Brock Zearfoss tames Outlaw Speedway for first-ever All Star triumph
Brock Zearfoss tames Outlaw Speedway for first-ever All Star triumph
Story By: Tyler Altmeyer/ASCOC
Photo By: Trent Gower
DUNDEE, N.Y. (June 7, 2019) – Brock Zearfoss has been a man on a mission thus far in 2019, and now his mission his complete.
For the first time in his career, Brock Zearfoss is an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 main event winner, leading all 30 circuits on Friday night at Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, N.Y., to secure a $5,000 payday.
Despite maintaining command the entire distance, the top spot on the podium was not an easy reach, as the Jonestown, Pennsylvania- native and former Port Royal Speedway champion was forced to withstand heavy pressure from fellow full-time All Star traveler and recent BAPS Motor Speedway winner, Cory Eliason.
“I wanted to get this one so bad for my team. They have been working their tails off all season,” Brock Zearfoss said in Outlaw Speedway victory lane. “We’ve had the speed to win all year, but no luck to go with it. It feels great to get it done here tonight. I’m so proud of these guys.”
Starting from the pole position, Zearfoss rocketed to an early lead, keeping Rudeen Racing’s Eliason and former World of Outlaws champion, Dave Blaney, at bay.
Although left behind initially, Eliason wasted little time applying the pressure on Zearfoss, nearly pulling even with the ‘Jonestown Jet’ as the pair battled off of turn two on lap four. Just as Eliason was set to make a move in traffic, caution flags waved giving Zearfoss an opportunity to restart in clean air with a clear track ahead.
The next five circuits went undisturbed for the Premier Motorsports entry, that until caution flags waved again on lap 13, once again giving Zearfoss the single-file advantage. When green flag action resumed, Zearfoss returned to the topside of the speedway, but this time increasing his lead as the laps clicked off the counter. By lap 22, Zearfoss’ advantage increased to nearly a straightaway, and despite recurring traffic, Eliason was unable to make up the distance.
Flowing through traffic effortlessly, it was not until the final circuit that Zearfoss encountered a major roadblock; a trio of lapped cars hogging most of the speedway, ultimately leaving little room to navigate. A slight hesitation by Zearfoss allowed Eliason the opportunity for a last-ditch effort maneuver around the familiar No. 70, but the attempt did not succeed. Zearfoss drove through the final two corners unscathed to claim top honors at Outlaw Speedway.
“Things got pretty sketchy,” Zearfoss said of the final lap, driver of the Premier Motorsports/Moose’s LZ Bar & Grill/Heavy Equipment, Loaders & Parts Inc./BAPS Auto Paint & Supply/Meckley’s Limestone Products/Berkebile Oil Company/River City Wood Products/No. 70 sprint car. “I just kinda floated through the corner and I thought to myself ‘I just lost it on the last lap.’ But it all worked out. We got it done tonight and that’s all that matters.”
“All of the names on this car make opportunities like this possible,” Zearfoss continued. “I certainly wouldn’t be in this position without them. I appreciate everything they do.”
Cory Eliason held on to finish second at the final checkers, followed by Dave Blaney, who battled the final laps with a severed nose wing, Gerard McIntyre, and Danny Varin.
Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions will continue their three-day swing through the Empire State with a one-night stand at the ‘New’ Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., on Saturday, June 8. Like Outlaw Speedway, the traveling All Stars will visit Stateline Speedway only once in 2019, chasing a $5,000 payday.
The ‘New’ Stateline Speedway in Busti, New York, will open pit gates at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. A mandatory All Star Circuit of Champions drivers meeting will be conducted at 5:15 p.m. with hot laps to follow at 6:10 p.m. More news and notes can be found online at www.newstatelinespeedway.com.
Contingency Awards/Results: Outlaw Speedway – Friday, June 7, 2019:
Entries: 24
C&R Racing All Star Warm-Ups: Justin Barger – 12.693
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Cory Eliason – 12.827
Ford Performance Heat #1: Cory Eliason
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Danny Varin
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Justin Barger
JE Pistons Dash presented by Fatheadz Eyewear #1: Brock Zearfoss
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet A-Main Winner: Brock Zearfoss
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Brandon Spithaler [+10]
(Lincoln Electric, MSD Performance, Fatheadz Eyewear, Rayce Rudeen Foundation: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)
Qualifying
Group (A)
- 26-Cory Eliason, 12.827; 2. 35-Tyler Esh, 13.004; 3. 98H-Dave Blaney, 13.051; 4. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi, 13.065; 5. 98-Joe Trenca, 13.076; 6. 10-Joe Kata, 13.290; 7. 46-Michael Bauer, 13.301; 8. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 13.702
Group (B)
- 72-Ryan Smith, 12.972; 2. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 13.028; 3. 13-Paul McMahan, 13.075; 4. J4-John Garvin, 13.101; 5. 29-Dan Shetler, 13.180; 6. OO-Danny Varin, 13.246; 7. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.365; 8. 40-George Hobaugh, NT
Group (C)
- O7-Gerard McIntyre, 12.866; 2. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 12.925; 3. 99-Skylar Gee, 13.006; 4. 5-Justin Barger, 13.082; 5. 11-Dale Blaney, 13.087; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.115; 7. 14-Tony Stewart, 13.137; 8. K4-Chad Kemenah, 13.439
Heat #1 – Group (A) (8 Laps) – Top 8 Transfer
- 26-Cory Eliason [4]; 2. 98H-Dave Blaney [2]; 3. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi [1]; 4. 35-Tyler Esh [3]; 5. 98-Joe Trenca [5]; 6. 46-Michael Bauer [7]; 7. 10-Joe Kata [6]
Heat #2 – Group (B) (8 Laps) – Top 8 Transfer
- OO-Danny Varin [6]; 2. 29-Dan Shetler [5]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan [2]; 4. 70X-Spencer Bayston [3]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [7]; 6. 72-Ryan Smith [4]; 7. 40-George Hobaugh [8]; 8. J4-John Garvin [1]
Heat #3 – Group (C) (8 Laps) – Top 8 Transfer
- 5-Justin Barger [1]; 2. 99-Skylar Gee [2]; 3. 70-Brock Zearfoss [3]; 4. 11-Dale Blaney [5]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel [6]; 6. 14-Tony Stewart [7]; 7. O7-Gerard McIntyre [4]; 8. K4-Chad Kemenah [8]
Dash #1 (6 Laps)
- 70-Brock Zearfoss [2]; 2. 98H-Dave Blaney [1]; 3. 29-Dan Shetler [6]; 4. 26-Cory Eliason [5]; 5. O7-Gerard McIntyre [4]; 6. OO-Danny Varin [3]; 7. 5-Justin Barger [7]; 8. 99-Skylar Gee [8]
A-Main (30 Laps)
- 70-Brock Zearfoss [1]; 2. 26-Cory Eliason [4]; 3. 98H-Dave Blaney [2]; 4. O7-Gerard McIntyre [5]; 5. OO-Danny Varin [6]; 6. 5-Justin Barger [7]; 7. 70X-Spencer Bayston [12]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel [15]; 9. 11-Dale Blaney [13]; 10. 13-Paul McMahan [10]; 11. 99-Skylar Gee [8]; 12. 35Z-Jared Zimbardi [9]; 13. 35-Tyler Esh [11]; 14. 22-Brandon Spithaler [24]; 15. K4-Chad Kemenah [21]; 16. W20-Greg Wilson [16]; 17. 98-Joe Trenca [14]; 18. 46-Michael Bauer [19]; 19. 40-George Hobaugh [23]; 20. 10-Joe Kata [20]; 21. 72-Ryan Smith [17]; 22. 14-Tony Stewart [18]; 23. J4-John Garvin [22]; 24. 29-Dan Shetler [3] Lap Leaders: Brock Zearfoss (1-30)
2019 All Star Circuit of Champions Driver Standings (After 6/7/2019):
- Aaron Reutzel – 806
- Paul McMahan – 760
- Dale Blaney – 748
- Spencer Bayston – 744
- Cory Eliason – 734
- Brock Zearfoss – 718
- Skylar Gee – 706
- Gerard McIntyre -690
- Greg Wilson – 682
- George Hobaugh – 640