Camargo, IL (6-19-09) –By Kelly Brown – All Star Public Relations Director – There is just 24 hours until the 27th Ohio Speedweek kicks off. With the rain in the area, the first night originally scheduled at Attica Raceway Park has been shifted to Eldora Speedway. The last time the O’Reilly All Stars raced at “The Big E” drivers and fans alike agreed that it was the best race they had ever seen at the track, so it should be another exhilarating event to begin Ohio Speedweek.

Hot laps will take the track at 6:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the event start at $18 for adults, ages 15 – 12 are $8, ages 11-7 are $4 and ages 6 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event run $25. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (937) 338-3815 or visit www.eldoraspeedway.com. 

During Speedweek the fans in attendance should check out the O’Reilly All Star Merchandise trailer as there are several new items. Special for Ohio Speedweek, ASI Sportswear has created several items including: 2009 Ohio Speedweek decals, 2009 Ohio Speedweek die cast, and an exclusive tye-dye 2009 Ohio Speedweek t-shirt. Also new to the trailer is 2010 All Star calendars with are 12X12, full color, and priced at $15. Also new is the 2009 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions souvenir program, which is a must read for fans of the series. Also in the trailer is a host of the best and highest quality race wear that ASI Sportswear has to offer.

If fans are looking for a place to stay during Ohio Speedweek there are several places that are offering special Ohio Speedweek rates. After the race at Millstream Speedway on June 21, stay at the Extended Stay in Findlay, Ohio. To get the Ohio Speedweek racers rate all you need to do is make your reservation at www.extendedstayhotels.com and enter the access code STR.

Another great place to stay is the Rodeway Inn in Wooster, Ohio. To make reservations all you need to do is go online to www.rodewayinn.com or call (330) 262-5008 and ask for the Ohio Speedweek rate.

An excellent place to stay and relax when visiting Limaland Motorsports Park or Waynesfield Raceway Park is the Comfort Inn of Lima. They offer great rates along with a free deluxe continental breakfast and coffee! They also have free high-speed wireless internet and a fitness center. For more information on the Comfort Inn of Lima call 419-228-4251 or visit www.comfortinn.com.

Whether you are at Fremont Speedway or Attica Raceway Park, stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Tiffin, Ohio. To make reservations visit www.holidayinn.com or call (419) 443-5100 and ask for the Ohio Speedweek racers rate.

The 2009 edition of Ohio Speedweek will no doubt be another barn burning fight to see who can be the last one standing on the final night of competition. Don’t miss a minute of Ohio Speedweek Action. Keep yourself updated by visiting both www.allstarsprint.com and www.ohiospeedweek.com.

"We had over two inches of rain Friday morning and the facility was flooded. That, coupled with the forecast of severe weather later... we didn't want our fans and teams to be exposed to that danger," said ARP Operations Manager Rex LeJeune. "The best part is we have a chance to make up this great traditional race on Thursday."

Camargo, IL (6-17-09) – By Kelly Brown – All Star Public Relations Director – With the start of the 27th edition of Ohio Speedweek less than a few days away, the fans and competitors alike are ready to begin the demanding event which features eight races in just nine days. This season Attica Raceway Park will be the first step that the drivers of the O’Reilly Circuit of Champions will have to take in the Ohio Speedweek marathon. 

Even with Ohio Speedweek being an event that challenges the mindset and equipment of drivers, it is still a date that the All Stars circle on their calendar. There are many reasons that the drivers of the O’Reilly All Stars Circuit of Champions enjoy and look forward to Ohio Speedweek, for Greg Wilson, who hails from Benton Ridge, Ohio it is a chance to race close to home.

“The best part of Ohio Speedweek for me is that I get to go home almost after every race and sleep in my own bed,” Wilson commented. “Being on the road and racing so many times in a week can wear on you, especially if you get on a roll of not doing well, so after a night like that the best thing is to be able to go home and reset for the next event. That plus you are able to have a lot of friends and family around, since you are racing at home.”

For others like 2008 Rookie-of-the-Year Ryan Myers it is all about the competition.

“Last year we did not have the best of luck during Speedweek, but that does not mean I am not looking forward to this year,” Myers said with a smile on his face. “It is a great event and it means a lot to me, because I know I am going to the track and racing each night with the best drivers out there.”

Being a rookie on the 2009 All Star Circuit of Champions can be challenging, but it helps if you are looking forward to a track on the Speedweek schedule, especially if it is one that you got your best All Star finish at the last time you walked in the gates of the track.

“I cannot wait for the race at Fremont,” said 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year hopeful Ryan Bunton, with a huge smile. “I ran well there in May, so to be able to go back there so soon is great. I am really looking forward to competing at that track and all one ones on the Speedweek schedule.”

Going into Ohio Speedweek Tim Shaffer holds the All Star points lead, but Ohio Speedweek is a time that can change everything with such a demanding schedule. The rookie point standings are also starting to close up with Ryan Bunton leading with Daron Clayton on his heels. Will Clayton be able to catch him during Ohio Speedweek? Will there be a new All Star Circuit of Champions point leader when the dust settles? It will be a week that definitely fans of the series will not want to miss.

Attica Raceway Park – Friday, June 19

The gates will open at 4:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:45 pm. Tickets for the event start at $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, ages 15-11 are $10, while ages 10 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run $30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (419) 680-5606 or visit www.atticaracewaypark.com. 

Eldora Speedway – Saturday, June 20

Hot laps will take the track at 6:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the event start at $18 for adults, ages 15 – 12 are $8, ages 11-7 are $4 and ages 6 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event run $25. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (937) 338-3815 or visit www.eldoraspeedway.com.  

Millstream Speedway – Sunday, June 21

The gates will open at 3:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the event start at $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, ages 16 – 11 are $15, while ages 10 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run $30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (419) 420-1900 or visit www.millstreamspeedway.com. 

Wayne County Speedway – Monday, June 22

The gates will open at 3:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the event start at $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, ages 14 –6 are $10, while ages 5 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run $30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (419) 522-8761 or visit www.waynecountyspeedway.com. 

Hilltop Speedway – Tuesday, June 23

The pit gates will open at 4:00 pm and the grandstands gates will open at 5:00 while racing action is slated to begin at 8:00 pm. Grandstand tickets are $20 for adults. . For more information on the event you can call the track office at (740) 502-7650 or visit www.waynecountyspeedway.com. 

Waynesfield Raceway Park – Wednesday, June 24

The gates will open at 4:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the event start at $20 for adults, ages 16 – 11 are $15, while ages 10 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run $30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (419) 568-3201 or visit www.hilltopspeedway.org. 

Limaland Motorsports Park – Friday, June 26

The gates will open at 4:00 pm with hot laps slated to begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets for the event start at $22 for adults, ages 11 – 16 are $11, while ages 10 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run $30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (419) 339-6249 or visit www.limaland.com. 

Fremont Speedway – Saturday, June 27

The gates will open at 4:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the event start at $25 for adults, $15 for seniors, ages 16-11 are $10, while ages 10 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run $30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at (419) 333-0476 or visit www.fremontohspeedway.com. 

For those who cannot make it to all the events on the demanding schedule, four of the events will be broadcast on BAS Radio Network with radio and racing announcing veteran DC Bash on the microphone. Attica Raceway Park on June 19, Eldora Speedway June 20, Hilltop Speedway on June 23, and Waynesfield Raceway Park on June 24, can all be can be listened to on the internet at www.racecastlive.com. 

Ohio Speedweek will no doubt be another exciting fight to see who emerges from the event with not only the Ohio Speedweek title, but the All Star Circuit of Champions point standings when the Checkered Flag flies on the final night at Fremont Speedway. Don’t miss a minute of Ohio Speedweek Action. Keep yourself updated by visiting both www.allstarsprint.com and www.ohiospeedweek.com.

Camargo, IL (6-15-09) – By Kelly Brown – All Star Public Relations Director –Last year the Ohio Speedweek competition came down to a one night shootout between O’Reilly All Star Champion Dale Blaney and Randy Hannagan. Once the dust settled on the final night at Eldora it was Hannagan who took the 2008 title. It may have happened a year ago, but it is still fresh on the minds of the two competitors that fought for the crown.

Last year the story of Ohio Speedweek was the weather as three out of the seven night scheduled were cancelled due to rain.

“I think the biggest factor to last year’s Speedweek Championship was rain,” Dale Blaney commented. “This year hopefully the rain will stay away and we will be able to get more nights in. Last year it really made hard if you had one off night. Losing three races really played a big part in the championship.”

With the first two Ohio Speedweek races falling victim to rain, the first event took the green flag at Hilltop Speedway. Starting from the pole position was Randy Hannagan, but when the Green Flag flew Mark Keegan took the lead and looked to run away with the event, until he slid to miss a car that was stopped on track. At the point Hannagan inherited the lead and never looked back recording his first win of the season.

The second night of Speedweek was at Skyline Speedway and Jimmy Nier started the event on the pole. He would pace the field early, before Hannagan would steal the lead away from him on Lap 8. For the next ten laps The Hurricane was on point, until Dale Blaney took the wind out of his sails. Blaney would go on to win night two.

The next stop on the schedule was Fremont Speedway, and it was a quite night for a local hometown hero. David Harrison jumped into the lead as soon as the starter gave the field the go. Harrison benefitted from yellow flags when he was mired in heavy lapped traffic, and picked his way through the back markers with precise skill to hold off Randy Hannagan for the win. Mother Nature would win the event at Limaland Motorsports Park unfortunately, so the next stop was Eldora Speedway. 

On the final night of Ohio Speedweek the stage was set to crown a champion. The top two in the battle still remember the night as if it was yesterday. The 30 lap A-main went wire-to-wire as Ed Lynch Jr. jumped out to an early lead, and Blaney chased him through the high banks with Brock Mayes hot on Blaney’s tail.  Mayes and Blaney were both eventually able to get past Lynch. On lap 24 Mayes bobbled and Blaney was able to get around him. Blaney would cross the finish line first. Randy Hannagan took the 2008 Ohio Speedweek championship for being one of the most consistent finishers of the week of the 79 drivers who participated over the 7 day stretch.

“Looking back the most memorable part of Speedweek last year had to be first win at Hilltop,” stated Hannagan. “I had my dad there with me which meant a lot, then also to have him there when I won the championship at Eldora. This year he will not be there, but both of those are great memories to have and I look to continue on making memories like that.”

“I have to say the most memorable part of Speedweek last year was that final night at Eldora,” said Blaney. “Going into the night I knew I had to win to take the Championship. We did everything we had to, but came up just a little bit short. It is things like that stick with you and push you to do better the next season.”

One of the biggest factors to becoming Ohio Speedweek champion is clearly momentum. As most athletes can tell you once you get on a roll you ride it, whether it is good or bad luck.

“The fact of the matter is that you are only as good as your car is on that night,” commented Hannagan. “The first two race tracks, Attica and Eldora are ones we run well at, so if you can get a good start to the week it is definitely a psychological boost. If you get on a roll you have to do it then and then keep on rolling.”