McMahan wins at Attica to open Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek

Paul McMahan wins at Attica to open Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing

Story By: Tyler Altmeyer/ASCOC

Photos By: Mark Ranalletta/RacersGuide.com

ATTICA, Ohio (June 15, 2018) – It took Paul McMahan nearly 16 years to snap his All Star Circuit of Champions winless streak just one week ago in Dundee, New York. Now, the Nashville native via Elk Grove, Calif., is a two-time All Star winner in 2018, earning the $5,000 payday at Attica Raceway Park to open the 36th edition of Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing.

McMahan, driver of the Tom Buch-owned/Apex Structures/DMI/No. 13 sprint car, earned his fifth-career All Star victory by displaying patience and persistence, battling within the top-five the entire 40-lap distance before taking over the top spot for the final time on lap 25. With a little help from race leader, Aaron Reutzel, McMahan was able to take advantage of Reutzel’s misfortune with the turn four wall to inherit the top spot, driving on to score his first-ever victory at Attica Raceway Park.

“Today is Bryan Clauson’s birthday and I parked it for him,” said an excited Paul McMahan in Attica victory lane. “This has been a long time coming. I think I ran second here a few times but never got it done. To get it done here tonight to open up Speedweek is pretty special. My team worked their butts off to get us to this point. We have a long week ahead of us. To begin Speedweek with a victory will set the tone for the next eight races.”

Despite the turn four wall being the benefactor, McMahan was in the hunt all 40 circuits. Starting from the inside of row two, McMahan’s first, successful bid for the top spot occurred on lap 19, actually gaining command after race-long leader and NASCAR star, Kyle Larson, made contact with the turn four wall leaving his car heavily damaged. Larson eventually slowed resulting in a caution; he would not return.

On the ensuing restart, Reutzel, the evening’s pole-sitter who was racing in the runner-up spot the entire distance, worked around McMahan to lead lap 20, pounding the cushion in turns three and four to drive around the familiar No. 13 sprinter. Although Reutzel was able to maintain a quick pace around the topside of the speedway, McMahan’s preferred bottom groove was working just fine, keeping pace with the Clute, Texas, native as the laps counted down.

Just four circuits later, Reutzel would fall victim to the same patch of retaining wall as Larson, ultimately making contact with the turn four barrier. Reutzel’s mishap and loss of momentum would allow McMahan to slip by and take control again on lap 25. Keeping pace with McMahan for the next several circuits, Reutzel’s No. 87 would eventually succumb, forced to retire on lap 30.

From that point forward, it was all McMahan at the front of the field, but not without pressure from another NASCAR star, Kasey Kahne. Kahne, who maintained a spot within the top-five all 40 laps after starting alongside McMahan during the initial start, attempted his best Jac Haudenschild impression in an attempt to drive around McMahan for the lead. Fortunately for McMahan, Kahne’s momentum was shut down by the turn four wall, nearly toppling the Kasey Kahne Racing entry before miraculously regaining control. Kahne’s misfortune was enough to allow McMahan to escape from the rest of the field, driving away to a near-three second lead at the finish.

“I was pretty committed to the bottom of the speedway,” McMahan continued. “I’m too old to be up on the top and run the cushion like those guys. We found something with this car that has allowed me to run the bottom and keep good speed. I know (Tom Buch) has a few victories in New York, but I’m pretty sure this is his first win in Ohio. My dad is with me here tonight. I want to wish him a Happy Father’s Day just in case we don’t get to be up here again on Sunday.”

Also utilizing Kahne’s momentum loss, local favorite Byron Reed was able to use a late surge to finish second at the line, followed by Jac Haudenschild, Cale Thomas, and Kasey Kahne.

Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing will continue on Saturday night, June 16, with a visit to The Big E; Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Pit gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. at the World’s Greatest Dirt Track. A mandatory All Star drivers meeting will take shape at 5:15 p.m., followed by hot laps at 6 p.m. Those seeking additional news and notes should visit Eldora Speedway live on the Web at www.eldoraspeedway.com.

Contingency Awards/Results: Attica Raceway Park – Friday, June 15, 2018:
36th Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing: Round #1
EMi Driver’s Meeting: 56 entries
State Water Heaters Warm-Ups: Aaron Reutzel – 12.939 seconds
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Aaron Reutzel – 12.257 seconds
Ford Performance Heat #1: Kyle Larson
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Byron Reed
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Gio Scelzi
Kistler Racing Products Heat #4: Jac Haudenschild
Mobil 1 Heat #5: Cole Duncan
Howard Johnson of Lima D-main: Jordan Ryan
Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts C-main: Justin Peck
JE Pistons Dash #1: Aaron Reutzel
Wix Filters Dash #2: Kyle Larson
Classic Ink USA B-Main: Dave Blaney
Daido Engine Bearings Main Event Winner: Paul McMahan
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Tim Shaffer (+14)
(Lincoln Electric, Daido Engine Bearings, MSD Performance: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)

Qualifying

Group (A)
1. 39-Spencer Bayston, 12.311; 2. 13-Paul McMahan, 12.518; 3. 4-Parker Price-Miller, 12.558; 4. 57-Kyle Larson, 12.630; 5. 7K-Cale Conley, 12.728; 6. 5T-Travis Philo, 12.875; 7. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 12.892; 8. 35s-Stuart Brubaker, 12.911; 9. 22M-Dan McCarron, 13.214; 10. 2-Ricky Peterson, 13.234; 11. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.300; 12. 51-John Garvin, 13.480

Group (B)
1. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 12.601; 2. 70-Dave Blaney, 12.617; 3. 17-Josh Baughman, 12.676; 4. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.798; 5. 49x-Tim Shaffer, 12.835; 6. 3J-Trey Jacobs, 12.898; 7. 4L-Cap Henry, 12.913; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 12.928; 9. 8M-TJ Michael, 12.961; 10. 9M-Jordan Ryan, 13.274; 11. 19-Mitch Harble, 14.474

Group (C)
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.257; 2. 14-Tony Stewart, 12.399; 3. 71-Gio Scelzi, 12.514; 4. 91-Cale Thomas, 12.803; 5. 16-Chris Andrews, 12.963; 6. 98-Carl Bowser, 13.055; 7. 68G-Tyler Gunn, 13.107; 8. A79-Brandon Wimmer, 13.153; 9. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 13.170; 10. 45-Trevor Baker, 13.311; 11. 8J-Jess Stiger, 13.411

Group (D)
1. 3G-Carson Macedo, 12.530; 2. 35-Tyler Esh, 12.679; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 12.812; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs, 12.946; 5. 23X-DJ Foos, 13.012; 6. 24-Rico Abreu, 13.059; 7. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 13.121; 8. 5X-Justin Peck, 13.140; 9. 17X-Caleb Helms, 13.500; 10. 49-Shawn Dancer, 13.555; 11. 70M-Henry Malcuit, 14.355

Group (E)
1. 48-Danny Dietrich, 12.825; 2. 11-Ryan Smith, 12.825; 3. 4K-Kasey Kahne, 12.851; 4. 22C-Cole Duncan, 12.863; 5. G1-Gary Taylor, 13.024; 6. 97-Broc Martin, 13.318; 7. 23-Chase Baker, 13.597; 8. 97au-Mitchell Wormall, 13.611; 9. 20i-Kesley Ivy, 14.194; 10. 99-Jay Waugh, 14.223; 11. 96AU-Bruce White, 14.727

Heat #1 – Group (A) (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer
1. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 2. 13-Paul McMahan [3]; 3. 39-Spencer Bayston [4]; 4. 4-Parker Price-Miller [2]; 5. 7K-Cale Conley [5]; 6. 5T-Travis Philo [6]; 7. 35S-Stuart Brubaker [8]; 8. 2-Ricky Peterson [10]; 9. 22M-Dan McCarron [9]; 10. 51-John Garvin [12]; 11. 22-Brandon Spithaler [7]; 12. 2+-Brian Smith [11]

Heat #2 – Group (B) (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer
1. 5R-Byron Reed [1]; 2. 17-Josh Baughman [2]; 3. 10H-Chad Kemenah [4]; 4. 4L-Cap Henry [7]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5]; 6. 70-Dave Blaney [3]; 7. 8M-TJ Michael [9]; 8. 3J-Trey Jacobs [6]; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki [8]; 10. 9M-Jordan Ryan [10]; 11. 19-Mitch Harble [11]

Heat #3 – Group (C) (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer
1. 71-Gio Scelzi [2]; 2. 91-Cale Thomas [1]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4]; 4. 14-Tony Stewart [3]; 5. 16-Chris Andrews [5]; 6. 68G-Tyler Gunn [7]; 7. A79-Brandon Wimmer [8]; 8. 8J-Jess Stiger [11]; 9. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [9]; 10. 45-Trevor Baker [10]; 11. 98-Carl Bowser [6]

Heat #4 – Group (D) (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer
1. 3-Jac Haudenschild [2]; 2. 81-Lee Jacobs [1]; 3. 3G-Carson Macedo [4]; 4. 35-Tyler Esh [3]; 5. 23X-DJ Foos [5]; 6. 17X-Caleb Helms [9]; 7. 49-Shawn Dancer [10]; 8. 5X-Justin Peck [8]; 9. 70M-Henry Malcuit [11]; 10. O7-Gerard McIntyre [7]; 11. 24-Rico Abreu [6]

Heat #5 – Group (E) (10 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer
1. 22C-Cole Duncan [1]; 2. 4K-Kasey Kahne [2]; 3. 11-Ryan Smith [3]; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich [4]; 5. 97-Broc Martin [6]; 6. G1-Gary Taylor [5]; 7. 99-Jay Waugh [10]; 8. 97AU-Mitchell Wormall [8]; 9. 20I-Kesley Ivy [9]; 10. 23-Chase Baker [7]; 11. 96AU-Bruce White [11]

Dash #1 (4 Laps)
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [3]; 2. 13-Paul McMahan [4]; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild [1]; 4. 91-Cale Thomas [5]; 5. 39-Spencer Bayston [2]; 6. 22C-Cole Duncan [6]

Dash #2 (4 Laps)
1. 57-Kyle Larson [1]; 2. 4K-Kasey Kahne [2]; 3. 71-Gio Scelzi [3]; 4. 5R-Byron Reed [4]; 5. 17-Josh Baughman [5]; 6. 81-Lee Jacobs [6]

D-Main (8 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer
1. 9M-Jordan Ryan [2]; 2. 45-Trevor Baker [3]; 3. O7-Gerard McIntyre [1]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu [8]; 5. 22-Brandon Spithaler [6]; 6. 19-Mitch Harble [9]; 7. 23-Chase Baker [5]; 8. 2+-Brian Smith [11]; 9. 96AU-Bruce White [10]; 10. 51-John Garvin [4]; 11. 98-Carl Bowser [7]

C-Main (10 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer
1. 5X-Justin Peck [2]; 2. 2-Ricky Peterson [3]; 3. 3J-Trey Jacobs [1]; 4. 9Z-Duane Zablocki [6]; 5. 9M-Jordan Ryan [11]; 6. 8J-Jess Stiger [4]; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [7]; 8. 97AU-Mitchell Wormall [5]; 9. 20I-Kesley Ivy [9]; 10. 22M-Dan McCarron [8]; 11. 70M-Henry Malcuit [10]; 12. 45-Trevor Baker [12]

B-Main (12 Laps) – Top 4 Transfer
1. 70-Dave Blaney [1]; 2. 97-Broc Martin [6]; 3. 7K-Cale Conley [2]; 4. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3]; 5. 5T-Travis Philo [7]; 6. 8M-TJ Michael [12]; 7. 16-Chris Andrews [4]; 8. 23X-DJ Foos [5]; 9. A79-Brandon Wimmer [13]; 10. 68G-Tyler Gunn [9]; 11. 35S-Stuart Brubaker [11]; 12. 99-Jay Waugh [15]; 13. 49-Shawn Dancer [14]; 14. 2-Ricky Peterson [17]; 15. 5X-Justin Peck [16]; 16. 17X-Caleb Helms [10]; 17. G1-Gary Taylor [8]

A-Main (40 Laps)
1. 13-Paul McMahan [3]; 2. 5R-Byron Reed [8]; 3. 3-Jac Haudenschild [5]; 4. 91-Cale Thomas [7]; 5. 4K-Kasey Kahne [4]; 6. 22C-Cole Duncan [11]; 7. 39-Spencer Bayston [9]; 8. 14-Tony Stewart [16]; 9. 71-Gio Scelzi [6]; 10. 49X-Tim Shaffer [24]; 11. 10H-Chad Kemenah [14]; 12. 48-Danny Dietrich [19]; 13. 81-Lee Jacobs [12]; 14. 3G-Carson Macedo [13]; 15. 17-Josh Baughman [10]; 16. 4L-Cap Henry [20]; 17. 4-Parker Price-Miller [17]; 18. 11-Ryan Smith [15]; 19. 7K-Cale Conley [21]; 20. 35-Tyler Esh [18]; 21. 22-Brandon Spithaler [26]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel [1]; 23. 57-Kyle Larson [2]; 24. 98-Carl Bowser [25]; 25. 97-Broc Martin [22]; 26. 70-Dave Blaney [23] Lap Leaders: Kyle Larson (1-18), Paul McMahan (19), Aaron Reutzel (20-24) Paul McMahan (25-40)

All Star Circuit of Champions Driver Standings: (after 6/15/2018)
1. Aaron Reutzel – 1692
2. Jac Haudenschild – 1688
3. Carson Macedo – 1686
4. Chad Kemenah – 1678
5. Parker Price-Miller – 1608
6. Dave Blaney – 1558
7. Paul McMahan – 1474
8. Cale Conley – 1456
9. Carl Bowser – 1430
10. Brandon Spithaler – 1430

Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing Standings: (after 6/15/2018)
1. Paul McMahan – 150
2. Byron Reed – 146
3. Jac Haudenschild – 144
4. Cale Thomas – 142
5. Kasey Kahne – 140
6. Cole Duncan – 138
7. Spencer Bayston – 136
8. Tony Stewart – 134
9. Gio Scelzi – 132
10. Tim Shaffer – 130