Blaney Victorious at Millstream Speedway

FINDLAY, OH (7-20-08) by Bryan Autullo - All Star PR Director

Do you believe in Miracles?  The city of Findlay, Ohio does.  Dean Miracle did the impossible and put on an event at a facility that hasn't seen action in nine years - and it was a huge success!  A capacity crowd filled the stands and grass seating areas to overflowing as fans were lined up for hundreds of yards waiting in line at the ticket windows.  It was evident that the re-opening of this dirt track icon was long overdue.  Dean Miracle leased the facility just a few months back and put together a crew who did what everyone said couldn't be done.  The result was a fantastic night of racing with only a few minor flaws such as  too few restrooms, too few food vendors, and too few parking spaces - all problems that any promoter dreams of having.  The fans seemed to be happy to be there regardless.  The event started a little later than planned as the promoter and All Star officials wanted to allow the long line of fans waiting to get in the opportunity to see the whole show.

The racing started out on a sour note as Chad Blonde got into the turn one fence on lap one of Heat 1 with the help of another competitor.  Chad landed on his lid and thought he was done for the night, but was able to put the car back together for the B-main later in the evening.

Heat races were won by Greg Wilson, Mike Dussell, Rob Chaney, and Brandon Martin.  Wilson was the hometown favorite and he vowed to put on a show for the fans when he was interviewed after his heat race win.  Wilson would also win the 360 sprint event later in the program.

The O'Reilly All Star Dash was won by Tim Shaffer, but the big story was the lap one crash where Blake Feese got into the fence in front of Kenny Jacobs.  Jacobs climbed the rear of Feese's car and launched into the fence, nearly clearing it.  Thankfully the fence did it's job sending the #59 back onto the track surface, much to the relief of the fans sitting in turn two.  Kenny walked away with some hip and back pain and was transported to the hospital as a precaution. 

B-main action was wild as the caution or red flew on the first 4 attempts and a 2-wide start.  The call was made to restart single file in order to get the event in the books.  There were 23 cars fighting for the final four transfer spots, so there were guys making moves that might have gone against their better judgment.  Eventually Chris Andrews held off Danny Smith for the win.    Chad Blonde and Andy Shammo rounded out the transfer spots.

The A-main had the feel of a Kings Royal event.  The overflowing crowd was on their feet, cheering and waving, making noise that almost drowned out the engines as the 4-wide salute to the fans rolled past.  This was what they all came to see.  The track surface held up remarkably well considering that a few months back it was covered with weeds and rocks. 
All Star points leader Lance Dewease would lead them to the starting line with Blake Feese to his outside. The "Miracle on Dirt" was about to begin.  When the green flag dropped, it was Feese who jumped to the early lead.  The action on the track was wild from front to back as the cars went 3 and sometimes 4 wide for position back through the pack.  Fans remembered why they used to love coming to Millstream. 

The red flew on lap 3 for Andy Shammo who got together with Brandon Marting and Jamie Miller who both had minor damage, but both exited the speedway.  The action continued to be intense after the restart until a lap 9 caution flew for Byron Reed who lost a drive shaft in turn 3 ending his night.  At the restart it was Feese, Dewease, Shaffer, Blaney, and Hannagan.

Blaney began to make his charge to the front on the restart as Greg Wilson began his climb from his 18th starting spot.  Blaney moved into second place by lap 15, then stole the lead from Feese on lap 20.  Dewease hung onto 3rd as he battle Wilson lap after lap trading slide jobs.  Wilson eventually got by Dewease, as did Shaffer.

When the checkered flag flew, Blaney was the victor with Feese and Wilson in tow.  Shaffer came home fourth and Dewease rounded out the Top 5.  This will tighten up the points battle between Blaney and Dewease even more as the All Stars prepare to head West for Thunder Through the Plains.

Visit www.allstarsprint.com for more info on the Thunder tour.


Millstream Speedway (7-20-08)- O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions


Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 30C-Lance Dewease, 14.352; 2. 15C-Chris Andrews, 14.439; 3. 4-Danny Smith, 14.497; 4. 5-Byron Reed, 14.508; 5. 7K-Blake Feese, 14.548; 6. 59-Kenny Jacobs, 14.566; 7. 83-Tim Shaffer, 14.658; 8. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 14.682; 9. 5B-Chad Blonde, 14.723; 10. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 14.731; 11. 2-Dale Blaney, 14.746; 12. B20-Butch Schroeder, 14.801; 13. 20X-Phil Gressman, 14.810; 14. O-Jeremy Campbell, 14.841; 15. 10-Dave Harrison, 14.862; 16. O9-Craig Mintz, 14.876; 17. 16J-Lee Jacobs, 14.894; 18. 75-Dean Jacobs, 14.896; 19. 24H-Rob Chaney, 14.902; 20. 60-Jody Keegan, 14.905; 21. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.933; 22. 6-Mike Dussel, 14.964; 23. 48-Andy Shammo, 15.069; 24. 11M-Brandon Martin, 15.096; 25. D7-Tony Beaber, 15.122; 26. 9-Chad Goff, 15.122; 27. 4M-Jamie Miller, 15.139; 28. 22-Cole Duncan, 15.147; 29. 11B-Brock Mayes, 15.240; 30. 12-Caleb Griffith, 15.254; 31. 4K-Kody Kinser, 15.257; 32. 9X-Mike Brecht, 15.277; 33. 14H-Todd Heller, 15.300; 34. 16-Lee Stark, 15.346; 35. 96AU-Bruce White, 15.364; 36. 98-Bruce Robenalt, 15.381; 37. 7M-Geoff Dodge, 15.383; 38. 3C-Cole Conley, 15.455; 39. 97-Cory Seeling, 15.590; 40. 11N-Ed Neumeister, 15.801; 41. 56R-Ryan Myers, 15.907; 42. 98R-Rodney Hurst, 16.459; 43. 43G-Chad Arthur, NT;

Heat 1 - All Pro Heads
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease; 3. 7K-Blake Feese; 4. 16J-Lee Jacobs; 5. 11B-Brock Mayes; 6. 20X-Phil Gressman; 7. 14H-Todd Heller; 8. 7M-Geoff Dodge; 9. D7-Tony Beaber; 10. 56R-Ryan Myers; 11. 5B-Chad Blonde;

Heat 2 - Engler Machine & Tool
1. 6-Mike Dussel; 2. 75-Dean Jacobs; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 4. O-Jeremy Campbell; 5. 59-Kenny Jacobs; 6. 12-Caleb Griffith; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews; 8. 3C-Cole Conley; 9. 9-Chad Goff; 10. 98R-Rodney Hurst;

Heat 3 - Hoosier Tire
1. 24H-Rob Chaney; 2. 10-Dave Harrison; 3. 2-Dale Blaney; 4. 83-Tim Shaffer; 5. 4M-Jamie Miller; 6. 4-Danny Smith; 7. 48-Andy Shammo; 8. 97-Cory Seeling; 9. 96AU-Bruce White; 10. 43G-Chad Arthur; 11. 4K-Kody Kinser;

Heat 4 - Hank's Performance Products
1. 11M-Brandon Martin; 2. O9-Craig Mintz; 3. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 4. 5-Byron Reed; 5. B20-Butch Schroeder; 6. 60-Jody Keegan; 7. 9X-Mike Brecht; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 9. 22-Cole Duncan; 10. 11N-Ed Neumeister;

Dash - O'Reilly Auto Parts
1. 83-Tim Shaffer; 2. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 3. 30C-Lance Dewease; 4. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 5. 59-Kenny Jacobs; 6. 7K-Blake Feese;

B-main - University of Northwestern Ohio
1. 15C-Chris Andrews; 2. 4-Danny Smith; 3. 5B-Chad Blonde; 4. 48-Andy Shammo; 5. 60-Jody Keegan; 6. 22-Cole Duncan; 7. 16-Lee Stark; 8. 12-Caleb Griffith; 9. 4K-Kody Kinser; 10. 7M-Geoff Dodge; 11. 56R-Ryan Myers; 12. D7-Tony Beaber; 13. 96AU-Bruce White; 14. 3C-Cole Conley; 15. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 16. 97-Cory Seeling; 17. 98R-Rodney Hurst; 18. 20X-Phil Gressman; 19. 9-Chad Goff; 20. 9X-Mike Brecht; 21. 14H-Todd Heller; 22. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 23. 43G-Chad Arthur;

A-main - MSD Ignition  Starting Position []
1. 2-Dale Blaney[7]; 2. 7K-Blake Feese[2]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[18]; 4. 83-Tim Shaffer[3]; 5. 30C-Lance Dewease[1]; 6. 1X-Randy Hannagan[6]; 7. 4-Danny Smith[12]; 8. 75-Dean Jacobs[16]; 9. 11B-Brock Mayes[23]; 10. 16J-Lee Jacobs[15]; 11. O-Jeremy Campbell[9]; 12. O9-Craig Mintz[14]; 13. 10-Dave Harrison[10]; 14. 15C-Chris Andrews[11]; 15. 6-Mike Dussel[19]; 16. 5B-Chad Blonde[13]; 17. 24H-Rob Chaney[17]; 18. B20-Butch Schroeder[8]; 19. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[5]; 20. 5-Byron Reed[4]; 21. 11M-Brandon Martin[21]; 22. 4M-Jamie Miller[22]; 23. 48-Andy Shammo[20];