Aaron Reutzel passes Cole Duncan late for All Star victory at Eriez Speedway

Aaron Reutzel passes Cole Duncan late for All Star victory at Eriez Speedway

Story By: Tyler Altmeryer/ASCOC

Photos By: Tommy Hein/RacersGuide.com

ERIE, Pa. (July 20, 2018) – Lockbourne, Ohio’s Cole Duncan was just four circuits away from claiming a second consecutive Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory at Eriez Speedway on Friday night when Clute, Texas’ Aaron Reutzel stepped-up and stole the show. Utilizing lapped traffic during the closing circuits of the 30-lapper, Reutzel, who started fourth on the feature grid, was able to drive underneath Duncan at the exit of turn two on lap 27, ultimately ending a high paced, nose-to-tail chase around Eriez Speedway.

Still well in command of the All Star Circuit of Champions’ season win list, the I-79 Summer Shootout victory increased Reutzel’s win total to six on the year with all six occurring at different facilities. In addition, Reutzel became the fifth different driver in five All Star Circuit of Champions starts to earn a trip to Eriez Speedway victory lane.

The “Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild crossed under the final checkers just behind Duncan and Reutzel, followed by Dave Blaney and Tim Shaffer.

“For the most part, we were pretty equal tonight,” Aaron Reutzel said of Cole Duncan. “It was going to take lapped traffic for me to get around him. It just played out perfect for us. It was one of those nights where we were better off running second.”

Jumping to third after the initial green, Reutzel’s chase for the top spot commenced with just a few laps recorded, actually sneaking around Tyler Esh to take the second spot officially on lap two. Showing signs of potential early, Reutzel’s first, official bid for the top spot occurred on lap six, utilizing a slide job through turns three and four to get by Cole Duncan. Unfortunately for Reutzel, the pass was negated due to a caution just as the leaders were about to cross by the flagstand.

In clean air, Duncan was dominant, keeping a safe distance between himself and the field for the first 14 circuits, especially after caution flags reappeared on lap 11 clearing the track ahead of him. By lap 21, traffic started to become an obvious factor allowing Reutzel to cut down on Duncan’s advantage. The pair raced nearly nose-to-tail for the next six circuits before Reutzel made his winning move, capitalizing on Duncan’s failed attempt to maneuver around slower cars as the duo battled off of turn two on lap 27.

From that point forward, it was all Aaron Reutzel at the front of the field, eventually driving away from his fellow frontrunners during the final three circuits to earn a trip to the frontstretch victory lane.

The All Star Circuit of Champions will continue I-79 Summer Shootout weekend with a Saturday night visit to “Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile.”

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (PPMS), located just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, will host Tony Stewart’s All Stars on just one occasion in 2018; the final Western Pennsylvania visit for the Series this season. Incidentally, All Star Circuit of Champions owner, Tony Stewart, earned the top prize at PPMS one year ago, claiming the $5,000 payday over Lemoore, California’s Carson Macedo and 1881 Racing’s Lee Jacobs on Monday, July 24.

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will allow pit access beginning at 12 p.m. A mandatory All Star drivers meeting will take shape at 6 p.m., followed by hot laps at 6:40 p.m. Those seeking additional news and notes should visit PPMS live on the Web at www.ppms.com.

Contingency Awards/Results: Eriez Speedway – Friday, July 20, 2018:
I-79 Summer Shootout
EMi Driver’s Meeting: 19 entrants
State Water Heaters Warm-Ups: Aaron Reutzel – 13.838 seconds
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Carson Macedo – 13.912 seconds
Ford Performance Heat #1: John Garvin, Jr.
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Tim Shaffer
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Aaron Reutzel
JE Pistons Dash: Cole Duncan
Daido Engine Bearings Main Event Winner: Aaron Reutzel
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Cale Conley (+9)
(Lincoln Electric, Daido Engine Bearings, MSD Performance: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)

Qualifying

Group (A)
1. 70-Dave Blaney, 13.932; 2. 35-Tyler Esh, 13.952; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 14.151; 4. 51-John Garvin, 14.172; 5. 126-Bryan Salisbury, 14.272; 6. 4-Parker Price-Miller, 14.694; 7. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr., 15.562

Group (B)
1. 3G-Carson Macedo, 13.912; 2. 81-Lee Jacobs, 14.020; 3. 49x-Tim Shaffer, 14.181; 4. 98-Carl Bowser, 14.530; 5. 13-Paul McMahan, 14.539; 6. 11-Gary Taylor, 14.646

Group (C)
1. 22C-Cole Duncan, 14.095; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 14.115; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14.138; 4. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 14.243; 5. 7K-Cale Conley, 14.249; 6. 14-Tony Stewart, 14.260

Heat #1 – Group (A) (8 Laps) – Top 7 Transfer
1. 51-John Garvin [1]; 2. 3-Jac Haudenschild [2]; 3. 35-Tyler Esh [3]; 4. 70-Dave Blaney [4]; 5. 4-Parker Price-Miller [6]; 6. 126-Bryan Salisbury [5]; 7. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr. [7]

Heat #2 – Group (B) (8 Laps) – Top 7 Transfer
1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [2]; 2. 3G-Carson Macedo [4]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan [5]; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs [3]; 5. 11-Gary Taylor [6]; 6. 98-Carl Bowser [1]

Heat #3 – Group (C) (8 Laps) – Top 7 Transfer
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [2]; 2. 22C-Cole Duncan [4]; 3. 22-Brandon Spithaler [1]; 4. 10H-Chad Kemenah [3]; 5. 14-Tony Stewart [6]; 6. 7K-Cale Conley [5]

Dash #1 (6 Laps)
1. 22C-Cole Duncan [2]; 2. 35-Tyler Esh [1]; 3. 51-John Garvin [4]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel [6]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5]; 6. 3-Jac Haudenschild [3]; 7. 3G-Carson Macedo [8]; 8. 70-Dave Blaney [7]

A-Main (30 Laps)
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4]; 2. 22C-Cole Duncan [1]; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild [6]; 4. 70-Dave Blaney [8]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5]; 6. 13-Paul McMahan [10]; 7. 7K-Cale Conley [16]; 8. 35-Tyler Esh [2]; 9. 14-Tony Stewart [13]; 10. 3G-Carson Macedo [7]; 11. 10H-Chad Kemenah [12]; 12. 81-Lee Jacobs [11]; 13. 51-John Garvin [3]; 14. 4-Parker Price-Miller [15]; 15. 22-Brandon Spithaler [9]; 16. 126-Bryan Salisbury [17]; 17. 98-Carl Bowser [18]; 18. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr. [19]; 19. 11-Gary Taylor [14] Lap Leaders: Cole Duncan (1-26), Aaron Reutzel (27-30)

All Star Circuit of Champions Driver Standings: (after 7/20/2018)
1. Carson Macedo – 3042
2. Aaron Reutzel – 3036
3. Chad Kemenah – 3018
4. Jac Haudenschild – 2970
5. Dave Blaney – 2872
6. Paul McMahan – 2842
7. Parker Price-Miller – 2818
8. Cale Conley – 2682
9. Carl Bowser – 2496
10. Brandon Spithaler – 2462

About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first ‘outlaw’ Sprint Car organization of the modern era. Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015. In 2018, MAVTV Motorsports Network will be the official television home of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 and will broadcast eight high-profile events.