Rainy Weather Forces Cancellation at Mercer - Event Re-Scheduled
(5-11-13) 11:20 A.M.
Today's UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions event at Mercer Raceway Park has been cancelled due to rainy weather. It rained throughout the morning at Mercer Raceway Park after having received a significant amount of rain on Friday night, acording to Mercer Raceway Park Officials. The event has been re-scheduled for Saturday July 6th. The UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action next Saturday - May 18th at I-77 Raceway Park in Ripley, WV to resume Ohio Region Competition. For more information visit www.allstarsprint.com or www.racei77.com
Rain Forces Cancellation at Lernerville
Tonight's race at Lernerville Speedway has been cancelled due to heavy and continual rain. A re-schedule date will be announced at a later time. Join us tomorrow, Saturday May 11th at Mercer Raceway Park as the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions return to Ohio Region Competition. For more information visit www.mercerracewaypark.com or www.allstarsprint.com
UNOH All Stars prepared for Western Pennsylvania challenge
CAMARGO, IL (5-8-13) By Brian Liskai – If the results from this past weekend are any indication, the teams of the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions are more than ready to battle the regional drivers of Western Pennsylvania on Friday, May 10 at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, May 11.
During this past weekend, several of the UNOH All Star teams tuned up for the big weekend during regular weekly events at the two tracks. On Friday, May 3, former Lernerville track champion Danny Holtgraver, who sits fourth in the UNOH All Star national points, looked to have the feature in hand at his home track. But, it was UNOH All Star regular Cap Henry, who is third in the series’ national points, who got around Holtgraver late in the feature and scored his second ever 410 sprint win.
Not to be outdone, the following night, Holtgraver held off Henry for the win at Mercer Raceway Park.
But, things won’t be easy for the two young chargers, as they will have to face former Lernerville champions Dale Blaney and Tim Shaffer this time around.
Blaney has one All Star win this season, coming last month at Attica Raceway Park, the 94th of his career with the series. Blaney, who leads the national, eastern and Ohio region All Star points, is a three time series champion and scored the Steel City Stampede win at Lernerville on April 14.
Shaffer, another former Lernerville champion, has been held winless in series competition so far in 2013. “The Steel City Outlaw” has scored the last four straight UNOH All Star championships and has 51 career series wins. Shaffer did record a win at Fremont Speedway during weekly competition last month. He sits second in the All Star national points and fourth in the Ohio region standings.
Jack Sodeman Jr. has scored the only other win at Lernerville Speedway this season. Eric Williams leads the track’s points over Sodeman, Brandon Spithaler, Dan Kuriger and Dan Shetler.
Brandon Spithaler has scored the only other win at Mercer Raceway Park this season. Sodeman leads the track’s points over Scott Priester, Williams, Kuriger and Bill Jones Jr.
Look for locals like Brandon Matus, Brian Ellenberger, Brent Matus, Jimmy Light. Adam Kekich, Dennis Wagner, Rod George, Carl Bowser and a host of others to challenge the UNOH All invaders. Other young, up-and-comers for the UNOH All Stars include Caleb Helms of Findlay, Ohio, and Justin Henderson. Look for some of the Central Pennsylvania teams to possibly show up for the two shows such as Lance Dewease, Logan Schuchart, and outsiders like Danny Lasoski and Jac and Sheldon Haudenschild.
Last year at the early Mercer Raceway Park, Shaffer scored the win over Holtgraver, Blaney, Ed Lynch Jr. and Henry. Then in August for the 23rd Western Pennsylvania Championship at Mercer, Daryn Pittman took the win over Holtgraver, Shaffer, Blaney and George.
During the August race in 2012 at Lernerville, Holtgraver would score the win over Shaffer, Henry, Stevie Smith and Ellenberger.
Doug Esh Defeats UNOH All Stars in Rich Weikert Memorial at Port Royal
PORT ROYAL, PA. (4-29-2013) By Brian Liskai – Doug Esh loves the challenge of a big race.
The ingredients were there for him Saturday at the 10th Annual Bob Weikert Memorial at Port Royal Speedway - a huge crowd, some of the best race drivers in the country; the PA Posse verses the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions, and the possibility of a very rich payday.
Esh has won several big races during his career at Port Royal including two Tuscarora 50 victories. He added another one to that list Saturday, driving by NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Brad Sweet to claim the hefty $12,200 prize.
“I felt pretty good in the dash and we did a bunch of things to the car and actually changed back,” said Esh beside his Tom and Fran Chiappelli owned #98.
“There was some tough competition up front there. We started going and Brad Sweet started hanging a little bit and we about got in trouble down there in four. I got to lapped traffic and we were way more maneuverable than those guys,” added Esh about his Golden Flavor Sesame Sticks/Macri Concrete/Leach’s Automotive/Keystate Transport backed machine. “I wanted to win this for Pennsylvania guys and I didn’t have much help up there. We got it done and PA Posse stands victorious against the All Stars once again.”
Grass Valley, California’s Brad Sweet, piloting a Kasey Kahne Racing machine, earned the pole for the 30-lap Weikert Memorial main, flanked by four time and defending UNOH All Star champion Tim Shaffer. All Star regular Cap Henry and Esh lined up in row two.
When the green dropped, Sweet took the lead over Shaffer and Esh. After running the bottom early, Sweet changed lanes abruptly to the cushion to try to hold off a charging Shaffer but bobbled in the top groove, allowing “The Steel City Outlaw’ to pass on lap six for the lead.
The leaders were setting a blistering pace on the fast surface which saw five drivers surpass the track record during qualifications. Shaffer entered lapped traffic on the seventh circuit while Sweet and Esh stayed close. Esh, who recorded a regular season win at Port Royal earlier this year, was blasting around the top of the speedway and made an impressive pass of both Sweet and Shaffer on the ninth tour to take command.
Sweet got back around Shaffer a lap later just before the caution would appear for a lapped Ryan Taylor who spun on the backstretch in front of Shaffer who looped his car in an effort to avoid heavy contact. That would advance three time All Star champion and current series point leader Dale Blaney to third for the restart.
When the green came back out, California’s Tim Kaeding, who has three World of Outlaw wins this season, rolled to a stop on the front chute. Only one more lap could be completed before another caution for defending Weikert Memorial winner Greg Hodnett, with series officials calling for a refueling stop.
During the stoppage, the crowd was abuzz about the progress of Kyle Larson, who has USAC, World of Outlaw and All Star wins along with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win and several top five runs in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The California driver was already up to ninth after starting 22nd in the field. He would blast by Lance Dewease and Mike Wagner when action resumed and was challenging Steve Buckwalter for sixth on the 16th lap when he spun in turn four after having a piece of debris lodge in his brakes, rendering them inoperable.
When the green reappeared, Esh took off with Sweet and Blaney in tow while Danny Lasoski drove by Henry for fourth. Esh would hit lapped traffic again with seven laps to go, allowing Sweet to close. With two laps to go, Esh slipped up over the cushion in the second corner and again in turn four, as Sweet ran right on his rear bumper. But, Esh was able to keep his composure and drove to his second career UNOH All Star win, taking home $12,200 including lap money, which was posted at $100 each.
Sweet would come home second in his Ollie’s Bargain Outlet/Team ASE/Sage backed machine, pleased with his effort after never seeing Port Royal Speedway before the night’s racing. He took home an additional $500 in lap money.
Blaney would finish third followed by Lasoski and Henry.
“We’re always good at the Port. I think we have top three finishes the last five All Star races here. We qualified well and had a good heat and that put us in a position to do well in the feature. I think Shaffer had a top three car and just got caught up with a lapped car. I don’t know if I could have gotten him or not. But, it was a good weekend for the All Star guys against the Posse,” said Blaney beside his Ti22 performance backed #2. “We head to Eldora next weekend and hopefully have a good showing against the Outlaws”
Qualifications for the Weikert Memorial saw five drivers break the one lap track record set earlier this season by Mike Erdley. Logan Schuchart, driving a replica Weikert’s Livestock #29 sprinter, ended up setting the new record of 15.376 and took home $200 for the effort. The other four drivers under Erdley’s previous track record of 15.634 were Danny Holtgraver, Sweet, Shaffer and Esh.
2013 Bob Weikert Memorial Sponsors: Weikert’s Livestock, Fairfield, PA; TBK Installations, Fairfield, PA; Cin-Tash Properties LLC., Fairfield, PA; 21 Feeders, Allen, KS.; Holtapp Trucking, Pomeroy, IA.; DF Bryant Trucking, Fairfield, PA.; Heritage Cattle Inc., Garden City, KS.; Seth Snyder – Stone Ridge Manor, Gettysburg, PA; Flying W Express Inc., Fairfield, PA.; Nicholas Meats, Loganton, PA; Bill & Bonnie McLeod – Antelope Springs Ranch, Blackwell, TX; Puckett Livestock, Brookneal, VA.; JAB Livestock, Jersey Shore, PA.; Scott’s Body Shop, Gettysburg, PA.; Jason Roth Cattle Co., Fresno, CA.; Dennis & Teresa Roth – Roth Motorsports, Fresno, CA.; Hy-Plains Feedyard, LLC., Montezuma, KS.; Minnix Cattle Company LLC., Buchanan, VA.; Folkens Brothers Hauling, Lester, IA; Steven K Bierly Trucking, Mill Hall, PA; Virginia Cattle Co. – Gary Vance, Moorefield, WV; South Branch Valley Livestock – Gary Vance, Moorefield, WV; Greencastle Livestock Market Inc., Greencastle, PA; Miller & Associates Real Estate, LLC. – Marty Miller, Gettysburg, PA; Upper Marsh Creek Farm, Orrtanna, PA; Virginia Livestock, Front Royal, VA; JW Treuth & Sons, Baltimore, MD.; Roadcap Livestock, Quicksburg, VA; S & G Express, Herndon, PA.; Wayne F. Craig & Sons Livestock, Shippensburg, PA.; Richard Grim Trucking, Gettysburg, PA; Mik Vis, Valley Springs, SD; Gary Dennis, Biglerville, PA; S & B Livestock Dealer Inc., Herndon, PA., Omaha Commodities, Omaha, NE.
Kreitz of Old Defeats UNOH All Stars at Williams Grove
MECHANICSBURG, PA. (4-26-2013) – By Brian Liskai - When a dirt track’s racing surface is heavy and wet, it’s often the younger driver who show case their talents. But, when a track surface gets wide and slick like it did Friday at Williams Grove Speedway, it’s veterans like Don Kreitz Jr. who show they can still be tough to beat.
The Sinking Spring, Pa. resident ran the inside groove to perfection and would drive from his 10th starting spot to grab the lead from Fred Rahmer on lap 12 and go on to record his seventh career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victory. Kreitz has been running a limited schedule over the past few years, focusing mainly on Williams Grove Speedway. In fact, Friday’s UNOH All Star win is his first with the series since 1999.
“It was a great race for us. Davey (Brown) and the guys made a lot of changes from the heat race and had the car really hooked-up. He’s a big part of the team. He still does the engines and set-up on the car,” said Kreitz beside his Henry R. Sherman Builders, Kreitz Oval Track Parts/RV Workshop.com/Schannauer #69k.
Kreitz sliced through the field from his fifth row starting spot to grab third from four time UNOH All Star champion Tim Shaffer with 11 laps completed. Rahmer, who has been hot so far this season in his new Rob Sell owned team, had started on the pole and after trading the lead with Shaffer early in the 30-lap feature, was fending off Jac Haudenschild for the lead as Kreitz took third. Kreitz would get under “The Wild Child” for second off turn two and then slipped under Rahmer in turns three and four to grab the lead on lap 12.
“I just caught the leaders right,” said Kreitz. “They didn’t know the bottom was coming in and our car was really dialed-in there early and left us getup through.”
After taking the lead, Kreitz would build a big advantage in a race that had only one caution – that coming on lap 14. Kreitz would catch lapped traffic with a seven laps to go and Rahmer closed, but the bottom was the preferred groove and all Rahmer could do was follow Kreitz to the checkered.
“I didn’t want to chance going around them so I waited for them to make a mistake,” said Kreitz of the lapped traffic. “Fred would have deserved to win if he had drive around us. You’re always worried when you get into lapped cars.”
The victory was the 55th of Kreitz’ career at the Grove, to rank third on the track’s all-time win list. It was his first win at the track since September 2010.
“I haven’t won here in a little while and to get a win early here like this is good for our team,” said Kreitz, who was disqualified the last time he won an All Star race at the Grove in 2005 for being under weight.
For Rahmer, the second place run continues his early season great runs and keeps him in the William Grove Speedway points lead.
“Track took some rubber. But, I love these Hoosier tires…they have saved my ass,” said Rahmer beside his Don Ott Racing Engines/Triple X Racing/Art’s Radiator/TruLine Contractors/JM Bullion/Media Camping Center/Trevdan Building Supply/Blue Tree Landscaping/Aran Trading backed #20s. “Don was just too strong on the bottom.”
Shaffer, coming off an open competition win last week at Fremont Speedway, was confident the Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook Racing team has turned the corner and is set for a great season.
“We are communicating well and the driver isn’t screwing up,” joked Shaffer beside his Kistler Engines/J&J Auto Racing/ Weld Wheels/FK Rod Ends/VRP Shocks backed #83. “It was a good race…I may have started racing for the lead too early. But, hats off to Donnie…that’s the Donnie Kreitz of old. He put an ass-whopping to us.”
Shaffer’s third place run narrowed the gap in the UNOH All Star’s National points, moving him to within 27 of Dale Blaney for the lead. In the series’ Eastern Region, Shaffer climbed to within just 3 points of Blaney while Lance Dewease, a former Eastern Region champion and 6 time Williams Grove champion, closed to within 7 points of the lead with his fourth place run.
CAMARGO, Ill. (4-22-13) By Brian Liskai– You can’t blame the drivers of the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions if they are a little more excited than usual to head back to Central Pennsylvania. It’s no secret the UNOH All Star drivers have struggled against the tough competition of the drivers known as the “PA Posse.” But last fall, current UNOH All Star point leader Dale Blaney gave the series competitors a shot in the arm when he scored a victory against the Posse at Port Royal Speedway.
“We’re looking forward to going back to Central Pennsylvania…probably more so than we have in a long time. We finally got a win there last year and I have a lot of confidence. The guys have give me a fantastic car every race this year,” said Blaney, who also leads the All Star’s Eastern Region and Ohio Region points.
“I’ve never won at the Grove. I’ve run good there….have had some top five finished. I know we can do it. A lot of things will have to fall our way, but I’m confident we have the car and the team to get a win there,” added Blaney.
And why wouldn’t the UNOH All Star drivers feel confident? Blaney has a series win this season at Attica and recently scored an open win at Lernerville Speedway. Pennsylvania native Tim Shaffer, who has won the last four straight All Star Championships, is coming off an open win at Fremont Speedway. And, Pennsylvania resident Danny Holtgraver scored a win in February in one of the biggest 360 sprint victories in the country and the new team has shown signs they will be a force to be reckoned with. Cap Henry nearly got his first All Star win at Attica last month and is coming off one of his most successful seasons with the All Stars.
The UNOH All Stars head to the famous Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. on Friday, April 26 and then head to the prestigious Bob Weikert Memorial at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, PA. Both events are point races for the UNOH All Star’s Eastern Region which will pay the champion at year’s end $20,000!
The Bob Weikert Memorial – run in honor of the late sprint car owner who fielded cars for some of the most famous drivers in the history of the sport, the famous Beefmobile #29 cars - has quickly become one of biggest races in the history of the track and All Stars over the past few years. This year will be no exception as the feature will pay the winner $10,000.
With a total A-main purse of over $34,000 along with nearly $4,000 in contingency cash to be distributed via lap money, heat wins, fast time award and more, Port Royal is sure to attract the region’s best drivers.
Last year at the Bob Weikert Memorial, Greg Hodnett pocketed $12,900 that included lap money. It was the second win in a row in the prestigious event for Hodnett and third overall. But, All Star regulars Danny Holtgraver and David Gravel completed the podium.
Again this year, each lap of the 30-lap Weikert feature will pay $100 to lead and fast time will be worth $200. Thanks to CRANKWERKZ, a feature hard charger will be awarded $100 to go along with the highest driver in Port Royal points that fails to qualify taking home $100. Each heat race will also pay $100 to win in memory of late motorsports journalist Jere Reigle.
But, while the UNOH All Stars have experienced success at Port Royal, they have yet to break through the win column at Williams Grove. Last year when the series visited the famous track in April, then high school senior Logan Schuchart, grandson of hall of famer Bobby Allen, scored his first ever All Star win and his first victory at the half-mile oval. He defeated Danny Dietrich and Donnie Kreitz. Schuchart is coming off his first career win last weekend at Lincoln Speedway.
Fred Rahmer and his new team have been on fire as of late as he leads the points at Williams Grove. Dietrich also has a win as does Cory Haas. Brian Montieth sits second in the track’s points with Kreitz, Lance Dewease and Ryan Taylor rounding out the top five.
After nearly a month off, the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions are ready to battle the PA Posse this coming weekend.
Go to www.allstarsprint.com for more information.
Blaney Starts All Star Season on a Hot Note
ATTICA, Ohio (3-31-13) By Brian Liskai - Saturday was a good day to be a Blaney.
Early on Saturday, Dave "The Buckeye Bullet" Blaney -- a regular with the NASCAR Sprint Cup series - scored the win at Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania. Not to be outdone, his brother, Dale "The Low Rider" Blaney held off a late race challenge from Sheldon Haudenschild to score his 94th career University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victory to open the track's 25th anniversary season on HD Supply/Construction Equipment and Supply Spring Nationals.
(3-28-13) 7:10 P.M. Due to inclement weather conditions, the races for Friday – March 29th at Attica Raceway Park have been cancelled. According to Attica Raceway Park Officials, they were unable to bring the track into racing condition therefore cancelling Friday’s event with the hope of having a great race track on Saturday. Pit Gates will open at 3:00 P.M. with racing getting underway at 7:00 P.M. For more information stay tuned to www.atticaracewaypark.com or www.allstarsprint.com.
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.
CAMARGO, IL (5-8-13) By Brian Liskai – If the results from this past weekend are any indication, the teams of the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions are more than ready to battle the regional drivers of Western Pennsylvania on Friday, May 10 at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, May 11.
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.