Irey Takes Back-up Car To First Attica Late Model Win

By Brian Liskai

Attica, Ohio (Friday, April 10, 2015) – Matt Irey thought he might be done racing for awhile after blowing his good engine on opening night last week at Attica Raceway Park. But, the Mansfield, Ohio driver retrieved his back-up car he had loaned to a fellow racer and held off several spirited challenges to score his first career UMP late model victory on Bazell Race Fuels Night.

“This is actually my back-up car. I was letting Dave Hornikel drive it last week and in the heat race last week I blew my new motor so I put everything on the back-up car and here we are. Man was it worth it,” said Irey beside his Sensmier Oil/Sluss Realty Agent Robin Jakubick/Mid-Ohio Auto Repair/Fultz Fabrication/Imperial Trucking/Kilgore Harring CPA/Mid-Ohio Graphics #71i

Defending 305 sprint champion Jordan Ryan took the lead from Paul Weaver on lap 15 and went on to score his sixth career feature win.

“A couple of times people thought I was popping wheelies I just hit that rut (in turn four) and faced into the wall. I thought I’d better not do that again. After that I got used to it and finally found my line,” said Ryan beside his J&J Automotive/Village Pizza House/KDB Rentals/Sandwish Hay and Straw/Frosty Frog/Burns Electric/Griff’s Engines backed machine.

“We’re trying to continue what we did last year. We’re all working really hard toward that goal,” added Ryan of his Precision Body and Frame/Big D’s Lawncare/Walton’s Cutting Crew/Kistler Racing Products sponsored #5.

In a rain-shortened dirt truck feature Ashland, Ohio’s Kyle Cline took the lead from defending track champion Shawn Valenti on the third lap and held Valenti off for several laps to score his first career Attica win. The feature was stopped after eight of the 15 laps were complete when a drizzle made the track extremely slick.

“We knew Lima wasn’t running tonight so there was a chance he (Valenti) would be here. We did a lot of work on this thing this winter and it paid off. I have to thank Hyncks Machine and Weld, Fultz Fabrications, D and D Archery, Hilltop Taxidermy, Pinhook Meats and Innovative Graphics,” said Cline.

Brandon Thirlby and Ryan Markham would bring the field of 20 to green for the 25 lap feature in the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model division. Markham would bolt into the lead with third starter Irey immediately racing to his inside while Thirlby, Rick Bond, Doug Drown and Rusty Schlenk stayed within striking distance.

The caution flew after two circuits were scored as John Garvin popped a tire. On the restart Markham and Irey continued their battle with Bond and Drown racing side by side for third. Irey would drive into the lead on lap three but Markham continued to race to his outside. Herb Reich and Kyle Moore would spin in separate incidents to bring out the caution on lap five.

When the green flew Irey, Markham, Bond, Drown and Thirlby waged a great battle up front. Bond would take second on lap eight but Markham got back by the following lap with Bond regaining second on lap 11. Reich would bring out the caution on lap 12 and on the restart fourth running Thirlby would spin in turn four.

On the restart it was now Bond who was pressuring Irey with Markham, Schlenk, Drown and Ryan Missler in pursuit. Bond would take the lead on lap 15 just before a caution would fly for debris in turn one. On the restart Irey would blast to Bond’s outside as they ran door to door over the next couple of laps.

Irey would power back into the lead on lap 18 with Bond, Schlenk, Drown, Markham, Missler and Mike Bores the running order. The caution would fly for the final time with five laps to go when Devin Shiels and Larry Kingseed got together.

This time on the restart Irey pulled away slightly as Bond had his hands full with Schlenk and Drown. Drown would drive into third on lap 22 as Irey put a little daylight between he and Bond.

As they drove to the checkered Irey pulled away as Bond experienced mechanical woes and dropped through the field. Behind Irey were Drown, Schlenk, Missler and Bores.

In the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprint 25 lap feature Paul Weaver and Jason Keckler paced the field with Weaver grabbing the lead over Keckler, Seth Schneider, Ryan, Steve Rando, Ricky Peterson and T.J. Michael.

Ryan would drive into third by the second circuit and took second a lap later as the yellow flew for a tangle involving Jerry Dahms and Brian Gibbs. On the restart a multi-car incident involving Trey Jacobs, Gibbs, Alex Hill and Tyler Street necessitated another green.

Weaver was able to hold off Ryan to maintain the lead with Schneider in third while Rando, Michael, Keckler, Dan McCarron and Bobby Clark gave chase. Luke Griffith would spin after a lap was complete. A long span of green flag racing would follow.

Weaver continued to lead Ryan with opening night winner Michael moving into third as the leaders raced into lapped traffic by lap 12. Ryan would use the lapped cars and his favorite bottom groove to drive into the lead on lap 15 with Weaver, Michael, Rando, Schneider and Clark following.

The caution would fly on lap 21 for Jeremy Duposki with the running order Ryan, Weaver, Michael, Rando, Schneider, Clark, Keckler and Kyle Capodice. Only one lap was completed with Griffith spun to set up a three lap shoot out.

Ryan was untouchable the final three circuits to take the win with Weaver, Michael, Rando and Schneider rounding out the top five.

Valenti and Matt Foos paced the field for the scheduled 15 lap Fremont Fence Dirt Truck feature. Valenti would grave the lead over fourth starter Cline with Foos, Dana Fry and Keith Sorg in pursuit. Cline immediately raced under Valenti as the pair ran side by side. Cline inched ahead on lap three but Valenti continued to battle up top with Foos running third.

A steady drizzle soon developed and the drivers not only had to battle each other but a tricky track. Valenti would spin on lap six with the running order Cline, Foos, Sorg, Brandon Leighton, Fry, Dustin Keegan, Bobby Davis and Valenti.

As the field completed the eighth lap the caution would fly and bring an end to the race with Cline getting the win over Foos, Sorg, Frey and Leighton.

Attica Raceway Park is back in action Friday, April 17 on Kear’s Speed Shop/True Value of Woodville Night. The ALMS Late Models are in action and it’s the opening night of the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series for the 410 sprints and the JLH General Contractor FAST 305 Sprint Championship Series.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com and follow the track on Twitter @atticaracewyprk and like Attica Raceway Park on Facebook.

Attica Raceway Park
Friday, April 10, 2015
Bazell Race Fuels Night

Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints –

Qualifying
1.22M-Dan McCarron, 13.880; 2.39-Jamie Miller, 13.977; 3.8-Bobby Clark, 14.017; 4.1W-Paul Weaver, 14.063; 5.5R-Jordan Ryan, 14.096; 6.12-Kyle Capodice, 14.099; 7.77I-John Ivy, 14.150; 8.3J-Trey Jacobs, 14.194; 9.2-Ricky Peterson, 14.211; 10.19R-Steve Rando, 14.237; 11.25-Jason Keckler, 14.244; 12.77X-Alex Hill, 14.372; 13.36-Seth Schneider, 14.393; 14.7M-Brandon Moore, 14.409; 15.18-TJ Michaels, 14.416; 16.13-Jeremy Duposki, 14.527; 17.11G-Luke Griffith, 14.615; 18.2L-Landon LaLonde, 14.751; 19.87-Brian Gibbs, 14.790; 20.18N-Frank Neill, 14.875; 21.4*-Tyler Street, 14.969; 22.75-Jerry Dahms, 15.531;

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[1] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[2] ; 3. 8-Bobby Clark[3] ; 4. 18-TJ Michaels[6] ; 5. 39-Jamie Miller[4] ; 6. 3J-Trey Jacobs[5] ; 7. 11G-Luke Griffith[7] ; 8. 2L-Landon LaLonde[8]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
1. 77I-John Ivy[2] ; 2. 25-Jason Keckler[1] ; 3. 22M-Dan McCarron[4] ; 4. 12-Kyle Capodice[3] ; 5. 13-Jeremy Duposki[5] ; 6. 87-Brian Gibbs[6] ; 7. 75-Jerry Dahms[7]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps)
1. 36-Seth Schneider[1] ; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[3] ; 3. 2-Ricky Peterson[4] ; 4. 77X-Alex Hill[2] ; 5. 7M-Brandon Moore[5] ; 6. 18N-Frank Neill[6] ; 7. 4*-Tyler Street[7]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 3. 18-TJ Michaels[10] ; 4. 19R-Steve Rando[5] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 6. 12-Kyle Capodice[11] ; 7. 8-Bobby Clark[9] ; 8. 25-Jason Keckler[2] ; 9. 2-Ricky Peterson[6] ; 10. 77I-John Ivy[7] ; 11. 22M-Dan McCarron[8] ; 12. 7M-Brandon Moore[15] ; 13. 3J-Trey Jacobs[16] ; 14. 75-Jerry Dahms[18] ; 15. 11G-Luke Griffith[19] ; 16. 39-Jamie Miller[13] ; 17. 13-Jeremy Duposki[14] ; 18. 77X-Alex Hill[12] ; 19. 2L-Landon LaLonde[20] ; 20. 4*-Tyler Street[21] ; 21. 87-Brian Gibbs[17]

Summit Racing Equipment Late Models –

Qualifying
1.00-Chris Keller, 14.843; 2.71I-Matt Irey, 14.859; 3.240-Doug Drown, 14.863; 4.91-Rusty Schlenk, 14.993; 5.15B-Mike Bores, 15.060; 6.71-Dave Hornikel, 15.086; 7.50Y-Ryan Missler, 15.089; 8.2*-Kyle Moore, 15.197; 9.J4-John Garvin, 15.270; 10.5M-Ryan Markham, 15.291; 11.M14-Brandon Thirlby, 15.364; 12.48-John Bores, 15.435; 13.92-Cody Scott, 15.465; 14.007-Rick Bond, 15.502; 15.27S-Eric Spangler, 15.506; 16.21-Larry Kingseed, 15.548; 17.51S-Devin Shiels, 15.648; 18.50-Scott Phillips, 15.680; 19.34-Herb Reich, 15.765; 20.27-Ken Hahn, 16.094; 21.5J-Josh Haynes, 16.210; 22.30-Nate Potts, 16.400; 23.69R-Doug Baird, 16.952; 24.53-Steve Sabo, 17.215; 25.92R-Hirem Bachmann, 17.299; 26.42*-Bob Mayer, 99.000; 27.17X-Dustin Keegan, 99.100; 28.53M-Hillard Miller, 99.200;

Nitro Black Performance Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. M14-Brandon Thirlby[3] ; 2. 240-Doug Drown[4] ; 3. 27S-Eric Spangler[1] ; 4. 34-Herb Reich[5] ; 5. 48-John Bores[2] ; 6. 30-Nate Potts[6] ; 7. 53M-Hillard Miller[10] ; 8. 69R-Doug Baird[7] ; 9. 42*-Bob Mayer[8] ; 10. 17X-Dustin Keegan[9]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. J4-John Garvin[2] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[1] ; 3. 91-Rusty Schlenk[4] ; 4. 71-Dave Hornikel[3] ; 5. 51S-Devin Shiels[6] ; 6. 21-Larry Kingseed[5] ; 7. 50-Scott Phillips[7] ; 8. 27-Ken Hahn[8] ; 9. 92R-Hirem Bachmann[9]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 71I-Matt Irey[3] ; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler[1] ; 3. 007-Rick Bond[7] ; 4. 15B-Mike Bores[2] ; 5. 2*-Kyle Moore[5] ; 6. 92-Cody Scott[6] ; 7. 5J-Josh Haynes[8] ; 8. 53-Steve Sabo[9] ; 9. 00-Chris Keller[4]

Computer Man B-Main 1 – (10 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 00-Chris Keller[12] ; 2. 92-Cody Scott[3] ; 3. 21-Larry Kingseed[2] ; 4. 53M-Hillard Miller[4] ; 5. 5J-Josh Haynes[6] ; 6. 50-Scott Phillips[5] ; 7. 30-Nate Potts[1] ; 8. 42*-Bob Mayer[10] ; 9. 69R-Doug Baird[7] ; 10. 53-Steve Sabo[9] ; 11. 92R-Hirem Bachmann[11] ; 12. 17X-Dustin Keegan[13] ; 13. 27-Ken Hahn[8]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 71I-Matt Irey[3] ; 2. 240-Doug Drown[6] ; 3. 91-Rusty Schlenk[7] ; 4. 50Y-Ryan Missler[9] ; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[12] ; 6. 5M-Ryan Markham[2] ; 7. 27S-Eric Spangler[4] ; 8. 00-Chris Keller[16] ; 9. 48-John Bores[13] ; 10. 51S-Devin Shiels[14] ; 11. 5J-Josh Haynes[20] ; 12. 21-Larry Kingseed[18] ; 13. 007-Rick Bond[5] ; 14. 2*-Kyle Moore[15] ; 15. M14-Brandon Thirlby[1] ; 16. 71-Dave Hornikel[11] ; 17. 34-Herb Reich[10] ; 18. 92-Cody Scott[17] ; 19. 53M-Hillard Miller[19] ; 20. J4-John Garvin[8]

Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks –

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[1] ; 2. 2-Matt Foos[4] ; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg[6] ; 4. 115-Ben Good[2] ; 5. 16-Bobby Davis[3] ; 6. 22J-Josh Kiser[5]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
1. 33C-Kyle Cline[2] ; 2. 7F-Dana Frey[3] ; 3. 33-Brian Arnold[1] ; 4. 22-Brandon Leighton[4] ; 5. 17X-Dustin Keegan[5]

A-Main 1 – (15 Laps)
1. 33C-Kyle Cline[4] ; 2. 2-Matt Foos[2] ; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg[3] ; 4. 7F-Dana Frey[6] ; 5. 17X-Dustin Keegan[10] ; 6. 7B-Shawn Valenti[1] ; 7. 16-Bobby Davis[9] ; 8. 33-Brian Arnold[5] ; 9. 22-Brandon Leighton[8] ; 10. 115-Ben Good[7] ; 11. 22J-Josh Kiser[11]