Reed, Babcock, Clark & Valenti Claim Feature Wins; Griffith, Babcock, Ryan & Valenti claim Attica Track Championship Crowns
By Brian Liskai
Image(Attica, OH) Byron Reed has been racing quite awhile now. But even a veteran can start doubting himself when he goes through a drought. Reed, a six time Attica Raceway Park champion, came into the Kistler Racing Products Presents the Mark Keegan Classic Championship Night winless in 2014.
That all changed Saturday as the Monclova, Ohio driver led all 30 laps to score his 30th career Attica win. Ironically, Reed is second on the track’s all-time win list to…Keegan.
“Probably part of the reason I’ve struggled so much this year…qualifying the first half of the year and bad pill draws. Everyone is so close it’s sometimes hard to get buy guys who are in clean air. Mid-season there I was pretty frustrated. We started the year off with some of the same stuff we did last year and it just wasn’t working. We had to change some stuff and we’ve been pretty good the last month and we finally have a win to show for it,” said Reed beside his Crown Battery/Kistler Engines/ProShocks backed #5.
“I have to thank my crew for staying with me and working hard. And my wife has to come to every race now because she drew the number two for the feature. My sons drew that one that got me in the back of the heat. So she has to draw now,” added Reed.
And, Castalia, Ohio’s Caleb Griffith, a former Attica 305 sprint champion, would come home second and would claim his first ever track championship in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 sprints. Griffith is only the 9th 410 sprint champion in the track’s 27 year history.
“Obviously I’m happy we won the track championship but it’s not the way I wanted to do it with Chris (Andrews) sitting in the infield and Craig (Mintz) getting hurt early in the year. But, the last five times we’ve been to the race track from the time we drop the trailer door to the time we roll out to the heat race it’s been a complete struggle. This is fantastic for the guys. Byron was a little bit better than us on the short run…we needed lapped traffic. That’s Byron’s first win this year…that shows you how competitive this deal is,” said Griffith beside his Al Davis Carpet/McDonald’s/Crown Battery/JLH General Contractor/Shelluke’s Bar/Fremont Fence/Griff’s Engines backed machine.
Wayne, Ohio’s Jeff Babcock and Mike Bores would battle throughout the 25 laps of the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature with Babcock taking control on lap 18. The Wayne Hurricane would drive to his 6th feature win of the year at Attica to wrap up the track championship. It was his 10th career victory at Attica. All he had to do was take the green in the feature to wrap up the track title.
“Mikey Bores has come a long way racing. Man he was giving me all kinds of fits there…I just couldn’t get him. Finally we got going good enough to get by,” said Babcock beside his Holcomb Racing/Best Performance Motorsports/Craig Miller Trucking/Bulk Material Lift.com/Professional Drywall backed #1.
“I’ve never really been one to race for championships and I found out why tonight. Even when I went out for the feature I had butterflies in my belly for some reason. I know why I don’t race for championships because I’m no good at them. It’s hard to describe the feeling that comes with a championship…it’s pretty neat,” added Babcock.
Fremont’s Bobby Clark would drive under Steve Rando for the lead on lap 13 of the Foster Auto Body 305 Sprint feature and would pull away for his second win of the season. The victory is the 15th of his career at Attica and ties him with D.J. Foos – ironically the son of Clark’s crew chief – for 6th on the division’s all-time win list.
“We were mediocre with my car and they had this car out for a couple of runs (with Bobby’s nephew driving) and it looked kind of promising. So we decided we wanted to try it…I think we’re going to keep it,” said Clark beside his Fremont Fence/Little Bar on the Prairie/B&L Plumbing/Kear’s Speed Shop/Big D’s Pizza/Kistler Engines/Nagy Equipment Sales/CRF Concrete/Willey’s Towing backed machine.
Clark started the feature with his wing pulled way back on the car. While most were rim-riding around turns three and four, Clark was able to drive the middle and bottom of the track in a 25-lap non-stop feature event.
“Dave (Foos, crew chief) always has a good read on the track. He pays attention and that’s what he decided to do with the wing and I’m glad he did. As long as I kept it low and smooth I had good drive off. I might have another year or two in me yet,” added Clark.
Castalia, Ohio’s Jordan Ryan, just 16 years of age, would drive from 13th to an eighth place finish to wrap up his first ever Attica track championship.
“I hustled just to get a top four in the heat to make the feature. In the feature we started deep and I was just trying to stay calm and stay away from other cars. We’re planning on going 410 racing next year but we’ll see what happens. It’s been a real consistent season and that’s the key,” said Jordan who has had 11 top five finishes in 2014 at Attica.
“I have to thank my crew, my dad, my mom and everyone that helps me out including Village Pizza House, Big D’s Lawn Care, Frost Frog, Walton’s Cutting Crew, Griff’s Engines, J&J Automotive…without those guys I couldn’t do it,” added Ryan.
To say Shawn Valenti has had a dream season is a big understatement. The Risingsun, Ohio driver scored his 5th win of the season in the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks at Attica, leading all 15 laps for his 9th career victory. The win ties Valenti with Brian Arnold for fourth on the track’s all-time win list. He also has 10 truck wins at Fremont in 2014 and picked up a pair of wins in stock car action at Limaland.
“It’s just been one heck of a year. And I had a lot of fun running around in a late model too (he drove Babcock’s back-up at Attica). I have to thank all the guys behind this team. Jason Jimison has stuck with us all year…Jeff Babcock puts me in this fast thing and my wife for giving me the time and opportunity to do this,” said Valenti beside his Craig Miller Trucking/Best Performance Motorsports/Conrad Transportation/Dave Story Equipment Repair/Day Dream and Memories Crafts and Antiques/KS Sales and Service/JP Enterprises backed truck.
Brian Lay and Reed would bring the field to green for the 410 sprint feature with Reed gaining the advantage over Lay, Christopher Bell, Griffith, Cap Henry, Gary Taylor and Brian Smith. Griffith would drive into third on lap three.
Reed would drive into heavy lapped traffic by the 7th circuit as Griffith picked up second. Griffith began closing on Reed as they worked through traffic with Bell, Lay, Henry, Taylor, Craig Mintz and Rob Chaney in pursuit.
The first caution would fly on lap 17 when Bell spun off of turns three and four while running third. On the restart and with a clear track Reed pulled away slightly from Griffith, Henry, Mintz, Lay, Taylor and Chaney.
All eyes were on Chris Andrews who had started 12th and needed a solid top eight finish to secure the track championship. He was up to 9th by lap 18.
The more laps under green that were run, Griffith was able to close on Reed. With seven laps remaining the running order was Reed, Griffith, Mintz, Henry, Lay, Taylor, Chaney and Andrews. However, Andrews would make contact with one of the infield tractor tire barriers on lap 27, bringing out the caution and ending his championship run.
The three lap shoot-out saw Reed drive to victory with Griffith just a car length back. Mintz, Chaney and Henry would round out the top five.
In the 25-lap late model feature, Cody Scott and Mike Bores brought the field to green with Bores jumping into the lead over Scott, Rocky Owens, Matt Irey and Babcock. Babcock would shoot into second on lap three just before the caution flew for a Matt Irey spin. On the restart Bores and Babcock began their race-long battle with Owens, Scott, Ryan Missler, John Bores and Justin Chance in tow.
Bores and Babcock ran side-by side over the next several laps before the caution would fly for one of the infield tires being tossed onto the track on lap 12. When the green reappeared so did the battle between Bores and Babcock with Owens, Missler, Scott, John Bores and Irey in tow.
The caution would fly on lap 15 for a Michael Stiltner spin with the running order Bores, Babcock, Owens, Missler, Scott, John Bores and Irey. Again when the green flew so did the side by side racing between Mike Bores and Babcock.
Babcock was finally able to slip under Bores and drive up in front to take the lead on lap 18. Once in the lead, Babcock was able to pull away slightly over Mike Bores, Owens, Missler, John Bores, Irey and Scott.
But, Steve Sabo would spin with three laps to go, giving Bores one last shot at Babcock. When the green flew Bores tried to drive under Babcock but the Wayne Hurricane held on and drove to the win over Mike Bores, Owens, Irey and Missler.
Steve Rando and Tyler Gunn brought the field to green for the 305 sprint feature with Rando bolting into the lead over Ricky Peterson, Gunn, Clark, Trey Jacobs, Nate Dussel, Paul Weaver and Dustin Dinan. Clark would take third on lap three and immediately pressured Peterson.
Rando couldn’t shake the rest of the field as Clark finally took second on lap 11 and closed quickly on the leader with Peterson, Gunn, Dussel, Dinan, Weaver, Jacobs and John Ivy in tow. Clark would drive under Rando for the lead on lap 13 as the leaders prepared to encounter heavy lapped traffic.
Clark sliced his way through traffic while Rando now had his hands full with Peterson with Dussel, Dinan, Weaver, Gunn, Ivy, Jacobs and Ryan in pursuit. With five laps to go Clark had three lapped cars separating him from Rando as Dussel drove into third.
Clark would cruise to the win over Rando, Dussel, Dinan and Weaver.
John Ivy and Keith Sorg paced the field to the green for the dirt truck feature that would see only one caution flag during the 15-lap distance. Valenti would storm from his fourth place starting position into the lead at the drop of the green with Sorg, Kent Brewer, Ivy, Brad Keckler, Dana Fry and Matt Foos giving chase.
Brewer would take second on lap two and closed on Valenti with Sorg, Ivy and Keckler locked in a tremendous battle for third. At the half-way point, Valenti and Brewer were battling side by side for the lead with Sorg, Ivy and Foos not in a war for third. Ivy would take the third spot on lap 11 but Foos and Sorg made it a three wide battle the next lap.
Valenti was able to pull away the last three laps for the win over Brewer, Foos, Ivy and Sorg.
Attica Raceway Park wraps up the 2014 season with a big double-header weekend Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29 and 30. On Friday Detroit Chocolat Presents the Lucas Oil Late Model Series gunning for $10,000 to win with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions also in competition for $3,000 to win. On Saturday the UNOH All Stars battle for $5,000 to win on Baumann Auto Group Night with the late models going for $1,500 to win and the 305 sprints and dirt trucks also in action.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 8/23/2014
Kistler Racing Products Night
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (23 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 53C-Christopher Bell[4] ; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[8] ; 3. 2+-Brian Smith[1] ; 4. 45L-Brian Lay[7] ; 5. 17-Scott Euler[3] ; 6. 73-Joe Armbruster[2] ; 7. 14H-Todd Heller[6]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9X-Rob Chaney[2] ; 2. 53-Cap Henry[1] ; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[4] ; 4. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[3] ; 5. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5] ; 6. 60-Jody Keegan[7] ; 7. 83M-Broc Martin[8] ; 8. 11X-Brandon Martin[6]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O9-Craig Mintz[2] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 3. 14-Chad Wilson[1] ; 4. 1ST-Gary Taylor[7] ; 5. 3T-Tony Beaber[6] ; 6. 68G-Tyler Gunn[3] ; 7. 8-Kevin Shelbo[5]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 5R-Byron Reed[2]; 2. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[5]; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[11]; 4. 9X-Rob Chaney[10]; 5. 53-Cap Henry[4]; 6. 45L-Brian Lay[1]; 7. 1ST-Gary Taylor[7]; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[9]; 9. 53C-Christopher Bell[3]; 10. 2+-Brian Smith[6]; 11. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[14]; 12. 11X-Brandon Martin[20]; 13. 83M-Broc Martin[18]; 14. 14-Chad Wilson[8]; 15. 73-Joe Armbruster[16]; 16. 60-Jody Keegan[17]; 17. 8-Kevin Shelbo[21]; 18. 16-Chris Andrews[12]; 19. 17-Scott Euler[13]; 20. 3T-Tony Beaber[15]; 21. 14H-Todd Heller[19]
Hard Charger: O9-Craig Mintz[+8]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (17 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 36-Matt Irey[3] ; 2. 1B-Jeff Babcock[5] ; 3. 29-Rocky Owens[8] ; 4. 50Y-Ryan Missler[4] ; 5. O3-Jim Gingery[6] ; 6. 34-Michael Stiltner[2] ; 7. 16-Steve Sabo[7] ; 8. 69-John Mayes Jr.[1] ; 9. 76-Skip McKinney[9]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15B-Mike Bores[4] ; 2. O1-Justin Chance[2] ; 3. 48-John Bores[3] ; 4. 92-Cody Scott[7] ; 5. 9C-Troy Cattarene[8] ; 6. 1V-Shawn Valenti[5] ; 7. 69R-Doug Baird[1] ; 8. 12-Ky Harper[6]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 1B-Jeff Babcock[8]; 2. 15B-Mike Bores[2]; 3. 29-Rocky Owens[3]; 4. 36-Matt Irey[6]; 5. 50Y-Ryan Missler[7]; 6. 92-Cody Scott[1]; 7. O3-Jim Gingery[9]; 8. O1-Justin Chance[4]; 9. 69-John Mayes Jr.[15]; 10. 34-Michael Stiltner[11]; 11. 16-Steve Sabo[13]; 12. 48-John Bores[5]; 13. 69R-Doug Baird[14]; 14. 12-Ky Harper[16]; 15. 9C-Troy Cattarene[10]; 16. 1V-Shawn Valenti[12]; 17. 76-Skip McKinney[17]
Hard Charger: 1B-Jeff Babcock[+7]
Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints (31 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 6-Dustin Dinan[4] ; 2. 18-Bobby Clark[3] ; 3. 48-Mike Burkin[1] ; 4. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7] ; 5. 12-Kyle Capodice[5] ; 6. 7M-Brandon Moore[2] ; 7. 4T-Jim Taddeo[6] ; 8. 49-Cody Runion[8]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[2] ; 2. 68G-Tyler Gunn[1] ; 3. 3J-Trey Jacobs[3] ; 4. 32-Dan Hennig[6] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[5] ; 6. 12J-Tyler Moore[7] ; 7. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[4] ; 8. 39C-Scott Riley[8]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11G-Luke Griffith[4] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[5] ; 3. 2-Ricky Peterson[7] ; 4. 8M-T.J Michael[6] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[1] ; 6. O3-Jim Cushing[2] ; 7. 2L-Landon Lalonde[8] ; 8. 29P-Mark Pinksi[3]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[7] ; 2. 8I-John Ivy[4] ; 3. 25-Jason Keckler[2] ; 4. O2-Kevin Lee[1] ; 5. 10-Josh Harrison[6] ; 6. 22M-Dan McCarron[5] ; 7. 13-Jeremy Duposki[3]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 2. 12-Kyle Capodice[1] ; 3. 10-Josh Harrison[4] ; 4. 22M-Dan McCarron[8] ; 5. 7M-Brandon Moore[5] ; 6. 4T-Jim Taddeo[9] ; 7. 12J-Tyler Moore[6] ; 8. 13-Jeremy Duposki[12] ; 9. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[10] ; 10. 2L-Landon Lalonde[11] ; 11. 29P-Mark Pinksi[15] ; 12. 49-Cody Runion[13] ; 13. 22D-Dan Hammond[3] ; 14. O3-Jim Cushing[7]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 18-Bobby Clark[6]; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[1]; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[5]; 4. 6-Dustin Dinan[9]; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[8]; 6. 2-Ricky Peterson[4]; 7. 8I-John Ivy[11]; 8. 5R-Jordan Ryan[13]; 9. 3J-Trey Jacobs[3]; 10. 68G-Tyler Gunn[2]; 11. 25-Jason Keckler[7]; 12. 8M-T.J Michael[15]; 13. 48-Mike Burkin[10]; 14. 12-Kyle Capodice[18]; 15. 11G-Luke Griffith[12]; 16. 10-Josh Harrison[19]; 17. 36-Seth Schneider[17]; 18. 32-Dan Hennig[14]; 19. 22M-Dan McCarron[20]; 20. O2-Kevin Lee[16]
Hard Charger: 18-Bobby Clark[+5]
Fremont Fence Co. Dirt Trucks (18 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[6] ; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[3] ; 3. 2-Matt Foos[7] ; 4. 7-Dana Frey[2] ; 5. O-Andy Keegan[4] ; 6. 69-Jeff Warnick[8] ; 7. O1-Art Ball[1] ; 8. 22-Brandon Leighton[5] ; 9. 14-Steve Pocock[9]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-John Ivy[2] ; 2. 3X-Brad Keckler[4] ; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg[3] ; 4. D1-Dustin Keegan[8] ; 5. 33-Brian Arnold[7] ; 6. 13-Cody Benyak[6] ; 7. 22J-Josh Kiser[9] ; 8. 33C-Kyle Cline[1] ; 9. 37-Eric Devanna[5]
A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[4]; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[6]; 3. 2-Matt Foos[7]; 4. OO-John Ivy[1]; 5. 4S-Keith Sorg[2]; 6. 7-Dana Frey[3]; 7. 33C-Kyle Cline[16]; 8. 33-Brian Arnold[10]; 9. 3X-Brad Keckler[8]; 10. O1-Art Ball[13]; 11. D1-Dustin Keegan[5]; 12. 13-Cody Benyak[12]; 13. O-Andy Keegan[9]; 14. 69-Jeff Warnick[11]; 15. 22-Brandon Leighton[15]; 16. 22J-Josh Kiser[14]
Hard Charger: 33C-Kyle Cline[+9]