Bowman gets 1st 410 sprint win at Attica; Mintz takes second straight track title; Henry gets last lap pass for late model win, Missler earns 5th straight track title
By Brian Liskai
(Attica, OH)
Brad Bowman had to sit out nearly a month of racing because his low-budget team didn’t have a motor. While his car sat without an engine, Bowman raced go-karts and it paid off Saturday as the Shelby, Ohio driver picked up his first career 410 sprint car win on Kistler Racing Products Season Championship Night at Attica Raceway Park.
“This is incredible. We’ve been racing up here for like 10 years and this is my first win here and to do it in a 410 is crazy. You have Jac Haudenschild, my childhood hero and I just won my first 410 feature with him behind me,” said Bowman beside his Kilgore and Hearing CPAs/Gressman Powersports/Snyder’s Floor Covering/Meggit Powdercoating/Paul’s Drive-In/Fred Wolff Auctioneer/Fremont Waterblasting/Innovative Graphics backed #55.
“I didn’t want all those yellows…it was making me nervous. Last week we went 30 laps straight and once I got in the lead I was like ‘okay let’s keep it going.’ I was thinking I was going to get slid in turn one. The car was super…it drove itself the whole race. We got this motor back and me and Mike Britt talked and we are just doing basic set-ups,” added Bowman. “I have to thank Mike Britt…he owns the car and Jeff Elliott, he did a deal for us with the motor the last three years. My Dad, my brother and Joe Ridley, he’s part owner too and Dave Deyo at Kistlers, he’s kept us racing the last three years and all my great sponsors,” added Bowman.
Gibsonburg, Ohio’s Craig Mintz suffered a blown engine with seven laps to go while running fourth, but he would still lay claim to his second straight track championship in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints.
“We were pretty good early and started reeling those guys in. Don’t know if I had anything for the 55 but right before those two cautions the motor started to go sour and I thought I could nurse it but it didn’t make it. Our goal was to win the track championships at Attica and Fremont and the FAST deal. Hopefully we get another bullet back…Paul (Kistler) is pretty good with that…for next week,” said Mintz beside his Real Geese Decoys/R2C Filters/Erie Shore Propane/Kistler Racing Engines/Design Graphics Group/Keller Chevrolet/Walby Construction/KS Sales and Service/Story Equipment backed #09.
The Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature was a dandy as Ada, Ohio’s Jon Henry slid past race-long leader Ryan Missler on the last lap to get his second win of the season. Missler would wrap up his fifth consecutive track championship. It is Henry’s 13th career feature win at Attica.
“I had my work cut out. Ryan was really good and I had nothing to lose there on that last lap…I had to give it a shot. I hope I gave him enough room. So many people to thank this week. Fultz Fabrications…I spent probably one hard, hard week there. I got probably five hours of sleep every night. This is a new Rayburn Race Car and I’m happy to get into victory lane for them. I have to thank Keith Berner at Accuforce. I spent a day with him and really just dissect this car and go through it and here we are in victory lane,” said Henry beside his Mean 15 – Fultz Fabrications, Henry Farms, Mike and Sheila Keller, Truman Quarter Horses, Lehman & Lehman, Norada Lanes, Associated Plastic, Home Savings and Loan, William H. Bass Trucking, Ron Spencer Real Estate, Jim Weber Motorsports, Automated Transport, In Memory of Darrell Kirsch, Re-Deck of Northwest Ohio, and Fremont Speedway backed machine.
For Missler, 2013 was a frustrating season at Attica as he could garner no wins.
“I couldn’t have done this without all the help from my crew and sponsors. We wanted to win that one bad but we seem to be snake bit at the end of every race here. We just couldn’t buy any luck here this year but I’m happy to get the championship,” said Missler beside his York Fabrication/Quality Welding/Taze DJ Service/Terry McConnell Excavating/King Industrial Supply/Twin Lakes Golf Course backed #50Y.
Castalia, Ohio’s Jordan Ryan would drive under race-long leader Paul Weaver with five laps to go to pick up his first win of the season at Attica in the Foster’s Auto Body 305 Sprints. It is Ryan’s second career win at Attica.
“I messed up there on the last lap and about gave that one away. I’ve watched Dale Blaney run the bottom for years and I try to run my car like that and it’s been working,” said Ryan beside his J&J Automotive/Kistler Racing Products/Frosty Frog/Village Pizza House/Walton’s Cutting Crew/Griff’s Engines backed #5. “Griff’s Engines gave us a great motor and my Dad had this thing set up perfectly.”
With his fourth place finish Bradner, Ohio’s Nate Dussel would lock up his third consecutive track championship in the 305 sprints.
“I knew I had my work cut out for me starting 12th. I had to be patient which is hard for me. I have to thank Steve Rando. He raced me clean and gave me a lot of room,” said Dussel beside his Berrier Fabrication/Kylynn Manufacturing/Kistler Racing Products/Dussel Welding/Conrad Transport backed #1. “I like to win races more than anything but today I was looking at those championship banners in the garage and I knew I wanted another one.”
In a crashed filled feature for the Bob’s Machine Shop Dirt Trucks, Dan Roepke Jr. would go unchallenged for his fourth win of the season.
“I never thought those cautions would end. Unfortunate for that one bad night we had we could have had a championship. I thought we were going to get it tonight but I heard over the radio he (Dustin Keegan) got us by one point. All I could do was win tonight,” said Roepke beside his Perkin’s Tree Service/Johnny’s Electric/Vision Quest backed #88.
Dustin Keegan cut a tire on the first lap, got it changed and started on the tail. He would have to finish fourth or better to lock up the dirt truck track championship. He sat fifth with three laps to go when the caution would fly. On the restart he would get around Brian Sorg for fourth and that’s where he finished to claim his first ever track championship by just one point.
“When we cut that tire it took out the brakes. I ran the whole feature without brakes. I knew I had to get one more spot and luckily Brian messed up there in turn two and I got underneath him,” said Keegan beside his Foster’s Auto Body/Paul’s Drive Thru/York Fabrication/Gressman Powersports/LST Excavating/Advance Auto Parts backed D1. “I can’t Joe West my owner and my crew enough. My Dad and Ted Foster, my girlfriend and my son and all the guys who work on this.”
Stuart Brubaker and Stuart Williams would bring the field to green in the 30-lap 410 sprint feature with Williams getting the advantage. Fourth starting Bowman would slide into second on lap two and would drive under Williams for the lead on lap four.
Just as Bowman was going to hit heavy lapped traffic on lap seven the caution would fly for Mitch Harble who had a flat left rear tire. On the restart Bowman led Brandon Martin, Williams, Brubaker, Greg Wilson and Craig Mintz. Williams’ run would end on lap 13 with steering issues as he brought out the caution. The restart order was now Bowman, Martin, Mintz, Wilson and Todd Heller.
The caution would fly at the half-way point for debris with Bowman leading Martin, Mintz, Wilson and Chris Andrews. All eyes however were on “The Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild who started 21st and had charged up to 10th. When the green reappeared Bowman began to pull away slightly from Martin as Mintz and Wilson were locked in a great battle for third with Andrews continuing to run fifth. Mintz would coast to a stop on lap 23 with a blown motor.
On the restart Andrews slid into third with Wilson and Rob Chaney rounding out the top five. Bowman pulled away again as Martin ran comfortably in second with Andrews, Wilson, Chaney, Byron Reed, D.J. Foos and Heller and Haudenschild in tow.
Bowman would drive to the win over Martin, Andrews, Wilson and a charging Haudenschild.
In the 25-lap late model feature, Missler and last week’s winner Garrett Krummert would bring the field to the green. Krummert would spin in turn one, necessitating a complete restart. On the second attempt Krummert would tangle with another car, ending his night. When the green flew for a third time it was Missler leading Henry, Cody Scott, Mike Bores, Nate Potts, Matt Irey and Brandon Thirlby. Bores would move into third on lap two as Henry raced under Missler to challenge for the lead.
Tim Sabo would spin on lap eight to bring out the caution which kept the leader out of heavy lapped traffic. On the restart Missler and Henry resumed their side-by-side battle for the lead with Bores, Irey, Thirlby and Scott in tow.
Missler and Henry would finally encounter lapped traffic by the 17th circuit which allowed Missler to pull away slightly. Irey would move around Bores for third on lap 19, bring Thirlby into fourth. The final caution would fly on lap 21 for Ky Harper who had charged from his last starting spot into sixth.
The four lap shoot-out for the win produced side-by-side racing between Missler and Henry with Irey, Thirlby and Bores there to pounce. Missler would take the white flag and when he and Henry flew into turn one, Henry through a slider at Missler. Missler would drive back under to maintain the lead town the back stretch but Henry blasted to his inside in turn three and pulled in front for the win. Missler, Irey, Thirlby and Bores would round out the top five.
In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature Paul Weaver and Brett Lane brought the field to the green with Weaver gaining the advantage over Alvin Roepke, Lane, Dustin Dinan, Tyler Gunn, Nate Reeser and Ryan. Dinan would move into third on lap two with Ryan storming into sixth. Ryan would use the low line to take fourth on lap four just as the caution flew for Luke Griffith and Reeser spinning at opposite ends of the track.
On the restart Weaver would continue to lead as Roepke bobbled in turn four with Dinan and Ryan moving into second and third with Gunn taking fourth and Seth Schneider into fifth. Lane would bring out the caution on lap eight with the restart order Weaver, Dinan, Ryan, Gunn, Schneider, Dussel and Roepke.
Ryan would take second on lap 12 just as the caution flew for one of the infield tractor tires being shoved into the racing groove. On the restart Ryan served notice he had something for Weaver as he raced to the leader’s inside. With 10 laps to go Ryan was side-by-side with Weaver as the caution would fly for Dan McCarron just as the leaders were going to hit lapped traffic.
Weaver would lead Ryan, Gunn, Dinan, Dussel, Schneider and Steve Rando when the green came back out. Ryan would drive into the lead on lap 20 just before the caution would fly for Gunn who had problems in turn two, ending his good run. On the restart Ryan would stick to the low groove to maintain his lead with Weaver blasting the cushion with Dinan now into third and Dussel and Rando rounding out the top five.
As they raced to the checkered, Ryan would bobble in turns three and four and Weaver nearly got by but Ryan kept his composure and drove to the win over Weaver, Dinan, Dussel and Rando.
Kyle Cline and Dan Roepke would bring the field to green in the 15-lap dirt truck main. But, before a lap could be completed a multi-truck pile-up would bring a second start with Roepke gaining the upper hand over Cline, Brian Sorg, Willie Keegan, Curt Inks, Shawn Valenti, Tony Siferd and Art Ball. The caution would fly for debris after a lap was completed.
When the green flew Roepke lead Cline, Sorg, Valenti and Inks. On lap four another caution for a three truck crash. When the green reappeared it didn’t stay out long as just three laps later Matt Foos would spin. Three laps of green and another caution for Dana Fry and Willie Keegan spinning. The restart order was Roepke, Cline, Sorg, Valenti, Inks and Dustin Keegan.
Andy Keegan would bring out the caution on lap 12 as he stopped on the front stretch. Roepke was just too strong all night and pulled away for the win over Valenti, Cline, Dustin Keegan and Sorg.
Attica Raceway Park will wrap up the 2013 season with a double-header weekend. On Friday, Aug. 30 Detroit Chocolat presents the Lucas Oil Late Models for a $10,000 to win affair along with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champion Sprints. Then on Saturday it’s the UNOH All Stars along with the late models, 305 sprints and dirt trucks on Baumann Auto Group Night.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park – 8/24/2013
Kistler Racing Products Night
O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints (29 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 14H-Todd Heller[2] ; 2. 9X-Rob Chaney[1] ; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[3] ; 4. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[7] ; 5. 15-Brandon Freguson[8] ; 6. 8-Kevin Shelbo[6] ; 7. 45L-Brian Lay[5] ; 8. 6-Jac Haudenschild[4]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 46AU-Stuart Williams[2] ; 2. 55-Brad Bowman[3] ; 3. 40XL-Mike Linder[1] ; 4. 15H-Mitch Harble[4] ; 5. 83M-Broc Martin[6] ; 6. 60-Jody Keegan[7] ; 7. 45T-Bob Tucker[5]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 16-Chris Andrews[1] ; 2. 11X-Brandon Martin[3] ; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[7] ; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[5] ; 5. 92-Sam Ashworth[6] ; 6. 17-Scott Euler[4]
Heat 4 – Bell Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 53-DJ Foos[1] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 3. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[3] ; 4. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[7] ; 5. 2+-Brian Smith[4] ; 6. 5T-Travis Philo[5] ; 7. 11-Shawn Hubler[6]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2+-Brian Smith[4] ; 2. 83M-Broc Martin[2] ; 3. 5T-Travis Philo[8] ; 4. 60-Jody Keegan[6] ; 5. 6-Jac Haudenschild[12] ; 6. 45L-Brian Lay[9] ; 7. 92-Sam Ashworth[3] ; 8. 15-Brandon Freguson[1] ; 9. 45T-Bob Tucker[10] ; 10. 7-Troy Kingan[13] ; 11. 8-Kevin Shelbo[5] ; 12. 11-Shawn Hubler[11] ; 13. 17-Scott Euler[7]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 55-Brad Bowman[4]; 2. 11X-Brandon Martin[5]; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[11]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson[3]; 5. 6-Jac Haudenschild[21]; 6. 5R-Byron Reed[15]; 7. 9X-Rob Chaney[9]; 8. 53-DJ Foos[10]; 9. 83M-Broc Martin[18]; 10. 5T-Travis Philo[19]; 11. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[12]; 12. 45L-Brian Lay[22]; 13. 14H-Todd Heller[6]; 14. 40XL-Mike Linder[8]; 15. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[16]; 16. 60-Jody Keegan[20]; 17. O9-Craig Mintz[7]; 18. 35-Stuart Brubaker[1]; 19. 46AU-Stuart Williams[2]; 20. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[13]; 21. 15H-Mitch Harble[14]; 22. 2+-Brian Smith[17]
Hard Charger: 6-Jac Haudenschild[+16]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (21 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15B-Mike Bores[7] ; 2. 27-Ken Hahn[2] ; 3. 71-Dave Hornikel[6] ; 4. 48-John Bores[4] ; 5. 5J-Josh Haynes[1] ; 6. 9C-Troy Cattarene[5] ; 7. 77-Coby Bartram[3]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15-Jon Henry[5] ; 2. 92-Cody Scott[1] ; 3. 36-Matt Irey[4] ; 4. M14-Brandon Thirlby[6] ; 5. 69-John Mayes Jr.[2] ; 6. 29-Rocky Owens[7] ; 7. O3-Jim Gingery[3]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 50Y-Ryan Missler[1] ; 2. 29K-Garrett Krummert[6] ; 3. 98-Tim Sabo[5] ; 4. 30-Nate Potts[4] ; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[2] ; 6. 16-Steve Sabo[3] ; 7. 34-Ky Harper[7]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 15-Jon Henry[3]; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler[1]; 3. 36-Matt Irey[9]; 4. M14-Brandon Thirlby[7]; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[5]; 6. 92-Cody Scott[4]; 7. 30-Nate Potts[6]; 8. 27-Ken Hahn[12]; 9. 98-Tim Sabo[11]; 10. 29-Rocky Owens[17]; 11. O3-Jim Gingery[20]; 12. 16-Steve Sabo[18]; 13. 34-Ky Harper[21]; 14. 69-John Mayes Jr.[14]; 15. 71-Dave Hornikel[10]; 16. 48-John Bores[8]; 17. 21-Larry Kingseed[15]; 18. 77-Coby Bartram[19]; 19. 29K-Garrett Krummert[2]
Hard Charger: O3-Jim Gingery[+9]
Foster Auto Body 305 Sprints (22 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 2. 5R-Jordan Ryan[6] ; 3. OO-Alvin Roepke[4] ; 4. 47-Brett Lane[2] ; 5. 2-Ricky Peterson[7] ; 6. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[8] ; 7. 22M-Dan McCarron[3] ; 8. 4T-Jim Taddeo[5]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[2] ; 2. 6-Dustin Dinan[4] ; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[6] ; 4. 4M-Jamie Miller[1] ; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin[5] ; 6. 25-Jason Keckler[7] ; 7. 12-Kyle Capodice[3]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 9 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[5] ; 3. 83X-Nate Reeser[1] ; 4. 22D-Dan Hammond[2] ; 5. 11G-Luke Griffith[4] ; 6. 8J-Jess Stiger[7] ; 7. 39C-Scott Riley[6]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7]; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[1]; 3. 6-Dustin Dinan[6]; 4. 1-Nate Dussel[12]; 5. 19R-Steve Rando[11]; 6. 36-Seth Schneider[9]; 7. 4M-Jamie Miller[8]; 8. OO-Alvin Roepke[3]; 9. 2-Ricky Peterson[13]; 10. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[16]; 11. 22D-Dan Hammond[10]; 12. 9-Jimmy Colvin[14]; 13. 83X-Nate Reeser[5]; 14. 8J-Jess Stiger[18]; 15. 4T-Jim Taddeo[22]; 16. 47-Brett Lane[2]; 17. 12-Kyle Capodice[20]; 18. 22M-Dan McCarron[19]; 19. 39C-Scott Riley[21]; 20. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4]; 21. 25-Jason Keckler[17]; 22. 11G-Luke Griffith[15]
Hard Charger: 1-Nate Dussel[+8]
Bob Machine Shop Dirt Trucks (22 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O-Andy Keegan[3] ; 2. O1-Art Ball[4] ; 3. 5-Jim McGrath Jr.[6] ; 4. 9-Curt Inks[2] ; 5. 7-Dana Frey[7] ; 6. 33-Brian Arnold[5] ; 7. 99X-Gene Potridge[1]
Heat 2 – Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-John Ivy[2] ; 2. 2-Brian Sorg[1] ; 3. P51-Willie Keegan[4] ; 4. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[6] ; 5. 8KB-Kent Brewer[5] ; 6. 37-Eric Devanna[3] ; 7. 10-Roger Inks[7]
Heat 3 – Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[4] ; 2. D1-Dustin Keegan[1] ; 3. 25S-Tony Siferd[2] ; 4. 33C-Kyle Cline[6] ; 5. 95-Keith Sorg[5] ; 6. 3X-Brad Keckler[3] ; 7. 92-Matt Foos[7]
A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[2]; 2. 7B-Shawn Valenti[10]; 3. 33C-Kyle Cline[1]; 4. D1-Dustin Keegan[7]; 5. 2-Brian Sorg[8]; 6. 9-Curt Inks[6]; 7. 5-Jim McGrath Jr.[3]; 8. 33-Brian Arnold[16]; 9. 37-Eric Devanna[17]; 10. 7-Dana Frey[13]; 11. 3X-Brad Keckler[18]; 12. 10-Roger Inks[20]; 13. 99X-Gene Potridge[19]; 14. 92-Matt Foos[21]; 15. O-Andy Keegan[11]; 16. 25S-Tony Siferd[9]; 17. P51-Willie Keegan[5]; 18. 8KB-Kent Brewer[14]; 19. O1-Art Ball[12]; 20. 95-Keith Sorg[15]; 21. OO-John Ivy[4]
Hard Charger: 7B-Shawn Valenti[+8]