Archive for Short Track
Jersey Rush VIII at New Egypt Speedway
Posted by: | Comments
Jersey Rush VIII at New Egypt Speedway
JULY 9, 2019
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443 513 4456
JERSEY RUSH VIII
THE PPB JERSEY RUSH VIII RETURNS TO NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY TUESDAY NIGHT, JULY 16, LUCAS WOLFE ADDED TO SPRINT PRE-ENTRIES
NEW EGYPT, NJ JULY 9, 2019 . . . . . . . . It’s just days away and the Pioneer Pole Buildings Jersey Rush VIII returns to the New Egypt Speedway and it all takes place on Tuesday night, July 16 with a three division program that will showcase the 410 Sprints, Modifieds and Crate Sportsman. This will mark the only visit for the 410 Sprints at New Egypt Speedway and a big $5,000 first place prize will go to the winner of the 30 lap feature event and a hefty $1,000 to finish tenth. Time trials and heat race qualifying will establish the starting field for the 30 lap 410 Sprint feature event. For the Modifieds, it will be a Big Block vs Small Bocks (all with sail panels) challenge with the winner of the 30 lap feature picking up $3,000 for the win and $1,000 to finish fifth. The Crate Sportsman will be chasing a $1,000 to win payday.
Sprint car star Lucas Wolfe will be in the mix to chase the $5,000 check and he’ll be challenged by JJ Grasso and Ryan Smith, both previous winners of the Jersey Rush. Kyle Reinhardt, Davie Franek and Joe Kata are early entries. The modified field will be impressive with Billy Pauch, Duane Howard, Jeff Strunk, and Jimmy Blewett on the roster.
On Tuesday night, July 16 the pit gates will open at 3:30 PM with the Grandstands opening at 5 PM. A special Meet & Greet will take place from 5 PM to 6:15 PM when fans may go into the pits to meet the driving legends of the 410 sprint cars. Spectators may enter the pits through the gate located behind the fourth turn grandstands area. Bring your camera or go car to car gathering autographs. At 6:15, spectators will return to the grandstand area in anticipation of warm-ups. At 7:15 PM, 410 sprint car qualifying will take place.
Rules for the 410 sprints, modifieds and crate sportsman are posted on www.JERSEYRUSHRACE.com. 410 Sprint drivers are asked to pre-enter for $50 to receive three pit passes and to be eligible for increased purse, bonus or contingency awards.
In the seven prior Jersey Rush events, 410 sprint winners include JJ Grasso in 2011, 2013 and 2017. Daryn Pitman was the winner in 2012 with Ryan Smith taking top honors in 2014 as Greg Hodnett won the event back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Past Jersey Rush Modified feature winners included Billy Pauch in 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Jimmy Horton was the 2012 winner, Duane Howard in 2015, Ryan Godown in 2016 and Billy Pauch Jr. in 2017. Mother Nature was the Jersey Rush winner in 2018.
Adult admission tickets are $30, children 6 to 11 $10 and children 5 and under will be admitted free. The Pit Fee is $35 and a license is not required.
For additional information, please call 609 888 3618 or 443 513 4456 and be sure to go to the website for all the details at www.JERSEYRUSHRACE.com
The Jersey Rush VIII is a co-promotion between Lenny, Danny and Davey Sammons and special events organizer Bob Miller. The promotional team is pleased to have Pioneer Pole Buildings back as the event sponsor.
New Egypt Speedway
720 Route 539
New Egypt, NJ 08533
Event Information: Len Sammons 609-8883613 or Bob Miller 443 513 4456
About New Egypt Speedway: This state-of-the-art facility, New Egypt Speedway features a daylight-quality lighting system, excellent sightlines-from any seat in the house. The grandstands are fully wheel-chair accessible with wide, clear and well-groomed walkways. Concession facilities serve up everything from sausage sandwiches to ice cream treats at family-style prices. On the track, the racy 7/16-mile D-shaped clay oval serves the Garden State race fans with some of the best competition in the country.
Battle of The Bullring At Accord Speedway
Posted by: | CommentsSavvy Seavey Rides the Red Dirt to Tuesday Night Thunder Win
Posted by: | Comments
The United States Auto Club.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Logan Seavey captured his second USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victory of the season in 'Tuesday Night Thunder' at Red Dirt Raceway.
(Richard Bales Photo)
SAVVY SEAVEY RIDES THE RED DIRT TO TUESDAY NIGHT THUNDER WIN
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Meeker, Oklahoma (July 9, 2019).........Logan Seavey has seemingly turned himself into Mr. Midget Week this year after capturing recent Indiana Midget Week and Illinois Midget Week titles in the month of June.
In the "Tuesday Night Thunder" Mid-America Midget Week opener at Red Dirt Raceway, the Sutter, Calif. native carried the Midget Week groove into the month of July, taking his second consecutive win in the "MAMW" series following last Summer's triumph in the finale at Sweet Springs, Mo.
In fact, he's finished inside the top-two positions in each of the last five "Mid-America Midget Week" races dating to 2018, and achieved a sense of redemption after leading 13 laps and losing the lead late in the going in last year's Red Dirt stop by the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.
After a solid third place qualifying run, Seavey found the path toward a successful night most challenging, missing the transfer in his heat race before hanging on for the final transfer spot in the semi-feature. He lined up ninth and found himself in the very same spot by the halfway mark of the 30-lap feature.
"At the beginning of the night, we were actually really good," Seavey acknowledged. "Then I kind of struggled in the heat race and I just didn't make very good moves during the first couple of laps (of the feature). After that, it seemed like everybody was racing so hard, it was really hard to gain ground."
The scramble for position was tantamount in the first half with Jason McDougal racing from his outside front row position to rip around the lip and secure the lead on the opening lap around pole sitter and point leader Tyler Courtney. All the while, Seavey was mired at latter end of the top-ten and was practically just hanging on.
"The first few laps, I was wondering what (Crew Chief) Connor (Ridge) had going on in his head," Seavey wondered. "I was just trying not to get crashed. Everybody was running so hard and I was trying to run hard. It just seemed like every move I wanted to make, there was somebody already there. It's midget racing. Everyone runs so hard and that's what makes these races so exciting."
On a lap nine restart, though, Courtney made his bid for the lead, sliding by McDougal into turn one to grab the spot. By the time the pair crossed the line to complete the lap, Holley Hollan became the second driver of the night to pole vault over the turn three wall after Karsyn Elledge's similarly terrifying looking accident during the semi-feature. Both walked away from the wreckage under their own power.
On the ensuing tenth lap restart, McDougal was back on the attack, sliding by Courtney on the bottom of turn three and led the lap by inches at the stripe. Courtney returned the favor with a slider in turn one on lap 11, moving him back in front of McDougal and in control heading to halfway.
Tanner Carrick entered the fray with a first career USAC win on his mind. Carrick entered the topside of turn one side-by-side with McDougal for second. McDougal ran out of room, and as he tried to regain his footing to get back into the fight, he and fifth-running Kevin Thomas, Jr collided in turn two, sending both flipping over. Sixth-running Tanner Thorson slid sideways to a stop to avoid the carnage while 11th place Tyler Thomas had nowhere to go, plowing into the side of Thorson and becoming the third victim to flip upside down. All were uninjured, but, of the three flippers, only T. Thomas was able to restart.
Just when you thought the madness was put to rest, race leader Courtney slowed on the back straightaway with a mechanical issue with 12 laps remaining, completely opening up the list of contenders for the win down the stretch.
Carrick was in the lead role on the lap 18 restart with Chris Windom just behind. The two fought tooth-and-nail on laps 18-19, exchanging the lead on both ends of the track with Windom leading lap 18 and Carrick on 19. Meanwhile, two-time series champ Jerry Coons, Jr. surprised both by sneaking along the bottom to take the lead at the line off turn four with 10 laps to go.
Seavey made a charge and came along with Coons to second. One lap later, Carrick and Windom remained in hot pursuit of Coons and Seavey as they entered turn three with eight laps remaining. On Windom's slider into turn three, both refused to give an inch of ground, resulting in contact and a flat left rear tire for Carrick, forcing him to slow just as Seavey made his move around the outside of Coons for the lead.
As Carrick slowed, the yellow flag flew, negating the pass for the lead, sending Seavey back to second behind Coons. Meanwhile, Carrick pitted for new left rear rubber before returning to finish 12th.
After being mired in the thick of the battle behind the leaders, Seavey's race had finally come into his own control. Once he got to where he wanted to be, he was confident he had what it took to reach victory lane.
"Jerry's so good at running the bottom, I knew if I was going to pass anybody I needed to get down," Seavey admitted. "But, once the race came to me, I was patient. Once a couple of them crashed, it cleaned up the field a little bit and I was able to make the moves I really wanted to make. I knew once I got clear of those two (Windom and Carrick) and got to the top, this thing would be really good."
Seavey put his Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian/Mobil 1 - TRD/Bullet by Spike/Speedway Toyota up top, and it only took one lap for him to clear Coons for the lead. From there on, it was smooth sailing for the defending USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget champ, where he led the final seven laps to conquer his fifth career series win, tying him with Spencer Bayston, Mike Bliss, Lonnie Caruthers, Larry Dickson, Mike Fedorcak, Burt Foland, Mack McClellan, Danny McKnight, Cliff Spalding, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kevin Thomas, Jr. and Jerry Weeks for 112th all-time.
Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier and new one-lap track record holder Zeb Wise got by Coons for second with five laps to go while Windom nipped Coons at the line at the checkered for third. Coons took a second-straight fourth-place finish at Red Dirt while Jonathan Beason raced home to a fifth-place result in his season debut with the series.
Contingency award winners Tuesday night at Red Dirt Raceway were Zeb Wise (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier), Jonathan Beason (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner & KSE Racing Products Hard Charger), Holley Hollan (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Chad Boat (AutoMeter Third Heat Winner), Tyler Thomas (Indy Race Parts Fourth Heat Winner), Shannon McQueen (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher), Andrew Layser (Saldana Racing Products First Non-Transfer) and Hank Davis (ProSource Hard Work Award).
-------------------------------------
USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 9, 2019 - Red Dirt Raceway - Meeker, Oklahoma - "Tuesday Night Thunder" - 1/4-Mile Dirt Oval
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Zeb Wise, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.207 (New Track Record); 2. Zane Hendricks, 27z, Hendricks-13.318; 3. Logan Seavey, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.330; 4. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.351; 5. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Kunz-Curb-Agajanian-13.362; 6. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-13.366; 7. Cannon McIntosh, 08, Dave Mac-13.400; 8. Tanner Thorson, 98, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.428; 9. Jason McDougal, 76m, FMR-13.431; 10. Steven Shebester, 22x, Williams-13.444; 11. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.451; 12. Karsyn Elledge, 1, Tucker/Boat-13.484; 13. Chris Windom, 17BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.496; 14. Holley Hollan, 67K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.521; 15. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-13.606; 16. Jesse Colwell, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.609; 17. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-13.626; 18. Matt Sherrell, 10, Hunt-13.642; 19. Robert Dalby, 4D, Dalby-13.670; 20. Ethan Mitchell, 19m, Bundy Built-13.671; 21. Jonathan Beason, 8J, Hard Eight-13.674; 22. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-13.700; 23. Sam Johnson, 72, Johnson-13.720; 24. Tyler Thomas, 91T, Thomas-13.721; 25. Andrew Layser, 47BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.730; 26. Brady Bacon, 85, Central-13.754; 27. Andrew Deal, 15D, Deal-13.809; 28. Andrew Felker, 44, Shields-13.830; 29. Grady Chandler, 19s, Mounce-13.866; 30. Hank Davis, 42, Franklin-13.914; 31. Frank Flud, 25s, Springer-13.996; 32. Tyler Seavey, 117, Washburn-14.064; 33. Emilio Hoover, 9H, Hoover-14.555; 34. Curtis Jones, 77s, Simmons-14.709; 35. Curtis Spicer, 4, Spicer-14.815; 36. Shaun Shapel, 84s, Shapel-15.291.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Jonathan Beason, 2. Chris Windom, 3. Jerry Coons, Jr., 4. Jason McDougal, 5. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 6. Zeb Wise, 7. Grady Chandler, 8. Andrew Layser, 9. Emilio Hoover. 1:50.17 (New Track Record)
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Holley Hollan, 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 3. Shannon McQueen, 4. Matt Sherrell, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Steven Shebester, 7. Hank Davis, 8. Zane Hendricks, 9. Curtis Jones. NT
AUTOMETER THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Chad Boat, 2. Tyler Courtney, 3. Cannon McIntosh, 4. Robert Dalby, 5. Logan Seavey, 6. Andrew Deal, 7. Frank Flud, 8. Sam Johnson, 9. Curtis Spicer. 1:50.72
INDY RACE PARTS FOURTH HEAT: (8 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Tyler Thomas, 2. Tanner Thorson, 3. Jesse Colwell, 4. Tanner Carrick, 5. Andrew Felker, 6. Ethan Mitchell, 7. Tyler Seavey, 8. Karsyn Elledge, 9. Shaun Shapel. NT
SEMI: (12 laps, top-6 transfer to the feature) 1. Zeb Wise, 2. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 3. Zane Hendricks, 4. Andrew Deal, 5. Hank Davis, 6. Logan Seavey, 7. Andrew Layser, 8. Steven Shebester, 9. Brady Bacon, 10. Andrew Felker, 11. Frank Flud, 12. Sam Johnson, 13. Emilio Hoover, 14. Shaun Shapel, 15. Ethan Mitchell, 16. Curtis Spicer, 17. Karsyn Elledge, 18. Grady Chandler, 19. Tyler Seavey. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Logan Seavey (9), 2. Zeb Wise (7), 3. Chris Windom (11), 4. Jerry Coons, Jr. (15), 5. Jonathan Beason (17), 6. Matt Sherrell (16), 7. Chad Boat (13), 8. Tanner Thorson (3), 9. Tucker Klaasmeyer (10), 10. Tyler Thomas (19), 11. Jesse Colwell (14), 12. Tanner Carrick (6), 13. Shannon McQueen (18), 14. Hank Davis (22), 15. Robert Dalby (21), 16. Tyler Courtney (1), 17. Jason McDougal (2), 18. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (5), 19. Andrew Deal (20), 20. Holley Hollan (12), 21. Cannon McIntosh (4), 22. Zane Hendricks (8). NT
----------------------------
**Karsyn Elledge flipped over the turn three wall during the semi. Holley Hollan flipped over the turn three wall on lap 9 of the feature. Jason McDougal, Kevin Thomas, Jr. and Tyler Thomas flipped on lap 16 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-8 Jason McDougal, Lap 9 Tyler Courtney, Lap 10 Jason McDougal, Laps 11-17 Tyler Courtney, Lap 18 Chris Windom, Lap 19 Tanner Carrick, Laps 20-23 Jerry Coons, Jr., Laps 24-30 Logan Seavey.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Jonathan Beason (17th to 5th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Shannon McQueen
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS FIRST NON-TRANSFER: Andrew Layser
PROSOURCE HARD WORK AWARD: Hank Davis
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Tyler Courtney-887, 2-Logan Seavey-808, 3-Chris Windom-803, 4-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-766, 5-Zeb Wise-741, 6-Chad Boat-697, 7-Tanner Carrick-621, 8-Jerry Coons, Jr.-620, 9-Tucker Klaasmeyer-618, 10-Jesse Colwell-570.
PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Jonathan Beason-12, 2-Jerry Coons, Jr.-11, 3-Matt Sherrell-10, 4-Tyler Thomas-9, 5-Logan Seavey-8, 6-Chris Windom-8, 7-Hank Davis-8, 8-Chad Boat-6, 9-Robert Dalby-6, 10-Zeb Wise-5.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: July 10, 2019 - Concordia High Banks - Concordia, Kansas - "Mid-America Midget Week" / 10th "Chad McDaniel Memorial" - ¼-Mile Dirt Oval
SEAVEY PICKS UP PEPSI NATIONALS TRIUMPH AT ANGELL PARK
Posted by: | Comments
POWRi Racing
SEAVEY PICKS UP PEPSI NATIONALS TRIUMPH AT ANGELL PARK
SUN PRAIRIE, WISC. (July 7, 2019) - Adding "Pepsi Nationals Champion" to his resume, Logan Seavey of Sutter, Calif. won the 38th running of the iconic event on Sunday night at Wisconsin's famed Angell Park Speedway. Advancing from fifth-to-first by lap 14, the Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 67 gasser fended off a final lap haymaker from Cannon McIntosh to secure his seventh POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League victory of 2019.
Bringing the 22-car field to the green flag, McIntosh of Bixby, Okla. in the Dave Mac Motorsports, Drive WFX, Spike/Toyota No. 08 paced the front row alongside Tucker Klaasmeyer of Paola, Kans. aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports, Link-Belt Excavators, Bullet/Toyota No. 27. Assuming early command, Klaasmeyer bolted to the lead and brought McIntosh along with Zach Daum of Pocahontas, Ill. in tow.
As the battle for the lead heated up with ten laps down, attention turned to the front pack as Klaasmeyer, Daum and Seavey started a duel for the top spot. Nearly going three-wide on the ever-changing 1/3rd-mile surface, Seavey forged ahead on the 14th circuit and began to sneak away while McIntosh regained his composure and maneuvered by Daum and Klaasmeyer into second.
"When they work it like that the bottom normally slicks off and gets hard to run like it did there," noted Seavey. "I got on top too early and Tracy slipped by me, then I started wondering if it was ever going to clean off. I kept working it and working it after those restarts, my car was great on the long run once we got some heat in the tires."
Tracking Seavey down in the closing stages, McIntosh approached the No. 67 and was ready to attack for a shot at his first-career POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League victory with two laps to go. Showing his nose around the bottom of turns one and two, McIntosh lost some ground, but recovered quickly to set up one final run on the final lap.
Flying to the bottom of turn three on the last circuit, McIntosh was set to force a decision upon Seavey, but a last-minute diversion to avoid an infield tire sent the No. 08 up the race track and gave Seavey clean room to find the checkered flag.
"That was a really fun race track, I always love coming to this place and seeing the atmosphere the fans create," said Seavey in victory lane. "Connor [Ridge] kept telling me all day how much he really wanted to win this one, and I really wanted it too. I led a bunch of laps here last year and lost it on the last lap, so it's nice to come back and redeem ourselves.
For the Sutter, Calif. driver of the Keith Kunz Motorsports, Mobil 1, Bullet/Toyota No. 67, Sunday's victory in the 38th annual Pepsi Nationals marked Seavey's first-ever victory at Angell Park Speedway, the seventh of his stellar 2019 POWRi campaign, and the 15th of his Lucas Oil National Midget League career.
Following Seavey to the stripe was Cannon McIntosh with a close second-place finish, a young man who continues to be oh, so close to breaking through for his first-career victory. Early leader Tucker Klaasmeyer slipped back to round out the podium, while Tanner Carrick and Chase Jones closed out the top five.
Cannon McIntosh (Auto Meter Heat 1), Holley Hollan (KSE Racing Products Heat 2) and Zach Daum (Advanced Racing Suspensions Heat 3) topped heat race action on Sunday night at Angell Park Speedway.
Up next for the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League is a trio of races in the "Show-Me State" next weekend. The tripleheader begins with back-to-back nights at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. on Friday and Saturday, July 12-13 with a Sunday, July 14 appearance at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in Sweet Springs, Mo.
For more information on the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League, you can visit www.powri.com online, like @POWRi_Racing on Twitter and Instagram, or like POWRi on Facebook.
Auto Meter Heat One (8 Laps):
1. 08-Cannon McIntosh, Bixby, OK (4); 2. 71K-Tanner Carrick, Lincoln, CA (2); 3. 98-Tanner Thorson, Minden, NV (3); 4. 21KS-Tracy Hines, Wilkinson, IN (6); 5. 57-Chase Jones, Greenwood, IN (8); 6. 9-Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK (7); 7. 31-David Budres, Janesville, WI (1); 8. 11-Tyler Baran, Joliet, IL (5).
KSE Racing Products Heat Two (8 Laps):
1. 67K-Holley Hollan, Broken Arrow, OK (1); 2. 28-Ace McCarthy, Tahlequah, OK (2); 3. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer, Paola, KS (6); 4. 3B-Shelby Bosie, Sherman, IL (4); 5. 3-Davey Ray, Davenport, IA (5); 6. 3W-Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI (7); 7. 82-Mike Hess, Riverton, IL (3).
Advanced Racing Suspensions Heat Three (8 Laps):
1. 5D-Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL (1); 2. 67-Logan Seavey, Sutter, CA (3); 3. 7X-Thomas Meseraull (2); 4. 71-Jesse Colwell, Red Bluff, CA (7); 5. 3N-Jake Neuman, New Berlin, IL (6); 6. 97K-Jesse Love, Redwood City, CA (5); 7. 20-Cody Weisensel (4).
Lucas Oil Products Main Event (30 Laps):
1. 67-Logan Seavey (5); 2. 08-Cannon McIntosh (1); 3. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer (2); 4. 71K-Tanner Carrick (7); 5. 57-Chase Jones (14); 6. 5D-Zach Daum (4); 7. 71-Jesse Colwell (6); 8. 98-Tanner Thorson (10); 9. 3-Davey Ray (15); 10. 9-Daison Pursley (16); 11. 28-Ace McCarthy (8); 12. 97K-Jesse Love (18); 13. 3N-Jake Neuman (13); 14. 67K-Holley Hollan (3); 15. 31-David Budres (21); 16. 21KS-Tracy Hines (9); 17. 3W-Brandon Waelti (17); 18. 11-Tyler Baran (22); 19. 82-Mike Hess (20); 20. 7X-Thomas Meseraull (11); 21. 3B-Shelby Bosie (12); 22. 20-Cody Weisensel (19).
Lap Leader(s): Klaasmeyer 1-13, Seavey 14-30.
Hard Charger(s): Jones +9.
NEW POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League Points:
1. 67-Logan Seavey (3,010); 2. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer (-480); 3. 5D-Zach Daum (-610); 4. 71-Jesse Colwell (-640); 5. 3N-Jake Neuman (-770); 6. 71K-Tanner Carrick (-860); 7. 08-Cannon McIntosh (-990); 8. 28-Ace McCarthy (-1,030); 9. 67K-Holley Hollan (-1,120); 10. 9-Daison Pursley (1,220).
Bacon the 20 Grand Man at Corn Belt Nationals
Posted by: | Comments- The United States Auto Club.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Brady Bacon took home $20,000 for his win in Saturday night's Brandt Professional Agriculture 'Corn Belt Nationals' at Knoxville Raceway.
(Ryan Sellers Photo)
BACON THE 20 GRAND MAN AT CORN BELT NATIONALS
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Knoxville, Iowa (July 6, 2019).........As it turned out, Brady Bacon's show of strength in Friday's opener was just the warm-up act for what was in store during Saturday night's inaugural Brandt Professional Agriculture "Corn Belt Nationals" finale at Knoxville Raceway.
The two-time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champion from Broken Arrow, Okla. backed up his Friday night victory at Knoxville with a masterfully dominating win Saturday night, leading all 30 laps en route to an 8.286 sec. triumph worth $20,000 that was never in doubt from start to finish, although at the end, he had to escape a maze of lapped traffic.
But, as it turned out, Bacon was in a race of his own, and the only competitive race for position was long behind, nearly a half-lap behind him. Bacon was A-Okay with that.
"I was like, 'Doug, Doug, throw the white, let's go. I'm done with this," Bacon said referring to flagman Doug Clark. "I was having some trouble with those lapped cars, and the cushion was getting really treacherous. Lapped cars were biking in front of me and I was like, 'man I don't want someone else to collect me up in this.' Obviously, you don't know how good you are. The competition in USAC is so tough right now, I assumed someone was breathing down my neck."
Bacon started from the outside of the front row alongside "Corn Belt" high-point man Justin Grant. Bacon took charge instantly, sweeping across Grant's nose to take the bottom line into turn one before sliding up to the cushion to secure the spot with USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car point leader C.J. Leary in tow.
Leary took his shot at Bacon with a slider in turn one on the third lap, but Bacon was unrattled and swept around the outside of Leary to regain control and blast away for a 10-car-length lead. With five laps in the books, Bacon was up by a half-straightaway and, by lap 10, the lead was a full-straight (4.5 seconds) over Leary with lapped traffic looming.
Initially, the traffic situation was tepid as Bacon ripped above and between the tail end of the field. Yet, seemingly defying the norm, the deeper into traffic Bacon got, the more he built his lead, to more than seven seconds with 10 laps remaining. Leary and 2018 Knoxville USAC winner Tyler Courtney's pursuit of Bacon was like the bystander chasing the proverbial dollar bill on a fishing line, with the lead seemingly out of reach, as those two waged their own war down the stretch.
Yet, unlike stick and ball sports, a blowout lead can literally vanish in the blink of an eye in sprint car racing. With five laps remaining, Bacon entered turn one behind the lapped car of Nick Bilbee. Bilbee biked it on the cushion about six or seven car lengths in front of the leader. Bacon was seemingly unfazed, but it certainly caught his attention as he counted down the dwindling laps.
"I was like, 'Doug, Doug, throw the white, let's go. I'm done with this," Bacon said referring to flagman Doug Clark. "I was having some trouble with those lapped cars, and the cushion was getting really treacherous. Lapped cars were biking in front of me and I was like, 'man I don't want someone else to collect me up in this.' Obviously, you don't know how good you are. The competition in USAC is so tough right now, I assumed someone was breathing down my neck."
However, that wasn't the case at all. Bacon had the field scattered, smothered and covered. Only a caution seemed to be the thing that could put the result in doubt. Behind him, though, Leary and Courtney had their own score to settle with the difference between second and third worth $6,000. Courtney got by Leary on lap 23 in traffic. Leary stayed in the hunt and pounced when Courtney stumbled on the cushion, going underneath Courtney for the position in turn four two laps from the finish.
Brady Bacon's $20,000 Knoxville win Saturday came just ten months after winning the richest USAC Midget race of 2018, a $15,000 victory in the BC39.
(Lee Greenawalt Photo)
Up front, Bacon was harvesting the field to the tune of more than eight seconds, closing out the biggest payday of his USAC Sprint Car career just less than a year after capturing the biggest prize in all of Midget racing in 2018, the $15,000-to-win BC39 at The Dirt Track at IMS.
Trailing Bacon at the finish line were Leary, Courtney, Kevin Thomas, Jr. and Chris Windom.
Bacon's recent surge on the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship trail began with a top-flight performance in the Eastern Storm opener at Pennsylvania's Grandview Speedway, which paid the previous season-high series' winner share of $10,000, beginning a string of three wins in the past five races that culminated in Saturday's $20,000 victory.
"We've been working hard, unfortunately we haven't gotten to race a lot," Bacon said, referring to the plague of rain throughout the season. "We picked up some momentum in Eastern Storm and we carried it into here. Anytime you can run well here is awesome. Obviously, the big check makes it a lot better."
Bacon became the first driver to reach three USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car victories on Friday night and the first to elevate to the four-win mark with Saturday's win. It was the 27th series win of Bacon's career, moving him past Tony Elliott and Dave Steele into sole possession of 16th on the all-time list, and just one behind the 28-win mark held by Levi Jones and J.J. Yeley.
Contingency award winners Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway included Justin Grant (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier & Simpson Race Products First Qualifier Winner), Chase Stockon (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Qualifier Winner), Tyler Courtney (AutoMeter Third Qualifier Winner), Brady Bacon (Indy Race Parts Fourth Qualifier Winner), Korey Weyant (KSE Racing Products Hard Charger), Wyatt Burks (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher), C.J. Leary (Roger & Barb Tapy 13th Fastest Qualifier) and Glen Saville (Saldana Racing Products First Non-Transfer).
--------------------------------------
USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 6, 2019 - Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Iowa - Inaugural Brandt Professional Agriculture "Corn Belt Nationals" - 1/2-Mile Dirt Oval (Co-Sanctioned by the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League)
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING GROUP ONE: 1. Justin Grant, 4, TOPP-19.312; 2. Chase Stockon, 32, 32 TBI-19.719; 3. Riley Kreisel, 90, Smith-19.771; 4. Chad Boespflug, 98e, EZR-19.818; 5. Carson Short, 21, RCM-19.847; 6. Kory Schudy, 28, Sawyer-19.866; 7. Landon Simon, 24s, LSR-19.972; 8. Cody Gardner, 9G, Appco-20.050; 9. Dave Darland, 42, Cheney-20.122; 10. Mitchell Davis, 56, Davis-20.129; 11. Don Droud, Jr., 1m, Burch-20.259; 12. Rob Caho, Jr., 78, Caho-20.311; 13. Nick Bilbee, 17, Bilbee-20.320; 14. Ryan Bernal, 17B, Baughman/Reutzel-20.425; 15. Glen Saville, 75x, Saville-20.702; 16. Chris Morgan, 7c, Williams-20.730; 17. Terry Richards, 18, Richards-21.019; 18. Brandon Halverson, 13MJ, Halverson-21.031; 19. Katlynn Leer, 77K, Leer-21.094; 20. Jori Hughes, 19x, Layton-21.125; 21. Braydon Cromwell, 4A, Cromwell-21.846; 22. Steve Thomas, 20, Thomas-22.283; 23. Isaac Chapple, 52, LNR/Chapple-NT; 24. Doug Sylvester, 12x, Sylvester-NT (Time of 21.767 disallowed).
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING GROUP TWO: 1. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 19, Hayward/Thomas-19.823; 2. Jason McDougal, 71p, Daigh/Phillips-20.121; 3. C.J. Leary, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-20.168; 4. Matt Westfall, 33m Marshall-20.194; 5. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall/Newman-20.241; 6. Brady Bacon, 69, Dynamics-20.323; 7. Chris Windom, 5G, Goacher-20.386; 8. Wyatt Burks, 11w, Burks-20.386; 9. Wesley Smith, 12, Helm-20.477; 10. Josh Hodges, 74x, Hodges-20.589; 11. Anthony Nicholson, 16, Nicholson-20.694; 12. Mario Clouser, 6, MCM-20.805; 13. Korey Weyant, 99, Weyant-20.965; 14. Dustin Christie, 75, Christie-21.024; 15. Timmy Buckwalter, 7, LNB-21.196; 16. Logan Faucon, 52F, Faucon-21.319; 17. Slater Helt, 22s, Helt-21.414; 18. Steve Irwin, 0s, Flying Zero-21.461; 19. Dickie Gaines, 44, Soudrette-21.692; 20. T.J. Artz, 57, Artz-21.782; 21. Brandon Stevenson, 0, Stevenson-21.966; 22. Lane Stone, 73, Stone-22.008; 23. Chris Parkinson, 65, Parkinson-22.091; 24. Frank Rodgers III, 6R, Rodgers-NT; 25. Brian VanMeveren, 24, VanMeveren-NT.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST QUALIFIER: (10 laps) 1. Justin Grant, 2. Carson Short, 3. Nick Bilbee, 4. Riley Kreisel, 5. Dave Darland, 6. Glen Saville, 7. Landon Simon, 8. Terry Richards, 9. Katlynn Leer, 10. Braydon Cromwell, 11. Doug Sylvester, 12. Don Droud, Jr. NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND QUALIFIER: (10 laps) 1. Chase Stockon, 2. Ryan Bernal, 3. Mitchell Davis, 4. Kory Schudy, 5. Chad Boespflug, 6. Cody Gardner, 7. Chris Morgan, 8. Rob Caho, Jr., 9. Brandon Halverson, 10. Jori Hughes, 11. Steve Thomas. 3:33.53 (New Track Record)
AUTOMETER THIRD QUALIFIER: (10 laps) 1. Tyler Courtney, 2. C.J. Leary, 3. Chris Windom, 4. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5. Anthony Nicholson, 6. Timmy Buckwalter, 7. Dickie Gaines, 8. Korey Weyant, 9. Slater Helt, 10. Brandon Stevenson, 11. Chris Parkinson, 12. Wesley Smith. NT
INDY RACE PARTS FOURTH QUALIFIER: (10 laps) 1. Brady Bacon, 2. Wyatt Burks, 3. Jason McDougal, 4. Matt Westfall, 5. Mario Clouser, 6. Josh Hodges, 7. Lane Stone, 8. T.J. Artz, 9. Steve Irwin, 10. Logan Faucon, 11. Frank Rodgers III, 12. Dustin Christie. NT
C-MAIN: (10 laps, top-6 transfer to the semi) 1. Chris Morgan, 2. Brandon Stevenson, 3. Lane Stone, 4. Slater Helt, 5. Jori Hughes, 6. Brandon Halverson, 7. Doug Sylvester, 8. Steve Thomas, 9. Braydon Cromwell, 10. Frank Rogers, 11. Chris Parkinson. 3:42.19
SEMI: (12 laps, top-6 transfer to the feature) 1. Dave Darland, 2. Josh Hodges, 3. Anthony Nicholson, 4. Kory Schudy, 5. Korey Weyant, 6. Steve Irwin, 7. Glen Saville, 8. Cody Gardner, 9. Mitchell Davis, 10. T.J. Artz, 11. Lane Stone, 12. Chris Morgan, 13. Rob Caho, Jr., 14. Katlynn Leer, 15. Dustin Christie, 16. Dickie Gaines, 17. Terry Richards, 18. Brandon Stevenson, 19. Logan Faucon, 20. Jori Hughes, 21. Slater Helt, 22. Brandon Halverson, 23. Landon Simon, 24. Don Droud, Jr. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Brady Bacon (2), 2. C.J. Leary (4), 3. Tyler Courtney (6), 4. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (5), 5. Chris Windom (8), 6. Justin Grant (1), 7. Jason McDougal (7), 8. Chase Stockon (3), 9. Ryan Bernal (12), 10. Carson Short (11), 11. Matt Westfall (9), 12. Korey Weyant (23), 13. Wyatt Burks (10), 14. Josh Hodges (20), 15. Nick Bilbee (14), 16. Dave Darland (19), 17. Mario Clouser (16), 18. Steve Irwin (24), 19. Kory Schudy (22), 20. Anthony Nicholson (21), 21. Riley Kreisel (13), 22. Chad Boespflug (15), 23. Timmy Buckwalter (18), 24. Wesley Smith (17). 11:08.75
----------------------------
**Wesley Smith flipped during the third heat.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Brady Bacon.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Korey Weyant (23rd to 12th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Wyatt Burks
ROGER & BARB TAPY 13TH FASTEST QUALIFIER: C.J. Leary
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS FIRST NON-TRANSFER: Glen Saville
NEW USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-C.J. Leary-876, 2-Tyler Courtney-816, 3-Chase Stockon-811, 4-Chris Windom-810, 5-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-800, 6-Brady Bacon-770, 7-Justin Grant-742, 8-Carson Short-695, 9-Jason McDougal-681, 10-Chad Boespflug-599.
NEXT USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: July 17, 2019 - Eldora Speedway - Rossburg, Ohio - #LetsRaceTwo #TakeTwo - 1/2-Mile Dirt Oval
Brad Sweet takes back-up car to World of Outlaws Victory Lane at Cedar Lake Speedway
Posted by: | Comments
World of Outlaws
Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com
Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article
Winner Brad Sweet (DB3 Photo)
ROUND TWO REDEMPTION: Brad Sweet takes back-up car to Victory Lane at Cedar Lake Speedway
Sweet rebounds from early night woes to win the second round of the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown
The right rear tire of Brad Sweet’s NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car sagged lower to the ground with every inch the car rolled into the infield.
Fortunate for Sweet, his infield trip was to Cedar Lake Speedway’s Victory Lane Saturday night. It was his ninth win of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season – tying his win total last year and his record for most wins in a season – and his 43rd career Series win overall.
The image of Sweet waving the checkered flag atop his car with a flat tire was symbolistic of his path to victory.
Rain forced the remaining 28 laps of Friday night’s FVP Platinum Battery Showdown Feature to be run Saturday evening – making Saturday a doubleheader event. Sweet restarted the race in fourth and kept pace with the leaders, eyeing his third win in-a-row and 14th top-five in a row.
But four laps into the race, Sweet slowed to a stop. A U-joint broke in the car, damaging it beyond a quick repair. Sweet was forced to take his first DNF of the season. His Kasey Kahne Racing team had to pull out the back-up car for the second Feature of the night.
“I was disappointed, but we win as a team, we lose as a team,” Sweet said. “Every now and then you have a mechanical failure. We’ll go back and look at it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
After about an hour turnaround to get the back-up car ready, he Qualified eighth and then finished second in his Dryden Heat race behind Sheldon Haudenschild – who won the first Feature of the night. If there were still any concerns about how the back-up car would run, they were extinguished in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.
Sweet ran second to Dominic Scelzi for the first half of the Dash, but found grip riding the bottom of the track and reeled Scelzi in lap by lap. On the final lap, the two California-natives charged down the front stretch side-by-side with Sweet edging out Scelzi for the win.
Now with the pole position for the Feature, Sweet was in prime position to rebound from his 23rd-place finish earlier in the night.
He launched to the lead on the initial start. Scelzi didn’t let Sweet get far, though. Five laps into the race, Scelzi snuck underneath Sweet in turns one and two. It wasn’t enough. Sweet charged off the top side of the track and maintained the lead. Scelzi wasn’t ready to give up. He charged back underneath Sweet, but, again, Sweet had the advantage on the high side. He shot to the lead and pulled away from Scelzi.
For the remaining 30 laps, Sweet held command of the race. Scelzi was left to fight for second-place, which he eventually lost to David Gravel. Carson Macedo wasn’t far behind, stealing third from Scelzi, as well.
Lap traffic became an obstacle at times for Sweet, but had little effect on slowing him down. He was denied a chance at a win earlier in the night. That was not going to happen again. He crossed the finish line with about a straightaway lead, ending the long day with a win.
“It was pretty cool that a car that just sits in our trailer we can bring out first night out and get it going that good,” Sweet said. “It’s been a long day, but it’s nice to celebrate another win. I want to keep it rolling. I have a great race car.”
In the first Feature of the night, 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz finished second – cutting Sweet’s points lead in half. However with Schatz finishing seventh in the second Feature of the night, Sweet was able to maintain a 50-point lead over the Fargo, N.D.-native.
Gravel has moved into third – 142 points behind Sweet.
“We’re happy with a second,” said Gravel, who went Quick Time for both Features at Cedar Lake Speedway. “We didn’t have a shot to win there. But happy with second. I think that was the best-case scenario for us. Brad got by a couple of lap cars and just wasn’t able to get back by the cars he did and kind of got stuck there.”
While Sweet dominated the race, leading all 35 laps, he said there is still room for improvement as his car lost grip throughout the run.
“If we keep fine tuning this thing, I think we can win a lot of races this year,” Sweet said.
With nine wins halfway through the season – seven of them in the last 10 races – Sweet is already on track to a career best year.
“We’ve got a good thing going and all we want to do is keep the throttle down,” Sweet said. “We just want to win as many of these races as we can. You don’t get these opportunities like we have very often.”
Sweet made the most of his latest opportunity with minutes to spare before his right rear tire gave out for the night in Victory Lane.
UP NEXT:
The World of Outlaws on Friday, July 12, will be at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, Mich. for the Battle of Michigan.
As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on www.DIRTVision.com.
For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Race Results: 7/6/19 - Cedar Lake Speedway
NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [3][$5,000]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [5][$3,000]; 4. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [2][$2,700]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [7][$2,500]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [4][$2,200]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,000]; 8. 2M-Kerry Madsen [9][$1,800]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog [6][$1,600]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$1,450]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [15][$1,300]; 12. 83-Daryn Pittman [8][$1,200]; 13. 19-Brent Marks [19][$1,100]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$1,000]; 15. 21-Brian Brown [17][$950]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$900]; 17. 13-Mark Dobmeier [18][$850]; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild [22][$750]; 19. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [24][$725]; 20. 49X-Tim Shaffer [12][$700]; 21. 9N-Wade Nygaard [16][$700]; 22. 19P-Paige Polyak [20][$700]; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser [13][$700]; 24. 23-Russel Borland [23][$700];
Lap Leaders: Brad Sweet 1-35;
KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+6]
Qualifying – 1. 41-David Gravel, 13.015; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.032; 3. 2-Carson Macedo, 13.295; 4. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.32; 5. 83-Daryn Pittman, 13.48; 6. 41S-Dominic Scelzi, 13.501; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.551; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.553; 9. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 13.562; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.619; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.657; 12. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.66; 13. 9N-Wade Nygaard, 13.779; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.943; 15. 5-Shane Stewart, 13.958; 16. 19P-Paige Polyak, 13.985; 17. 21-Brian Brown, 14.003; 18. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 14.005; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.382; 20. 7S-Jason Sides, 14.394; 21. 13-Mark Dobmeier, 14.398; 22. 19-Brent Marks, 14.511; 23. 1AJ-Trevor Mell, 15.319; 24. 29-Hunter Custer, 15.385; 25. 23-Russel Borland, 15.589
DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 41-David Gravel [1]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog [2]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [3]; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen [4]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [7]; 6. 9N-Wade Nygaard [5]; 7. 19P-Paige Polyak [6]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [8]; 9. 23-Russel Borland [9]
DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 3. 83-Daryn Pittman [2]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [6]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [7]; 8. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [8]
DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 2-Carson Macedo [1]; 2. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [2]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [3]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [4]; 5. 5-Shane Stewart [5]; 6. 13-Mark Dobmeier [7]; 7. 3-Jac Haudenschild [6]; 8. 29-Hunter Custer [8]
DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5]; 2. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [1]; 3. 41-David Gravel [3]; 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 5. 2-Carson Macedo [4]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog [6]
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer – 1. 19-Brent Marks [4][-]; 2. 19P-Paige Polyak [1][-]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [3][-]; 4. 3-Jac Haudenschild [2][-]; 5. 23-Russel Borland [7][-]; 6. 1AJ-Trevor Mell [5][-]; 7. 29-Hunter Custer [6][$300]
Dale Blaney scores emotional Lou Blaney Memorial victory at Sharon Speedway
Posted by: | Comments
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1
Winner Dale Blaney (Rick Rarer Photo)
Contact: Tyler Altmeyer
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com
Dale Blaney scores emotional Lou Blaney Memorial victory at Sharon Speedway
Courtesy of Mike Leone
Sharon Speedway
HARTFORD, Ohio (July 7, 2019) - Mother Nature tried to intervene like she's done so many times this season including washing out the prior two Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 events, but on Saturday night Sharon Speedway stole one back. A hard mid-afternoon rain storm only temporarily dampened the spirits of race goers for the 11th annual "Lou Blaney Memorial" presented by Ollie's Bargain Outlet as all of the other storms stayed just south of the speedway allowing Dale Blaney to celebrate in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply victory lane. The event once again benefitted the Alzheimer's Association. Rain did force the live auction to be postponed to an online version with a date and time TBA.
One year ago it was Dave Blaney becoming the first repeat winner of the "Lou Blaney Memorial" winning on year number 10. On Saturday night, brother Dale Blaney put on a dominating performance leading all 30 laps to win his first "Lou Blaney Memorial" on year number 11 ironically driving car #11. For Dale Blaney, the All Star Circuit of Champions victory was worth $6,000 as he became the event's 10th different winner in 11 years. Blaney also became the fourth different "410" Sprint Car winner in as many events in 2019 at Sharon with his 16th career "410" victory at the Hartford, Ohio oval.
"Before I was done I knew I had to win this race," acknowledged the 55-year-old Hartford, Ohio winner. "To win it back-to-back with Dave is really special. It's weird, I've started on the front row of this race before. I always wore my dad's retro uniform for this race and never did very good so I just went with the old Penske (Shocks uniform) and sure enough it worked. The 11th year of this race, we're number 11 this year- we got it done."
Blaney followed up his victory in dash number two by powering into the lead from his outside pole starting spot on the opening lap over Sye Lynch, Brock Zearfoss, Skylar Gee, and Cory Eliason. Seventh starting Jordan Ryan, was rolling around the bottom as he cracked the top five on lap two driving for Jim Chappel, who won the 2010 event with Mike Lutz driving.
Blaney was flying around the fast 3/8-mile as he caught lapped traffic on lap six with a straightaway lead. While Blaney was working traffic, Zearfoss began to put the pressure on Lynch, a two-time winner at Sharon, on lap eight. Gee was hitting his marks perfectly running the extreme high line as he closed in making it a three-car race for the runner-up spot on lap 10. Zearfoss finally worked around Lynch for second on lap 11, but Gee probably surprised Lynch and Zearfoss as he blew around both to take second at the start-finish line. Ryan's fine run ended when he clobbered the fence and brought out the caution with 15 laps scored, which erased a huge 5.135 second lead for Blaney.
Back under green, Eliason drove around Lynch for fourth on lap 17. It looked like Gee may have something for Blaney, but he got too high racing off turn two and got into the fence allowing Zearfoss to get by. Eliason then threw a big slider on Gee in turns three and four to take third on lap 20. Gee's night then would end as he got into the fence again, this time cutting down a tire and bringing out the event's second caution with 21 laps scored.
When racing resumed, Blaney took off over Zearfoss while a great battle ensued for third between Eliason, Cole Duncan, Lynch, and Aaron Reutzel. Duncan made the pass of Eliason for third before the final stoppage of the event occurred with 25 laps scored when Justin Peck suffered a flat tire. The caution would allow Blaney clean air for the final five circuits as he went unchallenged in the Sam McGhee Motorsports/Mike McGhee & Associates #11 for his third All Star win of the season and all-time leading 137th of his career.
"I was really good down on this end (turns one and two) and I felt like I was losing ground on the top so I cut the corner and drove across to it and felt like I carried more speed," explained Blaney. "Brock (Zearfoss) is a really good racer. I kept looking on the board for the 87 (Reutzel) because I knew he'd be coming up there. Sam and Mike (McGhee) have given me a great car. Last year was a tough year and I didn't get to race much, but I've felt like we've gained a lot on it lately and really looking forward to the rest of the year."
Zearfoss was able to fend off Duncan in the closing laps for his best career Sharon finish in runner-up. "This traveling series deal for the points is tough and you have to stay out of trouble and finish races," stated the Jonestown, Pa. racer. "We've definitely had speed, but I haven't been getting it done on my end and finishing races- same as last night; we drove up to third and spun out. That's on me as a driver and have to get better at it. If we're going to points race, we need to be in contention at the end and we were tonight. Shane and Tye came back and gave me a hell of a car again. I thought I might have a chance on that last restart. I stayed with Dale, but he was just pretty damn good tonight. Congrats to those guys."
Duncan, who has had a tough 2019 season, has been impressive nonetheless at Sharon with a FAST win on May 11, a runner-up in last Saturday's non-sanctioned "410" event to Dave Blaney, and a solid third with the All Stars on Saturday night.
"We needed this," expressed the 27-year-old Grove City, Ohio racer. "It's been a horrible year- I can't say it any other way. We did get a win here. It's mostly been my fault. We had fresh race cars to start the year. I crashed a couple cars and we had some motor issues that we got resolved. It feels good. I can't thank all of my guys enough and my sponsors that stick behind me. It has to be frustrating for them to watch us struggle when they help us so much. Thank you to you guys if you're watching tonight we really appreciate it. And thank you to this great crowd for coming out- it ended up being a great night. Congrats to Dale, Sammy, and Mike- they deserve this."
Eliason was fourth. Aaron Reutzel salvaged his night with a fifth place effort from the 13th starting spot. Reutzel had set fast time in his qualifying flight, but failed to scale which relegated him to the ninth starting spot of his heat race. Reutzel charged from the tail to finish third then advanced eight spots in the feature as the defending All Star champion was able to maintain his points lead.
For Blaney, the $6,000 Lou Blaney Memorial victory capped a two-race weekend that was complete with accomplishment, as well as perseverance, as the pilot of the McGhee Motorsports entry was forced to battle his way through Lernerville Speedway’s B-main to transfer into Friday’s main event, all before charging ahead from 22nd to finish 11th during the 30-lap, All Star feature.
Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions will continue the month of July with a three-race sweep through the Empire State, stretching their legs across much of southern New York before ending the long weekend in West Lebanon - just east of Albany. The weekend schedule will activate with a visit to Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon on Friday, July 12, followed by a stop at the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown on Saturday, July 13. The three-day sweep will conclude with a Sunday night invasion of Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon on July 14.
Contingency Awards/Results:
Sharon Speedway - Saturday, July 6, 2019:
Event: 11th Annual Lou Blaney Memorial
Entries: 36
C&R Racing All Star Warm-Ups: Aaron Reutzel - 14.315
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Jordan Ryan - 14.568
Ford Performance Heat #1: Cole Duncan
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Skylar Gee
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Jack Sodeman, Jr.
Mobil 1 Heat #4: Brock Zearfoss
JE Pistons Dash #1: Sye Lynch
Fatheadz Eyewear Dash #2: Dale Blaney
Classic Ink USA B-Main Winner: George Hobaugh
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet A-Main Winner: Dale Blaney
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Greg Wilson [+11]
Rayce Rudeen Foundation First Non-Transfer: Michael Bauer
(Lincoln Electric, MSD Performance, Fatheadz Eyewear, Rayce Rudeen Foundation: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)
Qualifying
Group (A)
1. 42-Sye Lynch, 14.585; 2. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 14.702; 3. 22C-Cole Duncan, 14.902; 4. 11B-Carl Bowser, 14.944; 5. 4N-Jim Morris, 15.006; 6. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer, 15.249; 7. 13M-Brandon Matus, 15.349; 8. 7N-Andy Priest, 15.485; 9. 81-Lee Jacobs, 15.764
Group (B)
1. 8-Jordan Ryan, 14.569; 2. 26-Cory Eliason, 14.720; 3. 3C-Cale Conley, 14.769; 4. 99-Skylar Gee, 14.913; 5. 40-George Hobaugh, 15.265; 6. 23-Darren Pifer, 15.439; 7. 27K-Jeremy Kornbau, 15.804; 8. 22M-Dan McCarron, 15.814; 9. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 99.999
Group (C)
1. 23S-Russ Sansosti, 14.907; 2. 97-Max Stambaugh, 15.025; 3. K4-Chad Kemenah, 15.212; 4. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr., 15.376; 5. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 15.509; 6. 33-Brent Matus, 15.525; 7. 46-Michael Bauer, 15.876; 8. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr., 17.364; 9. 21N-Frankie Nervo, NT
Group (D)
1. 11-Dale Blaney, 15.122; 2. 7k-Dan Shetler, 15.133; 3. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 15.254; 4. 13-Paul McMahan, 15.300; 5. W20-Greg Wilson, 15.337; 6. O8-Dan Kuriger, 15.350; 7. 70X-Justin Peck, 15.404; 8. 98H-Dave Blaney, 15.607; 9. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi, 15.863
Heat #1 - Group (A) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 22C-Cole Duncan [2]; 2. 11B-Carl Bowser [1]; 3. 42-Sye Lynch [4]; 4. O7-Gerard McIntyre [3]; 5. 4N-Jim Morris [5]; 6. 13M-Brandon Matus [7]; 7. 81-Lee Jacobs [9]; 8. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer [6]; 9. 7N-Andy Priest [8]
Heat #2 - Group (B) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 99-Skylar Gee [1]; 2. 26-Cory Eliason [3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel [9]; 4. 3C-Cale Conley [2]; 5. 8-Jordan Ryan [4]; 6. 23-Darren Pifer [6]; 7. 40-George Hobaugh [5]; 8. 22M-Dan McCarron [8]; 9. 27K-Jeremy Kornbau [7]
Heat #3 - Group (C) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr. [1]; 2. K4-Chad Kemenah [2]; 3. 22-Brandon Spithaler [5]; 4. 97-Max Stambaugh [3]; 5. 23S-Russ Sansosti [4]; 6. 46-Michael Bauer [7]; 7. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr. [8]; 8. 33-Brent Matus [6]
Heat #4 - Group (D) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 70-Brock Zearfoss [2]; 2. 11-Dale Blaney [4]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan [1]; 4. 7K-Dan Shetler [3]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 6. O8-Dan Kuriger [6]; 7. 70X-Justin Peck [7]; 8. 98H-Dave Blaney [8]; 9. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi [9]
Dash #1 (4 Laps)
1. 42-Sye Lynch [1]; 2. 70-Brock Zearfoss [2]; 3. 22C-Cole Duncan [3]; 4. 8-Jordan Ryan [4]; 5. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr. [5]
Dash #2 (4 Laps)
1. 11-Dale Blaney [1]; 2. 99-Skylar Gee [2]; 3. 26-Cory Eliason [4]; 4. K4-Chad Kemenah [5]; 5. 11B-Carl Bowser [3]
B-Main (12 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 40-George Hobaugh [2]; 2. O8-Dan Kuriger [4]; 3. 70X-Justin Peck [7]; 4. 13M-Brandon Matus [3]; 5. 46-Michael Bauer [6]; 6. 98H-Dave Blaney [11]; 7. 81-Lee Jacobs [8]; 8. 23-Darren Pifer [5]; 9. 7N-Andy Priest [13]; 10. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi [15]; 11. 22M-Dan McCarron [12]; 12. 27K-Jeremy Kornbau [14]; 13. 47-Brett Brunkenhoefer [1]; 14. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr. [9]; 15. 33-Brent Matus [10]
A-Main (30 Laps)
1. 11-Dale Blaney [2]; 2. 70-Brock Zearfoss [3]; 3. 22C-Cole Duncan [5]; 4. 26-Cory Eliason [6]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel [13]; 6. 42-Sye Lynch [1]; 7. 13-Paul McMahan [11]; 8. K4-Chad Kemenah [8]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson [20]; 10. O7-Gerard McIntyre [14]; 11. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr. [9]; 12. 7K-Dan Shetler [17]; 13. 97-Max Stambaugh [16]; 14. 11B-Carl Bowser [10]; 15. 22-Brandon Spithaler [12]; 16. 3C-Cale Conley [15]; 17. 4N-Jim Morris [19]; 18. 23S-Russ Sansosti [18]; 19. O8-Dan Kuriger [22]; 20. 40-George Hobaugh [21]; 21. 70X-Justin Peck [23]; 22. 99-Skylar Gee [4]; 23. 13M-Brandon Matus [24]; 24. 8-Jordan Ryan [7]
Lap Leaders: Dale Blaney (1-30)
2019 All Star Circuit of Champions Driver Standings (After 7/6/2019):
1. Aaron Reutzel - 2122
2. Dale Blaney - 2112
3. Cory Eliason - 2038
4. Paul McMahan - 2008
5. Brock Zearfoss - 1974
6. Greg Wilson - 1948
7. Gerard McIntyre - 1896
8. Skylar Gee - 1836
9. George Hobaugh - 1632
10. Spencer Bayston - 1408
2019 All Star Circuit of Champions Winners:
Bubba Raceway Park (1/31/2019): Tim Shaffer
Bubba Raceway Park (2/1/2019): Tim Shaffer (2)
Bubba Raceway Park (2/2/2019): Tony Stewart
Volusia Speedway Park (2/6/2019): Shane Stewart
Volusia Speedway Park (2/7/2019): Brad Sweet
Virginia Motor Speedway (4/11/2019): Cory Eliason
Port Royal Speedway (4/13/2019): Lance Dewease
Attica Raceway Park (5/24/2019): Aaron Reutzel
Fremont Speedway (5/26/2019): Aaron Reutzel (2)
Outlaw Speedway (6/7/2019): Brock Zearfoss
Stateline Speedway (6/8/2019): Dale Blaney
Weedsport Speedway (6/9/2019): Danny Dietrich
Attica Raceway Park (6/14/2019): Kyle Larson
Muskingum County Speedway (6/16/2019): Dale Blaney (2)
Wayne County Speedway (6/19/2019): Aaron Reutzel (3)
Wayne County Speedway (6/22/2019): Buddy Kofoid
Dirt Oval at Route 66 (6/29/2019): Aaron Reutzel (4)
Lernerville Speedway (7/5/2019): Aaron Reutzel (5)
Sharon Speedway (7/6/2019): Dale Blaney (3)
About the All Star Circuit of Champions:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first 'outlaw' Sprint Car organization of the modern era. Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015. In 2019, MAVTV Motorsports Network will continue to be the official television home of the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 and will broadcast ten high-profile events.
About Ollie’s Bargain Outlet:
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc., founded in 1982, is one of America’s largest retailers of closeouts and excess inventory, offering real brands at real bargain prices. Famous for its signature catch-phrase Good Stuff Cheap, Ollie’s has a huge variety of famous brand-name merchandise in every department – food, books, housewares, toys, electronics, domestics, clothing, furniture, health and beauty, flooring, seasonal items and so much more – at up to 70 percent off the fancy stores’ prices. You never know what you’ll find at one of Ollie’s 327 “semi-lovely” stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, visit www.ollies.us. Like us on Facebook or find us on Twitter at @OlliesOutlet. Ollie’s is a publicly-traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol OLLI.
About Mobil 1:
The world's leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1™ features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.
For more information, visit www.mobiloil.com, on Twitter @Mobil1 and, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/mobil1.
Mobil, Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Racing are registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
Photo Credit: Rick Rarer/SprintCarNews.com
Contact: Tyler Altmeyer
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com
