The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions took to the road for the 2nd stop of their weekend visit.  On the docket for August 15th, it was the new an improved Benton Race Park in Benton Missouri.  Dale Blaney brought home his third top honors in the past 4 events. 

Blaney in the George Fisher owned/wrenched #2 started on the outside point position with Tim Shaffer in the Call Motorsports #83a to his left.  Shaffer jumped out to the early lead with Blaney in tow and held of the hard charging Ohio native until about the midway point of the feature.  

Blaney would lead in turn “The Steel City Outlaw” for the remainder of the event which saw only 1 caution on lap 27.  Blaney would take the restart with Shaffer charging hard on his bumper, but it was all for not as he settled in for another impressive runner-up finish with his new team.  Completing the top 5 in the night’s feature was Randy Hannagan in the Penthouse/Pocketshot.net #1x in third, Jeremy Campbell in the Rick Ferkle #0, and Lance Dewease in the Catoctin #30c. 

The first dash event saw the top 6 qualifying O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions.  Lance Dewease would carry on to the finish line in first place.  Dewease would take in tow to the final drop of the flag, Hannagan, Campbell, Blaney, Greg Wilson in the All Star Plumbing #w20, and Shaffer.

The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series will collide as the two premiere series take to 2 popular venues August 15th and 16th.  With the hottest points battle in tow, The All Star Circuit of Champions look to invade BentonRace Park in Benton, Missouri and Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas, commonly known as “The Ditch.” 

The O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series has already visited the new and improved Benton Race Park in 2008, giving what some people will see as an added advantage.  Currently Jerrod Hull leads the Midwest All Star point battle against AJ Bruns and Ryan Bunton.  The young superstars of Miranda Throckmorton, Brad Greer, and Kody Kinser are not letting the vet’s forget that they are here to build upon their careers. 

As mentioned, the All Star Circuit of Champions has the hottest battles in the country.  Currently, Dale Blaney leads the ever powerful Lance Dewease in the points.  The series will be coming off of a visit to Waynesfield Motor Sports Park from Wednesday August 13th in which the battle is sure to add additional drama.  There is however more to the story.  “The Steel City Outlaw” Tim Shaffer has been living up to his “Outlaw” moniker taking top honors in 3 of the 6 events he has raced with the series in 2008.  Additionally, Brandon Martin has looked very solid as of late, pushing his #11M machine to the front putting on a great display of driving. 

All bets are off for the fast paced weekend of the “Best in the Midwest” vs. “America’s Series.”  Both facilities will pack in additional competition from local racers looking to score big and defend their home facilities.  Benton Race Park features high excitement semi-banked action and Riverside International Speedway will feature the familiar action of “the Ditch” along with some of the most skilled 360 drivers in the country.  Both facilities frequently see the smaller motors having the ability to perform very well. 

It’s anybody’s ballgame both nights.  The following questions are being asked:  “How will Blaney vs. Dewease come out?  Can Tim Shaffer take his 4th, possibly 5th trophy?  Will Brandon Martin mark his first win?  Does the Midwest All Star Series drivers have the upperhand?  What role will the local’s play?  All of these questions will be answered August 15th and 16th. 

On the web:  www.allstarsprint.com, www.midwestallstarseries.com, www.bentonraceparkmo.com, www.riversideinternationalspeedway.com

Shaffer Racks Up Another All Star Win at Husets

CAMARGO, IL (08-03-08 ) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations

Tim Shaffer and the Call Motorsports #83 found themselves in victory lane for the 2^nd time in 4 days as the team took home the top honors and the $5,000 check in the final night of the 2008 Thunder Through the Plains.  The win is Shaffer’s 3^rd of the year since taking over duties with the team in just 6 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions events.

“The Steel City Outlaw” took over the position on lap 29 of the 30 lap affair while racing Dale Blaney in the George Fisher owned/wrenched #2 sprinter.  In a feature event that saw no cautions or red flags, had a total of 4 lead changes on the super fast racing surface that would give many scorers headaches.  Shaffer was able to use a few different lines and lap traffic to get the job done.

In the onset of the 30-lapper Jeremy Campbell in the Rick Ferkel #0 would take the point, only to relegate that to Brandon Martin in the Level Performance #11M on lap 11 using the highline.  Martin’s lead would slip away when Dale Blaney snuck under him on lap 18.  Lance Dewease in the Catoctin #30C brought home 2^nd nipping a 3^rd place Dale Blaney.  Brandon Martin would end up in the 4^th position leading Mark Dobmeier in the Lunstra Motorsports #13 machine to round out the top 5.

Mark Dobmeier would have to race his way into the feature event from the stout B-Main.  Dobmeier would lead all circuits as Dusty Ballenger and Bruce White would make top 3.  Lee Stark would garner the final transfer slot, leaving 7 cars out of the main event. 

Blaney Captures Eagle Win, Points Lead

CAMARGO, IL (08-02-08 ) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations  

Going into the Third night of the 2008 Thunder Through the Plains, Lance Dewease and Dale Blaney were dead-locked for the 2008 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions points battle.  Both of the superstars of the series started on the front of the feature setting up a classic battle for the checkered flag, $5,000, and the points lead, Dewease inside, Blaney to his right. 

Dale Blaney, in the George Fisher owned/wrenched #2, would get the jump at the drop of the green flag and took command of all 30 laps which saw the field bunched 4 times due to caution flags.  Additionally, Lance Dewease in the Catoctin Motorsports #30C, stayed within striking distance for all 30 circuits in second place. 

The points battle in 2008 has shaped up to be a nail biter as Blaney, Dewease, and Randy Hannagan have formed one of the most competitive battles in the country.  In 2007 Greg Wilson and Danny Smith took the battle down to the final race, and it looks like 2008 may end up in similar drama.

Hurricane Thunders Through Mayetta, KS

CAMARGO, IL (08-01-08 ) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations

With temperatures reaching almost 100 degrees and heat-indexes well above, Randy “The Hurricane” Hannagan brought home the $5,000 winner’s fee for night #2 of the 2008 Thunder Through the Plains.  The annual O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions event stayed one more night in Kansas as America’s Series visited the famed Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas.

Hannagan, driving the Penthouse/PocketShot.net #1x,  drove a hard race which found many drivers rides dealing with the elements and high speed surface.  Danny Lasoski was the event’s onset leader, but his mount was found to have mechanical woes.  Brandon Martin then took over the top honors, which soured after Martin got too high in turns one and two.  Martin would come back from repairs to finish 8^th .

Once Hannagan took the lead, there was no looking back, jumping out to huge leads after a number of caution flags.  The victory for Hannagan tightens up an already close points battle for 2008.  Greg Wilson in the All Star Plumbing #w20 machine would improve position by taking home 2^nd on the racy surface.  Pole Sitter Brian Ellenberger would come home 3^rd in his CarMate #20E.  Rounding out the top 5, Dale Blaney finished 4^th , and Jeremy Campbell would charge forward from the back to take home 5^th , after an onset mishap with another car.

Dale Blaney in the George Fisher Owned/Wrenched #2 car made haste in the Member Only Dash affair.  Blaney would show the way over the fastest 6 qualifying fellow O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champion members.  The Dash has become a very valuable tool for the drivers and an additional incentive for members as the fastest 6 get the final run of the track before the evenings feature.
 

Tim Shaffer Tames the High Banks at Belleville Speedway

CAMARGO, IL (07-31-08 ) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations

A capacity crowd was on hand at the famed Belleville High Banks as Tim Shaffer driving the Call Motorsports #83 led all 30 laps to pick up his 2^nd O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions victory, Thursday, July 31^st .  Shaffer took top honors in the event that kicks off the 2008 edition of the Thunder Through the Plains, where “America’s Series" will see action on 4 of the toughest tracks in the Midwest.

Victory lane did not come easy for “The Steel City Outlaw.”  The entire 30 laps, Danny Lasoski was working every angle he could to try and get by him for the $5,000 top prize.  Both veterans started on the front row with Shaffer drawing the Ace and “The Dude” taking the Deuce in the redraw.  Rounding out the top 5, Lance Dewease would pad his points lead by taking home 3^rd , Greg Wilson brought home 4^th , and Don Droud, Jr completing the top 5.

Shaffer would lead the way earlier in the evening in the Member Only Dash event.  The top 6 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions members from qualifying participated in the event with Shaffer showing the way.