ATTICA, OH (4-30-10) by Bryan Autullo, FAST Public Relations
Phil "The Ohio Gasman" Gressman showed how he earned that nickname several years ago as he had his right foot hard on the throttle to win one of the most exciting races in recent memory at Attica Raceway Park. Gressman started on the outside of row 1, but it was anything but an easy victory. When the green flag dropped on the 30 lap Kistler Racing Products F.A.S.T. event, Gressman pulled out to a slight advantage over pole sitter Brock Mayes with Scott Euler and Brandon Martin close behind. Craig Mintz was already moving toward the front by lap 2 when Euler spun bringing out the first caution of the event.
Action was slowed again on lap 3 as Todd Kane and Kody Kinser got together on the back stretch. Kinser kept going as Kane nearly looped it out and cut across the infield. Kane was sent to the tail on the restart. Mintz moved into third before the yellow came out and was setting his sights on Mayes and Gressman when the green flag waved once again. Dean Jacobs got his car dialed in and was challenging for a Top 5 spot from his 12th starting position. By lap 6, Mintz drove past Mayes into 2nd and was challemging Gressman for the lead. Jacobs was advancing lap after lap and raced Brandon Martin for the 4th spot.
On lap 11, the action heated up as Mintz took the lead from Gressman going into turn 4, but Gressman rocketed back around him as they entered turn 2. Mintz held the point for a handful of laps until they entered traffic and Gressman threaded the needle as he shot between Mintz and the lapped car of Shawn Valenti going into turn 3. Gressman held onto the lead for the next few laps, but had his hands full with Mintz on his bumper. The two traded slide jobs and banged wheels for the next 10 laps exchanging the lead several times. Meanwhile, Byron Reed and Brock Mayes battled for the 3rd spot behind the leaders with Dean Jacobs stalking them both.
On lap 21, Mintz tried to go to the outside of Gressman coming off turn 4 and banged the front stretch wall hard. Mintz slowed on the back stretch and pulled into the pit area as Jody Keegan brought out a caution when he ended up backwards against the fence in turn 4. The restart lineup was Gressman, Mayes, Reed, Jacobs, Mark Keegan, and Martin. With Mayes and Reed looking strong early and Jacobs charging to the front, it looked to be the makings of a great 9 lap shootout to the checkers.
When the green flag waved, Gressman had a bumper full of Brock Mayes. On lap 22, Mayes took the lead on the back stretch, but Gressman took back the top spot at the flag stand. Lap 23 had the same result with Mayes leading off of turn 2 and Gressman taking the lead back in turn 4. With five laps to go, Mayes took the lead in turn 3, but Gressman again pulled in front at the flag stand. On the next lap, Mayes again pulled ahead in turn 3 and bobbled in turn 4 banging the cushion. He nearly made the same mistake Mintz had made earlier, but managed to keep the nose of the car off the front stretch wall while keeping the lead as they crossed the line, but Gressman put the slider on him again in turn 2. The crowd was on their feet as neither driver had any intention of lifting the throttle. With 2 laps to go, the final caution flag was waved for Kody Kinser. Dean Jacobs also pulled off with mechanical problems ending his great run.
On the restart, Gressman would lead Mayes and Reed to the green with Mark Keegan and Martin in the Top 5. Gressman drove hard into turn 1 with Mayes diving under him and pulling along side of him in turn 2, but Gressman was able to pull away slightly and Reed closed in on Mayes as Mark Keegan made it a 3 wide battle for the 2nd spot with one lap to go. Gressman went on to win as Reed edged out Mayes by half a nose wing at the line. Keegan came home in 4th and Bryan Sebetto caught Martin at the line to take 5th.
“That’s what you people spend your hard-earned dollars to see…a race like that,” said Gressman beside his Genzman Enterprises, Level Performance backed #53. “I kept searching around for a place on the track and every time I did someone was there to slide up in front of me. That was as an exciting, fun race as I’ve battled in for a long time. I have to thank De and Marilyn Genzman for everything they’ve done for me and my crew, Bill and Jamie and my dad…they have worked their tails off. I told them we've passed a lot of cars this year and if we ever get to start up front we’ll have something for them.”
Gressman went on to say, “We have dug ourselves a hole on this FAST (Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title) deal with some mechanical problems last week. And I can tell you the rest of these guys won’t lie down for us… this is some of the toughest competition you’ll find week in and week out so we’ll have to keep working hard if we’re going to challenge for that championship.”
David Harrison won the B-main in preliminary action while Dean Jacobs, Mark Keegan, and Lee Jacobs won their heat race events.
Kistler Racing Products FAST Night #3 - Attica Raceway Park - 4/30/2010
Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 97-Dean Jacobs; 2. 27-Scott Euler; 3. 4K-Kody Kinser; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes; 5. 28-Shawn Valenti; 6. 2+-Brian Smith; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 9. 11N-Ed Neumeister
Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 3. 28K-Todd Kane; 4. 11M-Brandon Martin; 5. 3J-Kevin Lee; 6. 26-Cody White; 7. 14H-Todd Heller; 8. 47-Caleb Helms; 9. 5T-Travis Philo; 10. 312-Mike Linder
Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 24H-Lee Jacobs; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 20X-Craig Mintz; 4. 53-Phil Gressman; 5. 15C-Chris Andrews; 6. 60-Jody Keegan; 7. 10-David Harrison; 8. 45-Rob Chaney; 9. O-Bill Morrison
B-Main - (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 10-David Harrison; 2. 14H-Todd Heller; 3. 60-Jody Keegan; 4. 45-Rob Chaney; 5. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 6. 47-Caleb Helms; 7. 5T-Travis Philo; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 9. 26-Cody White; 10. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 11. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 12. O-Bill Morrison; 13. 2+-Brian Smith
A-Main - (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 53-Phil Gressman[2]; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[9]; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes[1]; 4. X-Mark Keegan[10]; 5. 16-Bryan Sebetto[8]; 6. 11M-Brandon Martin[3]; 7. 10-David Harrison[16]; 8. 24H-Lee Jacobs[11]; 9. 15C-Chris Andrews[15]; 10. 4K-Kody Kinser[7]; 11. 3J-Kevin Lee[14]; 12. 14H-Todd Heller[17]; 13. 27-Scott Euler[4]; 14. 91-Aaron Middaugh[20]; 15. 28-Shawn Valenti[13]; 16. 97-Dean Jacobs[12]; 17. 20X-Craig Mintz[5]; 18. 60-Jody Keegan[18]; 19. 45-Rob Chaney[19]; 20. 28K-Todd Kane[6]
Night #3 FAST Special Award Winners:
Butlerbuilt B-Main Winner: #10 David Harrison
KSE Steering Hard Charger: #10 David Harrison
Weld Wheels Cool Move of the Race: #53 Phil Gressman
Hepfner Racing Products Tough Luck Award: #312 Mike Linder
Night #3 FAST A-Main Certificate Winners:
1st - Fuel Safe, Zemco Headers, Competition Suspension: #53 Phil Gressman
2nd - R2C Filters, Saldana Racing Products, Kinsler Injections: #5r Byron Reed
3rd - Ti22 Performance, Keizer Wheels, OC Shocks: #11b Brock Mayes
4th - Outerwears, King Racing Products: #X Mark Keegan
5th - DMI Race Components: #16 Bryan Sebetto
Visit www.fastondirt.com to find out more about the F.A.S.T. Championship Series, the drivers, the rules, the schedule, the sponsors, and more.
FAST on Dirt, Inc. would like to thank the following contributors to the 2010 FAST Championship Series point fund:
Kistler Racing Products, Engine Pro, JE/SRP Pistons, Design Graphics Group, Inc, KS Sales & Service, Engler Machine & Tool, Oliver Rods, Henry MotorSports Inc., J&F Construction, Black Swamp Media Group, MyHeroCards.com, Kears Speed Shop, Computer Man, Inc., SCS Gearbox, RockAuto.com, Hoserville Ohio, Hoseheads.com, Level Performance, R&R Auto Wrecking, Reebar Diecasting, The King's Den, FSR Radiator, Real Geese, Buckeye IT Services, High Vista Video, Racers Racing for a Cure, Gressman Powersports, NAPA (Bryan, OH), Gaerte Engines, Action Photos, PostNet (Fremont, OH), New York Life (Jeremy Shambaugh), Young's RV Center, October Hills Farms, and OC Shocks
Also, a very special thanks to all of our contingency award sponsors:
R2C Filters, Hepfner Racing Products, TQ Fiberglass, Fuel Safe, Racing Optics, Rocket Headers, Wings Unlimited, VRP Shocks, Kinsler Injections, RAM Engineering Midwest, PRO Shocks, ButlerBuilt, Zemco Headers, Kinser Filters, Outerwears, Inc, DMI Race Components, Keizer Wheels, Linders Speed Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, XXX Race Components, Randy's Racing Filters, Hinchman Indy Uniforms, King Racing Products, Golden Graphics, OC Shocks, Weld Wheels, KSE Steering, Competition Suspension, Inc, Ti22 Performance, All Pro Heads, FSR Radiator, Speed Meets Art, Productive Tools & Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Goofy Golf, African Safari, and Ghostly Manor
Phil "The Ohio Gasman" Gressman showed how he earned that nickname several years ago as he had his right foot hard on the throttle to win one of the most exciting races in recent memory at Attica Raceway Park. Gressman started on the outside of row 1, but it was anything but an easy victory. When the green flag dropped on the 30 lap Kistler Racing Products F.A.S.T. event, Gressman pulled out to a slight advantage over pole sitter Brock Mayes with Scott Euler and Brandon Martin close behind. Craig Mintz was already moving toward the front by lap 2 when Euler spun bringing out the first caution of the event.
Action was slowed again on lap 3 as Todd Kane and Kody Kinser got together on the back stretch. Kinser kept going as Kane nearly looped it out and cut across the infield. Kane was sent to the tail on the restart. Mintz moved into third before the yellow came out and was setting his sights on Mayes and Gressman when the green flag waved once again. Dean Jacobs got his car dialed in and was challenging for a Top 5 spot from his 12th starting position. By lap 6, Mintz drove past Mayes into 2nd and was challemging Gressman for the lead. Jacobs was advancing lap after lap and raced Brandon Martin for the 4th spot.
On lap 11, the action heated up as Mintz took the lead from Gressman going into turn 4, but Gressman rocketed back around him as they entered turn 2. Mintz held the point for a handful of laps until they entered traffic and Gressman threaded the needle as he shot between Mintz and the lapped car of Shawn Valenti going into turn 3. Gressman held onto the lead for the next few laps, but had his hands full with Mintz on his bumper. The two traded slide jobs and banged wheels for the next 10 laps exchanging the lead several times. Meanwhile, Byron Reed and Brock Mayes battled for the 3rd spot behind the leaders with Dean Jacobs stalking them both.
On lap 21, Mintz tried to go to the outside of Gressman coming off turn 4 and banged the front stretch wall hard. Mintz slowed on the back stretch and pulled into the pit area as Jody Keegan brought out a caution when he ended up backwards against the fence in turn 4. The restart lineup was Gressman, Mayes, Reed, Jacobs, Mark Keegan, and Martin. With Mayes and Reed looking strong early and Jacobs charging to the front, it looked to be the makings of a great 9 lap shootout to the checkers.
When the green flag waved, Gressman had a bumper full of Brock Mayes. On lap 22, Mayes took the lead on the back stretch, but Gressman took back the top spot at the flag stand. Lap 23 had the same result with Mayes leading off of turn 2 and Gressman taking the lead back in turn 4. With five laps to go, Mayes took the lead in turn 3, but Gressman again pulled in front at the flag stand. On the next lap, Mayes again pulled ahead in turn 3 and bobbled in turn 4 banging the cushion. He nearly made the same mistake Mintz had made earlier, but managed to keep the nose of the car off the front stretch wall while keeping the lead as they crossed the line, but Gressman put the slider on him again in turn 2. The crowd was on their feet as neither driver had any intention of lifting the throttle. With 2 laps to go, the final caution flag was waved for Kody Kinser. Dean Jacobs also pulled off with mechanical problems ending his great run.
On the restart, Gressman would lead Mayes and Reed to the green with Mark Keegan and Martin in the Top 5. Gressman drove hard into turn 1 with Mayes diving under him and pulling along side of him in turn 2, but Gressman was able to pull away slightly and Reed closed in on Mayes as Mark Keegan made it a 3 wide battle for the 2nd spot with one lap to go. Gressman went on to win as Reed edged out Mayes by half a nose wing at the line. Keegan came home in 4th and Bryan Sebetto caught Martin at the line to take 5th.
“That’s what you people spend your hard-earned dollars to see…a race like that,” said Gressman beside his Genzman Enterprises, Level Performance backed #53. “I kept searching around for a place on the track and every time I did someone was there to slide up in front of me. That was as an exciting, fun race as I’ve battled in for a long time. I have to thank De and Marilyn Genzman for everything they’ve done for me and my crew, Bill and Jamie and my dad…they have worked their tails off. I told them we've passed a lot of cars this year and if we ever get to start up front we’ll have something for them.”
Gressman went on to say, “We have dug ourselves a hole on this FAST (Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title) deal with some mechanical problems last week. And I can tell you the rest of these guys won’t lie down for us… this is some of the toughest competition you’ll find week in and week out so we’ll have to keep working hard if we’re going to challenge for that championship.”
David Harrison won the B-main in preliminary action while Dean Jacobs, Mark Keegan, and Lee Jacobs won their heat race events.
Kistler Racing Products FAST Night #3 - Attica Raceway Park - 4/30/2010
Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 97-Dean Jacobs; 2. 27-Scott Euler; 3. 4K-Kody Kinser; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes; 5. 28-Shawn Valenti; 6. 2+-Brian Smith; 7. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 9. 11N-Ed Neumeister
Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 3. 28K-Todd Kane; 4. 11M-Brandon Martin; 5. 3J-Kevin Lee; 6. 26-Cody White; 7. 14H-Todd Heller; 8. 47-Caleb Helms; 9. 5T-Travis Philo; 10. 312-Mike Linder
Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 24H-Lee Jacobs; 2. 5R-Byron Reed; 3. 20X-Craig Mintz; 4. 53-Phil Gressman; 5. 15C-Chris Andrews; 6. 60-Jody Keegan; 7. 10-David Harrison; 8. 45-Rob Chaney; 9. O-Bill Morrison
B-Main - (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 10-David Harrison; 2. 14H-Todd Heller; 3. 60-Jody Keegan; 4. 45-Rob Chaney; 5. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 6. 47-Caleb Helms; 7. 5T-Travis Philo; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 9. 26-Cody White; 10. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 11. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 12. O-Bill Morrison; 13. 2+-Brian Smith
A-Main - (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 53-Phil Gressman[2]; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[9]; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes[1]; 4. X-Mark Keegan[10]; 5. 16-Bryan Sebetto[8]; 6. 11M-Brandon Martin[3]; 7. 10-David Harrison[16]; 8. 24H-Lee Jacobs[11]; 9. 15C-Chris Andrews[15]; 10. 4K-Kody Kinser[7]; 11. 3J-Kevin Lee[14]; 12. 14H-Todd Heller[17]; 13. 27-Scott Euler[4]; 14. 91-Aaron Middaugh[20]; 15. 28-Shawn Valenti[13]; 16. 97-Dean Jacobs[12]; 17. 20X-Craig Mintz[5]; 18. 60-Jody Keegan[18]; 19. 45-Rob Chaney[19]; 20. 28K-Todd Kane[6]
Night #3 FAST Special Award Winners:
Butlerbuilt B-Main Winner: #10 David Harrison
KSE Steering Hard Charger: #10 David Harrison
Weld Wheels Cool Move of the Race: #53 Phil Gressman
Hepfner Racing Products Tough Luck Award: #312 Mike Linder
Night #3 FAST A-Main Certificate Winners:
1st - Fuel Safe, Zemco Headers, Competition Suspension: #53 Phil Gressman
2nd - R2C Filters, Saldana Racing Products, Kinsler Injections: #5r Byron Reed
3rd - Ti22 Performance, Keizer Wheels, OC Shocks: #11b Brock Mayes
4th - Outerwears, King Racing Products: #X Mark Keegan
5th - DMI Race Components: #16 Bryan Sebetto
Visit www.fastondirt.com to find out more about the F.A.S.T. Championship Series, the drivers, the rules, the schedule, the sponsors, and more.
FAST on Dirt, Inc. would like to thank the following contributors to the 2010 FAST Championship Series point fund:
Kistler Racing Products, Engine Pro, JE/SRP Pistons, Design Graphics Group, Inc, KS Sales & Service, Engler Machine & Tool, Oliver Rods, Henry MotorSports Inc., J&F Construction, Black Swamp Media Group, MyHeroCards.com, Kears Speed Shop, Computer Man, Inc., SCS Gearbox, RockAuto.com, Hoserville Ohio, Hoseheads.com, Level Performance, R&R Auto Wrecking, Reebar Diecasting, The King's Den, FSR Radiator, Real Geese, Buckeye IT Services, High Vista Video, Racers Racing for a Cure, Gressman Powersports, NAPA (Bryan, OH), Gaerte Engines, Action Photos, PostNet (Fremont, OH), New York Life (Jeremy Shambaugh), Young's RV Center, October Hills Farms, and OC Shocks
Also, a very special thanks to all of our contingency award sponsors:
R2C Filters, Hepfner Racing Products, TQ Fiberglass, Fuel Safe, Racing Optics, Rocket Headers, Wings Unlimited, VRP Shocks, Kinsler Injections, RAM Engineering Midwest, PRO Shocks, ButlerBuilt, Zemco Headers, Kinser Filters, Outerwears, Inc, DMI Race Components, Keizer Wheels, Linders Speed Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, XXX Race Components, Randy's Racing Filters, Hinchman Indy Uniforms, King Racing Products, Golden Graphics, OC Shocks, Weld Wheels, KSE Steering, Competition Suspension, Inc, Ti22 Performance, All Pro Heads, FSR Radiator, Speed Meets Art, Productive Tools & Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Goofy Golf, African Safari, and Ghostly Manor
