CAMARGO, Ill. – Ohio Sprint Speedweek usually determines who will wear the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions’ crown at season’s end. This year, the 31st Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek features eight racing events over nine days at seven different race tracks in the Buckeye State.
It all kicks off Friday, June 21 as Kistler Engines Presents the Ohio Sprint Speedweek on TPC Food Services/Ohio Cat Night at Attica Raceway Park. This will mark the 99th UNOH All Star show at Attica. Earlier this year current All Star point leader Dale Blaney, a four time Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion, took the victory at Attica. Blaney now has 13 series wins at Attica and has 95 total All Star victories for his career, just three behind tying Kenny Jacobs for the series all-time feature wins.
Last year at Attica’s speedweek event, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Danny Holtgraver scored his first career UNOH All Star victory. Race-long leader Cap Henry spun trying to avoid a flipping car with just four laps remaining. Currently Holtgraver, who has scored four sprint feature wins in non-All Star racing this season, sits fourth in the series’ national points and second in the Ohio Region standings. Henry, who has two non-sanctioned sprint car wins in 2013, is third in the UNOH All Star national points and fifth in the Ohio Region.
There is a little extra incentive at Attica as the top two finishers in the feature event that are running Kistler Engines will receive $500 from the engine build.
The All Star drivers always have their hands full with the Attica regulars like six time track champion Byron Reed, who is coming off a weekend sweep at Attica and Fremont Speedway. Defending track champion Craig Mintz has run consistently in the top five every week at Attica. Throw in Caleb Griffith, who scored the win at the track in the 360/305 sprint challenge, Bryan Sebetto, who has an All Star win at Fremont this season and a non-sanctioned win at Attica, currently sits fourth in the series’ Ohio Region points, rookie D.J. Foos, Brian Smith who has a win at the track, and a host of others and you have a recipe for excitement. Holtgraver has a non-sanctioned win at Attica in 2013 as does Shane Stewart. And former track champion Dean Jacobs is expected to be behind the wheel of a new ride for speedweek.
The UMP Late models will also be in competition at Attica. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with racing underway at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults; $20 for seniors; $10 for teens ages 11-15; with kids 10 and under getting in free. Pit passes are $30.
Night #2 will be at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. No other track in the country has hosted more of the series' races than Eldora. The Speedweek event will be the 132nd of the UNOH All Stars at the famous half-mile. The last time the UNOH All Stars visited “The Big E,” in 2011, Blaney took the victory, the sixth series’ win at the track of his career.
The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds and Eldora Stocks will also be in competition for the June 22 event. Tickets will go on sale at 3:30 with gates opening at 4 p.m. and racing getting underway at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for those ages 13 and older; $4 for ages 12 and under with pit passes at $25.
On Sunday, June 23, Speedweek moves to Waynesfield Raceway Park near Lima, Ohio. The one-third mile bullring has produced some of the most exciting speedweek shows in recent years. Last year, for the second night in a row, Henry looked headed to victory, but Stevie Smith passed him with eight laps to go to score the victory, the 200th sprint car win of Smith’s career. The win, coupled with consistent runs throughout speedweek would propel Smith to his second Ohio Sprint Speedweek championship.
Ohio Logistics Presents the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Ohio Sprint Speedweek at “The Field” with pit gates opening at 4 p.m. with grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. and racing underway at 7 p.m. Go to www.waynesfieldmotorsportspark.com for more information.
The NAPA Wayne County Speedway near Orrville, Ohio will host the UNOH All Stars on Monday, June 24. The track was one of the original speedweek destinations when the concept began 31 years ago. Last year, phenom Kyle Larson passed Blaney on lap 13 and went on to score his second straight speedweek feature, having won the night before at Cannonball Speedway.
This year’s Duffy Smith Memorial – run in honor of the former racer who passed away following the speedweek show in 2012 – will also include the Lias Tire Late Models for a $2,000 to win feature. Gates will open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday finds the UNOH All Stars at Sharon Speedway near Hartford, Ohio. Another of the tracks that was part of the first Ohio Sprint Speedweek 31 years ago, the 3/8th mile oval was the scene of a marathon race last year. Tire wear was the culprit and it was young Brandon Matus who nursed his tires enough to score his first career UNOH All Star victory.
Gates will open at Sharon at 4 p.m. The Econ-Mods and Mini Stocks will also be in competition. Tickets are $22 for adults with kids 13 and under getting in free. Pit passes are $35.
For more information go to www.sharonspeedway.com
Wednesday, June 26 is an off day before Ohio Sprint Speedweek blasts into the weekend beginning Thursday, June 27 at Fremont Speedway. This will mark the 108th visit of the UNOH All Stars at “The Track That Action Built,” located in the Sandusky County Fairgrounds. Earlier this year Sebetto and Blaney posted All Star wins at Fremont. Blaney has the most series’ wins at the track with 12 and swept both speedweek events at Fremont last year.
Fremont is another track the All Stars have to battle with a tough contingent of weekly drivers. Reed won this past week and is a three time track champion. Former All Star champion Greg Wilson has a pair of victories at Fremont in 2013. Tim Shaffer, who has won the last four All Star championships, also has a win in non-sanctioned racing at the track this season. Shaffer, the 2011 Ohio Sprint Speedweek champion, has eight career series’ wins at Fremont. Henry posted a non-sanctioned win at Fremont this season and Griffith also picked up a weekly feature win.
The 305 sprints and dirt trucks will also be in competition on DB3 Imaging Night.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. with racing underway at 7 p.m. Go to www.fremontohspeedway.com for more information.
On Friday, June 28th Ohio Sprint Speedweek heads to the high banked quarter-mile of Limaland Motorsports Park, presented by Elwer Fence. Last year’s event fell victim to rain as heavy thunderstorms hit the area. In 2011 Kyle Sauder would score his first ever All Star win during the Lima speedweek event. In 2010 David Gravel earned his first ever All Star win at Lima during speedweek as he claimed the Ohio Speedweek championship that year.
The track’s tough weekly 360 race teams will also give the All Stars a great challenge.
The K&N Modifieds will also be in competition.
Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. with spectator gates open at 5 p.m. and racing underway at 7:30 p.m.
Go to www.limaland.com for more information.
The 31st Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek wraps up Saturday, June 29th at Fremont Speedway for the $10,000-to-win finale on Ludwig Propane Night. There is a rain date of Sunday, June 30th if needed.
Ohio Speedweek always draws in the best talent from the Midwest, western Pennsylvania, along with the All Star regulars and usually a few surprises. In seasons past NASCAR Sprint Cup stars Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne competed at several speedweek events. Larson may pop in for a few races as well.
As in the past, speedweek could also produce some first time winners with young drivers like Caleb Helms, Justin Henderson, Trey Gustin and more looking to put their names in the record books.
Krimes picks up first career UNOH All Star win in dominating fashion at Lincoln
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA. – As a kid Alan Krimes always dreamed of winning an All Star or World of Outlaws race. He accomplished half of his childhood dream Saturday, dominating the 30-lap University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions feature at Lincoln Speedway.
The $5,000 win was the first UNOH All Star victory of Krimes’ career. The Denver, PA. driver led all 30 laps and took the checkers four second ahead of second place Danny Dietrich.
“As a kid I always dreamed about racing with the All Stars or World of Outlaws and beating those guys. They are the best in the business and to beat them means you’re doing something right. I like racing with the All Stars…they are a class organization with talented drivers,” said Krimes beside his Krimes Machine Shop/VRP Shocks/Conestoga Valley Garage backed #87.
After finishing second in the dash, Krimes started beside Stevie Smith on the front row of the feature. He beat Smith to the first turn and was never seriously challenged.
“Getting him (Smith) on the start was everything there. I was actually surprised I could turn in off his right rear and pass him down there,” said Krimes. “That was the biggest move of the race as far as I’m concerned. Getting ahead of Stevie, because he’s a hell of a driver.”
“You’re never sure how far you are ahead of everybody else when you’re running out there. We were getting through lapped traffic pretty good, and I knew somebody else was going to have to be really good to beat us. We actually started slowing down there at the end,” said Krimes, “But I was hoping I had enough of lead to hold them off at the end.”
Krimes didn’t know that everyone else was slowing down at the end, too. Krimes maintained a three-to-four second lead over the entire second half of the 30-lap event.
If Krimes was half of the show, Danny Dietrich was the other half.
Dietrich, who scored the UNOH All Star win the previous night at Williams Grove – his fifth total win of 2013 - started sixth and bounced off the second turn wall several times in catching Lance Dewease for third on lap 18 and Smith for the runner-up spot on lap 22.
“Danny must have been real good,” added Krimes, who has three wins so far in 2013. “The track was pretty tough to pass on. To come from sixth to second was a great job.”
The last 24 laps of the race went non-stop, with the only caution of the night for a spin by Steve Storrie and Greg Hodnett after colliding in turn one of lap six.
Smith settled for third, with Dewease and tenth-starting Fred Rahmer completing the top five. Rahmer, the current Central PA and Lincoln point series leader, continued his amazing streak of top-ten finishes, which now sits at 28 straight races.
“We’re doing the best we can to get rolling after putting this team together this far into the season. We’re making real good progress…we’re heading in the right direction,” said Smith of his Spectro/All Star Performance/Bear’s Tree Service/Butler Built Seats backed machine.
Next up for the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions is the 31st Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek, featuring eight racing events over 9 nights at 7 different tracks across the Buckeye State.
Dietrich honors Leffler with UNOH All Star win at Williams Grove
MECHANICSBURG, PA. – When there is tragedy in racing, the fans, drivers, teams…everyone involved in the sport pulls together.
Danny Dietrich didn’t know Jason Leffler other than seeing him in passing at local tracks over the last couple of months. But, when Leffler suffered fatal injuries during a sprint car race Wednesday at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey, Dietrich, like many other racers and fans, felt the effects of the untimely death.
Dietrich’s Gary Kauffman Racing #48 team sold decals in Leffler’s memory before the night’s racing and donated $5 from every shirt sold during Friday night’s racing at Williams Grove Speedway to Leffler’s five-year-old son, Charlie, and his family.
Dietrich, of Aspers, Pa., wasn’t finished. He paid respects to his fellow racer by capturing his third career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions feature, dedicating his fifth overall win of 2013 and second at Williams Grove to Leffler.
“This here is for Jason Leffler,” Dietrich said beside his Sandoe’s Fruit Market/Racers Used Parts Warehouse/Mark Bell Trucking/Drop of Ink Tattoo and Body Piercing/Moritz Machine Repairs/Hickory Run Orchards backed #48. “I was going to drive halfway like an idiot to be the first repeat winner here and win for him.
“I didn't know Jason real well, but when he came to Pennsylvania, he greeted me like anyone else — like a true professional. He always smiled, and we are going to miss him.”
Dietrich has now won a UNOH All Star event in each of the past three seasons and kept the invading series 0-for-28 against the Pennsylvania regulars at Williams Grove Speedway.
Dietrich and four time UNOH All Star champion Tim Shaffer would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature. Dietrich would grab the lead over Shaffer and third-place starter Lance Dewease, a former UNOH All Star Eastern Region champion.
After Jac Haudenschild spun in turn 1 to bring out the caution on lap 5, Dewease took advantage of the restart and slipped past Shaffer for the runner-up spot. Dewease then closed to within a couple of car lengths of Dietrich by lap 10. However, Dietrich moved to the top of the track and started to pull away by the time he caught the rear of the field at the half-way point
“I was kind of watching it,” Dietrich said. “When the top of Turn 1 and 2 came around, I made the jump to go up there.”
Said Dewease, “Once he moved up, it was where you had to be. I wish he would have stayed down a couple more laps.”
Dietrich was able to pull away over the last 15 laps to earn a $5,000 payday.
Dewease would settle for second. And like nearly everyone else at the track, his thoughts were about Leffler.
“The last couple days have been rough on my owner [Mike Heffner],” Dewease said. “He promoted the race at Bridgeport. We really wanted to win this one for Jason, but hopefully, he takes pride in what have done here tonight,” said Dewease.
Shaffer, who came into the night second in the UNOH All Star national points, finished third. Dale Blaney, the series point leader, passed Brent Marks for fourth in the last corner when Marks slapped the fence.
Wet grounds and afternoon showers have forced the cancellation of tonight's UNOH All Star Cricuit of Champions event at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.
The All Stars will continue Eastern Region competition this Friday June 14th at the Williams Grove Speedway and on Saturday June 15th at Lincoln Speedway.
For more information visit www.williamsgrove.com or www.lincolnspeedway.com
All Stars head East for Ohio Speedweek Tune-Up
CAMARGO, Ill. – The University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions will tune-up for the 31st Ohio Sprint Speedweek by taking on the tough Pennsylvania Posse in three Eastern Region Points races this week.
It all begins Tuesday at Canadaigua Motorsports Park in Canandaigua, N.Y. The UNOH All Stars then head to legendary William Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA on Friday, June 14 before wrapping up their eastern swing on Saturday, June 15 at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA.
Three time UNOH All Star Champion Dale Blaney of Hartford, Ohio leads the series national and Eastern Region Points. He has two wins in 2013 in All Star Competition – at Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway. Blaney now has 95 career UNOH All Star wins, just three away from tying hall-of-famer Kenny Jacobs atop the standings for all time series’ wins.
UNOH All Star Eastern Region 2011 champion Lance Dewease is second in the series’ Eastern Region points with four time series champion Tim Shaffer of Aliquippa, PA in third. Bellevue, Ohio’s Cap Henry sits fourth in the Eastern Region while Danny Lasoski sits fifth.
Nestled in the heart of New York State's picturesque Finger Lakes Region,Canandaigua Motorsports Park stands as one of the most revered ovals on the entire Northeastern circuit. The hallowed half-miler on the Ontario County Fairgrounds has been in existence for well over a half-century.
The race is also expected to draw three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart to wheel his familiar #14 sprint car.
Central Pennsylvania tracks have not been kind to the UNOH All Stars as a series regular has yet to win against the touch weekly competitors at Williams Grove Speedway. Earlier this year Donny Kreitz Jr. took the series win at the track over Fred Rahmer, Shaffer, Dewease and Alan Krimes. Winners at Williams Grove so far this season are Rahmer, Rick Lafferty and Krimes. Rahmer leads the track’s points over Kreitz, Dewease, Brent Marks and Greg Hodnett.
At Lincoln Speedway, Danny Dietrich has scored the last two All Star wins. Last season he held off Alan Krimes, Fred Rahmer, Cory Haas and Aaron Ott for the win.
Winners this season at Lincoln include Logan Schuchart, Brian Montieth (3 wins), Brent Marks (3 wins), Danny Dietrich (2 wins including World of Outlaws win), Jim Siegel, Cole Duncan, Alan Krimes, and Fred Rahmer (2 wins). Rahmer leads the track points over Marks, Montieth, Krimes and Adam Wilt.
Blaney holds off Mintz and Stewart for $10,000 All Star loot at Fremont
By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio – Dale Blaney always says he does not like leading early. But, when you know you have a good car and there’s $10,000 on the line….that can change a driver’s attitude.
Blaney led all 50 laps Sunday at Fremont Speedway on Budweiser Night to take his 95th career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victory and is now just three away from tying Kenny Jacobs for the most series wins. It wasn’t easy for Blaney as he had to hold off a charging Shane Stewart the last seven laps for his 17th career win at “The Track That Action Built.” Blaney, who finished a close second the previous night at Fremont Speedway, leads all drivers at the track with UNOH All Star wins with 12 as the series has visited the historic speedway 107 times.
“Any time you come here it’s always a good race and that had to be a good race for the fans. Ninety-five wins…that means I’ve been at it a long time. George has won a lot of races for me. He does a hell of a job and if it wasn’t for him doing all the work that he does and Ti22 and GF1…George is 98 percent of the team and I’m just two and sometimes it’s a good two and sometimes it’s a bad two,” said Blaney of his second UNOH All Star win of 2013.
“My car was so good in the dash and I thought I’m just going to get out there and see if I can put as many lapped cars between me and second as I could. I was decent early and George (Fisher, crew chief) kind of told me to look at the top and I did down here and I felt rubber a little bit getting off four and then everybody started to crawl the top and I kept hearing somebody and I was so tight getting in behind guys it was hard for me to get around and get on their right rear. And Shane (Stewart) was up there and I saw his nose wing and man, it was for $10,000 and he had a run around there and I was coming and it was tight but it was a cool race,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance, GF1 Chassis backed machine.
Blaney made it look easy the first 20 laps of the event, but couldn’t run and hide as three cautions in the middle stages of the race kept Stewart, Tim Shaffer, Chris Andrews and Craig Mintz close. Also, fans were on the edge of their seats watching Greg Wilson, who last week came from 18th starting spot to collect his second win of the season at Fremont, as he charged from 17th to sixth by the half-way point. But, after the last caution flew on lap 26, the remainder of the race would go green and when Blaney found heavy lapped traffic with 17 to go, Stewart, Shaffer and others had found a little rubber on the high side of the track and closed quickly. With six laps to go, Stewart had pulled right on Blaney’s rear bumper as they diced through traffic.
On lap 46 Stewart drove to Blaney’s outside in turns three and four with Blaney squeezing him to the front stretch wall and breaking his momentum. This allowed 9th starter Craig Mintz, the track’s defending champion, to make it a three car battle. With two laps to go, Stewart was all over Blaney with Mintz driving inside of both to challenge. As the white flag flew, the large crowd was on their feet as the trio worked each other and traffic. Blaney was able to drive off the top of turn four to take the win while Mintz drove around Stewart for second. Shaffer and 11th starter Caleb Griffith – after a spirited battle with Wilson – would round out the top five.
“If that were a 55-lap race it would have been fun but hats off to Dale. Those guys got out front and it started taking rubber a little bit and the guys started playing follow the leader around the top…it was kind of hard to pass race cars. You just had to hope for someone to miss rubber,” said Mintz beside his Real Geese Decoys, R2C Filters, Design Graphics Group, Keller Chevrolet, Erie Shore Propane, Walby Construction, KS Sales and Services backed #09.
“I have to thank my mom and my dad and Kathy and my wife and Hoagie and Brad and Kevin and Steven Linder has been helping out a ton. I can’t thank all those folks enough,” added Mintz.
Stewart was disappointed he couldn’t bring home the win aboard his Joe Gaerte and Tim Norman owned #3G.
“I wasn’t here to run second and sacrificed a spot there trying to win. Man I don’t know what George and Dale do but when it gets slick those guys are pretty tough to beat,” said Stewart beside his Gaerte Engines, XYZ Machining, All Star Performance, Red Line Oil backed machine. “I can’t thank my guys enough. They worked hard for me. We had a little altercation…I actually yelled at them a little bit after the dash and I don’t ever mean to do that. But they kept working hard for me and they always give me a great car and I just came up a little bit short.”
“I knew I was going to be better than Dale was once it took rubber because he was better before the rubber laid down. I had one shot at him, maybe two and screwed up both times,” added Stewart.
Blaney and Shaffer would bring the field to the green for the 50-lap affair with Blaney grabbing the lead over Shaffer while Stewart and Andrews raced hard for third. Andrews would take third on lap two and would drove around Shaffer for second on the next circuit. With six laps recorded all eyes were on Wilson who had moved from 17th to seventh.
Blaney would drive into heavy lapped traffic by the 10th lap as Andrews and now Stewart battled hard second with Shaffer, Mintz, Jack Sodeman and Wilson in pursuit. Stewart would nab second on lap 12 but could not close on Blaney. The first caution flew on lap 21 for a stalled Adam Kekich. Blaney would have a lapped machine separating him from Stewart with a resurgent Shaffer, Andrews, Mintz and Wilson in pursuit. Just four laps later Andrews’ great run would end as he slid off the high side of turn two to bring out the caution. A lap and another caution for a stalled Stewart Brubaker kept Blaney from hiding from Stewart.
On the restart Blaney and Stewart pulled away while Shaffer and Mintz were left to battle traffic and each other. Shaffer and Mintz swapped the third spot several times over the next few laps as Blaney and Stewart drove away. On lap 33 the leaders again drove into heavy lapped traffic and Stewart closed on Blaney ever so slightly while Shaffer and Mintz continued their battle with Wilson and now Caleb Griffith in pursuit. Mintz would finally grab third on lap 37.
Blaney sliced his way through traffic like a surgeon until there were just six laps to go and as he struggled somewhat, Stewart quickly closed, setting up the exciting finish.
The UNOH All Stars will now head east for three big shows in the Eastern Region points battle beginning June 11 at Canandaigua Motor Speedway in New York before heading to Williams Grove Speedway and Lincoln Speedway on June 14 and 15. Then is the 31st Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek featuring eight races over nine nights across the Buckeye State.
Sebetto gets late race pass of Blaney for Fremont UNOH All Star Win
FREMONT, Ohio – Sometimes you just need to go back to the basics.
Fremont, Ohio driver Bryan Sebetto and his Hammer Racing team did just that recently and it paid off Saturday. Sebetto used a lapped car as a pick and drove around Dale Blaney with four laps to go and went on to score his fourth career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victory at Fremont Speedway. All of Sebetto’s All Star victories have come at his home track.
“Early in the race we just couldn’t get any laps going…all those guys kept screwing around and bringing out all these cautions. I was a little better than he (Blaney) was but I wasn’t good enough to pass him in clean air…I needed lapped traffic. I was glad we got a long green flag run and got into lapped traffic. It’s good to be second in lapped traffic because you can go where he doesn’t said Sebetto in the Engine Pro Victory Lane on Kear’s Speed Shop Night.
“This season has been awful. I can’t believe Randy and Lisa Hammer haven’t fired me as bad as I’ve been driving and as bad as we’ve been running. This just proves how much they are behind me. We got so far off on set-up stuff when we switched to these Hoosiers and me and Randy and Aaron and Guhn and Timmy just sat around talked and figured we just need to go back to what we know…back to what we were doing last year and fine tune it from there and that’s what we did and this thing’s been a rocket ship ever since,” continued Sebetto beside his Hammer Pallets, Gressman Powersports, Crown Battery, JLH General Contractor, Maxim Chassis, R3 Nutrition, Meggit Powdercoating, OC Shocks backed #24h.
“Just to turn our season around, it doesn’t matter if this was a $1,000 to win or $20,000. We needed this win to boost my confidence, our team’s confidence and to turn our season around,” concluded Sebetto.
Sebetto and Brady Bacon would bring the field to the green in the 30-lap feature with Bacon grabbing the top spot over Sebetto, Dale Blaney, Tim Shaffer and Caleb Helms. Bacon would pull away as Sebetto and Blaney battled for second with Shaffer trying to hold off Byron Reed. Blaney would pull into second on lap five.
Bacon would catch the back of the pack on lap seven and Blaney closed. Bacon would slip off the high side of turn three on lap eight, allowing Blaney to drive under and into the lead as the caution flew for debris. This would breed a rash of cautions.
On the restart Blaney would lead as Bacon was locked in a battle with Sebetto for second while Shaffer, Reed, Jody Keegan, Helms, Brian Lay, Cap Henry and Craig Mintz gave chase. Dan Kuriger would bring out the caution with a broken front end on lap 9. Another lap before the caution would fly for a Rob Chaney spin. Then on the restart Helms would loop his mount. On the ensuing restart Blaney would lead as Sebetto drove into second while Bacon, Shaffer, Reed, Keegan and Lay gave chase. D.J. Foos would tumble in turn two on lap 11, necessitating an open red for fuel.
When the green flew again, Sebetto drove to Blaney’s outside to challenge as Bacon and Shaffer were locked in a tremendous battle while Keegan, Henry, Lay and Danny Holtgraver were in pursuit. Henry would spin on lap 12 and Keegan would get upside down on the restart. On the ensuing restart, Paige Polyak would get sideways in turn three and collected Justin Henderson.
Each time on the restart Sebetto would charge to Blaney’s outside but could not make the pass for the lead while Bacon and Shaffer continued to battle hard for third.
Chris Andrews would spin on lap 14 for the final caution of the event as Shaffer pitted with a flat tire. When the green came back out, Blaney and Sebetto continued their war for the top spot as Danny Holtgraver moved into third with Lay, Bacon, Mintz, Caleb Griffith and Stuart Brubaker (up from his 21st starting spot in pursuit.
Blaney pulled away slightly as Sebetto stayed in striking distance as they drove away from Holtgraver. With eight laps to go, Blaney hit lapped traffic and Sebetto closed. With four laps to go, Blaney was having trouble getting around a lapped car that was in his bottom groove, and Sebetto drove around the outside to take the lead. Meanwhile Mintz was on the move and took fourth, bringing Griffith to sixth from his 13th starting spot.
Sebetto would use the extreme high line to drive around lapped machines, but as he took the white flag Blaney closed. As they raced through turns three and four the final time, Blaney dove under Sebetto, but Sebetto, a former Fremont track champion, kept his momentum and drove to his 23rd career Fremont win.
Blaney, Holtgraver, Mintz and Griffith would round out the top five, with Lay, Reed, who came from the tail after going pit side early with a broken suspension part, Bacon, Brubaker and Henry would complete the top 10.
“I was in the right spot. I just need to clear a couple of lapped cars. It was my fault for not being able to drive around the. I didn’t get patient and I was kind of on the wrong part of the race track a few times and just lost speed and he got by me,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 Performance backed #2. “He was hitting the right spots.”
For Holtgraver, the third place run continues his hot streak of late as he posted an All Star win last weekend.
“We were a little tight there at the beginning and Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) made a couple of adjustments under the red and it was a world of difference. I could drive it where ever I needed to go. Car was awesome at the end and I think we would have had something for them. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time in lapped traffic but we’ll take a third. We’ve needed this big time. We’ve been up and down and up and down and finally we’re getting something going,” said Holtgraver beside his B&R Motorsports, Berlin Natural Bakery, Canton Erectors, Classic Ink, DKW Transport, Kistler Engines backed #45.
The UNOH All Stars will be back in action Sunday at Fremont Speedway in a big 50-lap, $10,000 to win event on Budweiser Night.
UNOH All Stars and tough Fremont regulars ready to "kick-it" up on Memorial Day Weekend
FREMONT, Ohio – After the fantastic racing at Fremont Speedway the last two weeks, you know when the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions come to “The Track That Action Built” for a Memorial Day weekend double-header, there will be plenty of excitement.
The action kicks off on Kear’s Speed Shop Night, Saturday, May 26 and continues Sunday on Budweiser Beer Night featuring a $10,000 to win A-main. There is a rain date for the Sunday show set for Monday, May 27. The two events mark the 106th and 107th visit by the All Stars at the historic Fremont Speedway, second only to Eldora Speedway.
“Any time the All Stars come here they know they will have a battle on their hands with our tough weekly competitors. The track has been very racy and I think we’re going to have one hell of a weekend for the fans,” said Fremont Speedway Promoter Rich Farmer.
UNOH All Star competitors have had success at Fremont already this year. Four-time and defending series champion Tim Shaffer, who now has 9 career All Star wins at Fremont and 13 overall at the track, scored a win on opening night. Not to be outdone, two-time series champion Greg Wilson has two wins this season at Fremont to run his career total to 11 at the track. The last win, this past Saturday, was a dandy as he came roaring from 18th starting spot. Cap Henry, who cut his racing teeth at the one-third mile oval, scored an exciting win two weeks ago at Fremont.
Current UNOH All Star point leader Dale Blaney is looking to add to his series win total as well. “The Low Rider” has 16 career wins at Fremont, 11 of those being All Star victories to lead all drivers in series’ wins at the track. Blaney swept the Memorial Day weekend at Fremont last season.
Don’t count out Danny Holtgraver who picked up the UNOH All Star win this past Saturday at I-77 Raceway. Holtgraver has an open win at Mercer Speedway and Attica Raceway Park this season as well.
“Winning at Fremont was one of my goals this year. I really want to get one there bad. The competition is as good as any where we race,” said Holtgraver.
Then throw in the tough weekly competitors like defending and two-time track champion Craig Mintz, Chris Andrews, three time track champion Byron Reed, Brian Smith, rookie sensation D.J. Foos who is coming off a second place run this past weekend and others like Brian Lay, Jody Keegan, Caleb Griffith, Dean Jacobs, Duane Zablocki, Brandon Martin, Stuart Brubaker and rookie Paige Polyak. Polyak is the first female to win a sprint car race at Fremont Speedway, having competed in the tough 305 sprint ranks. She is coming off a second place run with the UNOH All Stars at I-77 speedway.
Also, in a fun event for everyone, there will be special kick ball tournament benefitting the Kick-It Foundation to raise funds for childhood cancer research. There are currently 9 teams signed up to participate including a drivers’ team, crew team, speedway team, a couple of corporate teams and fan teams. The tournament will get underway at the fairgrounds around 10 a.m. and there will also be an auction. To find out more look up the 2nd Annual Fremont Speedway Kick It Event on Facebook or go to www.fremontohspeedway.com. To make a donation to your favorite team or player go to http://www.kick-it.org/events/2nd-annual-fremont-speedway-event.
The 305 sprints and dirt trucks will also be in competition both nights.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. with racing underway at 7 p.m. both nights.
Holtgraver caps off good weekend with UNOH All Star Win at I-77 Raceway
RIPLEY, W. VA. – Don’t look now, but a new sprint car team is starting to gel and it could mean trouble for the competitors on the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions tour.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Danny Holtgraver capped a fantastic weekend Saturday at I-77 Raceway Park in Ripley, W. Va., by taking his fourth career UNOH All Star win. On Friday, Holtgraver won one of the two features at Attica Raceway Park to add to his King of the 360s win earlier this year in Florida and an open win at Mercer Speedway a couple of weeks ago.
It wasn’t easy for the former Lernerville track champion Saturday. It looked like UNOH All Star point leader Dale Blaney would pick up the win, but after taking the white flag, his car quit running and coast to a stop on the back stretch. Blaney said it appears his Ti22 Performance machine suffered some sort of engine problem and he did not run out of fuel as some had speculated.
All Star officials called for a fuel stop, setting up a green, white, checkered finish and Holtgraver held off 410 rookie Paige Polyak of Tiffin, Ohio to score the victory.
“I thought we were going to have to settle for second. Dale and I raced hard throughout that deal. Then we come out of two on the last lap and I see him stopped. I knew I just had to hit my marks on the restart and we’d be fine,” said Holtgraver of his Bryan Grove/Rob Hunter owned #45. “This is huge for us…it’s a big confidence booster.”
Holtgraver said it just took time for the new team to come together. “We had a new team, new tires…I think I just put too much pressure on myself. Bryan or Rob didn’t put any pressure on me. I just needed to communicate with Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) and relax and drive the car,” he said. “I have to thank Canton Erectors, Berlin Natural Bakery, DKW Transport, Kistler Engines, J&J Racing, Classic Ink and VRP Shocks for all of their support…we couldn’t do this without them.”
Blaney and Jim Stinson would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature with Blaney grabbing the top spot while Holtgraver drove from fourth into second. Blaney and Holtgraver were off and running while the action behind them heated up. Stinson and Bryan Sebetto battled for third before Sebetto jumped the cushion and smacked the wall, ending his run.
Later, Blaney would bobble on the cushion, allowing Holtgraver to shoot buy and take the lead.
Meanwhile Polyak, who is the first female to win a sprint car race at Fremont Speedway, Attica Raceway Park and Eldora Speedway while driving a 305 sprint, was moving to the front. After a spirited battle with Cory Crabtree early, she caught Stinson for third and the pair ran side by side for several laps and were closing on Holtgraver and Blaney.
When the leaders caught lapped traffic, Blaney made his move to regain the top spot and seemed headed to his second UNOH All Star win of 2013. But, after taking the white flag, Blaney’s machine shut off down the back stretch, necessitating the fuel stoppage and the green, white, checkered finish.
Holtgraver held off Polyak for the win with Stinson, Cole Duncan and 12th starter Cap Henry rounding out the top five. Henry’s performance was a shot in the arm as the team suffered three blown trailer tires getting to the track, and then Henry got upside down in his heat with the crew making quick repairs to get him to the B-main where he would earn a feature transfer spot.
For Polyak, the experience of a new track with tough competition was a confidence booster.
“This place reminded me a lot like Lima. It was a fine line between being aggressive and wrecking. I talked to my dad before we went out for the feature and I decided to take my time. In the middle of the race I started slowing my entrance to the corners and the car worked well. It was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to race with the All Stars at Fremont next weekend. I have to thank John and Duane and my sister for coming down here with me,” said Polyak beside her Steyer Seeds/H.E. Rudy Trucking/JLH General Contractor/Handy Graphix/Circle H Tire/NAPA of Bryan/Pitstop/Meggitt’s Powdercoating backed #27.
The UNOH All Stars head to the historic Fremont Speedway for a two-day battle on Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26, with Sunday’s finale paying $10,000 to win.
The UNOH College of Applied Technologies' High Performance Department's reputation for producing highly-educated graduates means your diploma or associate degree will give you a distinct advantage in a competitive workplace.The University of Northwestern Ohio invented the high performance/motorsports program in 1992 and has been training students with the latest technology available in the industry since.
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.
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.