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David Gravel Leads Flag-To-Flag For Spring Classic Win at Williams Grove
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World of Outlaws
Contact: Clayton Johns
World of Outlaws PR
289-314-5186 | cjohns@dirtcar.com
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Gravel Leads Flag-To-Flag for Spring Classic Win at Williams Grove
Second Straight Victory For CJB Motorsports
MECHANICSBURG, PA - May 19, 2017 - David Gravel withstood a late surge from Donny Schatz and a pair of restarts with less than five laps remaining to kickoff the weekend with a Spring Classic win at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night.
Gravel started on the pole for the 25-lap main event after winning the Craftsman Club Dash and led flag-to-flag even despite restarts with three and four laps remaining in the main event. It was the second win of the week in Central Pennsylvania for the Watertown, CT native who also won at Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday. It was also Gravel's seventh victory of the season.
"It's definitely huge to win in PA at all," Gravel said. "To win Lincoln and Williams Grove is really good. We have to enjoy this a little bit tonight, but tomorrow's a new day. We're really happy with where we're at right now and we'll keep moving forward."
After timing second quick in Flight B Qualifying and second in his heat, Gravel was scheduled to roll off eighth for the dash in his CJB Motorsports No.5, but an eight inversion draw put him on the pole and he never looked back, scoring wins in the Dash and Feature just as he did Wednesday night at Lincoln.
"I'm definitely lucky right now," Gravel concluded. "I need to play the lottery or something. It's just one of those things where when it goes your way, it goes your way. Last year, Daryn Pittman got a lot of draws that went his way and right now it's our time. It goes in phases. It's a long, long season and we'll take it when we can."
Gravel brought the field to the green flag for the main event with Brad Sweet starting on the outside of the front row aboard his Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb No.49. Gravel jumped to an early lead while fifth-starting Schatz overtook Daryn Pittman for fourth on lap two. The caution waved one lap later when Lucas Wolfe and Joey Saldana spun and stopped against the turn three wall.
An 18-lap green flag run followed allowed Gravel to extend his lead to 1.806 seconds over Sweet by lap 10. However, it withered away when Gravel caught lapped traffic at the halfway mark and Sweet began close the gap. Right behind the two leaders, Schatz worked past Greg Hodnett for the second time in the race to acquire the third spot.
With six laps remaining, Gravel struggled to find a line around the slower can of Jason Sides. That allowed Schatz to catch the two leaders and the reigning series champion took second from Sweet with four laps to go.
Two more cautions with four laps to go kept Gravel on his toes, but he rode the cushion flawlessly on the outside of the speedway, disabling any of Schatz's attempts to take the lead.
"That's just typical lapped traffic," Gravel said. "You get caught up and you have to pass some guys before the second-place guy passes you. I got by Sides and I actually thought I was pretty good. I probably didn't want a yellow. After I got past Sides, I thought I would be able to work the lapped cars pretty good and then the yellow came out. I got a good restart and then the yellow came out again. I didn't want that second yellow, but it worked out and we held on."
Schatz felt that if the yellow flag had not waved with four laps to go, he would have had a chance to catch and pass Gravel for the $8,000 payday.
"Everything we run is longer races so you have to be prepared for the end," Schatz said, explaining his surge over the final 10 laps." That's what you shoot for - trying to be good at the end of the race and we were definitely good at the end of the race. We just didn't need to see that yellow (with four laps to go). When you get traffic, you force (the leader) to move out of their line and that's what we needed. When the yellow came out, I knew it was going to take a miracle."
The miracle didn't happen for Schatz as Gravel executed flawlessly on the pair of single-file restarts by running the fast top lane and by taking away Schatz's preferred corner entry.
For Freddie Rahmer, the third-place finish was worth celebrating. Rahmer was the top finishing Pennsylvania Posse member ahead of Hodnett, who finished fifth. He felt he may have had something for Schatz if he could have changed one of his last-race restarts.
"I couldn't do anything in (turns) three and four because Donny was where my car was the best," Rahmer said. "Just the way it played out, we ran third. I think we're fast enough to win, we just need a different scenario."
Joey Saldana was the night's overall fast qualifier with a lap of 16.639 seconds. He also picked up a heat race win along with Rahmer, Schatz and Pittman. Logan Schuchart earned the KSE Hard Charger award for advancing from 18th to 11th.
The Outlaws remain at Williams Grove for Saturday's Morgan Cup. Drivers are expecting significantly different track conditions with an expected temperature drop to the mid-60s on Saturday from the high-80s on Friday.
"The track was really heavy for how warm it was," Gravel said. "We'll see. Tomorrow's going to be cooler, but the track might be slick or it might be even heavier than tonight."
Saturday's Morgan Cup at Williams Grove will once again be available via live pay-per-view on DIRTvision.
Williams Grove Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: David Gravel started on the pole after winning the Craftsman Club Dash and led all 25 laps of the Spring Classic Feature at Williams Grove Speedway to earn his second win of the week in Central Pennsylvania and seventh of the season with the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series. Gravel withstood a late surge from Donny Schatz and a pair of restarts with less than five laps to go to secure the victory.
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Williams Grove Speedway, PA; May 19, 2017
Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 5-David Gravel [1][$8,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [5][$4,000]; 3. 51-Freddie Rahmer [7][$2,500]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$2,200]; 5. 27-Greg Hodnett [3][$2,100]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [4][$2,000]; 7. 21-Brian Montieth [13][$1,800]; 8. 69K-Lance Dewease [12][$1,600]; 9. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$1,500]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [11][$1,300]; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart [18][$1,200]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [15][$1,100]; 13. 2-Shane Stewart [17][$1,000]; 14. 41-Jason Johnson [14][$700]; 15. 4-Paul McMahan [20][$600]; 16. 1-Dale Blaney [16][$600]; 17. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [19][$600]; 18. 11-T.J. Stutts [22][$600]; 19. 48-Danny Dietrich [10][$600]; 20. 44-Trey Starks [21][$600]; 21. 7S-Jason Sides [24][$600]; 22. 24-Lucas Wolfe [9][$600]; 23. 71M-Dave Blaney [23][$600]; 24. 17-Joey Saldana [8][$600]
Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-25
KSE Hard Charger Award: Logan Schuchart +7 (18th to 11th)
Qualifying Flight-A - 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 16.818; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 16.823; 3. 27-Greg Hodnett, 16.84; 4. 49-Brad Sweet, 16.856; 5. 2-Shane Stewart, 16.861; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 16.872; 7. 44-Trey Starks, 16.93; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 16.932; 9. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 16.96; 10. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 16.977; 11. 21-Brian Montieth, 17.031; 12. 71M-Dave Blaney, 17.117; 13. 88-Brandon Rahmer, 17.177; 14. 16C-Matt Campbell, 17.194; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen, 17.223; 16. 20-Ryan Taylor, 17.261; 17. W20-Greg Wilson, 17.271; 18. 75-Frankie Herr, 17.289; 19. 13-Clyde Knipp, 17.451; 20. 35-Daryl Stimeling, 17.458; 21. 12W-Troy Fraker, 18.182.
Qualifying Flight-B - 1. 17-Joey Saldana, 16.639; 2. 5-David Gravel, 16.692; 3. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 16.757; 4. 69K-Lance Dewease, 16.841; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich, 16.863; 6. 1-Dale Blaney, 16.875; 7. 41-Jason Johnson, 16.876; 8. 9-Daryn Pittman, 16.901; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 16.923; 10. 11-T.J. Stutts, 16.928; 11. 7S-Jason Sides, 16.954; 12. 39-Cory Haas, 16.995; 13. 25-Aaron Ott, 17.001; 14. 4-Paul McMahan, 17.06; 15. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 17.073; 16. 58-Brock Zearfoss, 17.112; 17. 87-Alan Krimes, 17.259; 18. O7-Doug Esh, 17.259; 19. 39M-Anthony Macri, 17.272; 20. 44W-Rodney Westhafer, 17.585.
Heat #1 – Flight A (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer [1]; 2. 27-Greg Hodnett [2]; 3. 24-Lucas Wolfe [5]; 4. 21-Brian Montieth [6]; 5. 2-Shane Stewart [3]; 6. 88-Brandon Rahmer [7]; 7. 44-Trey Starks [4]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [9]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [8]; 10. 12W-Troy Fraker [11]; 11. 13-Clyde Knipp [10].
Heat #2 – Flight A (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 19-Brent Marks [4]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 5. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [5]; 6. 71M-Dave Blaney [6]; 7. 20-Ryan Taylor [8]; 8. 16C-Matt Campbell [7]; 9. 75-Frankie Herr [9]; 10. 35-Daryl Stimeling [10]
Heat #3 – Flight B (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 17-Joey Saldana [1]; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich [3]; 4. 41-Jason Johnson [4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5]; 6. 7S-Jason Sides [6]; 7. 87-Alan Krimes [9]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri [10]; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer [8].
Heat #4 – Flight B (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [4]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1]; 3. 69K-Lance Dewease [2]; 4. 1-Dale Blaney [3]; 5. 4-Paul McMahan [7]; 6. 11-T.J. Stutts [5]; 7. O7-Doug Esh [9]; 8. 58-Brock Zearfoss [8]; 9. 44W-Rodney Westhafer [10]; 10. 39-Cory Haas [6].
Craftsman Club Dash (6 Laps) - 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 27-Greg Hodnett [4]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [5]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 6. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 7. 51-Freddie Rahmer [8]; 8. 17-Joey Saldana [7].
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer - 1. 44-Trey Starks [1][-]; 2. 11-T.J. Stutts [2][-]; 3. 71M-Dave Blaney [3][-]; 4. 7S-Jason Sides [4][-]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [8][$300]; 6. 39-Cory Haas [6][$250]; 7. 88-Brandon Rahmer [5][$225]; 8. 20-Ryan Taylor [11][$200]; 9. 16C-Matt Campbell [7][$200]; 10. O7-Doug Esh [12][$200]; 11. 58-Brock Zearfoss [10][$200]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen [9][$200]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson [13][$200]; 14. 39M-Anthony Macri [14][$200].
C-Feature (10 Laps) - Top 2 Transfer - 1. W20-Greg Wilson [1][-]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri [2][-]; 3. 44W-Rodney Westhafer [4][$150]; 4. 75-Frankie Herr [3][$150]; 5. 35-Daryl Stimeling [6][$150]; 6. 12W-Troy Fraker [7][$125]; 7. 13-Clyde Knipp [5][$125]; 8. 25-Aaron Ott [8][$125]; 9. 87-Alan Krimes [9][$125].
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Joey Saldana; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): David Gravel; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Brent Marks; Extended Stay America ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Super Flow ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Craftsman Club Fast Five ($100 cash): David Gravel, Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Sheldon Haudenschild, Joey Saldana; Craftsman/Sears: Greg Hodnett; KSE Hard Charger: Logan Schuchart; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): David Gravel; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jason Sides; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Joey Saldana.
SEASON WINNERS
Donny Schatz - 9 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, LoneStar Speedway on March 3, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 10, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 18, Missouri State Fair Speedway on May 5, 81 Speedway on May 6, Eldora Speedway May 13);
David Gravel - 7 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 17, Placerville Speedway on March 29, Perris Auto Speedway on April 1, Gator Motorplex on April 13, Plymouth Speedway on April 28, Lincoln Speedway on May 17, Williams Grove on May 19)
Jason Johnson - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil’s Bowl on April 14)
Brad Sweet - 2 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil’s Bowl on April 15)
Logan Schuchart - 2 (Keller Auto Speedway on March 31, Eldora Speedway on May 12)
Brian Brown – 1 (Cocopah Speedway on April 7);
Rico Abreu – 1 (Arizona Speedway on April 8)
Parker Price-Miller – 1 (Tri-State Speedway on May 14).
David Gravel Dominates at Lincoln for Gettysburg Clash Win
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Contact: Clayton Johns
World of Outlaws PR
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Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article
David Gravel Dominates at Lincoln for Gettysburg Clash Win
Earns Sixth World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Victory This Season
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA - May 17, 2017 - David Gravel dominated the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday night, leading all 35 laps of the Feature at the historic 3/8-mile track to take the checkered flag 6.501 seconds ahead of runner-up finisher Daryn Pittman.
The Feature win completed a perfect night for Gravel. The Watertown, CT driver was quickest in Flight A Time Trials before winning his Heat and the Craftsman Club Dash to earn the pole and eventually the Feature triumph that lifted the Outlaws over the Pennsylvania Posse in the first rivalry race of the season. It was both Gravel's first career win at Lincoln and his sixth of the season with the Outlaws.
"It's definitely huge," Gravel said following his win. "World of Outlaws guys do not win many Outlaw shows in PA, so to win here is great, at a track that I haven't really been good at in the past. To do that is awesome, to get our sixth win is awesome."
"You never know when your next win will be and it's been a couple weeks, so it's good to get another one and keep clicking them off. Hopefully this momentum carries on to Williams Grove."
Gravel used his pole starting position to jump out to an early lead over second-starting Pittman until the only caution of the race came on lap two when Freddie Rahmer of Salfordville, PA spun and stopped at the bottom of turn two.
Gravel enjoyed an open track for eight laps following the restart, but worked his way into lapped traffic on lap 10. The often side-by-side racing around the track created a number of challenges for the leaders as they worked through the field.
"It was real difficult just because I didn't know what kind of lead I had," Gravel said. "I got through the first couple lapped cars really well, but after that I didn't know if guys were catching me or not. It was really tough to judge. I didn't know I had a huge lead. It was just one of those things where I had to keep pushing forward and keep getting lapped cars behind me."
Behind Gravel, it was local favorite Danny Dietrich of nearby Gettysburg, PA who worked his way past Brad Sweet and then Pittman to take second on lap 17. Dietrich was unable to gain any ground on Gravel to challenge for the lead while he battled the traffic.
"I got to second and couldn't get any help at all from lapped cars," Dietrich said. "It's unfortunate because I thought we were fast enough to run with Gravel, but never got the opportunity."
Dietrich held second until the final lap, when he made a daring move in turns one and two to move past a lapped car. The move cost him as he drifted up the track, allowing Pittman to capitalize and re-take the second spot.
"I was just trying to make something happen," Dietrich said of his last lap move. "I felt like if I couldn't get by the lapped cars, I was going to get passed anyways. I should have just probably settled in, but that's hard to do when you're running second for a World of Outlaws win."
"Lapped traffic was hairy," echoed Pittman. "I don't know that they were really doing anything wrong, but they were just racing hard side-by-side and using up the whole track. Dietrich kind of got held up behind one of them and gave me a run to get back by him."
Pittman was satisfied to earn a second-place finish after the last lap pass, especially against a field of 43 cars at a difficult track.
"We had a really solid car and a solid night," Pittman said. "I'm not disappointed at all, but we were all racing for second. David was in a league of his own."
Donny Schatz raced from the 15th starting position to finish fourth while KSE Hard Charger Brian Montieth advanced 15 positions to round out the top-five after starting 20th. Kevin Gobrecht rookie-of-the-year contender Sheldon Haudenschild was in the middle of a top-five battle when he did a complete 360 in turn two on lap 22 and the race continued without incident. The miscue cost Haudenschild four positions as he fell to eighth.
While Gravel started the night by setting quick time in Flight A qualifying with a time of 13.434 seconds, Dietrich was fastest in Flight B and overall at 13.328 seconds.
Gravel and Pittman won the first two heat races for the Outlaws before Dietrich and Rahmer answered for the Posse with wins in heats three and four, respectively. Gravel's dash win was sandwiched between a C-Main victory for Binghamton, NY driver Coleman Gulick and Lucas Wolfe's win in the Last Chance Showdown.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series remains in Central Pennsylvania entering the weekend for the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway on May 19 and 20. It's the first of five races at the Mechanicsburg, PA track this season. Fans who can't make it to the track can watch LIVE on DIRTvision.
Lincoln Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: David Gravel led all 35 laps of the Gettysburg Clash Feature to complete a sweep at Lincoln Speedway for his first career win at the Abbottstown, PA 3/8-mile track. Gravel was quickest in Flight A qualifying before winning his heat and the Craftsman Club Dash. He then dominated the Feature, beating Daryn Pittman to the finish by 6.501 seconds. Danny Dietrich, who was fastest in Flight B qualifying, rounded out the podium.
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 9 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, LoneStar Speedway on March 3, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 10, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 18, Missouri State Fair Speedway on May 5, 81 Speedway on May 6, Eldora Speedway May 13); David Gravel - 6 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 17, Placerville Speedway on March 29, Perris Auto Speedway on April 1, Gator Motorplex on April 13, Plymouth Speedway on April 28, Lincoln Speedway on May 17); Jason Johnson - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil's Bowl on April 14); Brad Sweet - 2 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil's Bowl on April 15); Logan Schuchart - 2 (Keller Auto Speedway, Eldora Speedway May 12); Brian Brown - 1 (Cocopah Speedway); Rico Abreu - 1 (Arizona Speedway on April 8); Parker Price-Miller - 1 (Tri-State Speedway May 14).
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Brent Marks; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): David Gravel; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; Extended Stay America ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Super Flow ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Craftsman Club Fast Five ($100 cash): David Gravel,Joey Saldana, Brad Sweet, Greg Wilson; Craftsman/Sears: Freddie Rahmer; KSE Hard Charger: Brian Montieth; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): David Gravel; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Logan Schuchart; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Paul McMahan.
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Lincoln Speedway, PA; May 17, 2017
Feature (35 Laps) - 1. 1. 5-David Gravel [1][$10,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$5,500]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich [4][$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [15][$2,800]; 5. 21-Brian Montieth [20][$2,500]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson [11][$2,300]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$2,200]; 8. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [10][$2,100]; 9. 1-Dale Blaney [6][$2,050]; 10. 27-Greg Hodnett [14][$2,000]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [8][$1,500]; 12. 39-Cory Haas [16][$1,200]; 13. 17-Joey Saldana [5][$1,100]; 14. 87-Alan Krimes [18][$1,050]; 15. 4K-Kasey Kahne [12][$1,000]; 16. 24-Lucas Wolfe [21][$900]; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart [19][$800]; 18. 51-Freddie Rahmer [3][$800]; 19. 16-Gerard McIntyre [17][$800]; 20. 2-Shane Stewart [22][$800]; 21. 49X-Tim Shaffer [13][$800]; 22. 4-Paul McMahan [25][$]; 23. 8-Billy Dietrich [23][$800]; 24. 7S-Jason Sides [9][$800]; 25. 19-Brent Marks [24][$800]; 26. 59-Jim Siegel [26].
KSE Hard Charger Award: 21-Brian Montieth [+15]
Qualifying Flight-A - 1. 5-David Gravel, 13.434; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.451; 3. 1-Dale Blaney, 13.459; 4. 17-Joey Saldana, 13.492; 5. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 13.493; 6. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.525; 7. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.552; 8. 44-Trey Starks, 13.562; 9. 16-Gerard McIntyre, 13.574; 10. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.593; 11. 59-Jim Siegel, 13.636; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.639; 13. 16C-Matt Campbell, 13.681; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.701; 15. 25-Aaron Ott, 13.729; 16. 55K-Robbie Kendall, 13.751; 17. 14-Coleman Gulick, 13.765; 18. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe, 13.769; 19. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.782; 20. 4-Paul McMahan, 13.839; 21. 69-Tim Glatfelter, 13.885; 22. 13-Clyde Knipp, 13.985
Qualifying Flight-B - 1. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.328; 2. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 13.371; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.491; 4. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.516; 5. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.52; 6. 8-Billy Dietrich, 13.62; 7. 27-Greg Hodnett, 13.655; 8. 4K-Kasey Kahne, 13.669; 9. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.753; 10. 39-Cory Haas, 13.769; 11. 99M-Kyle Moody, 13.808; 12. 88-Brandon Rahmer, 13.822; 13. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.824; 14. 21-Brian Montieth, 13.837; 15. 39M-Anthony Macri, 13.84; 16. 19-Brent Marks, 13.858; 17. 1X-Tim Wagaman, 13.984; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.994; 19. 5R-Tyler Ross, 14.109; 20. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 14.144; 21. 12-Mike Bittinger, 14.323
Heat #1 - Flight A (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 1-Dale Blaney [2]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [10]; 5. 16-Gerard McIntyre [5]; 6. 14-Coleman Gulick [9]; 7. 59-Jim Siegel [6]; 8. 69-Tim Glatfelter [11]; 9. 16C-Matt Campbell [7]; 10. 24-Lucas Wolfe [3]; 11. 25-Aaron Ott [8].
Heat #2 - Flight A (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 17-Joey Saldana [2]; 3. 41-Jason Johnson [5]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [3]; 7. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe [9]; 8. 4-Paul McMahan [10]; 9. 44-Trey Starks [4]; 10. 13-Clyde Knipp [11]; 11. 55K-Robbie Kendall [8].
Heat #3 - Flight B (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 48-Danny Dietrich [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 4. 27-Greg Hodnett [4]; 5. 87-Alan Krimes [7]; 6. 1X-Tim Wagaman [9]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 8. 99M-Kyle Moody [6]; 9. 5R-Tyler Ross [10]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri [8]; 11. 12-Mike Bittinger [11].
Heat #4 - Flight B (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer - 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer [1]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [2]; 3. 4K-Kasey Kahne [4]; 4. 39-Cory Haas [5]; 5. 21-Brian Montieth [7]; 6. 8-Billy Dietrich [3]; 7. 19-Brent Marks [8]; 8. 88-Brandon Rahmer [6]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [9]; 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [10]
Craftsman Club Dash (6 Laps) - 1. 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [3]; 3. 51-Freddie Rahmer [4]; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich [2]; 5. 17-Joey Saldana [7]; 6. 1-Dale Blaney [5]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [6]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [8].
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer - 1. 24-Lucas Wolfe [1][-]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [3][-]; 3. 8-Billy Dietrich [2][-]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [12][-]; 5. 44-Trey Starks [5][$300]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4][$250]; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody [6][$225]; 8. 16C-Matt Campbell [9][$200]; 9. 59-Jim Siegel [7][$200]; 10. 39M-Anthony Macri [10][$200]; 11. 1X-Tim Wagaman [14][$200]; 12. 88-Brandon Rahmer [8][$200]; 13. 14-Coleman Gulick [13][$200]; 14. 55K-Robbie Kendall [11][$200]
C-Feature (10 Laps) - Top 2 Transfer - 1. 14-Coleman Gulick [1][-]; 2. 1X-Tim Wagaman [2][-]; 3. 4-Paul McMahan [5][$150]; 4. 5R-Tyler Ross [6][$150]; 5. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [8][$150]; 6. 13-Clyde Knipp [9][$125]; 7. 69-Tim Glatfelter [7][$125]; 8. 2W-Glenndon Forsythe [3][$125]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [4][$125]; 10. 12-Mike Bittinger [10][$125]; 11. 25-Aaron Ott [11][$125]
Price-Miller Wins at Tri-State
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Contact: Colby Gorniewicz
World of Outlaws PR
704-707-0229 | cgorniewicz@dirtcar.com
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Price-Miller Captures First Career Victory at Tri-State Speedway
Gravel and Johnson round out the podium
Haubstadt, IN, - May 15, 2017 - All the stars aligned at Tri-State Speedway for Parker Price-Miller. Inheriting the lead on Lap 18 after Sheldon Haundenschild ran into a slower car in lap traffic, causing him to do a complete 360, Price-Miller had to endure challenges from last year's Tri-State Speedway winner, David Gravel. Meticulously working his way through lap traffic, Price-Miller picked the best lanes and would go on to win his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series race.
Starting the season out at DIRTcar National at Volusia Speedway Park in February and continuing with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series tour through mid-April, before eventually dropping off full-time, Price-Miller knew it was going to be a steep-learning curve.
"We knew going into the season we were going to get our butt-kicked," Price-Miller said about starting the season with the World of Outlaws. "But this was going to make us better as a team. This surely has paid off making me better as driver, getting our car better and making us overall better as a unit."
Price-Miller has shown speed over the last several weeks, having earned fast qualifier at Plymouth Speedway. Entering the special Mother's Day race at Tri-State Speedway, Price-Miller's career best Outlaw finish was a third-place, coming at Tri-State Speedway in 2016.
"I can't explain how I feel right now. Whenever you can get an Outlaw win you take it. Whether it's on a slick, heavy, small or big [track]."
CJB Motorsports entered Tri-State Speedway as the team everyone was looking to knock off. Each of the last three-years, the team has made trips down to Victory Lane at the high-banked quarter-mile speedway. 2016 winner, already a five-time winner in the 2017 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series season was poised to continue the team's win streak at the Haubstadt, IN-track.
Starting from the pole for the evenings 40-lap feature, David Gravel quickly shot out to an early lead. It wasn't long before he was being challenged by 2017 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie-of-the-Year contender, Sheldon Haudenschild. Haudenschild on the top-side of the race track worked his way by Gravel and rocketed out to a commanding lead.
"I knew Sheldon was going to have a [quick] pace and it was a 40-lap race so I was going to let him do what he wanted to do and wait for lap traffic and catch back up," Gravel said.
While Haudenschild was checking out with the race lead, the battle for second heated up with Price-Miller forcing the issue on Gravel. Just shy of the half-way mark Price-Miller was able to get by Gravel for the second position.
It was on Lap 18 when Haudenschild was working his way through lap traffic that he got tangled up with a slower car, sending him into a complete 360-spin dropping the young rookie back in the running order. The yellow flag would eventually come out for a stopped car in Turn 1.
Taking over the lead for the restart and getting the jump, Price-Miller went right back to the top-side of the track. Setting sail from the rest of the field, Price-Miller had the first opportunity to pick his way through traffic.
With under 10-laps to go and in heavy traffic, Gravel starting to close the gap on Price-Miller; setting up the reigning race winner with a chance to go back-to-back at Tri-State Speedway.
"Sheldon [Haudenschild] and Parker [Price-Miller] could really run the cushion pretty aggressively. In open track they're were faster. In open track I think they had us beat but in traffic I thought I could run the bottom and we were pretty good."
Price-Miller seemed to able to point his No. 2X machine wherever he wanted, eventually steering him clear of the lap traffic and runner-up finisher, David Gravel en route to his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series victory.
"When you've never won an Outlaw race and you're leading, you just go as hard as you can and that's what I did. Luckily we pulled it off."
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series kicks off another busy week with a stop at Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday, May 17 before heading to Williams Grove for a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, May 20-21. The Series will then make the trek north to Weedsport Speedway to close out the week of racing on Sunday, May 22. For tickets, visit WorldofOutlaws.com/Tickets.
Tri-State Speedway Notebook
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 9 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, LoneStar Speedway on March 3, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 10, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 18, Missouri State Fair Speedway on May 5, 81 Speedway on May 6, Eldora Speedway May 13); David Gravel - 5 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 17, Placerville Speedway on March 29, Perris Auto Speedway on April 1, Gator Motorplex on April 13, Plymouth on April 28); Jason Johnson - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil's Bowl on April 14); Brad Sweet - 2 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil's Bowl on April 15), Logan Schuchart - 2 (Keller Auto Speedway, Eldora Speedway May 12), Brian Brown - 1 (Cocopah Speedway), Rico Abreu - 1 (Arizona Speedway on April 8) Parker Price-Miller - 1 (Tri-State Speedway May 14).
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Logan Schuchart; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Parker Price-Miller; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Sheldon Haundenschild; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Extended Stay ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Super Flow ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Craftsman Club ($100 cash each): David Gravel, Sheldon Haundenschild, Brad Sweet, Jason Johnson, Paul McMahan; Craftsman/Sears ($100 cash): Parker Price-Miller; KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Parker Price-Miller; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Parker Price-Miller; JE Pistons (Set of Rings each): Brent Marks, Logan Schuchart.
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 2X-Parker Price-Miller [4][$10,000]; 2. 5-David Gravel [1][$5,500]; 3. 41-Jason Johnson [5][$3,200]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [12][$2,800]; 5. 99-Brady Bacon [8][$2,500]; 6. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$2,300]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$2,200]; 8. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [7][$2,100]; 9. 4-Paul McMahan [6][$2,050]; 10. 9-Daryn Pittman [13][$2,000]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [10][$1,500]; 12. 39-Spencer Bayston [9][$1,200]; 13. 17-Joey Saldana [16][$1,100]; 14. 24-Rico Abreu [17][$1,050]; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18][$1,000]; 16. 19-Brent Marks [19][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [20][$800]; 18. 21-Carson Short [14][$800]; 19. W20-Greg Wilson [21][$800]; 20. 3G-Carson Macedo [11][$800]; 21. 44-A.J. Bruns [23][$800]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [22][$800]; 23. 5X-Justin Peck [15][$800]; 24. 51B-Joe B [24][$800];
Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-5, Sheldon Haudenschild 6-18, Parker Price-Miller 19-40;
KSE Hard Charger Award: 2-Shane Stewart[+8]
Qualifying: 1. 99-Brady Bacon, 12.396; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.435; 3. 4-Paul McMahan, 12.437; 4. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.441; 5. 2X-Parker Price-Miller, 12.455; 6. 5-David Gravel, 12.554; 7. 41-Jason Johnson, 12.577; 8. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.598; 9. 39-Spencer Bayston, 12.608; 10. 21-Carson Short, 12.696; 11. 19-Brent Marks, 12.736; 12. 2-Shane Stewart, 12.747; 13. 9-Daryn Pittman, 12.78; 14. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.822; 15. 5X-Justin Peck, 12.915; 16. 48-Danny Dietrich, 12.92; 17. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.922; 18. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.958; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.003; 20. 84-Brandon Hanks, 13.006; 21. 51B-Joe B, 13.042; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.064; 23. 3G-Carson Macedo, 13.079; 24. 17-Joey Saldana, 13.105; 25. 44-A.J. Bruns, 13.122; 26. 4K-Kody Kinser, 13.153; 27. 42-Cory Bruns, 13.155; 28. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.237; 29. 42X-Andy Mcelhannon, 13.276; 30. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.378; 31. 3-Dakota Jackson, 13.504; 32. 13-Clyde Knipp, 13.751; 33. 71M-Paul May, 18.607; 34. 85-Mike Terry, NT
Heat #1 (10 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer to Feature: 1. 99-Brady Bacon [1]; 2. 2X-Parker Price-Miller [2]; 3. 39-Spencer Bayston [3]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [4]; 5. 24-Rico Abreu [5]; 6. 51B-Joe B [6]; 7. 44-A.J. Bruns [7]; 8. 42X-Andy Mcelhannon [8]; 9. 71M-Paul May [9]
Heat #2 (10 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer to Feature: 1. 5-David Gravel [2]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 4. 21-Carson Short [3]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [8]; 8. 4K-Kody Kinser [7]; 9. 85-Mike Terry [9]
Heat #3 (10 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer to Feature: 1. 41-Jason Johnson [2]; 2. 4-Paul McMahan [1]; 3. 3G-Carson Macedo [6]; 4. 5X-Justin Peck [4]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [3]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 7. 42-Cory Bruns [7]; 8. 3-Dakota Jackson [8]
Heat #4 (10 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer to Feature: 1. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [1]; 2. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [2]; 3. 2-Shane Stewart [3]; 4. 17-Joey Saldana [6]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [7]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [4]; 7. 13-Clyde Knipp [8]; 8. 84-Brandon Hanks [5]
Craftsman Club Dash (8 Laps): 1. 5-David Gravel [2]; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [6]; 4. 2X-Parker Price-Miller [5]; 5. 41-Jason Johnson [3]; 6. 4-Paul McMahan [7]; 7. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [8]; 8. 99-Brady Bacon [1]
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer to Feature: 1. W20-Greg Wilson [2][-]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5][-]; 3. 44-A.J. Bruns [6][-]; 4. 51B-Joe B [4][-]; 5. 4K-Kody Kinser [7][$300]; 6. 3-Dakota Jackson [11][$250]; 7. 42X-Andy Mcelhannon [9][$225]; 8. 42-Cory Bruns [8][$200]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [12][$200]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$200]; 11. 48-Danny Dietrich [1][$200]; 12. 84-Brandon Hanks [3][$200]; 13. 71M-Paul May [13][$200]; 14. 85-Mike Terry [14][$200]
EASTERN STORM NEWS
Posted by: | CommentsMAY 14, 2017
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443 513 4456
RELEASED PREPARED BY RICHIE MURRAY- - -USAC MEDIA
2017 AMSOIL USAC EASTERN STORM
EASTERN STORM ENTERS 2ND DECADE WITH A NEW TWIST AS USAC SPRINTS EYE PENNSYLVANIA TOUR JUNE 13-18
Throughout its first decade, the Eastern Storm has continually grown by leaps and bounds each year in terms of prestige.
It’s become a marquee event that drivers and fans alike circle on their calendar each year when the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship schedule is released.
In 2017, Eastern Storm enters its 11th year stronger than ever, but with a slightly new look to one of the most popular and hottest tickets in all of sprint car racing as the wingless heroes of United States Auto Club invade the state of Pennsylvania for a highly-anticipated week of open-wheel dirt-track racing across the Keystone State.
Grandview Speedway and the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series is the only track to have been a part of every Eastern Storm since its debut in 2007. The Bechtelsville, PA 1/3-mile track opens the five-race series on Tuesday, June 13 in a double header program with the NASCAR 358 Modifieds in a wildly popular event. PA Posse hot shoe Danny “Double D” Dietrich will attempt to chase down his first ever USAC non-wing sprint car victory. Race time is 7:30 PM
It’s off to Abbottstown, PA for a stop at the Lincoln Speedway, an Eastern Storm staple since 2010, brings the series into night two on Wednesday, June 14. The 358 Sprints will be part of this double header event that will carry a 7:30 PM starting time.
The most notable change on the schedule is the addition of Williams Grove Speedway on Thursday, June 15. The USAC Sprint Cars haven’t hit the Grove since Billy Pauch’s lone series victory in 1996! However, the Mechanicsburg, PA half-mile was slated to host a pair of Eastern Storm events in 2008 and 2009, but we’re both halted by Mother Nature.
In addition to the Sprint Cars, Williams Grove will host the USAC Eastern Regional Midgets presented by ARDC on Thursday. The following night, Friday, June 16, Eastern Storm takes a one-day break, but the action continues at the Grove with the USAC Silver Crown Champ Car series returning for the “Horn-Schindler Memorial” as well as the second of two-straight nights for the USAC/ARDC Midgets.
Port Royal Speedway is the second straight half-mile pegged for this year’s Eastern Storm, with the blazingly-fast track set for duty on Saturday night, June 17. The venerable Susquehanna Speedway has taken a new look over the past couple of years with upgrades continually being made to the facility, but for the fifth consecutive year, remains in its familiar spot as the host of the series-ender on Sunday night, June 18.
Thirty-four Eastern Storm events have been contested since the series’ inception in 2007. Levi Jones and Bryan Clauson are tied atop the leaderboard as winningest drivers in the series with six wins apiece. Clauson was the champion in 2016 after three stirring performances at Grandview, Lincoln and Port Royal in which he took the lead late in the going in each.
Chris Windom and Robert Ballou are the active drivers with the most Eastern Storm wins at three each. Windom, of Canton, Illinois won his first all the way back in 2010 at Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, PA and his most recent in the last season’s finale at Susquehanna. Ballou, of Rocklin, California, earned all three of his Eastern Storm victories in one magical weekend back in 2015, when he ran away with the series title.
Of the top-12 in the current USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car standings, just over half have won at least a single Eastern Storm feature. Hanford, California’s Chad Boespflug (2nd in points) was a victor at New Egypt (NJ) Speedway last season. Windom (3rd) won last year’s final at Susquehanna. Fort Branch, Indiana’s Chase Stockon (4th) scored a triumph in the 2014 opener at Grandview. Kokomo, Indiana’s Shane Cottle (8th) notched a victory in Susquehanna’s USAC debut in 2013. Sikeston, Missouri’s Hunter Schuerenberg (9th) captured New Egypt in 2011. USAC Triple Crown champ Dave Darland (11th) of Lincoln, Indiana has found Eastern Storm victory lane just once, at Port Royal back in 2013. Landon Simon (10th) of Tipp City, Ohio bagged the second, non-points feature at Grandview in 2016.
Absent from that list of drivers who’ve had a past Eastern Storm winning experience include series point leader Justin Grant of Ione, California. Mooresville, North Carolina’s Jarett Andretti (5th in points) fought a memorable battle with Clauson in last year’s Grandview stop. Another player in that same battle was Cullman, Alabama’s Kevin Thomas, Jr. (12th) who led 12 laps and, coincidentally, owns 12 career USAC National Sprint Car wins. Tyler Courtney of Indianapolis, Indiana (6th) and Greenfield, Indiana’s C.J. Leary (7th) snagged their first career USAC National Sprint Car victories last season, but are hoping to break through for a taste of Eastern Storm glory this coming June.
These drivers are among a large crop who will compete against a contingent of Pennsylvania natives who will step foot into relatively unfamiliar territory – in the seat of sprint car without a wing. Danny Dietrich, winner of the 2016 National Open at Williams Grove, plans to make his initial foray into USAC for Eastern Storm. Defending ARDC Midget champion and 2016 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals preliminary feature winner Alex Bright, is a regular in USAC’s midget division, but will try his hand for the first time in a USAC Sprint Car.
Eastern Storm has been a harbinger of good fortune when it comes to its champions’ future success. In seven of its ten years of existence, the champion of Eastern Storm has gone on to win the USAC National Sprint Car title in the same season: Levi Jones (2007, 2010 & 2011), Bryan Clauson (2012 & 2013), Brady Bacon (2014) and Robert Ballou (2015).
Additional Eastern Storm champs include Cole Whitt (2008 & 2009) and Clauson (2016), who became the second three-time titlist alongside Jones just one year ago.
EASTERN STORM CHAMPIONS:
2007: Levi Jones
2008: Cole Whitt
2009: Cole Whitt
2010: Levi Jones
2011: Levi Jones
2012: Bryan Clauson
2013: Bryan Clauson
2014: Brady Bacon
2015: Robert Ballou
2016: Bryan Clauson
AMSOIL USAC EASTERN STORM 2017
Tuesday, June 13 USAC Non-Wing Sprints
11th Annual Jesse Hockett Classic Plus 358 Modifieds Grandview Speedway
Wednesday, June 14 USAC Non-Wing Sprints & 358 Sprints- - Lincoln Speedway
Thursday, June 15 USAC Non-Wing Sprints & USAC/ARDC Midgets- - Williams Grove Speedway
Saturday, June 17 USAC Non-Wing Sprints & 410 Sprints- - Port Royal Speedway
Sunday, June 18 USAC Non-Wing Sprints & Extreme Stocks & Stock 600 Micros - - Susquehanna Speedway
THE MADMAN IS BACK; BALLOU RETURNS TO VICTORY LANE AT ELDORA AFTER 8-MONTH RECOVERY
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
THE MADMAN IS BACK; BALLOU RETURNS TO VICTORY LANE AT ELDORA AFTER 8-MONTH RECOVERY
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Rossburg, Ohio......... May 13, 2017 - Thursday, he was medically cleared. Friday, he was back in a racecar. Saturday, he was back in victory lane.
The timeline of events that led to Ballou's triumphant return to the top after an agonizing eight-month recovery from serious neck injuries sustained in a racing accident last September is as remarkable as it comes.
The storybook journey took the Rocklin, California native and 2015 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Champion to the front of the field on lap 18 of the 30-lap feature Saturday on night two of #LetsRaceTwo at Eldora Speedway after chasing down Chris Windom in lapped traffic to capture his first win in nearly a year.
Eldora was a fitting stage for Ballou's return, but it was just happenstance that the first leg of his road back to the racetrack took place at a venue that has served him so well over the past decade. It's the same place where he earned the first three of his 27 career series victories as well as the first #LetsRaceTwo feature in 2015. But, most importantly, it's a place - physically and mentally - that put him into a comfort zone as he put into perspective how fortunate he was to have another moment such as the one he had in front of large, raucous crowd Saturday night.
"Being able to come back and race a sprint car again is a victory in my mind," Ballou said. "I was faced with some circumstances where, in reality, I should've died. Obviously, someone wasn't done with me and I'm still here. It's sure been a long road. To come back at Eldora, I think everybody was excited fanwise, but I think they were all pretty leery. I've always loved this place, though. It comes pretty natural to me."
Just two days prior, Ballou's status was still uncertain as he awaited medical clearance from Dr. David Schwartz that would give him the go-ahead to get back behind the wheel of a racecar. Thursday night, he received official word and, from that point, it was a bit of a thrash to get everything ready to go for the next two nights.
"Our new Eagle chassis was sitting in the shop and hadn't been touched until about a week ago," Ballou admits. "I said, 'Hey, there might be a chance we could get going in June, so we need to get the ball rolling.' I had been going to work every day and spending every night in the shop. I didn't even get stickers or bumpers on the car until 2pm on Friday afternoon!"
Getting back in racing mode is not only difficult on the psyche after a serious incident such as Ballou's, the stakes are high when your racing career and your livelihood depends on your results on the track. Ballou admits that the situation is dire in some areas, but his level of success over the past three years has paid large dividends, and bills. Being out of commission for three-quarters of a year, however, put him in a difficult bind when he was sporting a brace instead of a firesuit.
"Fifteen days before I crashed, I bought a house," Ballou recalls. "I was out of work for 21 weeks and I couldn't afford my shop and my house at the same time without any income. I was pretty fortunate over the 2014 and 2015 seasons to bring in enough prize money to put a second and third car together and get a truck and trailer. I've got all the parts; I just don't have any money left. If we can keep winning before my parts supply runs out, hopefully we can get our bank account built back up and get back to where we were."
On the first night back on track, Ballou admits he and crew chief Derrick Bye were a bit behind the curve at the beginning of the night, but each time they hit the track, they got a little more comfortable and a little faster as the competitive juices began to flow again, helping get the two back into the same high-standard mode that drove them to 21 series victories from 2014 to 2016.
"I was pretty rusty Friday night and we have a new chassis that we're trying to figure out," Ballou explained. "We probably played it a little too conservative to start. We were trying to play catch up all night. You can't play catch up in this game. If you get caught behind the eight-ball, the night's over before you ever get back on the right side. That was ultimately the issue the first night. Tonight, we pretty much picked up where we were left off before the accident."
Saturday night, it looked like 2015 all over again as the white No. 12 was fast right from the get-go. He timed in fourth, ran second in his heat and began the main event from the outside of the second row.
By the end of lap one, Ballou had instantly climbed to second and was already challenging Windom for the top spot. Ballou dove to the bottom at the entrance of turn one, sliding up in front of Windom to take the lead. However, Windom came right back at Ballou, returning the favor by mimicking the same move that had just been put on him on the opposite end of the track to snatch the lead back in turn three.
"Once I slid Chris and got past him, he got me back in the next corner," Ballou details. "He was setting a pretty torrid pace that I thought would be difficult to keep up for 30 laps. When you go green for so long like we did tonight, it's really tough to keep the tires from blistering and, once they get hot and blister, it's pretty much over with. My car is generally better on long runs as it is. At times, he started getting tricky into one. I was running a lane above him and, at times, it was a little treacherous. There were a few times I thought I was going to knock the fence down."
Windom and Ballou ripped the high side as they put their right rear tires right up against the concrete to separate themselves as the cream of the crop of the 22-car field. The two were identically as fast as the other, turning similar times around the half-mile with the interval never wavering a tenth of a second in either direction from their five-car-length separation between one another throughout the first half.
The two entered lapped traffic by lap 10 with much of the back end of the field cooperating by running the bottom, providing them an unobstructed lane up top. The treacherous moment Ballou mentioned came on the 12th lap in traffic as Ballou negotiated the car of Corey Smith. Ballou had committed to the topside as Smith simultaneously headed for the groove up against the wall in turn one. Ballou was able to slip by with nary a foot to spare between his left side wheels and Smith's right side as "The Madman" continued his pursuit of Windom and the race lead.
With 13 laps remaining, the leaders encountered 15th-running Josh Hodges running the high groove. Windom left the trusty high line to slide Hodges in the third turn. As he slid through the middle of the racing surface, Ballou stayed the course up top and jetted around the outside of Windom exiting turn four to take the top position.
"Chris went to the bottom and left me a wide-open racetrack," Ballou said. "I had already caught him and I was better in (turns) three and four than he was. He was about the same speed in (turns) one and two unless I really pushed it. It was tough to push it as hard as he was so that I could even catch him in the first place, but I caught him in traffic and, as soon as he left the door open, I had a lot more left in the racecar and I just opened it up."
Ballou began to check out and seemed poised for victory until the first and only stoppage of the night's feature occurred with five laps to go when polesitter Landon Simon got upside down in turn three. He walked away unscathed.
One thing Ballou had yet to deal with thus far in his return was leading a late-race restart, but the champ was put to the test in a five-lap shootout. Yet, Windom, nor anybody for that matter, had anything left in the tank to make a bid in the end as Ballou vanished into the distance to take a 1.8 second victory over Windom, Brady Bacon, Justin Grant and Tyler Courtney.
"When there's five laps to go, lapped traffic has gone away and you're the leader, you end up being a sitting duck," Ballou explained. "Eldora's famous for the restart slider, so I tried to move down. I wasn't going to slide myself because I've seen that bite people as well, but I tried to move down to make sure I didn't hit the hole after the red flag when the tire pressure started getting lower. Tire pressure drops under a red flag and my tire really lost a lot of air. I ended up hitting a hole anyway. It really rolled up on and got tight on me, then it was tight in the next corner, which made me nervous. There's nothing to lean on in (turns) three and four and it was still tight. A lap of spinning the tires rose the pressure again and, from that point forward, we were pretty good."
Canton, Illinois driver Chris Windom led the initial 17 laps as he sought his first Eldora USAC Sprint win since 2013, but would have to settle for second in his Baldwin Brothers Racing/Fox Paving - AMSOIL/DRC/Claxton Mopar.
"I knew our tire was pretty blistered there at the end," Windom said. "(Crew Chief) Derek Claxton gave me a great racecar, as always. We were good the first half of the race, but I kind of caught traffic wrong and couldn't pick my way through those battles exactly like I wanted to in traffic. Robert got by me there and he was better than us at the end."
Two-time series champion Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma recorded ProSource Fast Qualifying time on both nights at #LetsRaceTwo, and on Saturday, took his best series finish of the season, a third, in his Dooling-Hayward/B & H Contractors - Dooling Machine/Spike/Stanton Mopar.
"Last night, we were a little free in the feature and didn't tighten it up enough. Tonight, we got a little too aggressive and were a little too tight," Bacon explains. "We just missed a little bit both nights. We're creeping up there, though. We were fast at the beginning of both nights this weekend, which is what we struggled with in Ocala, Florida. We're getting there. We had a few small issues and weren't quite right, but we were still up there competing for the win. I'm pretty happy with that."
Troy, Ohio's Dallas Hewitt, who finished second in Friday night's feature, was involved in a violent flip in the first heat race on Saturday night in which he made contact with the wall and catch fence. Hewitt was transported to the hospital suffering from a concussion and was awaiting X-ray results on a hand injury at press time.
Contingency award winners Saturday night at Eldora include Brady Bacon (ProSource Fast Qualifier), Scotty Weir (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Aaron Farney (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Josh Hodges (Chalk Stix/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner), Justin Grant (KSE Racing Products Hard Charger) and Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher).
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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: May 13, 2017 - Rossburg, Ohio - Eldora Speedway - "#LetsRaceTwo"
PROSOURCE QUALIFYING: 1. Brady Bacon, 63, Dooling/Hayward-15.541; 2. Chase Stockon, 32, 32 TBI-15.626; 3. Justin Grant, 11, McGhee-15.653; 4. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-15.663; 5. Chad Boespflug, 69, Dynamics-15.718; 6. Chris Windom, 5, Baldwin-15.784; 7. Landon Simon, 24, LSR-15.820; 8. Dave Darland, 71p, Phillips/Curb-Agajanian-15.828; 9. Kevin Thomas Jr., 44, Pace-15.926; 10. Tyler Courtney, 23c, TOPP-15.992; 11. Stevie Sussex, 17GP, Dutcher-16.026; 12. Mario Clouser, 6, Clouser-16.052; 13. Scotty Weir, 22s, Simon-16.069; 14. Aaron Farney, 15F, DCT-16.098; 15. Josh Hodges, 74x, Hodges-16.104; 16. Dallas Hewitt, 16, Kaser/Seeling-16.137; 17. Kyle Simon, 23s, Simon-16.159; 18. C.J. Leary, 30, Leary-16.201; 19. Tyler Hewitt, 97x, One More Time-16.302; 20. Isaac Chapple, 52, LNR/Chapple-16.369; 21. Corey Smith, 66s, CS-16.416; 22. Matt Goodnight, 39, Goodnight-16.543; 23. Toby Alfrey, 5A, Alfrey-16.867.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Weir, 2. Ballou, 3. Bacon, 4. Courtney, 5. L. Simon, 6. Goodnight, 7. T. Hewitt, 8. D. Hewitt. NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Farney, 2. Sussex, 3. Darland, 4. Boespflug, 5. Stockon, 6. Chapple, 7. K. Simon, 8. Alfrey. 2:12.89
CHALK STIX/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Hodges, 2. Leary, 3. Windom, 4. Thomas, 5. Grant, 6. Clouser, 7. C. Smith. 2:14.83
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Robert Ballou, 2. Chris Windom, 3. Brady Bacon, 4. Justin Grant, 5. Tyler Courtney, 6. Chase Stockon, 7. Stevie Sussex, 8. Dave Darland, 9. Scotty Weir, 10. Aaron Farney, 11. Chad Boespflug, 12. C.J. Leary, 13. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 14. Josh Hodges, 15. Isaac Chapple, 16. Corey Smith, 17. Tyler Hewitt, 18. Mario Clouser, 19. Matt Goodnight, 20. Landon Simon, 21. Kyle Simon, 22. Toby Alfrey. NT
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**D. Hewitt flipped during the first heat and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. L. Simon flipped on lap 26 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-17 Windom, Laps 18-30 Ballou.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Justin Grant (11th to 4th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FEATURE FINISHER: Kevin Thomas, Jr.
NEW USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Grant-594, 2-Boespflug-528, 3-Windom-508, 4-Stockon-497, 5-Courtney-399, 6-Jarett Andretti-338, 7-Thomas-332, 8-Leary-331, 9-Darland-317, 10-Shane Cottle-292.
NEXT USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: May 19 - Granite City, Illinois - Tri-City Speedway - "River Town Showdown"
Schatz Scores Ninth Season Win at Eldora Speedway
Posted by: | CommentsWorld of Outlaws
Contact: Cristina Cordova
World of Outlaws PR
704-707-0236 | ccordova@dirtcar.com
Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article
#15 Scores #9 on Night 2 of #LetsRaceTwo Donny Schatz leads all 30 laps for his ninth season win
ROSSBURG, OH - May 13, 2017 - Eight-time World of Outlaws Champion and current points leader Donny Schatz scored his ninth season win on the second and final night of #LetsRaceTwo at Eldora Speedway, leading all 30 laps into the checkers. Behind him, a fierce battle for second and third ensued, in which Outlaws Brad Sweet and Jason Johnson ultimately lost out to Ohio-native Chad Kemenah and the much-loved Rico Abreu.
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year contender Sheldon Haundenschild - quite popular at the track given the loud applause heard from fans - started in second next to Schatz, but fell back almost immediately with Brad Sweet and Jason Johnson battling for second. Heading into Lap 12, however, Kemenah, who had been dilligently working his way up from eighth, stole third from Johnson and started pressing on Sweet.
A Lap 20 restart after Shane Stewart slapped the wall in Turn 4, ending the night for the Larson Marks Racing #2 car, gave Kemenah a brief opportunity to battle Schatz for the lead, but the reigning champ pulled ahead and maintained a strong lead throughout the race.
"That's not me; that's this race team," said Schatz. "These guys are incredible. They're all capable of being crew chiefs on this car. They feed off each other. Sometimes I don't give the best information. I try to do my best job, but some days I'm racing Lap 29 and they're trying to figure out how to start the race. It's just lucky to be around great people like that. It's fun to get a win, especially here at Eldora."
Unlike the previous night, in which the Craftsman Club Dash inversion pushed Schatz back into position seven from the second spot and put Johnson on the pole, the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver got lucky with an invert of six that put him on the pole after a less than stellar start to the day, while Tim Shaffer got pushed all the way to the back after earning the pole.
Oddly, no driver visited Victory Lane twice during the two-day event at the famed half-mile oval, and spectators witnessed two very different nights of racing at the 'Big E'. The bottom was slicker, and the track was faster overall, allowing Shaffer to score a qualifying Quick Time of 12.915, not far from the 12.707-second track record established by Craig Dollansky on April 13, 2002. And despite Schatz's win, he remained the only Outlaw in Victory Lane.
"We'll take second against these guys," said Kemenah from Victory Lane. "You know, they are the best."
But this wasn't Kemenah's first trip there during #LetsRaceTwo. Last year, he followed Kerry Madsen into the checkers for another second place win. "This is really good," said the Alvada, Ohio native. "Two years in a row now I ran second in this thing, so I need one more."
Eldora Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: Eight-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz scored his ninth win of the season on the second and final night of #LetsRaceTwo at Eldora Speedway on Saturday. Schatz led all 30 laps, with only a short-lived challenge from Chad Kemenah on a Lap 20 restart after Shane Stewart hit the wall in Turn 4. Kemenah followed Schatz into Victory Lane after a fierce battle for second and third, which resulted in the Alvada, OH native and Rico Abreu overtaking Outlaws Brad Sweet and Jason Johnson.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Dale Blaney; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Brent Marks; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; Extended Stay ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Brent Marks; Super Flow ($50 cash): David Gravel; Craftsman Club Fast Five ($100 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild, Brad Sweet, Joey Saldana, Jason Johnson; Craftsman/Sears: Tim Shaffer; KSE Hard Charger: Brent Marks; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Donny Schatz; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jason Sides; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Clyde Knipp.
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 9 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, LoneStar Speedway on March 3, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 10, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 18, Missouri State Fair Speedway on May 5, 81 Speedway on May 6, Eldora Speedway on May 13); David Gravel - 5 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 17, Placerville Speedway on March 29, Perris Auto Speedway on April 1, Gator Motorplex on April 3, Plymouth Speedway on April 28); Jason Johnson - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 14); Brad Sweet - 2 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 15), Logan Schuchart - 2 (Keller Auto Speedway on March 31, Eldora Speedway on May 12), Brian Brown - 1 (Cocopah Speedway on April 7), Rico Abreu - 1 (Arizona Speedway on April 8).
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Eldora Speedway, OH; May 13, 2017
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$10,000]; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah [8][$5,000]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [9][$3,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$2,700]; 5. 41-Jason Johnson [6][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13][$2,200]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [12][$2,000]; 8. 17-Joey Saldana [4][$1,800]; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5][$1,600]; 10. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [2][$1,450]; 11. 9-Daryn Pittman [16][$1,300]; 12. 19-Brent Marks [20][$1,200]; 13. 4-Paul McMahan [19][$1,100]; 14. 5-David Gravel [7][$1,000]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [15][$950]; 16. 12N-Cole Duncan [18][$900]; 17. 7S-Jason Sides [21][$850]; 18. 1A-Jacob Allen [23][$750]; 19. 48-Danny Dietrich [14][$725]; 20. 2-Shane Stewart [10][$700]; 21. 44-Trey Starks [17][$700]; 22. 99-Brady Bacon [11][$700]; 23. 13-Clyde Knipp [22][$700]; 24. 11N-Dale Blaney [24][$700]
Lap Leader: Donny Schatz 1-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+8]
Qualifying: 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 12.915; 2. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.055; 3. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.056; 4. 17-Joey Saldana, 13.059; 5. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 13.068; 6. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.136; 7. 5-David Gravel, 13.149; 8. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.159; 9. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.178; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.203; 11. 44-Trey Starks, 13.207; 12. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.213; 13. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.219; 14. 99-Brady Bacon, 13.258; 15. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.289; 16. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.298; 17. 48-Danny Dietrich, 13.361; 18. 12N-Cole Duncan, 13.384; 19. 4-Paul McMahan, 13.36; 20. 19-Brent Marks, 13.435; 21. 17X-Caleb Helms, 13.436; 22. 13-Clyde Knipp, 13.439; 23. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.457; 24. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.475; 25. 11N-Dale Blaney, 13.518; 26. 7C-Caleb Armstrong, 13.657; 27. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.684; 28. 45-Trevor Baker, 13.762; 29. 1A-Jacob Allen, NT
Heat #1 (8 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer: 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1]; 2. 17-Joey Saldana [2]; 3. 5-David Gravel [3]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4]; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman [6]; 7. 4-Paul McMahan [7]; 8. 13-Clyde Knipp [8]; 9. 45-Trevor Baker [10]; 10. 11N-Dale Blaney [9]
Heat #2 (8 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer: 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 3. 10H-Chad Kemenah [2]; 4. 99-Brady Bacon [5]; 5. 48-Danny Dietrich [6]; 6. 44-Trey Starks [4]; 7. 7S-Jason Sides [8]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [7]; 9. 7C-Caleb Armstrong [9]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10]
Heat #3 (8 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer: 1. 41-Jason Johnson [1]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [3]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [4]; 6. 12N-Cole Duncan [6]; 7. 49D-Shawn Dancer [9]; 8. 17X-Caleb Helms [7]
Craftsman Club Dash (6 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [5]; 4. 17-Joey Saldana [3]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [6]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson [4]
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer: 1. 4-Paul McMahan [1][-]; 2. 19-Brent Marks [2][-]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [5][-]; 4. 13-Clyde Knipp [4][-]; 5. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][-]; 6. 11N-Dale Blaney [6][-]; 7. 17X-Caleb Helms [3][$300]; 8. 45-Trevor Baker [9][$250]; 9. 7C-Caleb Armstrong [7][$225]; 10. 49D-Shawn Dancer [8][$200]; 11. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [11][$200]
GRANT GUIDES THE WAY TO VICTORY ON NIGHT ONE OF #LETSRACETWO AT ELDORA
Posted by: | Comments- The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
GRANT GUIDES THE WAY TO VICTORY ON NIGHT ONE OF #LETSRACETWO AT ELDORA
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Rossburg, Ohio.........May 12, 2017 -- Eldora Speedway is the venue the Justin Grant/Sam McGhee Motorsports tandem truly kicked into gear last September as they raced to their first USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship feature win.
On Friday's night one of #LetsRaceTwo, the two showed that the magic touch from eight months ago at the Big E has no signs of wearing off as they raced to their second USAC victory in as many tries at the western Ohio dirt oval.
It was the third series victory for driver Justin Grant in 2017 after a season-opening triumph in Ocala, Florida and an April score in Plymouth, Indiana in the Sam McGhee/Mike McGhee & Associates - Brown & Miller Racing Solutions/Maxim/Foxco. It was also the third career Eldora victory for Grant, a driver who is quick to pass the credit for his prowess at Eldora to the 17-year-old McGhee who turns the wrenches on the No. 11.
"I've got Sammy (McGhee). That's what I've figured out about this place," Grant exclaimed. "I can't say enough about this crew and this racecar. They all work their tails off and they do a heck of a job. It's an amazing car to drive."
Yet, in humble fashion, McGhee instantly identifies Grant's communication and detail-oriented style as the staple of their success, which has yet to see a finish outside the top-four in a USAC race this season for the series point leaders.
"It's all about being able to read the track and know exactly what your driver likes and dislikes," McGhee believes. "That's so important here at a place like Eldora where you carry so much speed. Justin is very detailed in communicating to me what he needs to get to the front. We've been clicking because we're both young, passionate about what we do and have a mutual respect. That's translated into the success we've had since we teamed up last season."
Grant began the 30-lap event from the fifth position as polesitter Kevin Thomas, Jr. sprinted to the lead at the drop of the green with Chris Windom and Chad Boespflug in tow.
An incident involving Corey Smith and Nick Bilbee in turn one on the third lap would prove to be the first, and only, stoppage of the night. When racing resumed, an intense, unwavering early-race battle at the front of the pack would ensue involving Thomas, Windom and Boespflug.
Windom began to apply pressure to Thomas for the top spot by lap seven, but soon, a train that included Grant and 11th starting Shane Cottle gassed their way to the front with race leader Thomas just within reach.
Grant closed to the tail of Thomas' tail tank by lap 10 and used a patented Eldora slider in turn three to rip the lead away as Thomas countered underneath. In a drag race to the line, Grant held the advantage by a single wheel. Thomas charged right back at Grant after getting a run on the bottom of turn three, but Grant denied the anticipated Thomas' slider after switching to the low line to momentarily ward off the challenge.
Meanwhile, Cottle was a man on a mission using the middle to low line to close on race leader Grant by the midway point while Thomas and Windom found their second wind and began to reel the leaders back in on the high side.
On the 18th lap, Cottle got a big run on Grant on the bottom of turn one, but Grant slammed the door to fend off the veteran driver who was seeking his very first Eldora USAC win. Grant acknowledges it was a move out of necessity because the bottom was the place to be at that point in the race, but not one that he normally would give a try.
"There's quite a bit of risk to it," Grant acknowledged. "Normally, I'm not one to do that. Not because I have any moral objections to it, but I'm usually just not very good at it. I could tell (Shane) Cottle was working me up off the bottom. The top was still really dirty off (turn) two and there wasn't a cushion to find yet. I fired off one lap onto the bottom and figured if it's not good, I'll just run a slider on myself and get back to the cushion off (turn) two. It stuck and drove off turn two, so I thought 'Well, okay. That was pretty good.'
Cottle refused to fade away and came back at Grant with 10 laps remaining, engaging in a side-by-side battle for the lead that now saw mid-field starters Thomas Meseraull and Dallas Hewitt enter the top-five. Lap-after-lap, the contentious scramble for position was uncertain with the top-five participating in a scramble for position that appeared as if it were a restrictor plate race at Talladega.
Grant moved back to the top in the final stages as Hewitt found a little magic of his own, slicing through the middle to third and, with four laps remaining, sliding across the front bumper of Thomas to grab second.
It was now a two-man trophy-dash between Grant and Hewitt for the win. On laps 28 and 29, Hewitt made up ground off of turn two to pull himself within the shadows of Grant. Yet, Grant played a little more defense as the sound of Hewitt's engine was within earshot and denied Hewitt any notion of claiming the position.
On the final lap, Hewitt made one final go of it, lifting the left rear entering turn one as he kept Grant within sight. But, Grant was out of reach, holding off a torrid charge by a bevy of competitors in the second-half of the 30-lapper to score his second-straight Eldora USAC National Sprint Car victory over Hewitt, Thomas, KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Chase Stockon (from 21st) and Meseraull.
In a topsy-turvy race that seemingly witnessed every position behind him change lap-by-lap, Grant avoided every bullet that was aimed at him, never relinquishing his lead as he maintained control for the final 21 laps. The Ione, California native used a mixture of his own experience as well as what he's learned over the years at Eldora watching how other savvy veterans got the job done.
"If a guy wouldn't get all the way to the cushion, we'd drive around him. If a guy would get to the cushion, we'd slide him," Grant explained. "I was able to pick and choose my lines and, when I caught a guy, I'd just go where he wasn't. We kept getting pressured near the end and, as thin as the cushion was against the fence, I was just trying not to beat myself. When someone would get under me and pressure me, I'd step it up. Then, it would get quiet and I'd settle back down. I was trying to run only as hard as I had to."
"I started doing the big slide off turn three and catching the cushion off turn four," Grant continued. "Tracy (Hines) used to be good at that here when it would get slick. After watching him do that for years, I figured I'd give that a try since there wasn't much getting into turn three. I started hearing guys and began to get pressure getting into turn three again and I could tell the bottom in turns one and two was slowing down. I was already thinking in my mind, 'Okay, I'm going to move back to the top as soon as I start getting some pressure.' I felt the pressure and got back to the top. After a few laps, I felt like I got away from them a bit. Then they came back and got to me again! I knew I had to step it up and I started blocking sliders in three. I just tried to run a smart race and be in the right lane and not beat myself."
Grant is a driver who likes to be spectacular, running the high-line that gets the highlights and sells t-shirts, but on this night, it didn't matter to him where he ran. All that mattered was getting the "W" and picking up the check for him and his team in victory lane.
"As I'm running around the bottom of turns one and two, I was thinking, 'Man, I want somebody to drive by me off the top of turn two so I could just be done down here," Grant said with a laugh. "As much as I rant and rave about running the bottom at Eldora, I would've never heard the end of it if I had won a race on the bottom. It pays the same, but it's just not nearly as cool."
The Hewitt name is synonymous with Eldora Speedway due to Jack's all-time record of 24 USAC victories at the joint. On Friday night, Troy, Ohio's Dallas Hewitt nearly pulled off the first Hewitt victory at the track since his uncle Jack's "4-Crown Nationals" sweep in 1998. After kissing the concrete early in the feature, Hewitt recovered mightily, coming oh-so-close to his first career USAC victory, taking home second in his Kaser-Seeling Motorsports/Larry's Electric - Lone Star Pawn Shop/Eagle/Kistler.
"I had a good run on Justin (Grant) there toward the end, but I think he might've heard me," Hewitt suspected. "He kind of came down on me a little bit more than he was running the laps before. I could've been a little meaner and maybe gave him a wheel coming off turn four, but it was a good clean race and I'll take a second at a USAC race at Eldora any day. We've been so close here so many times. We junked our other car at Lawrenceburg a few weeks ago, so we just threw this one together. It isn't the prettiest piece, but it gets the job done."
Cullman, Alabama's Kevin Thomas, Jr. led the first nine laps and earned his best result of the year with a third-place finish in his Pace Brothers Racing/Pace Performance Coating - DC Dyno/DRC/J & D.
"For me to run the top 30 laps here is nothing short of a miracle," Thomas deadpanned. "I'm just pumped to be up here. I really wanted that win, though. I don't get to start up front very much, so I wanted to capitalize on it.
Contingency award winners Friday night at Eldora include Brady Bacon (ProSource Fast Qualifier), Dave Darland (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Scotty Weir (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Tyler Courtney (Chalk Stix Third Heat Winner), Chase Stockon (Indy Race Parts Fourth Heat Winner & KSE Racing Products Hard Charger) and C.J. Leary (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher).
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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: May 12, 2017 - Rossburg, Ohio - Eldora Speedway - "#LetsRaceTwo" - "Don Branson/Jud Larson Classic"
PROSOURCE QUALIFYING: 1. Brady Bacon, 63, Dooling/Hayward-16.960; 2. C.J. Leary, 30, Leary-17.182; 3. Justin Grant, 11, McGhee-17.276; 4. Thomas Meseraull, 9x, SC-17.469; 5. Aaron Farney, 15F, DCT-17.487; 6. Chad Boespflug, 69. Dynamics-17.551; 7. Chris Windom, 5, Baldwin-17.594; 8. Jarett Andretti, 18, Andretti-17.623; 9. Dallas Hewitt, 16, Kaser/Seeling-17.636; 10. Kevin Thomas Jr., 44, Pace-17.688; 11. Shane Cottle, 57, Hazen-17.691; 12. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-17.739; 13. Stevie Sussex, 17GP, Dutcher-17.873; 14. Nick Bilbee, 17, Bilbee-17.890; 15. Chad Wilson, 14, Wilson-17.975; 16. Landon Simon, 24, LSR-18.001; 17. Dave Darland, 71p, Phillips/Curb-Agajanian-18.009; 18. Scotty Weir, 22s, Simon-18.037; 19. Tyler Courtney, 23c, TOPP-18.103; 20. Dustin Smith, 77, Gagliardi-18.122; 21. Corey Smith, 66s, CS-18.203; 22. Mario Clouser, 6, Clouser-18.265; 23. Josh Hodges, 74x, Hodges-18.271; 24. Chase Stockon, 32, 32 TBI-18.369; 25. Isaac Chapple, 52, LNR/Chapple-18.479; 26. Tony DiMattia, 50, DiMattia-18.617; 27. Matt Goodnight, 39, Goodnight-18.743; 28. Lee Underwood, 24L, Underwood-18.932; 29. Riley VanHise, 96, VanHise-18.962; 30. Tyler Hewitt, 97x, One More Time-19.431; 31. Matt Westfall, 54, Westfall-NT.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Darland, 2. C.Smith, 3. Chapple, 4. Bacon, 5. D.Hewitt, 6. Sussex, 7. VanHise, 8. Farney. 2:15.49
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Weir, 2. Bilbee, 3. Boespflug, 4. Thomas, 5. Leary, 6. Clouser, 7. DiMattia, 8. T.Hewitt. 2:17.37
CHALK STIX THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Courtney, 2. Hodges, 3. Grant, 4. Windom, 5. Cottle, 6. Wilson, 7. Goodnight. 2:16.90
INDY RACE PARTS FOURTH HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Stockon, 2. Ballou, 3. Andretti, 4. D.Smith, 5. Meseraull, 6. Simon, 7. Underwood. 2:15.89
SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Leary, 2. Cottle, 3. D.Hewitt, 4. Meseraull, 5. Farney, 6. Wilson, 7. Simon, 8. Sussex, 9. Clouser, 10. Underwood, 11. Goodnight, 12. T.Hewitt, 13. VanHise, 14. DiMattia. 3:38.42
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Justin Grant, 2. Dallas Hewitt, 3. Kevin Thomas Jr., 4. Chase Stockon, 5. Thomas Meseraull, 6. Shane Cottle, 7. Robert Ballou, 8. Brady Bacon, 9. Tyler Courtney, 10. Chris Windom, 11. Scotty Weir, 12. Aaron Farney, 13. C.J. Leary, 14. Jarett Andretti, 15. Chad Wilson, 16. Dave Darland, 17. Chad Boespflug, 18. Josh Hodges, 19. Landon Simon, 20. Dustin Smith, 21. Isaac Chapple, 22. Corey Smith, 23. Nick Bilbee. NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-9 Thomas, Laps 10-30 Grant.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Chase Stockon (21st-4th)
NEW USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Grant-525, 2-Boespflug-480, 3-Windom-434, 4-Stockon-433, 5-Andretti-338, 6-Courtney-336, 7-Cottle-292, 8-Thomas-290, 9-Leary-285, 10-Darland-262.
NEXT USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: May 13 - Rossburg, OH - Eldora Speedway - #LetsRaceTwo
