By Brian Liskai
Attica, Ohio – For two sprint car drivers, Friday, July 1, 2011 is a date they will always remember as Brandon Martin and Caleb Griffith finally scored feature wins at Attica Raceway Park – Martin in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints and Griffith in the Fremont Fence & Guardrail 305 Sprints.
Martin, who grew up literally in the shadow of Attica Raceway Park, has competed at the neighboring track his entire racing career but could not get a win. Caleb Griffith won Attica’s 305 sprint track championship in 2003, but had not found victory lane either during his career.
“This has been forever coming…it’s been a brutal 11 years. I’m so thankful to be here and for all the fans who came out tonight. I’m glad to be in this 9x car (owned by Stan Cortad) because without this car I wouldn’t be racing,” said Martin beside his Burns Electric, Oak Ridge Festival backed machine. “Hats off to my crew…they got me here tonight. I wish my wife was here tonight but she’s home taking care of our daughter…I can’t wait to call her.”
“Finally…for awhile I didn’t know if this was every going to happen. I’ve given away some 410 races here a long time ago. The second year I raced a 305 race here I gave one away to Andy Shammo…I didn’t know if I’d ever get back here,” said Griffith beside his Al Davis Carpet, Ballville EZ Shop, Fremont Fence, Crown Battery, B&L Heating and Air, Erlin Trader backed #40.
The large crowd on Kear’s Speed Shop/Croghan Colonial Bank Fan Appreciation Night also got to see a couple of repeat winners.
In the Fultz Fabrications and Speed Shop UMP Late Models, Ada, Ohio’s Jon Henry pressured Justin Chance until he slipped up a tad off the bottom on lap 11 as Henry took the lead and went on to score his sixth victory of the season at Attica. It was Henry’s 7th career win at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speedplant, moving him into second on the all-time win list, three shy of Rusty Schlenk.
“It’s definitely great to be back at Attica…this crowd is awesome tonight. I really want to thank JLH General Contractors and John Horn for joining us this week as a sponsor and for the rest of the season. He jumped on board when he heard we didn’t have a sponsor,” said Henry in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.
Fostoria’s Bob Dible battled with veteran Art Ball through the first half of the 15 lap Computer Man Dirt Truck feature before pull away for his third victory of the season at Attica and his 10th career win.
“They have to call me the catfish…I’m not moving off the bottom. We’re having a great season over here…the truck just works awesome here. Art got rolling pretty good there I just didn’t leave him enough room to get to the bottom and I took it away from him,” said Dible beside his Bob’s Machine Shop, BMS Engines backed #17.
It was a Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title (FAST) Championship Series points race for the 410 sprints as well. Bryan Sebetto came into the night leading the FAST points, got involved in a crash on the opening lap, and was the recipient of some luck, as the second restart saw a caution, allowing Sebetto to rejoin the field after making repairs. Sebetto would come back to finish eighth to maintain a slip two-point lead over Byron Reed while Dean Jacobs closed to within four points.
In the 30-lap 410 sprint feature, third starting Martin was able to slip into the lead, but a multi-car pile-up involving Andrew Palker, Brad Haudenschild, Kevin Lee, Sebetto and Bruce White would bring out the red. Another caution on the second try allowed Sebetto time to make repairs and rejoin the rear of the field.
On the third attempt it was outside front row starter Brian Smith – who won the very first FAST feature at Attica two years ago – who would grab the lead over Martin, Dustin Daggett, Jacobs, Chris Andrews, Reed and Craig Mintz. Smith would maintain the lead until lap four when a Brad Bowman spin would set up a single-file restart. Martin would then make his move, driving under Smith into the lead, bringing Jacobs up to second.
The caution would fly again on lap five for a Bruce White spin with the running order Martin, Jacobs, Smith, Daggett, Reed, Phil Gressman, Mintz and Mike Linder. Martin would blast to the high side on the restart and pulled away from Jacobs while the battle for third was exciting between Smith, Daggett, Mintz, Reed, Gressman and Linder.
Martin would hit lapped traffic on the 14th circuit but Jacobs could not close as Mintz had worked his way to third with Daggett, Smith, Linder, Reed and Gressman in tow. While the top three pulled away slightly, a tremendous race was underway for fourth between Daggett, Linder, Reed, Smith and Gressman.
The final caution would fly on lap 19 for Todd Heller with the running order Martin, Jacobs, Mintz, Linder and Smith. Martin would again go right to the cushion on the restart and pull away with Jacobs comfortably in second and Mintz, Linder, Smith, Reed and Daggett giving chase. With five laps to go. Jacobs was starting to reel Martin in while Mintz, Linder and Reed now occupied the rest of the top five.
Martin was able to hold his line the remaining five laps with Jacobs, Mintz, Linder and Reed rounding out the top five.
“I was getting a little tight coming off the cushion…I was just trying to keep the car underneath me and not bounce the front end around. We just had a good car..we had problems in the heat race, the brakes fell off of it. We were able to come out alright. They put this new car together and we started third last weekend at Fremont and run 18th…a bad night. We started third tonight and I wasn’t going to go backwards…that’s for sure,” said Martin in the Engine Pro Victory lane.
In the 25 lap late model feature it was a crash fest early as three multi-car pile-ups in the first four laps slowed the pace. However, it was young Justin Chance who would grab the early lead from his pole-starting spot over Jon Henry, who was originally slated to start ninth, but, because of the crashes ended up starting sixth and grabbed the runner-up spot on the opening lap with Rick DeLong, Wayne Maffett Jr. and Brian Ruhlman giving chase.
Once the final caution flew on lap four, the race went green the remaining 21 laps with Chance being pressured by Henry as Maffett, DeLong, Casey Noonan, Ruhlman and Dusty Moore waged a terrific battle for third. On lap 11, Henry’s pressure paid off as Chance slipped up every so slightly off the bottom and Henry bolted into the lead.
Henry would encounter lapped traffic with 10 laps remaining, but he was able to pick them off and would pull away for the win. Chance, DeLong, Moore and a hard-charging Larry Kingseed would round out the top five.
“We just have the car working so good around here. I can’t believe I went from 9th to sixth on the start (because of crashes). When I was able to get that pass I knew those guys would hustle to the bottom and they would be tough to get around. I knew if I could get passed Maffett (Wayne) and DeLong (Rick) as quick as I could I would have a great opportunity to race for the lead. I chased the 01 (Chance) around and tried to make a move in the middle there and I don’t know if I maybe spooked him a little bit but he started to drive harder and he got into the corner there a little too hard and took the opportunity,” said Henry beside his www.jonhenryracing.com Share the Experience machine.
In the 25-lap 305 sprint main Griffith would take the initial lead over Dustin Dinan, Zack Kramer, Jimmy Colvin, Nate Dussel and Paige Polyak. A caution on lap five would wipe out a big lead for Griffith as Kramer would drive into second on the restart, bringing Dussel to third and Dinan back to fourth. Kramer would slip off the high side of turn two a lap later, allowing Dussel to move into second with Dinan and a charging Stuart Brubaker giving chase.
Kramer would bring out the caution on lap 9 with the running order, Griffith, Dussel, Dinan, Brubaker, Paul Weaver, Colvin and Polyak. On the restart Brubaker would drive into third as Griffith again went right back to the top. Dussel tried a slide job in turns one and two but Griffith was able to drive back under and maintain the lead.
Griffith would catch the back of the field on lap 19, but a multi-car pile-up in turns three and four a lap later would give him a clear track on the restart. Griffith would get a tremendous bite off turn four on the restart and was able to put a little distance between himself and a torrid battle between Dussel and Brubaker for second.
Brubaker would take the runner-up spot on lap 22 and started to close on Griffith. The caution would fly on lap 23 for a Dave Saxer spin and Brubaker would try the slide job on the bottom of one and two on the restart but Griffith maintained his composure and would rocket off the high side to maintain the lead. Jordan Ryan would spin on the white flag lap setting up a green and white restart and a one-lap dash to the finish. Griffith was able to hold off Brubaker for the win with Dussel, Weaver and Polyak rounding out the top five.
“I was terrible in one and two and real good in the three four end. I just had to be patient. I said a little prayer on that last restart…I think the Lord was with me,” said Griffith in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.
In the 15-lap dirt truck main, Alex Weichman would grab the early lead over Brian Sorg, Dible, Dan Hennig, Art Ball and Jeff Wank. Following a Steve Endicott spin after one lap was recorded. Dible would drive under Sorg and Weichman on the restart to take the lead with Ball making a bold move to move from fifth to third. Ball would take second a lap later and raced to Dible’s outside to challenge for the lead.
A tangle on lap five involving Hennig, Sorg and Wank would not stop the tremendous side-by-side battle between Dible and Ball for the lead while Weichman and Andy Keegan raced the same way for third. Finally, with five laps remaining Dible was able to put a little distance between himself and Ball and would take the win. Ball, Weichman, Keegan and Hennig would round out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action for Christmas in July on Friday, July 8 with Smith Family Foods/the Sutton Bank sponsoring the racing action of the 410 sprints, UMP Late Models and 305 Sprints.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 7/1/2011
KEARS SPEED SHOP/
CROGHAN COLONIAL BANK Night
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (23 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9X-Brandon Martin[2] ; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[3] ; 3. 53-Phil Gressman[5] ; 4. 2M-Dustin Daggett[7] ; 5. 17-Marty Perovich[4] ; 6. 10-Brad Haudenschild[1] ; 7. 14H-Todd Heller[6] ; 8. 91-Aaron Middaugh[8]
Heat 2 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 60-Jody Keegan[1] ; 2. 2+-Brian Smith[5] ; 3. 5T-Travis Philo[3] ; 4. 16-Bryan Sebetto[6] ; 5. 51-Brad Bowman[2] ; 6. 3J-Kevin Lee[8] ; 7. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[4] ; 8. 96AU-Bruce White[7]
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 312-Mike Linder[1] ; 2. 97-Dean Jacobs[3] ; 3. O-Chris Andrews[4] ; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[6] ; 5. 57X-Andrew Palker[7] ; 6. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton[5] ; 7. 98-Robert Robenalt[2]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 10-Brad Haudenschild[1] ; 2. 3J-Kevin Lee[2] ; 3. 14H-Todd Heller[4] ; 4. 91-Aaron Middaugh[7] ; 5. 96AU-Bruce White[8] ; 6. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton[3] ; 7. 98-Robert Robenalt[6] ; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 9X-Brandon Martin[3]; 2. 97-Dean Jacobs[4]; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[10]; 4. 312-Mike Linder[5]; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[11]; 6. 2+-Brian Smith[2]; 7. 2M-Dustin Daggett[1]; 8. 16-Bryan Sebetto[12]; 9. 53-Phil Gressman[6]; 10. 60-Jody Keegan[7]; 11. 14H-Todd Heller [19]; 12. 10-Brad Haudenschild[16]; 13. 51-Brad Bowman[14]; 14. 17-Marty Perovich[13]; 15. 91-Aaron Middaugh[19]; 16. O-Chris Andrews[8]; 17. 96AU-Bruce White[20]; 18. 5T-Travis Philo[9]; 19. 57X-Andrew Palker[15]; 20. 3J-Kevin Lee[17]
Hard Charger: O9-Craig Mintz[+7]
©2011 – Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH
Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop Late Models (30 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 27-Ken Hahn[1] ; 2. O1-Justin Chance[3] ; 3. 48B-John Bores[5] ; 4. 50Y-Ryan Missler[6] ; 5. 61-George Lee[7] ; 6. 1-Jim Flemming[2] ; 7. O6-Kyle Perry[9] ; 8. 12-Michael Stiltner Jr.[4] ; 9. 9C-Troy Cattarene[8] ; 10. 3NZ-Richie Taylor[10]
Heat 2 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5M-Ryan Markham[2] ; 2. 15H-John Henry[9] ; 3. 69-John Mayes Jr.[1] ; 4. 3-Rick DeLong[7] ; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[4] ; 6. 21-Larry Kingseed[3] ; 7. 36-Matt Irey[10] ; 8. 12M-Bobby Michaels[8] ; 9. 30-Nate Potts[5]
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1N-Casey Noonan[3] ; 2. WD40-Dusty Moore[8] ; 3. 49-Brian Ruhlman[9] ; 4. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[7] ; 5. 5H-Ernie Haynes[4] ; 6. 9X-Chester Elliot[6] ; 7. 77-Steve Kester[5] ; 8. 99-Steve Sabo[1] ; 9. 18R-Chris Ross[10] ; 10. 99M-John Mayes Sr.[2]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 21-Larry Kingseed[2] ; 2. 9X-Chester Elliot[3] ; 3. O6-Kyle Perry[4] ; 4. 77-Steve Kester[6] ; 5. 9C-Troy Cattarene[10] ; 6. 18R-Chris Ross[12] ; 7. 1-Jim Flemming[1] ; 8. 99-Steve Sabo[9] ; 9. 36-Matt Irey[5] ; 10. 12-Michael Stiltner Jr.[7] ; 11. 12M-Bobby Michaels[8] ; 12. 30-Nate Potts[11] ; 13. 3NZ-Richie Taylor[13]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 15H-John Henry[9]; 2. O1-Justin Chance[1]; 3. 3-Rick DeLong[2]; 4. WD40-Dusty Moore[10]; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[16]; 6. 49-Brian Ruhlman[4]; 7. 1N-Casey Noonan[11]; 8. 9C-Troy Cattarene[20]; 9. 15B-Mike Bores[14]; 10. 5H-Ernie Haynes[15]; 11. 27-Ken Hahn[3]; 12. 5M-Ryan Markham[8]; 13. O6-Kyle Perry[18]; 14. 48B-John Bores[12]; 15. 77-Steve Kester[19]; 16. 40-Wayne Maffett Jr.[5]; 17. 61-George Lee[13]; 18. 69-John Mayes Jr.[7]; 19. 50Y-Ryan Missler[6]; 20. 9X-Chester Elliot[17]
Hard Charger: 9C-Troy Cattarene[+12]
©2011 – Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH
Fremont Fence Sprints (25 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9-Jimmy Colvin[3] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 3. 5-Dustin Dinan[2] ; 4. 1-Nate Dussel[7] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[6] ; 6. 5R-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[8] ; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[5] ; 9. 55-Jim Cushing[9]
Heat 2 – Ultra Schield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Caleb Griffith[2] ; 2. 25-Jason Keckler[1] ; 3. 27-Paige Polyak[7] ; 4. 13-Junior Felver[4] ; 5. 19R-Steve Rando[5] ; 6. 36X-Dustin Keegan[8] ; 7. 51-Dave Saxer[6] ; 8. 4M-Jamie Miller[3]
Heat 3 – Bell Racing (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 717-Cody Jacobs[3] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[7] ; 3. 8B-Zack Kramer[5] ; 4. M28-Josh Muntz[2] ; 5. 11F-D.J. Foos[8] ; 6. 83X-Nate Reeser[4] ; 7. 72C-Ross Moore[1]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[1] ; 2. 4M-Jamie Miller[8] ; 3. 36X-Dustin Keegan[2] ; 4. 83X-Nate Reeser[3] ; 5. 51-Dave Saxer[5] ; 6. 72C-Ross Moore[6] ; 7. 36-Seth Schneider[7] ; 8. 55-Jim Cushing[9] ; 9. 8J-Jess Stiger[4]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 40-Caleb Griffith[1]; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10]; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[6]; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver[9]; 5. 27-Paige Polyak[11]; 6. 36X-Dustin Keegan[18]; 7. 5-Dustin Dinan[2]; 8. 22D-Dan Hammond[13]; 9. 19R-Steve Rando[14]; 10. 717-Cody Jacobs[12]; 11. 13-Junior Felver[8]; 12. 5R-Jordan Ryan[16]; 13. 4M-Jamie Miller[17]; 14. 83X-Nate Reeser[19]; 15. 8B-Zack Kramer[4]; 16. 51-Dave Saxer[20]; 17. 25-Jason Keckler[7]; 18. 9-Jimmy Colvin[3]; 19. 11F-D.J. Foos[15]; 20. M28-Josh Muntz[5]
Hard Charger: 36X-Dustin Keegan[+12]