Knoxville, IA (8-6-11) By Brian Liskai – Kevin Swindell has grown up watching his father, the legendary Sammy Swindell, experience triumph and heart-break at the world-famous Knoxville Raceway. The younger Swindell has learned from those experiences and used that to dominate the 20-lap All Star Circuit of Champions feature Saturday, leading the entire way for his second win of the season and second of his career at the raceway. It was his first ever All Star victory.
Swindell, driving a team Big Game Tree Stands machine to his father, took the lead from his third starting position from pole-sitter and Kings Royal winner Tyler Walker using the bottom groove on a second attempt to start the race. Kevin had to hold off Walker late in the race as they caught the back of the field.
"Everything was going fine and Bud (Kaeding) and Robby (Wolfgang) were running up top. They got together, and I knew it would be trouble. Bud came down the track and knocked the air out of me. I just hoped no one behind me was close. I was trying not to miss the bottom,l and that time I did," said Swindell in victory lane.
Walker and Daryn Pittman would lead the field to the green, but before a lap could be completed, Brian Brown, returning from a scary crash on Friday night, came together with Jason Johnson, necessitating a complete restart. Kevin Swindell would use the second chance to his advantage, driving into the lead exiting turn four on the ensuing restart.
By lap five, Swindell had a six car length lead over Pittman, who was followed by Knoxville Raceway point leader Danny Lasoski, who also utilized the bottom groove to charge from his ninth starting spot. With six laps in the books, ninth running Sammy Swindell spun on the backstretch with a flat tire, going pitside.
Kevin Swindell would drive away on the restart with Walker and Lasoski battling for second while Pittman had his hands full with multi-time track champion Terry McCarl. McCarl would drive by Pittman on lap eight, but two-time and defending All Star champion Tim Shaffer - the 2010 Knoxville Nationals winner - was on the move, up from his 10th place starting spot, taking fifth on lap nine.
Another hard-charger was Mark Dobmeier, blasting from 20th to enter the top five by busting the cushion on lap 12. Kevin Swindell maintained his lead despite the close call with Kaeding and Wolfgang and went on to the $5,000 win over Walker, Lasoski, Shaffer and Dobmeier.
McCarl, Dale Blaney, Dusty Zomer, Rager Phillips and Davey Heskin (from last) rounded out the top 10.
Shaffer's run - he has only finished out of the top five once in the last month of competition - helped him maintain his slim lead in the All Star's national point standings while padding his lead int he Great Plains Regional points and its $10,000 top prize.
The All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action Monday at the Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
FARGO, N.D. – Last year when the All Star Circuit of Champions “Thundered Through the Plains” two-time and defending series’ titlest Tim Shaffer was riding a huge hot streak that would see him not only claim 16 All Star wins and the series’ title, but the Knoxville Nationals. Well don’t look now, but “The Steel City Outlaw” is at it again.
Much like the 2011 Ohio Sprint Speedweek when Shaffer never finished out of the top three, he is dominating the All Stars’ Great Plains Region. On Wednesday the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania driver passed four-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz in traffic and went on to capture the feature event at Red River Valley Speedway. Shaffer leads the $10,000-to-win Great Plains Region points with his two wins and a third place run.
The win vaulted Shaffer ahead of three-time series champion Dale Blaney for the national points lead as well. Shaffer now has 41 career All Star victories, moving him into 10th on the all-time win list.
At Red River, it was a bit of redemption for Shaffer. Last year he led the All Star feature only to have Schatz pass him in traffic and go on to win the race. The roles were reversed on Wednesday as Shaffer took advantage of Schatz getting hung up in lapped traffic and grabbed the lead two-thirds of the way through the 30-lap race. Shaffer had to hold off several late challenges by Schatz and took the Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook Motorsports #83 to victory lane for his sixth All Star win of 2011.
"Wow, what a great race," admitted Shaffer beside his Kistler Engines/VRP Shocks/Kistler Racing Products J&J machine. "My hat goes off to (crew chief) Brian (Kemenah) and the guys. This car really came in late in the race and we were able to get another win. Donny kind of got me at the start and was setting a pretty good pace. I just had to be patient and I think I may have found the rubber before him on the bottom and we were able to get by him. It's always good to win races, but this is the time of year when you want things to be going your way. We're pretty excited."
Shaffer qualified fourth in the field of 27 cars and started the feature event on the outside of pole-sitter Dale Blaney. Blaney led the early going driving the Ti22 Performance No. 2 before Schatz raced his No. 15 Big Game Treestands/Fast Lane Car Wash J&J into the lead. Once in front, Schatz weaved his way through traffic for several laps and looked poised to repeat his win from last July, but lapped traffic would ultimately cost him the victory.
With five laps to go, Shaffer, Schatz and Mark Dobmeier were nearly nose to tail with Tyler Walker, Blaney and a charging Tony Stewart closing in. When Austin Wheatly got upside down, it gave Shaffer a clear track but set up a five lap shoot-out. Shaffer would pull away slightly on the restart, but Schatz mounted one more charge. As Shaffer took the white flag, Schatz was just a half a car length back. Another caution would set up a green-white-checkered finish and Shaffer would pull away for the win.
Dobmeier was third in the Lunstra/Dobmeier Motorsports No. 13L J&J. Walker began the evening by setting a new track record in the Keen Motorsports No. 17 Maxim and finished it by coming home fourth. Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart passed Blaney late to earn a top-five finish.
"That was a good race and we just needed a few more laps of lapped traffic there at the end," said Schatz. "I got the lead and felt like I was in pretty good shape, but when it starts taking as long as it did to get by some of those lapped cars, you knew somebody was coming. Great job to Tim and his team for coming up with the win. I'm really happy we had a such a good race for all the people that came out. We've got another big show coming up in two weeks (The $12,000-to-win Champions Challenge on Aug. 17), and hopefully we can have another great race like this."
"We were happy to be on the frontstretch tonight," said Dobmeier, who hails from Grand Forks, N.D. "The car was really good, but I think I killed my tire early in the race trying to get up there and race with Donny and Blaney. I just didn't have anything left there at the end. I want to thank everyone for coming out and all of the people that allow me to do this. We've got a good team and this is a good way for us to head into the weekend and next week at the (Knoxville) Nationals. Maybe we'll be just a bit better in two weeks here."
The All-Stars return to action on Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. Two nights later, the series moves onto Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the annual Front Row Challenge. The Thunder Through the Plains Tour will resume after the 51st annual Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals on Sunday, Aug. 14 at Huset's Speedway in Sioux Falls. A Tuesday night event at Amsoil Speedway in Superior, Wisc., precedes the inaugural Champions Challenge at RRVS, which will pay $12,000 to the winner and be the final race in the All-Stars' Great Plains Region.
McCarl gets late race pass for Huset's All Star win
BRANDON, S.D. (7-31-11) By Brian Liskai- Different car, same results for Terry "TMAC" McCarl Sunday at Huset's Speedway. McCarl, Huset's all-time winningest driver, passed Tim Shaffer and Cap Henry with a lap and a half to go to score the All Star Circuit of Champions victory Sunday.
McCarl jumped into a familiar #24 but different car - he has been piloting the TK Concrete #55 most of the season - and took the machine to victory lane.
"I was kind of trying to move around and I saw Cap up top and Shaffer kept hanging around the bottom and I just made a move. These guys gave me a great race car. They talked me into driving this late today...we kind of just threw stuff together...everything just clicked," said McCarl of his 15th career All Star win aboard Lynton Jeffrey's back-up car. It was McCarl's second win of the season at Huset's and the 87th of his career (first all-time) at the track.
Cap Henry, the 2010 All Star Rookie of the Year, would grab the early lead in his Lucas Oil/FK Rod Ends/Stanton Mopar #04, with Huset's point leader and four time feature winner Mark Dobmeier right on his rear bumper. Two-time and defending All Star champ Tim Shaffer would drive from his fifth place starting spot around McCarl on lap two to grab third. Disaster would strike for Dobmeier on lap 11 when he made contact with the wall, moving Shaffer to second with McCarl and three-time All Star champ Dale Blaney in pursuit.
By the half-way mark, Henry had the big crowd on their feet as he tagged the turn two wall lap after lap, but maintained the lead as traffic came into play. Shaffer would drive by Henry exiting turn two on lap 18, but the Bellevue, Ohio native fought back as they sliced and diced their way through traffic. With 10 laps to go Henry and Shaffer were side by side. Shaffer would lead lap 26, but Henry would rocket around the outside to grab the lead back.
While Henry and Shaffer were slugging it out, McCarl would close quickly. As the trio raced out of turn two on their way to the white flag, McCarl would execute a daring bottom run exiting turn two sling shot past both Henry and Shaffer to grab the lead. McCarl would go on to take the win over Henry, Shaffer, Blaney and Kings Royal winner Tyler Walker.
"With about three to go I had killed the right rear tire...it took rubber around the top. I was just trying to ride around and hang on till the finish. Terry must be a lot better than me at saving his tires," said Henry of his fourth career runner-up finish with the All Stars. "I love this track...we always run good here."
WINNIPEG, MB (7-28-11) By Brian Liskai – Tim Shaffer’s hot streak continued Thursday as the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania driver led all 30 laps to score his 40th career All Star Circuit of Champions feature win at Red River Co-Op Speedway. Shaffer won two World of Outlaw shows within a five-day span last week, took a weekend off to prepare for the All Star’s Thunder Through the Plains and has come out strong.
Shaffer, a two-time and defending All Star champion has won five All Star events in 2011. His 40 career series’ victories moves him into a tie for 10th with Jeff Shepard on the All Star’s all-time win list, just one behind Bobby Allen, two behind Kelly Kinser, three behind Kevin Huntley and four behind Dave Blaney. The victory also puts Shaffer atop the All Stars’ Western Region points and the $10,000 championship prize and moves him closer to national point leader Dale Blaney.
While “The Steel City Outlaw” led all 30 laps in his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned, Kistler Engines/Kistler Racing Products/VRP Shocks #83, it was not an easy victory, as three-time All Star champion Dale Blaney pressured the entire distance. Blaney, from Hartford, Ohio, could not take advantage of a few restart opportunities and had settle for second aboard his Ti22 Performance/George Fisher Racing #2.
The charge of the night was once again recorded by two-time All Star champion Greg Wilson. The Benton Ridge, Ohio driver has made passing cars an art form this year, often times blasting from the back and mid-pack to the front. On Thursday, Wilson drove his Veryl Warnimont owned, All Star Plumbing and Heating/Ohio Logistics/DNC Hydraulics sponsored #w20 from eighth to third and was closing on Blaney and Shaffer at the end.
With Shaffer and Blaney out front at the drop of the green, Casey Mack and Tyler Walker battled for third with 2010 All Star Rookie of the Year Cap Henry and Lou Kennedy in tow. Mack would secure the third spot on lap three with Wilson storming from eighth to sixth and would then take fifth from Henry a lap later. Wilson and Walker would then battle for fourth over the next three laps before Wilson would earn the position on lap 7.
At the half-way point the running order was Shaffer, Blaney, Mack, Wilson, Walker, Henry, Lou Kennedy, David Gravel, Mark Dobmeier and Thomas Kennedy. Gravel was now the car on the move, as he slipped from his eighth place starting spot back to 11th on the opening lap, but regained his composure and steadily worked his way to the front. With 10 laps to go, Gravel had moved into 7th and was pressuring Lou Kennedy for sixth. But, Gravel would slip up on lap 23 allowing Henry and Dobmeier to slip by.
Wilson would finally get around Mack for third with three laps to go, but ran out of time to catch Shaffer and Blaney. Mack, Walker, Lou Kennedy, Henry, Dobmeier, Gravel and Corey Mack would round out the top 10.
AMSOIL Speedway to host All Star Circuit of Champions for first time ever
CAMARGO, IL. (7-26-11)By Brian Liskai – The All Star Circuit of Champions have added a new track to the eight race Thunder Through the Plains extravaganza. AMSOIL Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin will host the traveling 410 sprint car series on Tuesday, Aug. 16 for a $5,000-to-win event.
This is the first time the All Stars have visited the track. The AMSOIL Speedway race is part of the All Stars' traditional "Thunder Through the Plains" which has taken on a new twist this year. The All Stars have created separate regions with separate point funds for 2011. The Thunder Through the Plains comprises the Western Region with points awarded during each of the eight events. The overall champion will earn $10,000!
It all kicks off Thursday, July 28 at Red River Co-Op Speedway in Winnipeg, MB, Canada (rain date of July 29. Following are the dates of the "Thunder Through the Plains:"
July 28 – Red River Co-Op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB - $5,000 (rain date of July 29)
July 31 – Husets Speedway, Brandon, S.D. - $5,000
Aug. 3 – Red River Valley Speedway, Fargo, N.D. - $5,000 (rain date of Aug. 4)
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, Iowa - $5,000
Aug. 8 – Southern Iowa Speedway – Front Row Challenge, Oskaloosa, Iowa, $10,000
Aug. 14 – Husets Speedway, Brandon, S.D., $5,000
Aug. 16 – AMSOIL Speedway, Superior, W.I., $5,000
Aug. 17 – Red RiverValleySpeedway, Fargo, N.D., $12,000
You can bet two-time and defending All Star champion Tim Shaffer – who has caught fire lately, winning a pair of World of Outlaw events – will be gunning for all the cash. However, he trails three-time All Star champion Dale Blaney in the $20,000-to-win Ohio Region and National point standings. Also look for 2010 Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year David Gravel to continue to apply pressure to both Shaffer and Blaney as he sits third in both the Ohio Region and National point standings. Also, expect to see 2010 All Star Rookie of the Year Cap Henry, two-time All Star Champion Greg Wilson, Tony Stewart Racing’s Jessica Zemken and more.
With so much money on the line, fans could also see current Knoxville point leader and former World of Outlaw champion Danny Lasoski along with former Knoxville and Huset’s champion TMac Terry McCarl follow the All Stars along with 2011 Kings Royal winner Tyler Walker and a host of other national and regional stars.
For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com
First Visit at Huset's Speedway moved to July 31
Camargo, IL (7-22-11)- The All Star Circuit of Champions will invade Huset's Speedway in Brandon, S.D. twice during the 2011 "Thunder Through the Plains" tour. The first $5,000-to-win affair will be on Sunday, July 31 (note, this date was originally scheduled for Aug. 2), and the second time will be held on Sunday, August 14.
Following are the dates of the 2011 “Thunder Through the Plains:”
July 28 – Red River Co-Op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB - $5,000 (rain date of July 29)
July 31 – Huset's Speedway, Brandon, S.D. - $5,000
Aug. 3 – Red River Valley Speedway, Fargo, N.D. - $5,000 (rain date of Aug. 4)
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, Iowa - $5,000
Aug. 8 – Southern Iowa Speedway – Front Row Challenge, Oskaloosa, Iowa, $10,000
Aug. 14 – Huset's Speedway, Brandon, S.D., $5,000
Aug. 17 – Red River Valley Speedway, Fargo, N.D., $12,000
For more information please visit www.allstarsprint.com or call 217-253-8100.
All Star Championship Racing announces new office telephone number
CAMARGO, IL (7-20-11) – All Star Championship Racing – which includes the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars, All Star Late Model Series and Midwest All Star Series – has a new contact phone number. The new telephone number is 217-253-8100. President/CEO Guy Webb and General Manager Owen Fritz can be also be reached at this number.
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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.
WINNIPEG, MB (7-28-11) By Brian Liskai – Tim Shaffer’s hot streak continued Thursday as the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania driver led all 30 laps to score his 40th career All Star Circuit of Champions feature win at Red River Co-Op Speedway. Shaffer won two World of Outlaw shows within a five-day span last week, took a weekend off to prepare for the All Star’s Thunder Through the Plains and has come out strong.
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.