Aaron Reutzel uses late race restart to steal Brad Doty Classic opener at Attica Raceway Park, reclaims All Star championship point lead​

Aaron Reutzel uses late race restart to steal Brad Doty Classic opener at Attica Raceway Park, reclaims All Star championship point lead​

Story By: Tyler Altmeyer/ASCOC

Photos By: Dan DeMarco/RacersGuide.com

ATTICA, Ohio (August 30, 2019) – Clute, Texas’ Aaron Reutzel is certainly no stranger to Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory lane, but his trip to the top of the podium on Friday night at Attica Raceway Park was just as dramatic as it was last minute, utilizing a restart with three laps remaining to steal the victory from race-long leader and California hotshot, Buddy Kofoid.

For Reutzel, the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics opening night victory was valuable not only short term, earning $5,000 for his efforts, but it was also valuable long term, as the defending All Star titleholder reclaimed the championship point lead by two markers over Hartford, Ohio’s Dale Blaney. Reutzel’s win bumped his count to a staggering ten on the season, now with two at Attica Raceway Park in 2019.

Also using the late-race restart to his advantage, the ‘Steel City Outlaw’ Tim Shaffer chased Aaron Reutzel to the final checkers, followed by Buddy Kofoid, Brock Zearfoss and Cap Henry.

“It’s nice to get a win. We’ve been having either really good luck, or really bad luck; no in between,” Aaron Reutzel expressed in victory lane, driver of the Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports/Folkens Brothers Trucking/Fischer Body Shop/Nattress Construction/No. 87 sprint car. “It was a great night for all of my guys. It was nice to close back in on the points. Dale (Blaney) and I have been going back and forth a lot this year in the points. I just want to get the lead and set sail. Dale is a seasoned veteran at this stuff and probably takes the stress a little bit better than I do.”

Starting fourth on the evening grid, Reutzel was not a major contender until late in the 40-lapper. Battling early with Republic, Ohio’s Cap Henry, the pair exchanged the runner-up spot nearly five times before Reutzel finally settled into second on lap 28.

While Henry and Reutzel battled in the background, Buddy Kofoid was in control. The Ed Neumeister Racing ace took off from the pole position and maintained a blistering pace on the topside of the speedway. An early reg flag incident on lap eight, followed by a pair of cautions on lap 13 and lap 17, were Kofoid’s only distractions during the first half of the 40-lap program.
A long green flag segment after the lap 17 caution eventually led the front-runners to lapped traffic. Despite Kofoid’s torrid pace on top, getting by the slower cars became a challenge, ultimately allowing Cap Henry and Aaron Reutzel to track down the youngster.

On lap 28, executing a bold slider between turns three and four, Reutzel drove by Henry for second, next setting aim on the No. 11N of Kofoid. As the laps clicked down, so did Kofoid’s command, nearly losing the top spot to Reutzel when the Texan attempted a slide job in turns one and two on lap 37. Although the attempt failed, yellow flags waved shortly thereafter giving Kofoid the breather that he needed, or so he thought.

It turns out that the ensuing restart with three laps to go was just what Reutzel needed, sticking himself between the bottom edge and a blocking Kofoid as the pair battled through turns one and two.

“I was going to try to get a run on the top, but he blocked the top,” Aaron Reutzel said. “I really thought he was going to take off earlier than that and not leave us anything, but he waited a long time to take off. I knew if we had any chance, that’s when it was going to be. I think he knew he made a little bit of a mistake and tried to block it, but he left the door open just enough. We had a great race car. That late caution is what won us the race.”

The final caution also allowed Tim Shaffer the opportunity to drive by Kofoid to claim second. It was the Aliquippa-native’s first night in the Ron Gorby-owned/Howard Johnson of Lima/No. G1.

“We’re still learning the car,” Tim Shaffer said of his new opportunity, who started fifth on the grid. “Early on in that race, I just couldn’t get the wing back enough. The track was so tight on the right rear. It finally slicked up to where I could get the wing back and get a little more leverage getting into the corner. That last restart, I think I had a shot at (Reutzel) but I missed the bottom. It’s a great night and a great job for all of us.”

“My motor didn’t take off there on that last restart,” Buddy Kofoid explained. “I guess I just need to do my job better on restarts. I really wasn’t challenged on the restarts before that one. I’m just glad to finish in a podium spot.”

Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics competition will continue at Attica Raceway Park on Saturday, August 31. Although the scenery will be the same, the stakes will be higher, as the two-day finale will award a $10,000 top prize, officially concluding Attica’s 32nd season of action.

Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, will open pit gates at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 31. A mandatory drivers meeting will begin at 5 p.m. with hot laps to follow at 5:45 p.m., sharp. Those seeking additional news and notes should visit Attica Raceway Park on the Web at www.atticaracewaypark.com.

Contingency Awards/Results: Attica Raceway Park – August 30, 2019:
Event: Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics
Entries: 33
C&R Racing All Star Warm-Ups: Justin Peck – 12.705 seconds
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Parker Price-Miller – 12.597 seconds
Ford Performance Heat #1 presented by R&R Racewear: Skylar Gee
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2 presented by R&R Racewear: Jac Haudenschild
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3 presented by R&R Racewear: Caleb Griffith
Mobil 1 Heat #4 presented by R&R Racewear: Buddy Kofoid
JE Pistons Dash #1 presented by Callies: Buddy Kofoid
Fatheadz Eyewear Dash #2 presented by Priority Aviation: Cap Henry
Classic Ink USA Screenprinting B-Main presented by JEGS Winner: Travis Philo
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet A-Main Winner: Aaron Reutzel
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Greg Wilson (+15)
Cometic Gasket Most A-Main Laps Led: Buddy Kofoid (1-37)
Rayce Rudeen Foundation First Non-Transfer: Cale Thomas
(Lincoln Electric, MSD Performance, Fatheadz Eyewear, Rayce Rudeen Foundation, Cometic Gasket: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)

Qualifying

Group (A)

1. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 12.752; 2. K4-Chad Kemenah, 12.766; 3. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.792; 4. 99-Skylar Gee, 12.841; 5. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 12.857; 6. 16-DJ Foos, 12.958; 7. 28-Danny Mumaw, 13.505; 8. 22B-Ryan Broughton, 13.586; 9. 46-Stuart Williams, NT

Group (B)

1. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 12.597; 2. 13-Paul McMahan, 12.699; 3. G1-Tim Shaffer, 12.831; 4. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 12.884; 5. 1st-Gary Taylor, 12.909; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 12.939; 7. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.008; 8. 20i-Kelsey Ivy, 13.719

Group (C)

1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.609; 2. 25M-Chris Andrews, 12.812; 3. 33W-Caleb Griffith, 12.853; 4. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 13.106; 5. 18J-RJ Jacobs, 13.177; 6. 57X-Andrew Palker, 13.325; 7. 21N-Frankie Nervo, 13.679; 8. 40-George Hobaugh, 13.781

Group (D)

1. 4-Cap Henry, 12.633; 2. 26-Cory Eliason, 12.665; 3. 70X-Justin Peck, 12.775; 4. 11N-Buddy Kofoid, 12.802; 5. 5T-Travis Philo, 12.923; 6. 11-Dale Blaney, 12.947; 7. 91-Cale Thomas, 13.103; 8. 23-Carson Short, 13.383

Heat #1 – Group (A) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer

1. 99-Skylar Gee [1]; 2. K4-Chad Kemenah [3]; 3. 70-Brock Zearfoss [4]; 4. O7-Gerard McIntyre [5]; 5. 5R-Byron Reed [2]; 6. 16-DJ Foos [6]; 7. 28-Danny Mumaw [7]; 8. 22B-Ryan Broughton [8]

Heat #2 – Group (B) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer

1. 3-Jac Haudenschild [1]; 2. G1-Tim Shaffer [2]; 3. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [4]; 4. 13-Paul McMahan [3]; 5. 1ST-Gary Taylor [5]; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker [6]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson [7]; 8. 20I-Kelsey Ivy [8]

Heat #3 – Group (C) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer

1. 33W-Caleb Griffith [2]; 2. 22-Brandon Spithaler [1]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4]; 4. 25M-Chris Andrews [3]; 5. 57X-Andrew Palker [6]; 6. 21N-Frankie Nervo [7]; 7. 40-George Hobaugh [8]; 8. 18J-RJ Jacobs [5]

Heat #4 – Group (D) (10 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer

1. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [1]; 2. 4-Cap Henry [4]; 3. 70X-Justin Peck [2]; 4. 26-Cory Eliason [3]; 5. 11-Dale Blaney [6]; 6. 5T-Travis Philo [5]; 7. 91-Cale Thomas [7]; 8. 23-Carson Short [8]

Dash #1 (4 Laps)

1. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [2]; 2. 99-Skylar Gee [3]; 3. G1-Tim Shaffer [1]; 4. K4-Chad Kemenah [4]; 5. 3-Jac Haudenschild [5]

Dash #2 (4 Laps)

1. 4-Cap Henry [1]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel [2]; 3. 22-Brandon Spithaler [4]; 4. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [3]; 5. 33W-Caleb Griffith [5]

B-Main (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer

1. 5T-Travis Philo [1]; 2. 16-DJ Foos [2]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson [4]; 4. 28-Danny Mumaw [6]; 5. 91-Cale Thomas [5]; 6. 40-George Hobaugh [7]; 7. 21N-Frankie Nervo [3]; 8. 23-Carson Short [9]; 9. 22B-Ryan Broughton [10]; 10. 18J-RJ Jacobs [8]

A-Main (40 Laps)

1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4]; 2. G1-Tim Shaffer [5]; 3. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [1]; 4. 70-Brock Zearfoss [11]; 5. 4-Cap Henry [2]; 6. 26-Cory Eliason [13]; 7. 13-Paul McMahan [14]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [23]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee [3]; 10. 70X-Justin Peck [12]; 11. 11-Dale Blaney [19]; 12. 5R-Byron Reed [17]; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild [9]; 14. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [8]; 15. O7-Gerard McIntyre [16]; 16. 22-Brandon Spithaler [6]; 17. 16-DJ Foos [22]; 18. 33W-Caleb Griffith [10]; 19. K4-Chad Kemenah [7]; 20. 25M-Chris Andrews [15]; 21. 1ST-Gary Taylor [18]; 22. 28-Danny Mumaw [24]; 23. 57X-Andrew Palker [20]; 24. 5T-Travis Philo [21] Lap Leaders: Buddy Kofoid (1-37), Aaron Reutzel (38-40)