4-TIME CHAMPION SHAFFER IN ELITE COMPANY, YET WINLESS AT ELDORA
ROSSBURG, OH (June 18) – When Tim Shaffer captured his fourth consecutive UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car title last season, he joined some elite company to create a three-way tie for the most consecutive championship titles. Kenny Jacobs was the first to do it (1998-2001), with Chad Kemenah stepping in the next four years (2002-2005).
However, unlike Jacobs and Kemenah, Shaffer has yet to capture an All Star Sprint win on the high banks of Eldora Speedway; something he hopes to correct Saturday night (June 22) when the touring group tackles the .500-mile clay oval in leg number two of Ohio’s 31st annual Sprint Week.
Shaffer currently trails three-time All Star Sprint champion Dale Blaney by a scant margin and remains winless on the 2013 season. However, ‘the Steel City Outlaw’ from Aliquippa, PA isn’t overly concerned just yet. He was in a similar position last year at this time, before a mid-season surge helped to power him to the 2012 championship. A Saturday victory could rekindle that surge.
Blaney, meanwhile, has captured two UNOH All Star wins this season and has a reached a comfort zone of sorts at Eldora. Nicknamed ‘the Low Rider’ by means of his driving style, Blaney is the most recent All Star Sprint Car winner at the historic speed plant, and has captured at least one feature win in each of the past three years that the touring group has visited. His total of six wins places him in a four-way tie for the most All Star wins at Eldora, while Jacobs sits comfortably atop that list with his 21 triumphs.
PARITY PREVAILS OVER MODIFIED FIELD
ROSSBURG, OH (June 18) – With four different winners in as many UMP DIRTcar Modified feature events this season at Eldora Speedway, the parity of competition is at a near record level. In the 23-year history of Modified racing on Eldora’s fabled .500-mile clay oval, that level of parity in early season competition has been reached seven other times, but only once has it reached five winners in five races – that was back in 1996. A fresh 2013 face in victory lane this Saturday night (June 22) could tie that record.
Brian Post (Middle Point, OH) captured his first-ever Eldora triumph on opening night, to become the 59th driver in 236 feature chases to carry the checkered flag. His victory was followed by Jon Henry (Ada, OH), Jerry Bowersock (Wapakoneta, OH) and Brian Ruhlman (Clarklake, MI).
Joining the UMP DIRTcar Modified division in Saturday’s tripleheader program will be the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars in leg #2 of Ohio Sprint Week, and the Eldora Stock Cars.
FOCUS OF ELDORA SPEEDWAY TURNS TO WINGED SPRINT CARS FOR NEXT THREE EVENTS
ROSSBURG, OH (June 18) – Following a highly successful Dirt Late Model Dream weekend that featured some of the most intense full-bodied racing ever seen on Eldora Speedway’s .500-mile clay oval, the focus shifts to high profile winged Sprint Car events.
Saturday’s (June 22) invasion of the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars will bright with it leg #2 of the 31st annual Ohio Sprint Week. With a grueling eight-race slate over a nine-day period throughout the Buckeye state, the Ohio Sprint Week got its start in 1983 and is revered within the Sprint Car world as one of the most highly anticipated events of its kind.
With Ohio Sprint Week kicking off the previous night (June 21) at Attica Raceway Park and then moving to nearby Waynesfield Raceway Park on Sunday (June 23), Eldora Speedway is offering free camping for the travelling race fans Friday and Saturday.
A three-week layoff follows the Sprint Week attack before Eldora’s annual chase for Sprint Car royalty takes center stage over the weekend of July 12 and 13. The lucrative two-night stand kicks off Friday (July 12) with the Knight Before the Kings Royal and a full program of STP World of Outlaws Sprint Car racing. That will serve as the final tune-up for the 30th annual Kings Royal and its traditional pomp and circumstance which include a seat atop the fabled throne, the crown and the $50,000 paycheck.
The all Sprint Car weekend includes the NRA Sprint Invaders each night as well.
SATURDAY OHIO SPRINT WEEK INVASION CONTINUES ALL STAR STREAK
ROSSBURG, OH (June 18) – When the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars tackle Eldora Speedway Saturday night (June 22) it will continue an unrivaled streak on the renowned .500-mile high banked clay oval. It will mark the 132nd appearance of the travelling series at Eldora, the most of any facility along the All Star tour.
Dating back to the inaugural appearance on May 3, 1981 when Brad Doty powered to victory lane, 40 other drivers have registered Eldora victories over the 33-year period. Kenny Jacobs carries a comfortable lead in the all-time win record with his 21 checkered flags. His closest rivals on that list are Joey Saldana (11) along with Kevin Huntley and Jac Haudenschild each with 7.
Complete information for the upcoming events, along with ticket and campsite purchase opportunities, may be obtained by visiting the track’s website www.EldoraSpeedway.com, or by calling the speedway office at (937) 338-3815. Additionally, race fans and race teams can get behind-the-scenes access by following @EldoraSpeedway on Twitter, hitting ‘Like’ at Facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway and view video highlights at YouTube.com/EldoraSpeedwayInc.