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Tim Shaffer wins Round 2 of Huset's Speedway |
 BRANDON, S.D. (7-31-10) By Brian Liskai– In round two of the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions verses the tough Huset’s Speedway stars and Wild West invaders, it was current All Star Point leader Tim Shaffer who won an exciting shoot out Saturday night, July 31.
Shaffer, the defending All Star champion, raced Huset’s regular Scott Winters hard over the final 10 laps, finally taking the led with just two circuits remaining with an exciting slide job in turn three. Shaffer would drive the Aaron Call, Janet Holbrook owned #83 to his seventh All Star win of 2010.
For Shaffer, the win was more gratifying as the previous night saw his race end on the back of a wrecker after tangling with another competitor. That crash ended a streak of seven consecutive top three finishes in All Star competition for the Steel City Outlaw.
Night number two at the fast Huset’s Speedway saw All Star regular David Gravel and local Jake Peters lead the field to the green. Gravel, who finished second the previous night, would be hard on the gas and blast into the lead, setting a blistering pace. The young Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion would hit the back of the field in just four laps. The car on the move was Winters who moved into second from his fourth-starting position.
Racing through lapped traffic on the fast 3/8th of a mile track, Winters would charge into the lead on lap 7, racing to the outside of Gravel in turn four. While the top three did not change through the first 17 laps as Winters led Gravel and Peters, it was Shaffer and the previous night’s winner Tim Kaeding charging to the front from their sixth and seventh place starting spots respective. Shaffer and Kaeding put on a driving clinic as they used all of the high-banked speedway to dart in and out of lapped machines.
Shaffer would take third on lap 18 and moved into second on lap 19, bringing Kaeding into third and moving Gravel back to fourth.
The racing action would grind to a half on lap 20 as Troy Meyer hit the wall in turn one and took a nasty tumble. On the restart Winters, who has a feature win at Huset’s this season, had three lapped machines between himself and Shaffer, but when the green came back out, Shaffer quickly disposed of them in turns one and two and moved right on Winters’ rear bumper with nine laps remaining. The crowd was on their feet as Winters and Shaffer battled each other side-by-side. Shaffer made his move on lap 28, executing a perfect slide job in turn three to take the lead as they came to the white flag.
Shaffer would drive his VRP Shocks, Kistler Engines mount to the checkered over Winters, Kaeding, Gregg Bakker, who has two wins at Huset’s in 2010 and who charged from 12th starting spot, and Gravel.
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Kaeding wasn't 'California Dreamin'...he predicted Huset's All Star win |
BRANDON, S.D. (By Brian Liskai) 7-30-10 – San Jose, California’s Tim Kaeding predicted it would happen. The previous night a third place run gave him the confidence a win was just around the corner. It came Friday, July 30 at Huset’s Speedway during the first of three straight nights of racing at the fast 3/8th-mile with the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions’ Thunder Through the Plains.
Kaeding took the lead from Huset’s regular Gregg Bakker on lap #2 and then held off several challenges from young All Star regular David “The Connecticut Kid” Gravel and fellow Californian Tyler Walker to nab his second career All Star victory.
“Startin’ next to Gregg (Bakker) there and I knew he’s quick here all the time so I knew I just had to get out front. This deal was like it was here last weekend…kind of right up around the top. We took the back row challenge, stepped on it flipped over and still run fourth. I have to thank my crew guys they bust their tails all night. This one goes out to Bonz (Dean ‘Bonzi’ Bruns, crew chief). He lives up here…this is his home track,” said Kaeding beside his Dennis and Theresa Roth owned #83jr with backing from HR Cattle.
The 30-lap feature produced close racing which brought out several race stoppages. Local Gregg Bakker led the field to the green with Kaeding and Walker in tow. Kaeding blasted around the outside into the lead on lap 2, bringing fifth place starter and Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion David Gravel along into second. The caution would fly on lap 6 when All Star point leader Tim Shaffer and Johnn Cressman to tangled up. Shaffer’s CH Motorsports car was towed to the pits, which ended a great string of seven straight top three finishes for Shaffer, the defending All Star champion.
On the restart Kaeding and Gravel put on a great battle for the lead as they raced into lapped traffic on lap 10. Kaeding showed his experience in traffic while young Gravel drove like a pro to stay close. The caution would fly on lap 13 when former track champion Terry McCarl stopped on the high side of turn 3. The red was soon brought out as something happened on the machine, causing an injury to McCarl who was taken to an area hospital to be checked out.
On the restart Kaeding and Gravel resumed their fight with Gravel actually nosing ahead of Kaeding for a brief moment. Kaeding would drive back by as Walker would join the battle in his Keen Motorsports machine. On lap 16 the action would grind to a halt as Cressman got upside down. On the restart it was Kaeding, Gravel, Walker and local star Mark Dobmeier. The leaders ran nose to tail as they hit lapped traffic on lap 23. As Kaeding picked his way through the traffic, Gravel would close, but just could not get around Kaeding as he took the checkered. Gravel, Walker, Dobmeier and local driver Scott Winters would round out the top five.
“God this feels great…I can tell you that. We learned a lot racing here last week. We changed a lot of things. We basically started where we ended here last week and kind of worked from there and tightened her up all night. Bonzi knows what he’s doing. I just had to go in there and not hit the fence and not get taken out by lapped traffic. I have to thank all the fans for coming out…it’s going to be a great three days I can tell you that,” said Kaeding, possibly predicting more wins.
A second place run for Gravel continues his hot streak of late as he sits third in the All Star point standings.
“It was a handful…the track’s really fast and lapped cars were interesting,” said Gravel beside his DDR Motorsports, P&M Transportation backed #89G. “The only groove was right around the outside. I tried like hell on every restart to get by Tim. I was a little bit too nice…I should have given him a dirty slide job. I thought we were a little better on long green flag runs and we finally got passed all the lapped cars and the checkered came out. We were coming but second place is good.”
“We didn’t need to see those yellows and reds because this track was fast and it was hard to pass in open traffic. Tim did a good job and so did David. I thought we had a shot at them there until that red came out. We got by David and were right on Tim’s butt and I thought ‘alright here we go…let’s get racing.’ But then it was yellow after yellow after yellow and it just kept the field strung out. You’re going to have that…it’s racing but I love this race track. I haven’t been here in quite awhile. I forgot how fun this race track is,” said Walker beside his Peterbuilt backed #17.
“I’ve got a torn ACL so I’m kind of a little bit injured. I love what I’m doing and I’ve got great car owners, Jesse and Lorraine Keen…they take good care of me. We have the best crew out here…Jonesy, Pickle, Lee, my girlfriend…I just love my life man, I’m doing what I love,” added Walker.
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Schatz defeats Shaffer in classic western duel to open Thunder Through the Plains |
 WEST FARGO, N.D. (7-29-10) By Brian Liskai - In a classic wild west shoot out, four-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz thrilled the hometown crowd with a late race pass of defending O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star champion Tim Shaffer to claim the opening night of Thunder Through the Plains at Red River Valley Speedway.
The fans were treated to an awesome race, as first Shaffer battled NASCAR star Tony Stewart and then Schatz, the later using a lapped machine to take the lead with 7 laps to go. Stewart’s night would end as he battled Shaffer for the lead, he clipped an infield tire barrier, damaging his machine.
After Schatz took the lead, Shaffer would battle back as the two sliced and diced through traffic, nearly regained the lead with 4 laps to go. But Schatz made a daring move, splitting a lapped machine, to hold onto the lead and take his eighth career All Star Circuit of Champions victory.
“It feels awesome to win anywhere,” said Schatz, whose father Danny took over promotion of Red RiverValley over the winter. “It was an awesome race if you were running second or third. I caught Timmy out there in lapped traffic. Man we were going by cars left and right…it was a fun race. Sometimes when you’re leading them things you get caught and you don’t know where to go. And the bottom…man that thing was slick. I think being down a 100 horsepower actually helps you here tonight.”
“It was a great night. I have to thank team Armor All for letting me come do this and have fun. I have to go back tomorrow and get back with the grind. But we had a great time tonight and thank everyone for coming out,” said Schatz beside his Tony Stewart Racing #15. “Tony had a great car. He was doing a great job there but kind of nipped them tires…they’ll get you. I hit them once but didn’t knock the front end out of it.”
The race started with Bill Rose and Tim Kaeding pacing the field. It was Shaffer, “The Steel City Outlaw,” who wheeled his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook machine around both as the green flew. Setting a blistering pace the defending All Star champion and current point leader soon encountered lapped traffic which allowed fourth-place starting Stewart and Kaeding to close. A caution with just five laps in the books for a Cap Henry, Mitch Mack tangle gave Shaffer a clear track to pull away slightly.
On lap 12, another caution, wiped out Shaffer’s lead. Shaffer once again hit the back of the field quickly, and as he tried to figure out ways around the lapped machines, Stewart was closing as was ninth-starter Schatz. Stewart and Schatz traded the runner-up spot several times as they negotiated through traffic. However, Stewart’s night would come to an end with 10 laps remaining when he clipped one of the inside tire barriers, damaging the front end on his Bass Pro Shops/Chevrolet backed #14.
On the restart, Schatz was right on Shaffer’s tail. When Shaffer would go high, Schatz would dive low and when Shaffer would try the low line, Schatz would jump to the top. With seven laps remaining, Shaffer would dive low battling traffic, allowing Schatz a shot on the outside which he used to his advantage to take the lead. The pair continued to race in and out of traffic battling for the lead and with four laps to go, Shaffer attempted a move to the outside of Schatz, who drove into the corner hard, splitting a lapped machine and Shaffer to hold onto the top spot. Schatz would drive to victory lane over Shaffer, Kaeding, a hard-charging Greg Wilson (up from 21st starting spot) and Tyler Walker.
“Where ever he (Shaffer) went I wasn’t going there. If he went on the bottom I was going to the top…if he went to the top I was going to the bottom. That’s how you win races and that’s how you can lose them. You lose a lot more than you win…but not tonight,” said Schatz of his winning strategy.
“You always want to win. I didn’t move around enough…I should have found the rubber out in the middle but that’s just part of it,” said Shaffer, who has not finished out of the top three in the last seven All Star events.
“We have a lot of lights in the road (races in the plains) here we’re going to race before the nationals (Knoxville) and we want to keep everything in one piece but still race good. You have to be aggressive but smart. Tonight, coming out of here second…hopefully part of a great week for us,” added Shaffer beside his Technique Roofing, Kistler Engines backed #83.
For Kaeding, his third place finish is hopefully a sign of good things to come.
“You just have to be careful in lapped traffic. Half the time some people don’t know where they’re going and other times they do. It’s a very slick race track…a lot of guys are out here just holding on including us. So we’re happy to finish third…we rolled a decent finish out of it,” said Kaeding who hails from San Jose, Calif.
“We were a little loose there…just really couldn’t get going there too good. I have to thank my crew guys..they bust their tails every week, day in and day out on this HR Cattle car. I have to thank Dennis and Theresa Roth…they’ve given me a great opportunity to come back here and race again. Hopefully we can click off a few of these All Star races this week. Tim Shaffer is fast and hopefully we can put that #83 behind mine,” added Kaeding.
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Beware...the O'Reilly All Stars will be "Thundering Through the Plains"' |
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CARMARGO, IL (By Brian Liskai) 7-28-10 - The stars of the O'Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions will saddle up their fire-breathing, methanol-burning sprint cars and head west of the Mississippi River for the traditional "Thunder Through the Plaines, July 29 through Aug. 9, which includes nine races at six tracks. Traditionally Thunder Through the Plains not only features the talented drivers of the All Stars such as point leader Tim Shaffer, two-time champion Greg Wilson, and Bill Rose plus the young guns like 18-year-old Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion David Gravel, current rookie of the year leader 19-year-old Cap Henry and rookie Jared Ridge, but many of the stars from out west with some surprise drivers and World of Outlaw pilots showing up. Shaffer, the defending All Star champion, is on a hot streak in All Star competition lately, not finishing out of the top three in the last six events. He has recorded six All Star wins in 2010. Wilson, currently Second in the All Star point standings, has really turned his season around, not finishing out of the top five in the last two weeks of competition, including the King's Royal at Eldora Speedway. Both have competed very well during the Thunder Through the Plains during their careers. First up for the Thunder Through the Plains will be Red River Valley Speedway on Thursday, July 29. Red River Valley is located in West Fargo, North Dakota and is a half-mile high-banked track. It will be a huge kick-off to Thunder Through the Plains as two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart is expected to compete as will four-time and defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, who drives Stewart's sprint car. Stewart, who competed at the track in June in a late model, finishing third in the feature, has competed with the All Stars on several occasions in 2010, recording a couple of podium finishes. During the winter, Danny Schatz, Donny's father, took over track operations of Red River Valley. Red River Valley will also host a USMTS Modified Show the night before the All Stars come to town, with Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace in competition. For more information log onto www.redrivervalleyspeedway.com The All Stars then "thunder" into Husets Speedway located between Sioux Falls and Brandon, South Dakota, for a three consecutive nights of racing, July 30, through Aug. 1. The three-eighths mile, high-banked oval races sprint cars weekly. Expect to see local stars like Lynton Jeffery, Jody Rosenboom, Gregg Bakker, Mark Dobmeier, Scott Winters and Robby Wolfgang race wheel-to-wheel with the talented All Star drivers. Last year, Scott Winters opened up the Husets Thunder Through the Plains with his first All Star win with Gary Wright, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Tony Bruce and Tim Shaffer rounding out the top five. On the second night at Husets, with a thunderstorm striking in the background, former track champion Terry McCarl would take the checkers in an exciting battle over Tim Shaffer and Hafertepe, the later stealing second on the last corner of the last lap. Kaeding and Bakker would round out the top five. Thunder Through the Plains then moves to Butler County Motorplex in Rising City, Nebraska on Aug. 4. It marks the first time the All Stars have competed at the one-third mile, high-banked track. The All Star event is one of three scheduled at the track for what is dubbed the "Need for Speed Week." On Monday, Aug. 2, the POWERi Midgets, SLMR super late models and IMCA hobby stocks will compete. Joining the All Star sprints on Wednesday will be the IMCA modifieds and the IMCA sport compacts. Then on Friday, Aug. 6, the IMCA modifieds, sport mods, hobby stocks and compacts will be in action. For more information go to www.butlercountymotorplex.com Then the All Stars return to the Belleville High Banks on Aug. 5. The High Banks is one of the best facilities in the country with a rich history of midget racing and features the National Midget Hall of Fame. Last year the 800+ horsepower 410 sprint cars smashed track records at the Belleville, Kansas track known as "the World's Fastest Half-Mile Dirt Track. Five cars would best the track's previous qualifying record, finally set by Terry McCarl at 14.321 seconds. In the feature event, Australian Kerry Madsen, who nearly won the 2010 edition of the King's Royal at Eldora Speedway, would hold of McCarl for the All Star win. Tim Kaeding, Randy Hannagan and Don Droud would round out the top five. The second night of racing at "The High Banks" would be rained out. For more information go to www.highbanks.org. The All Stars will then travel to I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri, for what is becoming a must-see event, the Ironman 55. A co-sanctioned event with the World of Outlaw Sprint cars, it kicks off Aug. 6 with the UMP DIRTcar Extreme Sportsman Challenge Series. Racing continues Aug. 7 with the World of Outlaws and All Stars vying for $20,000 to win. The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds will also be in action. For more information go to www.i55raceway.com. Thunder Through the Plains wraps up on Aug. 9 for another exciting tradition- the Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The excitement here? The driver on the pole has the option to go to the tail on the start and should he or she win, will earn $50,000. The only driver to accomplish the feat over the past 14 years of the event was Ohio's Jac Haudenschild. The event also features the King of the Hill, one lap matches races among the top eight qualifiers through the heat races to determine who starts on the pole. Last year Hall of Famer Sammy Swindell would take the win over Joey Saldana, Craig Dollansky, Donny Schatz and Lance Dewease. The following night, Southern Iowa Speedway will host the Casey's General Stores USAC Ultimate Challenge featuring the non-wing sprints. For more information on the Front Row Challenge go to www.frc.oskychallenges.com |
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Shaffer continues hot streak with All Stars |
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FRANKLIN, PA - By Brian Liskai - (7-18-10) Tim Shaffer continued his hot streak with the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sunday night, July 18, at H&H Motorsports Tri City Speedway. Shaffer picked up his sixth All Star win of the season aboard the Aaron Call and Janet Holbrook owned machine. Shaffer, the defending All Star champion, continues to pad his point lead toward another $50,000 title. Sunday’s win also marked the sixth straight top three finish for the Aliquippa, Pa. driver. The Steel City Outlaw led all 30 laps holding off challenges from first Stevie Smith and then Dale Blaney to post his first career win at Tri City Speedway. “This place has bit me a couple of times. This is awesome to win here… I love it,” said Shaffer beside his VRP Shocks, Technique Roofing, Kistler Engines backed #83. “James did a great job picking the right gear tonight." Shaffer jumped into the early lead from his pole-starting spot with Stevie Smith giving chase. But before a lap could be completed Andy McKission and Andy Priest got together and spun. On the restart, Shaffer again blasted into the lead, but after a lap the caution would fly for a stalled Jared Ridge. Shaffer’s Kistler Engine was just too strong as he again pulled away on the restart, with Smith working to stay close. The action would slow on lap 8 for Rob Eyler’s stalled machine. Shaffer again pulled away slightly on the restart, setting a blistering pace, encountering lapped traffic at the half-way mark. Now it was three-time All Star champion and recent Brad Doty Classic winner Dale Blaney on the move. With 10 laps to go, “The Low Rider” moved around Smith and set his sights on Shaffer. But, Shaffer was just too strong on this night, picking his way through the traffic and actually pulling away. With three laps remaining, two-time All Star champion Greg Wilson took third from Smith. That is the way they would take the checkered – Shaffer, Blaney, Wilson, Smith and Lance Dewease. Shaffer, who finished 7th the previous night at the King’s Royal at Eldora Speedway, said his strong team from crew chief Brian Kemenah on down, is the advantage he has on the rest of the field. “These guys are awesome. They communicate great. We have a mixed group of guys that go on the road with us at different times and it makes it special,” added Shaffer. “We have a lot of races coming up and a lot of work to do this week, but we’ll be ready.” “We were okay…just not that great,” said Blaney beside his George Fisher owned Ti22 backed #2. “I needed a yellow and all the lapped cars to fall out to have a chance at Tim…that team is just so strong.” For Wilson, it was another great finish as the Warnimont owned team has really turned things around. The previous night at the King’s Royal, Wilson charged from 18th to finish fifth at Eldora Speedway. “It took us a little bit to get buy some guys. I think we killed our tires a little bit. But it’s another good run for this team over the past two weeks. I have to thank Floyd Green who’s been with me the whole time with the 20 car. He’s stuck it out and we brought in A.J. Havens and my cousin Jason’s been here. We’ve really turned things around the last couple of weeks,” said Wilson beside his All Star Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning, DNC Hydraulics backed W20. “We’re getting so close to winning one of these….it will come.” |
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Rahmer holds off Shaffer and Wilson for 25th All Star win at Utica-Rome |
 VERNON, N.Y. -By Brian Liskai- (7-13-10) Fred Rahmer and Greg Wilson put on a classic duel, trading the lead back and forth throughout the entire 30 laps of the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions feature at Utica-Rome Speedway Tuesday night, July 13. And when Tim Shaffer entered the fray with three laps to go, the crowd was on their feet. When the checkered flew, “Fast Freddie” was able to hold on for his second All Star victory of 2010 and his 25th career win with the series.
“The guys had the car real good. We were lucky on that last restart. Greg sort of took a lickin’ there, but that’s part of racing,” said Rahmer beside his C&S Lawn and Landscape, Miller Brothers Automotive Family, Materials Handling Systems backed #51. “I’m just glad to win up here and make the trip worthwhile. I appreciate everybody coming out. They had the track pretty good…I’ve never run that good on this kind of slick but very happy to win here tonight.”
On the initial start, Jack Sodeman Jr. was penalized for jumping and moved back a row. On the second try Pete Miller looped it out on the back stretch. The third time was the charm and two-time All Star champion Wilson grabbed the lead, but not for long, as Rahmer would drive to his outside for the top spot a lap later. Wilson rebounded to drive under Rahmer for the lead on lap five as they raced into lapped traffic.
Battling traffic and each other, Rahmer and Wilson were side-by-side on lap 7, with Wilson still leading by inches. A caution for a track barrier tire moved onto the track on lap 10 postponed the tremendous battle up front. Rahmer got a great jump on the ensuing restart, driving around Wilson into the lead. But, Wilson drove his Warnimont owned machine back under Rahmer in turn four to regain the advantage.
Wilson continued to lead with Rahmer right on his rear bumper when they again encountered lapped traffic with 13 laps remaining. A caution four laps later for a stalled Jared Ridge as this would set up the most important restart of the race. Wilson would slip up, allowing Rahmer to drive into the lead. The lapped machines would allow defending All Star champ Tim Shaffer to catch the lead duo with just four laps to go to make it a three car battle with three circuits remaining. With a lapped machine in front of them, all three drivers had to make a split-second decision on which groove to make their moves. Rahmer took the outside and Wilson went low as Shaffer followed Rahmer up top. Rahmer, Shaffer and Wilson raced nose to tail to the checkered.
“When I slowed my paced down to run where the best part of the track was I was getting rolled up, but I rolled around the top of them because that was the only place I had to go and I came to try and win and got lucky,” added Rahmer beside his CJB Motorsports owned Maxim chassis. “I have to thank Chad and Jenn for letting me drive this car and my wife for letting me do it and my boys and Bob for working on the car all week.”
For Shaffer, it was his fifth straight top three finish as he continues his march to a second consecutive All Star title.
“At beginning of the night we struggled pretty hard. For awhile there was hope for getting a top five, but Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) and the guys did a great job. We were off a little bit, but we’ll take second,” said Shaffer beside his VRP Shocks, Kistler Engines, Kistler Racing Products backed #83.
“I really wanted to see the race stay green…it seemed like I could move around pretty good, but when they got out in clean air they would drive away. I’m happy to run second. As bad as I felt earlier in the night and then come back and finish second is awesome,” continued Shaffer of his CH Motorsports team.
For Wilson, who finished second at Monday night’s All Star race, it was more proof his All Star Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning team is turning their season around.
“We were better on the long green runs…A.J. and Floyd had the car pretty good tonight. Fred Rahmer is a heck of a racer, I mean he’s a legend so to get beat by him…it’s frustrating but we didn’t get beat by no slouch,” said Wilson beside his DNC Hydraulics, Kear’s Speed shop, Don Snyder Excavating backed #W20.
“I want to thank all the fans for coming out. This is a great place to race. Great crowd and great people…just wish we could have finished two spots better is all.”
For more information log onto www.allstarsprint.com |
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Tim Shaffer picks up 5th All Star win at Can Am Motorsports Park |
LAVARGEVILLE, N.Y. – By Brian Liskai – (7-13-10) Defending O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Tim Shaffer is keeping his eye on the prize…the $50,000 champion’s check at the end of the season and is steadily building a big point lead. Shaffer drove his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook Motorsports #83 to a convincing victory Monday night at Can Am Motorsports Park, his fifth All Star win of the season.
“The Steel City Outlaw” now has a 547-point lead over two-time All Star champion Greg Wilson. Wilson, though, isn’t about to just hand the championship to Shaffer, as the Benton Ridge, Ohio driver has started to come on strong of late.
It was a long night in New York, as the racing was delayed twice due to rain showers – one after the heats were contested and another as the feature was rolling onto the 1/2 mile track. When the feature finally hit the track, Shaffer drove his J&J Chassis, Kistler Engines machine into the lead from his pole-starting position with David Gravel and Doug Esh in pursuit. The caution would fly on lap four when rookie JaredRidge slowed at the top of turn two. On the restart it was all Shaffer as he set a blistering pace, encountering lapped traffic by lap 9.
Picking his way through traffic like a brain surgeon, Shaffer, who hails from Aliquippa, Pa., did not look back. Meanwhile, Gravel was locked into a spirited battle with sixth-place starter Wilson. Wilson, aboard his All Star Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning backed #W20, drove into the runner-up spot on lap 18. Gravel, the 2010 Ohio Sprint Speedweek Champion, began to get loose, as NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, who started 10th, grabbed third on lap 21, with PA Posse member Fred Rahmer closing for fourth.
Shaffer continued to pull away and was nearly a half lap ahead of Wilson and Stewart. On the final lap, Gravel would spin in turn 3, but Shaffer had already taken his 24th career All Star checkered ahead of Wilson, Stewart, Rahmer and Jessica Zemken, who was coming off two wins over the weekend in ESS competition.
“Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) and the guys had the car so great I could move around about any where I wanted to and that helped in traffic. I could run the thing as hard as I could to get through traffic as best as I could,” said Shaffer beside his VRP Shocks, Technique Roofing backed #83. “I have to thank all the people who help on this. We have a bunch of different people who help out back home and on the road and it takes the entire team to do this.”
For Wilson, who picked up non-All Star win at Skyline Speedway on Friday, things are starting to turn around for the DNC Hydraulics, Don Snyder Excavating backed machine.
“We’ve been struggling and we’re real glad to get Veryl Warnimont car back up into the thick of things. That’s what we’ve been working hard for the last couple of years…me and Floyd. We brought A.J. Havens in and took some pressure off me. He’s doing a hell of a job on the race car…we’re getting close,” said Wilson beside his Maxim Chassis, Kistler Engines, Hampshire Engines backed #W20. “I want to thank the fans for coming out and toughing out all the weather. We really appreciate you guys having us all the way up here…we don’t get up here much and it’s pretty cool to see the turn-out.”
For Stewart, the opportunity to return to the seat of a sprint car is always special.
“I just kept going where Greg was…it’s hard to follow somebody with these cars because they’re so aero-dependent. If he went to the bottom I went to the top and if he went to the top I went to the bottom. I don’t know how far Timmy was ahead of us but I know Greg and I had a good race…it was a lot of fun. To come from 10th to third with this crowd is a pretty good run for us. I’ll be honest, I told myself if I got in the top five I was going to call it a good night,” said Stewart beside his Bass Pro Shops backed #20.
“I think this is like the 26th winged sprint car race I’ve run in my life so I’m still learning. It’s fun..these things are just so much fun to drive. They’re probably the hardest car I’ve ever had to learn how to drive. I had fun running last night with the 360 car and getting to run tonight is awesome. These two guys ahead of us aren’t slouches. they’re some of the best in the business. They both have All Star championships under their belts so there’s no shame in running third to these two,” added Stewart, who also thanked the fans for sticking around through the rain.
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Brad Sweet sweeps the field at West Virginia Motor Speedway |
 MINERAL WELLS, WV - By Brian Liskai - (7-10-10)- Brad Sweet is living his dream of driving a race car for a living thanks to Kasey Kahne. The Grass Valley, California driver is showing why Kahne picked him to drive one of his sprint cars, as he dominated the O'Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champion's race at West Virginia Motor Speedway Saturday night.
Sweet, piloting the Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Auto Value Parts Stores, Sage backed #49, drove into the lead at the drop of the green for the Governor's Cup event. He set a blistering pace on the 5/8th mile track, lapping nearly up to fifth place.
"Hats off to the guys, they gave me an awesome car tonight. I knew I had to get out front early and get the clean air. Then it was just a matter of working through the lapped traffic. The car was just so good it made it so easy. I could put it any where I wanted to go on the race track," said Sweet, who has two All Star wins in 2010.
"I tried not to overdue it in traffic and put myself in a bad position. Kasey Kahne Racing is having a lot of success this year...we have built a great team with Joey (Saldana) and Paul (McMahan) on the World of Outlaw tour and the success they've had and we've gotten some good runs as well," added Sweet.
Defending All Star champion Tim Shaffer and Vienna, W. Va. son Cale Conley tried to keep pace with Sweet, but just could not catch him even as he encountered lapped traffic by lap 3 of the 25-lap affair. With Sweet off and running in the lead and current All Star point leader Shaffer comfortably in second, early in the race the battle was for third between Conley and young Cole Duncan. With 15 laps in the books it looked like Shaffer might be catching Sweet, but once clear of some traffic, Sweet again pulled away to a half a straight away lead in a race that went non-stop.
"Brad had a great car and he did a great job. He got the jump on the start and I knew I was in trouble. He was rolling around there good and we were just a little bit too loose. Hey, it's part of racing and I'm glad we ran second. He just did a great job of getting through traffic," said Shaffer beside his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned Technique Roofing backed #83. "It was great to be back to this track...it's been awhile since I've been here. Hats off to the crew here for getting this track prepped up nice."
For Conley, his third place run in front of his home-state crowd was rewarding.
"The guys who finished in front of me are guys you would definitely want to get beat by if you had to get beat by anyone. I'm glad to be here racing in front of everybody from West Virginia...I wish I could have won tonight. My grandma's birthday is tomorrow and I know she's up in the crowd," said Conley beside his All Star Performance, Health Bridge Imaging, Conley Energy backed #3c. "I ran out of talent a little bit in lapped traffic...I just couldn't get around lapped guys like the front two guys could. I maybe needed to be a little more aggressive. I was having fun out there. This is a big race track...probably the fastest one I've ever been on."
For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com
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West Virgina Motor Speedway Rained out for 7-9 |
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Tonight's racing action has been rained out at West Virgina Motor Speedway. Racing action continues tomorrow night back at West Virgina Motor Speedway for $5000 to win! |
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Dale Blaney wins the Night The Stars Come Out at KC Racway |
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - 7/3/10- By Brian Liskai- The annual event is called “The Night the Stars Come Out” at KC Raceway, and Hartford, Ohio’s Dale Blaney proved he has “star power” as he dominated the 30-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car feature Saturday, July 3.
The win is Blaney’s fourth All Star victory in 2010 – all coming in the last month of racing. And how fitting it was for the “Low Rider” to secure his 76th career All Star win on the Fourth of July weekend!
Blaney held off several late races challenges from defending All Star champion and current point leader Tim Shaffer to secure the win aboard his Ti22 Performance Parts backed #2. The win at KC is especially meaningful to Blaney’s car owner, George Fisher, who used to call the track home during his own sprint car racing days.
The race got off to a bad start when Mark Imler suffered mechanical woes on the initial green, stopping on the track. On the restart, Dallas Hewitt took a tumble in turn three. The third time was the charm to get the A-main rolling, with outside pole-sitter Blaney getting the jump on Jimmy Stinson. As Blaney pulled away utilizing the top groove, Shaffer moved into second on the bottom. Young Cale Conley blasted his way into third from his 7th starting position while Kyle Sauder on his rear bumper.
On lap 8 Stinson got sideways in turns three and four, collecting the cars of Ohio Speedweek champion David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild. With a clear track ahead, Blaney would pull away slightly, but that lead evaporated when he hit lapped traffic on lap 17. Blaney would have to be patient with the lapped machines as they raced side-by-side ahead of him. This allowed Shaffer to close to Blaney’s rear bumper with 11 laps to go.
Meanwhile behind the front duo, things were heating up for third with Conley, Sauder, 10th starter Randy “The Hurricane” Hannagan and 12th starter Greg Wilson.
Just as it appeared the battle for the lead would heat up, the caution would fly on lap 25 when Kody Kinser suffered front end problems, coming to a rest along the inside front stretch. With clean air and a clear track ahead, Blaney would cruise to the victory over Shaffer, Hannagan, Conley and Sauder.
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 84-Jimmy Stinson, 11.755; 2. 22-Cole Duncan, 11.789; 3. 83-Tim Shaffer, 11.837; 4. 89G-David Gravel, 11.895; 5. 2-Dale Blaney, 11.905; 6. 7K-Kyle Sauder, 11.906; 7. 35-Ronnie Blair, 11.925; 8. 3C-Cale Conley, 11.935; 9. OO-Jim Neir, 11.982; 10. 4K-Kody Kinser, 11.990; 11. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 12.042; 12. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.171; 13. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.197; 14. 6X-Nick Nabor, 12.373; 15. 56R-Ryan Myers, 12.386; 16. 11M-Brandon Martin, 12.510; 17. 6-Bill Rose, 12.551; 18. 15H-Mitch Harble, 12.579; 19. 1B-Keith Baxter, 12.718; 20. 39-Alec Martin, 12.722; 21. 11N-Ed Neumeister, 12.788; 22. 60C-Kory Crabtree, 12.893; 23. 40-Mark Imler, 12.917; 24. 2H-Dallas Hewitt, 12.925; 25. 78L-Kirk Jeffries, 13.065; 26. 12-Jared Ridge, 13.173; 27. O6-Brandy Bower, 13.189; 28. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton, 13.361; 29. 9J-Jesse McCreary, 13.602; 30. 41-Randy Fink, 13.705; 31. 4X-Eddie Slone, 13.953; 32. 13-Wes McGlumphy, 14.183; 33. 3F-Rick Fraley, 14.699; 34. 5H-Jordan Harble, 15.096; 35. 28-Todd Kane, 99.000; 36. O4-Cap Henry, 99.000
Heat 1 - MSD Ignition (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 6-Bill Rose; 2. OO-Jim Neir; 3. 84-Jimmy Stinson; 4. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild; 5. 2-Dale Blaney; 6. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 7. 78L-Kirk Jeffries; 8. 9J-Jesse McCreary; 9. 3F-Rick Fraley
Heat 2 – Kear’s Speed Shop (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 4K-Kody Kinser; 2. 6X-Nick Nabor; 3. 22-Cole Duncan; 4. 7K-Kyle Sauder; 5. 60C-Kory Crabtree; 6. 12-Jared Ridge; 7. 41-Randy Fink; 8. 5H-Jordan Harble; 9. 15H-Mitch Harble
Heat 3 - All Pro Heads (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 1B-Keith Baxter; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 4. 40-Mark Imler; 5. 56R-Ryan Myers; 6. 4X-Eddie Slone; 7. 35-Ronnie Blair; 8. O6-Brandy Bower; 9. 28-Todd Kane
Heat 4 – Outerwear’s Performance Products (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 2H-Dallas Hewitt; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 11M-Brandon Martin; 4. 3C-Cale Conley; 5. 89G-David Gravel; 6. 39-Alec Martin; 7. 13-Wes McGlumphy; 8. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton; 9. O4-Cap Henry [DNS]
B-Main - UNOH (12 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 35-Ronnie Blair; 2. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 3. 39-Alec Martin; 4. 78L-Kirk Jeffries; 5. O6-Brandy Bower; 6. 9J-Jesse McCreary; 7. 4X-Eddie Slone; 8. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton; 9. 13-Wes McGlumphy; 10. 41-Randy Fink; 11. 3F-Rick Fraley; 12. 5H-Jordan Harble; 13. 12-Jared Ridge; 14. 28-Todd Kane; 15. 15H-Mitch Harble; 16. O4-Cap Henry [DNS]
A-Main – O’Reilly Auto Parts (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 2-Dale Blaney[2]; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer[3]; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan[10]; 4. 3C-Cale Conley[7]; 5. 7K-Kyle Sauder[4]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[12]; 7. OO-Jim Neir[8]; 8. 56R-Ryan Myers[15]; 9. 35-Ronnie Blair[11]; 10. 89G-David Gravel[5]; 11. 1B-Keith Baxter[18]; 12. 60C-Kory Crabtree[21]; 13. 11M-Brandon Martin[16]; 14. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 15. 6-Bill Rose[17]; 16. 39-Alec Martin[19]; 17. 40-Mark Imler[22]; 18. 4K-Kody Kinser[9]; 19. 22-Cole Duncan[6]; 20. 84-Jimmy Stinson[1]; 21. 11N-Ed Neumeister[20]; 22. 6X-Nick Nabor[14]; 23. 2H-Dallas Hewitt[23]; 24. 78L-Kirk Jeffries[24]
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O'Reilly Auto Parts is excited to be affliated with the All Star Circuit of Champions and so many other great racing associations throughout all of our market areas. All of these sanctioning bodies celebrate the racers and put O'Reilly Auto Parts deep in the grass roots of racing. These racers and fans are our customers and we are pleased to serve them in our stores. From our roots as a single store in 1957 to our current size of over 3,337 locations and still growing. Stop by on your way to the track. 
The All Stars are one of the premier sprint car sanctioning bodies in the USA. It is owned by Illinois businessman, Guy Webb and now in their 28th year of operation, the All Stars take pride in their reputation of providing highly competitive, fair, exciting racing for outlaw sprint cars with many different winners in a year. About 400 drivers participate in All Star races yearly in front of an average of 5,000 spectators per event. Currently 40+ races are scheduled in numerous states, such as Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Kansas. 
The Silver Anniversary of the Ohio Sprint Speedweek proved to be one of the most competive weeks in racing during the 2007 All Star season. Dale Blaney nearly captured the $50,000 bonus that would be given to anyone who could win four events during the seven nights of racing. However, it was the consistancy of Shane Stewart that captured the Ohio Sprint Speedweek Points Title. Follow all of the action during the 26th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek (June 22nd- 28th) here at the home of the All Stars.