CAMARGO, IL (3-31-12) By Brian Liskai – After a highly successful and exciting beginning of the 2012 season, the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champion Sprint Car Series will blast open the gates for the Ohio Region with the 21st Annual Spring Nationals at Attica Raceway Park on Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7.
“Attica Raceway Park kicks off our very competitive Ohio Region point’s battle and is one of the most exciting tracks the All Stars compete at. With the level of competition that races there every week, and the loyal, intelligent fans that come there, coupled with is its history and proximity to other hot beds of racing….the Spring Nationals has become a ‘must see’ event in the Midwest region,” said Guy Webb, of All Star Championship Racing. “We could see drivers like NASCAR stars Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart or Pennsylvania Posse racers or World of Outlaw drivers….it’s early enough in the season you just don’t know who will show up.”
Pittsboro, Indiana’s Daryn Pittman, who finished a close second to Lance Dewease in the battle for the All Star’s Eastern Region Championship in 2011, currently leads the UNOH All Star’s National and Eastern Region point standings after seven events, which featured two races in Georgia and five in Florida. Pittman scored a win to open the series in 2012 and picked up a pair of runner-up finishes and has not finished out of the top 10. Danny “The Dude” Lasoski started strong in 2012 with three All Star wins and currently sits second in the national and Eastern Region point standings. Three time series champion Dale “The Low Rider” Blaney, who scored a win at Ocala, Florida in February to run his career series’ total to 85, sits third in the point standings while Sam Hafertepe Jr., in his new Zemco Racing ride, resides in the fourth spot in the points while young charger David Gravel, who finished third in the series’ national point standings in 2011 and was the 2010 Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion, sits fifth.
Tim Shaffer, who has won the past three All Star championships, is working in with his Janet Holbrook/Aaron Call owned team to pick up some momentum. The Steel City Outlaw sits sixth in the UNOH All Star point standings, but past history dictates, once the Midwestern races begin, he will be a force to be deal with.
However, the All Stars face a huge uphill battle when they come to race in Ohio as the tracks in the Northwestern part of the state boast some of the best weekly racing in the nation.
Since it’s inception in 1992, the Spring Nationals have seen some of the best sprint drivers in the world compete at Attica. Blaney has four Spring National victories to his credit, including three of the last six events. Six time Attica champion Byron Reed has two Spring National victories, including his most recent in 2010. Look for the likes of 2005 Spring Nationals winner Stevie Smith in his new CL Motorsports team Black Bandit #19 KPC and two-time All Star Champion and three-time Spring Nationals winner Greg Wilson with five-time All Star mechanic of the year Brian Kemenah turning the wrenches on the #W20 to be tough. There could also be some surprise competitors coming from Pennsylvania and around the Northwest states to challenge other All Star drivers Danny Holtgraver, Cap Henry, Pete Miller and other tough competitors like 2011 Attica champion Dean Jacobs and Bryan Sebetto in his new Hammer Motorsports team to battle for wins.
Last year at Attica, Shaffer scored two All Star wins while Blaney picked up one victory.
For gate times and admission prices go to www.atticaracewaypark.com