Camargo, IL (5-10-09) by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director – After his victory last night at Port Royal, Stevie Smith was clearly the favorite going into tonight’s main event. Smith did not disappoint as he wrote his name and with an exclamation mark in the history books as the 7th winner of the Bob Weikert Memorial.
As a result of finishing in the top-four in last night’s event at Port Royal Smith, Todd Shaffer, Mike Erdley and Alan Cole were locked into tonight’s feature event. On the front row at the drop of the Green Flag was Smith with All Star Veteran Dale Blaney by his side. Smith made quick work of Blaney, grabbing the lead in the low line going into Turn 1. Blaney countered taking the high line around the course.
On Lap 2 Blaney answered Smith’s challenge when he got around him in Turn 2. In the tracks of the dueling duo were Cole, Kevin Nouse, and Mike Erdley. By Lap 6 Smith had reeled in Blaney and was able to steal the lead from him just as the two crossed the start/finish line.
The first Yellow Flag flew just as the leaders were beginning to get into lapped traffic. As Smith was trying catching Pat Cannon to put a lap on him, the 17 car broke loose in Turn 3 and spun in front of Smith forcing him to take evasive action. When the Green Flag was shown to the field again it was short lived as Ryan Bunton’s 6r began to limp on course with a flat left rear tire.
On the restart, Smith dashed into the first corner with Blaney in his tracks, but Smith was able to put some distance between his 1 and Blaney’s 2 car. It was déjà vu on Lap 14 when the yellow banner was unfurled again as Cannon looped the 17 car around in Turn 2. Although this time Ryan Bunton got caught up in the incident and it ended both of their nights.
When the race resumed Smith continued to hold on to the top spot until there was another pause in the racing action a few laps later. In Turn 4, the 88 of Todd Shaffer and 22 of Greg Hodnett made contact and the 15 of Adam Wilt spun to miss the tangled cars. This ended the night for Hodnett, but Shaffer and Wilt continued at the back of the field.
In the closing laps of the event, Smith and Blaney continued their rivalry: PA Posse versus All Star. Blaney was able to close in on Smith several times, but at the end lapped traffic was a factor. With the Checkered Flag flying in the air it was Smith who passed under it first by several car lengths over Blaney. Cole, Nouse and Erdley would round out the top-five.
This was Smith’s ninth All Star victory and his first win in the Bob Weikert Memorial. Tonight he added his name and will forever be listed with event winners Fred Rahmer, Todd Shaffer, Lance Dewease, Greg Hodnett, and Jeff Shepard.
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action at Lowes Motor Speedway on May 22. For the most up to date information on the All Star Circuit of Champions bookmark www.allstarsprint.com on your computer.
Kistler Engines Qualifying
Note: As per the finish last night the following cars were locked in tonight’s feature – 1 Stevie Smith, 88 Todd Shaffer, 11e Mike Erdley, and 35 Alan Cole.
Car-Driver-Time
1. 55 Mike Wagner – 18.295
2. 2 Dale Blaney – 18.433
3. 89 Cody Darrah – 18.468
4. 6 Kevin Nouse – 18.480
5. 15 Adam Wilt – 18.692
6. W20 Greg Wilson – 18.697
7. 75 Dave Ely – 18.730
8. 22 Greg Hodnett – 18.762
9. 56r Ryan Myers – 18.814
10. 83 Tim Shaffer – 18.860
11. 39 Doug Esh – 18.975
12. 87 Alan Krimes – 19.014
13. 30c Lance Dewease – 19.105
14. 71 Brian Leppo – 19.183
15. 89g Dave Gravel – 19.384
16. 17 Pat Cannon – 19.472
17. 6r Ryan Bunton – 19.602
18. 7m Mark Smith – 19.660
19. 51 Fred Rahmer – 19.660
20. 92 Daron Clayton - 19.725
21. 25 Daryn Pittman – 19.757
22. 19h Jeff Van Dusen – 19.803
23. 0 Chris Wimmer 19.848
24. 16 Cliff Brian – 19.922
25. 11t TJ Winegardner – 20.047
26. 44 Joey Hersey – 20.253
27. 25o Aaron Ott – 20.309
28. 33 Brian Ehrenzeller – 20.333
Heat Finishes (Started)
Heat 1 –8 Laps
1. 55 Mike Wagner (4)
2. 30c Lance Dewease (1)
3. 56r Ryan Myers (2)
4. 15 Adam Wilt (3)
5. 6r Ryan Bunton (5)
6. 16 Cliff Brian (7)
7. 92 Daron Clayton (6)
8. 33 Brian Ehrenzeller (8)
Heat 2 – 8 Laps
1. 83 Tim Shaffer (2)
2. 2 Dale Blaney (4)
3. 71 Brian Leppo (1)
4. 25 Daryn Pittman (6)
5. 7m Mark Smith (5)
6. W20 Greg Wilson (3)
7. 11t TJ Winegardner (7)
Heat 3 – 8 Laps
1. 39 Doug Esh (2)
2. 75 Dave Ely (3)
3. 89 Cody Darrah (4)
4. 89g David Gravel (1)
5. 51 Fred Rahmer (5)
6. 44 Joey Hersey (7)
7. 19h Jeff Van Dusen (6)
Heat 4 – 8 Laps
1. 17 Pat Cannon (1)
2. 87 Alan Krimes (2)
3. 22 Greg Hodnett (3)
4. 6 Kevin Nouse (4)
5. 7 Keith Kauffman (5)
6. 0 Brandon Wimmer (6)
7. 25o Aaron Ott (7)
B Main – 12 Laps
1. W20 Greg Wilson (1)
2. 6r Ryan Bunton (2)
3. 7m Mark Smith (3)
4. 0 Brandon Wimmer (7)
5. 7 Keith Kauffman (5)
6. 16 Cliff Brian (8)
7. 11t TJ Winegardner (9)
8. 44 Joey Hershey (10)
9. 33 Brian Ehrenzeller DNS
10. 92 Daron Clayton DNS
11. 51 Fred Rahmer DNS
A Main – 30 Laps
1. 1 Stevie Smith (1)
2. 2 Dale Blaney (2)
3. 35 Alan Cole (3)
4. 6 Kevin Nouse (4)
5. 11e Mike Erdley (5)
6. 89 Cody Darrah (6)
7. 55 Mike Wagner (7)
8. W20 Greg Wilson (11)
9. 83 Tim Shaffer (14)
10. 75 Dave Ely (10)
11. 39 Doug Esh (15)
12. 87 Alan Krimes (16)
13. 56r Ryan Myers (13)
14. 25 Daryn Pittman (23)
15. 0 Brandon Wimmer (24)
16. 71 Brian Leppo (18)
17. 88 Todd Shaffer (8)
18. 15 Adam Wilt (9)
19. 89g David Gravel (19)
20. 22 Greg Hodnett (12)
21. 17 Pat Cannon (20)
22. 6r Ryan Bunton (21)
23. 7m Mark Smith (22)
24. 30c Lance Dewease (17)
As a result of finishing in the top-four in last night’s event at Port Royal Smith, Todd Shaffer, Mike Erdley and Alan Cole were locked into tonight’s feature event. On the front row at the drop of the Green Flag was Smith with All Star Veteran Dale Blaney by his side. Smith made quick work of Blaney, grabbing the lead in the low line going into Turn 1. Blaney countered taking the high line around the course.
On Lap 2 Blaney answered Smith’s challenge when he got around him in Turn 2. In the tracks of the dueling duo were Cole, Kevin Nouse, and Mike Erdley. By Lap 6 Smith had reeled in Blaney and was able to steal the lead from him just as the two crossed the start/finish line.
The first Yellow Flag flew just as the leaders were beginning to get into lapped traffic. As Smith was trying catching Pat Cannon to put a lap on him, the 17 car broke loose in Turn 3 and spun in front of Smith forcing him to take evasive action. When the Green Flag was shown to the field again it was short lived as Ryan Bunton’s 6r began to limp on course with a flat left rear tire.
On the restart, Smith dashed into the first corner with Blaney in his tracks, but Smith was able to put some distance between his 1 and Blaney’s 2 car. It was déjà vu on Lap 14 when the yellow banner was unfurled again as Cannon looped the 17 car around in Turn 2. Although this time Ryan Bunton got caught up in the incident and it ended both of their nights.
When the race resumed Smith continued to hold on to the top spot until there was another pause in the racing action a few laps later. In Turn 4, the 88 of Todd Shaffer and 22 of Greg Hodnett made contact and the 15 of Adam Wilt spun to miss the tangled cars. This ended the night for Hodnett, but Shaffer and Wilt continued at the back of the field.
In the closing laps of the event, Smith and Blaney continued their rivalry: PA Posse versus All Star. Blaney was able to close in on Smith several times, but at the end lapped traffic was a factor. With the Checkered Flag flying in the air it was Smith who passed under it first by several car lengths over Blaney. Cole, Nouse and Erdley would round out the top-five.
This was Smith’s ninth All Star victory and his first win in the Bob Weikert Memorial. Tonight he added his name and will forever be listed with event winners Fred Rahmer, Todd Shaffer, Lance Dewease, Greg Hodnett, and Jeff Shepard.
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions will be back in action at Lowes Motor Speedway on May 22. For the most up to date information on the All Star Circuit of Champions bookmark www.allstarsprint.com on your computer.
Kistler Engines Qualifying
Note: As per the finish last night the following cars were locked in tonight’s feature – 1 Stevie Smith, 88 Todd Shaffer, 11e Mike Erdley, and 35 Alan Cole.
Car-Driver-Time
1. 55 Mike Wagner – 18.295
2. 2 Dale Blaney – 18.433
3. 89 Cody Darrah – 18.468
4. 6 Kevin Nouse – 18.480
5. 15 Adam Wilt – 18.692
6. W20 Greg Wilson – 18.697
7. 75 Dave Ely – 18.730
8. 22 Greg Hodnett – 18.762
9. 56r Ryan Myers – 18.814
10. 83 Tim Shaffer – 18.860
11. 39 Doug Esh – 18.975
12. 87 Alan Krimes – 19.014
13. 30c Lance Dewease – 19.105
14. 71 Brian Leppo – 19.183
15. 89g Dave Gravel – 19.384
16. 17 Pat Cannon – 19.472
17. 6r Ryan Bunton – 19.602
18. 7m Mark Smith – 19.660
19. 51 Fred Rahmer – 19.660
20. 92 Daron Clayton - 19.725
21. 25 Daryn Pittman – 19.757
22. 19h Jeff Van Dusen – 19.803
23. 0 Chris Wimmer 19.848
24. 16 Cliff Brian – 19.922
25. 11t TJ Winegardner – 20.047
26. 44 Joey Hersey – 20.253
27. 25o Aaron Ott – 20.309
28. 33 Brian Ehrenzeller – 20.333
Heat Finishes (Started)
Heat 1 –8 Laps
1. 55 Mike Wagner (4)
2. 30c Lance Dewease (1)
3. 56r Ryan Myers (2)
4. 15 Adam Wilt (3)
5. 6r Ryan Bunton (5)
6. 16 Cliff Brian (7)
7. 92 Daron Clayton (6)
8. 33 Brian Ehrenzeller (8)
Heat 2 – 8 Laps
1. 83 Tim Shaffer (2)
2. 2 Dale Blaney (4)
3. 71 Brian Leppo (1)
4. 25 Daryn Pittman (6)
5. 7m Mark Smith (5)
6. W20 Greg Wilson (3)
7. 11t TJ Winegardner (7)
Heat 3 – 8 Laps
1. 39 Doug Esh (2)
2. 75 Dave Ely (3)
3. 89 Cody Darrah (4)
4. 89g David Gravel (1)
5. 51 Fred Rahmer (5)
6. 44 Joey Hersey (7)
7. 19h Jeff Van Dusen (6)
Heat 4 – 8 Laps
1. 17 Pat Cannon (1)
2. 87 Alan Krimes (2)
3. 22 Greg Hodnett (3)
4. 6 Kevin Nouse (4)
5. 7 Keith Kauffman (5)
6. 0 Brandon Wimmer (6)
7. 25o Aaron Ott (7)
B Main – 12 Laps
1. W20 Greg Wilson (1)
2. 6r Ryan Bunton (2)
3. 7m Mark Smith (3)
4. 0 Brandon Wimmer (7)
5. 7 Keith Kauffman (5)
6. 16 Cliff Brian (8)
7. 11t TJ Winegardner (9)
8. 44 Joey Hershey (10)
9. 33 Brian Ehrenzeller DNS
10. 92 Daron Clayton DNS
11. 51 Fred Rahmer DNS
A Main – 30 Laps
1. 1 Stevie Smith (1)
2. 2 Dale Blaney (2)
3. 35 Alan Cole (3)
4. 6 Kevin Nouse (4)
5. 11e Mike Erdley (5)
6. 89 Cody Darrah (6)
7. 55 Mike Wagner (7)
8. W20 Greg Wilson (11)
9. 83 Tim Shaffer (14)
10. 75 Dave Ely (10)
11. 39 Doug Esh (15)
12. 87 Alan Krimes (16)
13. 56r Ryan Myers (13)
14. 25 Daryn Pittman (23)
15. 0 Brandon Wimmer (24)
16. 71 Brian Leppo (18)
17. 88 Todd Shaffer (8)
18. 15 Adam Wilt (9)
19. 89g David Gravel (19)
20. 22 Greg Hodnett (12)
21. 17 Pat Cannon (20)
22. 6r Ryan Bunton (21)
23. 7m Mark Smith (22)
24. 30c Lance Dewease (17)
