Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket Begins Friday at Attica Raceway Park

2016 All Star Circuit of Champions Top Story

 

2016 All Star Circuit of Champions Top Story

By Tyler Altmeyer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 15, 2016) – The 34th edition of Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket will officially kick off on Friday night, June 17, at Attica Raceway Park, launching one of the most grueling, yet prestigious traditions in open wheel racing. The eight race campaign across Ohio will feature competition at eight different dirt ovals, all contested during a nine day period between June 17 and June 25. The first seven Ohio Sprint Speedweek programs will award $5,000, capped off with a $10,000 top prize during the speedweek finale at Eldora Speedway. As an added bonus, a $3,000 point fund will also be awarded to the top-ten finishers in Ohio Sprint Speedweek points. The overall champion will earn $1,000.

After launching on Friday evening, June 17, at Attica Raceway Park, Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket will continue with visits to Waynesfield Raceway Park (6/18), Millstream Speedway (6/19), Wayne County Speedway (6/20), Sharon Speedway (6/21), Atomic Speedway (6/22), Limaland Motorsports Park (6/24) and Eldora Speedway (6/25). Each event will feature a complete Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions program, complete with time trials, heat races, and main event.

Six-time and defending Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Dale Blaney will lead the Arctic Cat All Star charge into Ohio Sprint Speedweek as the current Arctic Cat All Star point leader. The Hartford, Ohio, native will seek an unprecedented sixth Ohio Sprint Speedweek championship in 2016,  his second in three years.

Including the 2015 speedweek opener at Attica Raceway Park, Dale Blaney scored victories during three of the seven contested Ohio Sprint Speedweek dates in 2015, the most of any competitor. Blaney would end his week second in the speedweek standings, just 26 points shy of a second consecutive title.

Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge, Ohio, now a full-time traveler with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, is the defending Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket champion. Wilson earned two victories during his 2015 campaign, one at Eldora Speedway and one at Fremont Speedway.

Wooster, Ohio, native Sheldon Haudenschild is also a defending Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket main event winner, scoring two victories on a back-to-back basis in 2015, one of which his first victory of the season. Haudenschild scored consecutive Ohio Sprint Speedweek victories at Wayne County Speedway and Sharon Speedway, ending his week third in the final speedweek title chase.

“We had a great speedweek run last year. It was the turning point of our season, for sure,” explained Sheldon Haudenschild. “The two wins put us in a great position for the week, but we had a DNF, so that ended up being our biggest set back. If it wasn’t for the DNF, I think we would have had a shot at winning the speedweek title. Our goal this year is to basically pick up right where we left off. We want to put ourselves in top-ten starting positions every night and work toward podium finishes. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, the wins will come.”

Haudenschild will enter Ohio Sprint Speedweek currently third in the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions point standings, 84 markers behind former series champion Chad Kemenah.

“Bonzai, Zach (Ames) and I really started to click about this time last year. It was the first time Bonzai and I worked together.” Haudenschild said. “We’re excited to start our second speedweek as a team.”

Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, will launch the 34th annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by Cometic Gasket on Friday evening, June 17, with pit gates opening at 4:00 pm. The mandatory drivers meeting will be held at 5:30, followed by hot laps at 6:15. Those seeking additional information should visit Attica Raceway Park live on the web at www.atticaracewaypark.com.

About Cometic Gasket:
Cometic Gasket, Inc., is a leading worldwide supplier of gaskets and engine sealing solutions for the Automotive Performance, Powersports, Original Equipment and Remanufactured Engine Industries.  Housed in a 70,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing center in Concord Township, Ohio, Cometic Gasket has maintained its deep roots in the powersports industry while expanding to service the Domestic Automotive, Sport Compact, V-twin, Marine, Diesel, Agricultural, Industrial and Stationary Power markets. Today, Cometic Gasket offers over 85,000 SKUs, shipping gaskets and engine sealing solutions across the globe.

Additional Arctic Cat All Star Series Info:
Those seeking additional information regarding the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions should visit their official online home at www.allstarsprint.com. Series updates and breaking news will be posted regularly on the official Twitter account of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions: https://twitter.com/ASCoC. Find full text results from each and every event, as well as an up-to-date schedule, online at www.allstarsprint.com/schedule/.

About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing.  Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first ‘outlaw’ Sprint Car organization of the modern era. After a 10 year stint as owner of the All Stars, Miller passed control of the series to Bert Emick in 1980; a reign that would continue through 2002. Guy Webb then purchased the series from Emick in the summer of 2002 and served as the series President for the next 12 years.  Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.

About Arctic Cat:
The Arctic Cat brand is among the most widely recognized and respected in the recreational vehicle industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles, in addition to related parts, garments and accessories under the Arctic Cat® and Motorfist® brand names. Arctic Cat Inc.’s world headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ACAT.” More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available at www.ArcticCat.com.