuit.
At the half-way point the running order was Wilson, Zablocki, Griffith, Lay, Andrews, Reed and Mintz. By lap 17 Griffith was racing to Zablocki’s outside to challenge for second and he would finally take the runner-up spot on lap 19. With 7 laps to go Wilson found heavy lapped traffic racing in his bottom line and that allowed the high flying Griffith to close quickly with Zablocki holding off Andrews for third while Mintz rounded out the top five.
Just as Griffith was going to make his move for the lead the caution flew with five laps to go when Dain Naida and Cap Henry tangled. It seemed with a clear track Wilson had the race in hand as it took Griffith a few laps to get his momentum on the high side.
When the green flew Wilson went back to the bottom and Griffith sailed to his outside to challenge with Andrews sliding around Zablocki for third with Mintz, Lay and Reed in pursuit. Again, just as Griffith had gotten his momentum to challenge the caution would fly with two laps to go for an Andrew Palker spin.
When the green flew Griffith raced to Wilson’s outside with Andrews, Lay, Zablocki and Mintz staying close. After taking the white flag Griffith executed a slider under Wilson in turns one and two to grab the lead. Griffith then sailed around the high line of the final turns to take the win over Wilson, Andrews, Mintz and Lay.
Larry Bellman and Ryan Markham paced the field for the 25-lap late model main. Markham, a three time Attica winner, would take the lead over Bellman, Ky Harper, Ryan Missler, Babcock and Devin Shiels. Babcock would slide into third on lap three and took second a circuit later.
Markham continued to lead as Babock chased him down and raced side by side with him by lap seven with Bellman in third and a closing Rusty Schlenk fourth. Schlenk would move into third on lap eight and immediately closed on Markham and Babcock.
The caution flew for a Tim Sabo spin on lap 9 and on the restart Babock drove under Markham to take the lead with Schlenk ready to pounce while Missler and Shiels stayed within striking distance. Schlenk took second on lap 11 and immediately raced to Babcock’s outside to challenge for the lead just as the caution flew for a Brandon Thirlby spin.
On the ensuing restart Babcock stayed glued to the bottom while Schlenk raced to his outside with Markham, Bellman, Shiels, Matt Irey and Missler in tow. Shiels would take fourth on lap 13 and drove into third a lap later just as Schlenk took the lead. Schlenk would lead the next four laps with Babock racing to his inside while Shiels, Markham, Irey, Missler, Harper, Larry Kingseed and Mike Bores gave chase.
Missler would stop on the high side of turn four on lap 16 to bring out the caution. On the restart Schlenk and Babcock continued their torrid battle for the lead with Shiels, Irey, Markham, Harper, Kingseed and Bores racing hard for third. Babcock was able to squeeze by Schlenk to regain the lead on lap 18 but the pair wasn’t done, battling side by side the remaining seven laps.
Babcock would edge Schlenk by half a car length for the win with Irey nailing down third while Shiels and Kingseed rounded out the top five.
Dussel and Paul Weaver would pace the field in the 25-lap 305 sprint feature with Weaver gaining the advantage to lead lap one. Dussel would race under Weaver for the lead a circuit later as Brandon Moore ran third followed by Jordan Ryan, Luke Griffith, Tyler Gunn, Ricky Peterson and Steve Rando.
Dussel was able to pull away from Weaver with Moore trying to hold off Ryan for third while 12th starter Dustin Dinan racing into fifth by lap five. Dussel would hit heavy lapped traffic by lap 9 and Weaver closed as Ryan moved into third. Ryan would drive into second on lap 11 but couldn’t close on Dussel while Weaver, Moore, Alvin Roepke and Dinan gave chase.
The first caution flew for a Peterson spin on lap 15 just as Ryan had begun to close on Dussel. On the restart Dussel rocketed off the bottom to pull away from Ryan while Weaver, Roepke, Dinan, John Ivy and Moore gave chase.
Dussel would pull away for the win while Ryan, Roepke, Dinan and Weaver rounded out the top five.
In the 15-lap dirt truck feature, Kyle Cline and Art Ball brought the field to green but before a lap could be completed Brandon Leighton would spin. On the restart Cline got the advantage over Ball, Brewer, Roepke and Dustin Keegan. Brewer would drive off the bottom to take the lead on lap two with Ball, Kline, Roepke and Valenti in pursuit. The caution would fly for a Jeff Warnick spin after two laps were recorded. On the restart Ball would spin, handing second to Roepke with Valenti now third.
As Brewer led, Roepke and Valenti ran to his outside. At times the lead trio raced three wide. Valenti took second on lap five and grabbed the lead a circuit later but Brewer continued to race to his inside with Roepke also right there. The final caution flew on lap 10 with Valenti leading Brewer, Roepke, Matt Foos, Cline, Dustin Keegan, Dana Fry and Ball.
The lead trio continued to battle over the final five laps with Valenti scoring the narrow victory over Brewer with Roepke, Foos and Ball rounding out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, Aug. 1 on Edward Jones of Clyde/Mike Neill Financial Advisor Night with all four divisions in action. It will be a FAST point night for the 410 and 305 sprints. For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 7/25/2014
Ohio Logistics Night
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (24 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.331; 2. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.373; 3. 16-Chris Andrews, 12.395; 4. 53-Cap Henry, 12.399; 5. 40-Caleb Helms, 12.411; 6. 9X-Rob Chaney, 12.503; 7. 45L-Brian Lay, 12.548; 8. 5T-Travis Philo, 12.580; 9. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 12.580; 10. 46AU-Stuart Williams, 12.603; 11. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.614; 12. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 12.629; 13. 57X-Andrew Palker, 12.658; 14. 97-Bryan Sebetto, 12.679; 15. O7X-Dain Naida, 12.703; 16. 11X-Brandon Martin, 12.727; 17. 9-Dean Jacobs, 12.758; 18. 40DD-Caleb Griffith, 12.847; 19. 60-Jody Keegan, 12.872; 20. 83M-Broc Martin, 13.018; 21. 5-Jordan Harble, 13.225; 22. 8-Kevin Shelbo, 13.377; 23. 96AU-Bruce White, 13.407; 24. 97X-Rodney Hurst, 99.990
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5T-Travis Philo[2] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[4] ; 3. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[1] ; 4. 53-Cap Henry[3] ; 5. 97-Bryan Sebetto[6] ; 6. 11X-Brandon Martin[7] ; 7. 57X-Andrew Palker[5] ; 8. 9-Dean Jacobs[8]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. W20-Greg Wilson[2] ; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[4] ; 3. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[5] ; 4. 60-Jody Keegan[6] ; 5. O7X-Dain Naida[1] ; 6. 46AU-Stuart Williams[3] ; 7. 8-Kevin Shelbo[7] ; 8. 96AU-Bruce White[8]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Caleb Helms[3] ; 2. 9X-Rob Chaney[2] ; 3. 45L-Brian Lay[1] ; 4. 16-Chris Andrews[4] ; 5. 83M-Broc Martin[6] ; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[5] ; 7. 5-Jordan Harble[7] ; 8. 97X-Rodney Hurst[8]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11X-Brandon Martin[1] ; 2. 46AU-Stuart Williams[2] ; 3. 57X-Andrew Palker[4] ; 4. 9-Dean Jacobs[7] ; 5. 35-Stuart Brubaker[3] ; 6. 5-Jordan Harble[6] ; 7. 96AU-Bruce White[8] ; 8. 8-Kevin Shelbo[5] ; 9. 97X-Rodney Hurst[9]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[7]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson[2]; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[12]; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[9]; 5. 45L-Brian Lay[4]; 6. 46AU-Stuart Williams[17]; 7. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[1]; 8. 9-Dean Jacobs[19]; 9. 5R-Byron Reed[5]; 10. 5T-Travis Philo[8]; 11. 11X-Brandon Martin[16]; 12. 9X-Rob Chaney[6]; 13. 97-Bryan Sebetto[13]; 14. 83M-Broc Martin[15]; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[20]; 16. 53-Cap Henry[10]; 17. 60-Jody Keegan[11]; 18. 57X-Andrew Palker[18]; 19. O7X-Dain Naida[14]; 20. 40-Caleb Helms[3]
Hard Charger: 46AU-Stuart Williams[+11]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (24 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 92-Cody Scott[2] ; 2. 34-Ky Harper[1] ; 3. 51-Devin Shiels[3] ; 4. 59-Larry Bellman[4] ; 5. 98-Tim Sabo[7] ; 6. 27-Ken Hahn[8] ; 7. 77-Coby Bartram[6] ; 8. X-Mike Swansiger[5]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5M-Ryan Markham[1] ; 2. M14-Brandon Thirlby[3] ; 3. 1-Jeff Babcock[5] ; 4. 36-Matt Irey[8] ; 5. O3-Jim Gingery[2] ; 6. 5J-Josh Haynes[4] ; 7. O1-Justin Chance[6] ; 8. 24-Jerry Aber[7]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk[4] ; 2. 21-Larry Kingseed[3] ; 3. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5] ; 4. 48-John Bores[1] ; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[7] ; 6. 16-Steve Sabo[8] ; 7. 69R-Doug Baird[2] ; 8. 76-Skip McKinney[6]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 27-Ken Hahn[1] ; 2. O1-Justin Chance[5] ; 3. 5J-Josh Haynes[2] ; 4. 24-Jerry Aber[8] ; 5. 16-Steve Sabo[3] ; 6. 77-Coby Bartram[4] ; 7. X-Mike Swansiger[7] ; 8. 69R-Doug Baird[6] ; 9. 76-Skip McKinney[9]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 1-Jeff Babcock[5]; 2. 91-Rusty Schlenk[9]; 3. 36-Matt Irey[12]; 4. 51-Devin Shiels[6]; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[7]; 6. 34-Ky Harper[4]; 7. 5M-Ryan Markham[2]; 8. 15B-Mike Bores[15]; 9. 92-Cody Scott[11]; 10. 59-Larry Bellman[1]; 11. 27-Ken Hahn[16]; 12. 98-Tim Sabo[13]; 13. 16-Steve Sabo[20]; 14. O1-Justin Chance[17]; 15. 5J-Josh Haynes[18]; 16. O3-Jim Gingery[14]; 17. 24-Jerry Aber[19]; 18. 48-John Bores[8]; 19. 50Y-Ryan Missler[3]; 20. M14-Brandon Thirlby[10]
Hard Charger: 36-Matt Irey[+9]
Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints (28 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan, 13.708; 2. 8M-T.J Michael, 13.788; 3. 1-Nate Dussel, 13.795; 4. 19R-Steve Rando, 13.803; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver, 13.809; 6. 68G-Tyler Gunn, 13.811; 7. 25-Jason Keckler, 13.817; 8. 6-Dustin Dinan, 13.843; 9. 11G-Luke Griffith, 13.845; 10. 36-Seth Schneider, 13.893; 11. 8I-John Ivy, 13.896; 12. 22M-Dan McCarron, 13.910; 13. 7A-Alvin Roepke, 13.947; 14. 913-Junior Felver, 13.979; 15. 32-Dan Hennig, 13.989; 16. 3J-Trey Jacobs, 14.007; 17. 2-Ricky Peterson, 14.082; 18. 12-Kyle Capodice, 14.116; 19. 8-Bobby Clark, 14.169; 20. 13-Jeremy Duposki, 14.188; 21. 7M-Brandon Moore, 14.241; 22. 39C-Scott Riley, 14.326; 23. 4T-Jim Taddeo, 14.344; 24. O3-Jim Cushing, 14.443; 25. 22D-Dan Hammond, 14.470; 26. 94K-Kurt Huber, 14.547; 27. 29-Kyle Farmer, 14.810; 28. 4G-Bill Griffith, 15.292
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 2. 11G-Luke Griffith[2] ; 3. 8I-John Ivy[1] ; 4. 8M-T.J Michael[3] ; 5. 913-Junior Felver[5] ; 6. 13-Jeremy Duposki[6] ; 7. 39C-Scott Riley[7]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[3] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[4] ; 3. 22M-Dan McCarron[2] ; 4. 3J-Trey Jacobs[5] ; 5. 12-Kyle Capodice[6] ; 6. 94K-Kurt Huber[7] ; 7. 32-Dan Hennig[1]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[4] ; 2. 7M-Brandon Moore[1] ; 3. 7A-Alvin Roepke[2] ; 4. 25-Jason Keckler[3] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[6] ; 6. 4T-Jim Taddeo[5] ; 7. 4G-Bill Griffith[7]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[4] ; 2. 2-Ricky Peterson[1] ; 3. 6-Dustin Dinan[3] ; 4. 8-Bobby Clark[5] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 6. O3-Jim Cushing[6] ; 7. 29-Kyle Farmer[7]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 913-Junior Felver[1] ; 2. 36-Seth Schneider[4] ; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond[3] ; 4. 12-Kyle Capodice[2] ; 5. 4T-Jim Taddeo[7] ; 6. 32-Dan Hennig[10] ; 7. 29-Kyle Farmer[12] ; 8. 4G-Bill Griffith[11] ; 9. 39C-Scott Riley[9] ; 10. 94K-Kurt Huber[6] ; 11. 13-Jeremy Duposki[5] ; 12. O3-Jim Cushing[8]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[1]; 2. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7]; 3. 7A-Alvin Roepke[11]; 4. 6-Dustin Dinan[12]; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[2]; 6. 8M-T.J Michael[13]; 7. 8I-John Ivy[9]; 8. 8-Bobby Clark[16]; 9. 3J-Trey Jacobs[14]; 10. 36-Seth Schneider[18]; 11. 19R-Steve Rando[5]; 12. 7M-Brandon Moore[3]; 13. 25-Jason Keckler[15]; 14. 11G-Luke Griffith[4]; 15. 2-Ricky Peterson[8]; 16. 22M-Dan McCarron[10]; 17. 22D-Dan Hammond[19]; 18. 12-Kyle Capodice[20]; 19. 68G-Tyler Gunn[6]; 20. 913-Junior Felver[17]
Hard Charger: 7A-Alvin Roepke[+8]
Fremont Fence Co. Dirt Trucks (15 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8KB-Kent Brewer[8] ; 2. D1-Dustin Keegan[1] ; 3. O-Andy Keegan[3] ; 4. O1-Art Ball[6] ; 5. 85S-Brandon Stuckey[5] ; 6. 69-Jeff Warnick[4] ; 7. 22-Brandon Leighton[2] ; 8. 7-Dana Frey[7]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[4] ; 2. 7B-Shawn Valenti[7] ; 3. 3X-Brad Keckler[1] ; 4. 33C-Kyle Cline[5] ; 5. 2-Matt Foos[3] ; 6. 33-Brian Arnold[6] ; 7. 4S-Keith Sorg[2]
A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[6]; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[5]; 3. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[4]; 4. 2-Matt Foos[10]; 5. O1-Art Ball[2]; 6. 33C-Kyle Cline[1]; 7. D1-Dustin Keegan[3]; 8. 7-Dana Frey[15]; 9. 4S-Keith Sorg[14]; 10. 33-Brian Arnold[12]; 11. O-Andy Keegan[7]; 12. 22-Brandon Leighton[13]; 13. 69-Jeff Warnick[11]; 14. 3X-Brad Keckler[8]
Hard Charger: 7-Dana Frey[+7]
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