Camargo, IL (5-4-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – In racing the number 500 has a lot of significance whether it is 500 miles at Indy or Daytona, but it is not every day that a driver gets to celebrate 500 career feature wins. Fred Rahmer did just that tonight in O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions competition, as the driver simply known as “Fast Freddie” took the win for the PA Posse.  

Rahmer’s night began with pole sitter Brian Leppo by his side. On the drop of the Green Flag Leppo jumped out into the early lead and would set the pace for the first 13 laps of the event. Rahmer would fall in line with three time All Star Champion Dale Blaney following in the fray. Doug Esh, who started fourth picked up the third position by Lap 3 and slid past Rahmer on Lap 6.  

The event’s only Yellow Flag was unfurled for Mark Smith’s racing machine, which came to a stop against the inside guardrail in Turn 2 on the 6th orbit of the oval. This was bad news for Esh as the lap did not count and when the field was reverted back to the prior lap it sent him back to third in Rahmer’s tire tracks.  

When the field took the Green Flag, Rahmer blocked a charge by Esh and set his sights on the lead. Rahmer stalked Leppo in the bottom groove, until Lap 14. At that point Leppo’s car was clearly tight on the bottom and Rahmer was able to get around him in the second turn.  

Rahmer did not drive away from the pack through once in the lead. He had to deal with lapped traffic and in the final laps he fought off advances by Leppo, Esh, and Alan Krimes, but Rahmer had number 500 in his grasps and did not let it go. At the finish line it would be Rahmer with Leppo, Esh, Krimes and Blaney rounding out the top-five. 

This was not only Rahmer’s 500^th win, but it was also his 164^th win at Lincoln Speedway. Rahmer took home $5,000 for the victory. The timing of this win was quite timely for the legendary PA Posse member, as he will be inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in less than a month.  

The pilots of the All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action tomorrow night as the series travels further east to Lincoln Speedway for what promises to be another tooth and nail battle with the Posse. For more information on the event visit www.lincolnspeedway.com and for the most up to date information on all the exhilarating All Star racing this season visit www.allstarsprint.com.

Carmargo, IL (5-1-09) – by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director - In its 14th year, The Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge has become a staple on most race fans “must see” event list. This season the All Star Circuit of Champions would like to announce the addition of the landmark event to their schedule, which will take the Green Flag on August 10th.

Last year current All Stars point leader Daryn Pittman took the Checkered Flag at the challenge, joining a long list of drivers with All Star roots to win the event. Other notable All Stars that have ended their night in Victory Lane in the event include: Kenny Jacobs, Joey Saldana, Jeff Shepard, and Tyler Walker.

This is a unique event that always draws fans to the end of their seat from the sheer excitement of seeing if anyone can capture the $50,000 prize for winning form the tail of the field.

“We are very excited at the addition of the Front Row Challenge to the 2009 schedule,” stated Guy Webb, All Star Series President. “Over the years this event has produced some of the most intense racing in 410 winged sprint car action and we feel it will be the perfect event to showcase the drivers of the Circuit of Champions.”

In related news, due to contractual obligations not being met, the race at Kankakee Speedway in Kankakee, IL on May 15th is cancelled.

“Unfortunately, we are not able to move forward with the Kankakee event,” commented Webb. “We have been working with the new promoter since November, but they were unable to meet pre-race obligations.”

Carmargo, IL (4-28-09) – By Kelly Brown – All Star Public Relations Director – Pennsylvania is known as the Keystone State because of the key it played in American history, but the state is also key in the 410 sprint car world as it is home to the legendary PA Posse. This weekend the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will be making the trek out east to one of the biggest hotbeds of winged sprint car racing to battle the renowned PA Posse at Williams Grove Raceway on Friday May 1st and Lincoln Speedway on May 2nd.

Williams Grove

Located in Mechanicsburg, PA, Williams Grove has a storied history, especially with the All Star Series.  The All Stars ran their first race at the track that known as just “The Grove” in 1981 with the win going to George Ferguson Jr. Since then the half-mile oval has been a staple on the All Star schedule hosting 17 events.

When ever the All Stars make a pilgrimage to The Grove, it becomes a showdown between The Posse and All Star regulars. The last time the series appeared at the infamous half-mile legendary PA Posse member Fred Rahmer visited Victory Lane.

Ticket Information

On Friday racing action will begin at 7:30 pm. Adult tickets are $18 for the event with discount tickets available for students and children. To purchase tickets or get more info, please call the speedway office at 717-697-5000 or visit www.williamsgrove.com.

Lincoln Speedway

The All Star Posse clash will continue on Sunday night at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA. This weekend will be the 25th time that the All Stars appeared there, and interestingly enough the All Stars have yet to have an event at the track cancelled due to rain. The first All Star race at the Pennsylvania track was in 1981 and Jimmy Horton won the event.

As the All Stars will continue to be faced with the best the PA Posse can offer, there promises to be another thrilling confrontation at Lincoln. The last time the series visited Lincoln, Chris Eash won a damp event waiting through a rain delay to take the Checkered Flag first. 

Ticket Information

On Saturday the gates will open for fans at 5pm, with qualifying beginning at 7pm. Adult tickets are $20 for the event and $25 for a pit pass with discount tickets available for students and children. To purchase tickets or get more info, please call the speedway office at 717-624-2755 or visit www.lincolnspeedway.com.

Carmargo, IL (4-24-09) – By Kelly Brown – Director of Public Relations – Even though there has been a pause in the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions schedule, that doesn’t mean that the talented drivers of the series are taking the weekend off. Many of the pilots of “America’s Series” spend their off weekends keeping themselves sharp for their next All Star event by running races at weekly tracks or with other notable series. Here is an update of how the All Stars are doing racing outside of the series, making headlines and gaining notoriety in the racing world, showing they are true all stars.

Dale Blaney

2008 All Star Champion Dale Blaney already has one notch in his belt with the All Star Series after winning the Spring Nationals at Attica Raceway, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t excelled at other venues across his native Ohio. Blaney also has a runner-up finish, which he earned at the weekly race at Attica the week prior to the All Star event. Also, just last weekend Blaney placed second in a non-sanctioned race at Fremont Speedway.

Ryan Bunton

2009 Rookie-of-the-Year title contender Ryan Bunton has been running in the Midwest. Just last weekend the young talent ran with the World of Outlaws at Paducah International Speedway.

Daron Clayton

As the second 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year contender, Daron Clayton has also been trying his hand at other 410 sprint events. Last weekend the Missouri native made the trip to Paducah International Speedway to run with the World of Outlaws and made the feature event.

Randy Hannagan

One of the busiest drivers with who is running with the All Star Series, Randy Hannagan has been running a lot of races this year from Australia to Arizona to Ohio. One of his most notable finishes came a few months ago at Thunderbowl Raceway in California. After an off season that had as many twists and turns as an action film, “the Hurricane” over came all the off track adversity to win the World of Outlaws event. Hannagan has been excelling at many tracks across the U.S.  and beyond, for example just last weekend he finished third at Paducah International Speedway.

Ryan Myers

2008 All Star Rookie-of-the-Year Ryan Meyers has been at text book All Star in 2009, competing in only “America’s Series” events.

Daryn Pittman

2009 Championship point leader Daryn Pittman has already ran 31 A-Main events so far this season. He also began his season in Australia, before traveling back state side to compete in the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After a win at East Bay in Florida, Pittman has been spending the majority of his time running across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Pittman has recorded multiple top-five finishes at Port Royal Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway, and Lincoln Speedway.

Tim Shaffer

2009 All Star Championship contender Tim Shaffer has been one of the most successful drivers on the track in 2009. Holding the second position in the point standings with the All Stars, Shaffer has also been winning local events in the past few weekends. Prior to the All Star race at Attica Raceway, Shaffer won a weekly event at the track. Then just last weekend “the Steel City Outlaw” won at Freemont Speedway in Ohio. In 15 A-main events in 2009, Shaffer has already collected 7 top-five finishes.

Danny Smith

Another driver that has had a very busy 2009 is Danny Smith. He began his 2009 racing in Australia, collecting three top-five finishes before moving state side. Since then Smith has been running across the U.S. at various tracks with various series.

Greg Wilson

Greg Wilson started 2009 at the Chili Bowl, but since then he has been racing a little closer to home. Since spring has made an appearance in the Mid-West, Wilson has been running at tracks throughout Ohio. The former All Star Champion has finished in the top-three every time he has taken the Green Flag at Attica Raceway. A few weekends ago he also added a second place finish at Limaland Motorsports Park to his 2009 racing resume.

Brandon Wimmer

Brandon Wimmer may have had a tough race with the All Stars at Attica Raceway, but last weekend he redeemed himself by charging through the field at Fremont Speedway. In the main event Wimmer would pick up ten positions in the first 15 laps. The car lost its handle a little bit, but Wimmer was able to hold on for an eighth place finish. Wimmer plans to continue this off weekend warm ups by running at Fremont and Attica in Ohio, before rejoining the All Stars in Pennsylvania.

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

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

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

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

Camargo, IL (4-6-2009) by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director – It has been over a month since Winter Nationals ended, but the O’Reilly All Stars Circuit of Champions hasn’t cooled down. This weekend the series will be making the trek to Attica Raceway Park for the 17th running of HD Supply Spring Nationals.

The drivers of the All Star Series will be taking the Green Flag Friday, April 10 for the two night event for their chance to become a part of Spring Nationals history. The first All Star Spring Nationals events at Attica Raceway were ran in 1992 and both nights were swept by Frankie Kerr. In 28 Spring National races, Frankie Kerr has the most wins with four, he is followed in the record books by Greg Wilson who has three wins to his credit, and Mark Keegan, Dale Blaney, Danny Smith and Chad Kemenah who each have two victories to their credit.

Going to battle on the 1/3 mile banked oval will be the regulars of the All Star Series, along with some local favorites. Even NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, will be joining the All Stars this weekend as he returns to his racing roots with the All Stars to celebrate his 29th birthday. Kahne has 6 career All Star wins to his credit, although he has yet to win at Attica Raceway.

With five races in the All Star record books going into Spring Nationals, will Tim Shaffer collect his second win of the season?  Or will 2008 All Star Series Champion Dale Blaney collect his first win of the season? Don’t miss what promises to be another action packed event for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions.

Ticket Information

On Friday, April 10, Attica’s gates will open at 4:30 p.m. with racing action set to heat up at 7:45 p.m. General admission tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for senior citizens; $10 for teens 11-15 years of age; and kids 10 and under are free. A pit pass is $30. 

Saturday night, April 11, the track will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. with racing to begin at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $22 for adults; $20 for senior citizens; $10 for teens 11-15 years of age; and kids 10 and under are free. A pit pass is $30.

Camargo, IL (3-20-09) by Kelly Brown – Public Relations Director – Have you ever wanted to own your own race team? This season the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions is going to offer fans the next best thing by forming a free fantasy league that anyone can compete in to get a feel of what it is like to be a car owner with their own team of drivers on the road with the series.