Camargo, IL (7-13-09) –   A successful and entertaining All Star Ohio Speedweek 2009 may be in the books, but don’t despair if you missed one or all six races in eight days. High Vista Video was at each exhilarating event shooting video, which has now been released for fans to purchase. 

High Vista is currently offering all 6 DVDs for only $40.00 and for a limited time, you will also receive the July 3 "Night the Stars Come Out" from KC Raceway free with every order of the Speedweek DVD set.  Watch as Night 1 at Eldora set the tone for the week when Terry McCarl charged from 11th starting spot for the win to take his first win at the legendary speedway.  Night 2 at Millstream saw 60 All Star Sprint cars in the pits and just as much action on the track.  Nights 3, 4, and 5 took place on the tight confines of Hilltop Speedway, Waynesfield Motorsports Park, and the always thrilling Limaland Motorsports Park, providing some of the best bullring action in sprint car racing.  The $10,000 to win finale at Fremont did not disappoint, as Tim Shaffer came from 14th to pick up the big check and Stevie Smith captured the 27th Ohio Speedweek title. 

Every Heat race, C-Main, B-Main and Feature are included with PA audio, interviews and more.High Vista Video Productions specializes in sprint car videos and is also a transfer service, with the motto “no frills just racing,” and they offer just that. High Vista has been producing racing videos since 1999 and continues to be one of the top sprint car based videographers. Ordering information and a free preview of the 2009 Ohio Speedweek video can be found at www.highvistavideo.com.

Camargo, IL (7-10-09) – Tim Shaffer reached new highs tonight at Hartford Motor Speedway. Not only does Shaffer lead the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions point standings, but he is also tied with Stevie Smith for most wins this season with six. Tonight, Shaffer did not begin his night on the front row, but he made that up by taking the top prize. 

When the Green Flag first flew over tonight’s main event, Chad Kemenah got the jump over the pole sitter, who lived up to his name, Gary Fast. The first Yellow Flag would slow the event after the first lap of the race was completed when Brandon Wimmer lost the motor on this 0 410 sprint car.  

On the restart, it was Kemenah, Ryan Myers, and Shaffer leading the field to the green. Kemenah would retain the lead until Gary Fast spun on Lap 2 with apparent handling issues. In order to miss the spinning car both David Gravel and Daron Clayton spun.  

Kemenah would run away from the field on the restart, but his racing machine would have a right rear tire go up in smoke on Lap 6 and he would hand over the lead to Ryan Myers for a few laps, but once Shaffer took the top spot on Lap 8, he never looked back.  

The third caution of the night came out on Lap 10 when the 27k of Ryan Kirkendall lost steering on his car and slowed on course. While the yellow flag was out two cars would go to the pits with tire issues, both the 4x of Tony Lutar and second place running Ryan Myers would be able to continue on at the end of the field. 

The fourth and final Yellow Flag of the night came out on Lap 12, when something went awry on the 23 of Ben Rutan. He would leave the track with parts flying, which would end his night. When the Green Flag flew again, it stayed out until the Checkered Flag flew.  

Shaffer would drive out to a comfortable advantage, so the battle was for second. The best fight on the track the whole night was in the closing laps between second place running Greg Wilson and Randy Hannagan. Hannagan worked on Wilson and was even able to pull up beside him a few times, but was not able to pass him. 

At the end of the 30 lap event, Tim Shaffer would take the Checkered Flag first, with the dueling duo of Wilson and Hannagan behind him.  Rounding out the top -5 would be home state driver Dustin Daggett, who was a crowd favorite throughout the night and David Gravel. 

Camargo, IL (7-7-2009) by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director – With the O’Reilly All Start Circuit of Champions racing in the northern part of the Midwest this weekend, there are a few items that the series would like to reiterate to their teams and drivers.

For the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions that will be racing at Hartford Motor Speedway on Friday night July 10th, the track would like to remind the competitors that they do require them to run with mufflers on their cars.

As for the O’Reilly Midwest All Stars there are a few items that need to be altered to align rules for the North/South 410 Sprint Showdown at Wilmot Raceway on July 10th in Wisconsin. The first is the cars will also be required to have a muffler.

Also for this weekend the right rear tire must be a SC12, SC15, or SC25. The left rear tire choice is going to be left up to teams. Also tires will not be marked, so participants can use as many tires as they like during the event. The competitors must have Schoenfeld or Rocket #112535 mufflers, no inserts.  Also contenders will be able to run dish wings without the wicker if they choose to.

"At Wilmot Raceway they can run an SC12 all night and not wear it out,” said Steve Sinclair IRA Sprint Series Race Director. “With all the experience that the IRA has Wilmot, we have learned the most competitive tire to use is the SC12. It is what most of our teams use when we race there.”

The format for the event will be a little different than the typical Midwest All Star race. Qualifying will be two laps unless there are more than 40 cars. At that point the competitors will be given one lap to record their quickest time. The top 40 qualifiers will be relegated to the heats. Cars 41 and slower will run the last chance heat. The top four from the last chance heat will be added to the back of the twin B-Mains that will be ran. The B-Mains will be 12 laps taking the top three finishers from each to the A-Main.

The heat races will be 10 laps with six cars being inverted and the top four transferring to the A-Main.  The four heat winners and next six fastest qualifiers who transfer through the heat will redraw their positions to decide where they will start the A-Main, which will be 30 Laps.

 “We are looking forward to this event,” stated O’Reilly Midwest All Star Director Scott Petit. “It should be a good show with a lot of great competitors. It will be great to see the Midwest All Stars mixing it up with a lot of notable northern drivers. It should be a fun race and a great competition to see who comes out on top.”

Camargo, IL (7-6-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – Four years ago was the last time the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions visited Hartford Motor Speedway.  To some those years may have flown by, but to others, especially fans of the series it seem like more. On Friday night July 10th, the wait will be over as the stars of the All Star Series take to the 1/2-mile clay oval.

In 2005, it was Ken Mackey and Jimmy Stinson who led the 24 car field to the green with Mackey grabbing the initial lead over Jac Haudenschild and sixth starter Chad Kemenah. Haudenschild would duck under Mackey for the lead on lap 10, but a lapped car loomed in the leader’s groove and Kemenah used a lapped car as a pick to move past Haudenschild and into the lead a circuit later. Once on top, the three-time All Star titlist pulled away. Kemenah a yellow flag would bunch the field but he cruised uncontested into victory lane.

With a sizeable point lead going into this weekend, Tim Shaffer may need luck on his side in Hartford, Michigan. In four starts at the track, the “Steel City Outlaw” only has one top-10 finish. Second place running Dale Blaney has only two starts at the track, but in his debut at the track in 1995 he had a second place finish, so he may be able to make up some ground this weekend. Greg Wilson who sits in third place scored his best finish was in his debut at the track in a 360 sprint car, when he finished in the third position. 

Ironically, the driver who has made the most starts on the 1/2-mile track is a 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year competitor. With eight starts to his credit, Brandon Wimmer has the most experience of any All Star regular at the track. His best finish of 6th came in 2002 when he finished sixth. The rest of the rookie class has not had the chance to face Hartford Motor Speedway; will Wimmer be able to close on the Rookie Point lead?

Ticket Information

On Friday night the gates will open to fans at 6:00pm, with hot laps beginning at 7:00 pm, and racing at 8:00 pm.   General admission for the event will be $20 with discount tickets offered for children. Pit passes will run $30. For more information contact Hartford Motor Speedway at 269-621-4482 or visit www.hartfordmotorspeedway.net.

Camargo, IL (7-5-09) –By Kelly Brown – All Star Public Relations Director –The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions received word from Butler Battle Grounds that they have decided to cancel the race scheduled for Saturday, July 11th.

“We are disappointed, but understand that a lot of tracks going through tough economic times right now,” stated O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions of President Guy Webb. “We look to return to the Butler Battle Grounds in 2010.”

Butler Battle Ground has been a staple on the All Star Circuit of Champions since 1983. The All Stars kicked off their inaugural race there with a double header, the first winner of an All Star event there was Tim Green with Dave Blaney winning on the second night. Over the years a lot of notable All Star drivers have recorded wins there including: Jac Haudenschild, Jeff Shepard, Joey Saldana, and Dale Blaney.

Camargo, IL (7-3-09) – Jim Nier and K-C Raceway are synonymous with each other. After promoting the track for years Nier recorded his first O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions win tonight at the very track that his name will go down in history with.

Beginning on the front row of tonight’s A-Main before a packed house was some of the younger drivers trying to make a name for themselves with the All Stars. 2009 Rookie title hopeful Brandon Wimmer and 2008 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Rookie-of-the-Year Ryan Myers started side-by-side at the drop of the Green Flag. Going into the first turn it was Wimmer who had the edge and Myers was content to follow him for the first circuit of the track. The feature was fast and furious as it would continue on wire-to-wire without a single caution period

Early on Nier quickly worked his way to the front, by lap three he had slid under Myers to take second. On Lap 5 Wimmer held on to the lead over a closing Nier, while David Gravel and Rob Chaney rounded out the top five. This is when Dale Blaney began to make his presence known, slipping his way into the top 5.

Up Front Nier had caught Wimmer and the duo was beginning to catch the tail end of the field. While making their way through lapped traffic Nier set up his pass perfectly. Using a lapped car to block Wimmer, Nier dove under Wimmer and took the leap on Lap 8.

While Nier began to build his lead the battle for second began to warm up. Myers, Wimmer, and Blaney staged quite a battle, but in the end it was Blaney who would dive under Wimmer and Myers who were side-by-side to take over the second position. Wimmer would battle back and get back past Blaney for a split second, but in the end it was Blaney who had the upper hand.

With 20 laps down in the 30 lap event, Blaney was closing on Nier’s lead. Two lapped cars stood in the way between him and the track veteran. With just four laps to go Blaney would pick off the first of the cars that stood in his way, on the following lap he would clear the second setting giving him just three laps to catch and pass Nier.

With the White Flag waving in the air Blaney had Nier in his sight and was closing quickly. Blaney would move to the outside line in the last two turns to attempt a last lap pass on Nier, but the promoter held on. At the line it was Nier taking the Checkered Flag first. He was followed by Blaney, with Wimmer, Tim Shaffer and Jimmy Stinson who started 15th, rounded out the top-five.

The second leg of the O’Reilly All Star holiday weekend double header will take center stage tomorrow night at the Terre Haute Action Track. Adult reserved grandstand tickets for the race are $25, with general admission grandstand running $20, bleacher seats running $15 and Adult infield running $10. A child’s reserved grandstand seat is $15, with general admission grandstand running $10, child’s bleacher and infield tickets are $5. The track is also offering a $25 family pack which will get two adults and up to four children infield seats. The track is also running promotions with local vendors where you can get free children’s reserved grandstand or general admission grandstand seats free at any First National Bank or with your Kroger Plus Card at the track. The ticket office will be opening at 3:00 pm with the gates opening to fans at 4:00 pm and hot laps beginning at 6:00 pm. 

For more information call 812-236-7951 or visit www.theactiontrack.com.

For the most up to date information on the All Star Circuit of Champions bookmark www.allstarsprint.com on your computer.   

First Place Jim Nier – “It was great. This has been a long time coming. The car was just right and everything just worked out perfectly tonight. I know Blaney was right there, but if bullfrogs had wings right? I know if I had made a mistake he would have had me. Dale is a great driver, and should be. He has been all over the world in these things.”

Second Place Dale Blaney – “I basically lost it myself. I wasted too many laps racing lapped guys and running in spots on the track that I should not have been. It was basically my fault. I felt like I gave the race away. I had a car good enough to probably win it, but I feel like I made too many mistakes. I would really like to get a win. Points do not matter to me right now. We really just need to win a race right now.”

Third Place Brandon Wimmer – “We just missed the set up. That is all there is to it. We were good at the beginning and the car just got really loose on us at the end and we fell back. I wish we could have got our first win of the year, but the car just went away on us tonight. Goodyear helps us out a lot. We could not do it without them. They are one of our sponsors that help us put new tires on our car every night.”

Camargo, IL (6-29-09) –By Kelly Brown – All Star Public Relations Director – What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? This weekend the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will be bring their unique type of fireworks, with speeds as quick as bottle rockets zooming into the sky and metal glimmering under the lights like sparklers, to K-C Raceway on Friday night July 3rd, before celebrating Independence Day on Saturday night July 4th, at the Terre Haute Action Track.

K-C Raceway – Friday Night July 3rd

K-C Raceway has been a staple on the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions schedule since 1985 and they have been racing there ever since. This weekend will be the 16th annual “The Night the Stars come out.” Unfortunately, last year’s event was cancelled due to rain, so the last time the All Stars raced at K-C Raceway was in 2007. The lightning fast 3/8 mile bullring in the hills of Southern Ohio saw fast and furious action as Greg Wilson and Danny Smith battled for the win. At the end of the A main, it was Smith, who now calls the Chillicothe, Ohio track his home, emerging as the victor from his fourth place starting spot. Smith has two victories at the 3/8 track and 24 top-five finishes.

K-C Raceway is a track where point leader Tim Shaffer has not had a lot of experience. In three starts at the track his best finish is fifth which came in 1995. On the other hand second in points Dale Blaney has three wins and 12 top-five finishes at the bullring, so this could help Blaney close a little bit of the gap on Shaffer. Greg Wilson is a driver that has two wins and six top-ten finishes to his credit at K-C Raceway, can “The Kid” win his first race of the season this weekend?  Or will it be a rookie that has not raced at this track before. Of the rookie class of 2009, Brandon Wimmer is the only driver with experience at K-C Raceway.

Ticket Information

General Admission for “The Night the Stars come out” is $25, with kids’ tickets ages 6-12 running $10 and children under six are free. A pit pass for the event will be $35. Hot laps are slated to begin at 6:00pm with racing beginning at 7:30pm. For more information call 740-978-6575 or 740-663-4141, or visit www.kcraceway.com.

Terre Haute Action Track – Saturday Night July 4th

The track that is simply known to open wheel fans as “The Action Track” will be providing racing fans with some on track fireworks on Independence Day. Saturday night’s race will be unique as it will be part 410 winged sprint car race at its best and part country music concert. When the sun goes down the race will transition to concert and back to a race as the lights come up. This will be only the third time in history that the All Star Circuit of Champions have raced at this legendary track which has hosted many famed events over the years. This weekend it will be the Indiana Union Construction Classic presented by MISCO. Waiting at the finish line of this event for the victor will be a unique trophy featuring a bald eagle to commemorate the meaning of this special day.

The last time that the All Star Circuit of Champions raced at Terre Haute was on July fourth last year. During the A-Main Tim Shaffer started from the pole and got the jump going into the first turn and never looked back. He would lead a fast and furious race on the legendary 1/2-mile track that would see him lead wire-to-wire, to take the win over Brandon Martin.

Unlike other tracks, this is one place Rookie-of-the-Year competitor Daron Clayton has been successful at in non-wing competition. Clayton has two feature wins at the track coming during the Tony Hulman Classic preliminary night, before going on to win the Tony Hulman Classic. Fellow rookie Brandon Wimmer has a top-five finish in a 410 winged sprint there, while Ryan Bunton just missed running the top ten last year.

Ticket Information

Adult reserved grandstand tickets for the race are $25, with general admission grandstand running $20, bleacher seats running $15 and Adult infield running $10. A child’s reserved grandstand seat is $15, with general admission grandstand running $10, child’s bleacher and infield tickets are $5. The track is also offering a $25 family pack which will get two adults and up to four children infield seats. The track is also running promotions with local vendors where you can get free children’s reserved grandstand or general admission grandstand seats free at any First National Bank or with your Kroger Plus Card at the track. The ticket office will be opening at 3:00 pm with the gates opening to fans at 4:00 pm and hot laps beginning at 6:00 pm.  For more information call 812-236-7951 or visit www.theactiontrack.com.

Camargo, IL (6-27-09) – Some people may see aging as a negative, but to others age is nothing but a number. While some believe you get better with age like a fine bottle of wine. Tonight Tim Shaffer proved just that as he overcame his 14th position starting spot, methodically passing cars almost every circuit of the track in the 40 lap A main to take the victory at Fremont Speedway and the $10,000 pay day that went along with it. Shaffer may have turned 42 yesterday, but there is no doubt the real celebration happened tonight.

Shaffer, who won the B main to make his way into tonight’s main event, put on a clinic on how to execute passes on the 1/3-mile semi-banked oval from the beginning of the event. Chad Blonde started from the pole of the feature with Brock Mayes by his side. As the Green Flag was unfurled Blonde had the edge rocketing towards Turn 1. Mayes, Duane Zablocki, and Craig Mintz would quickly fall in line.

While Blonde was setting a fast and furious pace at the front of the pack, Shaffer was on the move picking up seven spots in just four laps. As the field began to encounter lapped traffic on Lap 9, Blonde began to fall into the clutches of Mayes and Mintz who were able to pull up on him. Mayes was right on Blonde’s tail allowing Mintz to join the fight. Mintz, who was the only driver who was hooked up on the high side made his move on Lap 13 to take the second position. Once he got into the second spot, he set his sights on the lead waging a battle with Blonde which would see the duo race side-by-side for four laps straight.

While the cars up front were battling, Shaffer kept picking off cars and had moved up to four by the 14th circuit of the course. On Lap 18 Mayes a daring move diving between Blonde and Mintz to take the lead. It was short lived though as Mintz muscled his way back on the following lap.

The first caution of the night came out of Lap 20 when Daron Clayton spun. On the restart Mintz would get the jump leaving Mayes and Blonde in the clutches of Shaffer and a closing Stevie Smith. The pack would catch up to the tail of the field again on Lap 25 allowing Mayes, Shaffer, and Smith to close. Mayes would take his turn up front, when he used a lapped car as a pick to drive around Mintz into the lead on Lap 27. Mayes would jet out to a slight lead as second was up for the taking and three cars wanted it. Mintz, Shaffer and Smith staged quite a battle as Smith drove under the 20x car. Mintz would fight back in the outside line trying to retake the spot.

The same lapped traffic that had given Mayes the opportunity to take the lead became his enemy as Shaffer caught up to him. On Lap 36, Shaffer would make his move diving to the low side to take the lead. The final caution flag flew on Lap 37 as David Harrison and Dale Blaney tangled. As the cars idled around the track there was something amiss on Mintz’s 20x car. While running fourth an oil fire would erupt bringing out the Red Flag.

When the Green Flag flew for the final time Shaffer drove out to a sizable lead, with a clear track in his sight. At the line it was Shaffer taking the Checkered Flag first with Mayes, Smith, Blonde, and Brad Sweet rounding out the top-five.

This was Shaffer’s second victory during Ohio Speedweek as he also won the feature last Sunday at Millstream Speedway. Shaffer has 16 O’Reilly Circuit of Champions career wins, with five coming so far this season.  

With his third place finish Stevie Smith would win the Ohio Speedweek Championship tonight. The point standings will be finalized tomorrow. For updates visit www.ohiospeeedweek.com or www.allstarsprint.com.

With a grueling Ohio Speedweek in the books, the drivers and teams of the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions just have six day to recuperate before traveling back to Ohio for a Friday night race at KC Speedway on July 3rd and the series will be celebrating independence day at the historic Terre Haute Action Track on the following night July 4th. For more information visit www.allstarsprint.com.

First Place Tim Shaffer “This place always puts a great race on. I'm so happy to be a part of this team. Brian (Kemenah, crew chief), Janet (Holbrook, owner) and Aaron (Call, owner)...this whole team...they did a great job all week...it's a tough week. I let them down last night and I was determined not to do that tonight.  You had to be aggressive but patient tonight. I never thought we'd get up through there. We got a great start and the lapped cars helped me tonight...they hurt me last night so that's part of racing. We're building a great team"

Second Place Brock Mayes "I'm just upset...three years in a row I've run second at this $10,000 to
 win Speedweek show. If I had a few more cars in my shop a couple of those guys would have been helped off the track. There's no sense for lapped cars to be shown my wing three or four times. I get as many cars as Shaffer has in the shop I'll be pushing around like he does sometimes. Daniel, Keith and Davey and my dad are behind us. What you see is what we got. Every now and then we pick up a little something. Just a little heart broken, a little disgusted, a little upset right now. We've been running good here all year. I thought we had 'em. I didn't make the right decision I guess.”