Wood County Racers Take The Loot at Attica

By Brian Liskai

(Attica, OH) It was good to be a race car driver who resides in Wood County, Ohio Friday night at Attica Raceway Park. All three feature winners are friends who reside within 10 miles of each other.

Wayne, Ohio’s Jeff Babcock survived a last lap tangle in the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature and took the victory. Not to be outdone, Bradner, Ohio’s Nate Dussel led all 25 laps to claim the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprint feature. Then, Risingsun, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti drove the elder Babcock’s dirt truck to the feature win.

In the 25-lap late model feature it looked like John Garvin Jr. would claim his first ever Attica win on Bazell Race Fuel Night. But, Babcock was pressuring and as they raced into turn three on the final lap, with lapped cars racing ahead of them, one of the lapped cars got loose and Garvin made contact as Babcock drove through the crash and went on to score his fifth career late model win at Attica.

“That was crazy. I didn’t have anything for that four car (Garvin) but when we got into lapped traffic it slowed him down quite a bit so that we could get to him. I’m not sure what happened there…it looked like someone was spinning and he got into him and I got into it. Definitely kind of got one given to us tonight,” said Babcock beside his Best Performance Motorsports/Bulk Material Lift.com/Professional Drywall/Craig Miller Trucking backed #1.

“I have to thank Shane and Jennifer Halcomb, Dick Pica, Tommy, a kid who works on the car,” added Babcock in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.

In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, Dussel, who has claimed the past three track championships, could not shake off opening night winner John Ivy, but he picked his way through traffic and went on to claim his 12th career win at Attica.

“That makes up for last week. I was starting to wonder if I still had it. The performance I put on last week…it was 100 percent my fault. We were pretty much out to lunch from the beginning. This definitely feels good to get this turned around,” said Dussel beside his Berrier Fabrication/Gressman Powersports/Foster Fabrication/Design Graphics Group backed #1.

“It was nice to get to race with Paul Weaver and John Ivy tonight. Those guys I can trust running wheel to wheel. I can be thankful it was my birthday this week. I got bailed out. I lost vision for a little bit and all of a sudden I’m off the race track. Thank God the caution came out and got the lead back. I didn’t know if I had enough to get back around him (Ivy). Thankful for everyone who helps out on this,” continued Dussel. “I have to thank Craig and Mike and Bobby and Jeff and Scott and Bill and my dad…I had these guys working from the time we unloaded last week…I put them through hell last week so this is the least I could do.”

After an opening lap tangle took out the front row of the Fremont Fence Dirt Truck feature, Valenti would inherit the lead and would dominate all 15 laps – the feature when caution free after two crashes before a lap could be completed.

“That first accident took out quite a few trucks and when you have a track like this with a cushion and put me on the front row it’s pretty much just making laps,” said Valenti. “I got lucky on the start. Last second I saw they might touch so I went up top and I cleared it. I have to thank Jeff Babock and all the Babcocks for putting me in this thing and putting me in their stock car and believing in me. We closed out Attica and Fremont with wins last year so we’re picking right back up.”

Garvin and Brandon Thirlby would bring the late model field to the green with Garvin bolting out front. Action would slow on lap three when third running Rusty Schlenk would coast to a rest on the front stretch. He would go pit side.

On the restart Garvin powered away while Thirlby had his hands full with Chris Keller and a closing Babcock. Garvin hit lapped traffic by the 9th circuit with Babcock working into second while Thirlby was locked in a great battle for third with opening week winner Ryan Markham, Dona Marcoullier and Eric Spangler. The caution flew on lap 10 for a Scott Phillips spin.

The green was short lived on the restart as debris necessitated another yellow. With a clear track, Garvin powered away from Babcock with Thirlby still battling Markham and Marcoullier. Marcoullier would take third on lap 17 as the leaders raced back into lapped traffic.

Garvin avoided disaster on lap 21 as the lapped machine of Ky Harper got sideways right in front of the leader in turn four. Harper went to the infield and green stayed out but the mishap allowed Babcock to close to within a car length of Garvin. With two laps to go Garvin was mired in heavy traffic and Babcock was ready to pounce. As they took the white flag, Garvin and Babcock were nose to tail as they tried to maneuver through lapped cars.

Entering turn three for the final time Garvin tried to duck under a lapped car as Babock went high. The lapped machine got sideways and collected Garvin as Babcock also made contact but was able to keep rolling. Babock stormed to the checkers over Marcoullier, Thirlby, Markham and Spangler.

Ivy and Dussel brought the field to the green in the 305 sprint feature with Dussel gaining a very slight advantage. Paul Weaver would join the battle up front as rookie Trey Jacobs, Jordan Ryan and Seth Schneider gave chase. Ryan would take third on lap six just before the caution flew for Jacobs who jumped the cushion in turn four. He would rejoin the field at the tail.

Steve Rando would bring out the caution on lap nine but that would be followed by a lengthy green flag run. Dussel would continue to lead but Ivy ran right in his tire tracks with Ryan, Weaver, Schneider, Jimmy Colvin, Bobby Clark, Dustin Dinan and D.J. Foos in pursuit. Two cars that started towards the back of the pack – Tyler Gunn who set a new track record in group qualifying and started 17th and Alvin Roepke who started 19th – were on the move as they ran 8th and 9th by lap 17.

The leaders finally caught lapped traffic on the 19th circuit but Dussel picked his way through with Ivy and Ryan staying close. The final caution would fly on lap 22 for a Jim Taddeo spin, giving Dussel a clear track.

Dussel was able to pull away the final three circuits with Ivy, Ryan, a hard charging Clark and Colvin rounding out the top five.

Dana Fry and Ivy would pace the field for the 15-lap dirt truck feature. But, as the field stormed into turn four on the first lap a five-truck pile-up brought out the caution and took out Ivy and Brian Arnold as Matt Foos, Frey and Brad Keckler were able to make repairs and rejoin the rear of the field.

On the second attempt at green, Brian Melnek and Cory McCaughey got together, necessitating a third try. This time when the green flew the race would go the distance uninterrupted.

Valenti would bolt into the lead and pulled away unchallenged for the win. Steve Endicott would hold on to second the entire race with Foos storming back for third with McCaughey fourth and Frey fifth.

Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, April 18 on True Value of Woodville Night with the American Late Model Series in action along with the 2014 opener for the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series for the 410 sprints and the JLH General Contractor 305 FAST Championship Series for the 305 sprints.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com

Attica Raceway Park – 4/11/2014
Bazell Race Fuels Night

Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (28 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 1-Jeff Babcock, 15.072; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler, 15.124; 3. 48-John Bores, 15.157; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham, 15.237; 5. O1-Justin Chance, 15.247; 6. 26-Sid Danals, 15.724; 7. 42S-Bob Mayer, 16.645; 8. 6M-Dona Marcoullier, 14.698; 9. 92-Cody Scott, 14.779; 10. OO-Chris Keller, 15.057; 11. 91-Rusty Schlenk, 15.150; 12. 20-Doug Drown, 15.469; 13. 5J-Josh Haynes, 15.553; 14. 50-Scott Phillips, 15.568; 15. J4-John Garvin Jr., 14.503; 16. 36-Matt Irey, 14.766; 17. 240-Charlie Duncan, 14.775; 18. 15B-Mike Bores, 14.797; 19. 23C-Jeremy Canada, 15.336; 20. 45-Nate Potts, 15.692; 21. 16-Steve Sabo, 16.035; 22. 27-Eric Spangler, 14.701; 23. M14-Brandon Thirlby, 14.819; 24. 51-Devin Shiels, 15.045; 25. 34-Ky Harper, 15.116; 26. 12-Kyle Perry, 17.349; 27. 69R-Doug Baird, 19.594; 28. 75-Dusty Moore, nt

Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1-Jeff Babcock[4] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[1] ; 3. 50Y-Ryan Missler[3] ; 4. O1-Justin Chance[5] ; 5. 42S-Bob Mayer[7] ; 6. 26-Sid Danals[6] ; 7. 48-John Bores[2]

Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-Chris Keller[2] ; 2. 91-Rusty Schlenk[1] ; 3. 6M-Dona Marcoullier[4] ; 4. 92-Cody Scott[3] ; 5. 20-Doug Drown[5] ; 6. 50-Scott Phillips[7] ; 7. 5J-Josh Haynes[6]

Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. J4-John Garvin Jr.[4] ; 2. 36-Matt Irey[3] ; 3. 240-Charlie Duncan[2] ; 4. 15B-Mike Bores[1] ; 5. 23C-Jeremy Canada[5] ; 6. 45-Nate Potts[6] ; 7. 16-Steve Sabo[7]

Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. M14-Brandon Thirlby[3] ; 2. 27-Eric Spangler[8] ; 3. 51-Devin Shiels[2] ; 4. 75-Dusty Moore[7] ; 5. 34-Ky Harper[1] ; 6. 69R-Doug Baird[6] ; 7. 12-Kyle Perry[5]

B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 20-Doug Drown[2] ; 2. 34-Ky Harper[4] ; 3. 50-Scott Phillips[6] ; 4. 23C-Jeremy Canada[3] ; 5. 42S-Bob Mayer[1] ; 6. 5J-Josh Haynes[10]

A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 1-Jeff Babcock[6]; 2. 6M-Dona Marcoullier[10]; 3. M14-Brandon Thirlby[2]; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[7]; 5. 27-Eric Spangler[5]; 6. 240-Charlie Duncan[11]; 7. 50Y-Ryan Missler[9]; 8. 36-Matt Irey[8]; 9. OO-Chris Keller[3]; 10. 51-Devin Shiels[12]; 11. 92-Cody Scott[14]; 12. O1-Justin Chance[13]; 13. 15B-Mike Bores[15]; 14. 75-Dusty Moore[16]; 15. J4-John Garvin Jr.[1]; 16. 42S-Bob Mayer[20]; 17. 34-Ky Harper[17]; 18. 23C-Jeremy Canada[19]; 19. 50-Scott Phillips[18]; 20. 91-Rusty Schlenk[4]; 21. J4-John Garvin Jr.[1]

Hard Charger: 6M-Dona Marcoullier[+8]

Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints (29 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn, 13.410; 2. 1-Nate Dussel, 13.434; 3. 8I-John Ivy, 13.445; 4. 5R-Jordan Ryan, 13.462; 5. 913-Junior Felver, 13.464; 6. 36-Seth Schneider, 13.537; 7. 9-Jimmy Colvin, 13.569; 8. 25-Jason Keckler, 13.590; 9. 1W-Paul Weaver, 13.606; 10. 7A-Alvin Roepke, 13.607; 11. 8-Bobby Clark, 13.638; 12. 29-D.J. Foos, 13.713; 13. 19R-Steve Rando, 13.728; 14. 8M-T.J Michael, 13.772; 15. 22M-Dan McCarron, 13.773; 16. 3J-Trey Jacobs, 13.818; 17. 12-Kyle Capodice, 13.896; 18. 22D-Dan Hammond, 13.921; 19. 32-Dan Hennig, 13.935; 20. 4T-Jim Taddeo, 13.966; 21. 13D-Jeremy Duposki, 13.972; 22. 2-Ricky Peterson, 13.974; 23. 7M-Brandon Moore, 14.026; 24. 11G-Luke Griffith, 14.124; 25. 39C-Scott Riley, 14.202; 26. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh, 14.445; 27. 4G-Bill Griffith, 14.544; 28. 22TM-Tyler Moore, 99.990; 29. 6-Dustin Dinan, nt

Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[1] ; 2. 8I-John Ivy[4] ; 3. 9-Jimmy Colvin[3] ; 4. 29-D.J. Foos[2] ; 5. 8M-T.J Michael[5] ; 6. 12-Kyle Capodice[6] ; 7. 4G-Bill Griffith[7] ; 8. 22TM-Tyler Moore[8]

Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 2. 5R-Jordan Ryan[3] ; 3. 6-Dustin Dinan[7] ; 4. 22M-Dan McCarron[1] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4] ; 6. 11G-Luke Griffith[6] ; 7. 32-Dan Hennig[5]

Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 3J-Trey Jacobs[2] ; 2. 8-Bobby Clark[3] ; 3. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[1] ; 4. 2-Ricky Peterson[5] ; 5. 7A-Alvin Roepke[4] ; 6. 7M-Brandon Moore[6] ; 7. 39C-Scott Riley[7]

Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 2. 1-Nate Dussel[4] ; 3. 25-Jason Keckler[2] ; 4. 913-Junior Felver[3] ; 5. 4T-Jim Taddeo[6] ; 6. 22D-Dan Hammond[5] ; 7. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[7]

B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[2] ; 2. 8M-T.J Michael[1] ; 3. 7A-Alvin Roepke[3] ; 4. 4T-Jim Taddeo[4] ; 5. 11G-Luke Griffith[6] ; 6. 12-Kyle Capodice[5] ; 7. 7M-Brandon Moore[7] ; 8. 22D-Dan Hammond[8] ; 9. 22TM-Tyler Moore[13] ; 10. 39C-Scott Riley[11] ; 11. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[12] ; 12. 32-Dan Hennig[10] ; 13. 4G-Bill Griffith[9]

A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[2]; 2. 8I-John Ivy[1]; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[6]; 4. 8-Bobby Clark[8]; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin[9]; 6. 1W-Paul Weaver[3]; 7. 7A-Alvin Roepke[19]; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[5]; 9. 29-D.J. Foos[13]; 10. 68G-Tyler Gunn[17]; 11. 8M-T.J Michael[18]; 12. 19R-Steve Rando[7]; 13. 25-Jason Keckler[12]; 14. 22M-Dan McCarron[14]; 15. 2-Ricky Peterson[15]; 16. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[11]; 17. 4T-Jim Taddeo[20]; 18. 3J-Trey Jacobs[4]; 19. 913-Junior Felver[16]; 20. 6-Dustin Dinan[10]

Hard Charger: 7A-Alvin Roepke[+12]

Fremont Fence Co. Dirt Trucks (17 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 17-Steve Endicott[3] ; 2. O1-Art Ball[2] ; 3. 3X-Brad Keckler[1] ; 4. 33-Brian Arnold[6] ; 5. 7-Dana Frey[7] ; 6. 22J-Josh Kiser[9] ; 7. 69-Jeff Warnick[4] ; 8. 45-Brian Melnek[8] ; 9. 33C-Kyle Cline[5]

Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[2] ; 2. OO-John Ivy[1] ; 3. 2-Matt Foos[3] ; 4. D1-Dustin Keegan[4] ; 5. 4S-Keith Sorg[5] ; 6. 36M-Cory McCaughey[6] ; 7. 22-Brandon Leighton[7]

A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[4]; 2. 17-Steve Endicott[3]; 3. 2-Matt Foos[12]; 4. 36M-Cory McCaughey[8]; 5. 7-Dana Frey[1]; 6. 3X-Brad Keckler[9]; 7. 69-Jeff Warnick[11]; 8. 22-Brandon Leighton[14]; 9. D1-Dustin Keegan[10]; 10. O1-Art Ball[6]; 11. 4S-Keith Sorg[5]; 12. OO-John Ivy[2]; 13. 33-Brian Arnold[7]; 14. 45-Brian Melnek[13]; 15. 33C-Kyle Cline[15]

Hard Charger: 2-Matt Foos[+9]