ATTICA, OH (5-4-07) The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions were ready for action after a two month layoff since last racing in Florida in February. The Attica Coors Light Spring Nationals were canceled due to cold and snow in early April and the event was split into two make up shows. The first of the two made for one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory as Brock Mayes held off a hard charging Byron Reed at the line for a margin of victory that amounted to the front bumper of Mayes’ car in the 40 lap event. The photo at the finish line was in high demand shortly after the race ended. It was almost too close to call, but Mayes came out on top for his first ever All Star win and only his second win in a 410 sprint.
The 2006 All Star Circuit of Champions points runner-up saw his former crew chief, Troy Psurny, decide to hang up his wrenches this week.
Coupled with his full-time job and having to prepare a race car, Mayes felt there would be little time to get ready for the Coors Light/Underground Utilities/Bazell Race Fuels Night at "Ohio's Finest Racing" venue. He enlisted the help of several friends and got the job done.
"My long-time crew chief decided to step back for awhile, and with my job...we can't race if we don't work...I didn't think we had time to get the car ready. Dad (Jim Mayes) and the rest of the guys rolled up their sleeves and convinced me we could do this and here we are," said a jubilant Mayes beside his J&F Construction, Oberlanders Tree Service sponsored #11B.
"We picked up our first 410 sprint win here last year and to score our first All Star win at Attica after traveling all over the past three years...it's something I'll never forget," continued Mayes, who began racing in the 305 sprint division several years ago at Attica.
There were 37 cars checked in to compete for an All Star victory on a cool and very windy night. The anticipation was high as Greg Wilson looked to defend his 2006 Championship against 16 All Star members and a host of local heroes. There were even a couple of surprise guests on hand as Chad Kemenah stopped by his home track due to a rain out by the World of Outlaws. Kenny “The Mouse” Jacobs made a triumphant return setting quick time for the night. Chris Knopp made the tow all the way from Central PA to test the waters for Ohio Speedweek and to get a taste of Ohio 410 racing.
Mark Keegan started the A-main from the pole, with outside front row starter Brandon Martin grabbing the lead at the green flag. Mayes, meanwhile, moved up from fourth to snare the lead on lap 11. Reed, who started seventh, was on the move and took over second on lap 13 and began chasing Mayes. Reed and Mayes raced side by side for several laps right before a slowing John Ivy brought out the caution on lap 24.
Wilson, now third, was off like a rocket after the restart and rode the high groove into second on lap 25 and he drove around Mayes to lead lap 26. Wilson and his “live or die by the high side” approach looked like a sure winner until he made contact with the turn four wall, bringing out the red flag on lap 35.
When the yellow replaced the red flag, and Mayes shoved off as the leader, he felt the right rear losing air. “I knew the right rear was going down and it was pushing so hard driving off the left rear. I kept thinking ‘I’m not gonna’ make it.’ Byron showed me his nose a few times and I made up my mind I wasn't coming off the bottom, that he would have to drive around me. I just had one foot on the throttle and one on the brake all the way down the straightaway to keep the car from driving across the track. It was a handful," Mayes added of his last five laps aboard the Henik Masonry/Kinn Brothers Heating & Cooling sprinter.
Mayes was now in the lead for the restart over Reed and 11th starting Shane Stewart. Mayes with a now obviously low tire, got a good restart to lead over Reed, who kept trying the middle groove while Mayes rode low. Reed went high off turn four on the last lap to try and slingshot around Mayes to win, but came up a bit short and the pair brushed wheels after crossing the finish line, flattening Reed’s left rear tire.
Keegan would storm back to finish third followed by Shane Stewart and 13th starting Chad Kemenah.
“I wanted it real bad, but you can’t win them all,” Reed said beside his Reebar Diecasting sponsored sprinter. “I knew Brock would race me clean.
This is a little different car and I think we're finally getting the hang of it."
Third place finisher Mark Keegan was happy with his night. “Whenever these guys come to town and you can run up front with them it’s a good thing and I’m happy with that,” said Keegan. “There’s a cushion up there, but there’s a fine line running on the cushion or running over the edge and Greg Wilson found that out tonight.”
Heat races were won by Dustin Daggett, Mike Linder, Caleb Griffith, and John Ivy. The All Star Dash as won by Brock Mayes followed by Greg Wilson, Rob Chaney, Byron Reed, Brandon Martin, and Kenny Jacobs.
All Star Rookie of the Year contenders Craig Mintz and Brian Paulus both had bad nights as Mintz blew a motor in his heat race and opted to head home to get the car ready for Eldora. Brian Paulus, starting on the second row of the B-main, got caught up in a spin by leader Chris Andrews on lap one and Bruce Robenalt flipped into the spinning Who Monster #28 ending his evening. Tiffany Wyzard and Tom Busch were not in attendance.
O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions - Statistical Report Attica Raceway Park - May 4, 2007
Qualifying - Huggins Cams
1. 8J-Kenny Jacobs, 11.801; 2. W20-Greg Wilson, 11.925; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes, 12.036; 4. 24-Rob Chaney, 12.060; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin, 12.078; 6. X-Mark Keegan, 12.088; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews, 12.268; 8. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.286; 9. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.287; 10. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 12.301; 11. 16J-Lee Jacobs, 12.362; 12. 8H-Shane Stewart, 12.370; 13.
4-Danny Smith, 12.380; 14. 3X-Chad Kemenah, 12.387; 15. 1W-Paul Weaver, 12.406; 16. 28-Brian Paulus, 12.419; 17. 2M-Dusin Daggett, 12.451; 18.
11N-Ed Neumeister, 12.491; 19. 6-Bill Rose, 12.523; 20. 53-John Ivy, 12.535; 21. 98-Bruce Robenalt, 12.544; 22. 3L-Mike Linder, 12.564; 23.
12-Caleb Griffith, 12.624; 24. 4K-Kelly Kinser, 12.641; 25. O-Gus Wasson, 12.765; 26. 6K-Chris Knopp, 12.821; 27. 10-David Harrison, 12.821; 28. 71M-Paul May, 12.854; 29. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.874; 30.
14H-Todd Heller, 12.949; 31. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 13.030; 32. 3T-Tony Beaber, 13.175; 33. 48S-Andy Shammo, 13.235; 34. 16-Lee Stark, 13.239; 35. 31-Chuck Wilson, 13.339; 36. 27-Cody Jacobs, 14.332; 37. 48-Mike Burkin, 14.360
Heat 1 - Crown Battery (top 5 to A)
1. 2M-Dusin Daggett; 2. 8J-Kenny Jacobs; 3. 2-Dale Blaney; 4. 4-Danny Smith; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin; 6. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 7. O-Gus Wasson; 8.
48S-Andy Shammo; 9. 48-Mike Burkin; 10. O9-Craig Mintz
Heat 2 - Hoosier Racing Tire (top 5 to A) 1. 3L-Mike Linder; 2. 3X-Chad Kemenah; 3. X-Mark Keegan; 4. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 5. W20-Greg Wilson; 6. 14H-Todd Heller; 7. 6K-Chris Knopp; 8. 16-Lee Stark; 9. 11N-Ed Neumeister
Heat 3 - Engler Machine & Tool (top 5 to A) 1. 12-Caleb Griffith; 2. 6-Bill Rose; 3. 16J-Lee Jacobs; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver; 6. 31-Chuck Wilson; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8.
10-David Harrison; 9. 15C-Chris Andrews
Heat 4 - Taylor Wings (top 5 to A)
1. 53-John Ivy; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 4K-Kelly Kinser; 4. 8H-Shane Stewart; 5. 24-Rob Chaney; 6. 28-Brian Paulus; 7. 71M-Paul May; 8.
3T-Tony Beaber; 9. 27-Cody Jacobs
Dash - Haulmark
1. 11B-Brock Mayes; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 24-Rob Chaney; 4. 5R-Byron Reed; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin; 6. 8J-Kenny Jacobs
B-main - University of Northwest Ohio (top 4 to A) 1. O-Gus Wasson; 2. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 3. 71M-Paul May; 4. 6K-Chris Knopp; 5. 31-Chuck Wilson; 6. 10-David Harrison; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. 16-Lee Stark; 9. 3T-Tony Beaber; 10. 48-Mike Burkin; 11. 27-Cody Jacobs; 12. 48S-Andy Shammo; 13. 14H-Todd Heller; 14. 15C-Chris Andrews; 15. 28-Brian Paulus; 16. 98-Bruce Robenalt
A-main - MSD Ignition -- Starting Position [#] - 40 laps 1. 11B-Brock Mayes[4]; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[7]; 3. X-Mark Keegan[1]; 4.
8H-Shane Stewart[11]; 5. 3X-Chad Kemenah[13]; 6. 4-Danny Smith[12]; 7.
8J-Kenny Jacobs[6]; 8. 12-Caleb Griffith[20]; 9. 2M-Dusin Daggett[15]; 10. 11M-Brandon Martin[2]; 11. O-Gus Wasson[22]; 12. 53-John Ivy[18]; 13. 24-Rob Chaney[3]; 14. 16J-Lee Jacobs[10]; 15. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[9]; 16. 6-Bill Rose[17]; 17. 71M-Paul May[24]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson[5]; 19. 2-Dale Blaney[8]; 20. 3L-Mike Linder[19]; 21. 6K-Chris Knopp[23]; 22. 11N-Ed Neumeister[16]; 23. 1W-Paul Weaver[14]; 24.
4K-Kelly Kinser[21]
The 2006 All Star Circuit of Champions points runner-up saw his former crew chief, Troy Psurny, decide to hang up his wrenches this week.
Coupled with his full-time job and having to prepare a race car, Mayes felt there would be little time to get ready for the Coors Light/Underground Utilities/Bazell Race Fuels Night at "Ohio's Finest Racing" venue. He enlisted the help of several friends and got the job done.
"My long-time crew chief decided to step back for awhile, and with my job...we can't race if we don't work...I didn't think we had time to get the car ready. Dad (Jim Mayes) and the rest of the guys rolled up their sleeves and convinced me we could do this and here we are," said a jubilant Mayes beside his J&F Construction, Oberlanders Tree Service sponsored #11B.
"We picked up our first 410 sprint win here last year and to score our first All Star win at Attica after traveling all over the past three years...it's something I'll never forget," continued Mayes, who began racing in the 305 sprint division several years ago at Attica.
There were 37 cars checked in to compete for an All Star victory on a cool and very windy night. The anticipation was high as Greg Wilson looked to defend his 2006 Championship against 16 All Star members and a host of local heroes. There were even a couple of surprise guests on hand as Chad Kemenah stopped by his home track due to a rain out by the World of Outlaws. Kenny “The Mouse” Jacobs made a triumphant return setting quick time for the night. Chris Knopp made the tow all the way from Central PA to test the waters for Ohio Speedweek and to get a taste of Ohio 410 racing.
Mark Keegan started the A-main from the pole, with outside front row starter Brandon Martin grabbing the lead at the green flag. Mayes, meanwhile, moved up from fourth to snare the lead on lap 11. Reed, who started seventh, was on the move and took over second on lap 13 and began chasing Mayes. Reed and Mayes raced side by side for several laps right before a slowing John Ivy brought out the caution on lap 24.
Wilson, now third, was off like a rocket after the restart and rode the high groove into second on lap 25 and he drove around Mayes to lead lap 26. Wilson and his “live or die by the high side” approach looked like a sure winner until he made contact with the turn four wall, bringing out the red flag on lap 35.
When the yellow replaced the red flag, and Mayes shoved off as the leader, he felt the right rear losing air. “I knew the right rear was going down and it was pushing so hard driving off the left rear. I kept thinking ‘I’m not gonna’ make it.’ Byron showed me his nose a few times and I made up my mind I wasn't coming off the bottom, that he would have to drive around me. I just had one foot on the throttle and one on the brake all the way down the straightaway to keep the car from driving across the track. It was a handful," Mayes added of his last five laps aboard the Henik Masonry/Kinn Brothers Heating & Cooling sprinter.
Mayes was now in the lead for the restart over Reed and 11th starting Shane Stewart. Mayes with a now obviously low tire, got a good restart to lead over Reed, who kept trying the middle groove while Mayes rode low. Reed went high off turn four on the last lap to try and slingshot around Mayes to win, but came up a bit short and the pair brushed wheels after crossing the finish line, flattening Reed’s left rear tire.
Keegan would storm back to finish third followed by Shane Stewart and 13th starting Chad Kemenah.
“I wanted it real bad, but you can’t win them all,” Reed said beside his Reebar Diecasting sponsored sprinter. “I knew Brock would race me clean.
This is a little different car and I think we're finally getting the hang of it."
Third place finisher Mark Keegan was happy with his night. “Whenever these guys come to town and you can run up front with them it’s a good thing and I’m happy with that,” said Keegan. “There’s a cushion up there, but there’s a fine line running on the cushion or running over the edge and Greg Wilson found that out tonight.”
Heat races were won by Dustin Daggett, Mike Linder, Caleb Griffith, and John Ivy. The All Star Dash as won by Brock Mayes followed by Greg Wilson, Rob Chaney, Byron Reed, Brandon Martin, and Kenny Jacobs.
All Star Rookie of the Year contenders Craig Mintz and Brian Paulus both had bad nights as Mintz blew a motor in his heat race and opted to head home to get the car ready for Eldora. Brian Paulus, starting on the second row of the B-main, got caught up in a spin by leader Chris Andrews on lap one and Bruce Robenalt flipped into the spinning Who Monster #28 ending his evening. Tiffany Wyzard and Tom Busch were not in attendance.
O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions - Statistical Report Attica Raceway Park - May 4, 2007
Qualifying - Huggins Cams
1. 8J-Kenny Jacobs, 11.801; 2. W20-Greg Wilson, 11.925; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes, 12.036; 4. 24-Rob Chaney, 12.060; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin, 12.078; 6. X-Mark Keegan, 12.088; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews, 12.268; 8. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.286; 9. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.287; 10. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 12.301; 11. 16J-Lee Jacobs, 12.362; 12. 8H-Shane Stewart, 12.370; 13.
4-Danny Smith, 12.380; 14. 3X-Chad Kemenah, 12.387; 15. 1W-Paul Weaver, 12.406; 16. 28-Brian Paulus, 12.419; 17. 2M-Dusin Daggett, 12.451; 18.
11N-Ed Neumeister, 12.491; 19. 6-Bill Rose, 12.523; 20. 53-John Ivy, 12.535; 21. 98-Bruce Robenalt, 12.544; 22. 3L-Mike Linder, 12.564; 23.
12-Caleb Griffith, 12.624; 24. 4K-Kelly Kinser, 12.641; 25. O-Gus Wasson, 12.765; 26. 6K-Chris Knopp, 12.821; 27. 10-David Harrison, 12.821; 28. 71M-Paul May, 12.854; 29. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.874; 30.
14H-Todd Heller, 12.949; 31. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 13.030; 32. 3T-Tony Beaber, 13.175; 33. 48S-Andy Shammo, 13.235; 34. 16-Lee Stark, 13.239; 35. 31-Chuck Wilson, 13.339; 36. 27-Cody Jacobs, 14.332; 37. 48-Mike Burkin, 14.360
Heat 1 - Crown Battery (top 5 to A)
1. 2M-Dusin Daggett; 2. 8J-Kenny Jacobs; 3. 2-Dale Blaney; 4. 4-Danny Smith; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin; 6. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 7. O-Gus Wasson; 8.
48S-Andy Shammo; 9. 48-Mike Burkin; 10. O9-Craig Mintz
Heat 2 - Hoosier Racing Tire (top 5 to A) 1. 3L-Mike Linder; 2. 3X-Chad Kemenah; 3. X-Mark Keegan; 4. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 5. W20-Greg Wilson; 6. 14H-Todd Heller; 7. 6K-Chris Knopp; 8. 16-Lee Stark; 9. 11N-Ed Neumeister
Heat 3 - Engler Machine & Tool (top 5 to A) 1. 12-Caleb Griffith; 2. 6-Bill Rose; 3. 16J-Lee Jacobs; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver; 6. 31-Chuck Wilson; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8.
10-David Harrison; 9. 15C-Chris Andrews
Heat 4 - Taylor Wings (top 5 to A)
1. 53-John Ivy; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 4K-Kelly Kinser; 4. 8H-Shane Stewart; 5. 24-Rob Chaney; 6. 28-Brian Paulus; 7. 71M-Paul May; 8.
3T-Tony Beaber; 9. 27-Cody Jacobs
Dash - Haulmark
1. 11B-Brock Mayes; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 24-Rob Chaney; 4. 5R-Byron Reed; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin; 6. 8J-Kenny Jacobs
B-main - University of Northwest Ohio (top 4 to A) 1. O-Gus Wasson; 2. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 3. 71M-Paul May; 4. 6K-Chris Knopp; 5. 31-Chuck Wilson; 6. 10-David Harrison; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. 16-Lee Stark; 9. 3T-Tony Beaber; 10. 48-Mike Burkin; 11. 27-Cody Jacobs; 12. 48S-Andy Shammo; 13. 14H-Todd Heller; 14. 15C-Chris Andrews; 15. 28-Brian Paulus; 16. 98-Bruce Robenalt
A-main - MSD Ignition -- Starting Position [#] - 40 laps 1. 11B-Brock Mayes[4]; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[7]; 3. X-Mark Keegan[1]; 4.
8H-Shane Stewart[11]; 5. 3X-Chad Kemenah[13]; 6. 4-Danny Smith[12]; 7.
8J-Kenny Jacobs[6]; 8. 12-Caleb Griffith[20]; 9. 2M-Dusin Daggett[15]; 10. 11M-Brandon Martin[2]; 11. O-Gus Wasson[22]; 12. 53-John Ivy[18]; 13. 24-Rob Chaney[3]; 14. 16J-Lee Jacobs[10]; 15. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[9]; 16. 6-Bill Rose[17]; 17. 71M-Paul May[24]; 18. W20-Greg Wilson[5]; 19. 2-Dale Blaney[8]; 20. 3L-Mike Linder[19]; 21. 6K-Chris Knopp[23]; 22. 11N-Ed Neumeister[16]; 23. 1W-Paul Weaver[14]; 24.
4K-Kelly Kinser[21]
