From Brian Liskai
Attica, OH — (August 25, 2012) — Brandon Martin dominated the 410 sprint feature at Attica Raceway Park on Kistler Racing Products Presents the Mark Keegan Classic Season Championship Night Saturday. The Attica native led all 30 laps to claim his third career feature at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speed plant.
And with his second place finish, Gibsonburg, Ohio’s Craig Mintz wrapped up his first ever track championship in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints. Mintz, who leads Fremont Speedway’s points and was that track’s 2010 champion along with earning the 2009 Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title), has scored three wins in 2012 at Attica.
In the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models, Bellevue, Ohio’s Ryan Missler would take the lead in the feature on lap 11 and never looked back as he stormed to his second win of the season. Missler also claimed his fourth straight track championship with his ninth career Attica win.
Castalia, Ohio’s Jordan Ryan, only 15 years old, passed race-long leader Steve Rando with just three laps to go, and then avoided disaster on the last lap when he struck one of the infield tractor tires, and drove to his first career sprint car win.
And when D.J. Foos, who came into the night leading the Fremont Fence 305 Sprint point standings, was caught up in an opening lap crash, Nate Dussel was able to take home a third place finish to earn his second straight track championship.
Woodville, Ohio’s Dan Roepke Jr. drove to his second straight win in the Bob’s Machine Shop Dirt Trucks. But, Andy Keegan would drive home in second to earn his first ever track championship.
Martin would jump into the lead of the 30-lap 410 sprint feature from his outside front row starting spot. Only a handful of cautions would slow Martin’s progress as he dominated in his Stan Cortad Racing #9x.
“This is good…this is real good. I about gave it away there on one of those restarts. I had my mind made up this thing was either going to go on a wrecker or on the horse track,” said Martin beside his Terry Hawk Engineering, Burns Electric backed machine. “We’ve been fast in my car and Stan’s been doing some non-wing racing. He’s got top-notch stuff but we’ve kind of struggled a little bit but we got it rolling tonight. It’s tough starting on the front row. This is the biggest win of my career and to do it with Mark Keegan (12 time track champion) here…if it wasn’t for him and his whole family I wouldn’t be racing. I was five or six years old here helping him out. It’s real special for him to be here.”
For Mintz, the track title gives him confidence going into the last race of the season against the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions.
“This means a lot. This place has always eluded me. To compete with these guys at Attica….I think we had a two year dry spell here,” said Mintz beside his Real Geese Decoys, R2C Filters, Ti22, GF1, Keller Chevrolet, Erie Shore Propane, KS Sales and Service machine. “We’re ready for the All Stars next week.”
Missler held a slim 25 point lead over Mike Bores going into the championship night, and the pair would start on the front row of the feature. Missler would lead the first lap and then Bores would drive into the lead as the pair raced side-by-side until lap 13 when the caution flew and Bores would go pit side with mechanical woes. Only a hand full of cautions in the last 11 laps would slow Missler’s march to the track championship and his ninth career win.
“That was the longest ever 25-lap race ever. My crew was giving me signals, telling me to go high and I didn’t know how far ahead I was getting. During every caution there was another guy running in second and it seemed like they were dumping it off the end trying to pass me,” said Missler beside his York Fabrication, Quality Welding, Taze DJ Service, Level Performance backed machine. “I have to thank Jerry Huff…if it weren’t for him we couldn’t do this. I want to thank all the fans for coming out all year.”
Ryan would drive the bottom of the track to perfection and slid past Steve Rando to lead lap 23 and then after taking the white flag, hit an infield tractor tire in turn one, but maintained the top spot and drove to the win.
“I was like ‘oh man, I shouldn’t have done that.’ I gave myself a heart attack,” said Ryan beside his J&J Automotive, Village Pizza House, Griff’s Engines, Kistler Racing Products, Frosty Frog, Walton’s Cutting Crew backed machine. “I have to thank my dad, and everyone that helps me out.”
Dussel came into the night figuring he had no chance at backing up his track championship. But when Foos got caught up in a multi-car crash on the second attempt at starting the race, the championship was Dussel’s to take.
“After seeing D.J. up there, coming down for the next green flag…it was hard for me to focus. That’s not how I wanted to win it…I feel sorry for D.J,” said Dussel beside his Berrier Fabrication, Gressman Powersports, Kylynn Manufacturing, Jeff’s Bar & Grill backed machine. “Congratulations to Jordan Ryan…the kid’s probably the cleanest racer out there. I like how he goes about his business.”
“I thought there was just no way we had a shot to win the championship the way D.J. started off the year (five wins). We got our old reliable back out and started running consistent again and that’s what it takes to win championships,” added Dussel.
Roepke would drive into the lead of the 15-lap dirt truck feature at the get-go and never looked back as he claimed his third career victory at Attica.
“This thing is just really good on the bottom here. The guys gave me an awesome truck,” said Roepke beside his Perkin’s Tree Service, Village Inn, Johnny’s Electric backed #88.
For Keegan, who scored two wins in 2012 at Attica, his second place run was good enough to edge Roepke and Art Ball for the track title.
“We don’t get to run a lot here, so you have to be consistent and we were always in the top three here this year. Heck, you have one DNF and there goes the championship. This is for my wife…she’s my hero. She gave birth today and is in the hospital,” said Keegan beside his G&H Restoration, Log Home Dreams backed #0.
Cole Duncan and Brandon Martin would bring the field to the green in the 30-lap 410 sprint feature, with Martin grabbing the lead over Phil Gressman, Mintz, Byron Reed and Duncan. After a lap was complete, Rob Chaney would bring out the caution. On the restart, Martin would pull away from Gressman who had his hands full with Mintz and Reed with Mike Linder, Duncan, Brian Smith and Jared Ridge in tow.
Just as Martin was about ready to hit lapped traffic, the caution flew on lap six for a Stuart Brubaker spin. Again Martin would pull away when the green came out, with Gressman and Mintz battling for second. Mintz would take the runner-up spot on lap 10 just as the caution flew for Duane Zablocki spinning in turn two.
Again with a clear track, Martin would pull away from Mintz as Gressman and Reed battled for third with Smith, Linder, Christopher Bell and Chris Andrews in tow. Reed would take third on lap 14 as the caution soon flew for Bell who spun off turn three.
The cautions kept Martin out of lapped traffic, but on the ensuing restart, Mintz tried a slide job in turns one and two to get around Martin who drove back into the lead exiting turn two. Martin would catch lapped traffic by the 22nd lap, but Mintz could not close as he had his hands full with Reed while Gressman, Linder, Andrews, Smith, Chaney and Travis Philo were in pursuit.
Martin would pull away the remaining eight laps for the win over Mintz, Reed, Gressman and Linder.
Missler and Bores would bring the field to the green in the 25 lap late model feature, but before a lap could be completed Justin Chance brought out the caution. On the second try at the start, Missler would grab the point with Bores racing to his inside with Troy Cattarene, Ky Harper, John Mayes Jr. and Cody Scott in tow.
Bores would drive into the lead on lap two as he and Missler would then race side-by-side with Harper right on their bumper. Missler would retake the lead on lap 11 with Bores racing to his inside while Harper, Garrett Krummert, Cattarene, Mayes and Scott gave pursuit.
The caution would fly on lap 13 when Chester Fitch and Jeff McCoy got together. During the yellow, Bores would go pit side with mechanical woes. A lap and another caution, this one involving McCoy and Ken Hahn. On the restart, Krummert would blast around Harper for second. But, it seemed like no one could hold onto the runner-up spot, as Krummert spun on lap 17, moving Harper back to second with Cattarene, Mayes, Larry Kingseed and Scott in tow.
The caution would fly for debris on the restart, and then after another lap was completed, the caution flew again. Then after lap 19 went in the books, Harper would bring out the caution, moving Kingseed into second. On the ensuing restart, the caution would fly again for debris, setting up a six lap dash to the finish.
Missler would pull away from Kingseed who had his hands full with Cattarene with Scott and Krummert in pursuit. Missler would drive to the checkers over Kingseed, Cattarene, Scott and Krummert.
In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, Steve Rando and Ross Moore would bring the field to the green, but before a lap could be completed, Moore would spin in turn two. On the ensuing complete restart, Junior Felver would spin in turn one, collecting Seth Schneider, D.J. Foos and Dustin Stroup, with Foos going pit side with damage.
The third time was the charm as Rando bolted into the lead with Nate Dussel, Tyler Gunn, Jess Stiger, Jordan Ryan and Jamie Miller in tow. After two laps were recorded, Stiger would spin, collecting Dan Hammond. On the restart, Dussel would drive under Rando to battle for the lead while Ryan had worked his way into third after a heated battle with Miller.
Rando would drive the outer rim of the track to maintain the lead as Dussel continued to apply pressure as Miller moved into third on lap five. Ryan would regain third on lap seven with the caution flying for a Nate Reeser spin on lap eight. On the restart, Ryan would drive under Dussel for second and immediately applied pressure to Rando.
Moore would spin on lap 12 to bring out the final caution of the event with the running order Rando, Ryan, Dussel, Miller, Dustin Dinan, Jimmy Colvin, Gunn and Paul Weaver. When the green came back out, Rando pulled away slightly from Ryan as Dussel ran comfortably in third.
As the race went on, the fans could see Ryan’s car come to life as he closed in on Rando lap after lap. With five to go, Ryan was running under Rando as they raced side-by-side for the lead with Dussel, Dinan, Weaver and Stroup in tow. As they raced into lapped traffic with just two laps to go, Ryan was able to take the lead. Ryan could not shake Rando though, and after taking the white flag, made hard contact with the infield tractor tire.
Ryan was able to gather it back up and held the lead. The youngster would drive to his first career win over Rando, Dussel, Dinan and Weaver.
Keith Sorg and Roepke would pace the field to the green in the 15-lap dirt truck feature, with Roepke taking command over Andy Keegan, Sorg, Kent Brewer, Dustin Keegan and Chuck Roelle. Brewer would take third on the second circuit when the caution flew for a John Ivy spin. After another lap was complete, the caution would fly for Brandon Stuckey.
Roepke would pull away on the restart with Keegan comfortably in second while Roelle moved into third with Brewer, Art Ball, Dustin Keegan and Willie Keegan in pursuit. Josh Kiser would spin on lap six and after another lap was completed, Kiser would again spin.
On each restart, Roepke was able to drive away from Keegan who now had his hands full with a challenge by Roelle. Roelle would take the runner-up spot on lap 11 as the final caution flew for a stalled Cory Ward. Roepke pulled away on the restart and drove to the win as Keegan rebounded to take second with Ball third and Roelle and Willie Keegan rounding out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will wrap up its 2012 season with the Attica Ambush Presented by the Baumann Auto Group on Saturday, Sept. 1 featuring the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 8/25/2012
Kistler Racing Products Night
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (29 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 12-Jarred Ridge[2] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[4] ; 3. 9X-Brandon Martin[6] ; 4. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[3] ; 5. 15H-Mitch Harble[1] ; 6. 69-Scott Curren[7] ; 7. 73-Joe Armbruster[5] ; 8. 3F-Dean Kester[8]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-Rob Chaney[1] ; 2. O-Chris Bell[2] ; 3. 5R-Byron Reed[4] ; 4. 16-Chris Andrews[7] ; 5. 14-Chad Wilson[3] ; 6. 11N-Ed Neumeister[5] ; 7. 5T-Travis Philo[6]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2+-Brian Smith[1] ; 2. 22-Cole Duncan[3] ; 3. 14H-Todd Heller[2] ; 4. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[5] ; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[6] ; 6. 60-Jody Keegan[4] ; 7. 35-Stuart Brubaker[7]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[1] ; 2. 53-Phil Gressman[3] ; 3. 3-Mike Linder[4] ; 4. 55-Brad Bowman[2] ; 5. 45L-Brian Lay[5] ; 6. 51-Roger Campbell[6] ; 7. 98-Robert Robenalt[7]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. W20-Greg Wilson[3] ; 2. 45L-Brian Lay[4] ; 3. 60-Jody Keegan[7] ; 4. 5T-Travis Philo[10] ; 5. 14-Chad Wilson[2] ; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[11] ; 7. 15H-Mitch Harble[1] ; 8. 11N-Ed Neumeister[6] ; 9. 51-Roger Campbell[8] ; 10. 73-Joe Armbruster[9] ; 11. 98-Robert Robenalt[12] ; 12. 69-Scott Curren[5] ; 13. 3F-Dean Kester[13]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 9X-Brandon Martin[2]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[4]; 3. 5R-Byron Reed[6]; 4. 53-Phil Gressman[3]; 5. 3-Mike Linder[8]; 6. 16-Chris Andrews[14]; 7. 29-Rob Chaney[9]; 8. 2+-Brian Smith[7]; 9. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[12]; 10. 5T-Travis Philo[20]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson[17]; 12. 45L-Brian Lay[18]; 13. 60-Jody Keegan[19]; 14. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[15]; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[22]; 16. 55-Brad Bowman[16]; 17. 14H-Todd Heller[11]; 18. 14-Chad Wilson[21]; 19. 22-Cole Duncan[1]; 20. 12-Jarred Ridge[5]; 21. O-Chris Bell[10]; 22. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[13]
Hard Charger: 5T-Travis Philo[+10]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (23 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 50Y-Ryan Missler[6] ; 2. 2-Justin Chance[3] ; 3. 9C-Troy Cattarene[1] ; 4. 20J-Jerry Bowersock[5] ; 5. 48-John Bores[7] ; 6. O6-Kyle Perry[4] ; 7. 99-Steve Sabo[2] ; 8. 101-Chester Fitch[8]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 34-Ky Harper[1] ; 2. O1P-Brandon Perkins[6] ; 3. 15B-Mike Bores[4] ; 4. 36-Matt Irey[3] ; 5. O3-Jim Gingery[2] ; 6. 5H-Josh Haynes[5] ; 7. 1J-Jason Stancil[7]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-Garrett Krummert[3] ; 2. 92-Cody Scott[5] ; 3. 69-John Mayes Jr.[1] ; 4. 21-Larry Kingseed[2] ; 5. 27-Ken Hahn[4] ; 6. 23J-Mike Hudson[7] ; 7. 76-Skip McKinney[8] ; 8. O2-Jeff McCoy[6]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O6-Kyle Perry[1] ; 2. 99-Steve Sabo[4] ; 3. 101-Chester Fitch[7] ; 4. O2-Jeff McCoy[8] ; 5. 76-Skip McKinney[6] ; 6. 23J-Mike Hudson[3] ; 7. 5H-Josh Haynes[2]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 50Y-Ryan Missler[1]; 2. 21-Larry Kingseed[7]; 3. 9C-Troy Cattarene[6]; 4. 92-Cody Scott[5]; 5. 29-Garrett Krummert[11]; 6. 69-John Mayes Jr.[3]; 7. 2-Justin Chance[4]; 8. 34-Ky Harper[8]; 9. O1P-Brandon Perkins[9]; 10. 99-Steve Sabo[17]; 11. 36-Matt Irey[10]; 12. 101-Chester Fitch[18]; 13. O3-Jim Gingery[14]; 14. 20J-Jerry Bowersock[12]; 15. O6-Kyle Perry[16]; 16. 27-Ken Hahn[15]; 17. O2-Jeff McCoy[19]; 18. 15B-Mike Bores[2]; 19. 76-Skip McKinney[20]; 20. 48-John Bores[13]
Hard Charger: 99-Steve Sabo[+7]
Fremont Fence 305 Sprints (26 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[6] ; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[3] ; 3. 8J-Jess Stiger[1] ; 4. 9-Jimmy Colvin[5] ; 5. 27-Paige Polyak[9] ; 6. 36-Seth Schneider[4] ; 7. 22D-Dan Hammond[8] ; 8. 94K-Kurt Huber[7] ; 9. 4T-Jim Taddeo[2]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 13-Junior Felver[1] ; 2. 5-Dustin Dinan[6] ; 3. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4] ; 4. 72C-Ross Moore[2] ; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[5] ; 6. 25-Jason Keckler[8] ; 7. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[7] ; 8. 48-Mike Burkin[3] ; 9. 15-Gary Benjamin[9]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 4M-Jamie Miller[2] ; 2. 11F-D.J. Foos[1] ; 3. MD1-Mike Dussell[4] ; 4. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7] ; 5. 83X-Nate Reeser[3] ; 6. 10X-Dustin Stroup[6] ; 7. 77S-Jim Sipe[5] ; 8. 39-Matt Merrill[8]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 10X-Dustin Stroup[3] ; 2. 25-Jason Keckler[2] ; 3. 36-Seth Schneider[1] ; 4. 39-Matt Merrill[9] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[4] ; 6. 48-Mike Burkin[8] ; 7. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[5] ; 8. 15-Gary Benjamin[11] ; 9. 94K-Kurt Huber[7]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7]; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[1]; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[3]; 4. 5-Dustin Dinan[11]; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[14]; 6. 10X-Dustin Stroup[16]; 7. 4M-Jamie Miller[10]; 8. 27-Paige Polyak[13]; 9. 9-Jimmy Colvin[6]; 10. 25-Jason Keckler[17]; 11. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4]; 12. 39-Matt Merrill[19]; 13. 13-Junior Felver[5]; 14. 83X-Nate Reeser[15]; 15. 36-Seth Schneider[18]; 16. 22D-Dan Hammond[20]; 17. MD1-Mike Dussell[9]; 18. 72C-Ross Moore[2]; 19. 8J-Jess Stiger[8]; 20. 11F-D.J. Foos[12]
Hard Charger: 10X-Dustin Stroup[+10]
Bob Machine Shop Dirt Trucks (20 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O1-Art Ball[5] ; 2. 3R-Chuck Roelle[6] ; 3. 33-Brian Arnold[2] ; 4. 8KB-Kent Brewer[7] ; 5. 99X-Gene Potridge[1] ; 6. 85S-Brandon Stuckey[4]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. D1-Dustin Keegan[1] ; 2. P51-Willie Keegan[2] ; 3. 33C-Kyle Cline[3] ; 4. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[6] ; 5. 4X-Brian Sorg[5] ; 6. 39-Dwight Waltermeier[7] ; 7. 9-Curt Inks[4]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O-Andy Keegan[3] ; 2. 94-John Ivy[4] ; 3. 95-Keith Sorg[1] ; 4. 22J-Josh Kiser[2]
A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[2]; 2. O-Andy Keegan[4]; 3. O1-Art Ball[9]; 4. 3R-Chuck Roelle[5]; 5. P51-Willie Keegan[10]; 6. 8KB-Kent Brewer[6]; 7. 94-John Ivy[12]; 8. D1-Dustin Keegan[3]; 9. 33-Brian Arnold[8]; 10. 39-Dwight Waltermeier[16]; 11. 33C-Kyle Cline[11]; 12. 4X-Brian Sorg[14]; 13. 9-Curt Inks[17]; 14. 99X-Gene Potridge[13]; 15. 18W-Cory Ward[19]; 16. 95-Keith Sorg[1]; 17. 22J-Josh Kiser[7]; 18. 85S-Brandon Stuckey[15]
Hard Charger: O1-Art Ball[+6]