Camargo, IL (4-11-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – Dale Blaney only led one lap on Saturday night in O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions action at Attica Raceway Park, but it was the most important one. After starting in the fourteenth position the three-time champion captured his first win of the 2009 season.

On the drop of the green flag pole winner Rob Chaney and Tim Shaffer went into to Turn 1 side-by-side. By the time the duo had reached the back stretch Shaffer had nosed his way into the lead, with Greg Wilson moving into second. The yellow banner would fly for the first time after the opening lap was scored when Craig Conley tangled with Craig Mintz in Turn 4. On the restart Shaffer retained the lead with Wilson, Chaney, Chad Kemenah, and Kasey Kahne in close pursuit.

The yellow flag would fly twice with 4 laps being scored. Both were for single car spins in Turn 2, the first was for Cap Henry and the second was for Ed Lynch Jr. On the restart Lee Jacobs was on the move sliding his racing machine in to the top-five. Kemenah was feeling racy as well moving up to the three spot. While Shaffer continued to lead, the hottest battle on the track was for fourth between Chaney and Jacobs who were nose-to-tail for several laps.

On lap 16 Dale Blaney made his presence known as he made his first appearance in the top-five. As Shaffer encountered lapped traffic the lead the “Steel City Outlaw” had built quickly dwindled. Behind him Blaney was quickly moving up in the running order, taking the fourth position by the time the 20th  lap was in the books. It only took Blaney five more laps to take third away from Kemenah.

Camargo, IL (2-5-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – After two third place finishes and a runner up finish, there was only one place that Stevie Smith could finish on the last night of the O’Reilly Circuit of Champions Florida Speedweek Winter Nationals and that was in Victory Lane. In an exciting night of racing that saw the win come down to a last lap pass, Stevie Smith showed he was on a mission.

Starting from the pole position, Smith grabbed the lead going into turn one when the Green Flag was unfurled. In close pursuit were Craig Dollansky and Kraig Kinser. Early on the battle was for the fifth position as Jason Meyers, Joey Saldana and Steve Kinser had quite a scuffle to take that spot.  

By Lap 9 Smith looked as if he was going to run away with the show as he had built over a second lead, but that was not enough when his 1 car spun its wheels Dollansky was able to catch up to him and a side-by-side battle ensued. Dollansky stole the lead on Lap 12, but Smith muscled back and reclaimed the top spot a lap later.

On Lap 19 Saldana began to make his move up to fourth. In the battle for third Saldana and Kraig Kinser were bumper-to-bumper for third. In a frenzied move Steve Kinser passed the two, but on the next revolution of the half-mile track Saldana had retook the third position with Jason Meyers lining up behind him in fourth.

The first Yellow Flag of the night flew over Volusia Speedway on Lap 20 as Sam Hafertepe jr.’s 15h came to a halt on track. On the restart at the front Smith was working the low line, while Dollansky was making himself comfortable in the cushion. A second caution period disrupted their skirmish as the Yellow Flag flew again on lap 21 for Tim Kaeding whose 83jr had come to a stop at the exit of Turn 2.

On the final restart with only nine laps to go, Smith and Dollansky stuck to their favored lines. The result was a side-by-side scuffle that saw Dollansky retake the lead on Lap 22. Behind the leaders Meyers was closely following Saldana, but time was running out.

When the White Flag soared over the field, Smith knew it was his last chance for victory. In Turn 2 he made his move and slid under Dollansky to recapture the lead. With the Checkered Flag fluttering in the air, Smith was the first to cross the finish line; he was followed by: Dollansky, Saldana, Meyers and Steve Kinser. 

This was Smith’s second Winter Nationals win. His first came at East Bay Speedway in 1994. Over all this was Smith’s seventh O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions win.

The next time the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will take the track will be April 10 and 11 at Attica Speedway Park in Attica, Ohio. For more information stay tuned to http://www.oreillyallstars.com/.

Camargo, IL (2-4-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – After winning night one at Volusia Speedway Park in dramatic fashion, it only seems fair that Donny Schatz follow it up with a All Star Circuit of Champions victory in dominant style. He did just that leading wire-to-wire on the fourth night of Florida Speedweek Winter Nationals.

On the drop of the Green Flag, Schatz was a man on a mission taking the lead going into the first turn with Joey Saldana on his heels. Behind them a battle for third waged on as Jason Sides, Greg Wilson and Tim Kaeding got three wide at one point for the position. As Kaeding got high out of the line, Daryn Pittman jumped at the opportunity and moved his way into the top-five.

During Lap 5 Schatz got caught behind a slowing Pat Cannon and Joey Saldana took the lead for a brief moment, but Cannon brought out the Yellow Flag before the lap could be recorded. Therefore, Schatz was relegated back into the top position. On the restart Schatz retained the lead and by Lap 8 he had build over a second lead over his nearest competitor.

There were a few times where lapped traffic brought Saldana’s 9 car close to the bumper of Schatz’s 15, but Saldana could not get by. This allowed Sides to close on Saldana, but he held Sides’ advances off. One of the best battles on the track was for who was going to make it into the top-five. There was quite a scuffle going on between Pittman, Kaeding, Steve Kinser, and Stevie Smith for the position.

With five laps to go the struggle for fifth was between Wilson and Pittman, while at the front of the pack Saldana once again had Schatz in his sights following him feverishly in the low line. With one lap remaining the Red Flag came out as a result of Wilson tangling with two lapped cars on the back stretch, which sent him plummeting end-over-end. Wilson would land on all fours and exit his w20 racing machine unscathed.

This set up a green-white-checker finish. When the field saw the Green Flag unfurled for the final time, Schatz once again beat Saldana into the first turn and took off never looking back. When the checkers fell it was Schatz who took them first, followed by: Saldana, Sides, Pittman and Kinser.

This was Schatz’s fifth All Star Circuit of Champions Winter Nationals win. The first came in 2006 and the other two came last year at Volusia Speedway Park, when he won two out of three nights. With having won two out of three nights this year, will he be able to make it a sweep?

The All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action at Volusia Speedway Park tomorrow night for the fifth and night of Florida Speedweek Winter Nationals. 

Camargo, IL (1-30-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – Someone once said “you can’t keep a good man down.” No one could have illustrated this saying better than Donny Schatz did tonight at Volusia Speedway Park in All Star Circuit of Champions action.

When the Green Flag first flew on tonight’s main event, it was short lived as Chad Kemenah spun his 8k racing machine in Turn 3 on the first circuit. On the restart the canary banner would fly again as Steve Kinser and his son Kraig Kinser touched wheels going into Turn 2. Trying to avoid the incident Donny Schatz attempted to take evasive action, but instead made contact with the 3c of Craig Conley. The incident caused Conley to roll end-over-end, and left Schatz at a halt at the exit of Turn 2. After a stop in the work area, Schatz joined the field at the tail end. Some may have thought Schatz’s night was over, but he showed he knows how to overcome adversity.

When the race restarted Lance Dewease jumped into the lead with Sammy Swindell and Danny Lasoski in tow. It didn’t take long before Swindell would put his nose under the 30c machine on the back straight to take the lead. By Lap 5 Dewease found himself in another battle as Lasoski stole the position away from him.

Up until this point Stevie Smith had been holding on in the top-five, but now he began his steady climb up to third getting around Dewease. There was a lot of lapped traffic in his way, but Smith made his way up the next rung of the ladder getting around Lasoski to take the second position. On Lap 11 Smith made his move around Swindell into the lead and held on to it up until three laps to go. After running third in the first two nights of Winter Nationals, it looked as if it may be his night to visit Victory Lane.

At this point Schatz began to make his presence known as he moved his way into the top-ten. Lap-after-lap he began to pick off another position one-by-one, until he got around Cody Darrah to make it into the top-five. Schatz was clearly the fastest car on the track and he kept ascending in the running order moving up to fourth, third, and finally around Swindell to take the runner-up spot.

Schatz quickly closed in on Smith, and they ran nose-to-tail for a few laps with Schatz sizing up Smith each lap finding the best way to get around him to take the top spot. With three laps to go Schatz made his move and zoomed around Smith. Smith hung on and tried to battle back, but in the end Schatz proved to be too strong, taking the Checkered Flag.

This was Schatz’s fourth All Star Circuit of Champions Winter Nationals win. The first came in 2006 and the other two came last year at Volusia Speedway Park, when he won two out of three nights. Will he be able to make it a three night sweep this year?

The All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action at Volusia Speedway Park tomorrow night for the fourth night of Florida Speedweek Winter Nationals. 

Camargo, IL (1-30-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – A few days ago Terry McCarl didn’t have a clue if he would even be racing in Florida, but sometimes a few days can make all the difference. Tonight McCarl made his way from a hospital bed to Victory Lane at Ocala Speedway, within a few short days to win the second night of the O’Reilly All Stars Circuit of Champions Florida Speedweek Winter Nationals.

From the time the Green Flag fell on the main event McCarl was a man on a mission. After starting in the top spot, he got past Danny Lasoski in Turn 1 to take the lead and Lance Dewease slid his way into second. Behind McCarl the battle waged on as second, third and fourth position was hot property. Dewease, Danny Lasoski, and quick time setter Greg Hodnett put on quite a show trading positions what seemed almost every lap.

On Lap 15 the racing action was put on pause when the Yellow Flag came out for Randy Hannagan who was running fifth at the time. He had tangled with the lapped car of David Gravel and both came to a stop on the front stretch. During this time out, Greg Wilson who finished second the night before also came to a stop on track.

When the Green Flag came out it was short lived as Fred Rahmer came to a halt in Turn 2. On the next restart as McCarl kept the field at bay, Stevie Smith made his first appearance in the top-five. With 10 laps remaining both Hodnett and Lasoski slid past Dewease into second and third position. Dewease continued to fall back as Smith got past him to move up into the fourth spot.

The final five laps of the event were chaotic as second through fifth was constantly changing. When the Checkered Flag flew and the dust settled McCarl claimed the victory. Behind him it was a drag race, but Danny Lasoski took second with Smith, Dewease, and Hodnett rounding out the top-five.

With his win McCarl became the twelfth different driver to win an All Star Winter Nationals event at Ocala. In the 12 races held at the track there still has yet to be a repeat winner. This is McCarl’s seventh All Star Florida Speedweek victory. His first came at Jax Raceway in 1993 and a second followed at the same track in 1994. His other four wins came at Volusia Speedway Park in 1997, 2005, 2006 and 2007. As the All Stars move on to Volusia, McCarl will definitely be a frontrunner if history repeats itself.