Attica, OH — (April 6, 2012) -– Dale Blaney is nearly unflappable behind the wheel of a sprint car. He is patient, smooth and consistent and that paid off as he passed Craig Mintz after taking the white flag and went on to score his 86th career victory with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions to open up the 21st Annual HD Supply Spring Nationals at Attica Raceway Park Friday night.
For Blaney, a three time All Star champion, it was his second series’ win of 2012 and vaults him into the National and Ohio Region points lead. It was also his second straight win at Attica, where he now has 15 career triumphs, moving him into a tie with Todd Kane for fifth on the track’s all-time win list. Blaney has now won four of the last seven Spring National features at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue.
“When Joey got off the track trying to get through traffic, I knew we had a shot…the car just kept getting better and better. George (Fisher, owner) and Troy (Psurny) had the car great once again. We’ve been good all year,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance backed machine. “I was good on the bottom and middle. I just had to be patient and wait for traffic. When I got to Craig, I knew I was just a little better than him…it’s a shame, because he drives one of these George Fisher built cars, but we’ll take a first and second.”
Blaney was running fifth when race-long leader Joey Saldana slipped over the cushion of turns three and four while trying to negotiate his way through traffic while battling six-time Attica champion Byron Reed. Saldana slipped back to fifth while Reed now had his hands full with Mintz with Dustin Daggett and Blaney battling for third. Mintz would grab the lead on lap 21 with Blaney moving into third the next circuit, bringing Saldana into fourth. Blaney would grab second on lap 24 and quickly closed on Mintz. As they raced into lapped traffic, Saldana had regrouped and was closing in on the top sports. As Mintz took the white flag, Blaney dove under him entering turn one and slid up and front and went on to the victory.
“We’ve been so close on a few of these All Star races. Dale was just a little better than we were. But, we’ll take a second and look forward to getting after them tomorrow,” said Mintz beside his Design Graphics Group, Reel Geese Decoys, R2C Filters, Ti22 backed #09. “To race with Dale and Joey and Byron like that….that gives me a lot of confidence.”
For Saldana, he accepted the blame and seemed very determined to redeem himself.
“Last year I screwed up here and spun in the heat and we had to fight our way back all night for a top three run. I messed up in lapped traffic and I’m going to work my tail off tomorrow for my guys. My sons Spring Break was this week in Florida and they weren’t too happy to have to come here, so I have to get them a trophy this weekend,” said Saldana beside his Kasey Kahne Racing, Great Clips #9.
It was a star-studded field at Attica Friday, including several World of Outlaw teams and NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart.
Butler, Pennsylvania’s Garrett Krummert gave himself an early birthday present – he will turn 24 on April 10 – as he lead all 25 laps of the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature for his second career victory in a late model. It wasn’t easy, as he had to hold off veteran Doug Drown and Justin Chance on several restarts.
“I’ve driven sprint cars and modifieds, but when you win this becomes your favorite car to drive, especially with the guys who are here like Henry (Jon) and King (Russ) and Drown (Doug)…it’s a pretty good car count,” said Krummert beside his East End Powder Coating, Krummert Automotive, Turbo Start backed machine. “I knew Doug was in second…the scoreboard kind of kills you…you can kind of psyche yourself out. I was hoping we could get to lapped traffic…they weren’t running my groove and I was hoping if I could get some cars between me and him it would help. We were pretty good. I have to thank my Dad…without him none of this would be possible and my crew chief Ryan (Haney) he’s here working on this thing five nights a week.”
In another barn-burner for the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints, former track champion D.J. Foos dueled with Jamie Miller the last five laps, taking the lead coming down for the white flag. Foos would take his second straight victory and 12th career win, tying him for 8th on the track’s all-time win list with Clay Keim and Bryan Sebetto.
“The track was slick to the curb…I thought I was going to give it away on the last lap. I just tried and tried to get around Jamie a few times and each time he rolled back around the outside of me. I seen Paul (Weaver) and Jamie get together on the front stretch…I think Weaver had the car to beat. We just got lucky and we’ll take it,” said Foos beside his Buckshot Farms, Pit Stop Carryout, Level Performance backed machine. “To be tied with Clay and Bryan…two of my hometown heroes and me being only in my fifth year is awesome.”
Joey Saldana and Dustin Daggett would lead the field to the green for the 30-lap UNOH All Star feature. Saldana, who sits third on the series all-time win list with 70 victories, blasted into the lead with Daggett leading Reed, Brad Sweet and Mintz. The caution would soon fly for a Jody Keegan spin. On the restart, Saldana again rocketed away while Daggett battled Reed while Mintz ran comfortably in fourth with Sweet battling Cap Henry, Paul McMahan, Stevie Smith, Blaney and Kasey Kahne. The caution would fly for a Henry spin on lap six, which collected Tony Stewart. The yellow gave Saldana a clear track as he was just getting ready to catch lapped traffic.
Again on the restart Saldana would pull away slightly from the Daggett/Reed battle while Mintz continued to run fourth. Saldana would encounter traffic on lap 14 as Reed had grabbed second with Mintz moving into third at the half-way point with 11th starter Blaney closing in on Daggett for fourth. As Reed closed on Saldana, the pair raced side by side exiting turn two on lap 17 as they raced into heavy traffic. Saldana would try to drive to the outside but slipped over the cushion in turn three while Reed ducked low and grabbed the lead with Mintz moving into second and Daggett and Blaney following with Saldana falling in line in fifth.
With 10 laps to go, Mintz’ car came to life and he raced to Reed’s outside and grabbed the lead. Reed did not give up, as the pair raced side-by-side over the next four circuits. Meanwhile, Blaney had disposed of Daggett and stalked the leaders. With six laps to go, Blaney drove around Reed, but would he run out of laps to catch Mintz? Lapped traffic came into play, as Mintz had to get out of his comfort groove to find away around, allowing Blaney to quickly close.
As Mintz took the white flag, Blaney was to his inside and a lapped machine was to his outside. Blaney was able to slide in front of Mintz and went on to the win with Saldana rebounding for third followed Reed and Kahne, up from 12th starting spot.
In the 25 lap Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature, Krummert and Mike Bores would bring the field to the green with Krummert taking the lead over Bores, Doug Drown, Eric Spangler, Ryan Missler and Doug Eck. Drown would take second on lap three and kept Krummert in his sights. The caution would fly on lap four for a John Bores spin with the running order, Krummert, Drown, Mike Bores, Missler, Spangler, Eck, Justin Chance, Devin Shiels, Russ King and Jon Henry.
Krummert and Drown would race nose to tail over on the restart while Bores, Missler and Chance battled for third. The caution would fly on lap 11 for a Jeremy Canada spin which collected Kyle Perry. Now it was Krummert over Drown, Chance, Bores and Missler. The cautions kept Krummert from getting into lapped traffic. However, he couldn’t shake Drown who hounded him until John Bores spun on lap 18. With just seven laps remaining, Drown and Chance weren’t about to let Krummert drive away for the victory. The three put on a great show with Chance taking the runner-up spot on the white flag lap and closed on Krummert, but it was too little too late. Krummert would take the checkered over Chance, Drown, Spangler and Mike Bores.
Jason Keckler and Dan Hammond would pace the field to the green in the 25-lap Fremont Fence 305 Sprint main. Keckler would take the lead with fourth place starter Jamie Miller bolting into second and bringing sixth starter Jordan Ryan into third. Foos, who started seventh, would drive into fourth on the third lap just before the caution flew for a Dustin Dinan spin. On the restart, Miller would drive around Keckler into the lead while Foos grabbed third. A lap later and Foos drove around Keckler and immediately dove to the inside of Miller as they raced side-by-side for the lead. Eighth starter Paul Weaver would soon enter the picture as he took third on lap seven and second a lap later. Weaver and Miller would trade slide jobs over the next three laps before a Nate Reeser spin would stop that action, with Weaver actually leading the 11th lap before Miller drove back by.
On the restart, Miller and Weaver continued their battle with Foos, Nate Dussel and Ryan in tow. Another Reeser spin on lap 16 would briefly interrupt the tremendous race for the lead. When the green came back out, Miller and Weaver continued their war. With six laps to go, Weaver took the lead, only to see Miller execute a slide job in turns one and two. As the pair raced out of turn four on lap 20, they made contact, with Weaver spinning on the front stretch. Now on the restart, it was Foos’ turn to pressure Miller with Ryan, Caleb Griffith, Dustin Keegan and John Ivy in tow. Exiting turn four as they came to the white flag, Foos had dove under Miller and had taken the lead. He would go on to the victory over Miller, Ryan, Griffith and Keegan.
Attica Raceway Park – 4/6/2012
HD Supply Night
University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints (48 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Kear’s Speed Shop (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 54-Cap Henry[4] ; 2. 14-Tony Stewart[2] ; 3. 9-Joey Saldana[5] ; 4. 16-Chris Andrews[1] ; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[6] ; 6. 5T-Travis Philo[10] ; 7. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[3] ; 8. 3L-Mike Linder[9] ; 9. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr.[7] ; 10. 35M-Wes McGlumphy[12] ; 11. 55-Brad Bowman[8] ; 12. 2+-Brian Smith[11]
Heat 2 – All Pro Aluminum Heads (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 83-Tim Shaffer[1] ; 2. 53-Phil Gressman[3] ; 3. 89G-David Gravel[2] ; 4. 19-Stevie Smith[6] ; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[5] ; 6. OS-Glenn Styres[10] ; 7. 7K-Kyle Sauder[4] ; 8. 45L-Brian Lay[9] ; 9. 3-Pete Miller III[8] ; 10. 40-Caleb Helms[7] ; 11. 21-Andre Layfield[12] ; 12. 2MH-Dalas Hewitt[11]
Heat 3 – Dragon Race Fuel (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. D4-Danny Holtgraver[1] ; 2. 63-Chad Kemanah[3] ; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan[2] ; 4. 45-Paul McMahan[4] ; 5. 2M-Dustin Daggett[5] ; 6. 2-Dale Blaney[6] ; 7. 4-Danny Smith[10] ; 8. 9X-Brandon Martin[9] ; 9. W20-Greg Wilson[8] ; 10. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[7] ; 11. 9J-Jesse McCreary[11]
Heat 4 – Kinsler Fuel Injection (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 44W-Austin Wheatley[1] ; 2. 60K-Jody Keegan[4] ; 3. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[2] ; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[5] ; 5. O-Lee Jacobs[7] ; 6. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[3] ; 7. 70-Brad Haudenschild[9] ; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10] ; 9. 5-Kasey Kahne[6] ; 10. 7X-Jamie Collard[8] ; 11. 91-Aaron Middaugh[11]
Outerwear’s Performance Products Dash – (10 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 9-Joey Saldana[1] ; 2. 2M-Dustin Daggett[2] ; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[4] ; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[3] ; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[5] ; 6. 19-Stevie Smith[6]
C-Main (10 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the B-feature)
1. 4-Danny Smith[1] ; 2. 2+-Brian Smith[3] ; 3. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 4. 2MH-Dalas Hewitt[4] ; 5. 91-Aaron Middaugh[6] ; 6. 21-Andre Layfield[8] ; 7. 12-Jarred Ridge[-] ; 8. 9J-Jesse McCreary[5]
B-Main – MSD Ignition (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2-Dale Blaney[1] ; 2. 5-Kasey Kahne[2] ; 3. 7K-Kyle Sauder[3] ; 4. 55-Brad Bowman[9] ; 5. 3-Pete Miller III[10] ; 6. 4-Danny Smith[19] ; 7. 45L-Brian Lay[14] ; 8. 5T-Travis Philo[17] ; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5] ; 10. 7X-Jamie Collard[12] ; 11. 3L-Mike Linder[13] ; 12. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[8] ; 13. OS-Glenn Styres[18] ; 14. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[4] ; 15. 70-Brad Haudenschild[16] ; 16. W20-Greg Wilson[11] ; 17. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr.[6] ; 18. 40-Caleb Helms[7] ; 19. 9X-Brandon Martin[15] ; 20. 2+-Brian Smith[20]
UNOH A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 2-Dale Blaney[11]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[3]; 3. 9-Joey Saldana[1]; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[4]; 5. 5-Kasey Kahne[12]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet[5]; 7. 45-Paul McMahan[8]; 8. 83-Tim Shaffer[20]; 9. 63-Chad Kemanah[14]; 10. 2M-Dustin Daggett[2]; 11. 19-Stevie Smith[6]; 12. 1X-Randy Hannagan[17]; 13. D4-Danny Holtgraver[21]; 14. 16-Chris Andrews[19]; 15. 53-Phil Gressman[10]; 16. 89G-David Gravel[16]; 17. 54-Cap Henry[7]; 18. 14-Tony Stewart[15]; 19. 55-Brad Bowman[24]; 20. 7K-Kyle Sauder[13]; 21. 60K-Jody Keegan[9]; 22. 44W-Austin Wheatley[22]; 23. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[18]; 24. O-Lee Jacobs[23]
Hard Charger: 83-Tim Shaffer[+12]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (35 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 50Y-Ryan Missler[2] ; 2. O3-Doug Eck[4] ; 3. 27S-Eric Spangler[6] ; 4. 5H-Ernie Haynes[5] ; 5. M14-Brandon Thirlby[8] ; 6. 14-JR Grentry[1] ; 7. 90-Mark Glassford[9] ; 8. 5M-Ryan Markham[3] ; 9. 12-Kevin Lee[7]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15-Jon Henry[8] ; 2. 15B-Mike Bores[1] ; 3. 56-Russ King[9] ; 4. 23C-Jeremy Canada[4] ; 5. 91-Rusty Schlenk[6] ; 6. 99-Steve Sabo[2] ; 7. 8-Rob Anderzack[7] ; 8. X3-Dan Wallace[5] ; 9. 1D-Curtis Deisenroth[3]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-Garrett Krummert[4] ; 2. 48-John Bores[5] ; 3. 56G-BJ Gregory[3] ; 4. O6-Kyle Perry[7] ; 5. 27-Ken Hahn[8] ; 6. 42K-Bob Mayer[6] ; 7. 99M-John Mayes Jr.[2]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 51-Devin Shiels[1] ; 2. 1-Doug Drown[5] ; 3. O1-Justin Chance[3] ; 4. 21-Larry Kingseed[6] ; 5. 36-Matt Irey[2] ; 6. 91T-Adam Thrush[8] ; 7. 92-Cody Scott[4] ; 8. 34-Ky Harper[7]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk[2] ; 2. M14-Brandon Thirlby[1] ; 3. 34-Ky Harper[15] ; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[13] ; 5. 36-Matt Irey[4] ; 6. 99-Steve Sabo[6] ; 7. X3-Dan Wallace[14] ; 8. 91T-Adam Thrush[8] ; 9. 8-Rob Anderzack[10] ; 10. 27-Ken Hahn[3] ; 11. 14-JR Grentry[5] ; 12. 42K-Bob Mayer[7] ; 13. 90-Mark Glassford[9]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 29-Garrett Krummert[1]; 2. O1-Justin Chance[9]; 3. 1-Doug Drown[4]; 4. 27S-Eric Spangler[3]; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[2]; 6. 5M-Ryan Markham[20]; 7. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5]; 8. 51-Devin Shiels[11]; 9. 15-Jon Henry[12]; 10. 91-Rusty Schlenk[17]; 11. 21-Larry Kingseed[16]; 12. 34-Ky Harper[19]; 13. O3-Doug Eck[8]; 14. 5H-Ernie Haynes[13]; 15. M14-Brandon Thirlby[18]; 16. O6-Kyle Perry[15]; 17. 56G-BJ Gregory[7]; 18. 56-Russ King[10]; 19. 48-John Bores[6]; 20. 23C-Jeremy Canada[14]
Hard Charger: 5M-Ryan Markham[+14]
©2011 – Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH
Fremont Fence 305 Sprints (24 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 2. 5R-Jordan Ryan[3] ; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[6] ; 4. 22M-Dan McCarron[2] ; 5. 67M-Matt Ferrell[5] ; 6. 10X-Dustin Stroup[8] ; 7. 83X-Nate Reeser[4] ; 8. 39-Matt Merrill[7]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9-Jimmy Colvin[1] ; 2. 11F-D.J. Foos[7] ; 3. 4M-Jamie Miller[4] ; 4. 40-Caleb Griffith[3] ; 5. 36X-Dustin Keegan[8] ; 6. 19R-Steve Rando[5] ; 7. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 8. 23-Jim Cushing[6]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8K-Jon Ivy[6] ; 2. 22D-Dan Hammond[1] ; 3. 5-Dustin Dinan[4] ; 4. 25-Jason Keckler[5] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[7] ; 6. 94K-Kurt Huber[8] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[2] ; 8. 717-Trey Jacobs[3]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[2] ; 2. 10X-Dustin Stroup[1] ; 3. 36-Seth Schneider[5] ; 4. 83X-Nate Reeser[4] ; 5. 39-Matt Merrill[7] ; 6. 8J-Jess Stiger[6] ; 7. 717-Trey Jacobs[9] ; 8. 23-Jim Cushing[8] ; 9. 94K-Kurt Huber[3]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[7]; 2. 4M-Jamie Miller[4]; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[6]; 4. 40-Caleb Griffith[10]; 5. 36X-Dustin Keegan[14]; 6. 8K-Jon Ivy[11]; 7. 1-Nate Dussel[5]; 8. 25-Jason Keckler[1]; 9. 19R-Steve Rando[16]; 10. 39-Matt Merrill[20]; 11. 10X-Dustin Stroup[17]; 12. 22D-Dan Hammond[2]; 13. 36-Seth Schneider[18]; 14. 22M-Dan McCarron[3]; 15. 68G-Tyler Gunn[15]; 16. 1W-Paul Weaver[8]; 17. 83X-Nate Reeser[19]; 18. 9-Jimmy Colvin[12]; 19. 67M-Matt Ferrell[13]; 20. 5-Dustin Dinan[9]
Hard Charger: 39-Matt Merrill[+10]
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