By Brian Liskai
CAMARGO, IL (6-27-11) – After a rainy but highly successful
29th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek, the cars and stars of the O’Reilly Auto
Parts All Star Circuit of Champions won’t get a break as they face four
nights of racing over seven days, including two stops in the “Great White
North” of Canada.
After having never finished out of the top three in each of the five Ohio
Sprint Speedweek events – including a pair of wins – two-time and defending
All Star champion Tim Shaffer has closed to within three points of
three-time All Star champion Dale Blaney for the series’ national points
lead. Shaffer, who now leads the $20,000-to-win Ohio Region points for the
All Stars by just eight markers over Blaney, will be trying to overtake
Lance Dewease and Blaney for the $20,0000-to-win Eastern Region points over
the next week.
It all begins Friday, July 1 at KC Raceway near Chillicothe, Ohio for “The
Night The Stars Come Out.” The $5,000-to-win event is part of the All
Stars’ Ohio Region points chase. Also in competition will be the O’Reilly
Auto Parts All Star Late Model Series.
Last year Blaney – who recently posted the Ohio Sprint Speedweek victory in
dominating fashion at KC on June 18 – would take the win for “The Night the
Stars Come Out” over Shaffer and Randy Hannagan.
Three days later the All Stars cross north into Quebec, Canada for a July 4
event at Autodrome Granby and then the next night visit Autodrome Drummond,
both part of the series’ Eastern Region points chase.
Last year at Autodrome Granby, Shaffer would begin a hot streak that
included 16 All Star wins by scoring his first of 2010. Shaffer passed Tony
Stewart Racing driver Jessica Zemken on a lap 14 restart and held off
several challenges from the Sprakes, N.Y. driver for the win.
This year marks the first time the All Stars will have ever visited
Autodrome Drummond. The track will also host the World of Outlaw Sprints
later in the month. The track is a fourt-tenths-mile oval. Last year’s
World of Outlaws event saw Steve Kinser take the victory.
Then it’s back to Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. for
another Eastern Region points race on Thursday, July 7. It will be the
first ever appearance of the All Stars at Mohawk, which was completely
rebuilt in 2009. The rack is located near the Canadian border. The most
recent sprint car race at Mohawk saw Steve Poirier take the Empire Super
Sprint win on June 10.
The July 9 race scheduled for West Virginia Motor Speedway has been
postponed as work continues to bring the track from a 5/8th mile to a
smaller, more competitive track.
For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com
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