Four drivers scored their first wins of the season at Attica Raceway Park Friday, July 1 in front of a standing room only crowd.
Genoa, Ohio’s Brian Lay earned his first in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprint feature that was a make-up event from a May 20 rain-out. In the Baumann Auto Group Night feature for the division Millersburg’s Rob Chaney would score his first win of 2016. Ontario, Ohio’s Cody Scott took the lead with just four laps to go to earn his first victory of the year in the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models while Fremont, Ohio’s Dustin Keegan nursed his dirt truck to his first victory. Sandusky, Ohio’s Kyle Capodice took the lead with four laps to go to score his second win of his career and of the season in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints.
In the 410 make-up feature, Lay’s engine began to sputter from over-heating with just a hand full of laps remaining but he was able to nurse it home ahead of a charging Byron Reed for his third career Attica win.
“She was getting a little warm there. She was 230 on that last restart with 10 laps to go and there was no way I was pulling off. We crossed the line at 240…hopefully everything is alright,” said Lay beside his Robert Mucha Law; Seagate Sandblasting; Varga Farms; American Quality Stripping; Dave Story Equipment; Wood County Collision backed machine.
“The cautions fell perfect for me. I was just getting into lapped traffic and just starting to move through cars and I knew they had to be catching me. The caution would come out and I was like ‘thank you, thank you, thank you. We’ve had a really consistent year this year. Last year was just one of those years you just have to forget and this is how you do that,” added Lay.
In the night’s regular feature for the 410 sprints Chaney would survive after he and DJ Foos got together while battling for the lead in lapped traffic which also collected third place Reed with 11 laps to go. Chaney was able to keep going while Foos and Reed spun. Chaney then had to hold off Travis Philo who went to the tail after an opening lap tangle.
“We actually silently started getting good with this car …we had a 15th here and I know it sounds funny but we felt like we had made progress. Then we ran seventh at Wayne County. We took speedweek off…that was disappointing but we just weren’t organized, we were having troubles and we needed to regroup. Obviously it worked,” said Chaney beside his Stan Cortad Racing, Custom Chrome Plating backed machine.
“Hats off to Stan and his guys obviously we brought a nice piece. It’s good to be up here…it’s been awhile. These races get harder and harder to win. We struggled for a year and half…we had no speed and tonight we had speed all night. We figured some stuff out with our cars and it’s made me comfortable and I can drive them again,” added Chaney.
In a wild late model feature that saw first Doug Drown and Mike Bores tangle while battling for the lead in lapped traffic and then Bores and Devin Shiels get together late in the race battling for the lead with Bores spinning and then Scott charging around Matt Irey with just four laps to go to score his second career win at Attica.
“I kept trying to show him (Irey) my nose a little bit. We definitely had some luck with Doug and Mikey but we’ll take it. We’ve been down on ourselves for awhile. We took a month and half off to regroup and figure out what we’re doing. This one is sweeter than my first one,” said Scott beside his MR Trucking; CLR Truck Repair; Fultz Fabrication; Innovative Graphics; JC Racing Parts; Malcuit Racing Engines backed #92.
“Ever since I was little my dad preached patience. Running the bottom I kept going in too hard and skated across the track and I did it on the last lap and I thought someone was going to get by. I want to thank my family…they are over working on this all the time. We got tore up at Oakshade last weekend and they were working on the car before I even got off work,” Scott added.
Capodice would drive under race long leader Paul Weaver with just four laps to go and drove to his second win in the 305 sprint feature that went non-stop and took only six minutes to complete the 25 laps.
“I knew I couldn’t get off the bottom. I was looking at the high side and there really wasn’t anything up there. I can’t thank Jimmy Phelps and Jamie Adams for coming on board a couple of races ago. He’s been a big help to us. And my dad…he works his tail off each and every night. I have to thank my girlfriend and my brother and my whole family. This one is for my grandma whose battling cancer,” said Capodice beside his Darmofal Racing; Franklin Sanitation; Fred Wolff Auctioneer; Synergy General Trades backed #12.
Dustin Keegan, a former Attica track champion, saw something fly through the hood of his dirt truck with just a lap to go. The motor started missing but Keegan held off Cory McCaughey for his first ever Attica win.
“I saw something fly through the hood and it started missing. I don’t think it blew up because it was still running. I didn’t care if it blew up…I wasn’t quitting. I wanted my first win at Attica so bad,” said Keegan beside his Snyder’s Floor Covering; LST Excavating; Kevin Walby Construction, Green Creek Lawn Care; ProTops Custom Canvanses; Firestone Complete Auto Care; York Fabrication backed #17x.
Lay and Reed brought the field to green for the make-up 410 feature with Lay gaining the advantage. Lay would begin pulling away from Reed, D.J. Foos, Chris Andrews, Tyler Gunn and Trey Jacobs until the caution flew on lap three. When the green flew so did Lay with Reed trying to hold off Andrews for second.
Just as Lay was entering lapped traffic with 10 laps scored the caution would fly giving him a clear track. When the green flew so did Lay as Reed continued to have his hands full with Andrews while Foos, Trey Jacobs, Dean Jacobs and 15th starter Rob Chaney giving chase.
Just past the half way point the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic and Lay’s lead began to disappear as Reed closed. But, a caution with 10 laps to go would give Lay the open track he needed. Lay got a great restart and pulled away while Reed had to once again contend with Andrews with Dean Jacobs, Chaney, Foos and Trey Jacobs in pursuit.
With five laps to go Lay’s engine started to misfire and Reed closed once again with Dean Jacobs racing into third. As they took the white flag Reed was all over Lay’s rear bumper. Lay was able to nurse his car home for the win with Reed, Dean Jacobs, Andres and Chaney rounding out the top five.
In the night’s regular 30-lap 410 sprint feature Trey Jacobs and Gunn brought the field to green. Near disaster was avoided when Gunn got sideways in front of the field, collecting Caleb Griffith and Travis Philo. Gunn was done for the night but Griffith and Philo made repairs and rejoined the field. On the ensuing green Foos grabbed the lead over Trey Jacobs, Andrews, Chaney, Jimmy Colvin, Duane Zablocki, Dean Jacobs and Stuart Brubaker.
Andrews grabbed second on lap six but Trey Jacobs and Chaney would make it a three way battle as Foos began to pull away. Chaney took third on lap eight just as the caution flew. On the restart Foos was again able to pull away while Andrews worked hard to try and hold off Chaney, Trey Jacobs and Dean Jacobs. Chaney moved into the runner-up spot on lap 13.
By lap 16 the leaders raced into heavy lapped traffic and Chaney quickly closed on Foos. On lap 18 as they battled for the lead and sliced and diced in traffic, Foos and Chaney would make contact exiting turn four with Foos spinning and collecting third place Reed. Foos and Reed were able to rejoin the tail of the field but Chaney now held the point.
On the restart Reed would stop on the track. When the green flew again Chaney pulled away from Andrews, Dean Jacobs, Trey Jacobs and a fast closing Philo. While everyone – except Chaney – was utilizing the bottom of the track, Philo worked to top to drive into second with nine laps to go.
Chaney held a minimal lead over Philo as Andrews and Dean Jacobs battled for third. Lapped traffic would come into play with three laps remaining but Chaney picked his way through to drive to the win over Philo, Dean Jacobs, Andrews and Trey Jacobs.
The 25 laps late model feature would see pole-sitter Mike Bores grab the early lead but Doug Drown would grab the top spot on lap two with Matt Irey, Scott and Steve Kester in tow. Following a lap three caution, Drown and Bores would pull away slightly from Irey who had his hands full with Scott. Behind the top four a terrific battle ensued involving Kester, Ryan Markham, Mathew Chapman and Devin Shiels.
As the laps ticked off Drown couldn’t shake Bores who ran within a car length while Irey, Scott and Shiels entertained with their battle for third. Just as the leaders were racing into lapped traffic, Drown got held up and slide up the track and Bores drove under in turn three and the pair made contact, sending Drown spinning.
On the restart Bores led Irey, Shiels and Scott. Over the next hand full of laps it was a tremendous battle for the lead. Shiels would grab second on lap 14 and he and Irey would pressure Bores. With five laps to go Shiels would get into the back of Bores entering turn two with Bores spinning.
When the green flew Shiels now had to deal with Irey for the lead with Scott, Mathew Chapman, Markham, Larry Kingseed and Brad Malcuit in pursuit. With four laps to go it was Irey who would get into the back of Shiels as Irey grabbed the lead with Scott moving into second.
Scott would be patient and stayed glued to the bottom of the track and drove into the lead with three laps to go. Irey would mount a last lap challenge but Scott held on for the win. Irey, Shiels, Markham and Malcuit would round out the top five.
Luke Griffith and Paul Weaver brought the field to green for the 25 lap 305 sprint feature with Weaver gaining the advantage. Weaver set a torrid pace, driving into lapped traffic by the 10th circuit. Griffith would close with John Ivy, Rick Peterson and Capodice staying close as well. Capodice drove into third on lap 15 as Weaver sliced through traffic with Griffith closing to within a car length on several occasions.
With six laps remaining Capodice was able to take second and two laps later drove under Weaver for the lead. Capodice stayed on the bottom of the track and took the checkers over Weaver, Griffith, Peterson and Ivy.
Keegan and McCaughey brought the field to green for the 15-lap dirt truck feature with Keegan gaining the advantage. A couple of early race yellows were the only thing to slow a great battle between Keegan and McCaughey. Keegan and McCaughey would run nose to tail and on occasion side by side while Dana Fry, Keith Sorg, Brandon Leighton and Jeff Ward gave chase.
Keegan’s truck began to slow with three laps remaining and McCaughey tried everything to get around. Keegan hit his marks perfectly and held on for the win over McCaughey, Fry, Sorg and Ward.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action on Sutton Bank/Central Ohio Farmers Night, Friday, July 8 with the Rick’s Truck and Equipment Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) non-wing sprinters coming to town along with the late models as part of the Attica Raceway Park/Wayne County Speedway Late Model Series Challenge and the 305 sprints.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
- administrator on Jul 06, 2016
- Article Date: 7/2/2016