Blaney starts Ohio Speedweek title defense with win at Attica

Blaney starts Ohio Speedweek title defense with win at Attica

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 20, 2015
Contact: Brian Liskai
Liskai2x@roadrunner.com

By Brian Liskai

ATTICA, Ohio – This time last year Dale Blaney had only recorded one University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions win. Then Ohio Sprint Speedweek rolled around and “The Low Rider” went on a tear that would propel him to an unprecedented fifth series championship.

Well, this year heading into the 33rd Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek Presented by Cometic Gasket at Attica Raceway Park, Blaney already had three UNOH All Star wins. He added a fourth series win Friday on Ohio CAT/UBS Financial Services Night at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue as he tries to claim that $25,000 bonus from Cometic Gasket if he can now win four more of the remaining eight events.

The cautions fell perfectly for Blaney keeping him out of lapped traffic until the last five laps. He was only seriously challenged once, that coming on lap nine when Parker Price-Miller got by. Blaney, who won the World of Outlaws event at Attica a few weeks ago, would regain the lead a lap later and held the point the remaining 30 laps for his 119th career All Star win. He sits third on Attica’s all-time win list now with 23 wins, 15 of which have been All Star victories.

“Really, really a cool place to come race. I’ve had a lot of success here. I have to thank John Bores (promoter) and his family for having a great facility. Every time we come here it always puts on a good race. Forty lap races here are a lot of fun. Sheldon (Haudenschild) came from way in the back (20th) and got third,” said Blaney beside his GoMuddy.com/Eyecon Trail Cameras/BadAzz Box Blinds/Xecute Scent Control/Big Game Tree Stands backed #1.

“I was really good in one and two but struggled a little bit in three and four. I should have gotten way down in three and four…I just felt like I couldn’t hit it so I just kind of rolled in the middle and it worked out. Cautions came out at the right time. I saw Parker Price-Miller under me there early…I hate leading races but it worked out,” added Blaney.

“I can’t thank Big Game and Muddy enough for coming on board with us and Janet Holbrook and CH Motorsports. George (Fisher, crew chief) and Skippy…they just keep doing what they do and Donny is there and we got a couple new guys…Scuba and Bob Ream. We’re looking forward to a good week,” concluded Blaney.

While Blaney benefitted from the cautions, six time Attica champion Byron Reed needed longer runs to have a shot at the win. That didn’t happen and he would bring his Crown Battery/Kistler Engines backed machine home in second.

“This format the All Stars use makes it very fair. In past years with this many cars and you draw a 50 you’d be in serious trouble. It reinvigorates me a little bit. We had a great run and to stand up here in second is good. Wish I had something for Dale. I felt like we were as good as him when we got going. But definitely I didn’t restart as well…it took me five laps or so to get going. I have to thank my crew Curt and Kevin and Dick and my mom and dad,” said Reed.

Sheldon Haudenschild lived up to the family reputation of being a rim-rider. The Wooster, Ohio driver had the capacity crowd on the edge of their seats as he blasted from his 20th starting spot to a third place finish. Besides his dad, the legendary Jac Haudenschild working on the #93, Sheldon had long-time family friend and mechanic Bonzai Bruns and Zach Ames turning the wrenches on his Southern Pacific Farms/Triple X Racing backed machine.

“Starting back there you kind of just want to get through the first five laps and keep your nose clean and then make your moves quick. They watered the track right before we went out and I saw the top was really nice and I kind of committed myself there…I was going to run 40 laps up there and see what happens,” said Haudenschild.

“I got into the front stretch wall there once. I was getting kind of tight on the curb and ran under Kasey (Kahne) and thought I was going to get into him or spin out. Thankfully I was able to keep it going and there were a few mishaps there in front of me and put me there toward the front. About halfway a spark plug wire fell off so I went to the bottom for five six laps to see what was going on. And then we had that late restart and I went for it to try and get a top three,” added Haudenschild.

In a thrilling Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature, Mansfield, Ohio’s Dave Hornikel would literally battle side by side with Ryan Markham all 25 laps before taking the lead with just three laps to go to score his first Attica victory.

“We’ve been so close here over the years and stupid stuff would keep us from winning. I have to thank the Phillips and Ireys for putting me in their cars. I got to that lapped car and he was running the bottom. I tried to sneak up on him and get under him and it worked. This feels so awesome to finally get a win here,” said Hornikel beside his Mid-Ohio Auto Repair/Mid-Ohio Graphics/Sluss Reality/Imperial Truck/Swartz Race Cars backed #71.

Price-Miller and Blaney would bring the field of 26 to green for the 40-lap UNOH All Star feature with Blaney gaining the upper hand. Price-Miller, Reed, Kasey Kahne, Cap Henry, Caleb Helms, Jamie Veal and Brad Bacon would give chase. As Blaney pulled away slightly the battle for second was entertaining between Price-Miller, Reed, Henry and Kahne.

As Blaney caught up with the back of the pack, Price-Miller began to close with Henry and Reed continuously swapping the third spot. Price-Miller drove under Blaney in turns three and four to grab the lead on lap 9 but Blaney drove back by in one and two.

The caution would fly on lap 11 for Greg Wilson who came to rest off the banking in turn four. That would give Blaney and open track and he would pull away again on the restart as Price-Miller ran comfortably in second while Reed and Henry continued their battle for third while Kahne and Bacon stayed close.

By lap 15 all eyes were on Haudenschild who had moved from his 20th starting spot to 8th. Also, Kahne started to come alive and drove into fourth at the half-way point and was up to third when the caution flew on lap 26. Haudenschild had worked his way to fourth as well.

Blaney would again pull away when the green flew as Price-Miller held off Kahne with Reed regaining fourth as Haudenschild made heavy contact with the front stretch wall on lap 27. With 10 laps to go Kahne drove around Price-Miller for the runner-up spot and was closing as Blaney prepared to hit heavy lapped traffic with Reed moving into third on lap 33.

Blaney finally caught the back of the field and started to lap cars with just five laps to go. Reed had now caught Kahne and the two locked up in a great battle. Kahne would make contact with one of the infield tires and spun but was able to keep going but lost three positions. The caution would come out as the tire Kahne made contact with was pushed onto the track.

That would set up a three lap battle to the checkers with Blaney leading Reed, Price-Miller, Haudenschild, Henry, Kahne and Bacon. Blaney would pull away on the restart as Reed worked to gain his momentum back. Blaney would take the win over Reed as Haudenschild got around Price-Miller on the last lap for third with Kahne rounding out the top five.

Henry, Jamie Veal, Bacon, Wilson – who came back after his early race mishap – and Helms would round out the top 10.

Hornikel and Markham brought the field to green for the 25 lap late model feature. Hornikel would lead the first lap but Markham ran to his outside with Kyle Moore, Matt Irey and Ryan Missler in tow. Markham would take a slim lead on lap two but Hornikel continued to challenge on the bottom with Moore, Irey, Mike Bores, George Lee and Missler in pursuit.

Missler would bring out the first and only caution of the event on lap five. When the green flew Markham and Hornikel continued their side-by-side battle with Irey now in third and a closing Rusty Schlenk in fourth.

Markham would continue to lead but only by a fender over the next 11 laps as Irey and Schlenk also ran side by side for third. Hornikel would use a lapped car as a pick to drive into the lead on lap 16 but Markham returned the favor a lap later with Schlenk and Doug Drown now joining the battle for the lead.

Markham and Hornikel ran side by side without making contact the entire race. With five to go the top four of Markham, Hornikel, Schlenk and Drown ran side by side and nose to tail. Markham made a bobble on the cushion trying to drive through lapped traffic on lap 23 and Hornikel pounced to take the lead.

Hornikel would edge out Markham, Schlenk and Drown for his first Attica win. Bores would round out the top five.

Attica Raceway Park returns to action on Friday, July 3 for Fan Appreciation Night presented by the Bauman Auto Group. Just $10 general admission for the 410 and 305 sprints, late models and dirt trucks. The pit gates will be open after hot laps for fans to meet the teams and hot dogs will only be $1.

For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com

Attica Raceway Park
Friday, June 19, 2015
UBS Financial/Ohio CAT Night
Starting position [*]

58 UNOH 410 Sprints

Qualifying
1.53-Cap Henry, 12.372; 2.5T-Travis Philo, 12.416; 3.40-Caleb Helms, 12.518; 4.99-Brady Bacon, 12.537; 5.1st-Gary Taylor, 12.540; 6.60-Jody Keegan, 12.542; 7.9x-Rob Chaney, 12.581; 8.21-DJ Foos, 12.586; 9.93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.588; 10.22-Cole Duncan, 12.613; 11.89-Cody Darrah, 12.622; 12.35AU-Jamie Veal, 12.626; 13.6H-Kenny Jacobs, 12.626; 14.19-Chris Andrews, 12.630; 15.70-Roger Crockett, 12.634; 16.6M-Max Stambaugh, 12.648; 17.1-Dale Blaney, 12.659; 18.W20-Greg Wilson, 12.664; 19.33M-Caleb Griffith, 12.664; 20.59-Danny Holtgraver, 12.669; 21.45L-Brian Lay, 12.757; 22.15H-Mitch Harble, 12.804; 23.91-Cale Thomas, 12.805; 24.5AU-Danny Reidy, 12.833; 25.16-Stuart Brubaker, 12.835; 26.9P-Parker Price-Miller, 12.843; 27.5-Byron Reed, 12.862; 28.O5-Brad Loyet, 12.869; 29.49-Kasey Kahne, 12.883; 30.16X-Ryan Ruhl, 12.888; 31.81-Lee Jacobs, 12.897; 32.59N-Bryan Nuckles, 12.899; 33.40DD-Nate Dussel, 12.914; 34.11N-Randy Hannagan, 12.932; 35.57X-Andrew Palker, 12.964; 36.17-Josh Baughman, 12.970; 37.3G-James McFadden, 12.987; 38.9C-Jimmy Colvin, 12.994; 39.10H-Chad Kemenah, 13.001; 40.9Z-Duane Zablocki, 13.091; 41.7C-Caleb Armstrong, 13.098; 42.94-Ryan Smith, 13.104; 43.17W-Bryan Clauson, 13.112; 44.71H-Brad Lamberson, 13.120; 45.78-Todd Kane, 13.156; 46.8M-TJ Michael, 13.200; 47.68G-Tyler Gunn, 13.213; 48.45-Tim Shaffer, 13.224; 49.16M-Danny Mumaw, 13.273; 50.4-Danny Smith, 13.429; 51.27Z-Sean Zemunik, 13.474; 52.9-Jordan Ryan, 13.489; 53.55F-Taylor Ferns, 13.528; 54.25M-Ken Mackey, 13.547; 55.96AU-Bruce White, 13.763; 56.38-Jared Horstman, 13.885; 57.8-Kevin Shelbo, 14.086; 58.97-Dean Jacobs, 99.000;

Heat 1, Group A – (10 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 40-Caleb Helms[2] ; 2. 5T-Travis Philo[3] ; 3. 53-Cap Henry[4] ; 4. 60-Jody Keegan[1] ; 5. 89-Cody Darrah[6] ; 6. 22-Cole Duncan[5] ; 7. 70-Roger Crockett[7] ; 8. 94-Ryan Smith[10] ; 9. 45L-Brian Lay[8] ; 10. 40DD-Nate Dussel[9] ; 11. 71H-Brad Lamberson[11] ; 12. 8-Kevin Shelbo[12]

Heat 2, Group B – (10 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 35AU-Jamie Veal[2] ; 2. 9x-Rob Chaney[4] ; 3. 33M-Caleb Griffith[5] ; 4. 17-Josh Baughman[9] ; 5. 6M-Max Stambaugh[1] ; 6. 5AU-Danny Reidy[7] ; 7. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[10] ; 8. 25M-Ken Mackey[11] ; 9. 15H-Mitch Harble[6] ; 10. 59N-Bryan Nuckles[8] ; 11. 96AU-Bruce White[12] ; 12. 21-DJ Foos[3]

Heat 3, Group C – (10 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 19-Chris Andrews[4] ; 2. 49-Kasey Kahne[1] ; 3. 16-Stuart Brubaker[3] ; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs[5] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[9] ; 6. 11N-Randy Hannagan[6] ; 7. 8M-TJ Michael[8] ; 8. 27Z-Sean Zemunik[12] ; 9. 16M-Danny Mumaw[10] ; 10. 78-Todd Kane[7] ; 11. O5-Brad Loyet[2] ; 12. 4-Danny Smith[11]

Heat 4, Group D – (10 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 1-Dale Blaney[2] ; 2. W20-Greg Wilson[1] ; 3. 1st-Gary Taylor[4] ; 4. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[3] ; 5. 59-Danny Holtgraver[5] ; 6. 17W-Bryan Clauson[9] ; 7. 10H-Chad Kemenah[7] ; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[8] ; 9. 9-Jordan Ryan[10] ; 10. 16X-Ryan Ruhl[6]

Heat 5, Group E – (10 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 9P-Parker Price-Miller[1] ; 2. 5-Byron Reed[5] ; 3. 91-Cale Thomas[2] ; 4. 99-Brady Bacon[4] ; 5. 57X-Andrew Palker[6] ; 6. 9C-Jimmy Colvin[8] ; 7. 55F-Taylor Ferns[10] ; 8. 45-Tim Shaffer[9] ; 9. 38-Jared Horstman[11] ; 10. 3G-James McFadden[7] ; 11. 6H-Kenny Jacobs[3]

Dash 1 – (8 Laps, determines top 12 starting positions in A)
1. 9P-Parker Price-Miller[1] ; 2. 1-Dale Blaney[3] ; 3. 49-Kasey Kahne[4] ; 4. 5-Byron Reed[5] ; 5. 40-Caleb Helms[2] ; 6. 35AU-Jamie Veal[8] ; 7. W20-Greg Wilson[7] ; 8. 53-Cap Henry[10] ; 9. 5T-Travis Philo[9] ; 10. 99-Brady Bacon[12] ; 11. 9x-Rob Chaney[11] ; 12. 19-Chris Andrews[6]

D-Main 1 – (8 Laps, top 2 to C)
1. 27Z-Sean Zemunik[3] ; 2. 9-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 3. 55F-Taylor Ferns[5] ; 4. 25M-Ken Mackey[6] ; 5. 38-Jared Horstman[8] ; 6. 8-Kevin Shelbo[9] ; 7. 96AU-Bruce White[7] ; 8. 4-Danny Smith[2] ; 9. 16M-Danny Mumaw[1] ; 10. 97-Dean Jacobs[10]

C-Main 1 – (10 Laps, top 2 to B)
1. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[4] ; 2. 17W-Bryan Clauson[7] ; 3. 9C-Jimmy Colvin[2] ; 4. 8M-TJ Michael[10] ; 5. 94-Ryan Smith[6] ; 6. 68G-Tyler Gunn[11] ; 7. 9-Jordan Ryan[14] ; 8. 27Z-Sean Zemunik[13] ; 9. 71H-Brad Lamberson[8] ; 10. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[5] ; 11. 78-Todd Kane[9] ; 12. 3G-James McFadden[1] ; 13. 10H-Chad Kemenah[3] ; 14. 45-Tim Shaffer[12]

B-Main 1 – (12 Laps, top 4 to A)
1. 6H-Kenny Jacobs[4] ; 2. 21-DJ Foos[1] ; 3. 89-Cody Darrah[3] ; 4. 22-Cole Duncan[2] ; 5. 6M-Max Stambaugh[6] ; 6. 70-Roger Crockett[5] ; 7. 59-Danny Holtgraver[7] ; 8. 45L-Brian Lay[8] ; 9. 5AU-Danny Reidy[10] ; 10. 17W-Bryan Clauson[18] ; 11. 15H-Mitch Harble[9] ; 12. 11N-Randy Hannagan[15] ; 13. 40DD-Nate Dussel[14] ; 14. 16X-Ryan Ruhl[12] ; 15. O5-Brad Loyet[11] ; 16. 57X-Andrew Palker[16] ; 17. 59N-Bryan Nuckles[13] ; 18. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[17]

A-Main 1 – (40 Laps)
1. 1-Dale Blaney[2] ; 2. 5-Byron Reed[4] ; 3. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[20] ; 4. 9P-Parker Price-Miller[1] ; 5. 49-Kasey Kahne[3] ; 6. 53-Cap Henry[8] ; 7. 35AU-Jamie Veal[6] ; 8. 99-Brady Bacon[10] ; 9. W20-Greg Wilson[7] ; 10. 40-Caleb Helms[5] ; 11. 5T-Travis Philo[9] ; 12. 1st-Gary Taylor[15] ; 13. 89-Cody Darrah[23] ; 14. 6H-Kenny Jacobs[21] ; 15. 16-Stuart Brubaker[14] ; 16. 21-DJ Foos[22] ; 17. 10H-Chad Kemenah[25] ; 18. 94-Ryan Smith[26] ; 19. 17-Josh Baughman[18] ; 20. 91-Cale Thomas[16] ; 21. 60-Jody Keegan[17] ; 22. 22-Cole Duncan[24] ; 23. 33M-Caleb Griffith[13] ; 24. 81-Lee Jacobs[19] ; 25. 9x-Rob Chaney[11] ; 26. 19-Chris Andrews[12]

Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models (25 cars)

Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro Heat 1 – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 75-Dusty Moore[1] ; 2. 91-Rusty Schlenk[5] ; 3. 5M-Ryan Markham[3] ; 4. 61-George Lee[6] ; 5. 51-Devin Shiels[2] ; 6. 27-Ken Hahn[4] ; 7. 92-Cody Scott[7] ; 8. 59-Larry Bellman[9] ; 9. 21-Larry Kingseed[8]

Summit Racing Equipment Heat 2 – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 00-Chris Keller[3] ; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler[7] ; 3. 5J-Josh Haynes[2] ; 4. 36-Matt Irey[6] ; 5. 75H-Jason Hinton[1] ; 6. 29-Rocky Owens[4] ; 7. 007-Rick Bond[5]

Ultra Shield Race Products Heat 3 – (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 240-Doug Drown[5] ; 2. 15B-Mike Bores[3] ; 3. 2*-Kyle Moore[6] ; 4. 71-Dave Hornikel[8] ; 5. 79-Brad Malecuit[7] ; 6. 42*-Bob Mayer[2] ; 7. 53-Steve Sabo[1] ; 8. 69R-Doug Baird[4]

Computer Man B-Main 1 (8 Laps, top 5 to A)
1. 29-Rocky Owens[2] ; 2. 27-Ken Hahn[1] ; 3. 007-Rick Bond[5] ; 4. 92-Cody Scott[4] ; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[9] ; 6. 53-Steve Sabo[6] ; 7. 69R-Doug Baird[8] ; 8. 59-Larry Bellman[7] ; 9. 42*-Bob Mayer[3]

A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 71-Dave Hornikel[1] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[2] ; 3. 91-Rusty Schlenk[8] ; 4. 240-Doug Drown[10] ; 5. 15B-Mike Bores[6] ; 6. 36-Matt Irey[4] ; 7. 61-George Lee[7] ; 8. 29-Rocky Owens[14] ; 9. 51-Devin Shiels[13] ; 10. 75-Dusty Moore[12] ; 11. 79-Brad Malecuit[15] ; 12. 00-Chris Keller[11] ; 13. 21-Larry Kingseed[18] ; 14. 92-Cody Scott[19] ; 15. 27-Ken Hahn[17] ; 16. 5J-Josh Haynes[9] ; 17. 53-Steve Sabo[20] ; 18. 2*-Kyle Moore[3] ; 19. 007-Rick Bond[16] ; 20. 50Y-Ryan Missler[5]

Photo Credit: DB3 Imaging