By Brian Liskai
ATTICA, Ohio – Attica Raceway Park will crown its 2012 champions Saturday, Aug. 25 in all four weekly racing divisions with the Kistler Racing Products Presents the Mark Keegan Classic.
To add to the excitement, it will be a double point’s night – contenders for the championships can make up a lot of ground.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints will compete for the $3,000 top prize in the 30-lap championship feature ($250 to start). The Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models, Fremont Fence 305 Sprints and Bob’s Machine Shop Dirt Trucks will also be in competition.
Craig Mintz – who has scored three wins in 2012 – has an 82 point advantage in the 410 sprint rankings as he looks for his first ever Attica championship to add to his 2010 Fremont Speedway title and 2009 Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship. If he makes the A-main Saturday he all but locks up the title. However, 2009 Attica champion Chris Andrews, who has caught fire lately in the Burmeister Racing #16, has made the point’s race very interesting.
Phil Gressman sits third, 94 points out and hopes to gain some momentum going into Attica’s final event, the Attica Ambush Presented by the Baumann Auto Group with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions. Bryan Sebetto, who finished a very close second in Attica’s points in 2011, sits fourth with Mike Linder rounding out the top five.
Bellevue, Ohio’s Ryan Missler takes a slim 25 point lead into the final point’s race of 2012 as he looks to make it four Attica championships in a row. Missler recently broke back into the victory lane after over a year and half of being held winless.
Mike Bores has had a very consistent year and looks to claim his first track title as the championship could come down to the final lap. Justin Chance also is within striking distance of the championship, sitting just 57 points back in third with five-time street stock/limited late model champion Larry Kingseed 87 points out in third. Ky Harper, who scored his first career late model victory this season at Attica, is fifth in the points.
In the 305 sprints, 2010 champion D.J. Foos started the season very strong and has recorded 5 wins at Attica to hold a 41 point lead. However, defending track champion Nate Dussel has scored a pair of wins in 2012 and his consistent top five finishes has him just 41 points behind Foos.
Dustin Dinan sits third, 143 points out, while former track champion Jamie Miller and sophomore season driver Jordan Ryan rounds out the top five.
Andy Keegan leads the dirt truck point standings by just eight points. His two feature wins – the first of his career – has him looking for his first ever track title. But, veteran Art Ball, a three time dirt truck and two time street stock/limited late model champion has scored a win this season and his consistent top five finishes has him knocking on the door.
Dan Roepke Jr., in his sophomore season of racing, has scored two wins, including last week, and remains in striking distance of the championship, sitting third, just 21 points back. Brian Sorg also has a shot at the title as he is just 57 points behind. Former champion Brian Arnold rounds out the top five.
With double points on the line, every finishing position will be important as the drivers battle to finish in the top 10 in points to earn point fund money.
The event honors Mark Keegan, a 12-time 410 sprint champion who was part of the team that helped create Attica Raceway Park in 1988. Keegan had more wins at Attica than any other driver, with 56 career victories.
Gates will open Saturday at 4 p.m. with racing under way at 7 p.m. Go to www.atticaracewaypark.com for more information.