It’s become a tradition for many drivers as the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions load up and bring the excitement of “America’s Series” to the Heartland of America.  2008’s edition of the Thunder Through the Plains will test the drivers abilities on some of the best facilities the Plains has to offer.

There has been a wide spread interest for many drivers from across the country to make the 4-night event.  The latest to jump on the list is former World of Outlaw Champion Danny “The Dude” Lasoski.  Lasoski joins a list that contains superstars Dale Blaney, Lance Dewease, Greg Wilson, Randy “The Hurricane” Hannagan, “The Steel City Outlaw” Tim Shaffer, and Tim Kaeding of California.

First up the series will take flight on the High Banks of Belleville Kansas’ high speed ring.  The track record at the wicked fast facility is a blazing 14.545 at the Belleville High Banks.  Drivers are looking to take on that record, re-write history, and start out an awesome weekend of racing.  The track is one of the most talked about venues in the world for its track design and its record speeds.

The traveling series will stay one more night in Kansas as they bring the Thunder to Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas on August 1st.  Thunderill Speedway’s 4/10-mile clay surface will offer up additional high speeds for the drivers as they take to the high banked turns.  Thunderhill is one of the best entertainment values for fans near the capital of Topeka on a weekly basis and is excited to offer the heart-pounding excitement of the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions to their line-up.

August 2nd, the Thunder continues as it heads north to Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Nebraska.  Known as “America’s Home Track,” Eagle Raceway is a popular venue for many drivers to visit at least once in their careers.  Drivers will be looking to become the first to turn in a sub-11 second lap during qualifying.  Eagle boasts one of the most unique configurations in the country with its 1/3 mile high banked structures that keeps crew members guessing on set-ups.

Blaney Victorious at Millstream Speedway

FINDLAY, OH (7-20-08) by Bryan Autullo - All Star PR Director

Do you believe in Miracles?  The city of Findlay, Ohio does.  Dean Miracle did the impossible and put on an event at a facility that hasn't seen action in nine years - and it was a huge success!  A capacity crowd filled the stands and grass seating areas to overflowing as fans were lined up for hundreds of yards waiting in line at the ticket windows.  It was evident that the re-opening of this dirt track icon was long overdue.  Dean Miracle leased the facility just a few months back and put together a crew who did what everyone said couldn't be done.  The result was a fantastic night of racing with only a few minor flaws such as  too few restrooms, too few food vendors, and too few parking spaces - all problems that any promoter dreams of having.  The fans seemed to be happy to be there regardless.  The event started a little later than planned as the promoter and All Star officials wanted to allow the long line of fans waiting to get in the opportunity to see the whole show.

The racing started out on a sour note as Chad Blonde got into the turn one fence on lap one of Heat 1 with the help of another competitor.  Chad landed on his lid and thought he was done for the night, but was able to put the car back together for the B-main later in the evening.

Heat races were won by Greg Wilson, Mike Dussell, Rob Chaney, and Brandon Martin.  Wilson was the hometown favorite and he vowed to put on a show for the fans when he was interviewed after his heat race win.  Wilson would also win the 360 sprint event later in the program.

The O'Reilly All Star Dash was won by Tim Shaffer, but the big story was the lap one crash where Blake Feese got into the fence in front of Kenny Jacobs.  Jacobs climbed the rear of Feese's car and launched into the fence, nearly clearing it.  Thankfully the fence did it's job sending the #59 back onto the track surface, much to the relief of the fans sitting in turn two.  Kenny walked away with some hip and back pain and was transported to the hospital as a precaution. 

B-main action was wild as the caution or red flew on the first 4 attempts and a 2-wide start.  The call was made to restart single file in order to get the event in the books.  There were 23 cars fighting for the final four transfer spots, so there were guys making moves that might have gone against their better judgment.  Eventually Chris Andrews held off Danny Smith for the win.    Chad Blonde and Andy Shammo rounded out the transfer spots.

CAMARGO, IL (7-19-08)by Bryan Autullo - All Star PR Director

The All Star Circuit of Champions were forced to postpont the event at Butler Speedway due to heavy rains that fell in the early afternoon.  The event has been rescheduled for August 23rd.  Stay tuned to www.butlerspeedway.net for additional details on gate times and ticket prices.

The All Stars will resume action on Sunday July 20th for the triumphant return of Millstream Speedway in Findlay, OH.  The facility has been closed for nearly a decade, but will swing the gates open once again on Sunday as they welcome the All Stars back to town.

The point’s battle for the $50,000 check at the end of the season is heating up for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions.  Lance Dewease has maintained his points spread against Dale Blaney and Randy Hannagan, but less than 100 points separate the superstars.  This weekend “America’s Series” heads to the famed Butler Battlegrounds and the return of the All Star Circuit of Champions to Millstream Speedway.  With $5,000 up for grabs as the checkers fly each night, both pits will be packed with the some of the best drivers the country has to offer.

The Butler Battlegrounds is a favorite venue for many of the traveling warriors for the All Star Circuit of Champions.  The high-banked 3/8 mile facility features a weekly line up that includes some of the best winged 410 action, located in Quincy, Michigan.  Coupled with the powerful weekly racers, this event looks to be a well fought battle to the checkers on July 19th.

From there, the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will wrap up their weekend, July 20th, in the heart of Northwest Ohio sprint car area, Millstream Speedway near Findlay, Ohio.  Many drivers have raced at the facility in the past and are excited to be returning once again to one of the premier tracks in Ohio.  The track has made many improvements to the grounds and track in support of bringing the series back to the place where the first Ohio Speedweek race was ran.

On the Web:  www.allstarsprint.com, www.butlerspeedway.net, www.millstreamspeedway.com.

Tim Shaffer Dusts Competition at “The Action Track” 

CAMARGO, IL (07-05-08) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations  

The track at Terre Haute, Indiana's Vigo County Fairgrounds is simply known as "The Action Track."  Action is what Tim Shaffer had in mind Friday, July 4th as he took home the $5,000 top prize in O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions action.  Shaffer, in his debut with the Call Motorsports #83, lapped more than half the field and had a full straight away lead on second place Danny Smith at the checkers at “The Action Track” in Terre Haute, Indiana with the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions.  Shaffer has etched his name into history books as he is the first to win the annual Wolfe’s Auto Auction “Run with the Pack Classic.” 

Drawing the Ace during redraw would put Shaffer on point for the feature.  He would go on to lead the way the entire 25-lap affair putting the distance on runner-up Danny Smith in the Doug Williams Trucking supported #4, Brandon Martin in the BMI Racing #11M, and the other 22 contenders.  As mentioned, Shaffer lapped more than half the field while lapping several cars twice on the always fast ½-mile. 

Kaley Gharst in the #51 machine took home the checkers in the first heat race.  Rookie of the Year contender Ryan Meyers would pedal his way to victory in the 2nd Heat Race in his Garrett Motorsports #56R.  Tiffany Wyzard lead the distance in the Wyzard Cleaning #5 machine for the 3rd event.  The Fourth event belonged to Brandon Martin in the #11M.

Rain Washes Out KC Raceway's "Night The Stars Come Out" 

CAMARGO, IL  (7-3-08) by Bryan Autullo - All Star PR

Mother Nature paid an early visit to KC Raceway this afternoon washing out tonight's events.  The All Stars now head west to Terre Haute Action Track for a July 4th celebration.  Visit www.theactiontrack.com for more info.

CAMARGO, IL (7-1-08) by Bryan Autullo & Robert Cortum - All Star PR

“America’s Series” and “The Best In the Midwest” will hit the road for the Fourth of July for one of the most anticipated events of the season at the Terre Haute “Action Track.” Both the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series will be on hand to help celebrate the Fourth of July for the fans in Southern Indiana.

First, the O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions kick off their weekend with a stop at KC Raceway in Chillicothe, OH On July 3rd for "The Night the Stars Come Out" as Lance Dewease will try to fend off Dale Blaney and Randy Hannagan who are creeping up on the season points leader. Defending champion Greg Wilson is on the outside looking in and will seek out some valuable points on the high banked 3/8 mile speed plant before heading West to The Terre Haute Action Track.

Both traveling groups pride themselves on being “The Working Man’s Series" and are thrilled to compete in front of the Terre Haute audience of hard working Americans on Independence Day. The Wolfe’s Auto Auction Run with the Pack Classic will feature Lance Dewease, Dale Blaney, and Randy Hannagan from the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and feature Jerrod Hull, AJ Bruns, and Jimmy Hurley of the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series, along with many other local and national travelers. Top Indiana natives like Paul May, Kody Kinser, and Miranda Throckmorton will be looking to defend their home turf.

ROSSBURG, OH (6-28-08) by Bryan Autullo – All Star PR Director 

The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions finally got a break from Mother Nature on the Ohio Speedweek finale at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH.  For maybe the first time this week – there was sunshine!  There were 36 cars who made the tow to the monster ½ mile in Western Ohio, some of which had not seen a lap here in a very long time. 

Western PA star Ed Lynch Jr. set the Kistler Engines quick time for the evening.  Lynch picked up the Speedweek finale win in 2007 and returned to try to repeat that feat over a very stellar All Star field.

Heat races were won by Greg Wilson, Lance Dewease, Kenny Jacobs, and Butch Schroeder.  Dale Blaney took the checkers in the O’Reilly All Star Dash.  With the Eldora track crew doing a phenomenal job in prepping the track surface despite a week of constant rain passing over the Buckeye State, the dust was down, the speeds were up, and the racing was as exciting as I have ever seen at The Big E.

B-main action was as intense as any racing that has taken place all week long.  Brian Ellenberger diced it out with Aussie Troy Little until Jeremy Campbell made his way to second place in the Rick Ferkel #0.  Paul May finished 3^rd as Mike Dussel edged out Little on the final lap to transfer to the A-main.