Holtgraver gets last lap pass of Palker for Mercer All Star win
MERCER, Pa (Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013) By Brian Liskai – Danny Holtgraver had one of the worst two weeks of his young racing career just a few weeks ago. Mechanical issues and bad racing luck had his team down. But, when the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions headed to Mercer Raceway Park Saturday for the 24th Annual Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Championship, the confidence returned to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania driver.
Holtgraver used lapped traffic to make a last lap pass of Andrew Palker to steal his third UNOH All Star win of the season. Holtgraver has raced at Mercer five times in 2013 and has won all five features including an All Star victory early in July.
“Boy did this team need that. After the Thunder Through the Plains and Knoxville Nationals we were all kind of beat up. This is a huge win for us,” said Holtgraver beside his Canton Erectors/Berlin Natural Bakery/Classic Ink/DKW Transport/Kistler Engines/J&J Auto Racing backed #45. “When we got into heavy lapped traffic Andrew had trouble getting around them and I didn’t that was the difference.”
For Palker, who recently wrapped up his second consecutive track championship at the NAPA Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, the last lap pass was heart-breaking. He also won Friday night at Lernerville Speedway.
“Lapped traffic screwed me. One guy decided he wanted to race me. I slid him and he would slide me back. Lapped cars aren’t supposed to do that. It’s just very frustrating. I had a great car and to lose because of that…oh well I guess we’ll take second and try again next week,” said Palker beside his Kistler Racing Products/Kistler Engines/King Inspection Services/Albreight Trucking/J&J Auto Racing/Weld Wheels backed #57x. “I can’t thank Paul Kistler enough for the great engine.”
Current UNOH All Star national and Ohio region point leader Dale Blaney would charge from his seventh starting spot to a third place finish.
“We just weren’t in a good position all night. We went out next to last qualifying and I didn’t lay down a very good lap so I had to start seventh in the feature. Palker and Holtgraver had a heck of a race…I had the best seat in the house to watch it. I just don’t run that good here for some reason. We’ll take third and look forward to Attica next weekend,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance/GF1 Chassis backed #2.
Holtgraver and Palker would bring the field to green for the 30-lap feature with Holtgraver gaining the advantage. But, Palker would rim-ride to the front on lap two with Holtgraver, Tim Shaffer, Cole Duncan, Blaney, Paige Polyak, Lee Jacobs and Trey Gustin in tow.
Palker would pull away slightly as Holtgraver and Shaffer ran comfortably in second and third while Duncan and Blaney were locked in a great battle for fourth. But the caution would fly on lap 10 for Scott Priester who hit the guardrail on turn 3.
On the restart Palker had a couple of lapped machines insulating him from Holtgraver so he was able to open up a lead. But, another caution just two laps later would bunch up the field, putting Holtgraver right on Palker’s rear bumper. But, the West Salem, Ohio resident used the clean air to pull away again as Shaffer challenged Holtgraver for second with Blaney moving into fourth.
The final 18 laps would tick off without any further interruptions. That meant Palker and company had to contend with lapped traffic. As Palker, Holtgraver, Shaffer and Blaney picked their way through traffic, Holtgraver tried high and low to get pas Palker but nothing seemed to work. With just a few laps remaining Holtgraver got a break. He and Palker got by a pair of cars fighting for position and it appeared they might not reach the next couple of cars to put them a lap down before the end of the race. That opened up the bottom line for Holtgraver who threw caution to the wind as he tried to regain the lead.
Holtgraver inched closer and closer to Palker in the waning laps. He dove low entering turn one on the final lap and got next to Palker who was riding the rim. Holtgraver got a nose ahead of Palker coming off turn two and pulled away as they raced toward turn three. Palker slid a little high and got his right rear over the edge of the speedway, ensuring Holtgraver would enter the final turn uncontested.
Holtgraver was able to slide into the lead in turns three and four and drive to the win over Palker, Blaney, Shaffer and Duncan.
The UNOH All Stars will head to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio for a double header Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30 and 31 and then head to the NAPA Wayne County Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 1.
Quincy, Michigan (Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013) – Dave Blaney has been around racing long enough to know you have to put yourself in a position to win every time you hit the track.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup driver did just that Saturday at the Butler Motor Speedway. When early leader Shane Stewart had problems “The Buckeye Bullet” was there to capitalize and then held off his brother Dale to score his 45th career victory with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions. It’s Dave’s first UNOH All Star win since 1996 and moves him into 7th on the series’ all-time win list.
“We got a good number to run the dash and we won that to put us up front for the feature. The outside was the place to be and Shane (Stewart) got the jump. I didn’t know if I could have caught him unless he had a problem and he did and we were there to take advantage,” said Blaney of his Heavy Duty Industrial Services/Lelands.com/Roush Yates Engines backed #10.
“We have my dad’s memorial race coming up Tuesday (at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio) and I wanted to get some more laps in this thing before that. We’re up here for the Cup race so we brought the sprint car to have some fun. Winning will make tomorrow’s race (NASCAR Sprint Cup at Michigan International) at lot more enjoyable,” added Blaney.
For Dale Blaney, his second place run was important as he tries to claim his fourth UNOH All Star championship.
“It was a typical Butler track. I don’t think anyone was going to catch Shane if he didn’t blow that tire. Every time we got to traffic where I might be able to do something the caution would come out. Dave ran a good race…there wasn’t much I could do with him. My tires were almost bald at the end,” said Dale of his Ti22 Performance/GF1 Chassis backed #2.
Dave Blaney and Stewart would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature with Stewart gaining the upper hand. Brady Bacon and Kody Kinser would get together on the first lap to bring out the caution. Shortly after the green flew Cap Henry would spin and Paige Polyak would stop on the track to bring out the yellow. The running order was Stewart, Dave Blaney, Dale Blaney, Tim Shaffer, Danny Holtgraver, Trey Gustin, Cole Duncan, Bryan Sebetto and Caleb Helms.
The race had a difficult time getting rolling as cautions slowed the pace. Soon after the green flew Holtgraver and Helms would spin for the fourth caution of the event with Stewart leading Dave Blaney, Dale Blaney, Shaffer, Duncan, Sebetto and Gustin. Before another lap could be recorded another spin would bring out the red for a fuel stop on lap 8.
Stewart would go pit side during the stoppage so the restart running order was now Dave Blaney, Dale Blaney, Shaffer, Duncan, Sebetto and Gustin. A short time later and another caution with Dave and Dale Blaney leading Shaffer, Sebetto and Duncan.
When the green flew the race would go the rest of the way under green with Dave Blaney taking the win over Dale Blaney, Shaffer, Duncan and Cap Henry who rebounded from his early race spin.
The UNOH All Stars pay their second visit of the year to Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, Aug. 25. When the series competed at Mercer on July 6, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Danny Holtgraver picked up the victory.
BRANDON, S.D. (Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013) By Brian Liskai – As the old saying goes, when you’ve been bucked off you need to jump right back on the horse.
That’s exactly what Grand Forks, North Dakota’s Mark Dobmeier did Sunday at Huset’s Speedway. After a disappointing Knoxville Nationals week “Dynamite Dobmeier” dominated the 30-lap feature to take his second career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions win. Dobmeier, who placed second at Huset’s just two weeks prior with the series, now has five feature wins at the track in 2013 and 49 for his career there. For the four time Huset’s champion, it was also his 99th career overall win and the 13th of the season.
“This was extremely important to the team. You spend all summer brewing up to the Nationals and we had high expectations. But it all comes down to qualifying and how you run in your first heat. If you qualify well and transfer from your heat you’re pretty much locked into the Nationals. We didn’t do that. So for us to come to Husets against a pretty stout field and win…it’s huge,” said Dobmeier beside his Dave Lunstra Motorsports owned team.
“This will propel us to finish off the season,” added Dobmeier beside his Senske & Sons Transfer/Sioux Falls Ford backed #13.
For Hartford, Ohio’s Dale Blaney, his runner-up finish at Huset’s was a good way to salvage the week. He too struggled at the Knoxville Nationals. But, he leaves the UNOH All Star’s annual Thunder Through the Plains as the Great Plains Regional champion and its $10,000 payday. Blaney scored two wins during the Thunder Through the Plains. “The Low Rider” also increases his point lead in the UNOH All Star national standings as he looks for his fourth career series championship.
“We made something positive out of the week. The car felt good all night and we qualified well which we usually don’t do at Huset’s. But, you can’t put Mark on the pole here…he’s way too good. Only way you can beat him is if he has some bad luck,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance/GF1 Chassis #2.
For Bellevue, Ohio’s Cap Henry, his third place run was the culmination of a fantastic week. Henry raced his way into the Knoxville Nationals A-main with a second place run during the Friday night event and then moved from his 18th starting spot to a 10th place finish in the 53rd Annual Knoxville Nationals A-main.
“That was a fun week. We finally got to show how good we are. We’ve been good all year but have had struggles. It all finally came together this week…the most important week of the year. I was pumped to go to Huset’s. We always run well there and that continued Sunday with a solid third place finish,” said Henry beside his Kistler Engines/Lucas Oil/FK Rod Ends backed #54.
Dobmeier and Blaney would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature with Dobmeier shooting into the lead and Blaney settling in second. Scott Winters, Trey Gustin and Greg Wilson would give chase. The only change in the top five through lap 13 was when Dusty Zomer took fifth from Wilson on lap two.
But, as the leaders raced into lapped traffic the running order began to shuffle. At the half-way point the running order was Dobmeier, Blaney, Winters, Gustin, Wilson, Henry (who started eighth), Zomer, Danny Holtgraver, Tim Shaffer and Caleb Helms. Henry was on the move, taking fifth on lap 17 and fourth a circuit later as Gustin went pit side. With 10 laps to go the running order was Dobmeier, Blaney, Winters, Henry, Zomer, Holtgraver, Wilson, Shaffer, Helms and Chris Martin.
Blaney got close to Dobmeier as the pair raced through lapped traffic after a late race restart but was unable to mount a series charge and was forced to settle for second. Henry would get by Winters for third with two laps to go with Holtgraver rounding out the top five.
The UNOH All Star’s Thunder Through the Plains produced five different winners over the six races – Blaney at Wilmot Raceway and Hibbing Raceway; Ian Madsen and Dobmeier at Husets, Travis Whitney at Jackson Speedway and Thomas Kennedy at Buffalo River Raceway Park. For Madsen, Whitney and Kennedy it was their first career All Star wins.
The UNOH All Stars head back to the Midwest for several big events to wrap up the season. They head to the Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Mich. On Aug. 17 followed by the second visit of the season to Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pa. on Aug. 24 before wrapping up the month with a double-header at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio on Aug. 30 and 31.
GLYNDON, Minn. (Sunday, July 28, 2013) By Brian Liskai – The butterflies were the size of eagles in Thomas Kennedy’s stomach with three laps to go in the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions feature at Buffalo River Race Park Sunday night. The 23-year-old had worked his way from eighth to the lead when the red flag flew.
“I’m sitting there thinking ‘this is crazy…don’t screw up just don’t screw up,” said Kennedy. “I had to keep telling myself when we pushed back off not to screw up cause I had two really, really, really good racers behind me.”
Kennedy didn’t “screw up’ and the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada driver went on to score the biggest win of his six year sprint car racing career.
“My plan was to finish in the top five. The first half of the race I was taking my time through traffic and being smart. As the 25 car (Cory Mack) began to fade and I caught him and moved into third I was like ‘I could get a top three out of this.’ Then I caught the 83 (Tim Shaffer) and I was like ‘holy crap I might lead this thing.’ I got rolling really well around the top and used a lapped car to get around for the lead,” continued Kennedy beside his Team Boss Flue, Flexitec, Shamrock Surfaces, Kennedy Flooring, General Sign backed #20k.
For current UNOH All Star point leader Dale Blaney it was another top five run.
“It’s cool to see a young guy get his first All Star win and how excited he was. I told him not to do it again,” joked Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance/GF1 Chassis backed machine.
“His tire choice was better than ours. When the track took rubber I about six laps in I was in second and I got conservative trying to save my tire. I was like ‘good ahead Shaf (Tim Shaffer) go burn your tire off but then Thomas drove by and I knew I was in trouble,” continued Blaney. “We’ve been really good. The last seven All Star races we’ve had five quick times and except for Husets we were in the top five. I’m pretty pleased with how we are going right now.”
Tim Shaffer and Cory Mack would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature with Shaffer gaining the upper hand. Mack would drive into the lead on lap two as Shaffer had his hands full with Blaney with Danny Holtgraver, Trey Gustin, Casey Mack and Kennedy in pursuit.
Shaffer would retake the lead on lap 9 bringing Blaney into second while Mack slipped to third. But all eyes were on Kennedy as he would drive around Mack for third on lap 12. As Shaffer continued to lead, Blaney and Kennedy were locked in a duel for second with Kennedy taking the spot on lap 16. Kennedy quickly closed on Shaffer and would pass the four time UNOH All Star champion for the lead on lap 22. Blaney would grab second from Shaffer on the next circuit.
Following a race stoppage with three laps to go, Kennedy would drive to the victory over Blaney, Shaffer, Mack and Scott Winters. All Star regulars Caleb Helms and Cap Henry would come home sixth and seventh with Casey Mack, All Star regular Danny Holtgraver – who came from the tail after problems on lap seven, and Chris Ranten rounding out the top 10.
There remains just one more race in the UNOH All Stars annual Thunder Through the Plains – Aug. 11 at Huset’s Speedway. Blaney leads the $10,000-to-win Western Region points for the All Stars.
Whitney holds off Haudenschild for first UNOH All Star win
JACKSON, Minn. (Saturday, July 27, 2013) By Brian Liskai – Travis Whitney has watched several University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victories slip through his hands. But on Saturday everything fell went his way and the Minneapolis, Minn. driver stormed to his first career series win during the 145th edition of the Jackson County Fair.
The second ever visit of the UNOH All Stars highlighted the All Star Triple Play night of races thanks to AGCO of Jackson, AGCO’s Intivity Center, State Bank of Fairmont and Loren Fick Farms.
Whitney started on the front row with UNOH All Star regular Caleb Helms of Findlay, Ohio. And after the first start was called back, Whitney got the advantage on the second start and benefitted from cautions at opportune times to score his first win of 2013. It wasn’t easy though, as Wooster, Ohio’s Jac Haudenschild tried a last lap, last corner move.
“I’ve had so many of these All Star races get away from me…I’ve been chasing this for a long, long time. I probably should have won one back in 1997 and had so many stupid things like flat tires, or ignition wires come off. This is awesome to finally get an All Star win. I was so nervous that my stomach was still in knots half the drive home,” said Whitney beside his DeWall Enterprises/LevWings/Hoosier Tire/Weld Wheels/Oakley backed machine.
“Once I got into the lead I just tried not to make a stupid mistake. I got to traffic and it took me a lap or two to figure out how to get around him and then the caution came out. I decided after that I wasn’t going to mess around with traffic any more. The cautions broke the race up into three nice segments that helped me. The longer I ran the looser I got. The cautions let my tires cool,” added Whitney.
Wooster, Ohio’s Jac Haudenschild continued his season-long good runs with the UNOH All Stars aboard the Tom Leidig owned #59. “The Wild Child” would get to Whitney in traffic but could not find a way to make the pass for the lead and settled for a runner-up finish.
“We are going pretty good. Bonzai and I have just worked together so long…he knows what I like in a car. We started seventh and it took a few laps to get going but once we got rolling the car was good. Travis got through traffic pretty good and the cautions fell his way,” said Haudenschild beside his Rick’s Auto Body/ Southern Pacific Farms/Auto Electric backed machine. “I got to him in the last corner, but he was just too strong.”
Current UNOH All Star national point leader Dale Blaney would salvage a third place finish to hold on to the series’ $10,000-to-win Western Region point lead.
“There’s just some tracks where a driver feels good at and some where a driver struggles. I haven’t raced at this place much, but I seem to struggle here. I think we over-adjusted the car between the dash and the feature and I was too free. Balance is very critical with sprint cars right now. We were just a little off all night. I was in a position to do very well but Jac got by us and Travis ran a great race,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance/GF1 Chassis backed #2.
All Star regulars Danny Holtgraver and Cap Henry were fast throughout the night but suffered engine woes. Henry was scheduled to start on the pole of the dash which determines the starting position of the first three rows of the feature, but had engine issues.
Jackson Speedway - 7/27/2013 UNOH Night
All Star Circuit of Champions (19 Cars) [#]-Starting Position
Blaney sits atop UNOH All Star career win list with Hibbing victory
Hibbing, Minn. (Tuesday, July 23, 2013) By Brian Liskai– Dale Blaney will give you the shirt off his back. Not really, but the Hartford, Ohio driver, who had all his personal shirts stolen while racing in Wisconsin this past weekend, did give the fans a memorable race at Hibbing Raceway Tuesday night.
Blaney caught Findlay, Ohio’s Caleb Helms midway through the 30-lap feature and used a lapped car to take the lead and his fifth win of 2013 with the University of Northwest Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions. Blaney has tied hall-of-famer Kenny Jacobs in all-time series wins with 98.
“We had a really good car all night and had an opportunity to start third and jumped right into second and was able to work on Caleb. He ran really well for a long time and I thought I missed my opportunity there in the first four or five laps. I kind of let him get away and kind of caught a lapped car there and took advantage a little bit on that,” said Blaney beside his Ti22/GF1 Chassis #2.
“George Fisher does a great job on this car. It’s just me and him and my daughter out here and we’re having fun,” continued Blaney. “As far as win #98….well I haven’t really given it much thought. Maybe when I get done racing for the year I’ll look back and reflect on this, but right now it’s just another win.
Blaney leads the UNOH All Stars’ Western Region points and looks to claim its $10,000 top prize with just three races left in the Thunder Through the Plains.
Helms, in his first full season following the UNOH All Stars was thrilled with his best career finish as he trailed Blaney to the checkered.
“I honestly think I got too nervous and stopped racing the race track. I saw Trey (Gustin) there, the lapped car and took too long to catch him and once I got to him he kind of bobbled and I waited on him and that’s when Blaney caught me,” said Helms beside his Helms & Sons Excavating/Helms Paving and Site Contracting/Schoenfeld Headers backed #40. “He was fast and I was just making too many mistakes. I have to thank my guys, Andrew (Barman), my Dad and everybody back home that have worked hard to give me this opportunity.”
A few weeks ago Bellevue, Ohio’s Cap Henry wasn’t sure he would even be racing with the UNOH All Stars and their annual Thunder Through the Plains. The team, funded by his family with help from some dedicated sponsors, had blown two engines during the Ohio Sprint Speedweek and were low on funds. But, thanks to selling the team’s truck and trailer and some quick work by Kistler Racing Engines, the former UNOH All Star rookie of the year was able to make the trip west and it paid off with a third place run.
“Our car was just too loose. I kind of lost some spots there when I got stuck behind Trey Gustin going into turn one. We actually backed up to sixth. But we were back up to third by the end of the first lap,” said Henry beside his K&N Filters/FK Rod Ends/Champion Oil backed #54. “At that point out, Dale and Caleb got to racing a little bit and I kind of run them down but I was just too loose and I wasn’t going to be able to pass them. So I just rode around and tried to maintain.”
The event only drew eight cars. UNOH All Star President Guy Webb said the series had commitments from nearly 20 teams earlier but most cancelled Tuesday morning.
“When we left the race in South Dakota we had firm commitments from nearly 20 teams to go to Hibbing. Monday and Tuesday several of these teams – for whatever reason – contacted us and said they would be unable to make it. So, we sat down with the promoters and offered to cancel the show but they want to build something here and decided the race would go on,” said Webb. “The cars that were there put on a good show. Dale and Caleb raced each other hard the entire 30 laps. The All Stars look forward to working with the good folks at Hibbing and building this into a big part of next year’s Thunder Through the Plains.”
Hibbing Raceway – 7/23/2013
UNOH All Star Circiut of Champions (8 cars) [#]-Starting Position
Madsen survives scare to get first career UNOH All Star win at Huset's
BRANDON, S.D. (Sunday, July 21, 2013) – Ian Madsen is still shaking his head. The Australian nearly gave up a win Sunday at Huset’s Speedway, but quick reactions saved the day as he posted his first career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victory.
With two laps left in the 30-lap feature, Danny Holtgraver and Caleb Helms tangled in the fourth turn, leaving Holtgraver’s machine stopped sideways on the track directly in front of Madsen. In an attempt to avoid Holtgraver, Madsen’s car hooked the stopped machine. Madsen kept his foot on the gas while his car did a 360 degree spin before finally breaking free. The move earned him the restart lead which he maintained once the race resumed to the checkered flag for his first career victory at the track.
“I really couldn’t believe that I pulled that off,” said Madsen beside his Nehring Construction/Kline Electric/JRS Excavating/Royal Flooring backed #18. “I’ve always wanted to win here and to finally do it tonight was awesome.”
Madsen grabbed the lead on the 12th circuit from fellow front-row starter Mark Dobmeier. Dobmeier hounded Madsen the entire distance as they raced into lapped traffic.
“I was actually trying to save my tired when Ian passed me. After that I had to catch back up to him and just ran out of time,” said Dobmeier beside his Senske & Son Transfer/Big Trucks by Jimco/IQ Bid Auctioneers/Dahlstrom Motors backed #13
Jac Haudenschild would finish third followed by Terry McCarl and Cap Henry. The race was halted on lap eight when the car of Dusty Zomer made contact with the front straightaway wall and flipped high into the air several times in front of the flag stand. After several anxious moments, Zomer crawled from his car, appearing to be uninjured.
Husets Speedway - 7/21/2013 UNOH Night
All Star Circuit of Champions (25 Cars) [#]-Starting Position
UNOH All Stars defeat IRA stars as Blaney scores 97th series win
WILMOT, WI (Saturday, July 20, 2013) By Brian Liskai- Some say confidence is everything in racing. Others add that a little luck is also needed. But most racers will feel they can create their own luck if they have confidence in their car. Hartford, Ohio's Dale Blaney did just that Saturday at Wilmot Raceway.
"The Low Rider" searched around the track during the 30 lap feature and found a groove that propelled him into the lead and he went on to score the 97th win of his career with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions to open the annual Thunder Through The Plains. Blaney is just one victory away from tying Kenny Jacobs for the series all-time career win lead. It was his fourth UNOH All Star win of 2013 and adds to his series point lead as he looks to become only the fourth driver in All Star History to win four championships.
In the Bumper to Bumper IRA/UNOH All Star duel, the All Stars took the top three finishing positions as four time and defending All Star champion Tim Shaffer came home second with Danny Holtgraver, who sits third in the All Star points, nailing down the final podium finish.
"It was an interesting night. I didn't feel that confident all night. But, we got into lapped traffic and I found the bottom of one and two and got by Shaffer, Haud (Jac Haudenschild) and Holtgraver in the same place and I got fortunate in lapped traffic. George had the car good and I was able to move around in traffic. I was confident coming into the race because we won here last year, but I didn't feel that good after qualifying and the heat race. But that's how racing is sometimes. Earlier in week in New York I was very confident. We were a half second faster than everyone and we did one little chance to the car and went from first to fifth. Tonight I just got a little bit of luck and got out front," said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance/GF1 Chassis #2.
For Shaffer, the streak continues. The Alliquippa, Pennsylvania driver keeps racking up top five finishes but has yet to break into victory lane with the UNOH All Stars.
"I was the first loser again tonight," quipped Shaffer beside his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned #83. "I felt pretty confident all night. Dale just got by in traffic and I just couldn't return the favor. I'm proud of my guys. The keep working hard and something good eventually has to come of that."
Holtgraver was proud of the UNOH All Star podium sweep.
"Their guy was fourth so that is good. Dale, Tim, Jac and I were all right there the entire race. I was just waiting for one of them to screw up but those guys are the best and that doesn't happen very often if at all," said Holtgraver beside his Bryan Grove/Rob Hunter owned #45.
"I just had to follow those guys. I was running fourth and Jac got into a tire and knocked the front end out of it and then I just followed Tim and Blaney drove under us. From there it was just on cruise," added Holtgraver of his Berlin Natural Bakery/Canton Erectors/DKW Transport backed machine.
Wilmot Raceway - 7/20/2013
All Star Circuit of Champions (41 Cars) [#]-Starting Position
New York stay pays off for Dietrich, takes UNOH All Star win at Fonda
FONDA, N.Y. (Thursday, July 18, 2013) By Brian Liskai– Sometimes last minute decisions pay off.
Such was the case Thursday for Aspers, Pennsylvania’s Danny Dietrich. After racing at Fulton Speedway in New York on Wednesday, Dietrich was heading back to the Keystone State to compete at Lincoln Speedway. But, about 20 minutes down the road the team decided to turn around and head to Fonda Speedway to run with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of champions.
It was the right choice.
Dietrich took the lead when a multi-car crash occurred on lap four involving then leader Stewart Friesen. He then had to hold off three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Cap Henry on a late race restart to score his first career victory in the New York state. It was the second UNOH All Star win of the season for Dietrich who now has four career series wins.
“We were on our way home and we weren’t going to make it there (Lincoln Speedway) in time. We got some insight from a few people and we came back. I guess it was meant to be,” said Dietrich beside his Gary Kauffman Racing #48 with sponsorship help from Sandoe’s Fruit Market/Racers Used Parts Warehouse/Mark Bell Trucking/Drop of Ink Tattoo and Body Piercing/Moritz Machine Repairs/Hickory Run Orchards.
Stewart would rim-ride around Henry late in the race and closed on Dietrich as they drove into lapped traffic with five laps to go. But, Dietrich’s low line would be enough to score the win.
“We got going on the top finally, but I’m still not sure if it is seven or eight corners out there…however many it was we were making them,” said Stewart beside his Chevrolet/Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops backed #14. “It got really racy there. The lapped traffic kind of helped us get caught up to those two guys. I was just hoping they got stuck a little longer there. Danny does a great job in traffic.”
For Henry, the podium finish was a great birthday present as he celebrates his 23rd birthday Friday.
“I was committed to the bottom and when we got into traffic Danny and I got stuck and Tony just rolled around the top,” said Henry beside his K&N Filters/FK Rod Ends/Champion Oil/Kistler Engines/Outerwears/Keizer Wheels backed #54.
“We have a lot of momentum going into Thunder Through the Plains. A week ago we weren’t going to be able to afford to go, but we sold our truck and trailer this week and the new owners are letting us use it to go out west and now we have the finances to be able to do it. I’m excited to take our team out there,” added Henry.
Dietrich and Friesen would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature with Dietrich leading the first lap before Friesen powered to the front on lap two. However, Friesen, coming off a second place run the previous night at Fulton Speedway in his first 410 sprint car race, would get caught up in a multi-car wreck on lap four as he caught the back of the field. Mark Coldren would spin right in front of Friesen as Jessica Zemken, who was running third; Trey Gustin, Brad Howard and Scott Wilson were also involved. Zemken was able to return to action after a short pit stop, but her night would end on the restart when she and Coldren got together on the front stretch and came to stop locked together in turn one.
On the ensuing restart Dietrich was in command over Henry, Dale Blaney and Stewart. With 10 laps scored, Danny Holtgraver would spin, bringing out the caution with the running order Dietrich, Henry, Blaney, Stewart and Justin Barger.
When the green flew again, Dietrich pulled away slightly as Henry had his hands full with Blaney and Stewart. With 10 laps to go, Blaney’s challenge would end as he pulled into the infield with motor issues.
Now it was Stewart on the charge as he found the high side to his liking, quickly closing the gap on Henry. He made the pass for the runner-up spot in traffic with four laps remaining and moved in on Dietrich. However, Dietrich found a line through the back-markers to hold on for the win. "We were tight all night and I couldn't pass very well at the end," Dietrich said. "Then I think I saw Tony there in turn four and figured I had to find a way past or I was going to lose the lead in the final laps." Behind Dietrich, Stewart and Henry was Barger, Dave Blaney, Lance Dewease, Danny Smith, defending race winner Tim Shaffer, Caleb Helms and Steve Buckwalter. With just two races remaining for the UNOH All Stars Eastern Region points, Dewease, the region’s 2011 champion, holds a 58 point lead over Dale Blaney and Shaffer who are tied for second with Dietrich and Henry rounding out the top five in points. As the UNOH All Stars head west for their annual Thunder Through the Plains, Blaney, a three time series champion, has a slim 23 point lead over four time and defending All Star champion Tim Shaffer in the national points with Holtgraver, Henry and Helms rounding out the top five. For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com Fonda Speedway - 7/18/2013 UNOH Night
All Star Circuit of Champions (26 Cars) [#]-Starting Position
Dewease pads UNOH All Star regional points with Fulton win
FULTON, N.Y. (Wednesday, July 17, 2013) By Brian Liskai– Lance Dewease dominated the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions event at Fulton Speedway, leading all 30 laps for his first series win since 2011.
The win, coupled with Dale Blaney’s fifth place finish, increases Dewease’s lead in the UNOH All Star’s Eastern Region standings with just three races left. Dewease, who claimed the $20,000 Eastern Region championship in 2011, now has 30 career UNOH All Star wins. The win was the second overall victory of 2013 for the Fayetteville, Pennsylvania resident to raise his career total to 295.
“We had some challenges there from Tim Shaffer…he was running a different line than everyone else. I changed lines and was able to keep him behind me,” said Dewease beside his Lelands.com/Pasquariello’s Auto Shop/Conduit Connections/Diversified Machine Inc./Penske Racing Shocks/Wings Unlimited/Brown and Miller Racings Solutions backed machine.
“Mike (Hefner, car owner) won the All Stars Eastern title last year with Daryn (Pittman), and I won it the year before that. I really want to give him another one. I have to thank my mechanic Matt Cramer. It’s just us two out here and he busts his butt for me. It’s really hard on everyone out here in this heat,” added Dewease.
While Dewease put on a dominating performance, it was young Canadian Stewart Friesen who was the story. Competing in his first ever 410 sprint car race, the modified driver stormed from his 10th place starting spot to finish second in Doug Emery’s #33. Friesen’s team borrowed a motor from the driver’s girlfriend Jessica Zemken.
“That was a lot of fun. To race with Tim Shaffer, Dale Blaney and those guys…wow,” said Friesen. “We ran 90 to 100 modified races the last couple of years and this year we’ve had a hand full of 360 sprint races and we got a win a couple of weeks ago at Brewerton. Doug and his wife Barb are great people to be around and they worked to get us some sponsorship to rent a motor from Jessica. I would certainly like to run more sprint car races. These things are a blast to drive. Doug knows what he is doing around a sprint car…he makes me feel very comfortable every time I hit the track.”
Four time UNOH All Star champion Tim Shaffer challenged for the win early and settled for a third place finish.
“I may have showed Lance something too early. When he moved up the track he was a lot better,” said Shaffer who has yet to record an All Star win in 2013 aboard the Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned #83.
“It’s getting very frustrating. We’re so close to getting wins. My guys…James, Cody and Jim…have been working their tails off. We won’t give up. We just need a break,” added Shaffer beside his Kistler Engines/J&J Auto Racing/VRP Shocks backed machine.
Dewease started outside of current UNOH All Star national points leader Dale Blaney and immediately jumped into the lead at the drop of the green. The caution would fly on lap five when NASCAR champion Tony Stewart spun in turn four. The running order was Dewease, Blaney, Danny Holtgraver and Tim Shaffer.
When the green flew again Dewease checked out while the action behind him was heating up between Blaney, Shaffer, Holtgraver and a charging Friesen. The rest of the field had one more shot at Dewease when Mark Coldren spun on lap 17. With 13 laps remaining the restart order was Dewease, Shaffer, Blaney, Friesen and Holtgraver.
With a clear track Dewease was able to pull away for the win. Friesen would get by both Blaney and Shaffer late to score his runner-up finish with Shaffer, Holtgraver and Dale Blaney rounding out the top five.
Fulton Speedway - 7/17/2013 UNOH Night
All Star Circuit of Champions (25 Cars) [#]-Starting Position
The UNOH College of Applied Technologies' High Performance Department's reputation for producing highly-educated graduates means your diploma or associate degree will give you a distinct advantage in a competitive workplace.The University of Northwestern Ohio invented the high performance/motorsports program in 1992 and has been training students with the latest technology available in the industry since.
All Star Sprint Series
The All Stars are one of the premier sprint car sanctioning bodies in the USA. It is owned by an Illinois businessman, and now in their 30th year of operation, the All Stars take pride in their reputation of providing highly competitive, fair, exciting racing for outlaw sprint cars with many different winners in a year. About 400 drivers participate in All Star races yearly in front of an average of 5,000 spectators per event. Currently 40+ races are scheduled in numerous states, such as Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Kansas.
Ohio Sprint Speedweek
Ohio Sprint Speedweek proves to be one of the most competitive weeks in racing during the 2010 All Star season. Tough battles happened in the 2010 Ohio Sprint Speedweek season, as it included nine straight nights of racing action in the buckeye state, it challenged the best of the best, but young David Gravel- DDR Motorsports was crowned the 2010 champion.
MERCER, Pa (Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013) By Brian Liskai – Danny Holtgraver had one of the worst two weeks of his young racing career just a few weeks ago. Mechanical issues and bad racing luck had his team down. But, when the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions headed to Mercer Raceway Park Saturday for the 24th Annual Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Championship, the confidence returned to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania driver.
FONDA, N.Y. (Thursday, July 18, 2013) By Brian Liskai– Sometimes last minute decisions pay off. 
The All Stars are one of the premier sprint car sanctioning bodies in the USA. It is owned by an Illinois businessman, and now in their 30th year of operation, the All Stars take pride in their reputation of providing highly competitive, fair, exciting racing for outlaw sprint cars with many different winners in a year. About 400 drivers participate in All Star races yearly in front of an average of 5,000 spectators per event. Currently 40+ races are scheduled in numerous states, such as Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Kansas. 
Ohio Sprint Speedweek proves to be one of the most competitive weeks in racing during the 2010 All Star season. Tough battles happened in the 2010 Ohio Sprint Speedweek season, as it included nine straight nights of racing action in the buckeye state, it challenged the best of the best, but young David Gravel- DDR Motorsports was crowned the 2010 champion.