From Brian Liskai, image courtesy of Rick Rarer
VERNON, N.Y.-(7-13-10) Fred Rahmer and Greg Wilson put on a
classic duel, trading the lead back and forth throughout the entire 30 laps
of the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions feature at
Utica-Rome Speedway Tuesday night, July 13. And when Tim Shaffer entered
the fray with three laps to go, the crowd was on their feet. When the
checkered flew, “Fast Freddie” was able to hold on for his second All Star
victory of 2010 and his 25th career win with the series.
“The guys had the car real good. We were lucky on that last restart. Greg
sort of took a lickin’ there, but that’s part of racing,” said Rahmer
beside his C&S Lawn and Landscape, Miller Brothers Automotive Family,
Materials Handling Systems backed #51. “I’m just glad to win up here and
make the trip worthwhile. I appreciate everybody coming out. They had the
track pretty good…I’ve never run that good on this kind of slick but very
happy to win here tonight.”
On the initial start, Jack Sodeman Jr. was penalized for jumping and moved
back a row. On the second try Pete Miller looped it out on the back
stretch. The third time was the charm and two-time All Star champion Wilson
grabbed the lead, but not for long, as Rahmer would drive to his outside
for the top spot a lap later. Wilson rebounded to drive under Rahmer for
the lead on lap five as they raced into lapped traffic.
Battling traffic and each other, Rahmer and Wilson were side-by-side on lap
7, with Wilson still leading by inches. A caution for a track barrier tire
moved onto the track on lap 10 postponed the tremendous battle up front.
Rahmer got a great jump on the ensuing restart, driving around Wilson into
the lead. But, Wilson drove his Warnimont owned machine back under Rahmer
in turn four to regain the advantage.
Wilson continued to lead with Rahmer right on his rear bumper when they
again encountered lapped traffic with 13 laps remaining. A caution four
laps later for a stalled Jared Ridge as this would set up the most
important restart of the race. Wilson would slip up, allowing Rahmer to
drive into the lead. The lapped machines would allow defending All Star
champ Tim Shaffer to catch the lead duo with just four laps to go to make
it a three car battle with three circuits remaining. With a lapped machine
in front of them, all three drivers had to make a split-second decision on
which groove to make their moves. Rahmer took the outside and Wilson went
low as Shaffer followed Rahmer up top. Rahmer, Shaffer and Wilson raced
nose to tail to the checkered.
“When I slowed my paced down to run where the best part of the track was I
was getting rolled up, but I rolled around the top of them because that was
the only place I had to go and I came to try and win and got lucky,” added
Rahmer beside his CJB Motorsports owned Maxim chassis. “I have to thank
Chad and Jenn for letting me drive this car and my wife for letting me do
it and my boys and Bob for working on the car all week.”
For Shaffer, it was his fifth straight top three finish as he continues his
march to a second consecutive All Star title.
“At beginning of the night we struggled pretty hard. For awhile there was
hope for getting a top five, but Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) and the guys
did a great job. We were off a little bit, but we’ll take second,” said
Shaffer beside his VRP Shocks, Kistler Engines, Kistler Racing Products
backed #83.
“I really wanted to see the race stay green…it seemed like I could move
around pretty good, but when they got out in clean air they would drive
away. I’m happy to run second. As bad as I felt earlier in the night and
then come back and finish second is awesome,” continued Shaffer of his CH
Motorsports team.
For Wilson, who finished second at Monday night’s All Star race, it was
more proof his All Star Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning team is
turning their season around.
“We were better on the long green runs…A.J. and Floyd had the car pretty
good tonight. Fred Rahmer is a heck of a racer, I mean he’s a legend so to
get beat by him…it’s frustrating but we didn’t get beat by no slouch,” said
Wilson beside his DNC Hydraulics, Kear’s Speed shop, Don Snyder Excavating
backed #W20.
“I want to thank all the fans for coming out. This is a great place to
race. Great crowd and great people…just wish we could have finished two
spots better is all.”
For more information log onto www.allstarsprint.com
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 89G-David Gravel, 17.598; 2. W20-Greg Wilson, 17.651; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer,
18.018; 4. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr., 18.020; 5. 6-Bill Rose, 18.104; 6. 83-Tim
Shaffer, 18.189; 7. 87-George Suprick, 18.226; 8. 8-Blake Breen, 18.247; 9.
7M-Mark Smith, 18.261; 10. 32-Justin Barger, 18.319; 11. 3-Pete Miller III,
18.359; 12. 14-Jessica Zemken, 18.473; 13. O4-Cap Henry, 18.604; 14.
79-Davey Sammons, 18.728; 15. 20-Tony Stewart, 18.809; 16. 93-Doug Esh,
18.966; 17. 22Z-Mark Zemcik, 19.119; 18. 5-Vern Wasson, 19.151; 19.
214-Steve Wilson, 19.207; 20. O7-Mark Coldren, 19.538; 21. 17T-Jeff Taylor,
19.591; 22. 71C-Jack Helgit, 19.651; 23. 12-Jared Ridge, 99.000
Heat 1 – MSD Ignition (8 Laps)
1. 89G-David Gravel; 2. 93-Doug Esh; 3. 87-George Suprick; 4. 32-Justin
Barger; 5. O4-Cap Henry; 6. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.; 7. 71C-Jack Helgit; 8.
214-Steve Wilson
Heat 2 – Kear’s Speed Shop (8 Laps – Top 7 Transfer)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 79-Davey Sammons; 3. 8-Blake Breen; 4. 6-Bill Rose;
5. 22Z-Mark Zemcik; 6. O7-Mark Coldren; 7. 3-Pete Miller III; 8. 12-Jared
Ridge
Heat 3 – All Pro Heads (8 Laps)
1. 14-Jessica Zemken; 2. 20-Tony Stewart; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer; 4. 83-Tim
Shaffer; 5. 7M-Mark Smith; 6. 5-Vern Wasson; 7. 17T-Jeff Taylor
A-Main – O’Reilly Auto Parts (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 51-Fred Rahmer[2]; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer[5]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[3]; 4.
79-Davey Sammons[14]; 5. 7M-Mark Smith[9]; 6. 32-Justin Barger[10]; 7.
20-Tony Stewart[15]; 8. 6-Bill Rose[6]; 9. 14-Jessica Zemken[12]; 10.
8-Blake Breen[8]; 11. 89G-David Gravel[4]; 12. 93-Doug Esh[16]; 13.
23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.[1]; 14. 87-George Suprick[7]; 15. O4-Cap Henry[13];
16. O7-Mark Coldren[20]; 17. 5-Vern Wasson[18]; 18. 17T-Jeff Taylor[21];
19. 214-Steve Wilson[19]; 20. 22Z-Mark Zemcik[17]; 21. 12-Jared Ridge[23];
22. 71C-Jack Helgit[22]; 23. 3-Pete Miller III[11]